At what gas price would you switch to a gas sipping car?
Last time it was almost $5 a gallon that suv and truck owners through in the towel.

 

I'm not really sure if I have one. Fortunately, I don't drive many miles per year, so the cost of changing cars would not likely be recouped.

I just paid $3.89 a gallon to fill my GS, but it will last a couple weeks. We usually use the Highlander for the weekends, which costs much less to run, but even on that we don't drive enough to reconsider the vehicle.

 

Well, first, what's your definition of "gas-sipping"? 30 MPG? 40? 50? 60? Most people today would probably consider a gas-sipper to get the kind of mileage that small plug-in hybrids like the Prius and Ioniq get.

As for me, I like driving something in the Lacrosse/MKZ/Cadenza/Impala/G80 class....and I don't really put a lot of miles on, now that I'm retired. I'd probably keep driving what I have, no matter what the cost....though, if desired, the Lacrosse and MKZ do have hybrids that get somewhat better MPG.

 

Isn't Europe worse when it comes to fuel prices? Petrol is more expensive than diesel. I'm not complaining, lucky I live in the States (in that regard lol).

 

I was thinking cars like the Prius and such.I am also retired and prices wouldn't drive me away from what i have now.
I drive my LS430 now about 5k miles a year and even less for the Ridgeline.

 

And most lost a ton of money and saw no real benefit or savings.

They had a SUV or Truck that was likely paid for or almost paid for, they then decide to sell the not very fuel efficient in a market of high gas prices so they got less for it and then they decide to buy a much more fuel efficient vehicle in a market with high gas prices and likely paid a premium for it. Then what happened, gas prices went down, their smaller fuel efficient vehicle was then suddenly not worth as much. It pretty much never works out to sell a less fuel efficient vehicle during high gas prices for a newer more fuel efficient vehicle unless you can get rid of your gas guzzler for right at what it should be worth no matter what gas prices are and then you buy a very cheap old used beater that happens to get very good gas mileage and don't mind living with that car when gas prices go down.

It is painful and aggravating when you spend all that money on gas when prices are way up but changing your driving habits is probably your best bet, driving less, combine more errands/trips into one, car pool, do everything you can to make your vehicle as efficient as possible, save money in other areas like eating out less, buy cheaper groceries, less steaks, hold off on a non essential purchase, etc.

My hell no number would be something in the $8.00+ range per gallon and for proof it is going to stay there for a very long time for me to really consider getting rid of my current car and getting something more fuel efficient but I would have to crunch the numbers and it would have to be a significant savings and worth it. I don't buy gas guzzlers, I have no interest in big SUV's and pickups so it would likely not really be worth it to me even at $8.00.

 

 

Instead of trading in my truck, I'd probably buy a cheap beater from craigslist and use that to get to work. Or a little motorcycle. I'd probably cut back on out of town travelling and off-roading. I'd start going to the gym on the way home from work instead of doubling back to get there.

 

Because of various trials, prolly infinite. We did survive $5, I remember my wedding party took me out to lunch in Scarsdale, NY, and the station near the restaurant was over $5.

We have proven as Americans that there is no threshold at which we will stop driving, nor will we carpool. It's been tried so many times.

I remember last job this coworker flipped out, I was like wth happened? The guy is driving a Prius, last week he had a Z3M (over 10 yrs ago). He goes oh gas is getting really expensive and the Prius is actually sportier than you think. ??? I think Mike Milbury would have some very choice words beginning with a capital W, about such an action.

I paid $3.099 for Costco premium this afternoon. Is that expensive? Yes. But I'm not going to let it get to me.

 

Agreed. Some people will give up anything before their cars and driving.

$3 for 93 octane is nothing. In my area, 87 regular is running $2.95-$3.00 now......and premium is not far from $4.

Keep in mind, though, that you often get what you pay for. Although all gas brands have the same octanes to resist detonation, cheap cut-rate brands, even with 93 octane, often lack the necessary detergents in the blend to keep the spark plugs and fuel-system clean. Costco, for the moment, appears to be on the Top-Tier list of fuels (those with adequate detergent)...but many cheap brands aren't. I, myself, am a strong believer in Shell and Chevron...they consistently have the best detergent packages, especially Chevron and its Techroline additive.

https://www.toptiergas.com/licensedbrands/

 

When I get a new vehicle I track mileage for a year or so using the Fuelly app. I've had my 17 MDX since last June, and my 07 LS460 since early October. Combined, I have driven 11,245 miles. If gas were $5 the entire time, I would have spent $1,205 more, or 83% more on fuel than actual. While 83% is a big jump percentage wise, I can live with $1,205 additional cost, although we would probably use my wife's ES300h at 36 combined mpg more. As an fyi, combined City/Hwy gas mileage for LS460 is 22.6; and for MDX 21.7.

 

i dunno, $10 a gallon? why? put simply, it would have to be a crisis to make ANY sense.

economics:
when selling the gas non-sipping vehicle you're gonna get lousy trade-in because obviously demand would slow (some).
the gas sipping cars will command prices close to msrp (and used sippers will sell for higher prices as demand increases).
let's do some math:
unless making a MAJOR concession (going from a still valuable high value car to a CHEAP car), you're gonna be spending out of pocket to get into the new car. let's suppose it costs an average $10K to downsize.
let's suppose the 'sipper' gets 40mpg and the 'guzzler' got 20mpg.
driving 10k mi. a year, sipper uses 250 gallons and guzzler uses 500 gallons. at $5 a gallon that's an extra $1250 a year to drive the guzzler.
so if downsizing cost $10K you have to drive the sipper for an agonizing EIGHT YEARS to BREAK EVEN.

function/form:
downsizing from a nice vehicle to a sipper means you're compromising your lifestyle because you will now be driving a small vehicle that for many (i'm tall) will feel cramped, won't hold much stuff, is harder to get in and out of, is noisier, etc.

SO NO FREAKING THANKS.

maybe a few math-challenged ones 'threw' in the towel, but most people i know just kept on driving what they had an moaned about it.

 

I get 30 miles to the gallon in an suv. You guys jelly?

 

My RX350 gets an average of about 23 mpg overall. There is no way that high fuel prices would drive me to lose a lot of money to turn the car in a year early. If gas prices were around $5 a gallon when my lease is up, I would likely look at a hybrid sedan. The new ES300h, the Honda Clarity, or an Accord hybrid would be at the top of my list at $5/gal. At $3/gal, the RX450h would look pretty good. At $10/gal, Tesla wins.

 

already have a 2004 TSX for my commuter gas sipper. Can get high 28 mpg easily. Not worth it to buy another car just to save gas