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Watcha Drivin'?

cheshireguy

By cheshireguy
in Grand Rapids Coffee House

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cheshireguy Whistle-Stop

cheshireguy

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With the state of our economy, higher gas prices, and so much uneasiness in the stock markets, I have noticed many older, smaller cars on the road than in the past. Many of us are looking towards public transportation, but alot of people just can't get by on a bus or moped to and from work (I live in {sodEmoji.{sodEmoji.|}}GR and work in Lansing - a situation I am trying to remedy).

It made me wonder as I pulled my 2001 VW Passat wagon out of our driveway the other day... how many among us are "getting by" with gas-sippers or older models because of the above reasons? Count me in here...My VW has 196,000 miles and counting. My wife drives a 2006 Infiniti FX35 (she is in a solid industry here in GR -medical sales!) My other car is a 1969 Lincoln Continental MarkIII with a 460 V8 - anyone wanna buy it??????? C'mon, it gets 9 MPG!!!

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fotoman311 Burg

fotoman311

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I'll go first. :)

I primarily drive a bicycle. My wife owns a 2006 Honda Civic that gets 36-38mpg on the highway (A couple of months after we bought it, I managed to get 500 miles out of a single tank on a trip where I kept the cruise at 63mph, which I calculated around 44mpg). She fills it up for about $35-40 every 2-3 weeks.

We bought the Civic because I drove a '91 Civic for 9 years and 115,000 relatively problem free miles in high school and college. And because the new redesign was pretty sweet. By ditching our second car and getting only one, we were able to afford the new car, not to mention saving the $1000+ in insurance, plus much more on gas and maintenance.

We've managed quite well, and Amy tries to bike commute 2-3 times a week as well. We also purposely purchased our house near downtown (just outside of Heritage Hill near Martha's Vineyard) so we could have days like today. We took our 14 month old niece for a ride to Aquinas and back, went out to lunch at the Cherie Inn, went shopping at the Sunday Artists' Market, went to the Polish Harvest Festival, went mini golfing up at AJ's in Comstock Park, and stopped for milk at Walgreens (on sale :) ) on our way home, all without getting into our car. I don't mean to say this to sound like I think I'm better than everyone else. But, I enjoyed getting to all the places I went today much more on my bicycle than I would have in a car. I felt like I saw more and noticed more in the neighborhoods we went through, and I got over two hours of exercise without even trying very hard. Not purchasing any gas is more of fringe benefit than the main reason we ride.

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d8alterego Whistle-Stop

d8alterego

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I murdered my 9 year old, gas sipping, surprisingly reliable, Ford Escort down here in FL. I had that thing since I was 16. I was kinda bummed that I killed it because we had some good times together. Anyway, the love didn't last long because Melbourne is the "suburb city" and thus, no reliable mass transit to speak of. I did a TON of research and bought a brand new, very efficient, high resale value, and very safe Honda CRV. That thing is my pride and joy. For being a cross-over SUV, I get a ton of safety features for a car that gets 25 mpg average in the city :w00t: . It was one of the highest ranked and I love every minute of it. Giggidy, Giggidy!

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FilmMaker Whistle-Stop

FilmMaker

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Gotta tow lots of stuff and the kiddies on trips so it's a Ford Explorer... but... having moved my office to my home after 23 yrs downtown, I now go a solid 3-4 days a week (sometimes more) without ever turning the car on. The nearby White Pine Trail gives me an easy way to bike into downtown Rockford where I can obtain 80 percent of what I need to live and work.

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Kayak1 Whistle-Stop

Kayak1

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I just sold by 2001 Olds Intrigue with 115,000 miles and bought a 2007 Mazda 3. I love it and it gets 30-35 MPG. My wife drives a 2002 Blazer which only gets 15 MPG but it has been payed for for about 4 years and she puts less than 8,000 miles a year on it.

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jbr12 Hamlet

jbr12

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We recently dropped down to a one-car family. Traded in two car payments for one and now have a Chrysler Pacifica. Its not the greatest on gas (~20 mpg) but it has the cargo room we need for 2 kids and the leg space needed for me (6'-5"). We live about 4 miles from where I work and my wife stays at home with the kids. 90% of the time I Ride The Rapid to work and the SUV sits in the car port.

Next spring I'll be getting a smaller Motorcycle, something in the 60-70 mpg range and I'll ditch the bus during the warmer months.

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AlexPKeaton Burg

AlexPKeaton

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Car:

2001 Chevy Cavalier. It gets up to 30 MPG on the highway, but since I mostly drive around town, it's usually considerably less. My commute is only 2.5 miles though. I'll probably drive it into the ground before I buy a new car.

Bikes:

2003 S-Works Hardtail. It's a mountain bike, so I mostly ride it on trails. I have commuted on it a number of times, but won't any more since I got my new...

2008 Trek Madone. I just got it two weeks ago. It's my first road bike, and it's niiice. Full carbon, great components, and very light. It wasn't cheap, but I think I'll be happy with it for a long time.

Edit: Just thought I'd mention that my new bike (and maybe the older one as well) is probably worth more than my car. I've got my priorities straight!

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GRDadof3 Ecumenopolis

GRDadof3

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2003 minivan and a newer (?) Nissan Altima. We aren't looking to change vehicles, but I am thinking of picking up a used moped this Fall to help supplement our driving for short trips and some commuting. I did the calculations, if we can find a good reliable one for less than $1000 and even if we use it just 1/4 of the time it will pay for itself in a year.

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cheshireguy Whistle-Stop

cheshireguy

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Alright, guys, I am noticing a trend here... we drive the beaters, and our wives have the nice rides? What's going on, huh?

I want my next car to be a Civic, a Subaru Impreza, or a Mini Cooper. I need MPG, sporty fun, and good looks. Guess that rules out the Pontiac Aztek. I mean come on, what was GM thinking there???? :sick:

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zenstyle Hamlet

zenstyle

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The husband-unit drives a 1995 Mercury Mystique (known among garage mechanics as "Mercury Mistake.") He paid cash for it when his 1991 Toyota Tercel croaked. The Mercury is so-so on gas mileage, and and feels awfully big to maneuver, compared to the Tercel. Ah well, it was cheap.

We would never, never buy a car, new or used, for which we would have to make payments. Insanity!

Me, I drive a 2006 Vespa LX, 50 cc's. Paid cash, of course!

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GRDadof3 Ecumenopolis

GRDadof3

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Alright, guys, I am noticing a trend here... we drive the beaters, and our wives have the nice rides? What's going on, huh?

I want my next car to be a Civic, a Subaru Impreza, or a Mini Cooper. I need MPG, sporty fun, and good looks. Guess that rules out the Pontiac Aztek. I mean come on, what was GM thinking there???? :sick:

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starrfish Whistle-Stop

starrfish

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Fun thread! I'm a car gal though. I've got a 2002 VW Passat Wagon. 5 speed manual. Decent on gas - probably in the 24 mpg neighborhood. Bought it two years ago. Love driving, but wish my job was closer to downtown because I'd FOR SURE ride my bike to and from when the weather is nice - save on gas and exercise at the same time!

*fish

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cheshireguy Whistle-Stop

cheshireguy

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Fun thread! I'm a car gal though. I've got a 2002 VW Passat Wagon. 5 speed manual. Decent on gas - probably in the 24 mpg neighborhood. Bought it two years ago. Love driving, but wish my job was closer to downtown because I'd FOR SURE ride my bike to and from when the weather is nice - save on gas and exercise at the same time!

*fish

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pr sc Whistle-Stop

pr sc

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2005 Civic bought last year from my son - car payments for the first time in 14 years. Had no choice, 1997 Miata with 97,000 miles just plain died. The Civic actually gets better city and highway mileage than the Miata and, of course, more space! Just wish I didn't have car payments. Also, in these parts, no public transportation and summer temps hovering in mid-high 90's and winter nothing but cold and drizzle/rain I haven't done the bike thing. Also, the disputes between car drivers and bike riders is auful here. One major road through town and to the next island (US Hwy 21) is the only road with a bike lane.

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