Poll: do you know anyone who has changed cars or habits recently for MPG?

[cfg83]

MetroMPG -

I racked my brain but I can't think of one. I influenced my wife to get the Honda Civic, but truth be told, her parents got the same model before her, so I think they gave her a final little "push".

I did influence my neighbors to get a Saturn years ago, but that was not explicitly for MPG reasons, just practical/thrifty reasons. They did get a Saturn Ion for their son, but I think that was because of brand loyalty.

CarloSW2

[metroschultz]

I work in a mail production facility. Specifically My job is in the fleet garage.
Over the past few months I have noticed changes.
We have employees who drive 75 miles one way to work.
Two of them used to drive their big trucks, they are now driving smaller vehicles. One went to a Cougar, the other to a Mercedes Diesel.
One of our supervisors used to drive a Full sized Chevy conversion van, now he drives a small Chevy sedan.
One of our techs used to drive his Lexus SUV, now he drives a Honda Civic. I asked him, He said "Gas is too high, Lexus uses too much"
I have watched the parking lot change as well.
Six months ago the lot was full off SUVs and Full size Pickups, today it will be more sedans and hatchbacks.
A year ago some guys at work would rag on me for my Metro, in the past four months I've had two of them ask me to help them find one.

The change is coming.
Slowly,
people are not as free with their money as they used to be.
Maybe I notice more because I'm looking for the change,
or maybe I'm paranoid and waiting for the fall of mankind.
Don't Know.
But I see change on the way.
Wait til Gas in the States is $5.oo.
They will change faster then.
Or they'll stay home.

[MetroMPG]

Ooo! Reading all these responses jogged my memory:

I do have an example: a guy I sail with started car pooling (with his wife) this winter.

They live out of town (about 25 km round trip) and work slightly different hours... but in the same office building. Rather than take two cars, they now ride together most days, and pad the time difference between working hours with various tasks.

But they take his Legacy wagon instead of her '90 Civic.

[jwxr7]

my brother decided he should buy back his '96 civic dx that he sold to a friend. He sold it as he was starting a new job with a 50 mile commute . His daily driver became an '00 excursion diesel. I guess the $4+/ gallon diesel prices finally got to him.

[RH77]

Originally Posted by MetroMPG

Ooo! Reading all these responses jogged my memory

Same here! How could I forget that my Wife is carpooling to work (about a year now). What a savings on not only fuel, but miles on the car.

Dunno if I had anything to do with it, but my Father-in-Law traded his Grand Marquis on a new Civic 2 years ago. I know the Honda influence was there + the need for fuel economy. He ended up with the LX-auto, and so far gets around 25 at 80% city. Not the best, but a LOT better than the Merc.

I've "worked" on other family members, but most of them are domestic, body-on-frame truck/SUV or V-8 drivers.

RH77

[s2man]

Oops. I need to change my vote. I remembered a guy here at work who swapped his Cherokee for a Fit. I just asked him, and it was for mileage. But that's only one person, out of the oodles I know, who has changed vehicles or driving habits.

[Harpo]

One of my employees moved closer to work sold two of his cars, bought a beater MercWagon for emergency transportation, and a SUB (SportUtilityBike). He has three kids, easy access to necessities and about 12 mile round trip commute/day.

We are additionally working on a plan to allow my entire 5 man team have two days per month working at home through tunneled VPN. Less cars, less gas, less risk, and less energy at the office as well.

One of my employees has a hybrid, and made me think about my situation a few months back.

Our excitment can make more difference than one might imagine.

[Ryland]

I know a number of people, next door they sold one of their jeeps and bought a VW new (gas) beetle.
I also know a couple that have a Toyota truck that they do use in the winter, but just bought a VW diesel rabbit that they use in the salt free months, they live ten miles out of town and planing driving as if they were a one car household.
There are many more that I know that are like that as well.

[extragoode]

One friend of my bought a new Jetta TDI back in 06 when his old Volvo died. I'm not sure how much of a difference in mileage there was, but the choice was definitely based on FE. Another friend bought a motorcycle to suppliment his Explorer. Said he had the thing paid for in 6 months with just the gas savings. My biggest frustration is my wife. For the life of me, I can't get her to even stop treating the pedals like binary operators (either all off or all on!) on a V8 that she doesn't need. She's warped the rotors twice in less than 40,000 miles! Her: They just aren't very good! That's funny, how did I ever manage to go through only one set in 100,000 miles? Sorry, rant over.

[metroschultz]

I feel your pain X.
It took weeks of figures and discussion to get a SG
Now my wife is "Trying" to be better.
But, Alas, I believe the "NEW" has worn off.
we're workin on it though.
S.