Gas Saving Myths

[OldDogDan]

Originally Posted by spookydave

Ok, then riddle me this.

Say I sell my gas hog (or park it as it's not worth selling) and buy a green car (or greener).
Say I drive 14K miles a year (I drive less).
I figure any car I'd want to drive will cost at least 25K so lets use that number. I'm sure it's low though.

Say I keep cars for 5 years (I'm a 10 year guy but most are not)
I get 11 mpg now in town (all I drive pretty much), how much better milage would you think I would need to get to be a head of the game in 5 years??
25K + 4 years of loan intrest + 70K miles of fuel cost =
Paid off truck + 70K miles of fuel cost =

I think I'm better off with my paid off gas hog.

I get your point, but the comparison is not quite valid, because you're keeping the 'burban. You could sell it and buy a very nice, even luxury, used high mpg car and break even or come out ahead in 5 years.

[evdog]

Originally Posted by OldDogDan

I get your point, but the comparison is not quite valid, because you're keeping the 'burban. You could sell it and buy a very nice, even luxury, used high mpg car and break even or come out ahead in 5 years.

Thats true - you hadn't factored in the sale price of the suburban. And likewise with all the other differences freekengo mentions. Insurance would probably be the biggest one. I went from truck to small car recently and can't say I miss it, except when I have something large to move or when I'm off pavement. The car is a ton more fun to drive everywhere else

[spookydave]

Originally Posted by OldDogDan

I get your point, but the comparison is not quite valid, because you're keeping the 'burban. You could sell it and buy a very nice, even luxury, used high mpg car and break even or come out ahead in 5 years.

A very nice Suburban with a big block is not worth much these days. That's the only reason I would keep it. Hard to sell a 40K+ rig that is super nice for 9K (if you are real lucky) or so. Most lots won't even take them on trade.

So say I sell it or donate it (tax write off might be worth more then selling it for squat).

So far no one has ran the numbers on what kind of mpg it would take to cover the expense of buying another car over the paid off one that gets 11 mpg.

[Liquid55]

Originally Posted by KeepsWhatHappens

Yep that's called "hypermiling." If you do this you're a "hypermiler" and smart too.

I saw a video on CNN about these people. Couple things i don't like, when i saw the guy putting the tranny in neutral and turning off the engine. The engine vacuum creates boost for your brakes on most cars. So with the engine off you don't have the greatest braking ability. And if you rolled the key to much it could lock the steering wheel. Would not want that person coasting up behind me. Second the engines compression assists in the braking, when you have your foot off the gas pedal nothing but the idle setting is feeding the engine. So coasting in neutral does nothing.

[L8 APEKS]

You guys heard of ultra-milers?

I've seen close to 200 MPG from a Prius. You have to pull a lot of tricks, most of which are not at all convenient (or safe) for urban commuting - but there ARE a number of things that can be safely done to net ~20% increases on just about any car.