What should I do?

[JHZR2]

Originally Posted By: montero1
Thanks for finally some useful replies.


All of the replies have been useful... Can't help it that you got offended by pointing out some of the obvious issues. Hopefully you'll find a useful solution quickly and easily, that works out really well for you!

good luck,

JMH

 

[Titan]

I drive 50k-67k miles per year. I opted to by an 04 Gramp Marquis with 29,277 miles. Leather, Heated seats, Side air impact bags. 12,000. I'm getting a bit over 25 mpg driving around 75 mph. These cars will easily go 200,000 miles with just basic care. Hard to beat the comfort, dependability, ease of DIY work, and Safety. Since these cars listed new at over 30,000.00, obviously the main expense is depreciation. That's my recommendation, to buy a gently used car where the big depreciation has already hit.

 

[oilyriser]

The Montero should be very sensitive to wind speed, less so if its 4WD. Unless you're offroading, you can increase the depth of the front air dam so it goes as far down as the lowest parts under the car. This will get you a couple % better mpg. Next is to cover most of the radiator grille. Unless you're towing, or driving in Death Valley in summer, the car has excess cooling capacity, which causes extra drag.

Is the car getting premium gas, like recommended? You can probably go down to regular grade, with a loss of power, but check the owner's manual to make sure it's safe. I'm not familiar with that engine. This will save another few % in cost.

-air dam
-grille blocking
-slow down significantly when driving against the wind

You can make the vehicle less brick-like by doing this
http://www.greencarcongress.com/2005/11/new_boat_tail_d.html

 

[BuickGN]

Originally Posted By: montero1
What is this life I've chosen to live? Why can't you just give your opinion without ignorant comments?

Do I smoke? No.

Do I drink? No.

Do I have kids? No.

Do I pay Alimony or child support? No.

Drugs? No.

I'm not asking you where else I can save $, I'm asking would you give up a truck with 2 years of payments left, for a Newer car that gets better gas mileage? It's more a matter of not wanting to throw money down the gas tank, and what vehicle will be more reliable for this type of commute. If I want ignorant, useless comments that don't at all answer the question, I'll dig my dad up and ask him.

Some of you may be perfectly happy driving a beater, and that's just great. I for one don't have a bunch of time for working on cars, much less have the patience for them sitting in a shop, or me sitting on the side of the road. Maybe I should dumb the question down for some of you.....

What do you think will cost me less maintenance wise down the road..... The Montero, or The Mini? Does anyone own a MINI? Any other suggestions on a new car that gets good gas mileage, that is not Korean, or will not put me to sleep driving it?


I was in the same boat a couple years ago. I did a 210 mile round trip everyday. My beater gave up at 280,000 miles and I had to make a decision. In the two months it took to make that decision I had to drive the GN everyday during the summer with no AC on new drag radials that wore out in only two months and an exhaust drone that left my ears ringing. Fun drive though...

I decided on my TL and couldn't be more happy. I thought about another beater but I got nickeled and dimed so bad on the last one that it just about would've paid for a new car payment. Not to mention lost time at work every time it broke down. Not worth the headaches to me.

To offset the $700 payment I quit drinking and took up powerlifting. To tell you the truth between the no drinking and lack of repairs I think I'm saving money now.

If the truck is reliable would you be able to make up the difference of no payments in gas mileage with the new car?

 

[montero1]

Originally Posted By: JHZR2
Originally Posted By: montero1
Thanks for finally some useful replies.


All of the replies have been useful... Can't help it that you got offended by pointing out some of the obvious issues. Hopefully you'll find a useful solution quickly and easily, that works out really well for you!

good luck,

JMH


Actually, they weren't all helpful, some were critical, and didn't answer the simple question. My solution is to not ask for any more opinions on this board, because the minute I throw in the word "Corvette", it is assumed that I live some lavish lifestyle, or even worse, that it some limited edition, hand built, rarest of the rare, finest piece of Italian engineering ever concocted. It is a Chevy. A good looking one, but nonetheless, a Chevy, sold right alongside Cavaliers an Aveos. I still don't understand the poster that suggested "it makes no sense to put a lot of miles on something you're making payments on".

 

[montero1]

I figured that even if I got a car that got 33 mpg, even after 5 years, I'd still be 3000+ lighter in the wallet, and that's comparing driving the truck to the MINI everyday, which I won't. I will most likely drive the Vette 80% of the time, and I'll be ****ed if I'm going to let it collect dust in the garage. The car was built to run, and I will do so. When it racks up a ton of miles and starts crapping out (and thats IF this ever happens), I'll buy another one, or maybe the charm of owning a Vette will be gone, and I'll buy something that gets great gas mileage. Thats a long way off, I'll just enjoy the Vette now, and worry about the mileage in 6 or so years, when it approaches 200,000 miles. Maybe if I keep it until 500,000 Chevy will give me a new one.

I love the truck, so I'm going to keep it. It has been very reliable, and it is one of the few vehicles that I've owned where I wasn't looking to go with something different after a year. The only truck I think I'd go for instead is a G500, which is entirely out of my price range, and I wouldn't spend that type of $ on a vehicle even if I had it like that, which I don't.

18/22 mpg isn't the end of the world, considering I really only drive it a couple times a month. Chances are I'll end up working closer to home in the future, and this won't be such a big deal.

Thanks for all the replies (well, some of them), but lets let this horse die.......

 

[DmanWho]

For $17,000 you could get a fully loaded '08 Suzuki SX4. ESP, 4 wheel disc w/ABS, iAWD, Smart-Pass Keyless entry, 9 speaker stereo w/CD changer and sub-woofer, steering wheel mounted stereo and cruise control, power windows, etc,...
The '08 manual has a taller 5th gear than the '07 manual, and the 4sp. automatic is great. We really like ours! For highway commutes, 30+MPG should be attainable. The handling of the AWD is great, and if you're going for better mpg, then switching to 2wd mode helps. This car is a lot of fun to drive. Aftermarket performance support is also underway.

I just couldn't let go...

 

[lovcom]

Ok, here is my take, and please bare with me:

First, ask yourself the question: How many miles do I need to drive before I retire? Yes, retire. Lets say for the sake of argument that you will need to drive around (yes this is an estimate) 500,000 miles to/from work until you retire.

Ok, so now this changes the issues, so now it's not so much about a new car, but rather about the need to buy "miles" of transportation to work, and around town weekend drives.

So, you might find it wise to have the following critiria when going out to "buy" thos 500k miles of transportation:

Fuel Efficient. (gas is only going to increase in cost)
Reasonably Comfy.
Very Reliable/Durable.
Cheap to Maintain.
Low Cost of Ownership.
Low Purchase Price. (these last two items mean you're mindful of retirement dollars).

And since you'll drive this solution until it dies you do not care about resell value.

And since you need the car to get to and from work, and NOT to amuse yourself (sex, sports, eating is for that), you care little about "fun", especially for a get-to-work car.

So what does this boil down to?

EASY!

Get a 2008 Toyota Prius, or a 2008 Toyota Yaris Hatchback.

...then, save, save, save.....

 

[road_rascal]

I can't believe nobody questioned the sale of the Goldwing. For shame...

 

[The Critic]

Originally Posted By: lovcom
Get a 2008 Toyota Prius, or a 2008 Toyota Yaris Hatchback.

...then, save, save, save.....


Prius is on sale for $20,999 + TTL in the local paper today.

 

[rpn453]

Originally Posted By: montero1
Thats a long way off, I'll just enjoy the Vette now, and worry about the mileage in 6 or so years, when it approaches 200,000 miles.


No need to worry; a well maintained high-mileage vehicle is a beautiful thing! If you have decent roads and a safe place to park it, you might as well get some use out of it.

 

[JHZR2]

very true! too many condemn their 200k vehicle because keeping it "isnt worth it". With good maintenance and a bit of patience, it is more than worth it to keep it.

It would be neat to see a 200k or 500k vette from a board member!!!

JMH

 

[montero1]

Originally Posted By: JHZR2
very true! too many condemn their 200k vehicle because keeping it "isnt worth it". With good maintenance and a bit of patience, it is more than worth it to keep it.

It would be neat to see a 200k or 500k vette from a board member!!!

JMH


That is what I'm going to strive for. Although I am a car whore, I've never been one to get the newer model of the same car I had before, usually I've gotten something way different. I think it's cool to see someone who has 300,000 miles on something, and even better when it looks like it has maybe 50,000 miles on it. My wifes' Mercedes has around 105,000 on it, and it is pristene inside, very clean outside. I have no doubts that thing will last forever. I've learned to do most everything service wise on it, so maintenence isn't so expensive, though I'm sure there are a lot of things that could go wrong that are beyond my tool chest and capabilities.

Seems like a lot people who get rid of a car after a ton of miles didn't take very good care of the appearance, that's when they feel the need to ditch it.

Either that, or the car was a bottom of the line turd model, with no options or cheaply built and the car beat the owner to death by being uncomfortable.