Should you Ditch your Gas Guzzler for a Smaller Car?

Kind of a pointless calculation if you ask me.

— AddLightness (View Profile)

Posted on 5/7/2008 6:09:13 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3   

I'd rather keep my 03 Explorer V8 than drive the new Focus !!!

— AMiodynski (View Profile)

Posted on 5/7/2008 6:54:53 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 4   

and for the record, I'm averaging only 13.2 MPG !!!

— AMiodynski (View Profile)

Posted on 5/7/2008 6:55:13 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3   

Smaller is better.

High Performance Small Car will always be better than High Performance Big Car.

Gallardo Superleggera better than Murcielago LP640
F430 Cs better than 599
RS4 better than S8
M3 better than M6

I feel this way because i think smaller vehicles are easier to toss around and handle better in winding roads which we have a lot off in europe.

They are also better in traffic and efficiency.

I never drive super fast with passengers in the car so why would i want an S63/65, A8, Quartroporte.. or any of the long list of superfast Limos ?

— I95SPEEDINGTICKETS (View Profile)

Posted on 5/7/2008 7:08:44 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 5   

I think comparing it to a hybrid would have made a stronger case.

— saekee (View Profile)

Posted on 5/7/2008 8:28:44 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

Yes, but not because of this article or its calculations

— 0to60 (View Profile)

Posted on 5/7/2008 9:58:18 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

Everybody should drive the Buick Lucerne :-)

— EL34 (View Profile)

Posted on 5/7/2008 10:27:57 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3   

Yes, this article does do the math ... Incorrectly.

Four words: time value of money.

— cdoke (View Profile)

Posted on 5/8/2008 12:19:21 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

The math doesn't calculate the intangible "Hey let's go to..." trips on weekends, where the guzzler makes you think twice. If you really love driving, not just sitting on the internet reading about cars, hybrids give you more of it.

— t_bone (View Profile)

Posted on 5/8/2008 1:05:57 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

Well, I like the Audi Q5, but since it will be built with a gas engine a 4 wheel drive, it will likely get the same mileage as a Ford Explorer. So that deal is off.
I was really excited about the VW Tiguan Diesel, until I looked at one. It is just too small for business travel.
Ford & Lincoln’s idea of 2 wheel drive Diesel Crossovers will be a better idea. I will wait for these products.

4 wheel drive just simply kills mileage. This is a bigger factor than engine size. Paved roads don’t require 4x4s.

$4,000-$5,000 in NY sales tax added to a new car buys a ton of gas. It is wiser to wait for better products.

— mercuryguy (View Profile)

Posted on 5/8/2008 2:28:35 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

AMiodynski - “and for the record, I'm averaging only 13.2 MPG !!!”

My v8 Mountaineer is getting 16-19MPG.
Switch to Synthetic (Mobil 1 5w20), you’ll see a boost in Mileage.

— mercuryguy (View Profile)

Posted on 5/8/2008 2:36:34 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

Oh yea, and for 16-19MPG, I have ample room for 4x8 Sheets of plywood and lumber when I’m shopping at Home Depot.

— mercuryguy (View Profile)

Posted on 5/8/2008 2:40:59 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

Check out the new little Matrix! It comsumes almost the same gas as a full size 1/2 ton Chevy 4x4 truck! Don't take my word for it, check it out! Most little cars are not that great on gas either! My 2007 civic burns 7.5L/100km around 32mpg, never as good as advertized. I would like to see a better hybrid that is way more efficient! Why does it take soo long for the new Teck to make it into the new cars? In Canada here the greenies are trying to push for a pos car called the Zen! It has teck that is 100 years old and only drives 40km around 25mph! It is a golf cart!

— truckmen (View Profile)

Posted on 5/8/2008 5:28:42 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

Trading in all those big vehicles for fuel efficient ones would cause a major environmental disaster. Better to phase out the gas guzzlers once they wear out. Hybrids aren't the answer anyway. They might make you feel good about yourself but the best way to go is electric powered and have power supplied through local generators. Producing all needs locally (power, food and other goods) would have a better impact on the environment as well, greatly reducing trucking which is the largest glut on fuel. Tell Bush to send the troops home for even more fuel savings. Now, I'm off to get my granola and wheatgrass in my Chevy Tahoe :)

— Parsec (View Profile)

Posted on 5/8/2008 11:49:41 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3   

The 2008 Mercury Grand Marquis is now Flex-Fuel.

I will buy one of those as I need the trunk space for business travel.

It is the easiest and cheapest car to maintain as well.

— mercuryguy (View Profile)

Posted on 5/8/2008 5:30:20 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

When I worked on a cruise ship, we burned 6,000 Gallons of fuel in 10 days in the Caribbean on a very small ship.

I can’t imagine how many tons of fuel is burned on one Atlantic crossing for a warship. All those Army tanks idling all day in the Middle East is warming the planet as well.

2-3 MPG savings is just insignificant in the grand scheme of things.

— mercuryguy (View Profile)

Posted on 5/8/2008 5:37:23 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

MadibaP - Get your wood delivered!

No, gas is cheaper than Delivery. I’d have to pay a Union driver $50 an hour to deliver $20.00 worth of wood.

I’m going to do what the rest of America does. Do it the cheapest way. Jobs, commodities, energy, and so on.

— mercuryguy (View Profile)

Posted on 5/8/2008 5:47:05 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

All I have to say is that gas companies are posting their greatest earnings in most recent quarters. We're talking $11-$14 BILLION EACH. I'm cool with people making money, but not making so much that we actually have to debate what car is better based on gas milage. Make $8-$10 BILLION EACH and just keep prices fair for the rest of us. It's not just about supply/demand any more.

— Schwitz916 (View Profile)

Posted on 5/8/2008 8:52:49 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

I see New York State, The Land of Hillary, has decided NOT to participate in the GAS Tax holiday.

Turns out the state desperately needs the Tax Revenue to cover the State deficit.

interesting.

— mercuryguy (View Profile)

Posted on 5/8/2008 11:28:01 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

seems everyone is cash strapped these days.

— mercuryguy (View Profile)

Posted on 5/8/2008 11:28:59 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

The first Electric Car was made by Babcock in Buffalo, New York

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:1909BabcockTallaA.jpg

— mercuryguy (View Profile)

Posted on 5/9/2008 12:30:29 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1