Car shopping!! What's a good a Burnermobile????

[elmostan]

I completed my first burn, but the playa took a large toll on my car I'm looking for something that gets above 25 mpg and I can stack it to the ceiling come labor day weekend. My budget's $5,000.

How do you drive to the playa?

[junglesmacks]

For that much cargo carrying capacity along with your desired mpg, you better start looking at veggie oil converted buses.

[Ugly Dougly]

Find a used Subaru.

[ygmir]

old Mercedes diesels are bullet proof!! I have several.
many advantages there, and, they're cool.

[danibel]

My van gets about 18mpg. Which is not bad considered how much I load it down for the burn. It's 1998 Ford e250 cargo van. I built a bed platform in the back and bought bins that slide perfectly underneath for more storage. Just took it to Big Sur this weekend for a little camp out. It's sweeeeet!

[MacGlenver]

One of the following should cover you.

[Jackass]

I get 20mpg out of my rig on the way to TTITD with all this junk on it and it's only a 4cyl. engine, you'll definately need to have diesel if you want payload and better mpg. My little Nissan makes me proud everytime I go on an adventure, very strong, reliable and bulletproof.

P.S. It's got a manual transmission so I don't have to worry about the transmission getting hot and/or failing

Burningman2012 308.JPG

[Runs; With Scissors]

This will get you and your gear there for just under 5,000, but I don't know about the fuel efficiency...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Ford-Goo ... 3ccacbdd2e

[Elliot]

For inexpensive transportation, I generally suggest Toyota for the reliability. But Honda and Subaru are also right up there.

And for passenger cars, I flat out avoid domestic brands. (Sorry, Uncle Sam; we have to be realistic here.)
But: Minivans. Chrysler-Dodge-Plymouth minivans are immensely popular for a reason. BUT.... Their automatic transmissions are crap, and expensive to repair. So look for a Chrysler/Dodge/Plymouth minivan with STICK SHIFT. They are rare. Maybe just keep it in the back of your mind.
(Domestic pickups and big vans are OK.)

I'm a believer in having two vehicles; one for light duty and one for heavy duty. With older models, registration and insurance is cheap -- and I buy only liability insurance. You might want a little Toyota Corolla for everyday, and Danibel's 3/4 ton van for camping.

Always, always look for stick shift for reliability and lower repair cost. And stick shift rarely leaves you stranded on the side of the road, which automatics routinely do.

That's just a few thoughts from a former automobile mechanic. Best of luck!

[theCryptofishist]

I miss stick shift and am sorry I will never drive one again...[/thread drift]

[CornMan]

I'd try to find a '91 Toyota pickup with a camper shell. If it passes smog, it should be ok.

[Bob]

I completed my first burn, but the playa took a large toll on my car I'm looking for something that gets above 25 mpg and I can stack it to the ceiling come labor day weekend. My budget's $5,000.

How do you drive to the playa?

Welcome to the eplaya. Please introduce yourself.

Your query is extremely open-ended, as you've shared nothing about yourself and your habits, including why your car died. A good running Toyota pickup might be a tragic waste on you if you have no use for it other than to vacation at Burning Man. Any running car with a good ski rack can be more than serviceable if you pack light.

[Turtleburp]

http://www.topspeed.com/cars/paramount- ... 11864.html

[ranger magnum]

85 toyota 4 runner. 1st year efi (22re engines are bulletproof) and last year with a solid front axle.

[stinkyfoot]

I hear Ford makes some kind of F250 with a hybrid engine. That's burney as fuck. (Not because of the environment but because it makes long distance driving with a carful of crap way cheaper.)

The only shame is that hybrids can't come in manual.

[Elliot]

I hear Ford makes some kind of F250 with a hybrid engine. That's burney as fuck. (Not because of the environment but because it makes long distance driving with a carful of crap way cheaper.)

Careful. Automobile manufacturers are playing fast and loose with terminology. Some domestic brands have been marketed with words such as hybrid, when the actual technology was nothing more than a simple switching mechanism that shut the engine off at a stand-still and started it again when the driver stepped on the accelerator -- such as at a traffic-light. Or shut off some of the cylinders while cruising at a light load and coasting. (Both tricks would yield a slight fuel saving -- while putting gently around with a light load.) I'm no longer keeping up in this field, but I can say that any advanced-technology-vehicle must be researched VERY carefully as to its true merits.

[BAS]

http://www.topspeed.com/cars/paramount- ... 11864.html

I want one of those!

[havoc]

i just sold my 2005 toyota matrix for about $7k, but it was in really exceedingly good shape and had fairly low mileage (despite having been to the playa once).

it was an amazing car. it took 3 people and all our stuff to the playa and back from indiana (including a costco barn strapped to the top). it got 32mpg highway and 25-28mpg city.

i miss it terribly but i traded up to a big toyota sienna, which took me to the playa this year. not as good on gas mileage (probably closer to 25mpg highway), but lots more room - makes for a better 36-hour drive.

[Tiahaar]

get a good used Honda Element.

[Ugly Dougly]

Did you bring snowboards to Burning Man?

Yes, the Element has lots of interior space. Good choice. Reasonable MPG?

[Bob]

[H.G.Crosby]

with a name like messerschmitt, it's Got to be good..

[Galaxo Magic]

2003 Matrix, has been three times. 2 people, stuffed to the gills and a roof rack. We got 32+ MPG each time. Even going over the Sierra Nevada. I highly recommend the Matrix!

[Galaxo Magic]

I also had a 1996 Ford F150 that went to 15 Burns. 15MPG with no trailer, 11MPG with trailer. Never any issues. Still going in the Matrix blew it away. Real comfort, easy driving, 32+ MPG....

[gaminwench]

I'm with tiahaar. A used Honda Element.

[AntiM]

Resurrecting a six year old thread?

[BBadger]

Back when the thread was last active, that vehicle was only nine (9) years old! Now it's old enough to drive itself.

[Captain Goddammit]

The guy hasn’t even been on eplaua in years, and ended up with a small school bus sometime in ‘13 or ‘14.

And by the way, Honda Ailment is an OK car but hasn’t got squat for hauling capacity.

[gaminwench]

Element will haul a personal camp.'Nuff said.

[some seeing eye]

No need to dis the El*ment or thread revival. I shared one in a group of three with camp infrastructure my last burn. It takes a common gutter mount roof rack. I generally carry everything but food and water on the roof when I can, and I did. You can wash the inside. Durable in miles and fuel efficiency. This is a fine thread to revive and it is not outdated. Especially since the vehicle in question is widely available in the used market and easily maintained. The only equivalent today is a heavy van, N*ssan 2500 etc.