I've been doing some calcs in regards to fuel prices, insurance, and other things.

I spend between 525-600 a month in fuel carpooling with the wife, our insurance is 160.00 a month (4X4 and Performance vehicle), anyways after doing a lot of research I figured if I could buy a vehicle that could seat 5 and get 24mpg+ for a low enough price I would save some money monthly.

I purchased on Saturday a "Base" model Jeep Partriot.

Jeep MSRP 17,065.00
Delaer Discount 2,570.00
Jeep Cashback 1,500.00
-------------------------

Total 12,995.00 + tax/lic.

24C/28H (New fuel standards)

I had a loan for 4.9% up to 72 months, but the vehicle had to cost 15,000.00 to do a 6yr term to make it cheap enough to be worth it. Jeep was offering 1,500.00 rebate OR 5.9% for 72 months. My payments on the 4.9% for 60 would be 273.00. We looked at Rims, DVD's other things to raise the price of her but I decided to call the dealership on the 1500.00 OR 5.9% (What's 1pt on 13k? 47 cents per 1k).

I told the dealership forget looking for accessories, we can't do a 72m @ 4.9% for less than 15K, so let's do the $12,995.00 which includes the $1,500.00 rebate and we'll do 5.9% through Chrysler at 72m ($239.01). The dealer said no problem, our credit was A+ he can do it.

So we got the $1500.00 and the 5.9% that Chrysler said was "OR".

1500 miles per month at 24MPG = $246.88 (Using the worst Fuel economy)

Vehicle payment 72 @ 5.9% for 12,995.00 + tax/lic = $239.01

Changing truck to pleasure vehicle with Patriot being main = $120.00

Truck $550.00 average fuel, $160.00 Insurance = $710.00 per month (Not counting payments)

Patriot $239.01 payment, Fuel $246.88, Insurance $120.00 = $605.89

Jeep also comes with lifetime warranty on Engine/Tranny "FREE"

Dealership also provides "FREE" oil changes to their customers.

Oh she's ugly, but she's cheap. (Pic is just an example of her, too lazy to take a pic)



My first tank "HAND-CALC" 25.96mpg, so it's actually better than I posted above.

 

got a not-so-base model Patriot for my wife last summer, and you will not regret it. we have no trouble getting 28+ mpg on her's (5 spd, 4x4), and some of my favorite features are the sliding center console armrest, cargo light that is also a flashlight, and reclining rear seats.
with the stick it's actually pretty fun to drive, and her's has the 17" wheels, which goes a long way to making it look not so fugly.

 

Ya, seems like a pretty cool little guy so far. We went completely base on it, no frills at all.

I have to get windows tinted, alarm with power lock actuators, and some seat covers, then I'll look at some 17"-18" wheels.

The only time we really need the Diesel is when we have an extra (6th) person with us, or if we have to tow the family (Whole family) 26' cabin cruiser, or 19' camping trailer...Nobody else has the truck to do it. So I put her at 5K mileage per year insurance and will drive her once a week to work when the wife isn't carpooling with me.