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What kind of gas mileage do you get?

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ahofle:
I'm surprised there aren't more motorcycles mentioned here.  When the weather permits, I usually ride that to work.  50-55MPG + 0-60 in 3.5 seconds = yay!!

shardian:

--- Quote from: Jouster on April 24, 2008, 12:57:29 pm ---I had a '96 BMW Z3 that got about 32 MPG average, but traded that for a 2007 Pontiac Solstice that gets around 26 MPG.

Jouster

--- End quote ---

You must have the world's lightest foot, because getting 32mpg in that car is close to impossible.

patrickl:

--- Quote from: shardian on April 24, 2008, 02:40:10 pm ---
--- Quote from: Jouster on April 24, 2008, 12:57:29 pm ---I had a '96 BMW Z3 that got about 32 MPG average, but traded that for a 2007 Pontiac Solstice that gets around 26 MPG.

Jouster

--- End quote ---

You must have the world's lightest foot, because getting 32mpg in that car is close to impossible.

--- End quote ---
Why not? I drove an Audi TT (the high power turbo model) and it got 30mpg. I would generally cruise at 100mph so I wasn't really driving slow.

Wade:

--- Quote from: paigeoliver on April 22, 2008, 11:47:41 pm ---For that matter, the extra costs induced by new cars swallow any fuel economy savings as well.

--- End quote ---

Not true!  You can buy a brand new economy car with little down or a junker for trade, for < $200/month for 5 years.  That's very comparable to an old, used car's maintenance costs and higher gas costs (if a larger or inefficient vehicle).  If you figure that car will likely need virtually no work or maintenance for the first 8-10 years, it's even cheaper to own.  That doesn't even consider the opportunity cost of breaking down in an old car.  If you make $25, $50, $100/hr, and miss an important meeting or take an unpaid day off of work, etc. then cost of breaking down is extremely significant.

Driving an older car is often a false economy.  You seem to think that's never the case, but more often than not, it is.

Wade

danny_galaga:
this all depends on what you know about cars. edit: and also if  you know how to treat them. i'm not a mechanic but i'm pretty good with my cars. $2500 got me my VW- 'the master'. had it a bit over two years now. basic problems i fix myself- $25 for a starter on ebay for instance. i blew some money on a mystery problem that i couldnt figure out and nor could the mechanics (was a split fuel line on the low pressure side of the pump). that was expensive relatively speaking- about $400. although now every piece of fuel line has been replaced (",) had a tune up this year- $200. so thats an average of $300 a year above normal wear and tear. how is that more expensive than $200 a month? if you are in tune with your car, you would be very unlucky to be stuck on the side of the road because you will anticipate problems. even with the fuel line problem i had i was still driving around, just that when you got over 80 it would start to suck air into the fuel line and run really roughly...

my previous old car 'the beast' was even easier to maintain (although i admit had poor fuel economy). i fixed everything on that, including rebuilding the engine, which was about $1000 (including rebore and reconditioned head). drove that car for at least ten years. some of the major services for new cars could cost you nearly that, what with timing belts etc...

so if you buy a new economy car, say it cost ten grand. say you havent paid any interest. in five years you can sell it for $2500. youve lost $7500 right there. not to mention that many of the economy cars arent built that well, so  you may be up for repairs anyway. not to mention if you got a loan and paid interest. an older car like mine has bottomed out pricewise. five years from now i could probably sell it for MORE than $2500. in that time maybe ive spent $2500 on it. in the end then ive lost about $2500...


what paige is talking about though (i think) is the total cost of energy involved in building that car rather than fixing an older one...

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