Looking for a cheap to run/maintain daily - budget $4k

[Bizmark]

My commo is pretty thirsty taking about $70 odd of fuel to go 400ks. So I'm considering buying a second car which will be much better on fuel so my weekly expenditures go down.

My budget is $4000 max, this is to cover purchase price of the car and any costs to get it RWC if the seller doesn't supply one. If I can also squeeze rego and even insurance into that $4k that'd be great too

The car has to be a manual, be good on fuel (something along the lines of $50 to get 450ks if not more) and be reliable as it will replace the commo as the daily.

While I want something good on fuel, I would like for it to not be a slug. Preferably it'd be able to keep up with traffic easily and be able to merge/overtake when i need to do so. A bonus would be to easily get some extra ponies out of the engine to make it a bit quicker.

Lets hear your ideas!

EDIT: Has to be something of the 4 wheel variety, another purpose of getting a 2nd car is so i can learn manual

 

[CSP]

You don't think it's going to save you money do you? $20 less a week to run is only $1040 a year. BUT you then have all the running costs of BOTH cars plus I assume you'll still drive the Commodore a bit too. Overall, it will end up being more expensive to own two cars, not less.

 

[sleepa]

I'd say a good start would be a mid 90's nissan pulsar with the SR20de engine. Called the SSS, you might be able to pick one up for 4 grand.

My GF has a 94 pulsar with the 1.6 L engine and it is very efficient, reasonable amount of space and a decent amount of power but it loses a bit up the top, but i reckon the 2L version would be a pretty damn good daily.

Heres one i just found
1995 NISSAN PULSAR SSS N14 CBU Private Cars For Sale in NSW - carsales.com.au

 

[brokenikon]

Scooter. Definitely scooter

 

[ssv 08 ute]

Scooter. Definitely scooter

lololo...scooter = fail on the dont wont a slug meter...

 

[nemesis_adrasteia]

rodeo/hilux deisel, reliable, relatively cheap to run and practical.

 

[Astranomical]

Hilux diesel is also a fail on the "don't want a slug" meter...while they're practically bulletproof, and good on fuel, they're also as gutless as Hell - the older ones anyway. Can't say anything about the Rodeo, haven't driven one, but I'd imagine they'd be similar.

 

[tim005]

what about a motorbike, a small 250 will get you around town and at quite a zippy pace.
or if you're real stingy you could go for a postie bike.... reliable as #### and bulletproof, although gutless.

 

[50LTRv8]

i vote for a bike also

 

[Bizmark]

While bikes are cheap to run and have a fair bit of go, i'm after a car so i can learn manual in that too, but thanks for suggesting bikes anyway.