advice on the best not-so-efficient car

[Turk182]

Originally Posted by bgd73

25 mpg as a goal?
that is many many jacked up vehicles. do not necassarily squash the power to a four banger, or even tranverse drivetrain. you could find a longer term runner, inspired to give longer term repairs. Once the little transverse SUV is done, the others can keep going. the new car cost and claiming need is in a different $15k+ saving realm before interest.

Not sure what you mean about them being "jacked up" or about the transverse drivetrain. Can you elaborate please?

[jkp1187]

Originally Posted by Turk182

Been down that road. I tried the SUVs-are-only-safer-because-everyone-is-driving-one argument. Not worth getting into that further.

Have her take a look at Keith Bradsher's 2002 book, High and Mighty: SUVs--The World's Most Dangerous Vehicle. It isn't just that high-riding truck-based SUVs are unsafe for other drivers, they are very unsafe in single-car accidents (i.e., accidents where one driver loses control,) thanks to their propensity to roll over in emergency situations.

Otherwise, I agree, have her check out the Vibe/Matrix. Nice high seating position without riding high.

[shovel]

Originally Posted by Turk182

Not sure what you mean about them being "jacked up" or about the transverse drivetrain. Can you elaborate please?

BGD has his own way of speaking, let me see how well I can translate this...

25 mpg as a goal?
that is many many jacked up vehicles. do not necassarily squash the power to a four banger, or even tranverse drivetrain. you could find a longer term runner, inspired to give longer term repairs. Once the little transverse SUV is done, the others can keep going. the new car cost and claiming need is in a different $15k+ saving realm before interest.

Your goal is only 25mpg? Lots of up-high vehicles do that. You don't even have to limit yourself to a 4cyl or a "crossover" based on front-wheel-drive underpinnings. You may be able to find a conventional RWD SUV that just needs a little TLC, and with some maintenance it may outlast a newer "crossover" SUV. It may prove much cheaper in the long run, even if it doesn't get the same MPG because of the difference in initial investment.

I think that's what he was going for, anyway...

[basjoos]

Originally Posted by jkp1187

Have her take a look at Keith Bradsher's 2002 book, High and Mighty: SUVs--The World's Most Dangerous Vehicle. It isn't just that high-riding truck-based SUVs are unsafe for other drivers, they are very unsafe in single-car accidents (i.e., accidents where one driver loses control,) thanks to their propensity to roll over in emergency situations.

Otherwise, I agree, have her check out the Vibe/Matrix. Nice high seating position without riding high.

Also that two and a half foot high guard railing along the highway that's there to keep your car from going over the edge of the cliff and into the river can stop a 4 foot high, 2500 lbs car, but won't do much to slow that big wheeled 8 foot high, 5000 lbs SUV from going over the edge.

[MadisonMPG]

My favorite line to post when this type of thread comes up is...

Time for a new wife?

[moorecomp]

My wife loves her 2008 Toyota RAV4 all wheel drive. We live on a seasonal road (lots of snow - 200+" last year) and needed something all wheel drive, but with decent mpg's. Her lifetime avg is 25. Max 28mpg, low of 22mpg. Ours is the 4cyl, but the v6 is supposed to get better mileage on the highway. We do a lot of combined driving, so I thought the 4 cyl would be better in the city. We have a huge hard cargo carrier that we put on top when we go camping, and still get 26 on the highway. The rear door that swings to the side makes it easy to load the cargo carrier.

2008 Toyota Rav4 4x4 Gas Mileage (Her RAV4) - EcoModder.com

[jkp1187]

Originally Posted by MadisonMPG

My favorite line to post when this type of thread comes up is...

Time for a new wife?

Oddly, that phrase is used frequently in both car and gun forums.

[Turk182]

Originally Posted by shovel

BGD has his own way of speaking, let me see how well I can translate this...


Quote:
25 mpg as a goal?
that is many many jacked up vehicles. do not necassarily squash the power to a four banger, or even tranverse drivetrain. you could find a longer term runner, inspired to give longer term repairs. Once the little transverse SUV is done, the others can keep going. the new car cost and claiming need is in a different $15k+ saving realm before interest.
Quote:
Your goal is only 25mpg? Lots of up-high vehicles do that. You don't even have to limit yourself to a 4cyl or a "crossover" based on front-wheel-drive underpinnings. You may be able to find a conventional RWD SUV that just needs a little TLC, and with some maintenance it may outlast a newer "crossover" SUV. It may prove much cheaper in the long run, even if it doesn't get the same MPG because of the difference in initial investment.
I think that's what he was going for, anyway...


I think that's what he was going for, anyway...

That is just truly phenomenal. Thank you sir, I am in your debt.

[MadisonMPG]

Originally Posted by jkp1187

Oddly, that phrase is used frequently in both car and gun forums.

haha

[superchow]

I've noticed that medium/large sized sedans these days ride quite high. My father-in-law's Camry was almost at eye level of a late model Subaru Forester. And the Camry, although at the opposite end of the car excitement scale, can get very good mileage and should be quite dependable.

2010 Ford Fusions (hybrid or not) get pretty good mileage too. They technically equal my Civic per EPA rating for highway mileage.

Otherwise there is always the Volvo XC70 route: raised wagon with decent mileage, but probably not good enough for us-kind...

Finally the Toyota RAV4, Venza, Honda CR-V and above mentioned Subaru Forester deserve mention. All available with 4 cylinder engines capable of high mileages.

Note on the Honda Element - Only four seats!

Good Luck!