Question of the Week: What do you drive, and why?
Posted on June 16th, 2008 - 10:15 AMEach week we ask a question related to the environment. Please let us know your thoughts as comments. Feel free to respond to earlier comments or post new ideas. Previous questions.
Got wheels? There are as many reasons you have a car, truck, or whatever you drive, as there are types of vehicles from which to choose. But there are also trade-offs in your vehicle choice that affect the environment and your wallet.
What do you drive, and why?
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En español: Cada semana hacemos una pregunta relacionada al medio ambiente. Por favor comparta con nosotros sus pensamientos y comentarios. Siéntase en libertad de responder a comentarios anteriores o plantear nuevas ideas. Preguntas previas.
¿Tienes ruedas? Hay muchas razones para escoger su medio de transporte, sea un automóvil, un camión, o lo que usted decida conducir, así como hay una gran variedad de vehículos que puede escoger. Asimismo, se hacen trueques al seleccionar su vehículo que afectan el medio ambiente y su bolsillo.
¿Qué tipo de vehículo conduce y por qué?
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Question of the Week
June 16th, 2008 at 10:35 am
Currently I drive a F-150 pickup. I ‘hypermile’ and get between 17-19 mpg. I weighed the cost of replacing the vehicle (and added car payment) to purchasing a more fuel efficient vehicle, but the savings out weighed the benefit.
I don’t need the pickup for work, but do use it a lot at home, so for now I will stay with the vehicle I have and bite the bullet on gas prices.
As a side note, I live 5.7 miles from work, we have no public transportation, and I own a good bicycle. As soon as I am in better shape to ride that far (very hilly where I live) I’ll be pedaling - saving fuel, and getting healthier.
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June 16th, 2008 at 10:44 am
I drive a 1977 Chevy truck that gets about 10 miles to the gallon and costs about $100 per week to fill up. I need my truck for my job but about every penny I make now goes to gasing it up. Yes I could sale it for about $1000 but what “green” work truck can I get for $1000? And no we don’t have mass transit in the country. Thanks to all of you rich greeny’s, I will probably lose my house because I can’t afford it and gas and foodv(which is more expensive than it used to be). Thanks for screwing me and my family!
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June 16th, 2008 at 10:59 am
I drive a Mazda 3.
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June 16th, 2008 at 11:24 am
My husband and I have a used BMW sedan, which gets about 31 mpg on the highway. We only use one car between the two of us, and he wanted a car that is fun to drive. They are well-made, and we expect this car to last a long time, reducing the amount of time in which we will need to purchase a subsequent vehice. We use our roof rack and car-top box if we need to carry larger items - we don’t need a lot of hauling room the vast majority of the time, so we don’t need a big car. We both commute to work via public transportation. My husband really wants an electric car when we eventually need a new one.
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June 16th, 2008 at 11:34 am
I drive a Nissan Maxima. I spend a lot of time in the car and selected my car based on this. It is a dependable car, has a light color of paint, and it has good lumbar support in the driver seat.
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June 16th, 2008 at 11:36 am
I drive a Scion xD to work. My wife and I carpool because we work at the same place. We chose a Scion because the gas mileage is in the 30’s and it cost $10k dollars less than a hybrid (Prius and Civic are the only available models in Georgia). The cost difference would make it very hard to make up a difference in getting a hybrid. We drive a 5-speed because it makes coasting a lot easier.
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June 16th, 2008 at 11:41 am
Buying a fuel efficient car is good, but the “greener” option is not to own a car at all. This is a realistic option for those of us who live in a walkable, bikeable, transit-friendly urban area with adequate density and a mixture of residential and commercial buildings.
In the face of rising gas prices, I’ve read several articles in recent weeks about people giving up their cars (at least for commuting purposes) and flocking to public transportation as a cheaper alternative. As a nation, we need to invest in the future of our transit systems to ensure that they can handle this influx of new riders. This means not only funding the maintenance of aging transit systems but purchasing new buses and rail cars and expanding these systems to serve additional areas. Driving a fuel efficient car is better than driving a gas guzzler, but riding a train, bus or bike or using your feet are more environmentally friendly options.
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June 16th, 2008 at 12:09 pm
I drive a 1990 Toyota Corolla. I have owned and driven this car 52 miles round trip each day Mon-Fri for work for the past 5 years. I chose to purchase and drive this because I did not have car payments (I paid $700.00 for it) and because it averages 30 MPG city/ Hwy combined. Even with general maintenance I have saved a great deal of $$ in not having payments.
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June 16th, 2008 at 12:40 pm
I drive a Global Electric Motorcar, which is an electric low-speed vehicle. I work and shop within 3 miles of my home, and I find that with South Carolina’s mild climate, this vehicle is ideal for my primary needs. We also have a PT Cruiser whicch my wife drives as she works further from home.
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June 16th, 2008 at 1:54 pm
I drive a used Lexus ES300 if going long distances, but certainly anything under 5 miles or so (which is most all my day to day traveling) is done one a Giant Yukon (mountain bike) with slick tires. That includes grocery shopping. It just takes a bit more planning, but saves me lots of money.
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June 16th, 2008 at 1:56 pm
I currently drive a 2001 Ford F-150 6 cylinder or a 1996 Lincoln Towncar 8 cylinder, my wife drives a 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee 8 cylinder. They are all paid off and that is the basic reason we are keeping them. I was recently replaced at a well paying job when a foreign company bought our company. I am currently working for the state of Arkansas making a fourth of what I made. Cannot afford to buy something more economical. I have been looking to try to convert my pickup and my wife’s car to run on water but I am hesitant
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June 16th, 2008 at 2:00 pm
I drive a 98 Plymouth Breeze. It’s pretty good on gas-averages about 30 mpg highway/city. I work relatively close to my home, unfortunately I am not able to peddle to work because I have 3 children to take to daycare. I did however change their daycare to one that is on the route from work/home so I am not making any additional unnecessary driving. My husband does however ride his bicycle to work. Between the cost of gas and daycare, it’s almost not worth working.
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June 16th, 2008 at 2:01 pm
08′ scion, to work, servicing clients.
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June 16th, 2008 at 2:02 pm
DB: I drive a 2004 Lexus RX330, as it exceeds 24 mpg, and it is very dependable and comfortable for in city and long trips. I am also considering purchasing VW Eos at it is rated at over 30 mpg.
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June 16th, 2008 at 2:02 pm
I drive a 2007 Honda Fit. I need great gas mileage but I also need space for my home renovation materials. Just yesterday, I carried a workbench, 2 tool chests, and a pair of sawhorses from the store — and still was able to close the hatchback…
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June 16th, 2008 at 2:02 pm
I drive a Chevy Silverado 1500 and I do this because I like the feel of a truck. I like to be able to carry what I want and get whereever I want. It gets about 15 miles to the gallon and if the speculators would quit messing with the price of oil and the leftists in this country would stop worrying about the wood roach or whatever is “in” at that time and let our “Big oil” find and tap our reserves it wouldn’t cost so much to drive. Its not the oil drilling and tapping that bad - its the transport. The worse thing we can do is ship millions of gallons over the open sea. Drill and refine right here in the USA and we would be set. I will continue to drive my pick-up and SUV because in addition to the above - global warming and greenhouse gas issues are nothing more that junk science (to use the term loosely) and a crock.
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June 16th, 2008 at 2:03 pm
I drive a Rav-4
I do native bee research at National Wildlife Refuges and I need 4-wheeldrive to get into remote places. I get 20+ miles per gallon.
My husband drives the Honda hybrid and gets an average of 48 miles per gallon. He frequently has jobs where he has to drive 90 miles each way. Can’t beat the mileage but they lack get up and go.
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June 16th, 2008 at 2:05 pm
I drive a ZipCar (from a car-sharing program) when necessary–and generally pick a small model or hybrid–but don’t own a car of my own. Walking, bus, or metro are my usual modes of transportation.
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June 16th, 2008 at 2:07 pm
I’ve been driving a Honda Civic Hybrid since 2002. When searching for a job three years ago, commute distance was a major factor–within 5 miles was a criteria unless there was a mass transit or carpooling option. I plan my car trips to the supermarket, etc. to use fuel efficiently. I fill the tank once every 25 days and am trying for just once a month!
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June 16th, 2008 at 2:08 pm
I drive a ‘93 Corolla. I bought it a few years ago as a cheap go-to-work car. Now I’m much more conscious of my gas usage, and it gets great mileage: about 35-36 on the highway, thanks to as much coasting as I can do and keeping it under 60 mph. My wife drives an ‘03 Civic that gets closer to 40 mpg highway.
We bought both for the same reason: They’re affordable, long-lasting and fuel efficient.
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June 16th, 2008 at 2:10 pm
2003 Saturn Ion - decent gas mileage - just paid it off, will look at hybrid in the future when I need a new car - hopefully by then it will be feasible to purchase one that can fit my wife and kids in.
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June 16th, 2008 at 2:13 pm
I drive a sweet aqua green Acura Integra circa 1994! It’s my second car since 1986 and has over 110k miles on it. When I use it, which is rare because I live an a great city with public transpo, it starts up without a problem. It’s beat up and I don’t mind parking it on the city streets. Nicer cars respect my presence on the road because they don’t want dents, dings, or scratches. My next car will be a hybrid convertible.
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June 16th, 2008 at 2:15 pm
I drive a 2000 Nissan Frontier to work. We also have a 2007 Honda Odyssey for shopping and for my wife’s visits to convalescent hospitals with our therapy dog. We have a kennel in the back for the safety of our dog. Both vehicles get good mileage and both are necessary. We are careful about trips, grouping errands to maximize effective use of gas. Filled the Honda yesterday at $4.53 per gallon for regular. We have traveled a lot and gas has been at this level in Europe for years. We are spoiled by having had cheap gas compared to other countries have even more taxes to drive the price up.
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June 16th, 2008 at 2:15 pm
I drive a 2000 Maxima to commute a long way to work. I average about 25 Mpg which is more than the manufacturers estimate. I’d take public transportation if it was available but it’s not. The gas prices are killing me but I can’t afford to change to a more fuel efficient car since its paid for and I can’t afford a new car payment.
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June 16th, 2008 at 2:16 pm
Are you blaming “rich greenies” for the raising cost of food and fuel??? I am poor but green so does that make me a “poor greenie” and therefore not contributing to the rising prices (phew!)?
I drive a 1995 Plymouth Neon that does just about everything I need it to for an average of 35 mi/gal. From farming to moving all my stuff in the car cross-country, I have seen occasions where a larger vehicle is necessary, but not as my everyday commuter. You don’t have to go all the way to “green”, just better would do.
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June 16th, 2008 at 2:17 pm
I drive a 1999 jeep grand cherokee. I get about 24 miles to a gallon on the highway and I drive 22 miles each way to work. I would love to drive a car that is “greener” but my car is paid off and the cost of buying a new car and gas is way higher than what I pay now. Other benefits of this car is I feel safe in it especially here in Kansas when the weather can be horrific with the snow and ice storms as well as the extreme heat and if I was to wreck. I also use it as my truck to haul around my dog and any other large items I need to move from one place to another. So overall the benefits of keeping my car and enduring the gas prices out ways the option of buying a new car.
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June 16th, 2008 at 2:17 pm
I drive a 2000 Mercury Mountaineer and get about 18 mpg. This car is totally paid for so the benefits of getting a different vehicle with a payment do not bide well. I work 50 miles round trip from my home because that is where my job is…however, we are working to get our office moved to a different town and be about 10 miles from home. In addition, I work from home 2 days a week. No public transportation is available.
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June 16th, 2008 at 2:18 pm
I drive a 2006 Saturn Vue but I take the train to work. I drive this car becasue I can’t afford to get another one, wish I could get a Prius!
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June 16th, 2008 at 2:18 pm
I drive a 2003 VW Jetta station wagon, it uses diesel fuel. I average 50mpg. I live 94 miles away from my job so needed a fuel efficient vehicle. I also needed something I could haul my dogs or sheep in when necessary, it works great for that. I’ve had it since new and keep it maintained to make sure it runs as clean as a diesel can.
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June 16th, 2008 at 2:18 pm
I drive a 1996 Chevy Lumina - it’s paid for! I like having a substantial vehicle between me and other drivers on the CA freeways. I get 25 mpg in town and 36 mpg on long haul trips. Chevy’s have interchangeable parts, so you don’t have to go to a dealer to repair them.
I am fortunate in only being 7 miles from work, and all my shopping is along the way home. With gas prices edging closer to $5 per gallon, I will likely switch to using public transportation - trolley/bus. Can’t afford to buy a newer, environmentally friendly vehicle.
Some day, I’d like to live in a city where I can walk every where, and in inclement weather get around in a golf cart. (hehehe!)
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June 16th, 2008 at 2:19 pm
When I drive, I drive a used Subaru wagon. Living in DC a rarlely have the need to drive since public transport is so easy and efficient. I can get to and from work without driving. I drive so little that when the weekend rolls around and I go to load up my car for a weekend outdoor adventure (the reason that I have the car), I often forget where I parked. I could have sold the car since I drive it so little but I figure that I would be using a zipcar or rental car about as much as I use my personally owned vehicle and thus, it’s a lot easier to have my car ready to go then to have to reserve a zip car or rental car. It’s a luxury and the day my car stops running, which might be soon, I probably won’t indulge in a new used car. Although having a hybrid sounds very cool, I don’t think the amount that I drive justifies such an expensive purpose and I might have more reservations about leaving it on the street for weeks at a time than I do now withy my old faithful. But if I could share it with the other tenants in my building or something, now that would be cool.
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June 16th, 2008 at 2:19 pm
i have ‘98 toyota camry. I’m lucky enought to be able to ride my bicycle 2-3 days per week. But being in Nevada, I would like a vehicle to get me around the backcountry. Yeah, a bike is not bad once I get there, but I’d like to explore area’s 100 miles from my house, so a small 4×4 would be nice.
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June 16th, 2008 at 2:20 pm
I chose a Ford Escape for a daily 150 mile, mostly rural open road commute. Affords all wheel drive for many snowy days with bad roads plus ample space required to haul response equipment I need to have with me at all times. Considered a flex fuel model but the spread in price between regular unleaded and E-85 would not offset the reduction in mileage utilizing the latter. At this time I use cruise control as much as possible, drive at or under the speed limit, try to maintain a steady pase and am reasonably content with 26.5 mpg.
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June 16th, 2008 at 2:21 pm
My vehicle is a 2003 Honda Pilot. I use it to carry people and bulky items that would not fit in a midsized car. Would like to get an equivalent sized vehicle that is a hybrid without the sticker shock. Can’t afford to buy a new one yet. More lower and middle class folks would go for more hybrids if it is similarly priced to conventional gas versions, doesn’t have a hefty price tag attached, and better range in between recharge or fillups.
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June 16th, 2008 at 2:21 pm
I drive a 1999 Subaru Forester. It still gets over 30 miles to the gallon on most of my drives. Currently my car is not costing me a great deal of money and I do not have a car payment and it is a reasonable expense. I would very much like to buy a hybrid, but at this time, I am happy not to have a car payment and it is not financially possible. I plan to consider purchasing a new car in about 1-2 years and I would like it to be a hybrid. I have been working hard to reduce the time in my car and increase my usage of the metro and other forms of public transportation and I am hoping to make a small difference in this way.
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June 16th, 2008 at 2:22 pm
I drive a 2009 Toyota Corolla. It gets (estimated) 35 mpg highway…which is better than some hybrids out there! I love it! If I had extra money, I would love to have a Prius.
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June 16th, 2008 at 2:23 pm
I drive a Toyota Rav 4, 4-cylinder. I ride the bus to work and usually walk to the bus stop as well.
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June 16th, 2008 at 2:23 pm
I Ride a motor Cycle, Yamaha 1100 V Star (Classic) on day when it’s not raining or too cold. On other days it’s 97 Honda Accord that gets about 22 Miles to the gallon around town.
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June 16th, 2008 at 2:24 pm
a 2006 Chevy Aveo. I don’t notice the gas price increases that much, and I enjoy driving the car.
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June 16th, 2008 at 2:26 pm
I don’t own a car or truck. I ride only motorcycles to save gas and enjoy the ride. I ride from 700 to 1,000 miles a week in all weather everyday of the year. I am prepared for $5 a gallon gas. I have noticed Interstate travel is finally slacking off due to gas prices. I am hopeful that $5 and $6 a gallon gas will make the roads even more user friendly to motorcycle riders.
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June 16th, 2008 at 2:27 pm
I drive a Prius and get between 44 and 50 miles per gallon. I chose the Prius because I wanted the most fuel-efficient and environmentally friendly car that I could afford. I purchased it almost a year ago (before the gas prices climbed so high) and now I’m even happier that I did. I love it!
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June 16th, 2008 at 2:27 pm
I drive a 2000 V-6 Camry to work about 18 mi/day (22mpg). My husband drives a 2001 V-6 Tundra about 5mi/day for 9mo/yr (18mpg). Since we make no payments, it is not practical to buy a hybrid to gain a few mpg or a Flex fuel and try to find a flex fuel station. Besides, dealers in Las Vegas want $3-5k over MSRP for hybrids! We planned to get a 2009 Highlander, but they supersized it (along with most of the Toyotas) so it is no longer as economical. We will see if newer technologies develop over the next two years and then replace the Camry with maybe a CR-V or RAV4 (or will it be a RAV8 by then? lol).
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June 16th, 2008 at 2:27 pm
We have a 1999 Honda Accord, which we purchased used five years ago. Our previous car was also an Accord, a 1994 model that we bought new. It is now owned by our daughter and still running well. Our purchases were motivated mainly by our own experience with good performance and high marks from the various consumer guides. Mileage, which is somewhere around 25 mpg for both cars, was not much of a factor when we made the purchases. Obviously, our purchasing criteria will be different in the future, but we hope we can get another five years out of the 1999 model. Another thing – we never miss a scheduled maintenance, including tire replacement when necessary. This can be costly, but I think it keeps the cars running efficiently.
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June 16th, 2008 at 2:29 pm
Oh goodness, I ask myself this question every morning! I drive a 1996 Ford Escort “Sport” 4 door sedan. 1. Because it was free. 2. I don’t care what happens to it in a parking lot. 3. After a little tune-up and new fuel injector it’s been averaging about 40 miles per gallon on the highway. I was going to trade it in because I was embarassed by it - but you know, I’m embarassed now for those who are driving SUV’s! Gas wasting, money wasting and environmentally un-friendly!. I’ll stick with my ugly gas sipping car for now!
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June 16th, 2008 at 2:30 pm
It’s not really about placing blame here, it’s more about making intelligent decisions. I, however, am curious how the rich greenies have driven up fuel prices? There are many ‘green’ ideas that cost a fraction of the status quo.
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June 16th, 2008 at 2:31 pm
I drive a beat up cheap Raleigh 10 speed with a milk crate 3 miles each way to the subway. I’m planning to convert to an “xtracycle” hitchless bike extension “trailer” that’s strong enough to carry an adult passenger AND cargo.
Sometimes I drive a 93 Accord wagon. It’s the perfect size and shape for me, but rusting out. I’m considering a complete restoration, and learning to drive as economically as possible (as if there was a raw egg between my foot and gas or brake).
My wife’s and the “family” car is a 98 Oasis (Odyssey) - the minivan with the conventionally-hinged (not sliding) doors. It’s not particularly efficient, but we’re not cruising as fast as we used to on the Interstate.
I’d love a hybrid, but for now feel more strongly about keeping the best older stuff on the road.
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June 16th, 2008 at 2:32 pm
I drive a 1995 GEO Metro with a 5 speed manual transmission.
When gas topped $ 3.00 a gallon I was driving a gas guzzler.
The higher gas prices woke me up to a new reality..which as we know is getting worse by the day. Most of my driving is in a small town in Northeast Pa..
The GEO has not yet hit 100,000 miles.
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June 16th, 2008 at 2:32 pm
2007 Honda Accord LEV2- 4 cylinder automatic. Size needed for family otherwise I would have purchased a Civic. Gas economy is good. Besides I buy a car every ten years if I need one or not. The previous Honda is still in the garage but with 150,000+ miles I had reached my confidence limit.
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June 16th, 2008 at 2:32 pm
2003 Ford Mustang V6. I drive it because I bought it when I jsut graduated from college and it was cheap and afforable. I paid it off in 2 1/2 years and that’s the reason I drive it. Otherwise, I would be in the market for a more fuel efficient vehicle.
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June 16th, 2008 at 2:33 pm
I drive a Mazda Tribute.
Why? It can handle the snow when I go skiing in Vermont, it can fit my family’s camping gear, I can keep the dog in the back - off the seats when he’s wet and muddy! my 6′3″ husband is actually comfortable in it for 5 hr trips to his parent’s house… and it gets 24 MPG… just about as good as most of your V6 cars.. and it is FUN to drive!
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June 16th, 2008 at 2:34 pm
I drive a Mitsubishi Montero Sportero Limited 4×4. It sounds classy (maybe to some). Unfortunately, the gas mileage is not. It is a nice family vehicle, one we can utilize when we have my fourteen-year-old stepson in tow. But, with the gas prices as they are, we wish we were not so upside-down on this vehicle so we could find a more fuel-efficient vehicle to squeeze our family of five into.
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June 16th, 2008 at 2:34 pm
I drive a 2003 Mini Cooper. I purchased this car used about a year ago after selling my Ford F150 Truck. This car is so much fun to drive! I get 35 miles to the gallon and lots of attention. I drive 20 miles to work each way, so it saves me a lot of money compared to the truck I had. Did I mention it’s fun, fun, fun?!
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June 16th, 2008 at 2:34 pm
Why do you have you blame others for bankrupting your family? Where’s your responsibilty in making poor choices? Take ownership for you own actions = grow up!
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June 16th, 2008 at 2:34 pm
I drive a Jeep Cherokee. I average 18 mpg and live 4.6 miles from work.
The vehicle serves several roles, including family vehicle and residential “cargo carrier”. It is dependable and drives well in the winter weather.
There is no mass transit system available from my location.
Based on driving practices on the highway, I can tweak the Jeep up to 25 mpg +.
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June 16th, 2008 at 2:35 pm
I drive a Honda Civic. I have always driven small efficient cars and I drive them as long as they last without needing excessive repairs. In 27 years, I’ve owned three cars - a Toyota Tercell and two Honda Civics. I kept my last Civic 13 years and hope the current one will last at least that long. I have never felt the need for a car to accomplish anything except clean, gas efficient transport of me. I don’t drive a car because it’s fun or because it’s a status symbol - it’s simply a means of getting from one point to another on the road. I choose my cars to be inexpensive and have good gas mileage which is both good on the wallet and the environment. Smaller efficient cars mean not only fewer resources are used in their manufacture (which is important to me), but they also mean less gas is consumed in their operation (I get 35-40 mpg) and fewer emissions are generated.
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June 16th, 2008 at 2:35 pm
I believe I had a mini mid life crisis a year and a half ago- before the crazy hike in the price gas. I have a gov’t job about 5 miles from home, I live in a relatively rural area of Florida with no public transportation between my house and work, I have 2 of my four kids still young enough that I have to drive them around with their sports equipment, saddles, etc- so I needed something relatively big. The combination of mid life crisis and single mom made the Dodge Magnum 5 speed auto all wheel drive with the big Hemi a no brainer! As Murphy’s law shall have it, I drove it home and the bottom fell out of the gas market. I know- I also should have been thinking greener in the first place and I got what I deserved- but I really wanted it. So for now I drive very differently than I had been- by being more conservative I have increased my mileage to 1.5 miles more per gallon around town and I believe I can increase it even more. But most importantly- we all need to drive less when we can- no matter waht we drive. I refuse to go “back into town” once I make it home. The kids watch movies on TV rather than take the long trip to the theater. More internet shopping- etc. Oh, I recycle. I’m not all bad.
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June 16th, 2008 at 2:36 pm
I drive a 2001 Honda Insight that I bought new in June 2001 when gas was about $1.37 per gallon. My friends and co-workers asked me why I bought a super fuel efficient car at a relatively premium price ($23,337 drive-off price) when gas was so cheap, but even then I did not like “burning money” via driving so I bought the highest MPG car made at the time. My previous car, an Acura Integra RS, was getting 30 MPG and my Honda Insight gets about 60 MPG. My real reason for buying the hybrid was to reduce MY consumption of gasoline which I did by 50% which in a way means - to me - that I reduced MY dependence on foreign oil by 50%. [And I plan on keeping this car (current mileage is 111,000) till another car is made that gets higher MPG.]
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June 16th, 2008 at 2:36 pm
We have a mini van, nissan maxima and a Ford F150. Use the old truck for hauling etc… but only minimally. We would sell the other two vehicles if they had value enough but the cost to buy a new car that is any better on milage isn’t worth the loans and interest.
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June 16th, 2008 at 2:36 pm
I drive a 1999 Honda Civic. I bought it for the reliability and fuel economy (factored this in in year 2000), and the fact that it fits my drive needs 98% of the time (occaisional snow travel of minor offroad to trailhead travel did not justify a 4-wheeler). I’ve driven it 5 days/wk for a 20 mile RT commute, with approx 30mpg.
I’ve considered a hybrid, but rough calcs on the cost vs increased fuel economy do not justify it for my annual mileage/gas consumption, plus it seems ‘greener’ to not cause another car to be built. When it comes time to replace it (many years doen the road at this rate), I will probably get a hybrid. I’ve recently combined using my bike with public transit, so now I’m driving only once or twice /week (and building gas equity in my tank).
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June 16th, 2008 at 2:36 pm
Why are you asking this question. Root cause the oil companies and the multi million dollar profit these companies are enjoying and have been enjoying. The question should be why aren’t they using the technology they already have to produce more efficient cars. Ethanol is a joke because you need gas to produce it.
Do I see Congress making energy efficient choices? Do I see
more incentives for homes becoming solar power, be able to use solar panels? Quit asking these stupid questions.
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June 16th, 2008 at 2:36 pm
I drive a 2002 Hyundai Sonata. It get’s great gas mileage and is paid for. I live near my work location and a tank of gas usually lasts two weeks.
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June 16th, 2008 at 2:36 pm
A motorcycle. Better gas mileage, and more environmental firendly.
The motorcycle fulfils the role of a convenient and environmentally friendly private transportation alternative that can make a contribution towards helping to solve transportation and environmental problems.
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June 16th, 2008 at 2:37 pm
I drive a Volvo SE V70 that has 189,000 miles, low repair costs, 30 MPG when I drive it appropriately. In California, my commute was 12 miles one-way and took an hour. Until last year, my Utah commute was 190 miles roundtrip daily. Now with my new employer, my one-way trip is 12 miles and I’m loving it.
My wife drives a Yaris for the mileage. She gets about 39-40 consistently.
Both are paid off and if if the tax breaks don’t go away, one will be replaced with even better mileage vehicle sometime in the next year.
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June 16th, 2008 at 2:38 pm
I agree with everything you have said. I moved from Seattle recently where I was a committed public transportation user and walker, to Las Vegas to be with ageing parents. I tried the bus system here but it is not very good and they have worked to improve it. Summer imposes an additional trial because I have to wait for the bus in 110 in the afternoon while my internal thermostat is still stuck in Seattle mode. I get very light headed no matter what I do to “heat-proof” myself. That is a barrier I can’t seem to overcome.
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June 16th, 2008 at 2:39 pm
Only one reason I drive to work every day is that they is no public transportation. I have a six cylinder Mustang, about 20 MPH in the city, it is just about paid for so I hate to get into dept again but 35 to 40 MPG would be nice.
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June 16th, 2008 at 2:40 pm
Just sold my 6 cylinder Honda Accord and purchased a 2008 4 cylinder Accord. I get much better gas mileage and the 2008 model has very low emissions. Besides my Accord, I take the MARC train to work and two subway lines. I think eveyone needs to make a contribution to help our environment.
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June 16th, 2008 at 2:40 pm
I drive a Ford Expedition,And no not because I want a gas guzzling SUV. I need the space to haul our 3 boys and 2 girls around.
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June 16th, 2008 at 2:41 pm
I drive a 2005 Chrysler Crossfire Convertible. It’s a “premium fuel only” car, so I’m paying about $0.20 per gallon more than I could be. I try to hypermile as much as possible without being unsafe. My city barely has public transportation, but I’m bugging them for improvements at every opportunity. I just started window-shopping for a hybrid. My only defense is that a car that small doesn’t exactly guzzle the gas.
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June 16th, 2008 at 2:42 pm
Good to hear someone telling it like it is, good luck to you.
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June 16th, 2008 at 2:43 pm
After driving a 21 year old Lincoln Town Car for about 9 years (and no car payments) I purchased a 2008 Mazda CX9.
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June 16th, 2008 at 2:43 pm
I drive a 2001 chevy lumina. It gets about 25 mpg highway. Since the increased gas prices, I try not to make unnecessary trips and only fill up about once every 10 days.
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June 16th, 2008 at 2:43 pm
I drive a Ford Focus PZEV vehicle which I bought before gas prices started going crazy. I carpool to work and bus when I can to go elsewhere but I live in Vermont whose biggest city has a very poor public transit system and the rest of the state mass transit is almost non-existent.
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June 16th, 2008 at 2:43 pm
I drive a bicycle to work, the store and anywhere else I need to go. The price of diesel is outrageous so we only use our truck when we are going on a trip.
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June 16th, 2008 at 2:44 pm
I drive a 2003 Ford Taurus, V6, less than 40,000 miles on it. It was the family car. It gets about 26 mpg for a highway commute of 26 miles (one way). The car is a very safe model in all weather. I drive/commute two colleagues in comfort to the workplace. Perhaps more importantly, my new car for the family is a Honda Accord. Best combination of size, safety and fuel economy. Sorry, but Detroit lost my business when they continued going in the wrong direction: bigger, more powerful, more fuel consuming. I agree with much of what “Jason” has to say, but public transit is dying in Pittsburgh. After disasters and near disasters, transportation budgets will be committed to maintaining and repairing bridges, bridgers and more bridges. I agree with the comment about the additional cost for a hybrid model - way to go, that’ll get us to buy one - and I agree with the comment about wanting to buy an electric car next time. Gee, I wonder if Detroit’s reading/listening?
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June 16th, 2008 at 2:44 pm
I commute with my Triumph Sprint motorcycle that gets high 40 MPGs.
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June 16th, 2008 at 2:44 pm
I mostly drive a 1990 Honda Accord, because it gets 25 mpg, and I can’t afford a new car. But I also drive the most fuel efficent minivan I could find (1997 Nissan Quest), as I have a family of five to gather and go to places. I’d like to drive my bicycle to work, but the roads here are unsafe and not suited for bicyclist safety.
I used to drive an all-electric Chevy S-10 EV to work, before GM pulled the plug on this technology. It actually worked for a short commute - and the S-10 EV truck could out gun most cars 0-40 mph!
Too bad politicians retired this promising electric vehicle technology before allowing it to succeed. I don’t feel sorry for the short-sighted Detroit auto industry executives now losing market share to foreign competition. However, I do feel sorry for those losing their jobs…
Buy American or buy smart? Why can’t we have both? Common Detroit - Get your act together!
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June 16th, 2008 at 2:45 pm
I use a combination of a car and transit. I drive a Pontiac Vibe, which I average 29 mpg to the transit station and then ride the train to work. I can walk from the station downtown to the office. I live 23 miles from the office and 11 miles to the transit station, so I save 24 total miles a day. This has been saving me about $67 per month or $800 per year in gas money, not to mention wear and tear, oil changes, etc. Since I work for the transit company, I ride for no cost. That is worth about another $870 per year. Now if I can get a station or bus stop closer to my house…..
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June 16th, 2008 at 2:45 pm
We drive a 2005 Dodge Durango 4X4 w/hemi and a 1998 Dodge Turbo Diesel 4X4. The last 4 years we’ve been blessed with the ability to carpool.
The area we live in has severe weather in the Winter which necessitates a 4X4 vehicle.
In retrospect, I could have done without the hemi.
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June 16th, 2008 at 2:45 pm
I recently bought a 2005 Honda Civic. I had a 1991 Accord for many years and it broke down. Basically, I had to get a new one because it had 3-4 things that needed fixing (expensive) & I couldn’t be stranded with a 6 year old, walking 20 miles as I am very rural.
Good news is it is not too bad on the fill up. Bad news is the payment that is extra for me at a bad economic time. I kept the old one in case I have to lose it and/or go bankrupt if economics get much worse. There is no way to pay 2X for gas, 2X-3x for food, 10-15X for health care, etc. etc. and earn maybe and extra .50 cents raise per hour, annually. I am 37 & this is my first “depression”, but lucky for me I know how to rough it. I have to say, there is no $ for my house propane that will run out soon.
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June 16th, 2008 at 2:45 pm
I drive a 2005 Honda Civic, manual transmission, 43mpg!!!! on regular gas, extra low emissions! Low initial costs. Why do they no longer make this safe car?
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June 16th, 2008 at 2:46 pm
I drive a four-banger Contour for its great handling, spacious trunk, great manual transmission, decent room for me and children, and for the two most important reasons–it averages 36 to 42 mpg despite 170,000 plus miles, and it’s paid for. Spouse drives a four-banger Ranger for its great manual transmission, load capacity, carrying tools for work, and for the two most important reasons–it averages 28 to 30 mpg despite 130,000 miles and it’s paid for. Combine a decent four cylinder with a decent manual transmission, and you can wring out a lot more mpg, but still have fun driving. Yes, we each have another vehicle–our hopped up speed toys–but we don’t drive them. There is no public transportation here in the sticks. We have to have vehicles suitable for driving all seasons–rain, snow, ice, high winds, sub-zero weather, etc.
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June 16th, 2008 at 2:47 pm
I drive a 2006 Subaru WRX. I live in Minnesota. This car is fast and fun in the summer and all wheel drive in the winter. Reliabilty is excellent and gas mileage is tolerable (~ 24 mpg). I enjoy cars and like having a little more than basic transportation, if I can.
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June 16th, 2008 at 2:48 pm
I drive a ‘99 Subaru Outback Legacy because it was a gas mileage upgrade from the Isuzu Trooper I drove previously but still had all-wheel drive. For the longest time, I’ve been coveting a diesel VW, preferably Golf or Rabbit, but they are in super high demand around these parts (Pacific Northwest).
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June 16th, 2008 at 2:49 pm
I’m self-employed and drive a 2006 Dodge Sprinter that has been converted into a mobile pet grooming salon because it gets approx. 25 mpg.
I drive a 2001 Ford Mustang for personal errands because it gets approx. 23 mpg.
I drive a ‘95 Harley Davidson FXDWG for play because it gets 50 mpg.
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June 16th, 2008 at 2:51 pm
I drive a 2003 Mazda 6 (24 mpg overall, mostly commute)…I got it when my 98 Ford Explorer (needed hauling and snow capability) regularly passed 30 buck to fill. Kept the Explorer…now has 190 K miles and I use it in the winter.
Next car to be high milage, but not hybrid (not hiway worthy in my bood), or a high milage small SUV
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June 16th, 2008 at 2:53 pm
I have 2 vehicles but generally ride the bus to work. I have a 95 pathfinder that is bought and paid for but when I do volunteer work that requires transport of salvaged cactus or cats that are going to spay/neuter clinic it works well. It averages 15/20 mpg. Which is poor. My other car is a 2004 VW TDI Jetta and it is a 5 speed. I get 40-45 MPG and it is worth almost exactly what I paid for it 2 years ago. I use it to run errands that I don’t need much space for. They have both served me very well. I would recommend it over a hybrid any day. The newer diesel jetta has an enormous amount of space for a vehicle that gets 40-50 mpg.
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June 16th, 2008 at 2:54 pm
I drive a Toyota Camry 1999. It gets ~25 mpg in the city and 30 on the highway. My commute is 7 miles each way. I have been thinking of biking but is rains daily in FL thru the summer so maybe I will in the winter. Lately my husband and I have been riding together so save on gas but that is only convenient a few days a week. Checking the tire pressure has been a big help. should have done that years ago.
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June 16th, 2008 at 2:54 pm
I drive a Ford F-250 Super Duty that averages 14.5 mpg. Beacause I’m an Emergency Responder I have to have my gear with me at all times and also have to pull heavy trailers. on days I know i’m in my ofice, I ride my Kawasaki Vulcan motorcycle. That gets about 50 mpg but living in Maine I have to be cogniscent of the weather which changes every 5 minutes.
My Many thanks to you missinformed jerks who think that drilling for and utilizing our own oil resorces will ruin our environment. It wont and I should know. I work in the industry and they are the safest people out there. My Kids and I are stocking up on sweatshirts and blankets. We are going to need them this winter.
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June 16th, 2008 at 2:55 pm
Driving a Ford F-150 4×4 that gets up to 19 mpg on the highway, so for a large vehicle, pretty satisfied with the mpg. Living in rural Wisconsin and always being out on the road long before the snowplows are out in winter, the 4×4 option makes getting to work possible. The truck gets used as a truck, and is needed for towing the boat and snowmobile trailers, and the ATV goes in the back also, all things that are not possible (or safe) with a smaller vehicle. Yes, I know, a lot of motorized fun, but I also hike 1000 miles a year, just happen to have more fun outdoors than most.
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June 16th, 2008 at 2:56 pm
I drive a 2002 Chevrolet Silverado 1/2 ton for business. It gets about 17 mpg average, 20+ on long trips. It is needed for maintenance and installations in the family business. It has been an excellent vehicle, and I am considering converting it to Natural Gas, as most of our work is in urban areas where LNG is available, and I’m told that kits are available to compress household natural gas to LNG
Natural gas is plentiful, non poluting and is easy on the vehicles that use it. My son-in-law has a Honda Civic that is LNG and it works out perfectly fine, except for the short range (about 200 miles) This is a renewable fuel, made here in the USA. I don’t know why it isn’t promoted more, as the electric hybrids are just a phase, They still burn gas, and the batteries will be a landfill nightmare in my opinion.
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June 16th, 2008 at 2:57 pm
I am proud to say I am part of a 2 Prius family. My mother waited 9 months for her 2004 Prius and I got my 2005 Prius shortly after she got hers in Sept 2004. She bought hers to save money on gas (she was commuting 30+ one way each day when she bought it) and own something that would make a statement about her commitment to driving more responsibly. It’s also because my job wore off on her a bit. You see I work for a local organization that’s part of the Dept of Energy’s Clean Cities Program. Our mission is to reduce petroleum consumption and improve air quality through the use of alternative fuels and advanced technologies. I have the unique pleasure to be able to work with most major automakers and get the opportunity to drive cars most people aren’t aware are on the road (including hybrid fuel cells, fully electric, hybrids, natural gas etc). It made my decision to purchase my Prius a lot easier. I was already familiar with this vehicle and knew what went into its development. Also it was a bit of practicing what I preach. How can I tell fleets and individuals in my community to drive alternative fuels or move to hyrbids if I go around in a gas guzzler (not that I did, the car I traded in was a 1998 Saturn SL-1 that got decent gas mileage by our standards).
My mom and I couldn’ t be happier with our vehicle choices and Toyota has made the best hybrid on the market hands down (no Toyota doesn’t pay me to say that). It’s a common sense car that allows people to take advantage of today’s technology to improve their fuel economy, reduce their emissions and still have all the bells and whistles (and creature comforts) that come along with “normal” cars. This vehicle is by no means “whimpy” as other automakers have implied. It’s got great low end torque acceleration and with top speeds of over 100 it performs great on the interstate. Now we’re waiting for Toyota to introduce their plug in Prius so neither of us have to use gasoline to go to work. I can’t wait to see what they come up with.
Of course not everyone can make the choice to purchase a hybrid but people need to start making smarter choices as have been noted in some of the posts on this site. People need to “think” about what they need from their vehicle. If you need to haul things for work a truck is a good option but if you stay in the city and drive to and from an office with an occasion trip with the boat, think about a used vehicle that can be a weekend vehicle for the boat and buy something small and economical for the week. Now more than ever MPGs are really important for some many reasons. If you can make changes in your habits, you should, and if you’re not able to make those changes, try to carpool, or if there is public transportation availabile use it. Trip chain and curb those unnecessary trips. It’s not just about being “green” now, it’s about staying afloat financially.
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June 16th, 2008 at 2:58 pm
I drive a Diesel VW Jetta-
It was about $4,000 more expensive than the gasoline model. I drive almost primarily on the highway and get 45-50 MPG. over the past two years i have more than made up for the additional cost of the vehicle and feel good about using less fuel.
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June 16th, 2008 at 2:59 pm
I drive a 2007 Prius that is currently getting 50 mpg. I bought it because it’s good for the environment and saves big bucks at the gas station. It cost a little more than a non-hybrid, but with the rising cost of gas, it’s worth the extra money. It also makes me feel good that it has fewer emissions than similar sized vehicles.
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June 16th, 2008 at 3:01 pm
I drive a diesel because of the superior performance aspects of diesel and also the fuel economy aspects. Right now the price of diesel is higher than gasoline, (ouch!) but the diesel still pays me back in the longer run getting about 30 to 35% more mpg than a gasoline version of the same car. So the time for payback might be extended but this new generation of clean diesel’s are really great cars to drive, and nothing like the diesels of the past. I hope I can get a new 2008 model that meets Clifornia”s and EPA’s stringent tier 2 bin five emissions standards. While diesel fuel is pretty easy to find, where I live, I do notice some variations in quality.
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June 16th, 2008 at 3:01 pm
I drive a used Toyota Corolla manual shift. I can use it like a truck, it holds everything I need including my 115 lb dog, big things go on the roof, the trunk is roomy - and it still gets 37 miles to the gallon. I would like a plug in hybrid… eventually.
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June 16th, 2008 at 3:05 pm
I have a 2006 Dodge Charger with a Hemi engine and my husband has the 2006 Dodge Ram 2500 with a Cummins diesel engine. We get about 19 mpg in each of those vehicles. They sit in the driveway. My husband rides his 2007 Harley-Davidson Road Glide every day to work and back. I ride my 2008 Harley-Davidson Street Glide whenever possible since I am currently not going out to work every day. We get between 40 and 45 mpg with our bikes. We have always enjoyed riding and now find an extra benefit with the price of fuel so expensive. Unfortunately, the recreational riding has been cut down tremendously due to those prices.
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June 16th, 2008 at 3:08 pm
A prius as it has all the features a household needs for transportation and get over twice the average fleet mieage - I get over 50 almost every tank. Best for environment (and more recently - my wallet)!
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June 16th, 2008 at 3:09 pm
I drive a 2003 Saturn Vue 4 Cyl with 53,000 I recently installed a
GAS SAVER Device that the EPA claims does not work. The EPA Claims this 03 Saturn can get 24-26 MPG and I never got it. Why? I have driven this 03 Saturn and never attained more than 20 MPG until I installed the GAS SAVER and now I get 24-25 MPG
in the City w/A/C and 34 MPG on TRIP when I never got more than 24 MPG on a Trip. Why does the EPA Try to keep gas saving devices that actually work off the market. I have gas slips to prove the mileage I get and a number of friends of mine that have installed the GAS SAVER in their autos have had same success.
Donald Kennedy
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June 16th, 2008 at 3:09 pm
I drive a Zipcar or a Flex Car when I need it. I use public transportation (bus and train) going to work, church, shopping. movies andother entertainment. I only rent a vehicle when there is no public transportation available, which is between 4 and 8 times a year. I have a used bicycle which I purchased, had tuned up, and will be riding as soon as I get another bicycle helmet. I refuse to ride my bicycle without a helmet. When I get it, I’ll be riding to the office, church services and other places. I think it’s great that you can put your bicycles on the busses now. I was one of the first to purchase a Metrorail bicycle ID (when you had to take a test and pay $15.00) for it. I live, work, shop, worship in the District of Columbia and love it here for what it has to offer.
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June 16th, 2008 at 3:10 pm
I drive a 2008 Honda Fit. I get about 30mpg. I love it!!! My company’s current Diesel Chevy 2500 truck will be replaced with a Toyota Tundra in November…..can’t wait!!! Keeping the diesel but using it for towing our toys, not service!
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June 16th, 2008 at 3:11 pm
I drive a 2000 ford Excursion V-10. This vehicle helps me tow my 35′ trailer and carry my family of 6. I only drive 5 miles to work. So mileage is not bad.
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June 16th, 2008 at 3:14 pm
I used to drive a 2005 Scion XB because of the inexpensive price tag, now I drive a 2008 Scion XB because of the inexpensive price tag, as well as the gas mileage (30 mpg). I used to be a mini-van owner . . . . but no more - can’t afford it! Not when I drive 60 miles a day (roundtrip) to work.
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June 16th, 2008 at 3:15 pm
I drive a Saturn Vue with a four-cylinder engine and a manual transmission. It gets okay gas mileage, and is the right size for carpooling four kids to school, hauling a couple duffel bags of baseball equipment to and from practice, or hauling a muddy dog to and from the dog park.
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June 16th, 2008 at 3:18 pm
I drive a 1995 Chevy Blazer very low gas milage. I have not calculated it since I only go through a tank every 2 weeks (I drive very few miles) I need to have a large car because I live in MT and am afraid of hitting an Elk or Moose with a car. I am looking at getting the Hybrid Ford Escape for my next car.
I just started biking to work last week. I really enjoy the time to myself and it is a beautiful ride with the Kootenai River and Mountains.
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June 16th, 2008 at 3:19 pm
I drive a 97 Ford Explorer.
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June 16th, 2008 at 3:19 pm
I currently drive 46 miles one way to work and purchaced a Mini Cooper after checking several opptions. I no longer need to be able to haul 4 people in my car wanted a smaller car with a clutch. And of course wanted to get good gas mileage. The Cooper was one of the highest rated cars for milage at the time and it is fun to drive. We also have a Ford mini van my wife uses because we were hauling our kids to sporting events and simulars uses regularly. I keep cars 10 years or until they die so even though we do not have to haul the kids around any more I have another 5 years to go to replace. We would like better milage but it would be difficult to carry two care payments along with insurance increases on newer vehicles.
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June 16th, 2008 at 3:20 pm
I drive a Honda Accord (4 cylinder). I drove a Civic hybrid until I totaled it in an accident in Jan of this year. The dealership was not encouraging when I told them I wanted a new hybrid. They only had 2 on the lot, and I didn’t like the colors. I know now that I purchased too fast, altho I needed a car, but settled for one that is not very fuel efficient at 23 miles per gallon.
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June 16th, 2008 at 3:25 pm
I drive a 2001 Toyota Sequoia that gets about 17 mpg. The 8 person seating capacity allows we to transport my extended family to social events, such as dinners, dance revues, etc….
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June 16th, 2008 at 3:26 pm
2002 Subaru Forester. Small SUV needed for work (recycling educator - need plenty of room to carry displays, etc.) and home (two large dogs). Gas milage between 21-26 mpg. Trying to carpool, quit idling, shop in the neighborhood, etc. to be a greener driver.
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June 16th, 2008 at 3:27 pm
Good for you - I feel the same way, yes we should be a little greener - but who can afford all of this??
Anyone want to buy me a new greener car???
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June 16th, 2008 at 3:27 pm
My main form of transportation is a 2008 Victory Vision motorcycle.
I get between 45-60 mpg and I love riding; also it leaves half the footprint of a four-wheeled vehicle; I occasionally drive a 1999 Ford Explorer for grocery shopping, taking my dog to the park, or when I need to haul something or pull a trailer. It gets very few miles on it, with a tank of gas lasting me a month or more—and it’s paid for, besides getting between getting 20-25 mpg.
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June 16th, 2008 at 3:28 pm
I don’t drive! Before I moved to DC, I HAD to drive to school! I drove a Honda Civic which got about 30 miles to the gallon but was still expensive to fill up. Now, I’m glad I moved to a city where the necessities are within walking distance or public transportation. I save lots of money and now only use the car once in a blue moon. I think more communities should push their local governments for clean transportation alternatives. Lets not be fossil fools! Lets create innovative solutions for our needs!
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June 16th, 2008 at 3:28 pm
I drive an F-150 because I like driving a truck. I use it for Household projects and to haul my CRF-450 to the dirt. I have a C-5 Corvette w/ auto and believe it or not the car gets great gas mileage for a 375 hp racecar 22-25 mpg. All bets are off when you push past 100.
When I need ta save gas, my wife and I have 2 Harleys but they only get 30-35 mpg. Good thing I only work 7 miles from my house. We’re almost at $5/gal out here in Los Angeles
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June 16th, 2008 at 3:28 pm
I drive an Nissan Versa and get 30 MPG in town. I purchased it for the fuel efficiency, size and afforfability. This is the first brand new car I have purchased since 1987. I sold a VW Jetta to get better mileage.
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June 16th, 2008 at 3:29 pm
Ford Ranger…cheap, truck, paid for.
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June 16th, 2008 at 3:30 pm
I own and operate a 1/2 ton 2007 GMC serria extended cab with matching camper shell. Also own and ride a 2004 Classic HD. Gas prices are hurting all of us. I recommend you contact your congress person and file protest. Our fixed income taxpayers are taking the largest hit. I also give up some items to enjoy what I like to drive or ride. My round trip is 54 miles each day and I carpool to help the clean air act.
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June 16th, 2008 at 3:31 pm
A 1991 Ford Taurus, simply because it was the only thing I could afford after I was rear-ended by a semi in 2006. The insurance money didn’t even cover the cost of this car, and I had and have no money to drive a better one. I only shop at stores I pass on the way to and from work. If I lived in a real city, I would take public transportation, but Idaho hasn’t caught up with the rest of the nation…. If the gas and groceries continue to rise at the current rate, I won’t drive anything ~ I’ll have to eat my car!
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June 16th, 2008 at 3:34 pm
I drive a 98, two wheel drive chevy S10. I will drive this truck until it falls apart in the driveway. Thirty miles per galon and paid for is the key. In northern wisconsin there is 25 miles between anywhere. The salt in the winter destroys auto bodies. Fuel is at 4.35 this morning. We can’t move or carpool.
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June 16th, 2008 at 3:40 pm
1992 Acura Vigor because I don’t have a car payment on it and it still runs. I will drive it until I can put antique plates if it lets me. In this economy, no car payment is priceless
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June 16th, 2008 at 3:46 pm
I drive a 1998 Honda Civic. It is a pretty descent car, I bought it used about three years ago. My husband has a 2000 Jeep Cherokee. We sometimes carpool to work since we work very near each other, but we have different schedules. I am pro the environment, but in my case I can’t take a bus to work, because the mass transportation here is terrible and unreliable. I also live in a semi-rural area, and the nearest bus stop is at least 5 miles away and I can’t take my bike on it.
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June 16th, 2008 at 3:49 pm
I drive a Honda Civic and an old motorcycle. I own both because of their fuel efficiency. I would like to buy a hybrid but they are far too expensive. Even the lower end hybrid models usually exceed $24,000.00
I really wish it were more convenient to use public transportation but I live in Jacksonville, FL. and the public transportation is sub-par for a city with such a large population.
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June 16th, 2008 at 3:50 pm
We drive an ‘87 Mazda 626. We have owned this car since September 1986. It currently has 128,000 miles which means we average around 6000 miles per year. On long trips we get about 31 mpg. Last year over the whole year we averaged just under 25 mpg. Our taxes for the year are $36.30. It is in great shape. We will not replace it until there would be some significant savings in buying a greener car. We would need to be at a minimum of 40 mpg for a new car to make the least bit of sense. If the car keeps lasting, we will wait until the cars catch up.
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June 16th, 2008 at 3:52 pm
Hi Southern Man
It’s sad to hear about your strife and I can relate because I come from a family of farmers but those that live in the city and care about gas mileage aren’t causing the rise in gas prices. The trend toward more fuel efficient vehicles is mostly a result of high gas prices.
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June 16th, 2008 at 3:55 pm
I ride a 2007 Harley Electra Glide Standard. This IS my everyday vehicle - rain or shine - only ice keeps it parked. Why? It gets @ 42 mpg, the light weight does NOT tear up the roads, it’s smaller than a car so it doesn’t add to traffic congestion and it’s a LOT of fun.
My other “ride” is a 1951 Harley Electra Glide. Why? Because it’s loud and proud.
My truck is a pristine 1995 Chevy C-Series with a small 6 cylinder engine and a 5-speed manual transmission with cruise control. I need a full size truck for work while in-town mpg sucks, I get @ 20 mpg on the highway.
My car is a 2001 Buick LeSabre. Why? Because I’ve owned a few of those “toy” cars and they suck in terms of ride and back seat passengers. The Buick with the GM 3800 engine gets @ 26 mpg on a trip which is fine with me as I have a job and can afford the gas.
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June 16th, 2008 at 3:58 pm
Hyundai crossover SUV, because it gets 26-28 miles to the gallon and was a good value for the price in 2005. I take public transp during the week and drive only as needed, mostly weekends.
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June 16th, 2008 at 4:02 pm
I “drive” my feet. I estimate walking 30 miles per week. I walk to the market, my gym, and most all of my errands. My wife & share a 2000 vw Passat (4 cyl 30 mpg) and were proud to have only 41,000 miles in 8 years (with no plans to replace).
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June 16th, 2008 at 4:02 pm
My husband and I own one car between us: a 1996 Toyota Corolla, which we bought used 10 years ago. We both work at home, so we don’t have any commuting costs. As others have said, it’s paid for and it gets good gas mileage–both of those are important now.
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June 16th, 2008 at 4:03 pm
My husband and I drive a 1994 Honda Civic and a 2005 Toyota Corolla. Both average around 35 mpg. Hondas and Toyotas are fuel efficient, dependable, and long-lasting.
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June 16th, 2008 at 4:07 pm
“Rich greenys” are not causing the price hikes. If anything, they are reducing the fuel demands and saving you a few cents. Rising prices are due to increased global demand for fuel, and our government’s lack of foresight in preparing us for the inevitable.
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June 16th, 2008 at 4:07 pm
2004 Toyota Sienna, because it holds my triplets with their carseats and all of our gear without being excessive like a big SUV.
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June 16th, 2008 at 4:17 pm
A 2001 Dodge Durango because it’s paid for and hubby doesn’t want any car payments.
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June 16th, 2008 at 4:18 pm
I drive a 2003 Mazda 6 that I received from my parents during high school. It gets pretty good gas mileage, and I have never had any major problems with it. I mostly use my car to commute to school. I would love to use public transportation to get to class, but it is inconvenient and unreliable. For the next school year I will be moving closer to campus and will be walking to class because of the rising cost of gas.
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June 16th, 2008 at 4:20 pm
I drive a 2007 Toyota Tacoma, 2WD, 4 door truck. No other vehicle comes close to the versatility of a truck. And this one rides like a car, seats 5 comfortably (I have three 6 footers in my family), and I am getting 20 mpg. I wish any manufacturer would make a truck that gets better gas mileage, or an inexpensive commuter car so that I could afford both.
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June 16th, 2008 at 4:20 pm
A motorcycle because it gets 62 miles per gallon.
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June 16th, 2008 at 4:23 pm
I commute 24 miles round trip most of the time on a 2004 Harley-Davidson Sportster. I get anywhere from 35-40 mpg. The additional benefit is being able to enjoy the freedom riding a motorcycle provides. You see more, smell more, and sense more of the environment around you when you ride. I also like that I don’t have to drive my 1997 F-150 4×4 that gets about 15 mpg very much, since I live in sunny California.
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June 16th, 2008 at 4:23 pm
To Southern Man:
It’s not the “rich greeny’s” that are charging you more than $4 per gal. It’s the mega-rich oil companies in Texas and Louisiana.
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June 16th, 2008 at 5:09 pm
I DRIVE A TOYOTA PRIUS
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June 16th, 2008 at 5:16 pm
I drive a 2007 Subaru Forrester because I live in a rural area I needed the AWD, plus I wanted to save on gas. It now costs $50 to fill up my tank!
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June 16th, 2008 at 5:24 pm
I have a 2005 Prius and love it. It gets an honest 48-50 in the city and 54-56 highway. Comfy, quiet and doesn’t depreciate.
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June 16th, 2008 at 5:32 pm
I drive a 2001 Ford Esacpe. I design houses in rural Southern AZ. , so I have to go to construction site in the sticks on roads that are unpaved and very steep.
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June 16th, 2008 at 5:36 pm
I drive a Toyota Corrolla but have been biking to work (about 4 miles each way). I love biking because I see more of Baltimore, have a less stressful commute, and I’m saving on gas. I would like to emphasize that I’m in a much better mood when I get home. I hadn’t realized how much jerky drivers effected me!
With the gas prices, I estimate that if I hadn’t changed my behavior, and gas prices stays at $4.00 a gallon (on average) by this time in 2009, I would have spent an extra $577 on gas. yuck.
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June 16th, 2008 at 5:50 pm
Depending on the weather, either a Toyota Tacoma (4 culinder w/ manual transmission) or a 2008 Honda Nighthawk 250 (baby motorcycle…60 mpg…yay!).
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June 16th, 2008 at 5:52 pm
I ride a Harley Heritage for 90 % of the year. It gets 44 mpg, is relaxing and fun to drive, and puts out less combustion than an auto. As with the majority of America–public transportation is pretty much non existant here and what little they do have is pathetic. If the left doesn’t let America drill for oil right here at home –and do it soon–then we all will be eating those spotted owls for dinner cause we wont be able to afford to buy groceries after having to pay even more for gas than we are already now paying. And yes–it is nice to get some of the car/truck traffic off the roads–less people to claim they “didn’t see me” on my motorcycle. Just maybe–we will be able to get this helmet law repealed once we get even more of the “real” dangerous 4 wheel vehicles off the roads.
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June 16th, 2008 at 6:12 pm
I drive a Toyota Prius for 3 reasons: 1) save gas and the planet, 2) be able to drive HOV on rte 66 as a single driver, and 3) I think they’re sporty. I love my Prius!!! I have 95,000 miles on it and would get another one in a heartbeat.
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June 16th, 2008 at 6:22 pm
I drive a Harley Davidson Electra Glide. Why? Because it’s CHEAPER to drive than my hot rod V-8 Ford Mustang. It used to be I didn’t care about the price of gasoline, but these days, the Mustang sits in the driveway because I can’t afford to fill it up. I would like to thank Al Gore, Little Dick Durbin, the Sierra Club and Greenpeace for doing what the terrorists couldn’t; bring this once great country to it’s knees with their socialist-tree-hugging-save-the-gay-whales energy policy stoopidity. Al Qaeda salutes the greenies - mission accomplished. Good job, kids! Wise up, people….the feds make more $$ in taxes per gallon than the oil companies profit….and the only reason Congress gets away with it is because YOU allow them to. Oh yeah, I forgot to mention, Secretary of Transportation Mary Peters ain’t no friend to motorcycle riders, either….but nice Academy Award winning performance, Mary….us REAL riders ain’t fallin’ for no banana in the tailpipe.
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June 16th, 2008 at 6:24 pm
I split my puny 8 mile one-way commute between a 2005 Harley-Davidson Ultra Classic that averages 44 mpg, unless I’m “enjoying” the pipes, or using them to get the attention of a driver with a cell phone glued to the side of their skull, and a red 1996 Saturn SC1, with a 4 banger, that gets about 29 mpg in the city, but I’ll be danged if I can get any respect for my little red car from other drivers, and I feel MUCH safer, have more fun, and leave less of an environmental footprint while on the motorcycle.
Believe it or not!
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June 16th, 2008 at 6:47 pm
I drive a Dodge Ram 1500 truck. I live in Montana and a 4 wheel drive is a must. Gas mileage isn’t great at roughly 16 mph highway. I am an avid outdoorsman so a truck is needed. I am seriously thinking of buying a cheap, older small car with good gas mileage for any long distant driving. Pay $100 at the pump is really hurting the wallet.
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June 16th, 2008 at 6:52 pm
I Drive a 99 BMW 528. Still gets 35 mpg if you keep the speed down below 80 I’ve looked at new ones and the green cars they cant beat it. When BMW releases it and there is stations to serve it I’m going hydrogen.
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June 16th, 2008 at 7:09 pm
Harley Davidson Electraglide for out of town trips (44 mpg) and a Honda 750 for in town going to work and errands (50Mpg in town). Both require less parking, contribute little to traffic congestion and cause minimal road damage.
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June 16th, 2008 at 7:18 pm
I ride a 2006 Triumph MC 965 CC engine year round unless snow or ice is on the ground
Why ?
A. Because I get over 200 miles on 5 gallons of gas.
B. my emissions are less than a good fart.
C. My 600 pound overhaul vehicle weight does not ruin my highways
D. My elected officials have failed miserably to control the price gouging that results from American & Arab oil barons
My “winter” ride is a 2000 Ford E150 van with a V-6 Engine
Why?
A. Beacuse Hybrids and other fuel efficient vehicles are not priced for fixed income people.
B. Because I can haul my Hunting equipment around during season, sleep in if needed, and help transport the elders in my neighborhood to appointments
C. Because my elected officials are failing miserably to solve the energy crisis
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June 16th, 2008 at 7:24 pm
We have many vehicles including motorcycles; each for a separate mission. Frugality in this case means using the most economical vehicle for the job at hand - the camper is only used for camping, and motorcycles are for commuting to work. What I can’t understand is people who drive a huge gas-sucking SUV everywhere, all the time!
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June 16th, 2008 at 7:40 pm
——– a motorcycle has been perfect for fifty years. 1/4 of a parking space, 1/3 of a highway space, 1/2 of highway wear-and-tear; double or treble gas mileage of a car/suv, there’s always a parking space when i get where i’m going - which takes less time since i’m never jammed in traffic-jams . lower initial cost (i can buy one that’s faster’n any car, stronger pound-for-pound, and pollutes less ’cause i’m not stuck idling in traffic… ), i can buy three for the price of one car (four for an suv ). i don’t block anybody’s view as i’m driving down the road . and, i’m personally not contributing to cell-phone pollution . . .
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June 16th, 2008 at 8:58 pm
I drive a Honda Gl 1100 Gold Wind. It is my 2 wheel version of the prius getting over 50 miles to the gallon. Why: someone has to counter the effect of the Hummers out there, which the Bush Administration had earlier given tax incentives to buy/
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June 16th, 2008 at 9:30 pm
I drive a Chevy Tahoe simply because when Bush was elected he gave tax breaks to vehicles weighing over a certain amount if they were used for work purposes. With gas @ $4.20 in my area and rising, I now know the answer to why a tax break was given.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks George.
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June 16th, 2008 at 9:31 pm
I drive a 1988 Toyota 4 wheel drive truck with 246,000 miles on it. I need 4 wheel drive because of our winters and because I live on a two mile long dirt road. In some areas I go, it would be dangerous not to have 4 wheel drive. I am an elected County official and I drive all over my 3,000 sq. mile forested mountain district. Unfortunately, we are a very poor county and we are very poorly paid. I can’t afford a newer vehicle.
I live in a very rural area and there is no mass transit. The nearest city of 500 people is 20 minutes away. The County seat where I work is 45 minutes away (27 miles.)
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June 16th, 2008 at 9:50 pm
WOW Elizabeth!
You rock!!!
Kudos 8^)
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June 16th, 2008 at 9:53 pm
I drive a purple Dodge Caravan (minivan) - 1998.
It had to be purple…
and I have two young children, so I wanted to have something that would fit the four of us and friends for when we all wanted to go somewhere together.
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June 16th, 2008 at 9:53 pm
Ram 1500 Pickup with a multiple-displacement Hemi engine. Bought it on Earth Day to combat the little gnats (ie: Yaris’, Fits, Aleros) starting to proliferate on the local roadways. If you’ve ever seen one of those little suckers fall into a pothole in Buffalo, it’s a chuckle when you see them drop in. Plus, when we get pounded with 3 feet of snow when there’s a -20 windchill, I am not going to be the one walking home from a stuck go-cart.
Bottom line…go with what you can afford and what’s practical. It’s thoughtless to burn excess fuel if unnecessary, but I’m waiting for technology to provide me with something that’ll last as long as a gasoline engine and be less destructive to the environment (Hint: Lead-acid or lithium-ion batteries??? Come ONNN!!)
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June 16th, 2008 at 11:10 pm
I drive a red Raleigh Retroglide. and I burn about 25 calories per mile. I ride my bike everyday - rain or shine. I even rode it all winter with 2-12 inches of snow on the ground. It was a hoot! The fenders keep me dry and the baskets carry all the groceries I need for a week so only about once a month do I need to run errands with the car.
on most weekends, I drive a 1995 4Runner. Granted the gas mileage isnt great but it holds my kayaks and camping gear and gets me up into the mountains better than my bike could. Handles passengers better too - since I normally have at least my boyfriend and dog with me and sometimes a friend or two too. And I figure the tank of gas on the weekends is worth it to go paddle great whitewater. Plus I only put about 3000 miles on the car last year so I think I’m doing OK.
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June 16th, 2008 at 11:17 pm
I drive a 2000 Toyota Sienna. I drive it because it is paid for, gets decent milage pre gallon and I am retired so do not go out more than 2-3 days a week within a 20 mile radius.
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June 17th, 2008 at 1:38 am
personel ride a motorcycle choice of lifestyle
work a 350 4 wheel drive deisel dually flatbed i pull my equiptment around with this has to be heavy enough to handle the load powerfull enough to pull it
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June 17th, 2008 at 7:57 am
Now both myself and my husband drive a Toyota Corella. We each have one, we recently traded in a Ford Taurus for a new Corella to gain better gas mileage.
Why? The Corella is far better on gas, and very dependable.
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June 17th, 2008 at 8:03 am
I drive a 2001 Jeep Cherokee. Gas mileage is semi-pitiful at 16.2 MPG but it does everything I need. Walking or biking to work is not a relaiable option as I drive 25 mi to work one way. Northern Indiana weather is not nice in the winter and changes at will the rest of the year. 4 wheel drive is mandatory for winter and fishing activities. The cherokee does all this, it is build like a tank (I have tested the impace resistance) to protect my kids,and is still a cheap very reliable vehicle that I can honestly pay for and not constantly regret the payments.
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June 17th, 2008 at 8:07 am
I bought a 97 VW golf as a commuter car, travel to job sites and general get around car for $900. I get about 36-37 mpg at about 63mph. The car is in excellent shape and drives well. I drive it about 30,000 miles per year.
I also have a 97 toyota tacoma I use for work (i’m a geologist) and home tasks (water pumps, soil monitoring, bldg. materials, firewood, landscape materials, dump runs etc.). I have no payment on this so it it pretty cheap to keep around for these chores. I drive it about 6,000 miles per year.
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June 17th, 2008 at 8:30 am
I currently drive a 94 Ford Escort because it is paid off and gets fairly good gas mileage (25 mpg). Because of it’s age, I am starting to shop around to test drive the Corolla, Mazda, or Cobalt. I am at the age where comfort must also be considered. I generally drive my cars til they “die”. I live in a rural area where public transportation is less than public and my work is approx. 22 miles one way. I try to combine various stops when I can and don’t leave once home.
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June 17th, 2008 at 8:46 am
My car is a Toyota Matrix and gets great gas milage, but I only drive it when I go out of town and in bad weather. My local means of transportation to and from my office is a Yamaha scooter. At 110 miles per gallon, you can’t beat the savings! When I’m not in a hurry I ride my Trek bike. The savings there is even better!
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June 17th, 2008 at 9:07 am
I drive a 2004.5 Volvo S40 which is pretty good on gas and is a very safe car. My husband takes his motorcycle to work everyday due to the high gas prices.
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June 17th, 2008 at 9:51 am
A 1995 Honda LX Wagon is my choice of transportation for five years now (I’ve put 100,000 miles on it). It is by far the best vehicle I could own for gas mileage (30mpg), safety, hauling ability and comfortable driving. If you can find one on the internet, buy it! You won’t be disappointed. At 180,000 miles, it will most likely last another four-five years. Living 20 miles from the nearest city makes it an affordable drive into town. My last car was a 1995 Ford Escort (237,000 when I sold it) at 35 mpg and the coldest ac you could ask for. Either car is great for a used vehicle, if you can find one.
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June 17th, 2008 at 10:16 am
When I’m not riding my XL883 Harley Sportster that gets around 50mpg I drive a 2004 Ford Mustang 6cyl stick shift that gets around 24 city and at best about 31 hwy. I’m also figuring out how to make a sticker for the back window of the Mustang that’ll read “less MPH = more MPG”
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June 17th, 2008 at 10:22 am
I drive a Honda CRV. I wish there was a hybrid in this class and please do not suggest the Ford Escape as I am suprised you can drive the thing off the lot. I can put the dogs in the cargo area and still have a back seat. It is also necessary for some light construction work that I am responsible for so I can haul lumber, pipe etc. And the gas mileage could be better but in overall analysis it is a great car and inexpensive to operate.
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June 17th, 2008 at 10:27 am
My car is a 1988 Mazda 323 and I do very little driving these days because I’m afraid of “the other guy” who is texting or cell phoning. However, the MPG on this car is excellent, so a full tank lasts quite a while.
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June 17th, 2008 at 10:29 am
I drive a 1985 Volvo with 280,000 miles on it. It gets about 22mpg in the city. Not great gas mileage but it is paid for and my husband can easily work on it so it doesn’t break down and we have mimimal maintenance/repair expenses.
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June 17th, 2008 at 10:41 am
I have several friends that all have recently purchased a device referred to as the “GAS SAVER”.A 2002 Toyota Van with 100,000 miles, a 1990 Buick with 28,000 miles, a 2003 Saturn SUV with 53,000and all haveimprovements in MPG since installing this device. This device uses Platinum injected into the fuel system which causes burning of gas which ordinarily would not burn. Hooray to all free thinking americans who are not afraid of doing something different. For those of you willing to learn how to improve on MPG I would recommend two things. # 1would be to install this GAS SAVER DEVICE and # 2 would be to improve your driving habits such as drive at 35mphwhere 45 is called for and when on a trip cut it down to 60-65 instead of 70-75 on open road.
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June 17th, 2008 at 11:20 am
My current Fleet consists of: 1989 Ford F-150 4×4 long bed extended cab (~12 MPG), 2001 Dodge Caravan (~19-22MPG), 2002 Mazda Miata (~28-33MPG). Use the Ford when need to haul big or heavy stuff, use the van when need to haul bunch of people (car pool to dinner, vacations, etc.), use the Miata for errands, weekend trips for two, and fun. My wife also drives the van to/from work 1.2 miles each way so mileage really does not matter. I ride the bus to and from work. Why these vehicles? They were all relatively cheap to buy, in my experience all reliable (when properly mantained), insurance costs are also relatively low, all are old and near worthless (low property taxes), and they generally cover the range of what we need to get done from a personal transportation perspective. Global warmimg CAUSES CO2 concentrations to increase, NOT the other way around!
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June 17th, 2008 at 11:32 am
My wife and I do most of our driving in a 2004 Toyota Sienna van. I also have a 1997 Toyota Camry 4-cylinder which I do quite a bit of local driving in. The Camry (my 4th) gets around 31 mpg overall. We are both senior citizens and have some back deterioration, so the Sienna is much easier on our backs when we travel. We live in a rural small town and must drive 26 miles to our doctors, dentist, grocery shopping, etc. We also take some vacation trips in our van, which gives us the room we need to carry all of the things we need on a trip. The van has also allowed us to do explorations while we’re on vacation trips, such as driving (on rough trails) to remote Indian ruins, etc., and to visit many more sites than we could see if we just flew to the center of an area. We’ve cut back on those somewhat since gasoline has risen so high in price, and also because of our concern over both long term energy problems and the environment. We also have five children, plus grandchildren who live anywhere from 30 to 170 miles from us. We like to visit our children at least a couple of times a year, and the closer ones more often. The Sienna van not only carries the things we need with us when we travel, but also gives us space to haul Christmas presents, birthday gifts, etc., and for both us and one of our children’s families in the same vehicle if we go out to eat or some such while we’re visiting them. The Sienna gets overall gas mileage of 23 mpg and highway mileage of 26 to 27 mpg, depending on speed traveled. Finally, I am a cancer survivor and have to travel 511 miles to the cancer center in Houston, Texas two to three times a year. My wife normally accompanies me and
we drive in the van. That gives us transportation when we get there, more flexibility, helps in making appointment times, plus we sometimes stop on the return and visit long time friends in Texas. We tend to drive a lot. If there were viable forms of public transport in our area, e.g., light rail, bus service, by means of which we could get to shopping, doctors, dentists, etc., we would use it, but unfortunately we live in a rural area where there is no public transportation of any kind. For future vacation trips, we’re considering flying to urban areas, then renting an economy car to drive out to more rural areas, e.g., the Outer Banks of North Carolina. I’m sure our carbon footprint is bad, but the largest amount of it is due to the fact there are no alternatives where we live.
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June 17th, 2008 at 11:43 am
I have a 2001 Sunfire GT and a 2005 Mazda Tribute. One is for most commuting and the other is to tote the kid and groceries. Our proximity to work from home means we don’t feel the gas price crunch like some do. Las Vegas isn’t known for it’s public transportation.
I even celebrated Carbon Belch Day on the 12th by driving a big fat Ford Explorer Eddie Bauer between Green Bay and Wisconsin on a business trip. It felt good to let loose!
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June 17th, 2008 at 11:47 am
I drive a 2003 Saturn L300 V-6. I get 22mpg city and 30 highway. I bought the car due to a combination of zero percent financing, ample passenger and trunk space, and decent gas mileage. I drive 8 miles one-way to work in Western New York. Due to my current work location public transportation is unavailable. I will run the car until it perishes as it is paid for next month. It has 75000 miles on it and hasn’t given me one problem. I’m hoping for another 10 years.
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June 17th, 2008 at 12:08 pm
We have two full size SUVs - An Armada and a Jeep Commander. I have big cars to protect my family in an accident. I don’t care what gas costs, safety of my family is paramount.
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June 17th, 2008 at 12:27 pm
2008 Honda Civic. The obvious reason is the great gas mileage. I’m averaging 30.5 mpg in normal everyday driving in town since I bought the car last month.
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June 17th, 2008 at 12:47 pm
Kfio: I’d encourage you to contact some of your local bicycle organizations to learn more about bike commuting. Heck, even talking to folks at the local bick shop will give you a lot of info on riding. Your commute is a bit shorter than mine (and I love my commute!) and it took me a couple of years to get the hang of it: find my favorite routes (I now seek out the hills cause they usually have less car traffic), figure out what I need to clean up at work, how to bring extra clothes on non-biking days. You also want to make accomodations for when you won’t be able to bike home (due to a flat tire, nasty weather). Having a back-up plan really helps. Good luck!!
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June 17th, 2008 at 1:14 pm
Gosh, at the beginning of this year I traded my 1997 BMW 740i V-8, 4.4L, fully paid-for and a heck of a nice ride, because it was starting to cost me more to drive it based on the ridiculous gas prices added to the periodic and unexpected maintenance for it (every trip to the dealer, or any mechanic shop, for any little thing was always well over over $500 and it seemed as if everything was starting to go bad with it just from regular use. Geez, the oil pump was about to go kaputt and BMW quoted me about $2,000 between parts and labor. I said forget it. With these luxury cars one almost has to budget like $200 per month to prepare for any “eventualities” down the road, once you exhaust the factory & extended warranties, which was my case. In other words, it is not the initial purchasing cost but the maintenance upkeep that gets you). I got a 2008 Mazda CX-7 (four cylinders plus Turbo) crossover. I wasn’t too impressed with the gas on this one at the beginning (17 mpg) but with time it has improved to 21-22 mpg. I’m 6′-3″ so needed enough leg room on the driver seat. It is a great looking CUV too.
Then, the same week, I traded my wife’s 2002 Dodge Durango SLT+ (V-8, part-time 4×4), also fully paid-for (yikes, that hurt too, it was a great truck and I could fit my entire drumset in it for gigs and rehearsals, plus the older version of the Durango has a great looking bodystyle), because it never gave us more than 13 mpg, no good. I got her a 2008 Mazda CX-9 (6-cylinders) crossover, smooth ride, and can also fit the entire family with sports’ gear and such for the weekend tournaments. This one is giving me about 18 mpg, not much of a greener vehicle but definitely an improvement over the “Dwango”.
I also have a 2007 Mazda6 that my oldest kid drives, a safe and reliable, somewhat fuel efficient car (getting about 25 mpg) going to and from school (3 miles away). I guess I have become a Mazda aficionado, and I also get good discounts with Mazda through my employer (as an employee benefit). I like their cars, but their fuel efficiency needs to be continuously improved.
Now I’m thinking of a motorcycle for the future but am somewhat afraid of them (or rather, what others can do to you out there on the road).
I do miss the Bimmer and the Dwango, but not the cost of operating those two, unfortunately.
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June 17th, 2008 at 1:25 pm
You’re an idiot. If anything the “greeny’s” as you call them are reducing the price of gas by not driving as much. It’s people who are still driving away that are increasing the demand for fuel and hence prices.
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June 17th, 2008 at 1:27 pm
I walk/jog and ride my bike everywhere around my small town. When I must, I’M SURE TO FIND SOMEONE TO CARPOOL WITH, but I never drive. I’ve never owned a car.
Public Transit is not an option. But I will definitely consider the Hybrid when the price is dropped about $5,000 in the next couple years.
Help the environment and Spread the Word! Stop global Warming!
If we lall get involved by turning lights off and other simple tasks, we can reduce our emissions so much that they will actually be reduced and brought back down to our 1970’s level and maybe the 50’s level. Just WOrk Hard. Please visit http://www.blackle.com and set that as your homepage. it’s an alternate google counterpart that is more enrgy efficient because it uses only 56 watts I(compared to google, 79 watts) to light up because it’s formatted in a darker screen. All the little emissions add up.
Stay strong in the fight,
and please visit:
http://www.blackle.com
http://www.blackle.com/tips
FOR MORE
EPA ROCKS
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June 17th, 2008 at 1:57 pm
I drive a 2005 Chevy Cobalt. However, I’m considering a Toyota or Nissan. What’s your recommendation? Thank you.
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June 17th, 2008 at 2:38 pm
I drive a 1992 Chrysler Grand Marquis because it is affordable, the gas mileage isn’t great, but the monthly investment is minimal and my ROI is great! Even if I spent 200 per month on fixing it up (Which is not the case) I would be getting a better return on my investment of 300 dollars then if I bought a new vehicle. At this rate if it lasts more then 2 months (It’s been 5 so far) my return on spending is very high, as long as I keep driving it around town and not very far away. It also gets 30 miles to the gallon, and is leak free with great AC; I can only pray to find aother gem like this!
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June 17th, 2008 at 3:34 pm
I drive a 2005 Honda Civic mainly because the gas mileage is wonderful. The gas mileage averages 34 mpg around town and 38 - 40 on the highway.
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June 17th, 2008 at 3:39 pm
I drive a F-150 pickup but I also hypermile and get around 21 mpg. I drive that because my husband drives twice as far as I do, so he takes our little Escort which gets 30-35 mpg. He just bought a motorcycle, though, so he’ll get 80 mpg, and I’ll soon drive the Escort.
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June 17th, 2008 at 4:06 pm
When I drive, I drive a 93 Geo Storm. Its tiny and gets maybe 30 mpg. I feel like it should get even better mileage, but I guess its just old. Most of the time, I just ride my bike. I can get around DC faster on my bike than in my car. Cars are fat and sassy.
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June 17th, 2008 at 4:15 pm
I do not currently drive a car. I ride my bike, walk, run, take the bus and carpool. I do this for the exercise, enjoyment, savings, politics, and smart resource use. I am able to do this because I am an able bodied 23 year old without children. As someone who has lived in relatively rural areas and has been utilizing these methods over the last 7 years when I could have been driving, I can certainly say that this country’s non-single-person-car infrastructure is vastly insufficient. In a few months I will be forced to finally purchase a car due to work, which is really disapointing to me. I will be driving a Subaru Legacy because it is dependable on Alaskan roads and my friend is selling it to me for a steal. My goal is to use this vehicle only at last resort, and mostly continue my healthy transportation methods.
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June 17th, 2008 at 4:23 pm
I drive a 2003 Toyota 4-Runner. I drive it because my lifestyle warrants it. I regularly drive over mountain passes in the winter to snowboard, frequently drive old logging roads to hike or bike and travel (drive) to visit firends and family in other locations. When I drive to see them I often bring lots of sporting equipment so that I can do some of those activities along the way. Honestly, flying isn’t always cheaper and I can travel by my own itinerary and have a car to drive when I get there instead of renting or counting on others to shuttle me around. Yes, gas is getting really expensive but I get decent gas mileage for an SUV. With mixed driving consditions I get almost 20 MPG.
As a side note, I live within 10 miles of work. Half of the year I am only working (commuting) 4 days per week. When it is nice out I try and commute on bike. Unfortunatly the transit system in my location is convoluted and does not make travel by bus reasonable (my time is worth money too). I try to “increase my gas mileage” by taking alternative modes of transportation when I can. Personally, I think in the long run it can sometimes be more environmentally friendly that way. Sure, someone may own a car that gets better gas mileage but if that means they “take advantage of that” by driving twice as much as I do then they are not really being environmenatally friendly.
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June 17th, 2008 at 4:50 pm
I drive a 1997 Saturn SW2 that has 168,000 miles on it and gets 31 MPG highway. I work 20 miles from home. I considered getting a motorcycle for summer but really wouldn’t feel safe driving Baltimore highways with it. We also own a 2001 Astro Van which only gets about 15 mpg and my partner drives it daily to work, also 20 miles each way. We are looking for a used small vehicle to take the place of the Astro for weekday commutes. We will keep the Astro though because we need the hauling capacity every weekend, it’s paid for and who’s gonna buy one of them right now anyway!
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June 17th, 2008 at 4:51 pm
That’s those Saturns! Can’t beat ‘em.
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June 17th, 2008 at 6:18 pm
I currently drive a Mercury Villager Van. The van uses 19 mpg in the city and about 27 mpg on the highway. I had a different vehicle before buying the van that I still own, but that needs a new clutch, a new air sensor, a new air conditioner, a new odometer, and a new speedometer and has 164+ miles on it, therefor I have a sneaking sensation that it will be needing a lot more then that once I get those things fixed. That van used 30 mpg city and probably about 36 to 40 mpg highway, it was a Mitsubishi Expo LRV, 1993. I was actually quite fond of the vehicle, and that is why I have not yet let it go.
I need the van becuase I have a child, myself, two full sized dogs that I breed, and currently 8 puppies to tote around. My daughter also likes to have room for friends on our adventures, and I was able to move a whole apartment in that van. We also like to carry around large rafts and kayaks on/in the van and they were larger than the Expo but fit nicely on top of this van.
When I was looking for a new vehicle I was looking for something with a lot of highway miles but all that I could find on the used market were vehicles that had average mileage on them. That pertains anything I could just buy ash rather than having to finance. I was not looking to finance a vehicle becuase the behaviors of the workers at the then current job that I held possessed characteristics that made me feel unstable about that work, the company did not produce raises as promised and increasingly found ways to make it more expensive for me to go to work or keep my insurance with the company. Financing was not an alternative. Anything other than the vans, extended cab trucks, and SUVs that I could find consisted of small cars and one seat jeeps. Small cars are nice but not practical for my uses. Jeeps would not have worked becuase I still would not have had enough room for all that I need to transport in them.
However, once I get enough money saved up I do plan to purchase a motorcycle which uses hardly any gas, like 75mpg-90mpg.
I am finding that policies geared towards effecting a consumers wallet, buying power, or income potential are not efficient in combating environmental degradation unless those policies are only used for fines or INCENTIVE programs. The way current policies are set up, it becomes extremely difficult for the average citizen or the impoverished citizen to make sound environmental choices. Programs should be set in place to make it easier for them to act environmentally. Once citizens see that environmentalism isn’t going to create a damper in their income or lower their standard of living, they will be more adapt to supporting environmental legislations and more environmental minded political candidate.
Thanks.
Best regards,
-Bonnie Aylor
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June 17th, 2008 at 7:22 pm
I wonder why this poster blame’s ‘greeny’s’ — I assume you meant ‘greenies’ — for the cost of fuel.
The factors that are well established for the current cost of fuel are (in no specific order):
a) Instability in Middle East due to the war of choice in Iraq and other conflicts/political issues
b) Increased demand due to developing nations/economies such as China/India
c) Speculation on oil futures
d) Lack of oil refining capacity/or lack of expansion of capacity
e) Impact of Katrina on Gulf Coast
f) Increased use/reliance on fuel for other production needs (farming, plastics, etc.) for growing market
Just curious, where do environmentalists play into this?
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June 17th, 2008 at 7:25 pm
I drive a Honda Civic Hybrid, it is almost 5 years old now and was actually a lease buy-out from my husband’s company when they offered it as a fleet car for remote staff.
Seems more companies and even public agencies (state/fed and local) could be affecting broad demand by purchasing either higher fuel-efficiency vehicles for leasing programs or even alternative fuel vehicles to create demand for electric and/or hydrogen fuel-cell technologies.
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June 17th, 2008 at 7:55 pm
My husband and I bike to work and then share a 1993 Subaru Impreza sedan for weekend trips. It has about 165,000 miles and is running great. We only drive on the weekends for long trips, and once every couple weeks for a grocery run. We often think about what will be our next car, but because we go to the mountains for skiing and whitewater, 4WD or AWD is almost a must. It seems that there aren’t very good options out there with better than 25 mpg. The newer Subarus actually get worse mileage than earlier models which were on lighter chassis. What a shame!
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June 17th, 2008 at 10:48 pm
We drive a 1973 BMW 2002 series. It gets about 30 miles to the gallon and we take public transport and I bike to work. We haven’t bought gas in five months! When we do (family vacation is looming and is about 50 miles away one way and we’ll need more then) I’m sure it will be a shock. Happy not to be driving and happy to be living in a place that it’s not required.
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June 17th, 2008 at 11:40 pm
I am currently driving an older Saturn 4 door). To be honest, not my cup O’ tea but despite it’s age AND mileage, runs very good and IS indeed running clean with surprisingly good gas mileage. Satisfied there BUT for single bachelor and also any real work involving outdoors, is not pulling it’s weight. I am very resourceful and make due but feel VERY gipped at pump and of course with options on what I can drive despite being - as always - environmentally aware and concerned. I realize the importance of our environment, I love my country first and foremost and the good mother Earth. I feel the pump is asking too much by far at this time for U.S. Citizens and WE are very environmentally concerned as a collective nation already and always growing positively in this direction. FLORIDA is fabulous environmentally as well as California so especially applaud as we all conserve and make efforts in many areas. XOXO J.V. Hefner
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June 17th, 2008 at 11:54 pm
V 6 4X4 and love it even the poor milage
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June 17th, 2008 at 11:57 pm
Best car I have ever owned and the lady loves it. The suicide back doors and the rear folding seats are great.
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June 17th, 2008 at 11:59 pm
With a trike kit greatest bike Honda ever put out “of course they discontued the line”
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June 18th, 2008 at 1:27 am
I drive a 1998 Toyota 4Runner. The gas mileage is not great but its a very reliable vehicle, 4WD for all the bad weather we get, and big enough that I feel safer toting my children around. My husband drives 2005 Toyota Tundra extra cab for all the same reasons. We only recently switched out his vehicle from a 1998 Ford F150 Supercab. We loved the large size of it because it was safer for our children. Although, it had horrible gas mileage and was acting up so we had to get rid of it. Our focus is safety first, reliability second, 4WD third. We buy used because we cannot afford new vehicles.
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June 18th, 2008 at 9:00 am
I drive a 2003 Saab 93 2.0T. After a trip to Ireland, where I rented a volvo s60, I realized that a small fuel efficient vehicle that was comfortable and fun to drive was for me. I used to have a pick up truck and became sick of fueling it up frequently and also being asked to move things for people. I now like having seating for four. My car is great to drive, great on gas, good safety ratings, and still has some power thanks to it’s turbo charged engine. It’s good in the winter and seems to me to be the perfect car for New England.
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June 18th, 2008 at 9:54 am
When looking for a house we made our final selection based, in part, on the ability to bike commute to work. My daily commuter vehicle is a cyclocross bicycle. We also have an old Subaru Outback that we use when necessary.
While in Japan about ten years ago, we owned a Mitsubishi Pajero Mini. Powered by a 660cc turbocharged engine, this fully functional 4×4 SUV (2-door with seating for 4) managed 45mpg. In the US, the full-sized version of this model line is called Montero. Alas, the mini cars that are so popular around the world for their frugality and practical usefulness as commuter cars are illegal in the US. Our crash safety testing and, no doubt, US consumers, favor larger vehicles even though crash data make it clear that safety is in the driver, not the vehicle.
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June 18th, 2008 at 3:25 pm
I drive a 2001 Chevy Tahoe. Just bought it. Love it. Not great on gas, but not bad considering the size and ride and function. I needed it to tow my camper. They don’t make a hybrid that will do that, do they? (At least not one I can afford, I bet).
http://greenmullet.com
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June 18th, 2008 at 4:53 pm
I don’t have a car. I take the subway or bus everywhere, or I walk. I think the way I get around town greatly contributes to my good health, appreciation for where I live (taking in the sights and sounds), and ability to invest my savings (from not spending money on car payments, gas, insurance, etc.) in a renewable energy index fund.
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June 18th, 2008 at 5:21 pm
I drive a 2003 Subaru Outback Wagon I bought used. It is the last year they made the Outback as a car instead of as an SUV (little known fact). I drive it because I have 2 big dogs that take up the back seat, so a wagon has room for more in the “way-back”. I also like the AWD for winters here in Maine. I cannot WAIT until someone comes out w/ a hybrid AWD wagon!!!!!
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June 18th, 2008 at 10:33 pm
Be serious. While I agree that transporting oil over expansive oceans is more risky that just off the coast, if we drill for more oil, we’re only feeding the addict. We have to wean ourselves off of oil, which is a non-renewable resource, and will run-out anyway, instead of providing for temporary relief by drilling a source that will become exhausted. We may as well bear the brunt of it for future generations, so that our sons and daughters will have a comfortable and time-tested energy alternative (provided that we were the ones that tried it, instead of oil, that is). If we throw-out the argument of whether global warming is actual, it doesn’t change the fact that oil won’t last forever. We’ve got to come up with something, and better now than later. One day you won’t have the luxury to run your truck on gas, so I suppose, if you wish, enjoy it while you still can — at a price, of course.
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June 19th, 2008 at 10:59 am
I drive a 1994 Oldsmobile 98. It’s huge and drinks gasoline, which wasn’t a problem when I bought it in 2001 but sure it now.
These days I’m hypermiling and can usually get 25-27mpg out of it (awesome!). But I’m also biking, bussing and carpooling a whole lot more. My goal this month is to fill up the tank every 2 weeks instead of every week, and so far it seems to be working, though I have to deal with the NC Triangle’s poorly-designed transit system to do so.
I seriously considered buying a more fuel-efficient car, but this car is paid off and I probably couldn’t get much money for it, so even a used Honda Civic would probably put me $4,000-$6,000 in the hole. And, as a friend of mine noted, you can buy a whole lot of gasoline for $4-6,000. And a whole lot of bus passes. And a whole lot of bicycle parts.
So, instead of buying a new car, I’m trying to shift my transit patterns to more sustainable habits: bus, bike, walk, carpool.
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June 19th, 2008 at 11:06 am
I drive a diesel. My old vehicle got 16 mpg on Premium E10 RFG. My diesel gets 22 mpg. Both are SUVs. Now that new diesel technology is as clean as gasoline technology I am able to make a significant reduction in my carbon footprint and save fuel dollars too. With regular gasoline at $3.90 per gallon my equivalent diesel price is $5.36. The current market is about $4.70 for diesel in Houston. Compared to Premium at $4.20 I could pay up to $5.77 and break even on fuel expenditures. Light duty diesels need to be defined as alternative fueled vehicles in America and there use encouraged.
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June 19th, 2008 at 1:22 pm
We grabbed a Prius as soon as they came out in 2004, so that we could cut back on our fuel use and emissions. Although it gets up to 58MPG, it no longer feels like enough to just cut back. Besides using mass transit and biking more, we now own a VW Beetle, which we run on LOCALLY-made biodiesel, made mostly from waste oils.
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June 19th, 2008 at 5:54 pm
I used to drive a minivan, but now I drive a smaller car - Saturn Vue. I would like a hybrid, but I can’t afford it. They are not making being eco-friendly easy.
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June 19th, 2008 at 6:19 pm
99 Pontiac Grand Am. It has been a great car and gets OK mileage on the tough SoCal roads and freeways. It is becoming high mileage and will probably have to be traded in sometime soon.
I hope the price of hybrids and other low-mileage vehicles doesn’t become prohibitive. It is currently the best answer to cutting into US gasoline demand.
On a public transit note, I only live about 7 miles from work but getting there by bus takes nearly 2 hours each way. Changes need to be made to both mass transit and the nation’s work environment if you are going to get people out of their cars.
Like many employers, mine wants everyone in the office regardless of whether or not we could just as easily telecommute. So I hit the road!
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June 19th, 2008 at 7:44 pm
We are a 2-vehicle family.
I drive a GMC Yukon, Its big, roomy, comfy, and has lots of cargo space. Gas mileage isn’t the best (~16MPG) but it compares about even with the cars we drove in the 50s and 60s.
My wive drives a Mercury Mariner Hybrid and loves it.
I like the technology behind it.
But its a bit on the small side for me — I need more room.
If they come out with a Yukon Hybrid that means something
I’m interested. I like the electric motor and regenerative braking concept. If they couple that with fuel cells, that looks pretty
good. Plug-In hybrids would also work for short trips, but not for long ones. I do both. I would prefer either a liquid fuel or hydrogen stored at a lower pressure than has been available so far. I keep hearing about a catalyst that does that, but I don’t hear enough about its progress or prospects.
We are in a period of experimentation right now to determine what works and what doesn’t. I suspect that the final result
will be a hybrid vehicle that uses some combination of regenerative braking, plug-in capability (for short trips), and either a motor or fuel cell (for longer trips). We’ll have to see
what develops.
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June 19th, 2008 at 9:03 pm
I am an environmentalist. I have studied many environmental policies, the progression of administrative laws and case laws and have learned much from politicians and their motive through involvement in many different campaigns as well as working and interacting along side many “radicals” in the field. Basically, what it all boils down to, is that we cannot figure out how to get the populations of NONenvironmentalists to think along the lines of sustanability and preparation for future resource protection. The only way to do it is pretty much to take a resource that is common to everyone today and show them that the supplies are running short. Unfortunately, other then raising the price of food slightly, it is impractical to target a source that effects our ability to live, therefor a source that every relies on but can change in teh name of sustainability seems to be the only other alternative, which means the most likely target is our oil resource. President Bush, believe it or not, have shown much interest in the environmental field in all that he has done in his office short of the talks of drilling for oil in Alaska and the Gulf. This is how I came to such a conclusion.
Unfortunately, this method appears to be backfiring becuase many impoverished and average income people are stating that the oil prices are indeed hindering their ability to exercise environmental practices in regards to transportation and oil, etc.
Believe me, I don’t come to such a conclusion blindly, you wouldn’t believe the things I’ve seen. Some of the environmentalists I’ve met have gotten on the bandwagon so deeply that they appear almost frieghtened about what the environment can do to them in the event of even close abuse. I just think it’s amazing, I actually have become addicted to the reaction of the environment to how I treat it (although I love it so much that it is most important to me to protect it).
Basically, wildlife knows what is and isn’t abuse, and to them the line is much thinner than to most humans, once you can see and experience this, I think it gets instilled in you over the years. They have a way of letting you know and of getting into your conscious when you can hear them (wildlife species that is).
Best regards,
-Bonnie Aylor
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June 20th, 2008 at 9:53 am
Currently driving a 4 cyl. 2001 Toyota Camry. Car before was a 4 cyl Nissan Altima. Drive fuel saving vehicles. Have for years. Do not have automobile envy. Big, expensive vehicles are a waste of money. They all get scratched and dented in parking lots just like the Corollas and Civcs.
I am not defined by my mode of transportation. It is a tool to get me to and from places. I guess the Scottish blood in my veins, just shudders when I pull up to the gas pump these days. Glad it’s only $40-$50 fill up and not $75 - $100 per these days
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June 20th, 2008 at 3:06 pm
Whenever possible, I ride my motorcycle, a 2006 Suzuki V-Strom 650. It has luggage cases on it, so it’s pretty much replaced my car. I get 45mpg city, 60 mpg highway. Tank capacity is a little over 5 gallons.
Why do I ride it? Mostly for fun. My commute is so short (50 city miles/week) that I really don’t actualize much savings over my car, even though the bike gets 2x the mileage. Also, by the time you factor in things like tires (motorcycles eat tires every 7-12K miles) I’m really not saving any money. But that’s okay. I like to think of it as a fun activity that happens to get me from point A to point B.
So, if you’re considering going to 2 wheels and you’re only interested in saving money on fuel, get a 50cc - 150cc scooter. Motorcycles are break-even at best.
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June 20th, 2008 at 3:20 pm
I’m aware of no motorcycle that gets 75-90 mpg. The Kawasaki Ninja 250R is pretty much the most efficient motorcycle available, and it gets - at best- 70mpg highway.
It seems that a few non-riders here are a little too optimistic regarding motorcycle fuel economy. One of the best choices, the Kawasaki Ninja 650R, will return 45-60+mpg, which is very good for a 650cc motorcycle. The Yamaha FZ-6 is another.
If you want to get into the 80-90mpg range, you’re looking at scooters.
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June 20th, 2008 at 9:31 pm
I ride a 2005 Yamaha Royal Star motorcycle as my main vehicle.
It does not contribute to traffic congestion, is friendly to road
surfaces, gets 45 to 50 mpg, parks well in a limited space. Only
ice or heavy snow keeps it off of the road.
My other vehicle is a 2004 Dodge 1500 Quad cab with a 5.7L
HEMI engine. This vehicle gets 19 mpg when I’m not hauling
heavy cargo. Used in ice and snow.
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June 21st, 2008 at 3:09 am
I am a fan of Toyota and Honda for the past twenty years. All of us, and there are about 30 car owners in my wife’s and my family, drive Toyota and Honda. They are extremely reliable. My mom’s Toyota has over 300,000 miles and it is still running. Low maintenance, good fuel efficiency, reliable, and affordable. We are hooked on Toyota and Honda. Whenever we buy a new car, GM/Ford/Chrysler has never entered our mind. They lost us a long time ago!
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June 21st, 2008 at 6:33 am
I drive a 2001 Ford F150 Supercrew the 50 roundtrip miles to work. Since I am still paying for the truck for another 10 months I have to work about two weeks a month just to pay for the truck, insurance and fuel. The truck is the only vehicle we own because we can’t afford another one. The reason I bought the truck is because I haul a loaded car trailer two or three times a week and because we haul Grandkids around quite often too.
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June 21st, 2008 at 10:06 am
I drive a 2006 Nissan Frontier. Essentially it’s a car with an enormous trunk; which hauls everything from groceries (ten bag average per weekly trip), recyclables (7-10 bags per monthly trip), luggage, my daughters’ bicycle, and everything from my husbands’ work truck: a Freightliner.
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June 21st, 2008 at 8:38 pm
I drive a 1993 Subaru Legacy. It has a small 4-cyl. engine with a 5 speed manual transmission. I’ve tuned it up using some steps I found at the LubeSolution website. It gets almost 40 miles to a gallon highway and 35 on the road. I hope I never have to give up that car.
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June 23rd, 2008 at 8:11 am
We drive a newer Rabbit for commuting. We’ve got a small SUV we use for hauling stuff, but thinking of trading that in for a similar sized vehicle that gets better mileage. Was thinking of getting a hybrid but all the prices have gotten crazy vs. non-hybrid vehicles so will probably get a non-hybrid and save some $$$ for similar mileage. My toy is a Jeep Wrangler for offroading, which doesn’t get great fuel mileage but I only drive it about 2000 miles a year max.
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June 23rd, 2008 at 9:08 am
I drive a Toyota Prius because it’s spacious, cleverly designed, and I love the hatch-back and gas milage!
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June 23rd, 2008 at 9:15 am
I drive a 2003 Honda Civic. At the time I bought the car, I couldn’t afford the extra cost of a hybrid, and was more than a little suspicious of the long-term reliability of the technology. (I come from a long line of folks who drive cars until they fall apart around us.) I bought a stripped-down manual version so that it would be cheap to maintain, and cheaper to drive. Between walking to work, taking mass-transit, and car-pooling, I only drive my car a couple thousand miles a year.
My husband recently needed a new car. (His car had 300K miles on it, and was not worth repairing.) We debated for a long time on whether to get a flex-fuel vehicle, a hybrid, or simply a more fuel-efficient car. My husband is a large, tall man who spends a lot of time in his car for work. Comfort was a big concern. We settled on a Nissan Altima because it had the best fuel efficiency in its class. He got a 4-cylinder rather than a V6 for improved fuel efficiency.
My husband has always owned “American” cars, but we were EXTREMELY disappointed by the lack of options for a reliable, fuel-efficiency car from the American car-makers. We were also very disappointed by how many “American” cars are entirely made and assembled outside the country. Our Nissan was assembled in the US with mostly US parts - the Mercury we were looking at was made in Mexico!
It looks like we’re n the middle of a big change for this country - fuel will never be cheap again. You can’t lay that responsibility at the foot of the “greenies” as some of the angry posters have called the green movement. What part of increased gasoline prices are caused by the enviro movement? POLITICS are driving up the cost. The green movement has just simply succeeded at pointing out the environmental cost of a fossil-fuel based economy. The “pain at the pump” is not because of the green movement. Blame the green movement for your higher electric bill, but not for fuel costs. And that’s a topic for another post…
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June 23rd, 2008 at 1:04 pm
I drive a small SUV, which has a 4 x 4. I need the 4WD because I live in the country, and wouldn’t be able to get out or to work, in a typical Iowa winter, from my driveway. My SUV is 7 years old, and still own $3,800. I wish I could afford a hybrid SUV, but the cost is prohibited for me. A new hybrid SUV with 4×4 runs near $30K, maybe more. This is almost as much as buying a house in the country here. I would also buy a small car if it has the 4 x 4, which is impossible. With my SUV I get about 22 to 24 MPG, the same I used to get with my old sedan back when I lived in the city. If all the country folks move to the city (to save gas), who would raise the food we need to feed the city folks? I hope the goverment helps make the SUV hybrid more affordable.
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June 23rd, 2008 at 2:47 pm
I drive a 99 VW Jetta. I bought it in 2003 bc my truck wasn’t doing very well in the hilly snowy town where I lived. The Jetta also got better mileage than my Chevy S10. I usually take the train to work and drive maybe once a week. I don’t feel it makes economic sense for me to buy a new car right now, but I would be interested in buying a hybrid in a few years-after weighing options and if hybrid construction itself has gotten more sustainable.
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June 23rd, 2008 at 2:49 pm
My husband & I own 2 cars–an ‘02 Toyota Corolla CE (purchased in ‘05 w/ ~27k miles on it for a (tax-included) total of $11,500) and an ‘04 Toyota Prius base model (purchased in ‘06 w/ ~33k miles on it for a (tax-included) total of $17,400).
We selected these cars based on (in no particular order):
Affordability
Environmental Concerns
Safety
Reliability
Functionality (handling performance, cargo capacity, amentities, etc.)
We have been very happy with both cars, and we’ll likely buy similar brands/models again (depending on Consumer Reports’ future reviews!). We also liked the Honda Fit, especially for its carrying capacity flexibility (could rearrange the backseats!)
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June 24th, 2008 at 10:04 am
Anyone seen the list of the best cars for the environment?
http://www.care2.com/channels/ecoinfo/hybrid/
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June 24th, 2008 at 11:10 am
We drive a 1999 KIA Sportage & a 1994 Dodge Deisel Tr. which is used for service to our 2 retirement rental properties. We haul our own garbage,etc. and live 10 miles from town. We are on a fixed income & plan as few trips with either vehicle as can be managed. If this is called a resession we sure as heck don’t want to see the depression as we are up against the wire right now. I can’t help but wonder if the “Protection” agency is not doing this pole to find out which cars get the best milage to boost sales? The military uses more fuel than all of the people in this America & we need to quell the WAR!
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June 25th, 2008 at 1:13 am
I drive a Ford Escape Hybrid.
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June 25th, 2008 at 2:28 pm
I drive a Toyota Corolla, which gets nearly 40 mpg on the highway and 30 in town. I bought it based on gas mileage, safety, and reasonable cost.
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June 25th, 2008 at 7:02 pm
Dear Anonymous:
You are sooo right about someone’s lack of foresight. I’m not sure that it’s the government that we have to blame. And even if the Government had warned us, it’s not their job to run our lives. Do you think we would have listened?
It seems more like we should also blame ourselves for being so easily duped, and buying into such wrechedly excessive, conspicuous-consumption as the TV and marketers promote. (No wonder 80 % of the rest of the world hates us. As a culture we are seen as rude, self-centered, irresponsible and spoiled. I must also add morons here because we act like we didn’t see it coming).
Back in the 1960’s: In economics class, I was taught that even though we had a fraction of the world’s population that we consumed over 33% of the world’s resources; there were articles in the magazines my Father read…(Popular Mechanics being one of them)…that stated the advances that had already been developed (or were being developed in car engines) to increase gas mileage to 50, possibly even 100 mpg. (I’ve heard rumors that these ideas never came to fruition because the oil companies bought them out and shelved them. Whether that’s true or not…something drastic happened. Because I remember being wildly excited about them); additionally, my then-German-bred-boy-friend wrote me from Europe (when our gas was what?… about $0.62 / gallon) and told me that the price of gas in Europe (in 1966) was over $3.00 /gallon. (At the time I was thinking….uh, how-come it’s not that expensive here? and how long will it be before it is?)
We all must assume our part of the blame because we acted as if the rest of the world didn’t count, let alone exist, and that “the world” would stay the same; would continue to support our unrealistic life-styles…
“Use it up and throw it away; and Let them eat cake”.
While Europe was bicyling, walking, scootering, and taking public transportation (which was also something they had the social structure, and foresight to do)…Americans were over here burning up the world’s resources like there was no end to them, and they were our exclusive property.
Frankly, the government is always the scape-goat when we citizens have done something stupid, or irresponsible and I think it’s a “cop-out”. We have inherited the spoils of our forefathers, and the large corporation’s greed, and lack of respect for others. The UN no longer classifies us as a Christian Nation; many of our former allies really don’t really want to back us in any way, any where, any more.
Our generation and the newer ones have continued the folly of building bigger and bigger, multi-floor, monstrosity 1-family mansions, buying frivilous, useless or unnecessary toys (from gas-guzzlers, to BIG SCREEN TVs, to 3000+ sq. foot houses that we could barely afford in the best of situations). Few people have the land, equipment, or the know-how to grow their own food and process it. We are no longer a dominant world power and haven’t been for years. In Europe the value of a dollar has dropped alarmingly.
Here is where we are. What are we going to do from here?
We have built our Nation on gas: gas-powered food production; gas powered delivery systems, and gas powered transportation. Corporations have continued to move production of tools, foods, clothing and many other things out of the country to increase profit margins (and we consumers have financed it): Now we are going to have to live with those grievious decisions. We must stop pointing fingers at others and turn them onto ourselves. I pray that our people can remain calm, rational, and responsible so that our nation can survive it.
Just before the gas started going up I bought a used 2006 Hundai, Sonata. Comfort (I have a bad back), safety, and gas mileage were considered. It averages between 22-24 mpg with about 50:50 town:country driving. It was what I could afford to pay cash for. I would like to have something that gets bettergas-mileage, but on the upside, it produces less air pollution than many of the other comporablly sized and gas-powered cars (even those with similar mpg). When I can, I ride my motorcycle.
I intend to take excellent care of what I have and to incur no more frivilous debts. Since then I have been limiting my wasteful spending, buying only what I must have; buying used (and new) American-made, Canadian-made, European-made items (when I could find them). I’ve complained to Corporations that market more than 80% of their products which are made in “other than” traditionally, allied nations, and I’m growing a garden (which I dug out by hand) and buying “local harvest” produce and products.
We have the power to turn this importing deficit around if we will just claim it. We all make individual decisions, and then we vote with our dollars! “Rally ’round the flag boys” (and girls): It ain’t over ’til the fat lady sings!”
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June 28th, 2008 at 8:31 am
I drive a 2006 Jetta TDI (diesel).
I purchased the most fuel economical, diesel vehicle available in the U.S. at the time, because I wanted to get great fuel economy with the added benefit for the ability to displace more petroleum and less emissions through the use of biodiesel blends of fuel (a fuel made from American-made vegetable oil that can be used in all diesel vehicles without modification).
I have not been disappointed whatsoever and will never own a spark-ignition powered vehicle again.
Performance is fantastic in modern diesel vehicles. Little noise, no smoke and plenty of refined power. The low-end torque allows for very few down shifts on virtually any hill in any gear and great pep. The newly-released, 2009 Jetta TDI will be even better and quieter than mine, with equal or better fuel economy and much cleaner exhaust that will be emission certified in all fifty states. With a price tag of only $2K more than the regular Jetta (the diesel will be released @ $21.9K according to a VW press release), the new TDI will more than pay for its premium in saved fuel in no time, plus it will command much better resale value and will get equal or better fuel economy than like hybrids.
The EPA estimates (using 2008 EPA fuel economy estimates) that my ‘06 Jetta TDI gets 34 mpg, city/hwy combined, however, diesel vehicles typically achieve much higher than the measure given by the EPA and mine is no exception. I have been averaging 46 mpg with 80% hwy driving! For two years, I have run this car on 20% biodiesel/80% regular diesel and suffered no sacrifices for this choice. No loss in performance; no loss in fuel economy; equal price at the pump, and even quieter operation. Unlike ethanol-capable, gas-powered vehicles, diesels can run on any blend of biodiesel without loss in fuel economy. Biodiesel is great for diesel engines, and biodiesel has a much higher net energy balance than ethanol (3.5 units of energy output for every unit of energy input; source DoE).
When considering a new vehicle with superior fuel economy, hybrids are not the panacea. Many new, clean, fuel-efficient diesels are coming to market this fall and will be as clean burning as gas cars in every respect. Mercedes Benz: E320 BlueTec, R320 BlueTec, ML320 BlueTec, GL320 BlueTec. Jeep Grand Cherokee CRD. Volkswagen: Jetta TDI, Jetta SportWagen TDI, Touareg TDI. Audi Q7 TDI. BMW: 335d, X5 q-Drive35d.
More clean diesel choices will follow in the coming years from Honda, Huyndai, Kia, Chevrolet, Saturn, Ford, Mitsubishi, Cadillac, Nissan, and possibly Subaru and Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep.
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July 28th, 2008 at 1:25 am
I drive a 2003 Mazda 6 (24 mpg overall, mostly commute)…I got it when my 98 Ford Explorer (needed hauling and snow capability) regularly passed 30 buck to fill. Kept the Explorer…now has 190 K miles and I use it in the winter.
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September 18th, 2008 at 12:15 pm
how many miles to the gallon is a 2006 4L ford mustang?
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October 13th, 2008 at 12:15 pm
I drive a 2006 Toyota Camry with an estimate mpg of 28
very comfortable and reliable
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October 15th, 2008 at 3:47 pm
An open letter to everyone that drives foreign brand cars:
PLEASE BUY AMERICAN CARS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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