I want a heavy 'gas hog' as people call them. Well not a gas hog but something that can tow and work. Preferably something that can get decent mileage. How do you think 1/3 of the people with trucks can afford their gas... because those trucks are what enables them to make the money to pay for the gas.
If I had a hatchback civic, no way I could make nearly the same money as I do now, not until a college degree is had. I'd be making half at best, working as a waiter/bartender somewhere. Can't do contract work or heavy manual labor with little cars... can't tow a 5,000+ lb trailer 500 miles and back for months in a row, can't fit two refrigerators or kitchen cabinets in a metro
or a full ton of wood/cement for building projects etc. Some people don't have the extra cash to pay insurance on 4 separate vehicles, or an awesome life/health insurance plan for a motorcycle, so they stick with the one that's most practical (and reliable) and pay the extra 40$/week at the pump. 40$ is 1-3 hours of manual labor, it makes up for itself very quickly.
This is probably a touchy subject on the eco forum, but some people like to spend an extra 100$ a week in gas at the 1/8th mile or autocross every now & then to have fun. But other people will drop well over 100$ eating pasta and drinking wine for an hour, to each their own.