I'm one of the last ones to complain about gas prices - I keep track of
what it costs to run a vehicle, and gas is one of the cheaper things per
mile. Depreciation is by far the largest impact (unless you restore a
car, then parts and labor are). Insurance and gas cost about the same per
mile.
I was figuring the other day - I could sell my MGA for about $8000, and
buy a Honda insight for about $20000. That means I'm spending $12000 on a
car. The insight gets 70mpg, and I drive 14000 miles per year. So, that
would take about 200 gallons per year - at $2/gallon, that's $400 in gas.
My MG gets 26mpg - that comes out to about 540 gallons per year. At
$2/gallon, that's $1080. So for my $12000, outlay, I could save $680 a
year. That means it would only take me 18 years to break even!! At that
time, the Insight will be relatively worthless. The MGA will still be
worth $8000
Let's assume gas prices go up and average $3/gallon over the break even
life of the Insight - then the insight takes $600, and the MG takes $1620 -
that only takes 12 years to pay off. Hmmmmmmmmm How about $4 - Insight
at $800/year, MG at $2160/year - 8 years to pay off. Eight years from
now, a 2004 insight and an MG may be worth the same amount, but I'm
guessing that over the next 8 years, $3/gallon is a better estimate for
the average gas price.
My MG takes premium in this environment (4800 ft), and here that means 91
octane. Its currently at $2.169/gallon. I'm not happy about it, but I'm
not buying an insight anytime soon either.
Don't think I'm slamming insights. My father owns one. I've driven it,
and it is a fun car to drive. He has both versions of the Prius too, and
they are nice cars. This is what he's into, and likes - older sportscars
are what I'm into and like. I just think the mentality of spending a
bunch of money to save on gas is silly. If you're buying a new car
anyhow, and it fits in your style, a hybrid makes sense. If you're doing
it to save gas money it doesn't.
Phil Bates
'58 MGA -----------------------|
'67 MGB |--- All of these average 26MPG
'69 Porsche 911T targa --------|
> Eric, I don't think it's so much the cost (althugh it DOES suck...) but
the increase in so
short a period of time. My Audi takes premium unleaded, and between 4/30
and 5/6 (last 2
fill-ups) premium increased 10 cents per gallon at my no-name station (to
$1.83.9)... Most
of the locals are above $1.95 for premium unleaded (which BTW is typically
92 or 93
octane, not 98...). I know we have the cheapest gas around, country-wise,
but still....
>
> Fortunately I work at home so I only need to fill up once every week or
10 days....
>
>
>
> Dan
> The Garden State
> '76 MGB Tourer - Driver - It's getting better all the time....
> '65 MGB Tourer Project - Yep, still is....
> '04 Audi A4 1.8T q MT-6 - quattro, baby!
> NAMGBR #5-2328
>
http://mywebpages.comcast.net/dibiase/Working_MG_Gallery.html
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