Has anybody gave up the SUV/Truck?

[gmh1013]

And downsized to a smaller car?
We have a Toyota Highlander 4 cyl that gets about 20-21 in the city and 26 on hwy
I hate to give the space and cargo area....
My wife wants to get a new Corolla, but the SUV/Trucks have took a hit in resale value, and we only drive about 10k a year.
I dont thinks it worth it.

[Ursa Major]

What would you replace it with? Let's say you can find something that gets an average of 30mpg real world (not that easy to find). That means you'd be buying 333 gallons per year at your 10k/year pace. Based on a current mixed average, of, say 22.5 mpg, you're currently buying 444 gallons per year, or 111 gallons per year more. At $4/gallon, you're spending an additional $444 annually for the privlege of driving something that would probably be a lot smaller and less safe/comfortable/functional. For most new cars, that will be less than the sales tax alone, much less the depreciation hit on a perfectly useful, reliable and functional Highlander.

[redshirt1957]

Originally Posted by Ursa Major

What would you replace it with? Let's say you can find something that gets an average of 30mpg real world (not that easy to find). That means you'd be buying 333 gallons per year at your 10k/year pace. Based on a current mixed average, of, say 22.5 mpg, you're currently buying 444 gallons per year, or 111 gallons per year more. At $4/gallon, you're spending an additional $444 annually for the privlege of driving something that would probably be a lot smaller and less safe/comfortable/functional. For most new cars, that will be less than the sales tax alone, much less the depreciation hit on a perfectly useful, reliable and functional Highlander.

Yea...Yea....I mean Yea. I was going to make that point.

[redshirt1957]

No. We have four kids minimum to haul around and downsizing will not work at I need seating for at least five and often for six adults. My F-150 Crew-Cab fills the five seat need nicely. The wife has a R500 and can haul six adults, which she does on a daily basis.

Gas milege be damn until some of our four kids go off to college or we stop being foster parents. Price you pay to love kids.

[hsr86]

Keep the Highlander..Ursa said it perfect...It is very hard to argue those facts.

[Travis]

For a very brief period, I thought about giving up my Acura MDX (19 mpg city)for a car. I quickly found that any car outside of a cheap economy car would only net marginal increases in fuel economy. Even a small car like a BMW 328xi gets just a little better mileage than my SUV. After looking at the loss of selling and the depreciation hit on a new car, the payback time, even at Canada's $5.00+/gal, was years. As Ursa pointed out, the sales tax alone takes quite a bit of time to even out.

Of course, anyone with a SUV, mini-van, truck, sports car, luxury car, or full size sedan could get better fuel economy driving a Honda Civic. However, if a Honda Civic was acceptable to those people, they would already own one!

I think most people would rather spend an extra hundred dollars or so driving a car they want than buy a car with amazing gas mileage. The real world difference in fuel expense between my MDX and a 40 mpg car is only $140/month at $5.00 per gallon.

[Terry Newton]

Keep the SUV. Most of the price is psychological and you will adjust your lifestyle accordingly. I'm glad I bought a green car. I bought it because I am at the age when I give a shit about all things. It's amazing as you get older you realize that we are nothing more than a part of a great system that deserves our protection, love and concern. You still have to weigh in family safety, ability to haul things around, comfort, etc. all from your larger vehicle. Prioritize trips to conserve and you should be fine.

Terry Newton

[redshirt1957]

Ah, common sense. Seems Terry has plenty of it. Worth its weight in gold.

[Terry Newton]

Originally Posted by redshirt1957

Ah, common sense. Seems Terry has plenty of it. Worth its weight in gold.

Why Thank-You Young Man. I've thought the same about you as well. I also always get a kick out of your sense of humor too. You always have witty things to say to people for fun and shock value. The world would be a sadder place without you in it.

Terry Newton

[pwrslider]

Originally Posted by redshirt1957

Ah, common sense. Seems Terry has plenty of it. Worth its weight in gold.

I agree! I'm gonna keep and trade up my SUV ( Suburban ) only cuz I really need the room for kids, dogs and stuff......just gotta suck it up! Yeah, the gas too!

[roadcarver]

I drive a Honda Odyssey and I find that by changing my driving habits, fuel mileage can definitely increase.

You can:
-Ease off on the throttle when you see a red light ahead;
-Don't do pedal to the metal when getting out of corners;
-Don't accelerate too fast
-Don't tail gate
-Try not to use the AC in city driving

[Ursa Major]

Originally Posted by Travis

For a very brief period, I thought about giving up my Acura MDX (19 mpg city)for a car. I quickly found that any car outside of a cheap economy car would only net marginal increases in fuel economy. Even a small car like a BMW 328xi gets just a little better mileage than my SUV.

I picked up an '08 MDX in February. I live in a ski town and need AWD (this was a brutal winter). I like it a lot, but it gets around 19mpg as well. In retrospect, I would have done something different if I'd known how quickly gas prices would jump, but I don't regret it too much. In the meantime I've been driving my old "beater" '93 BMW 525i 5 speed almost full time (once the snow melted). I've always gotten decent mileage with the BMW, 25-26 mpg mixed, but I've been consciously driving for economy in the last couple of months and I've gotten 29-30mpg over the last four tanks (2000 miles). When I look at the real world results for a lot of economy cars, I wouldn't do any better, and the BMW a) is much more fun, safe and solid feeling, and b) was paid for a decade ago. I'll use the MDX for carrying things and when the snow falls again, otherwise I'll drive the BMW. It's a good mix.

[cbrenthus]

I've been riding my motorcycles almost exclusively. I only break the jeep out on the weekend to go boating or kayaking. As bad as the jeep is on gas, I couldn't tell you when I last put gas in it!

[gmh1013]

Originally Posted by cbrenthus

I've been riding my motorcycles almost exclusively. I only break the jeep out on the weekend to go boating or kayaking. As bad as the jeep is on gas, I couldn't tell you when I last put gas in it!

Im in pain 24x7 because of motorcycles, Im lucky I was not killed.
I rode for almost 30 years before giving it up while I was still living.
I hope you never go through what i did....

[Timber Loftis]

My wife had a wonderful '02 Rav4. It recently crapped out, transmission problem at 70k miles that would cost over $6k to repair. So, we traded it. Now, in her mind this thing was the *perfect* car. It was the smaller body style, 4 cylinder, you-can-park-me-in-a-shoebox wonder for urban living.

So, we upgraded but we downgraded. We picked up an X3. Upgrade on driving goodness and bling, but we downgraded on overall interior cargo space and gas mileage... plus it's longer so a bit less easy to park.

I'd say get the smallest car you can live with, but be warned that size does not necessarily equal good mileage. Ford has a humongo new hybrid that seats 8 and gets about 25 mpg I believe.

[Ragu]

I have a 1999 Ford Lariat Flareside 5.4L, Scab with 72K original miles on the clock. I use this usually on weekends, all other times I drive my 07' Honda Civic Coupe EX which gives me very good mileage in city and more so on the highway.

Don't see me parting with my F150 anytime soon.

Looks good and rides real nice too!


My economy car

shameless pics plug

[Ed Rooney]

My 4runner is in the shoppe this week, so I am renting an 08 Toyota Corrolla. 31mpg, but it feels like a tin can. I am not impressed.

I'm waiting for the diesels to really hit America so we can have 40MPG sedans and 29MPG SUV's.

[astcell]

The Ex got the Honda Ridgeline, I bought a Toyota Corolla. I need a 4x4 in the winter and will look into a used Isuzu. It's only when the snow is bad so 15mpg or better is fine.

[diversified]

Cadillac - 21.4 MPG - Pleasure

Prius - 52.8 MPG - Work

Now saving $96.00 a week on gas using Prius for work instead of Caddillac.

P.S. I do alot of driving.

[seantk]

I drive a Nissan Titan and I always have the need for my truck. It seats 5 comfortably and I usually average 18 - 18.5 mile per gallon by using a K&N airfilter a Mobil 1 synthetic oil. Unfortunately, my weekly gas cost is now at $100

Sean

[sombunya]

I pointed out to my wife that a 4 cyl. 5 speed manual Ford Focus will get 34 mpg highway and a 4 cyl. 5 speed manual Ford Fusion will get 29 mpg Highway.

I noted I will save $53 a month based on $4.50 a gallon gas and the distance I drive to work. She said "So What?" The extra comfort, safety of construction (also 4 wheel disc instead of front only on the Focus) is worth it. She drives an '04 Expedition to work. A short drive for her. We love that car.

[cmr]

my truck gets 8 mpg so i bought a new honda civic si sedan to drive back and forth to work. put the truck in my shop and only use just for truck things. saved me about 380.00 a month in gas @4.00 gal.

[boa2]

Acura MDX -> Volvo V70 Cross Country -> Audi A4 2.0L

I've never enjoyed a car as much as the Audi, and will eventually get the same car in a TDI when it becomes available.

[dman]

I got rid my Tahoe almost one year ago to the day for a Nissan Altima. Have been very happy with the decision.

[oneillba]

I have a 94' Chevy S-10 six cylinder that gets, at best, 23 miles to the gallon and a 06' Mercury Marquis V-8 that gets 26 MPG easily. The Chevy can't be beat for hauling the kids bikes and things around in, but for highway cruising, the Mercury can't be beat. Not quite the same ride as my old Oldmobile 88 or 98 but close. Now for pure MPG, I ride my 06' Yamaha Vino 125 scooter at 90 MPG. It is my go to vehicle for around town treks.

[walds11]

Nope. My wife and I both have SUVs. We have very short commutes to work and don't do too much traveling. I top both gas tanks off about every other week. The tanks usually don't go lower than 1/2 or so.

[astcell]

Originally Posted by walds11

Nope. My wife and I both have SUVs. We have very short commutes to work and don't do too much traveling. I top both gas tanks off about every other week. The tanks usually don't go lower than 1/2 or so.

You are hauling gas for no reason. Run on 1/4 tank or less until it is empty and your MPG will drastically increase.

[East Bay Rider]

Originally Posted by astcell

You are hauling gas for no reason. Run on 1/4 tank or less until it is empty and your MPG will drastically increase.

You must remember that the electric fuel pump/fuel gage sending unit are submersed in your gas tank and rely on the surrounding fuel to keep it cool. An under-filled tank can cause the fuel pump to overheat repeatedly and eventually fail. Mechanics usually recommend that you never allow the fuel tank to be less than 1/4 full.

[Hatchet]

Originally Posted by astcell

You are hauling gas for no reason. Run on 1/4 tank or less until it is empty and your MPG will drastically increase.

I don't know about drastically. If you were filling a motorhome with 100 gallons of gas and driving in the mountains maybe, but for normal commuting, not so much.

[Ursa Major]

Originally Posted by astcell

You are hauling gas for no reason. Run on 1/4 tank or less until it is empty and your MPG will drastically increase.

Gas weighs about 6 lbs./gallon. If he's averaging 3/4 tank right now and he goes down to 1/4 tank, he'll save the weight of 10-15 gals (depending on size of tank), or 60-90 lbs. In the context of 4000-6000 lbs. of SUV+driver, I don't think that will noticeably impact MPG.