How nice would 40 mpg be?

[Southeast Overland]

So - I know its not an 80 but gas prices are killing me @ 15 mpg buying premium for the Cherokee. 40 mpg sounds soooo nice, it's a Toyota, costs around $12k new and with a trade-in I would be out the door for around $9k hopefully. Financed over 4 years it would cost me about $210/month and would save me $140/month in gas. I would have to sit in the Pig for a few minutes everyday to feel whole again.

Discuss and flame on - but remember at least it's not Dan's Vespa https://forum.ih8mud.com/showpost.php?p=2719526&postcount=22.

 

[VTCruiser]

i am 100% for more fuel efficient personal transportation. go for it!

 

[BELMONT148]

Do it, I am rethinking the whole massive truck/SUV, gas guzzling, daily driver thing and looking into a new Camry hybrid, or just a new 4 cyl. camry to replace my current one. I guess the hippies in Charleston are pumping something into the air making me think Green. I've only been here 2 weeks, but more than likely it is the gas at over $3.00 and climbing.

Jeremy

 

[Southeast Overland]

The steeply climbing gas prices are hurting...bad...

40 mpg on regular or 15 mpg on premium - balances out to about $50 per month for the vehicle when you factor in gas savings...maybe even less...

I got some internet quotes from local dealers - might test drive one this weekend.

 

[CandyPants]

I did this a few years ago. I bought a VW 4 cyl for the gas mileage. I was driving an hour each way to work and back. I did save some money, but in the end, I moved.

That being said, I applaud you for looking at it. Can't wait to hear how it drives.

 

[dsa03cjj]

my wife and i have a back up car that we drive to most places . . . the volvo . . . it gets about 35 mpg . . . i would love to have one for myself and one for her . . . we are eaten up with our 2 hogs

 

[boombapslappy]

Go ahead...I'm driving a galant to work now. Oh, it's sooo boring. But, 29 mpg is the only reason I'm still in it. I talk the wife into letting me drive the hundy sometimes.

Let us know...

 

[Southeast Overland]

It is boring....o so boring...absolutely zero COOL factor but gas prices are so high and the difference in gas between the Yaris and the Cherokee will pay for more than half of the Yaris...

Will it be legal to put a UC sticker on a Yaris?

 

[boombapslappy]

Only if we have some made that are about 6" round or bigger. You could buy some IH8MUD stickers and decorate the fenders!

 

[TRfWJ]

Go for it!! I was thinking about a Kawasaki KLR 650 for the same reason. Still am if I can get into one for less than 2K. I'd drive it to/from class and work, but the Jeep for longer trips, taking Her out. PLUS, I could still "play with" and enjoy the KLR at the Horsepasture, through the mountains, and where ever else I could find. See if you can maybe find something that still gets you the mileage, but can serve other purposes beyond simply great mileage from home to work to home. Maybe a wagon that still works for any long trips for camping, traveling, commuting, ..... Dogs still fit, Wife and accompanying luggage/handbags/gear fit, good mileage, but less cars in the driveway, on the insurance, and so on. Just my .02. Your multi-purpose(dual-sport) gas-saver would differ from mine.

 

[MudHunter]

DO IT.

I have an old Honda for the boring commutes...and the rest for play.

 

[89s rule]

Makes me appreciate where I live and my 1/2 Mile commute! I spend about $2-$3 a week on gas And thats in the cruiser that gets 10MPG

Wifes 4runner gets 17mpg, but its not that tough, maybe its just my overall commute. Figure how much it will cost and fuel savings, which it looks like you have. Then see if its worth it, and figure in how much driving that thing will hurt your man hood, and your tax advantages.
- Safety would be another issue, those little cars would scare me. I guess it is just going to have to be really rough with gas b/f I go that route. (Why not just buy a diesel ??)

 

[Southeast Overland]

Makes me appreciate where I live and my 1/2 Mile commute! I spend about $2-$3 a week on gas And thats in the cruiser that gets 10MPG

Wifes 4runner gets 17mpg, but its not that tough, maybe its just my overall commute. Figure how much it will cost and fuel savings, which it looks like you have. Then see if its worth it, and figure in how much driving that thing will hurt your man hood, and your tax advantages.
- Safety would be another issue, those little cars would scare me. I guess it is just going to have to be really rough with gas b/f I go that route. (Why not just buy a diesel ??)

I used to work out of my house - now that was a nice commute!

I can man-wrestle if I doubt my man-hood.

Safety is pretty good w/ side-curtain airbags - probably better than the Cherokee I drive now that doesn't even have a front passenger airbag.

I could easily drive 20,000 miles in a year - that will make a big difference in gas.

 

[89s rule]

I forgot one other thing, I heard a year or so back that alot of the hybrid cars were not getting thier quoted MPG. Dont know if this is still an issue, or only with certain models but I would research that some as well.

We drive the wifes 4runner about 20K a year, but compared to my old commute of 30 min each way gas just isnt what it used to be for us. I will admit that I looked at gas saver vehicles when I was still commuting, but never anything new. (Been there done that wont do it again, just my personal opinion. But then again, I have never been one to look at vehicles that are $12K new.) I was looking at used Civics and stuff getting 35 MPG or so and cost me about $2K.

Looking at your figures it looks like a great option, esp if you can get a nice warranty worked in to cover it the 4 yrs you are paying it off.

Werent you discussing possibly getting a 60 or 80 for expedition stuff? Not trying to throw this off, but if you pick up a nice BJ60 for that kinda $ and you should get 25+ MPG and it would still be a cruiser

Sorry, just fighting the small car MPG stuff, cant blame me. We are fighting a similar situation with minivans since we are expecting #3 now. Thank goodness the wife and I both agree that unless there is a major issue or something else we wont get the dreaded MV. I keep plugging 80 or 100, hopefully a 2K up 100. I will certainly mis our 97 4runner though, it has been one of the best vehicles I have ever owned!

Just make sure you drink plenty of Juice Boxes when you think over the + and - on this stuff. It should clear your head some.

 

[GXO]

Yaris isn't a hybrid.

 

[Southeast Overland]

Correcto Danno - Yaris is a regular ole gas engine. I don't want a hybrid due to batteries going bad and needing replacement (read many thousands of dollars). The Gubermint also redid how they estimate the mpg for vehicles recently - the #'s went down.

ETA: what kind of Civic can I get for 2k? That would be sweeeeet.

 

[Tofudebeest]

I forgot one other thing, I heard a year or so back that alot of the hybrid cars were not getting thier quoted MPG.

No vehicle gets it's EPA estimated fuel mileage, because those numbers are generated with a test vehicle on a dyno, so there is no wind resistance. There was supposed to be a change coming in that regard to make the mileage claims more truthful. Go turbo diesel (who get the kind of mileage hybrids get), there are a lot more choices hitting dealerships in '08-'09.

 

[Southeast Overland]

No vehicle gets it's EPA estimated fuel mileage, because those numbers are generated with a test vehicle on a dyno, so there is no wind resistance. There was supposed to be a change coming in that regard to make the mileage claims more truthful. Go turbo diesel (who get the kind of mileage hybrids get), there are a lot more choices hitting dealerships in '08-'09.

I have had numerous vehicles get their estimated fuel mileage - even a bit better. The most recent vehicles to do this were a 2001 Chevy S10 (metor exceeded), 2007 VW Jetta (met) and a 1995 Jeep Cherokee (met - gas guzzler). If you have a lead foot you will not meet the estimates - but I don't drive with a lead foot and in the same breath I don't drive like Grandma either.

The EPA has changed their estimates recently to account for more "real world" driving conditions including use of AC, colder climates, and faster acceleration. This has made the advertised mileage go down but some manufactures are still using the old estimates.
http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/ratings2008.shtml

Yes, a dyno is used but "real world" conditions can be factored in.
http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/how_tested.shtml

Turbo diesel would be nice but I'm in the market to buy now - not in up to a year. 15 mpg is killing me as a DD.

 

[Land Speeder]

Don't Do it!







the 2 door that is...... go for the 4 door! I wanted the four door Yaris because of it's stellar good looks... the fiance wanted the Scion tC.... guess which one we got.... and I love the tC more than I'd ever love the Yaris.
(I guess if you were at the OTMT then you know which one we got)
Now that there is a cool but small car in the stable, when I go to grab something from the store in the evening I pimp the tC, the 80 only gets 10 miles per day duties to and from work (she drives the tC as her primary car) and it's saved about $150 per month. We also have her old GrandAm which I am currnelty driving this week since the 80 is taking some R&R.

Anyway, I love the Yaris! Do it!

 

[Southeast Overland]

I'm going for a cheap (and reliable) commuter which is why I think I'll go with the 2dr vs the 4 dr. The only problem now is I can't find one with the options I want...