Short Commute vehicle recommendations

[gasstingy]

I's like to suggest a trip to your local Nissan dealer to put a deposit on a new Leaf. Keep driving your faithful old vehicle until your Leaf shows up and then put it on Craig's list or Ebay.

Accidents occasionally happen, but I refuse to live my life in the fear of a Ford Excursion or Chevy/GMC Suburban running over me. In the final analysis, you have to weigh your concerns and spend your money appropriately.

{I pass a truck salvage yard on the way to work and I wouldn't have an SUV. IMHO, they are not as safe as people think they are. Most are there with the roof smashed in, not front or rear damage from from a typical collision.}

[brucepick]

Short trips = most of your drive is spent warming up the engine.

Commit to getting the best possible engine block heater (EBH), professionally installed.
You can change to smaller and lighter vehicles and ones with a standard tranny but you can really help yourself by preheating the engine electrically. The cost of the electricity will be far less than the cost of the gas that now does the job.

I say pro installed because I believe the most effective EBH is the kind that installs in the block's freeze plug opening. Unless you're experienced and intrepid, they can be a pain to get at. And you want it done right because you don't want a coolant leak.

[VBOD]

Thanks for the replies all. Ideas so far: used electric, Subaru, Nissan and freeze plug-block heater.

[Privateer187]

My first suggestion would actually be VW Jetta or current generation BMW diesel. They're tough, give consistent mileage, and are all large enough.

If you have an aversion to diesel, or it's prohibitively expensive where you live, then I'd have to suggest Nissan with a small displacement engine or a used electric if you're trips are short enough and you don't mind tinkering.

You average home converted electric has a range of about 40 to 50 miles, round trip, so if you most of your wife's destinations are with 20 miles of home then the electric is a great solution. If you have to go farther regularly, then the Nissan would be be the better choice over the long haul.

[bestclimb]

Any four seat front wheel drive car ever, put good winter tires on it and there go. That said I did pick up a 4wd subaru for this winter mostly because I will be out of town a lot and will not be able to keep up with the shoveling.

For heating I would consider not only a freeze plug type heater but an oil pad heater as well.

[Ryland]

If you have the money, you might also look at getting a new or used Prius and a plug in hybrid kit for it, that way you can cut back to a single vehicle for all of your needs, the short trips to work and back home would use no gasoline but longer trips with the kids would have the gas engine kick in.

[doviatt]

Originally Posted by VBOD

It's not me I'm worried about. Wife's driving record is spotless for over 25 years and mine never had an accident for 30. We drive defensively!

If this great driving record is truly the case I don't see how considering a Geo would affect this at all. Staying accident free is your decision and ability, not the cars.
I find it is just as easy to stay away from "them" in my Geo as in my Honda.

My vote is for the block heater with that short of commute.

[tugboat]

I just bought a 2011 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid, and it easily does 2.5 miles in EV mode. A hill might kick the engine on, but it's got plenty of room (almost as much as my Avalon, it loses only in rear seat room by a hair, and the trunk is a tudge smaller (battery pack has to go somewhere)). But I am very happy with the Sonata Hybrid. Drove my Avalon 2 hours to trade it in (got almost nothing, had 207k miles on it), which took 4 gallons of gas (lots of hills, longish trip). The drive home that afternoon in the Sonata burned a skosh under 2 gallons, same route (but in reverse), the gas gauge hardly moved. I think it's a good family car, hell, my wife has been leaving her 350Z at home this week and been driving MY car to work. I can't wait till we get the tags and I can register it on base where I work! Then it's MINE, all MINE!
(While it's not in my EcoModder garage database yet, the computer said that we got 40.8mpg driving home, in the hills, at an avg of 60mph, counting city traffic and a 10 minute stint at 70mph for testing). I heartily recommend it as a new family car.

[phh]

Originally Posted by VBOD

Wife would like a more economical vehicle but still seats a family of 4 for weekend trips & groceries. This may be silly, maybe even ridiculous to some but the her commute to work is just 2.5mi mostly county-highway. It's 1/2mi downhill, stop, continue 1/4mi downhill, uphill 1mi, level 1/4mi, stop, level 1/2mi. after work, it's about 1mi around small town for a couple stops then back home reverse route to work. There's no way walking, biking or the Geo will do. Needs to have good snow/ice ability, and large enough (mass) to be safe in an environ dominated by large SUV's, 4x4's, farmers trucks & semi's. What would you suggest, gas, diesel, hybrid, multi-fuel, preferably used, maybe trade Geo+Mounty? Her Mounty gets around 15mpg and we'd like a little better. Heck, depressing but at times I think we could trade it for an old 'burban and still get same economy, more room.

Seriously, 2.5 miles is a very short distance. If it hasn't been suggested already, how about on-foot? Also reduces wear-and-tear, and other expenses on whatever car you end up choosing.

I used to walk that distance each way for work -- rain, shine, snow, forest fires, etc. Takes less than an hour each way if I walk, much less when I run. If I need to run errands, I drive that day. On some good weather days my wife meets me half-way, baby stroller in-tow.

[hbthink]

Hello,

We own a Ford Think, seats 4, inexpensive, electric, well built but only legal on roads posted 35mph and less, which covers most of my wife and kids trips to school, store, library, sports etc. We are lucky to live in a more dense downtown environment that is built around square city blocks with speeds less than 30mph. Many of the residents own GEMs, Think Neighbors and modified golf carts. We are a beach community and like many local beach communities the NEV concept is valid, fun, practical, safe and cheap. Best of all they take little energy (solar), need little maintenance and store easily with small footprint. We love ours and take it everywhere downtown. Cheap to register and insure too!

Steve