New Member here.

[Blue07CivicEX]

well, what they're saying is that going from 10-20mpg is a bigger change in gallons used. I don't like the fact they are encouraging people to settle for getting rid of their 10mpg vehicle for one that's AMAZINGLY more efficient at 20mpg. The mpg vs gallons used curve is not linear, as you increase your mpg the benefit reduction in gallons used becomes less significant.

This being said, if your jeep was getting 10mpg and you went to a hybrid at 50mpg a 300 mile drive at $4.20 would be $100.8 less expensive in the hybrid.

If you went to a corolla at 40mpg (with careful driving) a 300 mile drive would be $94.5 less expensive.

For the delta in cost between a hybrid and a corolla I would say go with the corolla if it's highway driving as the corolla and prius would be similar on the highway. If you were doing all city driving the prius would blow the corolla out of the water. Anyway, if you really want to buy a daily driver figure out how much highway vs. city you do and whether or not it would be enough to make it cheaper to have a payment and get better gas mileage.

Basically with a $94.5 difference if you used 300 a week that would be $378 if you bought a corolla the payment + the gas used would have to be less then $504 a month to make it worthwhile (saying you got 10mpg which you must get better but as an example). But yeah... regardless of what you decide to do just do out the calculations first.

[RoboMike]

I'm with you there and already comparing the 09 corolla. my 5 day miles are all highway and it's 70 each day = 350 per every 5 days. I don't drive city much....

My jeep is averaging 14 mpg, I compute mathematically. Which means I would spend about $4777.5 a year on gas (check: (350 mi X 52 weeks) / 14mpg x $4.2 )

A new car i'm looking for should have a car payment of ~ $300 /month. At 35 mpg (i.e. corolla) would cost fuel : $2184 + payment $3600 = $5784 a year

This tells me that it doesn't make sense to get a corolla, as long as gas stays at $4.20

Now looking at the Yaris w/ a car payment of $250 /mo - I would have an annual payment of $5184

So when does this actually make sense for me.....?

When a new / used combination has a lower annual income,
or when gas becomes $4.50

I don't know about you - but I'm thinking gas prices are going to $5.00 / gallon, and that with nice driving I can get more mph out of those more aerodynamic cars.

i'd love to hear any additional thoughts, or if i missed anything....?

[SVOboy]

If you sold the jeep wouldn't that change the equation quite a bit, or is that not on the table?

[RoboMike]

Sure, it would drop down the price of the monthly payment as would a larger down payment would. Now , I love my jeep and I have to tell you --- IMO i'm not sure I would get much for it ... It has this great feature called ABR - Already Been Rolled.

[Daox]

Welcome to the site. I too have a commute similar in length. I can sure tell you I'd be having a heart attack if I was only getting 14 mpg!

[RoboMike]

Thanks, I know the feeling. I think they know my by name at the gas station.

[RoboMike]

Ok - so it's either find a cheap car or work on increasing the mpg's of my jeep. I guess i'll start a jeep project. :-)

p.s. My jeep said "How could you replace me on a beautiful day like today?"

[SVOboy]

Haha, how wild do you wanna go with the aero? Could be a real neat project.

[RoboMike]

SVO, I'm going as wild / or as far I need to go. I'll be starting a separate thread and where we can track the progress (or lack thereof).

[Nden]

welcome! hope u can add to the knowledge of the other jeep owners on here to increase the FE of your vehicles !