Thinking about buying something that checks almost all the boxes but gets crappy fuel economy

"Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo" (thetomselleck)
07/16/2016 at 17:49 • Filed to: car-shopping

I want to hear from people who daily alleged “guzzlers”, or those who once did. I know it sounds ridiculous but it’s just a hurdle I keep coming across when car-shopping. And I do live it in a state with the !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! in the United States.

When gas was stupid expensive in the summer of 2008, it hit $4.50-something for the regular at my local ARCO. My “who needs friends when I have ice cream” lifestyle plus my 38-mpg Civic saved me then. I certainly make more money today vs 2008, but I am pessimistic of low gas prices and history has validated that belief. But if were to buy something that was reliable, comfortable, dependable, and made me happy, would that not surpass the pain of the occasional fill-up? I’ve worked at the same company for over five years, and have no intentions of leaving. I have a house, and a wife who tolerates my existence... A wife who has a car that gets 30 mpgs. I don’t think it would be foolish of me to buy such a vehicle.

DISCUSSION (50)

Dru > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
07/16/2016 at 17:55

How much would you drive said vehicle?My Jeep gets about 13mpg most of the time, but I average like 6,000 miles per year so I don’t use all that much gas.

Needs premium though, which is a bitch. But $2.35/gal for 93 right now because South Carolina.

It all comes down to how much you need to drive it. 20,000 miles per year = probably a bad idea.

Sam > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
07/16/2016 at 17:56

You’re concerning yourself with gas going up in the future? Don’t worry about that. If it happens it happens. It probably won’t run the your life or anything.

Honestly, the only annoying thing about getting 18mpg is that I have to spend a lot of time at the gas station. Fill-ups are not occasional, they’re like once or twice a week.

Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
07/16/2016 at 17:57

See everything jkm has been posting and go from there...or get a mustang. I’m sure you don’t get good gas mileage when you’re doing burnouts and driving on the side walk.

cuts_off_prius > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
07/16/2016 at 17:58

Kinja'd!!!

BMW e90 3 series.

I love everything about mine except for the gas mileage around town (328xi), which is around 16-17 mpg over the course of a tank. But other than that it is like a more refined e46. All the basics of what makes a sport sedan are there and its one of the last holdouts with hydraulic power steering.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > Dru
07/16/2016 at 18:03

Sparingly — I have a company vehicle for my jerb and we would typically take my wife’s car for family activities/trips/vacations. I drive my personal vehicles maybe 8-9k miles combined annually.

HammerheadFistpunch > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
07/16/2016 at 18:04

I feel I can offer some assistance here. The trick is to:

1. Break your trip computer

2. ignore your trip computer

Enjoy life.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
07/16/2016 at 18:04

You get used to it. Even when gas is expensive you plan for it, and then enjoy it more when it’s cheap. Besides, don’t you have a company truck?

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras
07/16/2016 at 18:04

Yeah, I’m not going to go Jayhawk Jake on everyone here and buying a Ford.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > HammerheadFistpunch
07/16/2016 at 18:06

I want a Land Cruiser now and always, but my wife would rather have a Dolphin or Sunrader. OH GOSH DARNIT /s

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies
07/16/2016 at 18:06

Sure do

slipperysallylikespenguins > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
07/16/2016 at 18:08

I’ve had very few cars that have gotten over 20 mpg. If you enjoy the vehicle the gas consumption really doesn’t matter.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
07/16/2016 at 18:09

I’d worry even less then. I daily drove the 4Runner 30 miles a day, and was filling up every 5 days or so. I planned for it, and it was fine.

Berang > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
07/16/2016 at 18:10

What is it?

TheHondaBro > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
07/16/2016 at 18:11

I drive a guzzler. What’s up?

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > Berang
07/16/2016 at 18:12

It is NOT a Subaru Justy.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > TheHondaBro
07/16/2016 at 18:12

You told me you got over 30 on the freeway though

TheHondaBro > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
07/16/2016 at 18:14

But 15 city. That’s a guzzler by Accord standards.

Berang > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
07/16/2016 at 18:14

It is on the inside.

Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
07/16/2016 at 18:15

Advice idea number 2: buy something you will utterly beat on, thus destroying MPG’a

My citroen won't start > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
07/16/2016 at 18:17

http://www.globalpetrolprices.com/Brazil/gasolin…

I currently drive a V8 english SUV, a H6 Subaru SUV and a heavy french barge. Feel free to ask me things.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > cuts_off_prius
07/16/2016 at 18:17

Up until whatever age, I proritized three things above all else: reliability, 3 pedals, and fuel economy. While reliability remains #1 and probably always will, transmission-orientation is losing oomph because I already own two manual cars, and fuel economy matters less because it’s been ages since I worked for minimum wage. I’m starting to want some actual creature comforts, like cruise, A/C, and comfort.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > TheHondaBro
07/16/2016 at 18:19

But it’s a coupe!

Also, I thought you said you were selling it a while ago...

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > Berang
07/16/2016 at 18:19

comparable rear legroom, perhaps

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras
07/16/2016 at 18:20

Oh no. This will not be a beater. This would potentially be my first “nice” vehicle — that wasn’t for my wife.

PS9 > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
07/16/2016 at 18:23

Go full retard with it. 60s era big block + Roots blower.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > My citroen won't start
07/16/2016 at 18:23

Smiles per gallon > miles per gallon?

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > PS9
07/16/2016 at 18:24

If I could afford an Espada, that would be my full-retard

My citroen won't start > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
07/16/2016 at 18:28

Yes, and my commute is quite short so I don’t drive all that much. A gas tank usually lasts one week.

Die-Trying > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
07/16/2016 at 18:40

Drive it 3o miles each way to work, and back, plus whatever running around i do, 5 days a week.

Kinja'd!!!

i get a SOLID 10 mpg......... loaded or unloaded, uphill or downhill, with the wind or against it, rain, snow....... no difference............... 4.10 rear gears, muncie sm465, 350 smallblock with a big cam and headers, 3 inch exhaust with turndowns. pings on anything less than premium. no accessories. (it was someones old dirtcar race motor....flattops,zero decked,balanced)

for an old truck, its quick.

Kinja'd!!!

more fun than anything else i have driven daily...........sits in traffic, with a noticable lope “put..put..ato.....ato ...ato....put....ato...ato” and the whole truck wobbles slightly while it idles. when i put my foot in it, and wind it out my people say they can hear me from the 4 way stop to their house, approx 3, maybe 3.5 miles out....... mileage doesnt mean a whole lot when you enjoy what you are driving.........

daender > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
07/16/2016 at 18:45

Jeep or Subaru.

Jeep: 4.0L TJ Wrangler Sport that will give you smiles when you drive it through just about everything nature can throw at it. 4.0L is a cockroach to kill and there’s enough forum support to figure out how to fix whatever else breaks. Comfort? Maybe not so much depending on the suspension work (not) done to it and it’s not going to be a quiet ride but...it’s a Jeep thing.

Subaru: SVX.

I’m assuming you’re in Washington state, so as a former resident, you might remember this from a few years ago:

Skip to 13:35 for the really fun part.

Anyway, SVX would be a fun comfortable vehicle although I’m not sure about the reliability of the drive-line or the electronics. Gas economy isn’t hot but you’re in a bitchin’-cool 90s Japanese AWD coupe.

TheHondaBro > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
07/16/2016 at 18:47

Yeah, I’m not going to sell it.

Flavien Vidal > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
07/16/2016 at 18:50

Oppo useless gas guzzler master at your service? What is it??

I get 13-14mpg average, can get down to 5mpg in the mountains when I have fun, all that with a 1.2L engine :)

Gas costs 4.5$ per gallon here, so it’s not too bad when compared with most countries that are not the US.

Danger > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
07/16/2016 at 19:08

I put about 5k miles on my SUV in almost two years. The best MPG it gets cruising is 20. I have no problem doing that since I basically drive a few times a month to commute. When I am using it, towing, 4x4 and cargo space are needed. Doesn’t bother me at all financially or otherwise, even when gas does go sky high again.

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
07/16/2016 at 19:18

I cri ever tim.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap
07/16/2016 at 19:19

No you don’t. No 4Runner owner (except Dru Simmons’ dad) regrets ownership.

Funktheduck > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
07/16/2016 at 19:20

I've dailied my truck on and off for years. So much joy returning to a car that gets double digit gas mileage in town. It's fine/great if you don't drive much but when I was driving it for work I was spending $400-500 on gas a month. When I was driving it in school it was no big deal

Wurrwulf > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
07/16/2016 at 19:58

A $3,000 gas guzzler is cheaper than a $10,000 fuel efficient vehicle for a quite some time. ¯\_()_/¯

Dru > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
07/16/2016 at 20:01

Well then do eeeeeeeeet

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > Dru
07/16/2016 at 20:02

Will you loan me about $7k? Will pay back in Swedish Fish God Bless

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
07/16/2016 at 21:23

First gen Sequoia. Dat power retracting rear window. Dat 2UZ-FE V8. Worth.

Dru > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
07/16/2016 at 21:32

Okay but I'm expecting 4% interest, also payable in Swedish fish. Sour patch products also accepted.

Dru > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
07/16/2016 at 21:36

FWIW he's owned like 10 4Runners. Talking about getting rid of the gen 4 and getting an FJ cruiser b

Wagon, semi manual, not brown, turbo because volvo > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
07/16/2016 at 22:21

Tell your wife for 1400 she can have my dolphin. Or don’t if you like your sanity.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > Wagon, semi manual, not brown, turbo because volvo
07/16/2016 at 22:25

I would be that guy that springs for the really nice one that didn’t need a lot of work :)

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
07/16/2016 at 22:47

But I want something fast.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap
07/16/2016 at 23:09

Kinja'd!!!

Paseo?

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
07/16/2016 at 23:21

If I’m buying any Toyota that looks similar to that, it’s going to be a Sera.

Kinja'd!!!

Wagon, semi manual, not brown, turbo because volvo > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
07/16/2016 at 23:47

Smart. Wish I had thought of that.

DrScientist > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
07/17/2016 at 02:44

i “dailied” a 91 jaguar xjs from about 2012 to 2015.

however, my dailying consisted of 1-2 100 mile highway trips per week.

and only during the summer.

also, the ac would really only work well at speed.

so... my around town numbers were mid single digits. actually moving i was around 17. once i tried to hypermile it. and got up to about 21 i think before i hit town.

i didnt think much about it. as the tank was huge, so id only fill up ever 1.5 trips or so, which could be several days apart.

MM54 > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
07/17/2016 at 17:42

When I worked construction I was daily driving my ‘71 Chevelle and pulling off about 9mpg on average. It varied where we were working, but typical round-trip was 40 miles daily. The summer you mention where gas was $4.50/gal is during this time - a quarter to a third (or more) of my day’s work paid for the gas to get to and from that work, but I didn’t care - driving that car was worth it.

If the car’s worth driving, the fuel cost won’t matter.

Unless you’re doing like 3mpg driving 300mi/wk in which case you may want to consider something else.