Not having payments makes up for a lot. My '86 Saab gets "only" about 27 mpg in mixed everyday driving, and about 32 mpg on the freeway. To spend 5 or 6 years paying off an econobox that might average 35 or 40 mpg is just not worth it to me.
Anyone downsizing?
- Thread starter ChromiumSteel
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Got rid of my 94 4 cyl 4WD Toyota Pickup. Traded it on a Forrester. Mileage is up from an average of 22.5 to 26 mpg. Not super but I needed 4WD and room to haul grandkids.
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Just added a 94 Geo Prizm 5-speed to my high mileage fleet. 150K. Haven't even driven it enough to get a MPG reading yet.
I got rid om my 95 S-15 GMC about 4 months ago and bought a late model used VW Jetta Diesel Wagon. I just averaged 47.6 mpg on a 2000 mile trip with 2 people and over 100 lb of luggage.
Worst tank in 6000 miles of driving it was 38.0 mpg. Average about 44 mpg.
I doubt that the change would make sense to a bean counter if only $$ were considered, but I wanted to get rid of the truck and get a more car like vehicle so it was a good choice.
Worst tank in 6000 miles of driving it was 38.0 mpg. Average about 44 mpg.
I doubt that the change would make sense to a bean counter if only $$ were considered, but I wanted to get rid of the truck and get a more car like vehicle so it was a good choice.
I will be upsizing. Money(inspection) states that a move up to Saturn would only put me about $1000 out of pocket, if nothing went wrong with my current car. I get leather, a bigger engine, a 4th speed, a real car.
Originally Posted By: ChromiumSteel
I'm curious whether anyone is parking their gas hogs and going to smaller more fuel efficient transportation? Especially for the commute.
I live within 2 miles of work/school, so I walk or ride my bike, unless it is storming.
My wife and I take turns driving our cars on the weekends to keep gas spendings averaged. My car averages at least 20 mpg, and my wife's averages at least 28 mpg for our driving styles.
If going on strictly highway driving, then I get at least 27 mpg and my wife has gotten at least 35 mpg with hers. That's not much to complain about when some people get less than half that with trucks and SUVs.
I'm curious whether anyone is parking their gas hogs and going to smaller more fuel efficient transportation? Especially for the commute.
I live within 2 miles of work/school, so I walk or ride my bike, unless it is storming.
My wife and I take turns driving our cars on the weekends to keep gas spendings averaged. My car averages at least 20 mpg, and my wife's averages at least 28 mpg for our driving styles.
If going on strictly highway driving, then I get at least 27 mpg and my wife has gotten at least 35 mpg with hers. That's not much to complain about when some people get less than half that with trucks and SUVs.
Iam keeping the cars, downsizing on thier diet. These Florida drivers are the worst, everytime I consider a small car for my wife, I think of these idiots and like the idea of her in the "Lincolnator". I have a company truck so my gas consumption is somewhat covered, to and from work and any errands in between. A big perk, now days. If I didnt Id be riding the motorcycle to work. Still a shame, I love my Hemi truck, but is just crazy on gas. Nice truck, Ill still use it for camping with the dirt bikes, but Id like to drive it more. Going on two years old and has 13,000 miles.
Well, when my 2.5L daytona died I went to a 4.6L V8 crown vic. So I guess I supersized?
Couldn't be happier even with gasprices. It gets only 2-3mpg less than the 4 banger.
Couldn't be happier even with gasprices. It gets only 2-3mpg less than the 4 banger.
I saw this gas crunch coming years ago, and many of you did too I hope. I replaced a 2006 Mustang with a Toyota Yaris, and now I get 45mpg highway. It's even an automatic.
I prefer to save my $$ and buy more condo's to rent out. Since losing my joy years ago, when I use to play with my Tonka fleet of cars, I have decided that cars in general are a money pit, a way to expensive way to stay "fashionable", and I found better ways to confirm my self-worth then up'ing into the latest hot car/truck/SUV.
I think that this compulsion for Americans to sink tons of $$ into bigger, faster, more powerful, vehicles in order to somehow fill a void in their Fruedian Id is really sad. Thousands of families all over this nation are destroyed financially because dad or mom feel this sick entitlement to a car or truck that they cannot justify financially, or offers them utility they can never really justify.
Just think how many tens of thousands of $$ most of us have spent over our lifetimes on cars, and often cars that we didn't need to buy, and often we replaced cars that had little or no problems to begin with.
That demon materialism, greed, that compulsion to keep up or surpass the Jones have destroyed countless families all around. I see it every day, on my street, at work. Just go to any nice apartment complex full of renters, and what does one see parked under many of the car ports? Big huge late model trucks, SUV's, Range Rovers, Lexus, Mercedes Benze, BMW's and I just have to shake my head at the sickness that befalls our once fine nation.
Am I the only one? Yea, I too was one of those lemmings but glad to be out of that mode.
So to the point, yea, I have downsized. I want to have a long life full of peace, stability, and options. And at the end of the day, it;s about options.
You only live once.
I prefer to save my $$ and buy more condo's to rent out. Since losing my joy years ago, when I use to play with my Tonka fleet of cars, I have decided that cars in general are a money pit, a way to expensive way to stay "fashionable", and I found better ways to confirm my self-worth then up'ing into the latest hot car/truck/SUV.
I think that this compulsion for Americans to sink tons of $$ into bigger, faster, more powerful, vehicles in order to somehow fill a void in their Fruedian Id is really sad. Thousands of families all over this nation are destroyed financially because dad or mom feel this sick entitlement to a car or truck that they cannot justify financially, or offers them utility they can never really justify.
Just think how many tens of thousands of $$ most of us have spent over our lifetimes on cars, and often cars that we didn't need to buy, and often we replaced cars that had little or no problems to begin with.
That demon materialism, greed, that compulsion to keep up or surpass the Jones have destroyed countless families all around. I see it every day, on my street, at work. Just go to any nice apartment complex full of renters, and what does one see parked under many of the car ports? Big huge late model trucks, SUV's, Range Rovers, Lexus, Mercedes Benze, BMW's and I just have to shake my head at the sickness that befalls our once fine nation.
Am I the only one? Yea, I too was one of those lemmings but glad to be out of that mode.
So to the point, yea, I have downsized. I want to have a long life full of peace, stability, and options. And at the end of the day, it;s about options.
You only live once.
Well, unless you are living in rural Canada or the prairies (where chicken farmers roam the earth with empty beds pickup trucks with gunracks behind their heads), otherwise, westcoasters tend to drive smaller cars here up in Beaverland. For example: Black cab and Yellotops used to operate a fleet of Chevs V-6 (those notorious gasket leaker) until recently, where about 20% of their fleets are now Prius, 60%+ are corollas, the rest between some beat up caravans (for handicap wheelchairs), or VW Jetta or occasionally, a Honda civic 7th gen. No more big Caprice or Chev FWD V-6s, they are all in the wrecker's graves.
Wifey downsized in vehicle weight and body style (from 4-runner V6 to Camry Vee6), and fuel economy almost doubled (used to consume 20Litres gas/100kms in the city; now it's about 12L/100kms). It's our family hauler and she cannot see herself in a vehicle smaller than that. We may consider further downsizing to a Honda element 4-cyl in a couple of year's time.
Me? I downsized from a 1.6L Mazda 323 (been with me for 16 yrs before I sold it) to a 1.5L fit. Fuel economy and output is up though: from 7.6L/100kms city on my 323 to 6.4L/100kms on my fit; 6.7L/100kms highway to 5.8L/100kms on highway). I think I lost about 10% of interior space but I also gained a nicely done Vtec engine with enough zoom and oomph for my driving lifestyle (occasionally I would go on a trip to the windy, hilly terrains such as northern cascades, fraser valley,etc.). What's more? Fit actually classified as LEV vehicle so it's also environmentally-sound.
Well, that's just part of my story. I intend to keep my fit running for another 18+ years to recoup all the money spent before I perhaps buy one more car but by then when that happens, it would probably be my last vehicle before I become too old to drive and I may take this vehicle to the grave with me.
*grin*
Q.
Wifey downsized in vehicle weight and body style (from 4-runner V6 to Camry Vee6), and fuel economy almost doubled (used to consume 20Litres gas/100kms in the city; now it's about 12L/100kms). It's our family hauler and she cannot see herself in a vehicle smaller than that. We may consider further downsizing to a Honda element 4-cyl in a couple of year's time.
Me? I downsized from a 1.6L Mazda 323 (been with me for 16 yrs before I sold it) to a 1.5L fit. Fuel economy and output is up though: from 7.6L/100kms city on my 323 to 6.4L/100kms on my fit; 6.7L/100kms highway to 5.8L/100kms on highway). I think I lost about 10% of interior space but I also gained a nicely done Vtec engine with enough zoom and oomph for my driving lifestyle (occasionally I would go on a trip to the windy, hilly terrains such as northern cascades, fraser valley,etc.). What's more? Fit actually classified as LEV vehicle so it's also environmentally-sound.
Well, that's just part of my story. I intend to keep my fit running for another 18+ years to recoup all the money spent before I perhaps buy one more car but by then when that happens, it would probably be my last vehicle before I become too old to drive and I may take this vehicle to the grave with me.
*grin*
Q.
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At work, I just went from an 03 Astro to an 08 E150. I hate it. Even with bad idler arms, beat shocks and grinding rear brakes, the Astro at least stopped in a straight line. Ive had some real junkers in my day, but this brand new E 150 is the worse handling POS I've ever driven.
Update on the 94 Geo Prizm: 33.1 MPG mixed driving.
Originally Posted By: MrCritical
Better mileage in your Integra than your Corolla? Wow.
Yes, the 3spd auto in corolla sucks in fuel economy due to the short gear ratio, and the Integra's 4spd auto has very tall gear ratio.
I should have paid more for a 4spd auto or 5spd manual corolla.
Better mileage in your Integra than your Corolla? Wow.
Yes, the 3spd auto in corolla sucks in fuel economy due to the short gear ratio, and the Integra's 4spd auto has very tall gear ratio.
I should have paid more for a 4spd auto or 5spd manual corolla.
Originally Posted By: PandaBear
Originally Posted By: MrCritical
Better mileage in your Integra than your Corolla? Wow.
Yes, the 3spd auto in corolla sucks in fuel economy due to the short gear ratio, and the Integra's 4spd auto has very tall gear ratio.
I should have paid more for a 4spd auto or 5spd manual corolla.
how can one tell if his corolla has 3 or 4 speed automatic trans. i have 92 cramolla le. it looks like 3 speed due to D-2-1 setup but it gets very good gas mileage on highway coasting at 70 mph (about 34-38 mpg depending on wind and road condition).
Originally Posted By: MrCritical
Better mileage in your Integra than your Corolla? Wow.
Yes, the 3spd auto in corolla sucks in fuel economy due to the short gear ratio, and the Integra's 4spd auto has very tall gear ratio.
I should have paid more for a 4spd auto or 5spd manual corolla.
how can one tell if his corolla has 3 or 4 speed automatic trans. i have 92 cramolla le. it looks like 3 speed due to D-2-1 setup but it gets very good gas mileage on highway coasting at 70 mph (about 34-38 mpg depending on wind and road condition).
and no. i can't downsize anymore as i have a 17 years old car. i want to upsize to a suv for family vehicle, bad weather, and family vacation as we have 3 people and our family ride is a 2 door. yes, living responsibly with your money does have its backlash, you can't buy craps like people making 1/3 our income.
my cleaning lady drive better car than me.
my cleaning lady drive better car than me.
i saw an artical in a magazine that stated if everyone in the USA would have the proper tire pressure in their vehicles,turn off lights when leaving a room we could really cut alot of foreign oil dependance.
If alot of people would drive near the speed limit,they would be amazed at the mpg's they would get.I know when iam on the interstate i drive 5 mile over the limit,people pass me at I know close to 85 mph.love the soccer moms in the big full size suvs,with the hammer down blabbing on cell phones.They all must be rich 3.14 a gallon does not phaze them.
Originally Posted By: harley145000
If alot of people would drive near the speed limit,they would be amazed at the mpg's they would get.I know when iam on the interstate i drive 5 mile over the limit,people pass me at I know close to 85 mph.love the soccer moms in the big full size suvs,with the hammer down blabbing on cell phones.They all must be rich 3.14 a gallon does not phaze them.
so you know, soccer mom don't pump gas as that would be a job of soccer dad, aka the sucker who's stuck with the bills and the maintenance. so who cares if it's 3.14 or 5.14, she's not paying for it.
If alot of people would drive near the speed limit,they would be amazed at the mpg's they would get.I know when iam on the interstate i drive 5 mile over the limit,people pass me at I know close to 85 mph.love the soccer moms in the big full size suvs,with the hammer down blabbing on cell phones.They all must be rich 3.14 a gallon does not phaze them.
so you know, soccer mom don't pump gas as that would be a job of soccer dad, aka the sucker who's stuck with the bills and the maintenance. so who cares if it's 3.14 or 5.14, she's not paying for it.
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