Don't hate me...
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Elder User
Joined: Apr 2005
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From: Wichita
Don't hate me...
I love my Aero. It is a real reliable workhorse, but at today's fuel prices I need something that averages better than 17MPG for daily driving. I bought a '95 Escort wagon for $400 today. The head is bad and it needs a lot of cosmetic work, cleaning mostly. The PO was a slob.
These OHC 1.9L 5spd buggies get 28-30 MPG average at 45% city/55% hi-way. It will take some cash to bring it back to life but the fuel savings alone will pay for it in a few years. The wagon room will haul a lot of grocieries or equipment to the lake. Meanwhile my Aero stays in good shape for when I need the muscle. Like towing the Escort home tomorrow.
http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/findacar.htm
These OHC 1.9L 5spd buggies get 28-30 MPG average at 45% city/55% hi-way. It will take some cash to bring it back to life but the fuel savings alone will pay for it in a few years. The wagon room will haul a lot of grocieries or equipment to the lake. Meanwhile my Aero stays in good shape for when I need the muscle. Like towing the Escort home tomorrow.
http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/findacar.htm
Posting Guru
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,036
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From: Portland, Oregon
I don't hate you. I'm in the process of saving up for either an 85-87 toyota corolla gts (2dr RWD compact), a 92-95 civic hatch si, or a 96-00 civic coupe (if i can afford it hopefully si!). I'm going to be doing pizza delivery soon (two months!) and dont want to put my aero through that hell. plus taking an aero to a track to push it's limits doesn't sound very fun. no, i'm saving my aero for those summer road trips!!! i get hella good mpg on the free way, and don't think craming five young adults into a small sports compact is very fun or smart.
Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 5,720
Likes: 5
From: Washington state
don't blame you vango,
50% increase in fuel mileage and 50% decrease in dollar gas drain from the wallet are worth it. i get tired of these $50 fillups in the Aero, she's really gulping it this winter.
those 1.9L OHC Fords are tough powerful engines. undersquare cylinder so lots of torque. will last 200k>300k with your loving care. lots of room in a wagon. not a bad riding rig either.
50% increase in fuel mileage and 50% decrease in dollar gas drain from the wallet are worth it. i get tired of these $50 fillups in the Aero, she's really gulping it this winter.
those 1.9L OHC Fords are tough powerful engines. undersquare cylinder so lots of torque. will last 200k>300k with your loving care. lots of room in a wagon. not a bad riding rig either.
Posting Guru
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,036
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From: Portland, Oregon
after thinking for a bit, I personaly would say that the aero for me has turned into one of those car's that i love so much (yes, i love my car) that i actualy don't want to drive it cuz i'm scared some one's going to hit me (i almost got broad sided by two idot's the other day when they blew through a stop sign doing WAY over 25 and had looked like they had already hit some one. i honked and they gave me the finger....) cuz i want it around forever. so again i'd say go for it.
edit: post up some pics of your mini restoration!!
edit: post up some pics of your mini restoration!!
Elder User
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 758
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From: Northern PA
The Aero is the most reliable vehicle I've owned to date, but it's not an economy car.
We're all feeling the crunch. The Aero stays in the driveway for most of our traveling. The Cavalier gets an honest 35 mpg highway, at 70mph with cruise on.
Buy what you need. No one here will have a problem with it. You still bought a Ford. We looked at the Focus and a few other smaller vehicles when we were shopping for an economy vehicle. The Chevy was by far the best deal.
We're all feeling the crunch. The Aero stays in the driveway for most of our traveling. The Cavalier gets an honest 35 mpg highway, at 70mph with cruise on.
Buy what you need. No one here will have a problem with it. You still bought a Ford. We looked at the Focus and a few other smaller vehicles when we were shopping for an economy vehicle. The Chevy was by far the best deal.
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 463
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Good for you!
I live in Norhern Florida where they breed idiot drivers. Around town lets say not more than 40 MPH at a pop I have been driving my son's 2007 Dodge Caliber. 1.8 ltr. 5-speed. It gets in teh mid-30's, but it is so peppy you find yourself going throught the gears.
When I drive on Hwy 10 headed West bound to Pensacola however that is another matter. Yes the 4.0 punches down the hwy pretty good, but the main reason I drive it is for the safety. I have a donor Aero that is of the same size and color. Let them bounce off of it-thats fine with me-I drive it for the over-all size of it-saefty of it and a-no kill zone.
The economy that I'm always looking for spurs me sometimes to want to try motorcycles-then I think safety. I would love to find a 3 banger Chevy Metro. Heck, I'm not a Volkswagon lover, but the Rabbit can get up to 45 MPG. Don't forget the old Dodge Omni either. That bread box was able to puch 40 on a good day as well.---Boz
I live in Norhern Florida where they breed idiot drivers. Around town lets say not more than 40 MPH at a pop I have been driving my son's 2007 Dodge Caliber. 1.8 ltr. 5-speed. It gets in teh mid-30's, but it is so peppy you find yourself going throught the gears.
When I drive on Hwy 10 headed West bound to Pensacola however that is another matter. Yes the 4.0 punches down the hwy pretty good, but the main reason I drive it is for the safety. I have a donor Aero that is of the same size and color. Let them bounce off of it-thats fine with me-I drive it for the over-all size of it-saefty of it and a-no kill zone.
The economy that I'm always looking for spurs me sometimes to want to try motorcycles-then I think safety. I would love to find a 3 banger Chevy Metro. Heck, I'm not a Volkswagon lover, but the Rabbit can get up to 45 MPG. Don't forget the old Dodge Omni either. That bread box was able to puch 40 on a good day as well.---Boz
Lead Driver
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 7,015
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From: SoCal
I had a 1981 Dodge Omni that got no better than 35 mpg with its 1.6 liter VW engine. That's nothing to sneeze at, but maybe the later models got better gas mileage.
Can anyone find one of those anymore?
Can anyone find one of those anymore?
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Elder User
Joined: Aug 2005
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Gentlemen,
Economy is not only fuel consumption. It is inexpensive "keep it running" or repair costs. A tougher to maintain and repair vehicle, even though it gets better mileage, may be more expensive to run that the relatively simple Aero. Personally, I have found this to be more than true.
Ken
Economy is not only fuel consumption. It is inexpensive "keep it running" or repair costs. A tougher to maintain and repair vehicle, even though it gets better mileage, may be more expensive to run that the relatively simple Aero. Personally, I have found this to be more than true.
Ken
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Elder User
Joined: Apr 2005
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From: Wichita
I agree wholeheartedly Ken. I purposely looked for a US car, particularly another Ford. Foriegn cars generally have a better record for reliability, but when they do start to go bad parts are expensive. I figure once my (less than the cost of a foreign) rebuild is complete I should have a pretty reliable little Ford. Then I get to spare my Aero and keep it for another decade or so.
Junior User
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 64
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From: Cincy, OH
Dont blame you there, I'm in the process of looking for a more economical car myself. I used to own about that year escort, great car, seemed to go through timing covers gaskets a lot though.What I really think I'd like to get is an older civic hatchback, 88-91 or so, Ive owned a couple that easily went over 200k, pretty easy to work on, they don't make them like that anymore..
The fillups on the aero are killing me, and the two V8s forget it, though the cr vic isnt too bad for a real heavy car..I suppose my s-10 is good, just don't like driving it in the winter and its icy around here..
The fillups on the aero are killing me, and the two V8s forget it, though the cr vic isnt too bad for a real heavy car..I suppose my s-10 is good, just don't like driving it in the winter and its icy around here..
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 2,416
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From: Mitchell, SD
Whew, you had me scared there VanGo for a moment that you were getting rid of your Aero.
If you need a more fuel efficent vehicle, go for it. But like what has been stated, what good is a car that gets 30+ mpg if you have to spend $$ to keep it running all the time.
If you need a more fuel efficent vehicle, go for it. But like what has been stated, what good is a car that gets 30+ mpg if you have to spend $$ to keep it running all the time.
Elder User
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 558
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From: North Alabama
Originally Posted by VanGo
I figure once my (less than the cost of a foreign) rebuild is complete I should have a pretty reliable little Ford. Then I get to spare my Aero and keep it for another decade or so.
I let my wife talk me into getting her a new Suzuki, and 2 years later, a used one for our daughter. They're nice little cars, and relatively cheap, but Autozone never heard of them.
Her logic was that the daughter would have no learning curve if they had the same model of car and why spend $10K on a used Ford when you can get a new car and a warranty for the same money. Since I get to do all the work, I will be the one deciding what I'll be working on. If I had it to do over again, I'd have spent the same money on a couple of used Fords.
You know it's bad when your teen-aged daughter is pushing you to fix the other Aerostar so she can drive it instead.
Last edited by DaveMac2Vans; Jan 20, 2008 at 09:22 PM. Reason: spelling
Posting Guru
Joined: Aug 2007
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From: Portland, Oregon
Originally Posted by DaveMac2Vans
You know it's bad when your teen-aged daughter is pushing you to fix the other Aerostar so she can drive it instead.
Post Fiend
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 5,242
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From: Kiev, Ukraine
I love aero, becouse I prefere to pay for gas, then to pay for parts and job. Just one exaple, short sprinter runs with 25-28 MPG, but 1 common rail injector is $200-250, but there are many other expencive parts, like HPFP, fuel filters and many others. Aero and Ranger are cheap to maintaine. But I think it is better to have 2 vechicles - van ore truck and small car. There are 3 vechicles in our family - Aero, Ranger 4.0 and Skoda Fabia 1.2 DOHC (65 hp).
Yes, now all my friends, who love and drive aero did something to solve MPG problem. two aeros have diesel engines, one have 3 NG tanks under the van on place of fuel tank and 5 gal fuel tank, I drive to russia to fill tank for $0.60 per litle. All the aeros in Lugansk have 5st trannies (it is funny all the trannies are different - ford transit tranny, mercedes 6 st tranny, ford scorpio tranny, mazda M5OD and GAZ). 5st tranny saves about 20-30% of fuel.
Yes, now all my friends, who love and drive aero did something to solve MPG problem. two aeros have diesel engines, one have 3 NG tanks under the van on place of fuel tank and 5 gal fuel tank, I drive to russia to fill tank for $0.60 per litle. All the aeros in Lugansk have 5st trannies (it is funny all the trannies are different - ford transit tranny, mercedes 6 st tranny, ford scorpio tranny, mazda M5OD and GAZ). 5st tranny saves about 20-30% of fuel.
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Elder User
Joined: Apr 2005
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From: Wichita
You have some control over the maintenance of a vehicle, but I'm nervous about the future price of fuel.
I love to tinker with cars. Why just fix it when you can make it better? This Escort has a bad engine. The PO said it boiled over and it doesn't run. The '97-'02 2.0L is almost a direct replacement for the existing 1.9L and produces about 22 more HP without giving up any fuel savings. It even bolts to the existing 5spd tranny and accessories. This is going to be fun. I plan to put together a website to show the project.
I love to tinker with cars. Why just fix it when you can make it better? This Escort has a bad engine. The PO said it boiled over and it doesn't run. The '97-'02 2.0L is almost a direct replacement for the existing 1.9L and produces about 22 more HP without giving up any fuel savings. It even bolts to the existing 5spd tranny and accessories. This is going to be fun. I plan to put together a website to show the project.