Need better fuel mileage

[Green79Scottsdale]

Basically, it's like this. On average, I drive 150 miles a week. Currently, gas is 2.15 per gallon; so, $34.4 to fill 16 gallons. This translates to needing to spend almost $27 per week to meet the 150 miles I drive. So on average, I'm spending about $1400 per year on gas or about $116 per month. Now, if I were to get a car which gets 30 miles per gallon, the costs drop a ton. That $1400 per year drops to $559 or $46 per month. After looking at the savings, the thought of a car payment doesn't feel so bad. However, I have yet to see a compact car which I like. The Mini Cooper Clubs look neat, The Fiesta is a no go (I had one for a while) and I wouldn't even touch a Chevy Sonic or a Fiat.

Personally, I'd like to stick with an older vehicle. I've always wanted a classic VW Bug. But, I doubt I'd fit too well.

If you have to make a car payment the whole plan goes out the window. You can't find a car for $70 a month. And even if you could, you would just be breaking even in the monthly budget. If you can sell your truck and buy something with cash, then your plan makes sense. But to sell your truck (which I am assuming has no payments?) and buy a car and take on payments, doesn't make sense in the grand scheme of things, IMO.

 

[yevgenievich]

It depends on costs, an 7k vehicle that will have a payment of $160 per month will cost 45$ more per month than currently for 4 years, but after that for next 5 years will be cheaper. But a lot of other items come in to the play

 

[87ChevyR10]

I doubt I would go get a newer vehicle. I'd rather keep the truck and drop a new motor a tranny in it. I've been eyeballing Chevy's connect and cruise line. The 350 RamJet with the 4L65e looks to be a nice fit. However, I don't know if the 4L65E is a direct replacement for the 700r4. I might just get the engine and have the 700r4 rebuilt. But, that's a few years down the road.

 

[BillyP]

Go with a 6.2 diesel...haha I got in the mid 20's in my '85 (when it was driving), but it also has 3.08 gears and is 2wd. You could always change out to a newer style LS based engine like a 5.3 or 6.0 and a 6L80 which could get you up near 20mpg.

 

[Jrgunn5150]

Lol. Couldn't resist. I think it should be the de facto response to anyone whining about mpg while driving these trucks.

It's mine... There's nothing you can do to a stupid brick on wheels that will pay for itself faster than buying a ten year old Honda and driving that daily.

 

[4WDKC]

It depends on costs, an 7k vehicle that will have a payment of $160 per month will cost 45$ more per month than currently for 4 years, but after that for next 5 years will be cheaper. But a lot of other items come in to the play

Dont forget insurance and registration.

Make sure its running correctly (tune ignition, carb tunig etc.) proper inflation of tires will be better than under and over inflated can help but not much, also rides rough. Next thing is install a vacuum gauge to manifold vacuum and keep most vacuum possible, will train you to drive more efficently.

 

[HotRodPC]

It is true, if you had what I had in one of my old trucks, Called a Motor Minder Vac gauge by Stewart Warner is what I had... If you drive by that and and realized how those jack rabbit starts actually affect your mpg, you become more self conscious of your driving habits and they do change. Mine was bigger, I think a 2.5 inch maybe a 3 inch.

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[Rusty Nail]

I got spoiled with the mileage my 99 cummins got, it was a 3/4 ton long bed quad cab slightly tweeked 24v, on the highway I got 22, towing got 14. Often ponder putting a 12v in my square after remembering why it came with dual tanks, lol...only briefly until I picture how heavy that would make the front of my truck. The Square is my favorite truck style, so I just totally ignore how much fuel I put in it and try to offset that amount driving my toy Metro around at 52mpg.

This. ^


Best to just ignore it.

But why so much talk about compact this and little that?
Last week I was riding in the 2001 Bonneville I got rid of a year or two ago. Bonneville.
It had just driven to Texas and back and laid down I THINK a record hi for as long as i've known it.

31.8 mpg out of a 16 year old, four door 3800. I couldn't hardly believe it.

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[CSFJ]

...And after finding no one to agree with him and validate his opinion, the OP was never heard from again.

 

[CSFJ]

This. ^


Best to just ignore it.

But why so much talk about compact this and little that?
Last week I was riding in the 2001 Bonneville I got rid of a year or two ago. Bonneville.
It had just driven to Texas and back and laid down I THINK a record hi for as long as i've known it.

31.8 mpg out of a 16 year old, four door 3800. I couldn't hardly believe it.

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Yeah, the 3800s always turned in respectable mileage for mid and large size cars.

 

[Rusty Nail]

...And after finding no one to agree with him and validate his opinion, the OP was never heard from again.

Haha lmao! Is that the same guy?

 

[CSFJ]

Haha lmao! Is that the same guy?

Probably a different part of the same snowflake.

 

[Wilburn Martin]

I once bought a mid 80's Camry for$200. It was a 4cyl auto, the radio and AC didn't work. That little POS got 27 mpg everywhere I pointed it for 3 years. Like a true DA I traded it to an even bigger DA for something that I had to work on. Basically I'm saying an old Toyota beater could be the answer for a cheap daily

 

[Honky Kong jr]

...And after finding no one to agree with him and validate his opinion, the OP was never heard from again.

CONSOLE!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Honky Kong jr]

Probably a different part of the same snowflake.

Accually the same flake.