| WTB: Commuter vehicle that get 25+ MPG... Cheap. ;) | |
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+9boojum Cadet57 96Brougham GasTT sdstick 8bud bowtiepimp IMPALADAKID toomanytoyz 13 posters |
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toomanytoyz Club President
Posts : 6876 Join date : 2009-01-20 Age : 47 Location : East Hampstead, NH USA
| Subject: WTB: Commuter vehicle that get 25+ MPG... Cheap. ;) Sat Oct 06, 2012 6:57 pm | |
| And it should preferably be a wagon. And have at least a little personality. 4 cylinder standard is preferred, but a 6cylinder auto would be ok if it meets the mileage requirement. My new commute is about 13 miles of 50mph secondary road and about 14 miles of highway at about 75mph. So it will be mostly "highway" type of driving. The truck is just NOT cutting it at 12MPG! 80-90 bucks every 3-4 days S-U-C-K-S!!!! Please keep your eyes open for me. Yes, I am searching CL like a mutha truckah, but I didn't know if anyone knew of anything... Hoping to be a grand or less. I'm thinking like an older A4 Avant 1.8, Saturn wagon, Civic, Celica, or any hatchback, 00's Monte or Impala, or even an Olds or Buick sedan. Maybe even a non rotted out Forester or Impreza or Outback NON-turbo (yeah, I know, I'm too). Any 4 cylinder would HAVE to be a stick. Anyways, LMK if you know of anything like that! Thanks!
Last edited by toomanytoyz on Sat Oct 06, 2012 7:11 pm; edited 1 time in total | |
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IMPALADAKID Admin
Posts : 1525 Join date : 2009-01-17 Age : 55
| Subject: Re: WTB: Commuter vehicle that get 25+ MPG... Cheap. ;) Sat Oct 06, 2012 7:03 pm | |
| http://nh.craigslist.org/cto/3320704007.html | |
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toomanytoyz Club President
Posts : 6876 Join date : 2009-01-20 Age : 47 Location : East Hampstead, NH USA
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bowtiepimp
Posts : 1568 Join date : 2010-06-19 Age : 38 Location : working a corner near you
| Subject: Re: WTB: Commuter vehicle that get 25+ MPG... Cheap. ;) Sat Oct 06, 2012 7:41 pm | |
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8bud
Posts : 626 Join date : 2009-01-23 Age : 52 Location : Salem, NH
| Subject: Re: WTB: Commuter vehicle that get 25+ MPG... Cheap. ;) Sat Oct 06, 2012 7:50 pm | |
| - toomanytoyz wrote:
- No more subarus. Ever. Evar!
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sdstick
Posts : 4292 Join date : 2009-03-20 Location : Revere, MA
| Subject: Re: WTB: Commuter vehicle that get 25+ MPG... Cheap. ;) Sat Oct 06, 2012 7:50 pm | |
| - toomanytoyz wrote:
- ............. And have at least a little personality. ...........
- toomanytoyz wrote:
- Fail. One, it's frikkin UGLY, and TWO... .....
Hold everything.... Isnt that the way it always works? Hey...wanna meet my friend she has a GREAT personality... | |
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toomanytoyz Club President
Posts : 6876 Join date : 2009-01-20 Age : 47 Location : East Hampstead, NH USA
| Subject: Re: WTB: Commuter vehicle that get 25+ MPG... Cheap. ;) Sat Oct 06, 2012 7:53 pm | |
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IMPALADAKID Admin
Posts : 1525 Join date : 2009-01-17 Age : 55
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GasTT
Posts : 2675 Join date : 2009-01-19 Age : 36 Location : Treasure Coast, FL
| Subject: Re: WTB: Commuter vehicle that get 25+ MPG... Cheap. ;) Sat Oct 06, 2012 8:51 pm | |
| I've been on the lookout for a clean cheap Saturn wagon myself... | |
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96Brougham
Posts : 819 Join date : 2009-02-02 Age : 36 Location : Easton MA
| Subject: Re: WTB: Commuter vehicle that get 25+ MPG... Cheap. ;) Sat Oct 06, 2012 9:02 pm | |
| Funny you mention an Audi, I've been looking into the b5 a4 quattros, with 1.8t and manual. They seem like a sturdy vehicle, but everything I hear is"be prepared to spend when it breaks". | |
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Cadet57
Posts : 4481 Join date : 2010-03-14 Age : 36 Location : Chicopee, MA
| Subject: Re: WTB: Commuter vehicle that get 25+ MPG... Cheap. ;) Sat Oct 06, 2012 9:03 pm | |
| I just want to point out if you're buying a 1.8 A4 avant for under a grand. You have bought the biggest can of worms that is ready to explode after the first pothole. And as someone who owns one of those delighful 1.8's. Just stay away. It's not worth it. | |
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toomanytoyz Club President
Posts : 6876 Join date : 2009-01-20 Age : 47 Location : East Hampstead, NH USA
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bowtiepimp
Posts : 1568 Join date : 2010-06-19 Age : 38 Location : working a corner near you
| Subject: Re: WTB: Commuter vehicle that get 25+ MPG... Cheap. ;) Sat Oct 06, 2012 10:29 pm | |
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boojum
Posts : 2182 Join date : 2009-01-21 Age : 36 Location : NH
| Subject: Re: WTB: Commuter vehicle that get 25+ MPG... Cheap. ;) Sat Oct 06, 2012 10:36 pm | |
| HHR | |
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toomanytoyz Club President
Posts : 6876 Join date : 2009-01-20 Age : 47 Location : East Hampstead, NH USA
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96Brougham
Posts : 819 Join date : 2009-02-02 Age : 36 Location : Easton MA
| Subject: Re: WTB: Commuter vehicle that get 25+ MPG... Cheap. ;) Sat Oct 06, 2012 11:06 pm | |
| http://providence.craigslist.org/cto/3217279181.html | |
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1984twodoor
Posts : 4068 Join date : 2010-03-30 Age : 30 Location : Wilmington/Wakefield/Andover
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IMPALADAKID Admin
Posts : 1525 Join date : 2009-01-17 Age : 55
| Subject: Re: WTB: Commuter vehicle that get 25+ MPG... Cheap. ;) Sun Oct 07, 2012 8:35 am | |
| http://nh.craigslist.org/cto/3313663799.html You can be manly like me. | |
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Cadet57
Posts : 4481 Join date : 2010-03-14 Age : 36 Location : Chicopee, MA
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bowtiepimp
Posts : 1568 Join date : 2010-06-19 Age : 38 Location : working a corner near you
| Subject: Re: WTB: Commuter vehicle that get 25+ MPG... Cheap. ;) Sun Oct 07, 2012 1:11 pm | |
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Machine-De-Zine
Posts : 512 Join date : 2010-11-16 Age : 67 Location : Wrentham
| Subject: Re: WTB: Commuter vehicle that get 25+ MPG... Cheap. ;) Sun Oct 07, 2012 2:01 pm | |
| ** I've got 22 cars, trucks, wagons, motorcycles, hot rods etc., and the only vehicle running currently with zero issues is also my only foriegn car.
Being Swedish myself, I may be a tad bit biased toward the one non-USA branded car in the fleet.
However it is difficult to argue against owning a "pre-Ford years" Volvo - a rear wheel drive, four lung, factory turbo inter-cooled 740/940 wagon.
Its startlingly fast if you stuff your foot deep into it, but it will also get you great MPGs if you drive like a human being.
Mine came to me after it's owner's mechanic [my customer] failed to talk this car's original owner out of his commitment to rebuild this engine, like he's done on every one of his cars that he's owned at the 100,000 mile point, as a mis-guided measure toward preventive maintenance.
The owner was told that the car was a Volvo and that it certainly did not need such an expensive and unnecessary exercise, but alas, he would not be dissuaded.
I basically re-built a brand new engine, all the cylinder bore surfaces measured "dead-balls accurate", and the factory hone cross-hatch marks were still clearly visible.
The bottom end bearings (rods & mains) all had to be marked, because after cleaning, the "take-outs" were literally indistinguishable from the new set purchased.
Every time I work on this car, I am pleasantly re-surprised with a big grin as I mumble under my breath at how bullet-proof and intelligently designed every thing is made.
This car exemplifies the traditional Scandinavian dual Ethos of keeping it stone simple, but also making it ridiculously over-built!
I am grateful that so many Swedes were attracted toward immigrating to the USA, as it was a Swedish foundry mold-maker that executed the original successful design & proto-type of the first Ford V-8 engine, and Swedish entrepreneurs who invented the Bridgeport milling machine.
Collectively, these immigrant's contributions are so vast and excellent, that America would certainly have been measurably less great a nation with out them.
FYI, Volvo was the pioneering manufacturer responsible for OEM "Cunifer" brake lines [Copper-Nickel-Iron alloy] , , , I mean, has anybody here ever heard of a post 76 Volvo suffer a rotted out brake line?
http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1610792
I find the car to be quite handsome, and it grows ever more so every time another affordable fix further extends it's life as a family-member in good standing at my home!
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toomanytoyz Club President
Posts : 6876 Join date : 2009-01-20 Age : 47 Location : East Hampstead, NH USA
| Subject: Re: WTB: Commuter vehicle that get 25+ MPG... Cheap. ;) Sun Oct 07, 2012 2:30 pm | |
| - IMPALADAKID wrote:
- http://nh.craigslist.org/cto/3313663799.html
You can be manly like me. Bill, that's funny. Because when I saw that one, I thought of all the jokes I could come up with for you. LOL! And Glenn, what year did ford come into the volvo mix? | |
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Machine-De-Zine
Posts : 512 Join date : 2010-11-16 Age : 67 Location : Wrentham
| Subject: Re: WTB: Commuter vehicle that get 25+ MPG... Cheap. ;) Sun Oct 07, 2012 2:49 pm | |
| - toomanytoyz wrote:
And Glenn, what year did ford come into the volvo mix? Starting in 1999, Ford - until the Chinese (Geely) took them over in 2010. Heavy commercial concerns are the focus of Volvo now, and the manufacture of passenger cars is a separately owned company now, sharing just the name. I was told that the reason Volvo means "it rolls" in greek or latin is because the originator of the company's humble beginnings was SKF of Sweden, and eventually the name was used on the fledgling car manufacturer around 1927 or 1929. | |
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toomanytoyz Club President
Posts : 6876 Join date : 2009-01-20 Age : 47 Location : East Hampstead, NH USA
| Subject: Re: WTB: Commuter vehicle that get 25+ MPG... Cheap. ;) Mon Oct 08, 2012 9:54 am | |
| May I present to you, the newest "beater with a heater"... 98 Monte Carlo with the 3.1. 125K miles, loaded. It's super clean underneath, so hopefully it'll last a while. Runs and drives good. Interior is rough, and it's got a couple lights on the dash (ABS, Security), and the tires are bald. But I have a set of nice snows on a set of Wimpala wheels that'll bolt right on... For 500 bucks, it was worth a shot. We'll see what happens. | |
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Cadet57
Posts : 4481 Join date : 2010-03-14 Age : 36 Location : Chicopee, MA
| Subject: Re: WTB: Commuter vehicle that get 25+ MPG... Cheap. ;) Mon Oct 08, 2012 9:56 am | |
| Nice score. I miss my lumina. 130K on the clock and all I had to replace was the water pump. You can't kill those 3.1's.. And then I bought the VW Should clean up pretty good! | |
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toomanytoyz Club President
Posts : 6876 Join date : 2009-01-20 Age : 47 Location : East Hampstead, NH USA
| Subject: Re: WTB: Commuter vehicle that get 25+ MPG... Cheap. ;) Mon Oct 08, 2012 9:57 am | |
| What'd you get for mileage in that Lumina? | |
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Cadet57
Posts : 4481 Join date : 2010-03-14 Age : 36 Location : Chicopee, MA
| Subject: Re: WTB: Commuter vehicle that get 25+ MPG... Cheap. ;) Mon Oct 08, 2012 9:59 am | |
| - toomanytoyz wrote:
- What'd you get for mileage in that Lumina?
Usually was around 19-21 city, 27-30 highway @70. And the a/c never worked so I never lost any miles in the summer | |
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GasTT
Posts : 2675 Join date : 2009-01-19 Age : 36 Location : Treasure Coast, FL
| Subject: Re: WTB: Commuter vehicle that get 25+ MPG... Cheap. ;) Mon Oct 08, 2012 10:48 am | |
| Beware the intake gaskets. They have decent power from that small motor. | |
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V8Killer
Posts : 1691 Join date : 2009-03-12 Age : 52 Location : Southern, NH
| Subject: Re: WTB: Commuter vehicle that get 25+ MPG... Cheap. ;) Mon Oct 08, 2012 10:54 am | |
| - GasTT wrote:
- Beware the intake gaskets. They have decent power from that small motor.
I warned him BEFORE he bought it 3.1's are a tough engine, but should come with spare intake gaskets in the trunk | |
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GasTT
Posts : 2675 Join date : 2009-01-19 Age : 36 Location : Treasure Coast, FL
| Subject: Re: WTB: Commuter vehicle that get 25+ MPG... Cheap. ;) Mon Oct 08, 2012 11:02 am | |
| I would do them just for insurance. Not too bad. Could be done in a few hours. Felpro sells a whole top end kit. | |
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IMPALADAKID Admin
Posts : 1525 Join date : 2009-01-17 Age : 55
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Cadet57
Posts : 4481 Join date : 2010-03-14 Age : 36 Location : Chicopee, MA
| Subject: Re: WTB: Commuter vehicle that get 25+ MPG... Cheap. ;) Mon Oct 08, 2012 11:08 am | |
| Odd. I had two 3.1 cars and neither ever had this problem. Is it that common? Both had 120-130k too. | |
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GasTT
Posts : 2675 Join date : 2009-01-19 Age : 36 Location : Treasure Coast, FL
| Subject: Re: WTB: Commuter vehicle that get 25+ MPG... Cheap. ;) Mon Oct 08, 2012 11:28 am | |
| - Cadet57 wrote:
- Odd. I had two 3.1 cars and neither ever had this problem. Is it that common? Both had 120-130k too.
It probably already had the shit GM gaskets replaced. They were going out in cars at 30k when new. The gaskets went on both 3100 cars I had. I do beat the crap out of my cars so maybe thats what caused them to fail. Oh well. | |
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toomanytoyz Club President
Posts : 6876 Join date : 2009-01-20 Age : 47 Location : East Hampstead, NH USA
| Subject: Re: WTB: Commuter vehicle that get 25+ MPG... Cheap. ;) Mon Oct 08, 2012 2:04 pm | |
| I'll keep an eye on the oil. If it's foamy, I'll do the gaskets. I was aware it was a common issue in these cars. But nothing a few hours and 30 bucks can't fix if I need it. I can't wait to drive it! | |
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V8Killer
Posts : 1691 Join date : 2009-03-12 Age : 52 Location : Southern, NH
| Subject: Re: WTB: Commuter vehicle that get 25+ MPG... Cheap. ;) Mon Oct 08, 2012 2:11 pm | |
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toomanytoyz Club President
Posts : 6876 Join date : 2009-01-20 Age : 47 Location : East Hampstead, NH USA
| Subject: Re: WTB: Commuter vehicle that get 25+ MPG... Cheap. ;) Mon Oct 08, 2012 2:15 pm | |
| It came with some of those in the trunk... | |
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Matt Trakker
Posts : 5093 Join date : 2009-07-30 Age : 42 Location : Reading, MA
| Subject: Re: WTB: Commuter vehicle that get 25+ MPG... Cheap. ;) Mon Oct 08, 2012 3:17 pm | |
| I've always liked those. I know people bash them because of the intake problems, but for the price you won't go wrong. Save gas until it breaks then re-evaluate. FWIW, a friend of mine had a Lumina like that he shared with his younger brother sometimes. Just to be funny they drove it for several years without changing the oil, at all. I think something else completely unrelated did the car in eventually. My brother had a '95 GP he bought for wayyyyyy too much money after we told him not to, because it had 68K original miles on it. It was a total lemon and the 3.1 puked the intake gaskets too...lol I kind of want an older W-body like the 1989 Grand Prix my father had. You never see them now. That car always had rear brake issues to the point GM had to pay out a settlement to everyone who had one of them...the calipers would seize up, even when replaced and new! But the damn thing ran forever with no issues aside from brakes, paint problems, the inst. cluster died, and a couple other things. It was sad when my dad junked it (car got rearended), it still ran great onto the flatbed truck that took it away. | |
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toomanytoyz Club President
Posts : 6876 Join date : 2009-01-20 Age : 47 Location : East Hampstead, NH USA
| Subject: Re: WTB: Commuter vehicle that get 25+ MPG... Cheap. ;) Mon Oct 08, 2012 3:20 pm | |
| I always loved that Monte in Moss's toy box. Although, it's not quite what I'm dealing with with this one... | |
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GasTT
Posts : 2675 Join date : 2009-01-19 Age : 36 Location : Treasure Coast, FL
| Subject: Re: WTB: Commuter vehicle that get 25+ MPG... Cheap. ;) Mon Oct 08, 2012 3:24 pm | |
| That green MC has RWD and an LT1. The W-body is a great daily driver. Here's one I had.. This car didn't really need the gaskets. But, the pot metal coolant connector which is part of the LIM corroded to shit so it had to come apart. I did all the upper gaskets, plugs, wires, vacuum lines struts tires blah blah blah........................ | |
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toomanytoyz Club President
Posts : 6876 Join date : 2009-01-20 Age : 47 Location : East Hampstead, NH USA
| Subject: Re: WTB: Commuter vehicle that get 25+ MPG... Cheap. ;) Mon Oct 08, 2012 3:29 pm | |
| I kind of want to find a set of used Soft 8's or AR767's for it and bolt a sheetmetal spoiler onto the trunklid...
Last edited by toomanytoyz on Mon Oct 08, 2012 3:36 pm; edited 1 time in total | |
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IMPALADAKID Admin
Posts : 1525 Join date : 2009-01-17 Age : 55
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toomanytoyz Club President
Posts : 6876 Join date : 2009-01-20 Age : 47 Location : East Hampstead, NH USA
| Subject: Re: WTB: Commuter vehicle that get 25+ MPG... Cheap. ;) Mon Oct 08, 2012 3:36 pm | |
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96Brougham
Posts : 819 Join date : 2009-02-02 Age : 36 Location : Easton MA
| Subject: Re: WTB: Commuter vehicle that get 25+ MPG... Cheap. ;) Mon Oct 08, 2012 7:04 pm | |
| Should've kept the e30 LOL.
Jared just picked up an e36 after selling my old tan RMW. You should take the plunge! | |
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toomanytoyz Club President
Posts : 6876 Join date : 2009-01-20 Age : 47 Location : East Hampstead, NH USA
| Subject: Re: WTB: Commuter vehicle that get 25+ MPG... Cheap. ;) Mon Oct 08, 2012 7:39 pm | |
| - 96Brougham wrote:
- Should've kept the e30 LOL.
Jared just picked up an e36 after selling my old tan RMW. You should take the plunge! That thing was a death trap! I woulda fallen through the "floor" in no time! | |
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1984twodoor
Posts : 4068 Join date : 2010-03-30 Age : 30 Location : Wilmington/Wakefield/Andover
| Subject: Re: WTB: Commuter vehicle that get 25+ MPG... Cheap. ;) Mon Oct 08, 2012 9:24 pm | |
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boojum
Posts : 2182 Join date : 2009-01-21 Age : 36 Location : NH
| Subject: Re: WTB: Commuter vehicle that get 25+ MPG... Cheap. ;) Tue Oct 09, 2012 12:34 am | |
| Glad we could help. If that were my car I'd make it into a 9C6 clone. P.S. These were over your budget anyway: http://boston.craigslist.org/gbs/cto/3326150698.html http://nh.craigslist.org/cto/3325388132.html | |
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Cadet57
Posts : 4481 Join date : 2010-03-14 Age : 36 Location : Chicopee, MA
| Subject: Re: WTB: Commuter vehicle that get 25+ MPG... Cheap. ;) Tue Oct 09, 2012 9:32 am | |
| - boojum wrote:
http://boston.craigslist.org/gbs/cto/3326150698.html I so would rock that. | |
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| Subject: Re: WTB: Commuter vehicle that get 25+ MPG... Cheap. ;) | |
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| WTB: Commuter vehicle that get 25+ MPG... Cheap. ;) | |
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