Going Green and saving some Green

[Hotrod_ace]

Our family recently went through a period of enlightenment, partly due to several documentaries on "global warming" and "peak oil". We wanted to make a change so we started in the garage. I drove a 2001 Ford F250 Diesel (16mpg) and my wife drove a 2008 Lincoln Navigator (13.5 mpg).
We wanted to change things up but felt it would negatively impact our environment to go out and purchase brand new cars, since there are so many perfectly good used cars out there. After some quick research and based on our needs we settled on a 2006 Prius for my wife and a 1999 Ford Ranger 4cyl 5sp for myself.

Within the past month we purchased both vehicles for a total of $15,700, and sold both of our "Gas Sucking Pigs" for a total of $42,000.
We are already ahead $26,500 not including our annual fuel savings. Seems our new "Green" initiatives are saving more than the planet.

Now I'm looking forward to the challenge of increasing my mpg on my Ranger.

Current Mods: SGII, Spare Tire Delete, Bed cover, Side mirror delete, windshield wiper delete, mud flap delete, max tire psi.

Future Mods Planned: Wheel disks, grill block, composite front bumper/air dam, rear bumper delete, antennae delete, thinner oil, LRR tires... and who knows what else.

I've also been using lots of driving techniques found here and I'm happy to say that my SGII is already showing some amazing results. I know it's too early to tell but I'm seeing close to 40mpg already.

I used to think that high mpg came with big sacrifices, but it's actually the reverse. We've decided that instead of keeping up with the "Jones's" that everyone on this forum will be our new "Jones's".

Thank you so much for sharing your ideas.

[kach22i]

Originally Posted by Hotrod_ace

Now I'm looking forward to the challenge of increasing my mpg on my Ranger.

Nice story.

Look in my signature (far below) for a link to a simple chin spoiler on my S-10. It's good for a couple of mpg hwy.

[cfguy2000]

Way to go! Being kind to our earth can also be kind to your wallet.

[winkosmosis]

Spare tire delete? Why??

[GRU]

It's nice to see that those documentaries actualy change people. We need more people like your family.

Can you imagine if every family only bought a car they need and not the biggest one they can afford, the annual oil the US/Canada imports would be cut in half

[winkosmosis]

It's amazing that you're almost at 40mpg in a Ranger. I knew the 4 cyl was efficient, but WOW.

Though one thing you give up is safety. The Ranger has a terrible safety rating compared to the newer pickups.

[Frank Lee]

Welcome aboard.

And remember: safety schmafety. Scaredy cats can stay in bed all day.

[CigaR007]

I would keep the spare tire and the windshield wipers.

[capnbass91]

Or only delete the passenger windshield wiper. Or make a lip on the hood so that windshield wipers are covered up from the airflow.

[Frank Lee]

Or reinvent the wheel.