Okay after filling up last week 3 xs and costing 106.50 for 1 week of driving (i have a 120 miles a day commute) I bought a used commuter suv (kind of). I will most likely take a beating for this but here goes. It a 2002 Toyota RAV4 2.0 auto 4wd with 18,000 miles on it. I know its not an american auto but after looking at so much both domestic and foreign i made a hard choice and purchased the RAV4. It was the best of both worlds getting great gas mileage of 25-30 miles to the gallon and low mileage. I really wanted something domestic but nothing even the escape could not come close to the gas mileage of this lit SUV. I will drive mt F150 after work and weekends but for work commute this is the ticket (i hope) I think i made the right decision here but i guess only time will tell. go ahead flame suit on!!!!!

Pics to follow.... I sold the 96 explorer to my son and he was thrilled!!!.


Regards Jim

 

That's nothing to be ashamed about Bucky. You got to do what you got to do. My Mom drives a Toyota 4-Runner. Toyota makes some pretty darn decent vehicles. Reliable too. If I was paying that much for a gas a week, I'd do the same thing. RAV4's are nice little suv's. 4-wheel drive is a plus! Enjoy it man. And no matter what anyone says, "It's your money and you can do whatever in the hell you want with it."

 

I'm just curious how it's supposed to save you money though? Even at your current gas usage and current prices, I come up with $447 per month in fuel for the F150. Of that, let's say $350 is for commuting to work and the other $97 is for weekends. Are you claiming the Rav4 payments, insurance and fuel costs will be less than $350 per month? I don't think so.

If you want to buy a second vehicle, that's fine. But to blow smoke about 'fuel costs' is not believable. The numbers do not work. You will spend MORE money buying, insuring and feeding the Toyota. Nothing wrong with that, I just hope you really want it and have better justification in YOUR mind other than 'fuel costs'.

 

!!!!THANKS DADDY!!!!! your to good to me.

Okay its a 2002 and the payment is ~200 a month insurance is not a factor about 625 full coverage a year. 400 + is just for driving back and forth to work. savings will be over 200 a month wala car payment, less miles put on my F150 (more value) and i gave the 2nd truck we had to my son 96 explorer. so insurance stays the same.

 

I think you made a great choice ( commuting wise ) it'll certainly
be a big difference ... vrroomm vrrrooomm....

Good luck with it ....

 

Heck with those fuel costs I would have held onto my 04 Kia as a daily driver. No shame in the RAV. Now if it was your vehicle we might have to laugh you off the board.

I bought the Kia because I got it for about 7k until my truck came out. I only have a 6 mile commute so I sold it but if I had your milleage you better believe I'd have kept it.

 

dp

 

It doesn't matter "justifying" the savings, and saying that it ONLY would save XXX amount.

What would you rather have:

$3120 per year in gas spent($60 fill up for 52 weeks) or $6240 per year cost for a commuter vehicle (payments, gas, insurance)

What do you have at the end of that year for each decision?
The $3120 in gas just more miles on your truck, nothing else.
The $6240 in total cost for a commuter vehicle has equity built into it......

Can you sell the gas when your done? Nope, but you can sell off the commuter car and recoupe a big chunk back.

I'd get the commuter vehicle also......

 

Well if buying a high mpg commuter puts someone in the shack-o-shame then I'm in the shack with you since I bought a 95 civic back in December for the same reason. My truck still
gets a good work out though; just not for going back and forth to work.

 

Well we traded off our biggest gas guzzler (Excursion) for an "economy" car (05 Stang). So far the fill-ups are 1/3 the price & are now once a week instead of week & 1/2.

At least I still have the Wood for the truck stuff we need.

 

Thanks all i will post a few pics soon (no laughing) this thing gets just over 25 mpg and is all wheel drive which i need where i live.
As for rocky J squirrel again thank you for your continued support and i have a fresh pack of smokes also......

 

No laughing here, a commuter vehicle is a good choice in my book. Just as long as you didn't sell off the truck, if that happens then we'd all have to laugh and point.

 

I would never sell my truck ever it has served me well and will continue to do so far into the future. I bought it new in late 96 and it has never let me down ever lets see what other name can come close to that. 136,000 miles and counting... thanks rosey

 

Just updating if anyone cares . This rav4 is even better on gas than i thought it would be. After driving it a couple weeks the gas mileage is in on it.

fill up and drove 351 miles, filled it took 11.1 gallons and drove another 362 miles and it took 11.9 gallons. This gives me an average of about 30 mile per gallon, WOW i am impressed so far and while its not my F-150 it will do for my commute daily.

My f-150 was 21 gallon and go 386 miles was average of about 18-19 (not bad) but now the savings are BIG!!. Now i have something to show for all the gas money i would have been giving to mobil, exxon whomever. I feel better about the purchase and feel that over time it will pay for itself. Savings are now at about 120.00 dollars a month at least. I would post some pics but i fear the ribbing may be to much!!!

 

That kind of savings should make the ribbing a little less painful!!