Non computer controlled RWD with best gas mileage ? Car and truck

[Don Frelier]

I'm just so sick of seeing things about modern cars that only last a few years, and then end up with problems that cost $$$$. And it's not just one Brand..it's almost all of them. You know things are bad when dealerships have engines in parts rooms. Because they need to install them every week. Old cars you pick the brand, yeah they had there problems. But they were not major failures. You may not have gotten 28 + MPG. , but at least the mechanics for the most part was relieable. The money you save in fuel mileage looks good / and is good. But when major systems componets let you down, and you may still be paying for the vehicle. The manufacture has let you down, and the are not vehicles you can trust ( ford, chevy,KIA, Chrysler.............and the list goes on. Just my rant. I worked at a Chrysler dealership late 70s-early 80's. FWD years and nearing the end of RWD. Even after that when computers were becoming more widely used. The mechanics was still for the most part good.....not any more.

I've had about 6 Chrysler vehicles from the year 2000. A couple mini vans, Intrepid, Sebring, 300M's etc...
They were all extremely reliable and have really long spark plug replacement intervals.

 

[Runcharger]

I had good luck with 5.2 magnums for fuel mileage too. Perhaps a TQ and a set of headers on a 5.2 would net a fuel efficient, non computer controlled package.

 

[Unkle Krusty]

My 2000 Saturn ION averaged 40 miles per Imperial gallon.
All numbers are Imperial gallons. My 1990 Isuzu pickup did 30, my 74? Dodge slant six did 20, my 37 Ford hearse 312 T Bird engine did 10. The Tukvan 318 does 13 to 14. Weight at 6800 pounds kills the fuel economy.
My fuel injected 007 Chev pickup is best, but i do not bother to do the calculations. It goes down the road at 1150 to 1500 revs. My 007 SV1000 Suzuki idles at those revs.

 

[#41]

I'm just so sick of seeing things about modern cars that only last a few years, and then end up with problems that cost $$$$. And it's not just one Brand..it's almost all of them. You know things are bad when dealerships have engines in parts rooms. Because they need to install them every week. Old cars you pick the brand, yeah they had there problems. But they were not major failures. You may not have gotten 28 + MPG. , but at least the mechanics for the most part was relieable. The money you save in fuel mileage looks good / and is good. But when major systems componets let you down, and you may still be paying for the vehicle. The manufacture has let you down, and the are not vehicles you can trust ( ford, chevy,KIA, Chrysler.............and the list goes on.) Just my rant. I worked at a Chrysler dealership late 70s-early 80's. FWD years and nearing the end of RWD. Even after that when computers were becoming more widely used. The mechanics was still for the most part good.....not any more.

I have been there: When I returned my lemon Ram to the dealer a decade ago (after a long drawn-out process), I was DONE with new vehicles. I ended up buying TWO 70's 3/4T Chevy truck to daily drive. I figured between the two of them at least one would be up and running at any time, and I could fix anything that went wrong with either of them. That went on for a couple years until I switched to a motorcycle for a daily.

But alas, those days are now past as I have grown accustomed to the comfort of my spouse's newer car, and now have a newer Ram again. Power, safety, comfort, etc.... but the oil change reminder won't shut off any more, the TPS system is a constant headache, and I have two recalls that need to be taken care of. I have nobody to blame but me for starting this ridiculous journey all over again.

 

[Billccm]

I confess I suffer from MDS (Module Derangement Syndrome). After suffering for over a year (and embarrassed to say $4,000 in module replacements) trying to fix my 2001 Impala, I now believe a module failure diagnosis is the death sentence for a automobile.

I will give away any car I own when I hear "we think it needs a module".

Having said that I'm convinced the highest reliability, lowest ownership cost, is ye ol'Grand Marquis. I'm on Grand Marquis number 4 and the last three that I owned made to to the 200k milestone with no major repairs.

 

[YY1]

I'd take a 318 833 OD Duster with 2.94 gears (and AC).

Almost as good MPG as a 225 and WAY more power.

 

[YY1]

I've had about 6 Chrysler vehicles from the year 2000. A couple mini vans, Intrepid, Sebring, 300M's etc...
They were all extremely reliable and have really long spark plug replacement intervals.

My 2000 Dakota R/T has been the least troublesome, most reliable vehicle I have ever owned.
It's also one of the easiest to work on.
They do have their idiosyncrasies, though.

I believe they may be in the center of the "sweet spot" between not enough computer management to help with wear and efficiency and way too much.

The electronics have been very reliable and those that have been problematic have been easy to locate and replace.

That truck held the record MPG at DakotaRTdot com at 14.2 average over 5 weeks of work commuting. No one else could get out of the 13's.

If it were a 5.2 with 3.55 gears instead f a 5.9 with 3.92's.....
I understand 3.19 gears were available as well.

 

[68BabyBlue]

I would like to see the 440 that got 30mpg out of curiosity. I was usually doing good to get 10mpg out of my stock 64 383 Sport Fury (an intermediate). I don’t think my current 440 GTX is any better although I’m a lot calmer driver now.

I got 20 mpg out of my first GTX when I drove it 600 miles to Myrtle Beach on my honeymoon in 1977, back in the 55 mph days. That engine ran extremely lean, tail pipes burned white on the interior. Baby Blue would do 16 mpg if I stayed out of it, but my buddy Bob had tuned the daylights out of it before he sold it to me in 1983. All my others have pulled around 11-12. I don't think modern day gas helps, plus air conditioning in two of them.

 

[68BabyBlue]

Having said that I'm convinced the highest reliability, lowest ownership cost, is ye ol'Grand Marquis. I'm on Grand Marquis number 4 and the last three that I owned made to to the 200k milestone with no major repairs.

One of my trucking buddies, who is a hard core Ford guy swears by them. He paid $3200 for his current one, spent $200 to fix the climate control assembly, now it drives like a new car.

 

[YY1]

One "secret" to replacing Mopar "modules" is to use only OEM Mopar parts.

 

[WileE]

One of my trucking buddies, who is a hard core Ford guy swears by them. He paid $3200 for his current one, spent $200 to fix the climate control assembly, now it drives like a new car.

The Panther platform is one of the best vehicles of its era. It is a proven, reliable, enduring machine. Some may argue it's been the best design across its 30+ years in existence in automotive history.

 

[AR67GTX]

My 66 Charger in stock form with a 3:23 gear could get 17mpg but that was driving it with an eggshell under my foot.
Now it will get 14.5 driving to Carlisle mostly 65-70 mph.

We had a 66 Newport 383-2 when I was a kid that could get 18 mpg towing a small aluminum boat.

Yeah, at 18 my driving style would never have been characterized as eggshells under my feet.