Need help with a couple of things...
 

It's funny how much we learn from each other, isn't it? Anyway, I am getting ready to transfer from the Roosevelt to my final duty station. I got orders to NRD Richmond. Not as a recruiter, but as ADMIN Support, meaning I'll be doing alot of the paperwork for the recruiters, as well as maintaining their service records, etc.

My problem is this:

1) I know I am going to be needing a daily driver to make the 100 mile trek on a daily basis, and
2) I need some help finding the most expeditious way to drive up to Richmond.

I have been looking at getting a Ford Aspire, for the gas mileage (and the mind numbing 63 horsepower at the front wheels). Anyone have a better idea for a daily beater? I can get the Aspire for about $2000 out the door, and even if it only lasts 2 of the 4 years I need it, it will have paid for irself twice over. (I base this on my truck getting 17mpg on the trip, and the Aspire getting 35-40mpg. rough estimate about $2000 saved in gas per year at current gas prices, plus the fact that after I retire, my truck won't have 250k on it).

Thanks, guys,

The best way to get to Richmond is I64, just leave early enough to avoid the traffic castrophe around Newprtt News/Hampton.

As far as a daily driver, any 4cyl car will do fine, or even a little Ranger if you have to drive a truck(although I don't think a range is a true TRUCK)

I want to try 460 to get to Richmond. I know a few guys that go that way every weekend and they say ot is a pretty good route. I ALWAYS try to avoid tunnel traffic- given a choice... lol.

As far as the Ranger goes, I don't plan on trading my F150 in, so I don't really want a little truck. Besides, the best mileage I've ever hear from a Ranger is a little better than 20. I need at least 30.

I used to have a 99 Saturn SL2 that would get 40mpg after I modified it. With a 5 spd of course.

I have a 97 civic hx that I've owned for 5 years now and it had 67,568 miles when I bought it, now it has 144,000 some miles. This has been an excellent car for me. It gets 37-40 couple mpg. The car has never once left me sitting anywhere it has always gotten me where I was going and thats one thing I can't say about ford. I had a 91 explorer 4wd with the automatic (a4ld) transmission and it decided to take a dump on me in the middle of the night and I had to walk a long ways too. Anyways I now have a 95 F150 Flareside 4wd that I usually drive so I can keep the miles down on the car and so I can haul my fourwheeler around when need be.

Any Honda Civic, Accord or Toyota Tercel, Camry ought to be very dependable modes of transportation with great gas mileage.

My neighbor had a Ford Festiva that he drove to work to Yorktown everyday for over 6 years with no problems until his son started driving it and trashed the motor. I think that it would have lasted forever if his son would not have touched it. I think a Ford Aspire is pretty much the same as a Festiva. It should also be a good car for the purpose you intend it for.

I live right on 460 near Suffolk. My brother travels alot and always takes 460 to I-95 to Richmond. When I go that way I always take 460 even though some say it is faster to take I-64. The only drawback is that it is a straight and boring route to take and that seems to cause alot of accidents on 460. But I would rather take it than deal with the traffic on 64.

Well, I started to look at a few other cars as well. I like the idea of a little Toyota, but I also like the VW's- Golfs and Jettas. The Saturn looks good, too, if I can get it in my price range.

As far as 460 being a boring drive, I don't really care. I'm looking for convenience. Boring I'm not worried about as long as I have some Talk Radio to keep me company... Man, I'm getting old!!!

Anyway, I got a few months left to shop around for a car, so I can really look around alot.
Thanks.

STU

460 is also a route that the local Police seem to hunt quite regular also. To me that alone makes taking 64 the choice. That and being able to do 75 and not having them look at you twice. It takes me 75 minutes to get to Virginia Beach from Glen Allen. If you leave at 5:15 you just miss the traffic at the Tunnels and still have time for a quick coffee stop at a 7/11.

Well, guys, I've gotten a line on a 1994 Escort with only 54k miles on it for $500. All I know at this point is that it needs a fuel and/or water pump. I am hoping to get a look at it today. I know it won't have the 40mpg potential I want, but for $500 I think I could live with 30 or so mpg's!

If it needs a water pump, it might be a good time for a timing belt also.