Did some math. I think you will find this interesting.

[Dunkler]

As many of you know. I replaced my 5.0 liter F-150 with a 1.5 liter Fit. Well, I have put enough gas in the Fit to get some decent averages to compare to the F-150. Here is what I have found:

1994 Ford F-150 (17 gal. Tank)
Average distance per tank: 272.53 miles
Average gallons per fill up: 15.877 gallons
Average cost of fill up @ $3.63/gal: $57.63


2007 Honda Fit (10.83 Gal. Tank)
Average distance per tank: 375.52 miles
Average gallons per fill up: 9.357 gallons
Average cost of fill up @ $3.63/gal: $33.97


Drum roll please...


The Ford / Honda Difference
Average distance per tank difference: 102.99 miles
Average gallons per fill up difference: 6.520 gallons
Average cost to fill up difference: $23.66



I am very satisfied with the savings. I believe this vehicle will actually pay for itself.

[JethroBodine]

Nice! See, math IS fun

[kir_kenix]

Awesome! Glad to see you are saving some serious dough. How many thousands of miles are you going to have to drive before the Fit pays for itself? I have found this to be a more useful tool in conceptualizing "savings."

For example, I've considered buying a small, fuel effecient car as my daily driver. Unfortionately I determined that I would have to drive that car for a very, very long time to pay for itself. Maintenance cost+higher insurance+payments-trade in...etc etc.

I have a feeling that your upgrade is enough that you will end up breaking even alot quicker then I would. (I don't know your cost or trade in value to calculate it myself). Congratulations on your upgrade!

When its time for me to get a new vehicle I think I'll likely go your route and go smaller and for FE.

Have fun with the new vehicle...and with that money you will save.

[jakobnev]

Average saved every 375.52 miles driven: $45.44

[beatr911]

More math for more fun:

Cost per mile:
F150: $57.63/272.53 miles = .2114 cents per mile (gas only)
Fit: $39.97/375.52 miles = .0904 cents per mile (gas only)

So, by driving the Fit you're saving 12.09 cents per mile.
Over 12,000 miles you saved yourself $1450.80 in gas only.

Depending on what you paid for the Fit, difference in insurance, repair costs, increase in fuel costs etc. You could be driving for FREE (compared to the F150) in 5 or 6 years.

[Dunkler]

I love you guys! Ok, I will be open with you fellas. I paid $9,900 for this 2007 Honda Fit. Interest rate at 4.99%. It only had 65k miles on it when I bought it. Now it has 68k (give or take). Full coverage on the Fit is $40/mo. I carried liability only on the F150 and it was $23/mo.

SO, do more maths and figure out when the car will pay for itself!

[Ryland]

You also need to look at other parts of owning an F150, tires are a good example, tires for an F150 start at $96 each and go up to $140 or more each, tires for the fit start at $57 each and go up to $81 for the expensive low rolling resistance tires of course $67 for cheap LRR tires.
The fit also holds around 4 quarts of oil where the F150 is 6 quarts, so a truck like that is going to cost more all around to own and operate.

[user removed]

About $120 per thousand miles in fuel savings or $12k per hundred thousand.

regards
Mech

[Frank Lee]

This is great and millions more need to do it but I wonder why now? Why not 2, 10, 30 years ago?

[cleanspeed1]

Because it didn't matter much back then to most people. You know things are changing when today's Yahoo page brings about hypermiling techniques as an article.

6 Driving Tactics to Save Gas This Summer - Yahoo! Autos