Courier recommendations

[QDM]

The Metro/Swift is the cheapest car you can run. Easy to fix, super gas mileage, rugged, great traction, cheap to buy. Find a good one, buy it with cash, and pocket the money you would have used to make payments.

Q

[VetteOwner]

yea rreally, your gonan tear the crap out of a new car and any car, might as well use a cheap clunker.

[Javarod]

Actually well taken care of, they should last fun, Hyundai's bring to the table a 10yr/100K warranty, as does Kia. No matter what I buy, it'll have to be financed, likely the purchase will be under my company, and its likely we'll need two cars. I'm still weighing my options, but right now that's looking like the best deal, but I wouldn't be asking ifn I wasn't considering my options, after all, there's no rush.

[GasSavers_RoadWarrior]

The Kia Rio has been a solid car since about '05 when the quality picked up considerably MPG improved to a decent level, and everything "came together" as it were. I'd put one top of my shopping list unless... MPG also went up a good bit on the more recent Ford Focuses, Focus Wagons are relatively huge, and they seem to still have a few 07s hanging around still with major discounts, Ford pay delivery, rebates etc, so it might be possible to work out a "steal" on one of those. Phone the fleet manager at the dealership tell them you want two, see what you can work out.

[Javarod]

Boy, I can see why y'all didn't think the CR-V or RAV 4 were good ideas, I saw a CR-V advertised at 25 MPG as great fuel mileage, and a new courier at the company reported getting 23 or so. Considering that on a good day, my Samurai could hit 25, and my Sidekick would do it on a bad day, the new better, car based AWD aren't real good. Maybe one of those or a Sportage would be an idea ifn I go with an SUV, but likely a small car such as an Escort/Tracer or Metro/Swift.

[occupant]

Absolutely don't spend a lot of money on a courier vehicle. You'll drive 50K plus per year and no sense having a car payment and several hundred a month in maintenance and repairs.

Best courier vehicle I ever had was a 2000 Saturn SL, 5-speed, manual steering, nice and simple. I averaged 35-37mpg DOING courier work in it. I also had a 4-cylinder/automatic 1995 Geo Metro and EPA rated it 30/34 and I never got better or worse than that. Put 50K on it in a year (and had other vehicles working for me as well) and except for throwing alternator belts every month or so it did very good. Oh, and the AC kept going out but I had a warranty to cover those repairs.

One more I'd like to mention would be the 1997-2002 Mitsubishi Mirage, with the 1.5L engine and 5-speed. Originally rated 30/40 and both owners I know always got just that.

[VetteOwner]

Originally Posted by occupant

Absolutely don't spend a lot of money on a courier vehicle. You'll drive 50K plus per year and no sense having a car payment and several hundred a month in maintenance and repairs.

not to mention runnign the risk of people rearending it, our local mail guy has been hit twice because of dumb women drivers aparently not seeign a ford tarus with a amber strobe lgiht in the roof and reflective tape on the back bumper...

also that 10yr/100000 might only cover vehicles NOT being used as a business IE pizza delivery, postal delivery, etc.

courier vehicles have ALOT of wear and tear, its equivelent to being in bumper to bumper traffic daily for hours... accelerate to 5/10mph then stop go then stop go then stop...its murder on either automatics or manuals...

[theclencher]

gee, too bad boy isn't here to defend women anymore... lol

[DarbyWalters]

You can put custom springs (TALLER) and shocks on just about anything and fit slightly larger tires...this would give you better ground clearance and meet your FE requirements also. Surprised no one mentioned a small truck...add a camper shell or targa cover. Simple to work on rear wheel drive...

[VetteOwner]

Originally Posted by theclencher

gee, too bad boy isn't here to defend women anymore... lol

lol i wouldn't have said that if it weren't true... i mean comon, midized car, all working brake lights, amber strobe light, reflective tape, white tape that says something like USPS postal delivery or something and you still manage to hit it!

both times broad daylight right around noon sunny as it could be...