14 MPG going down hill drafting a tractor trailer on a good day, but when I need to haul something, or we get the occasional foot or 3 of snow she is there. Like Angelia said, run stuff over with ease. Small block and a granny 4spd. You could never get this thing away from me. Keep your truck.
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1314178151.jpg

I used to own a truck (about 10 years). Lasted me all through graduate school and a number of Chicago winters. Took it camping many, many times. Despite all that I'd never own another one. They absolutely suck as daily drivers and to keep one around for use once every couple of months or whatever? Nope. They handle like crap, get terrible mileage and are impossible to either parallel park or (often) find garages they'll fit into in urban environments. Now that I'm in a rural setting I could have one without the size/parking penalties, but I just have no need. I inherited an SUV and to be honest I don't like that either. I'm looking to get rid of it in favor of a cheap Jeep Wrangler or CJ7 to tow a boat occasionally and/or tote surf gear to the beach. Other than that, I just don't see why I need to keep around a truck/SUV that I don't like all that much. Just my $0.02. Maybe I'm weird as the dissenter but I wouldn't be in a hurry to go run out and buy another one.

On the upside they're dirt cheap right now - the markets have been so saturated with pickups and SUVs over the last few years one can find nice specimens less than 5 years old for $4k-$5k... Even less sometimes.

You answered your own question here.... you need a truck to occasionally "tote surf gear to the beach". :D

Keep in mind that you will have a speedo error which will register your indicated speed lower than your actual speed. The same will happen with your odometer, your indicated distance will be lower than your actual distance. For the same actual speed the actual fuel economy can increase with increase tire size due to the drop in engine RPMs for a given speed and the need to provide more open throttle to maintain the given speed. More throttle means less engine pumping losses and increase engine efficiency, specific fuel consumption.

You should use a GPS or mile markers to determine your MPG instead of your odometer.

Speedy:)

Well, I can throw it in my car, it's just a pain and I don't like getting sand in it. ;)

Correct-amundo, but my furd gets between 16.5 and 17.5 consistantly as a DD. The tundra I had before that got between 16 and 16.8. Verified by the onboard puter and also with a calcumalator. I like keeping track of stuff like that.

That's combined driving in city and freeway traffic. On the open road going to the river or arey-zona I could get at least 20.
It's so predictable I have graphed the effects of winter vs. summer driving, and can also tell if my tire pressure is creeping down a little. I usually keep the pressure in the low 40's, as ooposed to the factory recommended 36.
When it gets close to 36 i can see a slight drop in the MPG. I had a screw in my left rear tire a while back that I didn't catch right away.
I noticed the MPG dropped off by about 1 and thought that was odd so I checked the pressures and found the problem.
BTW I fill the tank every Monday whether it needs it or not. Gotta be ready when the zombies come.
I know, anal.

I pulled that $3.35 number off a website that showed what the current price of gas in Nashville where he lives to make it as real as possible.
Nashville Gas Prices - Find Cheap Gas Prices in Tennessee
I took the lowest price listed and added 4 cents per gallon to make it more reasonable.
Iffn he lived in kalifornia I would have used a higher price, the last time I filled up I paid $3.57 IIRC.

As far as driving experience, I completely agree and tried to convey that.
If someone likes driving a particular car then that's what they should drive if they can afford it.
The driving experience matters a great deal.

But too often people decide to change to a different car based solely on saving money from better gas mileage, too often they really haven't thought it through and it ends up costing them more money in the long run.
Their decision is influenced by propaganda and percieved peer pressure, like the folks who spend big $$$$ on a brand new prius expecting to save a fortune. Doesn't usually work out that way.
Those were not the droids they were looking for.