what kind of vehicle do you drive, and will you go more fuel efficient upon your next purchase?

[carlyhippy]

and is it worth it to even buy a new vehicle, with the heavy prediction of gas prices 7.00/gal by 2010?

After driving past the local new car centers today, it was apparent that there is a shortage on cars and the SUV's and pickups were numeous in the lots. If one needs a pickup or SUV, now is the time to go buy one IMHO, they can't hardly give them away.

[Hydra]

1. I need a car

So if I can afford it, I want to buy a hybrid next year.

Unlikely to happen, however, so I'll have to settle for 25-30 mpg.

[XOKCowboy]

23. Self Delete

Posted in the wrong place.

[Warpy]

62. I have a Kia

five door and was astonished to get 40+ on the highway with the AC on when I took a road trip last fall.

You can do better than 25-30 without even trying.

[Hydra]

110. 25-30 is what I have now

So the question is if I can buy a new one or not :p

[Warpy]

120. The Kia is amazingly peppy

and fun to drive. There's an infamous hill north of here that my Ford Ranger would have to navigate in second gear and the Kia made it in fifth.

It also has reasonable cargo room, which is why it beat out the clown cars with better mileage. I don't drive enough to justify a hybrid, my other car is an electric moped.

US makers also make fine small cars, although you'd never know it from the adverts. Just stick with a 4 cylinder and standard shift, and you should do better than 25-30.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

137. 4-cylinders and stick shifts don't work in the big city.

You can destroy your tranny whether it's a stick or an automatic, between the heat and riding a clutch. I had an underpowered 4 cylinder Subaru for my first car. I got rear-ended quite a few times. The wrecks were never my fault.

My two cars since then have had more pickup, and I have never been in a wreck since then. I have an old 6 cylinder Mazda. In the city I want to be able to get the hell out of the way of the maniacs that come up and tailgate me in a pickup or SUV.

Unfortunately, you can't buy a car with a tailgunner seat. :evilgrin:

[Warpy]

138. I live in the inner city and don't seem to have that problem

If some asshole in an SUV wants to ride my bumper, I turn the lights on and off to make it look like I'm braking. He generally takes the hint and either roars around me or drops back.

The car is not underpowered as my trip up La Bajada in fifth gear attests. It has enough zip to get out of the way.

Riding the clutch is a bad habit. Cut it out, willya?

[El Pinko]

141. I never have had problems with stickshifts and small cars in the city.

To the contrary, I think they are ideal for city driving. The only place I hated having a stick was San Francisco. Going up those hills ruined a few clutches. But a clutch is not that pricey a repair, really.

[Hangingon]

144. I drove an Escort wagon for 5 years in DC traffic.

No problems off the line and it had 85,000 + miles on the original clutch when I traded it. I only got rid of it when I moved to Texas and couldn't see over, under, thru or around pickups/SUVs in traffic.

[smoogatz]

2. We just leased a Toyota minivan.

Very nice vehicle, great for our young kids. The lease vs. buy decision was a pretty easy call—if gas prices are $12 a gallon in three years, as I'm guessing they might be, we can just hand it back to the dealer and go with a more efficient car. The Sienna isn't terrible at 25 mpg, but if gas prices double or triple we'll want to do a hell of a lot better than that.

[carlyhippy]

16. I should have leased my vehicle, that is a good idea

especially with gas prices so unstable, makes for a good getaway into a new vehicle.

[smoogatz]

28. Yep.

The lease with buyout was virtually identical to the cost to purchase the vehicle financed at 2.9%. Basically a no-brainer in the current climate.

[nomorenomore08]

3. First of all, that $7.00 a gallon is probably worst case scenario, and second of all,

it would still be manageable if one were driving a hybrid that got 50+ miles to the gallon. Right now I'm still living at home, using a car ('96 Honda station wagon) that belongs to my parents, but in a few years when I'm on my own I might buy my own car, and if I do, fuel efficiency will be priority #1.

[Redstone]

4. Well, let me preface this by saying that we don't drive much. Here's your answer:

My car is irresponsibly powerful and gets crappy gas mileage. But I only use it for fun on nice days, so don't exactly have any right to bitch about how much it costs to run. So I'm keeping that one.

Mrs R's car (which is the family car) is a mid-size sedan which has all-wheel drive and all the goodies, but still gets 24 MPG around town and 30 on the highway (and that's at 80 MPH with the air conditioning on).

So we'll keep that, too. Both cars put together barely get 7,000 miles per year put on them, so buying a Prius or similar wouldn't make sense in terms of payoff by gasoline savings.

Redstone

[carlyhippy]

20. I just bought a new Nissan Xterra

We have a pickup which sucks in mpg, but like your family, we hardly drive, I only drive about 40 miles a week, alot of the time not even that, and the pickup gets maybe 10 miles a week. We looked at hybrids, but they were about 4,000-5000 more than my xterra, with our low mileage it just didn't seem that we would ever recoup that extra money in gas.

Carly

[ileus]

131. You'll love your X, we put 65 a week in ours, manage around 19mpgs

funny thing we only live 4 miles away from the wifes work, but she has drop the kids off at two different places of the mornings, this causes her to drive an extra 25 miles a day.

[carlyhippy]

133. I have had it 2 weeks, and so far just love it

I like it's style and I feel comfortable driving it, nice vehicle, my first Nissan.

[MercutioATC]

5. 2001 Audi S8 (17MPG)

I retire in less than 8 years, so it's hopefully the last car I'll ever own.

[Jackeen]

124. Class.

Not bad... not bad at all.

[MercutioATC]

145. Thanks, but I'm conscious of how environmentally irresponsible it is.

I do a lot of other things to make up for it. Driving is just my most serious vice.

[maxsolomon]

6. i'm driving a 91 saab 900s that gets 22 /28.

i'd LIKE a prius hybrid, but does the monthly payment make up for the gas savings? somehow i doubt it. maybe at $7/gallon.

add to that the carbon footprint of a new car - my saab is already built. plus it's sexy:



i'm thinking about an electric scooter for commuting. $2500.

[carlyhippy]

15. I love your car! It is sexy

Carly

[Xenocrates]

7. 2001 VW TDI Beetle (42 mpg, about 525 miles/tank)

My next car will be Dual Fuel CNG/Gasoline. (since CNG is currently about 75c/gallon) It will probably be some form of used car like a early 2000s Chevy Cavalier.

My other car is a gas guzzler, but I don't think I can improve the efficency of a 1969 Mustang Mach 1. At least its only a car show car. :)

My other other car is a truck, and it gets really bad mileage, but I need something to haul the extra green waste.

[WorseBeforeBetter]

8. I have a 2003 Subaru that will be paid off in 3 months.

It gets 25 mpg and I'll be keeping that baby until she drops, hopefully not for at least another 7 years.

[taterguy]

9. Current vehicle is Gary Fisher mountain bike

Finding something more fuel efficient would be a bit of a challenge :)

[dysfunctional press]

10. 2001 vw new beetle turbo.

we were looking at cars a couple months ago, but decided to keep this one for 2-3 more years, and see where electrics and alternatives are by then. why buy a car now that could be rendered worthless and obsolete in that time-frame?
the beetle gets about 25 mpg overall, and my wife uses slightly less than 1 gallon each way to-and-from work.

we also have a 2002 dodge caravan that gets about 20mpg. i use that for running errands and shopping during the day. the tank is 18 gallons, and i top it off when it gets to half a tank, and half a tank usually lasts me 3 weeks or so.

[peacebird]

11. prius and a Santana tandem bike

[Xenocrates]

21. is it true..

if you stick your hand out of the window on a Prius, the car will turn? ;)

[peacebird]

30. LOL! Actually mileage improves with the windows closed...

[TheFarseer]

12. I have a Honda Accord

6 cylinders so it's not great on gas. I'm not sure how serious I want to be about fuel efficeincy(I might be moving to an apartment where I can walk to work soon making this much less of an issue) So I might go with a 4 cylinder Nissan Altima or Toyota Camry or if I want to be real serious I could go Honda Civic or even Civic hybrid.

[dsc]

13. Ford Focus

and I will be getting another one when needed. It has been great. I get over 30 on the highway and about 30 on a usual fill up.

[Sparkly]

34. I've heard those have good reliability, too. nt

[dsc]

53. other than tires, oil, and gas

I have bought nada for that car.

[Gold Metal Flake]

72. I have one, too.

An '07 wagon. I have been getting 33-34 on my commute with careful driving. Great car, no problems.

[Critters2]

77. Me, too. A great car. 35 on the highway. nt

[gateley]

14. An old Saturn that I got for $1200 from a guy at my last job.

At the time, I had a Jaguar XJ6 - that I'd had since it was new in '88. I GAVE it away.

This Saturn has over 230,000 miles, the odometer has stopped, and it just keeps on going.

Now that I'm unemployed, I can't even think of buying a new car, but when I get back in the saddle, it will be the best mph hybrid if I can afford it.

[jtrockville]

17. I bought a Smart car in February. Glad I did.

[carlyhippy]

26. I saw a smart car while we were visiting out of state

very cool car! How are they in extreme climates, such as maybe over 100 degrees or well below zero temps?
Carly

[jtrockville]

115. It's been in the high 90s lately, but...

I don't drive much in the day-time. I run most of my errands in the evening, and it hasn't been below freezing since I bought it. So sorry, but I really can't say.

[Taverner]

18. Prius - and if I can

We are holding out on the minivan until they make the Hybrid Sienna. If it's anything like its Japanese counterparts, expect 45-55 mpg. Not bad for a minivan that seats 10.

[TheCowsCameHome]

19. Buick Park Avenue Ultra, 29mpg on the road, Honda van gets 25.

Would like to get 35 or better next time around, won't buy another until these two are scrap.

(Just rented an '08 Impala, 33-34 mpg on a trip - not too shabby).

[pdxmom]

22. I'm driving a 2000 Grand Prix, until my husband finishes building the

electric car. He already has one, which he drives to work daily, and he's now working on a new conversion. So I'm hoping that I'll have my own electric within a year.

[MichiganVote]

24. 2002 Sonata, V6,151,000 miles and I'll be going smaller yet when this one is cooked.

[XOKCowboy]

25. A paid off 2000 Dodge Saturn...

I get about 32 mpg at highway speeds and decent city mileage. I'm on the edge right now between spending money maintaining it and getting another car. So far it's been fairly reliable but it has a over 100K miles on it and I'd be nuts to spend $2000 on a major repair (knock on wood). Plus I have to have reliable transportation.

I doubt I'll buy new so I'm looking really hard for a good used car. I'm afraid if I lease I'll go over the allowed mileage (I travel a lot for work) and now that gas is $4 and going higher, gas mileage becomes more and more important. Decisions, decisions.

[yellowdogintexas]

143. I have a 2001 Chrysler Sebring with 106K miles. Also PAID OFF ! I LOVE that car

I can drive from Fort Worth to Little Rock on one tank, and that is at full interstate speeds, with A/C on full blast, using the cruise control. Not as good in town of course but I get almost 300 miles per fillup in town which is around 21 mpg roughly.

Oil change and tire rotation usually up that a tad. The worst problems this car has given me are:

1. power seat has lost its moves on some of the positions but the major important ones still work just fine so a tall person can still adjust the seat back if he drives the car and I can put it back. I hve been told a replacement of the mechanism would be about $400 but it would essentially a like new off the assembly line power drive for the seat

2. The factory radio/CD died. I broke down and bought a new one from an electronics store last Sept right before a long drive. Loved it. Right before Christmas, the radio was stolen from my car, right in my driveway. I have not replaced it and probably won't until /unless I plan another long drive. For bumming around town I can live w/o the radio

3. I had a thermostat replaced at a total cost of $150.

4. those little hookies that clip the sunvisors to the headliner keep breaking off. I think our intense heat weakens them.

5. the power window stuff has dropped away from the faceplace in some sort of weird fashion everything works OK it is just weird.

I chose this car after driving several different brands because the driver's seat is incredibly comfortable and i have a bad back. Before I had this one, I had an identical Stratus, which my daughter totalled in an accident that should have killed her but she actually walked away from. I did not hesitate to replace the Stratus with another one. (Sebring/Stratus= clones)

As to replacing: I have not even come close to the break point of fix vs replace. OTOH my previous car, a Mercury, was a problem child and I was glad to be rid of it. I am hoping to drive this car at least 3 more years. I hate having a car note. I figure about $3000 per year in monthly payments x 3 to 5 years as replacement cost as a guide post for repair vs replace. I tend to drive my cars until they are sincerely dead.

[Initech]

27. I bought a Nissan Altima last August. Gets about 35 MPG on average.

[guitar man]

29. every trip I can

I make it on this, around 55mpg highway, 45 city....and just about as much fun as you can have with your pants on :P



my other rides are a well-worn '95 Lincoln mark viii, about 26mpg highway, and an 03 Dodge Ram 1500,6cyl, 5 speed, about 20mpg average. But I don't fire either of those up unless I really need to.

[Sparkly]

31. 1996 Honda Accord

I'm looking for a cheap, reliable car for my daughter right now and it's CRAZY out there!! As someone mentioned above, all the big gas-guzzlers are for sale, and the little old Hondas and such are hard to get before they're gone.

Edit: I hope to run this one into the ground and also hope that by then, hybrids will be cheaper, or used ones will be out there at a price I can stand.

[Stinky The Clown]

32. My car is not wasteful enough. My next car will be a big-assed Hummer H1 ..... you know ......

.... the big, amphibious, gas swilling military version. And if I can weigh it down with armor, that'll be just fine with me.

I'm hoping for no more than 2 or 3 mpg ..... if that.

(The forgoing was parody and sarcasm)

You asked: " .......... will you go more fuel efficient upon your next purchase?"

Did you expect anyone would answer "no"?

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

33. I have only old, old timers - and I don't intend to replace them

I don't own a digital camera, but here are photos of the kinds of cars I drive. A 1973 Saab 96 (about 34 mpg), a 1969 Citroen DS 21 (30 mpg) , and a 1957 DKW F93 (42 miles per gallon):







And right now I have my eye on a 1958 Peugeot 403 that I'd like to convert to run on pure ethanol.

[Stinky The Clown]

38. Where do you get parts for the Cit and the DKW?

I love that Cit. They're extraordinary cars.

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

47. There are lots of parts available for the Citroen in the U.S.

A lot of them were imported back in the 1960s and 1970s. The DKW is another matter. Parts are hard to find here. However, I've been buying parts from South America, Europe, and South Africa where they had manufacturing plants and where you can still find parts.

[carlyhippy]

41. very nice, and they are "classic cars"

They are probably worth a mint, I wouldn't replace them, either
Carly

[Xenocrates]

43. Those are sweet, I wouldn't let'em go either

[B.S. Lewis]

83. ethanol no...

Everyone agrees by now, ethanol is terrible:

http://www.newsweek.com/id/42397
http://www.newsweek.com/id/130628
http://marcseven.wordpress.com/2008/03/13/ethanol-time-to-stop-the-madness/
http://socialistworker.org/2008/04/11/let-them-eat-ethanol
http://socialistworker.org/2008/03/21/afford-to-feed-your-family

It's a bad (and inhumane) idea propped up by government subsidies, which are pushed through by Midwestern congressmen being lobbied by their states' corn farmers. It is contributing to the current world food crisis.

[carlyhippy]

104. when we were vehicle shopping, I did some looking at the mpg on ethanol

it seemed to be lower mpg than the gasoline mpg estimates in the flex fuel vehicles I looked at.

[B.S. Lewis]

105. it appears that *any* ethanol consumption is bad, though

Turning food into fuel is a bad idea for many reasons, not least of which is people are starving. I've read from several sources now (without even seeking after this information actively) that the current http://www.economist.com/opinion/displaystory.cfm?story_id=11050146">global food crisis, which is really just a crisis of rising food prices, can be directly linked to production of ethanol. A few years ago I heard Fidel Castro denounce ethanol as an inhumane scheme to produce first world energy at the expense of third world food, and I pretty much dismissed it because, well, he's Fidel Castro and it's his job to denounce the U.S. But more recently I've heard numerous mainstream economists making that same basic claim about ethanol.

From one of the articles I posted earlier:

Increased government mandates for ethanol production are not only driving up the price of corn used for making it, but are pushing up prices for other staple foods--since, for example, land is being diverted from staples like wheat and soybeans to produce corn. By the end of the 2006-07 crop year, 19 percent of harvested corn was made into ethanol--a 30 percent increase in just one year. Increased demand for ethanol helped boost the price of a bushel of corn from $2 in 2005 to $3.40 in 2007.

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

107. Ethanol yes

If I converted a car to run on ethanol, I wouldn't use corn. I've been thinking about getting a federal permit to make alcohol at home and use sugar or molasses to make it on a small scale (maybe 5 gallons a week or so). Sugar or molasses are plentiful and relatively cheap. And I wouldn't feel bad about using sugar to make fuel that would otherwise go into an American's mouth. We are deluged with sugar in this country, consuming per capita about 200 lbs. per person per year. That's not so much food as empty and harmful calories. The overwhelmingly excessive consumption of sugar in this country leads to obesity, diabetes, hyperactivity in children who consume gallons of soft drinks and tons of candy bars and a host of medical problems that go with it.

Nothing is perfect, but ethanol, particularly ethanol made with sugar is a better solution than most. Brazil is doing it.

[B.S. Lewis]

119. interesting

I don't know anything about ethanol made from crops other than corn.

[roody]

139. Ethanol burns clean. It can be made from many types

oof

[TahitiNut]

114. What? All that and ... NO deux chevaux?? (Heresy!)

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

118. Hey, I wish - my mechanic has one and gets 70 miles per gallon

He has the truckette, like the one in the movie "Les Diaboliques" (the one the two women carry the husband's dead body in - at least, we think he's dead at that point in the film). For some reason, the deux chevaux is very expensive in America, more expensive than a DS. They get absolutely phenomenal gas mileage but they sure don't accelerate worth a darn. They have a tiny air-cooled engine that doesn't consume very much gas.

[TahitiNut]

122. The passionate relationship between the French and their deux chevaux's is very real.

That passion is a bizarre amalgam of love and hate ... hardly any apathy whatsoever. I totally loved them every time I saw one ... and heard it. They're like rolling national monuments ... a cultural emblem just as important as the Eiffel Tower or baguettes. One of my co-workers when I worked there had one ... from his student days. He used to condemn it regularly ... but I think he'd rather give up a leg than give it up. The "legacy" of being one of France's most closely-held secrets during WW2 just adds to its allure. It'll be a sad day when the last one coughs up a piston rod and rolls to a final stop.

They made 1/3rd as many camionettes as cars ... VERY popular.

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

125. Here's the Citroen I'd really love to have

The Traction Avant, made from the mid 1930s to the late 1950s. It was a pretty advanced car for its day, with front wheel drive and all unibody construction. This Citroen is also a real national monument in France too, having been associated with gangsters as their getaway car in the 1930s and as one of the main modes of transportation for the urban French resistance during World War II. This one is a survivor located in Hanoi, Vietnam. They're getting a bit pricey, though, when in good condition.

[carlyhippy]

134. haha cute car, reminds me of a piece of candy

Carly

[Selatius]

35. 1995 Camry LE, 2.2 liter 4-cylinder. I can get between 25-30 in city and 33 and higher on highways.

I wish I had a more fuel efficient car, still. I'd love a used Prius if only to avoid the new car depreciation loss.

[MisterHowdy]

36. 2008 Honda Civic, 38mpg city, 52mpg highway

The Honda dealer in our city can't keep them on the lot.
Cheaplease rate too.

[MisterHowdy]

40. 26/34 mpg (city/hwy) my bad..

wrong car.

[Xenocrates]

44. wtf? What car were you looking at?

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

37. '94 4X Toyota pick-up. It will probably outlive me.

My wife has a '91 Tercel which will probably outlive both of us.

[flvegan]

39. 2007 Mazdaspeed 3, and I don't know.

Depends what's available and what I can afford. I get around 25 mpg on average, and I drive like a lunatic. I telecommute, so I don't drive all that much as is.

I like the idea of a 4 banger turbo where the mileage really only goes down when you give it the beans. Sure, if I were rich I'd have a V10 supercar, but that's not terribly likely.

[coyote]

42. Mini Cooper D (53 mpg) and more green than Prius

Cooper D emits 104 grams / km CO2 vs. 109 g/km on the prius. Just don't understand why Diesels are not more popular in the US. 60% of all car sales in Europe are now diesels. Diesels emissions are just as clean, if not cleaner than there gas engine counterparts.

http://www.motorauthority.com/news/hatchbacks/mini-cooper-d-%E2%80%93-greener-than-you-think/

We also have a Honda CRV diesel that gets 35 mpg.

[Xenocrates]

46. Yes, however

Diesel continues to outpace the price of gasoline. Love my TDI (42 mpg) but I don't want to be the first to pay $7 a gallon.

[coyote]

50. Which I do not understand....

Diesel needs less refining that normal unleaded gasoline. And I call BS on the new low sulphur diesel refining for causing higher diesel prices. Low sulphur diesel has been available for the last 5 years in Europe, and was just required in the last year or two in the US.

At least in Germany, diesel has always been cheaper than regular unleaded gas. However, just recently it is the same price. Diesel at the local station downtown is running 1.54 € / liter as of today. I try to avoid driving as much as possible and am lucky to live close to a major city with excellent public transportation.

[stimbox]

57. How about the Smart Car Diesels?

Don't they get near 71 mpg!!!

[globalvillage]

89. My mini

http://www.miniusa.com/#/learn/FACTS_FEATURES_SPECS/colors-s

I wouldn't buy anything else. What a great, fun car.

:hi:

[Lex]

45. 2003 PT Cruiser.

Love the car but it's not terrible fuel efficient. About 19 mpg in town, and about 25 mpg on the hwy.

However I live, work, and shop within a 2.5 mile radius. A fill-up is $40.00 but it lasts me a month.

[InkAddict]

85. Mine's a 2002 PT Woodie; the way things are goin' it'll probably

outlast me. Make sure you do her maintenance and change her oil regularly for best mileage. Keep the awesome A/C off if possible. I've gotten a high of 32 mpg when it all comes together on the freeways; city driving not so much..., low-to-mid 20's but I'm a bit pokey.

[Speck Tater]

48. 13-yo Mazda that gets super mileage.

It it ever becomes absolutely unavoidable that I replace it, I'll get a little scooter like a Vespa or similar.

[Captain Angry]

49. 2005 Ford Escape Hybrid.

The first union built hybrid. I am getting 33mpg right now in it. In the winter it sits in the 26-30 range.

I will drive it until a few conditions have been met:

1: I have a job so I could consider buying a new car.
2: I won't upgrade, if you will, until I can double my MPG to 50+.
3: I would like a compact car that does 150-200 mpg or 0 mpg since it's fully electric. I could keep the Escape for crap winter weather.

Since I don't plan on a car purchase for another 3-6 years, I have a long time to do my homework.

[carlyhippy]

56. I am hoping that change will be positive in the next 4-5 years

when I get my xterra paid off, I am hoping that hybrid technology will be perfected, and by then they will come down on the sticker price of the hybrid, the price of the hybrid SUV is what kept me from buying one this time, because we need an SUV in our situation. Hopefully by then hybrids or non-gas powered vehicles will be the norm. If gas is not too high by then, I will keep my xterra, it will be good for the crap winter weather we get here.

[Captain Angry]

64. I wanted a hybrid.

I wanted an SUV.
I wanted a union built vehicle.

So I got lucky.

4WD is imperative to get the car moving in some of the weather in places I've lived. Add to that the ability to transport people and hockey equipment, and the Escape is pretty much it for hybrids.

[kiranon]

51. 2008 Prius - as of one week ago.

[elocs]

52. I have a 2006 Scion xA 3.0 that gets at least 30 mpg around town.

I drive very little and with TLC I am hoping this car will last for 20 years.

[libnnc]

54. '08 Honda Fit...

My baby...

[Blue_In_AK]

66. Do you like it?

My husband has been really interested in getting one of those maybe next year.

[libnnc]

69. So far, I love it

I drove a '93 Eagle Summit wagon and put over 160,000 miles on it. In January we decided we couldn't put it off any longer and bought the Fit. We got the sport package (alloys, iPod jack, power windows, spoiler and sport suspension etc). It gets better gas mileage than any other car I've had but I have to be careful how I drive in the city because it's really fast (though not as powerful as the Mazda 3 which really hauls ass). So far my mileage has been in the high 20s/low 30s.

I just freaking love this car...

[Indenturedebtor]

74. Have him look into the Nissan Versa and the Mazda 3 as well

Personally I FAR prefer the way the 3 drives over the others. Fits are good cars though

I have a Mazda 6 - 6 cylinder. I work from home though and we don't really have money to spend on going out so I have to remind myself to start it up every couple of weeks. I haven't filled it up in 3 months! Haven't paid the registration either ... need to do that.

My wife is leasing a Nissan Altima - basic package with a stick. they're both sticks actually.

She averages about 28 in the city and 35 on the highway. The Stick really helps if you know how to use it.

When the lease runs out on that we might buy an old Ford Ranger pickup. Those 4 cylinders last forever and get good mileage - about 30 mpg city in a stick. And we could really use it to fix up the house. But we are hoping to be able to dump our house when we fix it up, and then we can move to Boston and take the train! I'd almost rather not have a car at that point.

[kestrel91316]

55. 1988 Honda Accord. To be replaced eventually by probably

a Toyota Yaris.

I only need a little city car. That said, if I won the lottery I would get a Prius just to HAVE one, lol.

[tech3149]

58. I'm driving a 98 Civic manual everything and don't plan to change soon

I can squeeze out 40 mpg if traffic doesn't foul me up. Most shopping can be done in a 2 mile radius and to get the big stuff, it's only 10-12 mi. I have no plans to buy anything new soon. Unless I needed to drive greater distances every day, I couldn't justify the expenditure.

The biggest PITA with gas prices is mowing the lawn. Using the riding mower takes at least $2.00 worth of gas and that has to be done twice a week. I started using the old fashioned push type reel mower to do half the lawn. I let my old man use the riding mower to handle the big sections. That cuts the gas cost in half. Next year I think most of the yard will be garden.

[carlyhippy]

60. with the price of food soaring also, an entire yard garden would be a good idea

Carly

[tech3149]

68. You've got that right Carly

That was the way it was when I was a kid. My parents are well into their 80's and don't have the grunt to do it anymore. That's why I'm here (at least partially). Now I'm trying to learn all the things I didn't when I was a kid and trying to get him to accept the ideas of organic farmers and complementary planting. They're sharp enough to understand what's coming down the pike and I think we'll be able to help the neighbors through the rough times to come.

[tammywammy]

59. 2006 VW Beetle TDI (diesel) 42 mpg

[Gabi Hayes]

65. I have an 05 Jetta TDI, and my mileage varies wildly, depending on

outside temp and duration of drive

low thirties when it's very cold.....less than 20 degrees, and less than 20 minutes in the car, which about what it takes to get to work. also get about 10 mpg better on the way home from work, no matter the temp. guess the engine doesn't cool off all the way after 8 hours

up to 50 when I've been on the road for over 45 minutes at about 60 mph

best thing about it is that running the AC, even in mountains of WVA, mileage isn't affected, where it seriously put a dent in my other cars' mileage

bad thing is the ridiculous diesel premium, around 40-50 cents/gallon more

have you noticed that sort of variation in your mileage?

oh....I bought a diesel with the idea of not having to buy another car for a LONG time. when I bought it, I wasn't so sure about hybrid battery life, and didn't think I could afford another car for a long time. I had an Accord for 15 years, so I hope the diesel gets me more than that. we'll see how well VWs hold up

[tammywammy]

67. It's pretty consistant

It might go down 2 to 4 and it's been up as high as 46. Over time it averages out to 42 mpg.

Even with a extra cost of diesel, it's still better mpg than the majority of gas cars out there, plus I do mostly highway driving so a hybrid isn't really going to help in that sense.

[Gabi Hayes]

75. Yeahhh, I've come to think that diesel (at least mine) is better for

longer commutes

my brother drives from Peoria to Milwaukee and back twice a week.

I was thinking about trading him for his BMW for awhile and see what the difference is

[tammywammy]

79. Diesel is for highway and hybrid is for city

I'll have a hard time going back to driving a gas, I loves me some torque.

[Gabi Hayes]

81. that's good for the AC. have you noticed that, being in Texas?

no reduction in mileage at all for me when I use it

[tammywammy]

101. I just filled up a week ago

And it's really been this week that I've had to turn it up to level 3 to cool off. It's hotter than Hades now.

I won't fill up again until next week, I can check the mpg then.

[Blue_In_AK]

61. We have a Ford Ranger,

which doesn't get the greatest mileage in the world, but we don't drive much, and it's paid for. My husband's been researching a more fuel-efficient little car of some sort, but we probably won't be picking one up until next year. My guess is we'll keep the truck for camping and so on, so we can haul our own firewood from home -- sometimes it's a little scarce at the campgrounds.

[ThomWV]

63. Several, varying in MPG from 18 to 44

My truck is the worst, Ford F-250 3/4-ton full length bed diesel that gets 18.7 MPG on average, better in summer, worse in winter. I would replace it with a generally identical truck if it were worn out simply because when you need a heavy pickup for hauling or towing nothing else will do. Next is my old work car, an '87 Mercedes 260E, which gets pretty crappy mileage at about 20 MPG. I say about because the odometer hasn't worked in years. Next it gets good; we have an Audi A4 with the 1.8 turbo that gets between 32 and 36 MPG; that would be my wife's car. Most of the miles I travel these days are by motorcycle. That is where the real mileage payoff is. My Harley Davidson (Softail Deuce) gets 44 MPG and rides like a dream. Dream indeed.

[JuniperLea]

70. Traded in the SUV in 2002 and never looked back...

I drive a Mazda that gets 30+ mpg, and it's an ultra low emissions vehicle to boot.

I hope that by the time I need to buy another, there will be a lot more options.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

71. My husband and I both drive hybrids...

He has a Prius, and I have the first hybrid Camry that Toyota built: the 2007 model year.

Great cars!

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

73. I just purchased a 1995 Nissan Maxima which is supposed to get 25MPG. It replaced my 1996 Integra

that got great mileage (25-32), but alas, between being crashed by my son and in need of a new head gasket, I bought the Maxima for less than what it would have been to repair the Integra. So when selecting the Maxima I did keep my eye on gas affordability. It's also a far better car to drive and feels 1000 times safer.

I bought the Maxima from a listing on craigslist, and in general, the prices for used economical cars are very high considering their ages. Meanwhile, the SUV prices seem to have plummeted.

[cobalt1999]

76. 2008 Harley 883L

59mpg highway / 45 mpg city

[IDemo]

90. Nice. I'd love to have one of those,

883's always seemed like the 'perfect' motorcycle, if such a thing exists.

[cobalt1999]

99. It's perfect for me.

Just upgrade the stock seat and you'll never want to get off it.

Once you get used to riding, you'd feel sorry for all the cagers except that's hard when they are all trying to kill you. :)

[ThomWV]

109. How do you like it?

I'm thinking about getting one for my wife for her birthday. She's got an old Yamaha Virago now.

[cobalt1999]

126. My wife rides mine all the time.

One of the reasons we bought the 883L was the lower height so she could ride it too.

LOTS of torque, so be ready to hold on when you twist the throttle.

They are all rubber-mounted engines and fuel injected now, so not as much vibration as the older models, plus Harley made the controls not as stiff, so it's easier around town and for women.

She'll love it.

[ecstatic]

78. mits. eclipse and my next vehicle will be something luxurious

maybe a BMW. I heard they're great with mileage. I don't like the appearance of most hybrid cars. Sorry.

[cobalt1999]

82. You'll enjoy this then.

www.thenewspaper.com/news/24/2445.asp

BMW M3 Beats Prius in Fuel Economy Test
Sedan with 414 horsepower V-8 beats hybrid in BBC fuel economy test.

Prius vs. M3Until losing his election last month, former London Mayor Ken Livingstone had hoped to encourage residents to sell their high-performance sports cars and SUVs by charging a £50 (US $50) environmental tax each time they entered the city's downtown area. Drivers of politically favored hybrids like the Toyota Prius, on the other hand, would either have enjoyed either a steep discount or a free ride.

A test aired Sunday on BBC's Top Gear television program, however, casts doubt upon the notion that a hybrid would be the most fuel efficient in every circumstance.

"This is a BMW M3," the show's host Jeremy Clarkson said in introducing the car that would compete with a Prius. "It is not designed to be as economical as possible; it is designed to be fast."

Clarkson chose the most extreme examples to make the point -- a sedan equipped with a V-8 engine producing 414 horsepower against the Toyota Prius with its 76 horsepower hybrid motor. The EPA rates the BMW at 14 miles per gallon in the city, and 20 on the highway which compares unfavorably to the 48 and 45 figures for the Prius. In this test, the M3 matched the speed of the Prius as the hybrid ran flat-out over ten laps of the 1.8 mile Top Gear Test Track in Surrey, England. Measurements taken after the run show that the Prius returned just 14.3 miles to the US gallon, while the BMW had 12 percent better fuel economy at 16.1 miles per gallon.

[carlyhippy]

84. I had to LOL at that article

that poor prius was probably smoking by the time it was done with the test run

Carly

[spanone]

80. 2003 honda civic hybrid

[sakabatou]

86. I drive...

Nothing! I take public transport.

[carlyhippy]

91. smart one! I wish we had some kind of public transport here, I would use it

Carly

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

87. 1995 Saturn.

It gets about 30 mpg on the highway. It has about 140,000 miles but it's still running well. When I have to replace it I'll look at the hybrids.

[El Pinko]

88. Suzuki econobox that gets better than 40 mpg...

I can't afford anything more fuel-efficient than this.

I drove an econobox when gas was "cheap". Never understood the concept of driving huge gas-guzzlers...

[Warpy]

121. I never understood it, either

and haven't owned anything with more than 4 since 1969. I mean, if four chipmunks will get you there, why trade up to six squirrels? You only have to shell more nuts to do the same amount of work.

[Ghost in the Machine]

92. '97 Jeep Grand Cherokee w/ all wheel drive... No... No...

I paid cash for my Jeep and drive very little, about 40-60 miles/week. Even with the V-8 I get about 23mpg on the hwy & about 16 in town. It's comfortable for me to drive and I don't have my knees in my chest.. I'm 6'3" & 275lbs... for me, getting in a tiny compact car is like getting on a go-kart.

I'll drive it until the wheels fall off of it, then pay cash for something else... I hate making monthly payments on vehicles and refuse to get locked into 3, 5 or 7 year loans. I also refuse to pay more than $10,000 for a vehicle... been there and done that.. never again!

[carlyhippy]

93. that is one reason why we have a big pickup as well as an SUV

my husband is 6'5" and weight about the same as you, he can't take trips where his knees are against the dashboard and unable to fit in the seat, and his head touching the top of the cab, which would be the case in most cars. We had a small car for a very short time before, it only took an out of state trip for a week, then we ended up with a minivan the next month.

That is my only grief with my recent purchase of my SUV. I HATE car payments, I hopefully will have this paid off in 4 years if I really try hard, you are right, car payments are no fun.

Carly

[Ghost in the Machine]

98. Yes, comfort comes first for me, but I've also had a broken neck & back...

Just getting in and out of those little cars can be torture, not to mention a long drive.... the $300-$500/mo payment I save is more than enough to make up for the gas used. It also saves on insurance... banks and finance companies require you to keep full coverage for the length of the loan... that can be another 2-300/mo...

Welcome to DU, carly


PEACE!

Ghost

[LeftyMom]

94. '97 Saturn SW1 (wagon) and I don't know.

The thing is, I really can't get by with a smaller car, as I do pack mine to the gills with people, cargo or both on a fairly regular basis. The current wagons on the market are both smaller and generally less fuel efficient, being marketed mostly toward young people who are determined to kill themselves and several innocent bystanders.

There are some european ones of about the right size, but they'd be a big step down in reliablility from The Car that Refuses to Die. I suppose I could get a little shitbox economy car and a ginormous second Truck/Van/Ford Deathstar, since they're almost free these days, but that would cost me at least as much on insurance and upkeep as it would save me in gas. I'd really rather just get a newer version of what I have, but alas, Saturn doesn't make it anymore.

[CRF450]

95. 01 Trans Am WS6, and an 04 Dodge Dakota, quad cab, 4x4.

Their paid for, and cheaper to buy gas than to have to pay for a new hybrid. Not that I'd buy one anyways, cause our current hybrids SUCK. I want a real car please.

[carlyhippy]

97. The trans am WS6 is such a cool car

I would love to have one to show off in.

[CRF450]

100. Its an awsome car to drive. You'd love it!

True to GM's reputation before now, the interior panels are built like crap, but I'v done a little bit of work to make them stop rattling, and I fixed the failing window motor problem too. Mechanically, its reliable as a rock, the LS1 and the T56 6 speed tranny can take alot of abuse. Fuel milage is pretty good for a car with it performance level, I average around 22mpg, and the best I got was 31mpg on the interstate, I was going 74mph the whole time and the engine was only turning 1600rpm.

[malta blue]

96. 2000 Subaru outback wagon.... 184k miles on it.....paid off....

I don't know what I will get next time.

I wish Subaru made a more fuel efficient car, but alas, the AWD is a technicality.

I am looking to get a Forester next time jsut because it is about $5k less to start with.

If I can get the Outback to go to 200k I will be thrilled.

[Lorien]

102. '94 Camry. Great car. Next one will be a Prius.

a Prius has the same interior space, so in that respect it's a lateral move.

[Swamp Rat]

103. A Specialized Hardrock Sport, Nishiki, and a Trek @ approx. 1 pizza/40 miles

Of course, the maintenance is much cheaper and lower than a car/SUV, and I do not have to pay insurance to ride a bike. I have driven my car (which gets 30 mpg) once in the last two months (for this I do have liability insurance).

I'll wait until electric cars are common before I buy a new car,and even then I will consider recycling my car or an old SUV to convert to electric.

[beevul]

106. 2001 suzuki swift.

A great little car, and a fuel miser.


We get 40+ mpg with it.

My other half named it "little duck" lol.

[gulfcoastliberal]

108. Just bought an '05 Civic, average 34 MPG city driving

Love it!

[tyedyeto]

111. It may be several years before I will be able to afford another vehicle

So, I drive less and watch my speed and, hopefully, get the most miles for my vehicle.

Anyone who's annual income is less than $20K and owns their vehicle, will not be buying a new vehicle, even if it gets fantastic gas mileage. To go into further debt to purchase when one owns a vehicle outright, is not good money management practice. Who knows, some dealerships could start some shady come-ons to gain some unwary folks, but at this point, I'd have say buyer beware to those with incomes at the lower end of the scale ($20K).

[blues90]

112. I have a 1973 VW type 3 square back since it was new

It gets 38 1/2 MPG on the road . I keep the tires inflated and the oil full . It's a fully automatic trans , I would have prefered a stick but the price was right .

I am 59 and if it lasts it will be the last car I own . There are no frills and one belt and now water pumps and radiators or other fluids to worry about. It is computer controlled fuel injection as they were for years. I replaced the points with an electronic unit and that keeps maintainence down even more and it runs the same all the time .

[blues90]

113. I have a 1973 VW type 3 square back since it was new

It gets 38 1/2 MPG on the road . I keep the tires inflated and the oil full . It's a fully automatic trans , I would have prefered a stick but the price was right .

I am 59 and if it lasts it will be the last car I own . There are no frills and one belt and now water pumps and radiators or other fluids to worry about. It is computer controlled fuel injection as they were for years. I replaced the points with an electronic unit and that keeps maintainence down even more and it runs the same all the time .

[kwassa]

116. This little number, great in urban traffic

[AccessGranted]

117. Nissan Sentra

This is my 4th Nissan...love them things...they don't break and pretty good on gas.

[Jackeen]

123. 05 Audi S4, 4.2l V8, 01 Camaro, 3.8l V6.

Assuming that California finally sorts itself out on its laws later this year as I hear, the Camaro will probably be replaced by a EuroDiesel, likely an Audi A6.
Hopefully when cars like the Golf TDI come available in CA, sales of cars like the (God-Awful) Prius will shoot down. What a horrid vehicle to drive. The Golf is going to give you just as good economy, be cheaper, and is frankly a better car.

[Richard Steele]

127. 49cc Honda Scooter: 85mpg.

Yeah, if you can buy one of these, it's really REALLY worth it.

If you have any way that you can use one, it'll pay for itself
in savings at the pump YEARS before it wears out.

[blondie58]

128. 2005 Toyota Corolla

28mpg city/37 highway.

And heck yeah, I would get a hybrid if I could afford it, but it is not in my budget.

[MrSlayer]

129. None. I live in the city, don't need a car.

Anything I need is within walking distance and I live a block away from the subway.

[mountainvue]

130. 2004 Volvo S60. I wish they would make a hybrid. n/t

[ileus]

132. 1994 accord 5spd = 33-35mpg

[SmileyRose]

135. Freestyle - 31 freeway/23 overall -- won't replace it before 2010

Now, if another affordable crossover hits the market with better than 60mpg overall in real life and gives me the flexiblity to take cargo and/or 7 people then I'll trade in but that's unlikly. My car is paid for. I'd be spending 30 to 40 grand to save about $2000 a year in gas. That's just not cost effective.

[OnionPatch]

136. I recently bought a Toyota Yaris.

I was driving a Jeep Cherokee, so the mileage improvement is significant and I feel a lot better about my global footprint.

You are right about the SUVs filling the lots. The dealers had the Yarises hidden away in the back and were pushing the big vehicles on everyone. I could not be swayed. :)

[lithiumbomb]

140. '98 VW Golf, 20 city, 29hwy.

I'm inclined to believe that if you own a car and it's in perfectly usable shape and you otherwise have no desire to replace it, it takes a pretty huge leap in efficiency to justify the cost of a new but more efficient replacement car. Now it might make sense to replace your old car with a more efficient old car, to keep the purchase price kind of a wash.

My commute is in-town and short so I'm not sure if I will go with something more efficient for my next car as it will save me some, but not a significant amount of money. I drive about 9k miles a year. If i owned a car that averaged 30mpg instead of 20mpg over those 9000 miles, I would save $600 per year. A decent amount of money but not worth replacing the car over. As to what I buy next, it will depend on what vehicles are available and what fuel prices are. If drove 20-30k miles a year rather than 9k, then I would most certainly move fuel economy to the top of the list.

[elehhhhna]

142. traded in a truck & bought 2 Hyundai's in '04. They're paid for,

get 27-28 mpg, and have the 10 yr/100K mile warranty.

We saw this coming and since the Doge truck and car both started to fall apart at 40K miles, we ditched them (okay, the Intrepid ditched ME -- sorta blew up--so I gave it to charity & took a small tax deduct.)