New Member looking for high MPG vehicle

[cruiserdarren]

Great website. Been looking it over. Sounds like a CRX HF or Civic VX is the best way to go. Although, I may have a line on a cheap 87 CRX Si. Not sure if I should go this route or not. Lots of posts on different engines. Not sure what they mean for engine codes although I have heard of the B16. I was curious is swapping a CRX HF tranny would help MPG in the Si or even the HF motor with the Si fuel injection. Any thoughts? Thanks.

[mrmad]

An 87 is the 1st generation CRX, which swaps from the 2nd gen (88-91) are not bolt in. You could put a VX or 2nd Gen HF engine and transmission in it, but it will require some fabrication on the engine mounts, different axles, and a lot of wiring.

[cruiserdarren]

What real world MPG are people on the forum getting out of an 87 CRX Si?

[Danronian]

I wouldn't go with an 87 if you are thinking of doing any type of motor swap. Those old CRXs are light, but the cost of mounts to do any type of common swap will be high.

I would look at the 88-91 CRX (HF get great mileage)or 92-95 civic hatch as a high MPG platform if you are looking for a Honda.

[mrmad]

The other car I would consider would be a 3cyl, 5 speed Geo Metro. They did make an XFi version in the early 90s that was a very high mileage car, but good luck finding one.

If I were shopping for a high FE car, I'd look into a 96+ Geo metro. You won't be paying the Honda premium price and you probably could get a clean one with less then 100K miles for around $2500 or less. A 96+ is also OBDII, so a scanguage would work on it.

[jBubb]

I just bought my 99 Metro with 98k miles for 1k.

Is in good shape, with slight wear on the paint. Getting about 50mpg before any mods, just driving it easy and making sure tire pressure is on spec.

[GasSavers_Ryland]

I have two friends who clame to get up to 40mpg with the CRX SI.
I'd sell you my 1985 CRX HF, with a compleat 2nd engine with a new timing belt and water pump, for $2,000, it's about as light weight as you are going to get.

[cruiserdarren]

What years were the Geo XFI made?

[cruiserdarren]

How do you identify the XFI. Is it always a 3 cyl, 1.0 liter?

[mrmad]

The XFi was a 3 cyl 1.0 liter with special cams and a tall final drive ratio. I think it was made from 92-95 but some of the Metro experts here would probably know better.