Price of gas...how small will you allow yourself to go?

[dd74]

Assuming you drive a V8 anything, particularly an SUV, given the rising cost of fuel, how small would you go as far as a replacement car? Here are some choices that I believe reflect the current trend in auto sizing with economy in mind. All are 2009 models.

1) Subaru Forrester


2) Acura TSX


3) Honda Fit


This is just a size comparison, not make or manufacturer or country of origin. There are many European "smaller" cars like the Audi A1 or the Mercedes B series which are not available in The States. Ford Focus is another good car, too. Whatever the case, I'm just curious to see how small a person would go for daily transportation given the rising cost of fuel.

Thanks.

[Mr_Wizard]

Currently I drive a 4cyl Honda Element. It gets between 25-28 MPG depending on how I drive. Not to bad for a box on wheels. I am purchasing a motorcycle next week. Not because of gas prices ( but it will be nice to pay 12 bucks for a fillup and ride to work for almost 2 weeks on that) but because I have the itch again.

[pwd72s]

Hell, I'm still thinking of a V-8...

[Rick Lee]

I won't go any smaller than this.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

I'll go down to my size 11 running shoes if need be. I work about 4 1/2 miles from home. A long-ish walk, but certainly not un-doable.

More likely I'll just bicycle-commute, which I've been doing a couple days a week now anyway. Once I have my motorcycle back together (it's in surgery right now for valve work) I'll probably ride that a lot more and park my cars more-or-less indefinitely except for long/out-of-town trips or special occasions.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

I'll go down to my size 11 running shoes if need be. I work about 4 1/2 miles from home. A long-ish walk, but certainly not un-doable.

More likely I'll just bicycle-commute, which I've been doing a couple days a week now anyway. Once I have my motorcycle back together (it's in surgery right now for valve work) I'll probably ride that a lot more and park my cars more-or-less indefinitely except for long/out-of-town trips or special occasions.

[berettafan]

V70 or Outback wagon.

[berettafan]

will be riding my eventually restored R25 to work but only on days i don't take the little guy to daycare.

[Zef]

Already there since 4 years. Wife's ride is a 2009 Matrix...Mine is a 2005 Matrix...So fuel goes up...Yea...no problem with that...!

[cab83_750]

Syl,

How is the Matrix? I have been busily looking for a car for my Princess. She will be out of H.S. soon, so the LandCruiser (10-12 MPG) will possibly become impractical.

I am assuming it has side air-bags?

[cab83_750]

DD74,

Taking into account our family lifestyle, so far the lowest I would go would be the Mazda CX-7. I might require a roof-rack as a 'must' if I pursue this CX7.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Originally Posted by pwd72s

Hell, I'm still thinking of a V-8...

I'm looking at a '97 Mercedes E420 on Saturday. 275 HP and 27 MPG, why not? V8 doesn't always equal gas thirsty pig.

We actually went bigger, and sold the wife's Cadillac SRX V8 AWD crossover SUV for a Mazda MPV minvan. Went from 18 MPG to 25 MPG highway, and have much more room.

Personally, I think the people lining up for Smart cars are morons. Most cars get upper 20s, many in the 30s. It's not worth driving a enclosed golf cart to eek out a few more.

And dd, I have a caveat. The Ford Focus is crap, and the Forester is for lesbians. Better choices would be the Mazda3, Nissan Sentra, Honda Civic, and Toyota Corolla.

[jyl]

We went from a Range Rover to a Prius. The latter works for 95% of our needs (family of four) and we have a VW van for the other 5% (seats 7, carries cargo and things up to 12 feet long).

I really have no problem going small, smaller, smallest for the primary/daily vehicle. But, if we only had one vehicle, that had to do everything from daily commuting to hauling lumber from Home Depot, then probably smallest I'd go is something like a Subaru Outback or Mazda5 sized vehicle.

[rcecale]

Already there!



I get 24-25 MPG in combined (city/hwy) mileage. Much better than the 12 MPG I get in my V-8 Dakota!

Randy

[Aerkuld]

I'm averaging about 27mpg this week and rarely drop below 23mpg going back and forth to work. A long journey on the freeway and it will easily top 30mpg so I see no reason to drop below this...



I've paraphrased this before and I'll do it again;

Porsche make the most practical everyday sportscars you can get.

[stomachmonkey]

It's all about priorities.

Was speaking with a friend this morning.

Just bought a new boat. 88', holds 7000 gallons of fuel and burns 100 gl per hour.

He's also thinking of getting a Prius. Which will cost less than filling up the boat once.

[Tim Walsh]

We dropped her S10 in favor of a CRX. 25MPG vs. 40MPG. It's definitely with my 30 mile commute every day. I'd go smaller if it wasn't a decreasing ROI. When we bought the CRX it was at about 2.5 years, now it's a lot shorter with gas up 75c or so.

[scottmandue]

My DD is a Hyundai that get 30mpg...

I'm toying with the idea of a motorcycle.

I would love to walk or bicycle however at twenty miles each way that is not an option.

[cab83_750]

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

......Personally, I think the people lining up for Smart cars are morons.

.

I guess all Pelicans are morons as we drive small 911's.......Oh wait, since we are not lining up (i.e., we already owned them), we are NOT!!!!!

Just playing with you Whipped!

[red-beard]

I want one of these, but they won't sell them in the USA