[mikester]

I know I've been trying to take the bus to work and around town during the day as much as possible. The buses here aren't bad around downtown so it isn't much of an problem since it is easier to get to a bus than in and out of the parking garage I use.

Last weekend I filled up and it was almost $50 which is craziest it's ever been. In my driving three days I've used most of that up where if I had taken the bus those three days I would have spent $10.50 since I never got to run the errand I've been trying to run. Last night out of pure frustration I looked up the bus routes to that errand I've been trying to run and found a quick route. It would likely be just as fast as if I had driven it considering the parking I have downtown sucks to get in and out of (it's free).

At highway speeds my SC gets over 30mpg but in the bumper to bumper commuter traffic I deal with it's far far less. I know it has some issues in the fuel system that need attention but I don't think I woudl ever get better than 20mpg in traffic at best.

I'm not so much concerned with Value because I'm keeping it. Working downtown is nice because the bus system supports it well and my wife works in Santa Monica and the bus system in between the two places is very good. So getting home and to her is easier and cheaper than driving.

I miss the days when I could just drive my 911 and not worry about this. That's probably the biggest thing...It's gone from being a wash in bus vs driving to driving a week to work costing me $50 and taking the bus costing me $16. This excludes maintenance and insurance as well - if I added that in it would be even more clear.

The cost of maintaining a vehicle is sky rocketing due to fuel costs. I'm just not sure that is it something that the market will bear in the long term.