Okay, go ahead and let me have it...

[TwistedCU]

Well here it goes...

I have been spending over $450 a month in gasoline. That's just what I spend commuting to work, not including my wife's vehicle and my weekend driving.

I came to the reality a few weeks ago that I needed to get a new commuter. A fuel efficient one, a safe one for the long commute and 65+ mph highway speeds, and one that would last in order to justify the cost.

What I needed is something like the Diesel VW Rabbit my uncle owned several years ago. I looked at everything. MY father-in-law Suggested a Jetta TDI. I told him never! I'd buy American. There's nothing out there folks. Nothing getting over 40 mph like the diesels. A hybrid? Reliability and longevity too uncertain for the price. THe best I could do would have been a shoebox on wheels in the high 30 mpg range. I don't need a coffin, I need a roomy car (I have 5 kids, remember?).

So, yeah, the guy who preached a few months ago about patriotism and American quality and keeping the dollars here bought a Volkswagen.

I have been averaging 47.6 MPG. I am saving over $270 in fuel costs on just my commute alone. I have 6 airbags. I have 5 star crash ratings, a 6 yr 100000K mile bumper to bumper warranty ($1600) and I expect it to last 10 years. Believe you, me, that I searched for a comperably sized American car with comperable mileage. To my disappointment it doesn't exist.

So there you have it. Blast away.

P.S. I'm Jeepless again. I expect to buy that '88 YJ I posted of earlier, but the guy is in the middle of buying a house and he isn't supposed to sell any assets or he voids his pre-approval. He settles on the 12th.

 

[jaymz77]

Did you get the TDI Jetta? The TDI has a lot of speed to it for getting almost 50mpg.

 

[Saurian]

Jeepless as in you no longer have the XJ?

 

[mingez]

So there you have it. Blast away.

No need to be ashamed. The current cost of gas has serously put a damper on being a Jeeper.

I too have been looking to sell one of my jeeps. I've been looking at the Miata, or a Civic or something. I've been toiling over which one to sell. It's actually killing me. Every week I seem to change my mind.

Sell the XJ. You can't take the top off, and the Chicks dig the TJ. It's a longer wheelbase...and older.

Sell the TJ. You can't haul anything in it, and you've put more personal work into the XJ. It's a shorter wheelbase.

Arghhh!! Blast this stupid oil crisis!

 

[mingez]

Yeah, did you get the Rabbit or the Jetta? You never actually divulged that part.

 

[redrooster]

I have no problem with it. You gotta do what you gotta do.
I just paid off the wife's Avalanche, so even if gas does go over $4.00 a gallon I'm not going to assume another car payment. I'll take my licks at the pump.
BTW...I like the looks of the new Tahoe so I peeked at a window sticker yesterday. $44K for the LTZ model....whatever!!!

 

[Saurian]

Eech... I hate hearing someone saying they're gonna sell their Jeep It's only for total exhaustion that I have not yet pulled my bike out of the garage and put it back together, the ride would do me well to both my jobs... Can't afford to keep the Jeep full of gas these days...

 

[Green97TJ]

I know the feeling... only I cant afford to spend that much. So im looking for like a late 90's ford escort... with a 5spd you can get low 30's mpg which is more than double the jeep. But fortunately Im still at the point in my life where I can say "I wont do it if I cant keep the Jeep"

 

[90Xjay]

Show me the math Harry.

I won't condem you for buying that car, they are well built. At least you did not buy a stinking Toyota

I just read an awesome article from money magazine about the hybrids.
They did the math and with the premium price you pay for one, even figuring in the tax credit from the gov't, unless you drive 40K miles per year, at the end of five years it is a wash at best. You don't come out ahead condsidering the cost.

Not to mention, that nobody selling hybrids want to talk about the cost of the battery the things take when they need replaced. Toyota's hybrid battey cost $3000 and Honda's cost $3600 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! OUCH.

Here is the link to the article

http://msnbc.msn.com/id/12038317/


My buddy has a similar dilema with a truck that gets 15 MPG.
He is wanting to get a POS front wheel drive car that gets around 30 MPG, just to run to work
He wants to get something dirt cheap, say $1000-2000.

I challenged him with the math.

If he uses $300 per month now in the truck at 15 MPG then the car at 30 MPG should use only $150, right?

Well, saving $150 per month and counting the cost of the car, say it was $1500, that would take 10 months to break even just on the cost of the car and cosidering that he is keeping the truck to haul stuff in, now you have tags and insurance on the car at about $40 per month minimum. So after the 10 months, your saving $110 per month on gas, now the car needs tires, there goes another 6 months.. and on and on..

I am not discouraging anyone from trading cars or buying a car with more MPG, just sit down with paper and pencil first.

I'm still waiting on my $100 check from the gometturple: urple: urple: urple:

 

[southtj]

I'm always with you TC on the buy American but sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do. At least you did your research and at least looked for a comparable American product. That is what I do and if I can't find it, I do what you did, buy the best product that is right for me.

We won't give you too hard a time about it so long as you get another Jeep...Soon.

And 90xjay, you're gonna be waiting a looong time for that check.

 

[wm69]

Let you have it......um, ok. My grandad was a GM dealer from the late 40's till he retired in the early 90's. My family had NOTHING but GM products during most of those years, then after a few examples of the complete crap the American car companies were spitting out in the 80's my dad bought my sister an Accord in 1988. Since that time among my parents, sister, and wife we've been through 10 Hondas and none of them have ever been in the shop for anything other than routine maint. My 93 Accord has 240K on it and still gets 30mpg driving 78 on the highway. I know the US made cars have gotten a lot better since the 80's but I won't ever go back to them unless the quality of Honda and Toyota falls. The US manufacturers scared us off and I refuse to go back no matter how much I hear "oh, they aren't that bad anymore." My 2 Jeeps are the exception to that rule and they are perfect examples of horribly engineered crap that the US companies were building in the 80's. Do I love my Jeeps? Absolutely, even to the point that upon meeting my wife (then girlfriend) for the first time my grandmother said "you know that Jeep will always be his first love don't you?". Know what I was doing when she said that? Trying to get that POS BBD carb to idle. The fact that CJ's are horribly engineered junk (without MAJOR rebuilding/modding) doesn't bother me as I use mine almost strictly for crusing back roads and hunting, but no way would I rely on one for a daily driver. Honda EARNED my loyalty while GM was producing junk, and until Honda does something (like a decline in the quality of the cars I'm buying) to lose that loyalty it won't matter if GM gets 500% better, because I will be happily crusing in my Japmobile.

 

[Craig]

My buddy got a VW Golf TDI to save on the fuel cost he's paying to drive his Dodge Ram to and from work. He says that he's saving so much money in fuel that the car is paying for itself and now he has two vehicles. He's taken the "daily driver" insurance off his truck and has pleasure use only (no more than 4 days per month plus weekends). Since the money saved on fuel is paying for the vehicle he's actually coming out ahead because in the end he'll have whatever the car is worth plus the truck. I suggested selling the truck but he needs it for search and rescue/hunting/camping ect.

 

[90Xjay]

to add another thought........

I've been thinking...
Harry, you don't owe me or anyone else here an explaination, really.
You are one of the most informed people I know of, I trust your judgement. We've talked enough that I know you possess both prudence and discernment.
If you have the where with all and thought that is what you should do, that is your business.


now for the Hollywood morons who go get a Pri-ass just to show up at the awards show to make a statement... well there still morons.:lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[TwistedCU]

To clear some things up...

It's a new '06 Jetta TDI (Turbo Diesel Intercooled) 5 speed.

The XJ is gone. I simply traded it in on the TDI and I'll be selling the Garvin Rack and accessories, 4.5" Rusty's leaf packs, 4.5" Rubicon Express coils, Rubicon Express Control Arm Drop Brackets, and a few other goodies too.

I fully intend to buy a Wrangler, and the deal has been done verbally. It will not be a commuter so I can mod it with little or no regard for the street

As for the Math, 90Xjay, believe me when I say it's been done and to death. I've been crunching #'s for 2 months. Keep in mind I am viewing this car as a long term solution to fuel prices and an overall investment. This car is the only one I can feasibly expect 10 reliable years from with the kind of mileage I will be putting on it. Work is over 60 miles away. I'm getting over 30 mpg more than I was last week. If the gas/fuel prices continue to climb this thing will only prove to be a better investment.

I cannot expect 10 years at 30K miles per year out of a hybrid. I can't confidently from a gas engine, either. There's nothing to assure me they would last that long. I know that these VW deisels will do it. If I get 300K miles from it it will prove to be extremely economical through fuel economy and longevity. I don't need to go that long for it to show savings but these are my hopes and expectations which I feel to be realistic. The fact that they hold their value is nice because it's like a no-lose opt out plan.

In conclusion, with the lack of depreciation, amazing fuel economy, and proven longevity and reliability I feel I have made the most economical and logical choice.

You know how I feel about it. I tell you though, it's tough to feel bad about it at all when I get almost 50 mpg combined driving in a very fun to drive, comfortable, conveinience filled car that costs in the low 20K range.

How's this math...
Jetta TDI
14.5 gallon tank X $3 a gallon = $43.50 for a tank of fuel.
14.5 gal. x 47 mpg (per my trip computer)=

681.5 miles to ONE 14.5 gallon tank of fuel - less than 6.4 cents per mile fuel cost

 

[wm69]

That's good as long as you get a wrangler. For all my raving about Honda quality I must admit their lineup is boring at best. My CJ's may have been POS's when they came off the line but at least they're fun. I'd hate to live life with only a boring reliable daily driver. Course if times get hard having vehicles "for fun" might go out the window for most of us.

 

[90Xjay]

Man that is awesome.

Farfenugan!


You'd better git that Wranger and I'd better hear a sawsall cutting sheet metal to fit those 38'surple: urple: urple: urple: urple:

 

[mingez]

I won't condem you for buying that car, they are well built. At least you did not buy a stinking Toyota

Why is Toyota worse than Volkswagen?

 

[mingez]

The XJ is gone. I simply traded it in on the TDI and I'll be selling the Garvin Rack and accessories, 4.5" Rusty's leaf packs, 4.5" Rubicon Express coils, Rubicon Express Control Arm Drop Brackets, and a few other goodies too.

Prices on the parts? I might be interested in the Rack. Is it gutter mounted?

 

[Sparky-Watts]

TC, I know you and I have had our disagreements on the "buy American" issue, and that aside, I know how this must have tormented you. Nothing to feel bad about. You've got to take care of your family, as I know they come first for you, right? Even if that means sacrificing your firm patriotic beliefs. Even if I was on the other side of the fence as a "buy American only" person I wouldn't fault you. I can't see how you can afford to raise 5 kids to begin with, and what with spending $450 a month in gas, well, that's just crazy!! I got a lot of respect for you, and it doesn't change for this. This is a family friendly website, so I can't post what I'd do to be getting 47 mpg!!!

As for the Jeep, well, let me know when you get that YJ, and I'll buy you a set of blades for the Sawzall!

 

[Sparky-Watts]

Not to mention, that nobody selling hybrids want to talk about the cost of the battery the things take when they need replaced. Toyota's hybrid battey cost $3000 and Honda's cost $3600 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! OUCH.

That's nothing. When I worked for the Ford Stealership, the batteries in the Hybrid Escape cost over $7000 and were only expected to last 4-6 years. So, it'd be almost like buying a new car every 5 years anyway. Not to mention that the Escape Hybrid got less mpg's than the gasoline version. It was made Hybrid only for more HP. Yet to buy one you can still get a tax break for having a fuel efficient vehicle because it's listed as a hybrid.