Trading off a good car usually causes car payments which is not good.
Anyone downsizing?
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Agreed. one can purchase a lot of fuel for the price of a nice 4-banger.
Wife drives an escape hybrid (typically 36-38 65% hwy) and I an older grand cherokee (18-19 typical). We paid good coin for the wife's car. That cost really hurt, but to get that kind of mpg, we were in corolla/matrix/vibe territory, way too small for a family trip car.
My 4 cyl accord only did 25 mpg typical, which really isn't much better than the Jeep. When you consider that I carry a good bit of cargo 2-4 times per month and occasionally tow, I'll stick with the jeep, thank you. The accord was just getting torn up in the trunk/back seats trying to cram gear in there all the time.
She wants me to get a prius after hers is paid for and due to the limited cargo space I just can't see it working.
M
Wife drives an escape hybrid (typically 36-38 65% hwy) and I an older grand cherokee (18-19 typical). We paid good coin for the wife's car. That cost really hurt, but to get that kind of mpg, we were in corolla/matrix/vibe territory, way too small for a family trip car.
My 4 cyl accord only did 25 mpg typical, which really isn't much better than the Jeep. When you consider that I carry a good bit of cargo 2-4 times per month and occasionally tow, I'll stick with the jeep, thank you. The accord was just getting torn up in the trunk/back seats trying to cram gear in there all the time.
She wants me to get a prius after hers is paid for and due to the limited cargo space I just can't see it working.
M
I drive four minutes to the train station 5 days a week. My 98 Yukon is long paid for and looks and runs mint.
I want a motorcycle, but the wife says no way. I tried to say it was to conserve fuel.
I want a motorcycle, but the wife says no way. I tried to say it was to conserve fuel.
We upsized because we need a newer bigger car (IS250) for years down the road (planning 1-2 kids in 10 years), and currently we are already 27mpg (corolla) and 29mpg (Integra) so that is impossible to do for a bigger car unless going hybrid (which I don't want).
Oh well, we now pay more for gas (91 vs 87, but still 27mpg), but driving a nice new car is rewarding compare to 10 and 13 year old beaters.
Oh well, we now pay more for gas (91 vs 87, but still 27mpg), but driving a nice new car is rewarding compare to 10 and 13 year old beaters.
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Originally Posted By: Kestas
I drive 5K each year on my winter car, a 91 Grand Marquis that gets 17-22 mpg. It's condition - both mechanical and visual - rivals many newer cars. The market value of this car is very limited, regardless of how perfect it may be. I'm not going to throw away a good and elegant piece of iron (and comfort) and shell out big money just to save a few hundred dollars in gasoline.
Assuming 5K driven per year, $3.20 per gal, 20 mpg with the 91GrMarq, and 32 mpg with any new car, I stand to save $300 per year. Big whoop. Not worth it in my case.
some of us drive 40k miles a year. :>)
I drive 5K each year on my winter car, a 91 Grand Marquis that gets 17-22 mpg. It's condition - both mechanical and visual - rivals many newer cars. The market value of this car is very limited, regardless of how perfect it may be. I'm not going to throw away a good and elegant piece of iron (and comfort) and shell out big money just to save a few hundred dollars in gasoline.
Assuming 5K driven per year, $3.20 per gal, 20 mpg with the 91GrMarq, and 32 mpg with any new car, I stand to save $300 per year. Big whoop. Not worth it in my case.
some of us drive 40k miles a year. :>)
I love my car, but I don't love the gas mileage (last tank was 15.7 MPG). My car is a 92 Acura Legend with a 3.2 liter V6.
This is with about a 60/40 split of highway/city driving.
Honestly, my next car may well be a 4 cyl. Still would get me where I need to go, without sucking my wallet empty.
This is with about a 60/40 split of highway/city driving.
Honestly, my next car may well be a 4 cyl. Still would get me where I need to go, without sucking my wallet empty.
Originally Posted By: PandaBear
We upsized because we need a newer bigger car (IS250) for years down the road (planning 1-2 kids in 10 years), and currently we are already 27mpg (corolla) and 29mpg (Integra) so that is impossible to do for a bigger car unless going hybrid (which I don't want).
A Car seat fits my 40 mpg saturn fine. Planning a kid in 10 years is a stretch to justify a bigger car now.
Conversely, my mom bought a tiny dodge omni when I was 4 and kept it through my growth spurt.
We upsized because we need a newer bigger car (IS250) for years down the road (planning 1-2 kids in 10 years), and currently we are already 27mpg (corolla) and 29mpg (Integra) so that is impossible to do for a bigger car unless going hybrid (which I don't want).
A Car seat fits my 40 mpg saturn fine. Planning a kid in 10 years is a stretch to justify a bigger car now.
Conversely, my mom bought a tiny dodge omni when I was 4 and kept it through my growth spurt.
Originally Posted By: eljefino
Originally Posted By: PandaBear
We upsized because we need a newer bigger car (IS250) for years down the road (planning 1-2 kids in 10 years), and currently we are already 27mpg (corolla) and 29mpg (Integra) so that is impossible to do for a bigger car unless going hybrid (which I don't want).
A Car seat fits my 40 mpg saturn fine. Planning a kid in 10 years is a stretch to justify a bigger car now.
Conversely, my mom bought a tiny dodge omni when I was 4 and kept it through my growth spurt.
it is actually a good tactic to get what you want from spouse. we have my wife's 2 door as family car. it is big and safe. i have a 92 commuter corolla that gets 31-34 mpg combined trips. we need a nice subaru wagon or small suv but too poor to get one.
just the other day our cleaning lady rolled up to our place of business with a new caddy escalator with huge rims. we took that into consideration when her contract expire this year and will give the gig to someone truly need a job to support their family.
Originally Posted By: PandaBear
We upsized because we need a newer bigger car (IS250) for years down the road (planning 1-2 kids in 10 years), and currently we are already 27mpg (corolla) and 29mpg (Integra) so that is impossible to do for a bigger car unless going hybrid (which I don't want).
A Car seat fits my 40 mpg saturn fine. Planning a kid in 10 years is a stretch to justify a bigger car now.
Conversely, my mom bought a tiny dodge omni when I was 4 and kept it through my growth spurt.
it is actually a good tactic to get what you want from spouse. we have my wife's 2 door as family car. it is big and safe. i have a 92 commuter corolla that gets 31-34 mpg combined trips. we need a nice subaru wagon or small suv but too poor to get one.
just the other day our cleaning lady rolled up to our place of business with a new caddy escalator with huge rims. we took that into consideration when her contract expire this year and will give the gig to someone truly need a job to support their family.
You don't think your cleaning lady needs a job. She has to pay the note on the Caddy and maybe another one on the wheels.
Originally Posted By: M1Accord
just the other day our cleaning lady rolled up to our place of business with a new caddy escalator with huge rims. we took that into consideration when her contract expire this year and will give the gig to someone truly need a job to support their family.
That's funny, but sad at the same time.
just the other day our cleaning lady rolled up to our place of business with a new caddy escalator with huge rims. we took that into consideration when her contract expire this year and will give the gig to someone truly need a job to support their family.
That's funny, but sad at the same time.
Originally Posted By: eljefino
Originally Posted By: PandaBear
We upsized because we need a newer bigger car (IS250) for years down the road (planning 1-2 kids in 10 years), and currently we are already 27mpg (corolla) and 29mpg (Integra) so that is impossible to do for a bigger car unless going hybrid (which I don't want).
A Car seat fits my 40 mpg saturn fine. Planning a kid in 10 years is a stretch to justify a bigger car now.
Conversely, my mom bought a tiny dodge omni when I was 4 and kept it through my growth spurt.
It is not a big car (IS250), consider it is only comfortably sit 4, RWD, small trunk, and get right now 27mpg combined. Just not a sub-compact like what we used to drive, but hey, you can't haul 2 kids and 2 adults with a sub-compact.
Actually, we plan to have kids in 3 years, and plan to keep the car for 10 years min and 20 years max. By that time I estimate gas will be $10 / gal and average car will be 50mpg, and the leather worn and gaskets leak.
So, 2 old cars (170k miles and 210k miles) combine will last me 6 more years (estimate 120k miles additional life combine). By that time the new car will have about 120k miles and we get one more new car to replace the 2 old cars, so we will have a new and a 120k miles car.
At that time, 1 6yr old kid and 1 4 yr old kid, and a dog, will be time for a minivan, and the "new" car we just got this month will be for commuting, and the minivan will be driving around town to pickup/drop off kids.
Perfect plan.
Originally Posted By: PandaBear
We upsized because we need a newer bigger car (IS250) for years down the road (planning 1-2 kids in 10 years), and currently we are already 27mpg (corolla) and 29mpg (Integra) so that is impossible to do for a bigger car unless going hybrid (which I don't want).
A Car seat fits my 40 mpg saturn fine. Planning a kid in 10 years is a stretch to justify a bigger car now.
Conversely, my mom bought a tiny dodge omni when I was 4 and kept it through my growth spurt.
It is not a big car (IS250), consider it is only comfortably sit 4, RWD, small trunk, and get right now 27mpg combined. Just not a sub-compact like what we used to drive, but hey, you can't haul 2 kids and 2 adults with a sub-compact.
Actually, we plan to have kids in 3 years, and plan to keep the car for 10 years min and 20 years max. By that time I estimate gas will be $10 / gal and average car will be 50mpg, and the leather worn and gaskets leak.
So, 2 old cars (170k miles and 210k miles) combine will last me 6 more years (estimate 120k miles additional life combine). By that time the new car will have about 120k miles and we get one more new car to replace the 2 old cars, so we will have a new and a 120k miles car.
At that time, 1 6yr old kid and 1 4 yr old kid, and a dog, will be time for a minivan, and the "new" car we just got this month will be for commuting, and the minivan will be driving around town to pickup/drop off kids.
Perfect plan.
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I'm considering downsizing from my 04 Tacoma double cab (Title in hand) to a Pontiac Vibe or Corolla S and possibly break even. I average 15mpg with the Tacoma around town, and basically it gets driven about 10-15 miles a day unless I need it for other trips. We will be needing to upsize the wife's car eventually, with a child on the way, so I'm hoping it will even out.
I bought the Tacoma brand new in 2004, and have modified it for heavy offroad use, which I have maybe moderately have done twice in the last two years.. wasteful I think.. But at the time, hey it seemed like a good idea. However the wife doesn't want me to get rid of it because she thinks I'll regret it. I probably will, but hey, sometimes life is about sacrifices.
I bought the Tacoma brand new in 2004, and have modified it for heavy offroad use, which I have maybe moderately have done twice in the last two years.. wasteful I think.. But at the time, hey it seemed like a good idea. However the wife doesn't want me to get rid of it because she thinks I'll regret it. I probably will, but hey, sometimes life is about sacrifices.
Better mileage in your Integra than your Corolla? Wow.
Originally Posted By: ToyotaNSaturn
Originally Posted By: M1Accord
just the other day our cleaning lady rolled up to our place of business with a new caddy escalator with huge rims. we took that into consideration when her contract expire this year and will give the gig to someone truly need a job to support their family.
That's funny, but sad at the same time.
Originally Posted By: javacontour
You don't think your cleaning lady needs a job. She has to pay the note on the Caddy and maybe another one on the wheels.
the current value of her car is 5 times the value of our 2 cars combined. the sad part is that we had to go with her because it is a minority woman owned company (EEO [censored] that cost more than regular company) to be EEO compliance. she cleans our place of business not our residence, as that is my job numero dos.
Originally Posted By: M1Accord
just the other day our cleaning lady rolled up to our place of business with a new caddy escalator with huge rims. we took that into consideration when her contract expire this year and will give the gig to someone truly need a job to support their family.
That's funny, but sad at the same time.
Originally Posted By: javacontour
You don't think your cleaning lady needs a job. She has to pay the note on the Caddy and maybe another one on the wheels.
the current value of her car is 5 times the value of our 2 cars combined. the sad part is that we had to go with her because it is a minority woman owned company (EEO [censored] that cost more than regular company) to be EEO compliance. she cleans our place of business not our residence, as that is my job numero dos.
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Originally Posted By: MrCritical
Better mileage in your Integra than your Corolla? Wow.
my corolla can get 38 mpg smooth highway driving of 200+ trip. it is well tuned engine for a 1992 technology. using 5W20 oil and keep tire pressure at 35 psi help as well.
Better mileage in your Integra than your Corolla? Wow.
my corolla can get 38 mpg smooth highway driving of 200+ trip. it is well tuned engine for a 1992 technology. using 5W20 oil and keep tire pressure at 35 psi help as well.
The way a lot of people drive I could get better gas mileage with a V8 than they would get with a 4 banger.
While driving slow waiting for a light to change I have people pull out from behind me and accelerate hard while looking at the red light then they brake hard and stop about that time the light goes green and I pass them still going at a steady speed They will blast around me and stop at the next light.
When we get across town we are still together and while they stopped and started several times I drove at a steady speed to make the lights.
We both arrive at the same place at the same time but they have put a lot more wear on their vehicle and used 4 times as much fuel.
Beam me up Scottie their is no sign of Intelligence on planet Earth
While driving slow waiting for a light to change I have people pull out from behind me and accelerate hard while looking at the red light then they brake hard and stop about that time the light goes green and I pass them still going at a steady speed They will blast around me and stop at the next light.
When we get across town we are still together and while they stopped and started several times I drove at a steady speed to make the lights.
We both arrive at the same place at the same time but they have put a lot more wear on their vehicle and used 4 times as much fuel.
Beam me up Scottie their is no sign of Intelligence on planet Earth
I've posted this before but readers of this topic will find it most usefull. Use it to calculate pay-back for an alternate vehicle.
http://www.hughchou.org/calc/guzzle.cgi
http://www.hughchou.org/calc/guzzle.cgi
I'm keeping my car, but downsizing it's fuel use.
p.s. that cleaning lady was probably offering other products and services on the side, which allows for the fancy car.
p.s. that cleaning lady was probably offering other products and services on the side, which allows for the fancy car.
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