list of gas saving tips from best to worst

[Nerys]

theholycow. I guess if you can afford a newer car this can make sense. a $200 to $400 a month car payment is beyond my means. I buy used cars. My voyager cost me $2000 (plus $100 for registration tagging) I have since put 90,000 miles on it and counting. I have put less than $500 in repairs into it not counting the normal stuff (brakes tires) that any car would have required. I used to average 26mpg before ethanol but since I started driving it again post ethanol I max at 22-24mpg.

That means it cost me 2.8cents a mile to own this van and its still going strong with no sign of stopping.

I have used 3461 gallons of gas in it. Can not figure the cost since the per gallon price over the life of this van has varied sooo much. lets figure $2 a gallon average. so $7000 in gas or 49.5cents a mile in gas for a total cost of ownership of around 52cents a mile including fuel.

BY FAR the cheapest way to go is used. My most expensive car was my first car. My 88 Cherokee. I paid $4500 for it. I put 452,000 miles on it ! (ok it came with 80k on the clock :-) I just finished putting a new engine in it. $900 for the donor car $550 to install the motor (I helped) and I will get lots of other parts from the donor car too.

The trick is not buying a money pit :-) and being able to do some DIY. I pay less in lifetime ownership for some of my cars than some people pay in there "down payment"

There is just no sense in buying a new car to me. its money out the window to me.


If you HAVE the money. Thats great use it wisely. If you can write it off even better :-) hehe