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What car would you buy if gas was $8 per gallon?
- Thread starter neiltc13
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My first choice would be a VW Polo TDI, then perhaps a VW Golf BlueMotion. Even the upcoming VW Up doesn't look so bad for city use, but it's far less practical than a Polo TDI.
A Ford Fiesta is also a good choice. There's a particular model that has very low l/100km (andmpg).
FYI: Currently, I don't own a car because I don't need one.
I cycle semi-frequently, but other than cycling, I'll take a city train (subway) or tram.
A Ford Fiesta is also a good choice. There's a particular model that has very low l/100km (andmpg).
FYI: Currently, I don't own a car because I don't need one.
I cycle semi-frequently, but other than cycling, I'll take a city train (subway) or tram.
I can just imagine you meandering along the promenade in your wicker bath chair. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bath_chairAnd I would join you, but with an electric scooter, 2 wheels to start, 3/4 wheels when old age finally shows-up.
Oh and I'd still drive a Honda Logo/Jazz/Fit
KGB
I'd probably keep my truck which gets about 20MPG on average. One tank of fuel lasts me about a month with the way I am currently driving it. If the weather is really bad I will drive to work (under a mile) or to the grocery store (a block from work) or somewhere else in my neighborhood. In total I drove about 3000 miles last year.
Unless the weather is really bad or I need more storage space, I will take one of my motorcycles. My SV650 gets about 50-60MPG on average and my XR400 will easily see the 70MPG range.
Unless the weather is really bad or I need more storage space, I will take one of my motorcycles. My SV650 gets about 50-60MPG on average and my XR400 will easily see the 70MPG range.
I recently purchased a Giallo Yellow Fiat 500 (same as the pick) as a second car. Base price about $15K. I paid $21k for a "Sport", last mileage check, it got a hair under 40 mpg. It's got a real back seat which can hold two adults tightly, and those seats fold down with a hatchback making it very convenient for two people to travel storage space wise. The Sport fun to drive. So far so good. I did not like the more expensive suedo-convertible version because it's like a glorified sunroof. Our primary vehicle is a 2007 Nissan Murano which both the wife and I love. It holds tons, but only gets about 23 mpg on the highway.
I'm convinced if they ever have a fuel breakthrough involving really cheap fuel, in the U.S. humongous vehicles would reign supreme again. I'm spoiled, I like the interior space in big vehicles.
Here is the problem with hybrids. If they cost $40k, like the Volt, that is double what a car like mine costs and $20K is a lot of gas to burn through before you hit the break even point. Additionally in about 8 years, your battery is going to be a $2k liability (or whatever they cost to replace).
I'm convinced if they ever have a fuel breakthrough involving really cheap fuel, in the U.S. humongous vehicles would reign supreme again. I'm spoiled, I like the interior space in big vehicles.
Here is the problem with hybrids. If they cost $40k, like the Volt, that is double what a car like mine costs and $20K is a lot of gas to burn through before you hit the break even point. Additionally in about 8 years, your battery is going to be a $2k liability (or whatever they cost to replace).
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I'd keep my current car (2009 VW Golf GTI) because it's going to be paid off in about a year and I'd rather keep it and have no car payment than trade it in for a more economical car but have a car payment.
I would just alter my lifestyle - probably starting with telecommuting more often.
I would just alter my lifestyle - probably starting with telecommuting more often.
Don't know why anyone would get a Smart. They don't get any better highway mileage than the Chevy Cruze Eco, Hyundai Elantra, or Mazda 3 Skyactiv, and those have the benefit of being real cars. Plus, in order for the smart to get the advertised mileage, you've got to fill it with premium
The same car I have now, a Jetta diesel (manual transmission). I average around 44 mpg and it's a much bigger / heavier car then the hybrids.
Same as I drive now, a BMW M5. It only gets about 12 mpg overall, but I live 2.5 miles from my office so I only fill my tank once or twice a month.
My next car in any case will be the Tesla Model S electric with the 300 mile range once they're widely available, so no gas to worry about at all.
My next car in any case will be the Tesla Model S electric with the 300 mile range once they're widely available, so no gas to worry about at all.
Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; CPU iPhone OS 5_0_1 like Mac OS X) AppleWebKit/534.46 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.1 Mobile/9A405 Safari/7534.48.3)
Land Rover Discovery II SD7. At 9-12 mpg the ride is a constant reminder of being on the Indian Jones ride in Disney Land or anything you wish to imagine.
Land Rover Discovery II SD7. At 9-12 mpg the ride is a constant reminder of being on the Indian Jones ride in Disney Land or anything you wish to imagine.
2012 Lexus CT200h
41MPG City and 42 MPG Highway seems nice for a luxury hatchback that's based on the same chassis as a Toyota Corolla and Matrix and same engine as a Toyota Prius
41MPG City and 42 MPG Highway seems nice for a luxury hatchback
that's based on the same chassis as a Toyota Corolla and Matrix and same engine as a Toyota Prius
Sticking with my 2011 Hyundai Elantra.. Average about 38MPG mixed driving and don't have to sacrifice my spunky little engine for a hybrid.
The same car I drive now, a 2010 Honda Insight. However in the winter where I live I lose gas mileage for practicality and use a Chevrolet Silverado 4 wheel drive truck.
It's roughly 7.5 USD/US gallon in Frankfurt and I still drive a
1995 Audi A4 w/1.6 8V engine and 5-speed manual.
It only has 100hp or so, but can still cruise at 100-110 mph easily.
The fuel economy isn't great, 7.5L/100km with summer tires (31mpg) in mixed driving.
But it only gets used at most twice/month and about 10000km/year (6000miles/year).
I'm not a huge fan of car payments, especially with the cost of cars over here.
But, if I was forced to by something new, I'd go with a Daihatsu Copen just for the parking/fuel efficiency/convertible/price.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copen
1995 Audi A4 w/1.6 8V engine and 5-speed manual.
It only has 100hp or so, but can still cruise at 100-110 mph easily.
The fuel economy isn't great, 7.5L/100km with summer tires (31mpg) in mixed driving.
But it only gets used at most twice/month and about 10000km/year (6000miles/year).
I'm not a huge fan of car payments, especially with the cost of cars over here.
But, if I was forced to by something new, I'd go with a Daihatsu Copen just for the parking/fuel efficiency/convertible/price.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copen
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You don't need to change your car, just drive less. Worked for me.
Rather than go do shopping one day, then go visit parents the next day, I now do both trips in one journey.
I don't drive a very economical car - 32mpg at best (old Ford Mondeo petrol), but I only do 2k a year so it's no big fuss.
Rather than go do shopping one day, then go visit parents the next day, I now do both trips in one journey.
I don't drive a very economical car - 32mpg at best (old Ford Mondeo petrol), but I only do 2k a year so it's no big fuss.
The Brits in this thread should let the Americans in on the secret that Imperial gallons are not the same as US gallons, so you can't compare miles per gallon (which is a stupid metric because it doesn't scale linear anyway) between UK and US cars.
The Imperial (UK) gallon is 20% larger than the US gallon.
So a 30mpg car in the US would measure 36mpg in the UK.
My car is pretty frugal anyway (and would be more frugal is I slowed down). I think I get roughly 42mpg (about 35mpg in the US) - and that's a Nissan Micra.
For all these people thinking of changing cars or buying a hybrid, it's worthwhile working out how much fuel costs as a % of your overall driving budget. I don't use my car for work - just for social type stuff. I've had it 5 years and I've driven around 35000 miles in that time.
Working out how much that 35000 miles cost at current fuel prices gives me £5250. It's not that much money really - and the saving in fuel I'd get by buying a hybrid wouldn't make the cost of the more expensive car justifiable.
Even with this expensive fuel it's still cheaper for me to drive 180 miles to Manchester if I want to visit my parents than it would be to take a train - and that's with a single person in the car. If I had a passenger then the difference in cost would be a lot more stark, and public transport wouldn't make sense.
(I do actually prefer taking the train, since I find it more relaxing. The cost and inconvenience of trains mean I more often drive this journey though).
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The same car we have now, a VW Bluemotion polo.
My other half works 30 miles away, so it was worthwhile for her to invest in such an efficient car, she doesn't find performance an issue either as if she wants to enjoy being on the road she'll take her kawasaki out for a spin.
My other half works 30 miles away, so it was worthwhile for her to invest in such an efficient car, she doesn't find performance an issue either as if she wants to enjoy being on the road she'll take her kawasaki out for a spin.
My $8 calculation is based on a US gallon.
I do agree though, it is not easy to compare especially as the tests used by the manufacturers to provide the figures will also differ between countries.
Diesel is more expensive than petrol, so probably somewhere closer to $8.50 per gallon.
What about the Smart ForFour Brabus?
1.5L Turbo, 41.5mpg, 174bhp and 0-60mph in 6.9 sec.
