Would you trade in a good running car and buy a new car just for the gas mileage?

[Droopy]

I have a 2002 Chevy S-10 pickup and it gets about 20 mpg overall. At the time that I bought it I needed a truck because I was renovating houses on the side for extra cash. I no longer need a truck, but it only has 64,000 miles on it and it has long been paid for. I've taken good care of the vehicle and besides preventative maintenance I've only had to have $700 worth of work done to it since I've owned it. It's a good little truck and having that bed still comes in handy every once in a while.

I had to put the truck in the shop recently and drive a rental car for a day. I told the rental car agency that I wanted the cheapest thing they had. It turned out to be a little Chevy Aveo hatchback. I liked it. I'm kind of a big guy and I don't fit too well in some small cars, but the Aveo had plenty of room for me and I was comfortable driving it. It got about 30 mpg. I thought if I could get one in black with a manual transmission I'd go for it.

I do a lot of driving now days. I put about 50 miles a day on my truck on average. So I figured up the fuel savings I would get from the Aveo versus the cost of a new car payment. It turns out that I would come out $80 ahead every month if I continue to drive my S-10 instead of buying an Aveo.

I've decided to stay with my truck and drive it until it falls apart. Then I will start looking at subcompacts again. What would you do?

[taterguy]

1. I'd find a job close to where I lived and not have a car in the first place

Never ask a question unless you really want to hear the answer :)

[Droopy]

3. Who says I didn't want your answer?

It's just not possible where I'm from. Not if I'm going to make the kind of money I'm making. I thought about moving closer to work, but I checked out the real estate up that way and there's nothing I can afford there.

[datasuspect]

6. wrong place

oops!

[TZ]

2. Sounds like you did the right thing...

However did you factor in insurance costs? Its possible that the subcompact will be much cheaper to insure than the pickup truck (although a new car with payments always has higher insurance premiums to start) Outside of that, avoiding having a car payment is something desirable in my book. I am very close to the end of a 6 year loan on my car (which I love) and I don't intend to have another payment for awhile....

[Rabrrrrrr]

4. As you discovered, the difference in mpg needs to be HUGE before that change is financially sound.

Even with gas at $3.00-3.50 a gallon, even a 50% increase in mpg doesn't pay for a new car; and when you figure in the amount extra you're paying on loan interest and possibly higher insurance, the mpg needs to be more than 100% to make it worthwhile.

As to the Aveo, I agree with your assessment - it's a small frakking car, but when I test drove one, my almost 6' self had room, my 6'5" friend had no complaints at all, and my 250 pound largish cousin had plenty of room in the back. The amount of room in that car defies normal space-time geometry. I also had fun with it when I discovered that it's small enough to do a U-turn even on a small city residential street. Hee hee hee. I didn't buy one, though - I opted instead for the sports car convertible. But my appreciation for the Aveo's ability to have twice as much room inside as it takes up volume outside will always be high.

[Stump]

5. I agree...

You made the right decision. If you're like most Americans, you don't have a money tree growing in your back yard. And as an earlier post alluded to, not having a car payment brings much less stress. So unless you have lots of extra money to just throw around to make a political statement, stick with the pickup. I have two vehicles in my drive, on gets 40MPG and the other about 15MPG. Guess which one stays parked 99% of the time?

[NMDemDist2]

7. not until I killed the old car. it takes a LOT of resources to build a car

so getting all the possible use out of an old car is actually better for the planet as long as the old car is well tuned to keep the emissions as low as possible

Hubby commutes 68 miles a day, 18 days a month and he's driving our 1991 Buick. it gets 26MPG or better and we're hoping it stays on the road long enough for the new hybrids to get on the market

I'd sure love a little S-10 though..... with my property a truck would sure come in handy.