I know the logical question is, "What do you USE your truck for?" But our love of trucks isn't always logical, right?

Lately, due to making less money and the skyrocketing gas prices, I've been considering giving up my truck (V6, 2WD, 15 mpg) in favor of some smaller four-banger coupe that gets 30 mpg.

I know I love driving a pickup, even if the bed is clean and empty! But spending $20 a week on gas instead of $45 adds up to $100 a month. And when you're on a tight budget, that's a lot.

I suppose I'm just looking to hear from anyone having similar thoughts, or from anyone with a "I got rid of my truck and regretted it because..." story.

Well, that's why we have a general discussion forum, right?

Be well.

 

I wish my gas bill was only $45 a week. I'm around $75 or more a week. Sometimes more dpending how much I use it when I'm off. We charge all our gas and pay it off monthly. It runs $400 on up for our 2 vehicles. I may retire at the end of the year and that'll save around $250 a month in fuel savings plus tolls.

 

I drove a 91 ford probe gt for 14 years before I got my truck. Yeah the probe got 28 mpg average, but I can't believe I never got into a big wreck with that tin can. Now that I have a truck, I feel safer, and I get about 18 mpg average. That car is not near as safe as the truck. To me high dollar fuel is a small price to pay for my personal safety.

 

keep the truck and get a beater to drive.

 

I have a "daily driver" Ford Ranger with a 4-banger in it that I use for my normal weekly driving, and use my F-150 only as a "pleasure vehicle" to cruise around and have fun with on the weekend. Not only does this save on the gas bill, but it keeps the wear-and-tear off my baby!

Since I purchased the truck last June I have only filled it twice, so gas consumption with the F-150 is a "non-issue" in my household. Now if the F-150 was my daily driver, then I would be singing a completely different tune....

 

Ditto that.....

I just put $29 in the 4 banger beater Malibu I drive to work during the week.

My 150 has been turned into the backup, evening around town and weekend toy.

I had mine on order and was two weeks from delivery last year with a paid off '97 when the hurricane and gas prices shot through the roof. Talk about a sick feeling in the pit of your stomach.

 

Last week I filled up the tank on my truck. It's got to be high octane @ 2.99gal. It was $57 and that was for 3/4 of a tank. The good thing is the last time I filled the tank was in January.

I have a beater. It doesn't get any 30mpg but it's a little better than the F150. Most of my driving is in the company vehicle so I don't have to pay for the gas but if I'm driving it I'm working.

I think there are a lot of people that are going to give up their trucks and SUVs for more fuel efficient vehicles. I can't blame them one bit.

 

Keep the truck; buy a beater. That's what I plan to do; althogh the beater market is huge right now; everyone's buying them.

 

I wish I could get a little five-speed four banger for driving to work and keep the big shiny rig at home. But we rent a two-bedroom and have use of two parking spots- "his" and "her's."

Decisions, decisions...

 

Park it in the truck bed!

 

I average about 200 dollars a month on gas. It don't seem to feel as bad till the meter rolls over the 50 dollar mark. That when it starts hurting. I've thought about a beater, but that would be more than 200 a month plus upkeep and insurance. I have to feel up (lol said wrong phrase " fill up") at least once a week. I know some people this is gonna really hurt this summer. It doesn't look like gas is gonna go down anytime soon..

 

I've got a motorcycle, 2 days a week makes a difference on that ride. When it's not winter that is!

My suggestion anyway.

 

I'm self employed so my truck is also my work vehicle . I can write off all the miles and most expenses. I can even write off the "toys". Spend about $300 a month right now and that is going up daily.

 

I'm thinking of getting a motorcycle to get around town on nice days....

 

I got rid of my last truck in 2000 when I bought a Jeep Tj. I've enjoyed the jeep but really have missed having at truck to lug stuff around.

The Jeep was just as bad on gas as a truck since it rides on 36 inch tires and has lockers front and back. So I bought a Ford Focus last year thinking I would be smart... Ok yes its nice on gas and good for just back and forth to work but it really doesn't fit my lifestyle. I found myself still bring the jeep to work once a week or more to bring the mountain bikes to work or so i could go out to junk yard at lunch.

Two weeks ago the Focus was in for its inspection and I ran into the guy that sold it too me and we got talking.. Tell him I'm just not happy with it and wondering what we can do. Come to find out my focus is worth nearily the same as what I bought it for a year ago. (it was a dealership demo had 9k on it)

So today I just signed for a 2003 F-150 4wd 4.6L and am so excited to be back in a truck. Going to pick up a flatbed trailer next month so i can tow the jeep around and looking forward to a fun summer.

My point is really think about if you really want to get rid of the truck or not... It might save you money in the short term but you might end up taking a larger hit a few years from now when you are trying to get yourself back into a truck.