mpg/commuting in car vs truck/what car?
DTR's "Cooler than ice cubes 14 miles North of North Pole" member
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,797
Likes: 9
From: 14mi North of North Pole
Make sure you do the math before buying.
Another car will give you another vehicle to pay license fees on, insurance, maintenance that has to be done (tires/battery/oil). Really gotta save alot of money on gas to justify the ongoing costs of owning another vehicle.
15,000 miles / 30mpg 500 gallons
15,000 miles / 17mpg 882 gallons
= 382 gallons * $4 = 1500$/year
Average $80 to licensing
Insurance? maybe $400/year more? 33 a month is fair.
4 oil changes at $25 = $100
Cheap tires figure 4 years life, $50/yr
so now we see that it probably will cost about 630 or so provided nothing breaks.
save about 900 a year.
Providing that nothing at all breaks it will take 5 to 6 years to get your $5,000 back.
Now if you put That $5,000 in a 7% mutual fund.. Youll earn $350 a year, which further offsets the 900 savings, which drops it down to saving $550 a year, which will now take you 9 years to make your money back.
Sorry for the long post, I just had to throw all that out there for fun!
I almost considered a beater car myself on the side, but layed out all the math like that and i figured i didnt want to wait 10 years to reap the rewards of driving a POS to work.
*smiles*
Another car will give you another vehicle to pay license fees on, insurance, maintenance that has to be done (tires/battery/oil). Really gotta save alot of money on gas to justify the ongoing costs of owning another vehicle.
15,000 miles / 30mpg 500 gallons
15,000 miles / 17mpg 882 gallons
= 382 gallons * $4 = 1500$/year
Average $80 to licensing
Insurance? maybe $400/year more? 33 a month is fair.
4 oil changes at $25 = $100
Cheap tires figure 4 years life, $50/yr
so now we see that it probably will cost about 630 or so provided nothing breaks.
save about 900 a year.
Providing that nothing at all breaks it will take 5 to 6 years to get your $5,000 back.
Now if you put That $5,000 in a 7% mutual fund.. Youll earn $350 a year, which further offsets the 900 savings, which drops it down to saving $550 a year, which will now take you 9 years to make your money back.
Sorry for the long post, I just had to throw all that out there for fun!
I almost considered a beater car myself on the side, but layed out all the math like that and i figured i didnt want to wait 10 years to reap the rewards of driving a POS to work.
*smiles*
Thread Starter
Muted User
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 319
Likes: 0
From: myakka city fl
im with ya..i did the math but ya gotta figure in wear and tear on the truck since all the maint int stretches out and gas is cheaper than diesel. i figured to save about 200/mo. i drive 75 mi a day though so it evens up quicker. but a 10$ oil chane vs 40 for the truck kinda stuff adds up. also you own something that you can sell if need be to recuop some of the money at the end.
yer right itll take time but id rather buy a car than diesel fuel...its tough call really but in the long run i know itll end up cheaper its just a matter of how long
yer right itll take time but id rather buy a car than diesel fuel...its tough call really but in the long run i know itll end up cheaper its just a matter of how long
Registered User
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 163
Likes: 0
From: Southern Illinois
I would go with the Toyo/Geo/Saturn or Ford Focus/Escort. I myself would stay away from the Honda. I know everyone loves them. I myself don't care for interference engines. Break a timing belt on a Corrola, get it towed and put on a new belt. Break one on a Honda. Get it towed and change out the engine.
Registered User
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 809
Likes: 0
From: jarrettsville, md
I would go with the Toyo/Geo/Saturn or Ford Focus/Escort. I myself would stay away from the Honda. I know everyone loves them. I myself don't care for interference engines. Break a timing belt on a Corrola, get it towed and put on a new belt. Break one on a Honda. Get it towed and change out the engine.
Registered User
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 652
Likes: 0
From: AZ
im with ya..i did the math but ya gotta figure in wear and tear on the truck since all the maint int stretches out and gas is cheaper than diesel. i figured to save about 200/mo. i drive 75 mi a day though so it evens up quicker. but a 10$ oil chane vs 40 for the truck kinda stuff adds up. also you own something that you can sell if need be to recuop some of the money at the end.
yer right itll take time but id rather buy a car than diesel fuel...its tough call really but in the long run i know itll end up cheaper its just a matter of how long
yer right itll take time but id rather buy a car than diesel fuel...its tough call really but in the long run i know itll end up cheaper its just a matter of how long
Thread Starter
Muted User
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 319
Likes: 0
From: myakka city fl
yea i burn it off when a 55 galln drum gets full. w/2 trucks running 75 ea per day it dont take long....
im thinkin more toyota everyday..but th saturns are cheap...
i shouldve posted a poll huh??
im thinkin more toyota everyday..but th saturns are cheap...
i shouldve posted a poll huh??
Registered User
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 663
Likes: 0
From: Northern Iowa
I'm running a 2000 Honda Accord 5-speed, I average around 27 - 29 city and around 33 - 35 mpg highway. Mobil 1 every 5k, t-belt every 105k, tires when they need it. Not much else to worry about. 5-speeds will give much better mileage overall.
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