POLL - Who else has been a casualty of the high fuel prices?

[BigBlueDodge]

Well, I finally threw in the towel and became a victim of high fuel prices. I have a 2006 Dodge 3500 4x4 MegaCab that I just sold. Thankfully, I sold it in a private sale, and didn't loose money on the truck. I tried trading it in, but the dealerships are giving pennies on the dollar for trucks and SUV. In fact a buddy told me that some dealerships weren't taking in trucks/SUV's on trade anymore. I will be downsizing to a smaller truck. $145 weekly fillups was just cutting too much into my pocket books. I am curious to know how high fuel prices have victimized you.

I will say that a side benefit of the current fuel prices is that I am not noticing as bad of a traffic as usual.

[Kerbouchard]

So far, no effect. The increase in the price of ammo has affected me more.

About the only change we have made is sometimes we will fly instead of driving on some trips. It is now cheaper for me to fly to San Antonio then it is for me to drive.

Actually, I am looking into buying a truck since the price on them has dropped so much. The dealerships are practically giving them away.

[seamusTX]

My wife and I have cut way down. We actually spent less on gas in the first six months of this year than the corresponding period in 2007.

I've noticed that people are driving slower. Most don't accelerate rapidly and barely hit the speed limit. I'm not an aggressive driver, but it makes me slightly nuts when people drive 22 MPH in a 30 and screw up the synchronized traffic lights.

- Jim

[mr.72]

I think most people radically overestimate the real effect of gas prices on their normal lives.

People who will trade in or sell a vehicle at a $5K+ loss and then take on another $100-200 of car payments in order to save $100-200 per month in fuel are chasing their tails I think.

[BigBlueDodge]

Actually, I am looking into buying a truck since the price on them has dropped so much. The dealerships are practically giving them away.

You are correct. New truck sales are suffering, and I've seen dealerships with $10K off MSRP on trucks. Practically everyone is doing 0% financing these days. That was my issue, when I went and talked to a dealer. They are having a hard time moving new trucks, and really don't want trucks. In fact, the salesguy I worked with basically begged me not to trade my truck in because he said "it will go alot smoother if you just keep it". Needless to say, after I saw their trade in offer, the conversation was cut short. If you are okay with $100 a week on fuel, I would definately recommend buying a truck right now as the are bargains.

[BigBlueDodge]

I've noticed that people are driving slower. Most don't accelerate rapidly and barely hit the speed limit. I'm not an aggressive driver, but it makes me slightly nuts when people drive 22 MPH in a 30 and screw up the synchronized traffic lights

Driving slower is a great way to save fuel. There's a big difference in driving 60mph and 70mph in terms of fuel mileage. I drive like a grandpa these days, and only go about 60-65 on the highways. A year ago, I would have got run off the road driving those speeds, but now I've definately noticed everyone has slowed down too.

[old farmer]

I think most people radically overestimate the real effect of gas prices on their normal lives.

People who will trade in or sell a vehicle at a $5K+ loss and then take on another $100-200 of car payments in order to save $100-200 per month in fuel are chasing their tails I think.

Morn'

[BigBlueDodge]

I think most people radically overestimate the real effect of gas prices on their normal lives.

People who will trade in or sell a vehicle at a $5K+ loss and then take on another $100-200 of car payments in order to save $100-200 per month in fuel are chasing their tails I think.

Bingo. Trading down is only cost effective for a small portion of the overall public. You have to be smart about it. In my case, I wrote an Excel spreadsheet that laid out the costs year over year so that I could see exactly when it was cheaper to downsize. My spreadsheet took into effect

1. Your current monthy payment
2. Your new monthly payment
2a. Your loan amount
2b. Your interest rate
3. Your current insurance payment
4. Your new insurance payment
5. MPG of your current vehicle
6. MPG of you new vehicle
7. Cost of fuel for your current vehicle
8. Cost of fuel for your new vehicle
9. Average number of miles driven per week
10. Cost of oil changes for current vehicle
11. Cost of oil changes for new vehicle
12. Cost of tires for current vehicle
13. Cost of tires for new vehicle
14. Lifetime of tires (in miles) for current vehicle
15. Lifetime of tires for new vehicle
16. Years expected to keep vehicle

I could change each of these variables and see the overal cost comparison and know where the break even point was, and where it got cheaper to downsize, versus just keeping my existing truck. I watched a news report that had a story on hybrid vehicles and discussed how long it would take you to break even on fuel costs when compared to the premium you pay for the hybrid option over a high mpg gas car. The #1 car was the Toyota Prius, and they said that it would take 3 years before you actually start saving any money. Other hybrids such as the Saturn Vue took 12 years before you would break even. The worst was Mercedes hybrid sportscar. It would take 102 years for you to break even on buying the hybrid option versus buying a gas version

[agbullet2k1]

Easy calculator for cost savings from trading in.

http://www.edmunds.com/calculators/gas-guzzler.html

It would take me 120 months to break even from trading in my Pilot for another Civic. I'll keep the 4WD, V6, room, and comfort, thank you very much.

[Venus Pax]

When school is in session, I carpool with another teacher that lives about three miles from me.

I also combine errands.

Now that I live in town rather than out in the county, I don't have to drive as far for shopping and entertainment.

I've started combining coupons with store sales/clearance. This has cut my spending significantly on household items, cleaning products, and health & beauty products.

Rising ammunition costs are the one thing none of us can seem to avoid.

[seamusTX]

Driving slower is a great way to save fuel. There's a big difference in driving 60mph and 70mph in terms of fuel mileage.

I agree. Jackrabbit starts and keeping your foot on the gas until you're 30 feet from a red light are wasteful and gain no time.

However, we have some streets with synchronized lights where, if you do the speed limit, you don't have to stop for red lights. That is probably more economical than going 5 MPH below the limit and stopping for every light.

- JIm

[BigBlueDodge]

Easy calculator for cost savings from trading in.

http://www.edmunds.com/calculators/gas-guzzler.html

It would take me 120 months to break even from trading in my Pilot for another Civic. I'll keep the 4WD, V6, room, and comfort, thank you very much.

That calculator is very basic. I does not take into consideration maintenance items, insurance differences, or differences in fuel types. In my example, I'm going from a diesel truck to a gas truck (gonna be hard to get used to the "weak" engines. If you've driven a diesel, then no gas engine can compare. It will take some time to get the diesel out of my blood). At one point in time there was close to an 80 cent difference between the two (I think it's closer to 60 cents now). That calculator would only work assuming

1. Your insurance payments stay the same
2. Your maintenance costs stay the same
3. Your fuel type stays the same
4. You are paying the same interest rate on your new loan as your existing loan

[agbullet2k1]

Easy calculator for cost savings from trading in.

http://www.edmunds.com/calculators/gas-guzzler.html

It would take me 120 months to break even from trading in my Pilot for another Civic. I'll keep the 4WD, V6, room, and comfort, thank you very much.

That calculator is very basic. I does not take into consideration maintenance items, insurance differences, or differences in fuel types. In my example, I'm going from a diesel truck to a gas truck (gonna be hard to get used to the "weak" engines. If you've driven a diesel, then no gas engine can compare. It will take some time to get the diesel out of my blood). At one point in time there was close to an 80 cent difference between the two (I think it's closer to 60 cents now). That calculator would only work assuming

1. Your insurance payments stay the same
2. Your maintenance costs stay the same
3. Your fuel type stays the same
4. You are paying the same interest rate on your new loan as your existing loan

That's true. I'm just pointing out that people seem to be panicking and getting more fuel efficient cars just for the sake of saving on gas. If that's their only motivation, then this shows that they're way off. Insurance, maintenance, and interest rates are something to be considered during any new car buying experience, and not just when gas is high. I agree in the fuel type flaw, which I don't think would require too much coding to insert.

So does getting rid of the truck mean you have to change your handle now?

[G.C.Montgomery]

I've told my wife that NOW is the time for me to buy slightly used Corvette as a second "smaller" vehicle. I really did the math and found that when compared to my current truck, the 'Vette @ an average of 26mpg, will pay for itself in three to five years after we've moved to Katy. The return on investment is accelerated by higher fuel costs largely because the truck is completely paid off.


Actually, the wife has been laughing at me ever since I presented my 'Vette idea. Her boss even offered me a job because as he put it, "No one in our company could have come up with a more believable load of bull." That's OK, I'll just have to suffer the consequences when I pick up a 'Vette on the way home from the office one of these days.

Other than that, I've tried to adjust my style of driving by trying keep the engine below 2000RPM even while accelerating to get on the freeway and keeping the truck at or below 65MPH. That took me from averaging 10MPG to 11MPG. Not much difference to be had there but, I'm probably one of the few people who can honestly say I got a 10% improvement in overall fuel economy! I already keep my trips to a minimum but, I still have to travel to several ranges around town to teach 2-3 times each week. So, my only other viable method of significantly cutting fuel use is to occasionally drive the wife's 4-Runner because it gets an average of 22MPG in mixed driving around town.

[The Annoyed Man]

Well, I put that I drive less these days, but that has more to do with my career change than with my driving habits.

However, as I posted HERE, I also now have a Smart Car on order.