Gas Prices & Selling the Marauder

[sailsmen]

For many purchasing a vehicle is an emotional based decision.

Buying my Marauder was emotional based.:D

There are 3 radio show host I hear on a regular basis raving about the Tahoe Hybred. What they don't tell you is at 0 money cost it will take 400,000 miles to break even.:mad:

The Pirus vs a Camry is about 70,000 miles to break even. The Camry Hybred vs a Camry is about 95,000 miles to break even.

When the Fed Tax incentive for hybreds was in effect for certain tax filers the break even comes in sooner.

Edmunds has a good total cost of ownership. Although insurance maybe off for your particular case the comparison of one vehicle to another is accurate.

For example the 5 year total fuel cost of ownership for a Frontier is $16,455 and a Grand Marquis is $15,169 based on 15K per year and 15/23MPG for the GM. The Marauder is rated at 17/23MPG.

The Frontier is rated at 15/20MPG.

Before you get caught up in the hysteria :confused:and spend an extra $15K on a Tahoe Hybred or $4K on a Pirus do the math or go to Edmunds.com and look at total cost of ownership.;)

[Paul]

I'm thinking of getting a used Honda Civic with a 5 speed to use for commuting to work, and keeping the Marauder as a toy.

[Raudermaster]

Tahoe Hybred. What they don't tell you is at 0 money cost it will take 400,000 miles to break even.:mad:



Yup, when we had Earth Day a Chevy dealer was there, and they told us 400k would be the break even point. Unfortunately the body would most likely be gone to crap by then and wouldnt be worth it. But yet it's all hype with that thing.

[justbob]

My older style 96 escort 5 sp. got 37.9 mpg. Now mind you that is traveling at 60 mph in a 65 zone at about 90% highway use. Normal driving i still see 32 mpg. This is also with no tune up 107,000 miles check engine light on and the tires are also two sizes smaller than stock (all firestone had at the time) I think i'll keep it for awile.

[Marauder386]

I may put my '91 Tempo GL back on the road...5 speed MTX and weird in the sense of not a Monday/Friday built car ... I cant kill it ...


:cool:

[ctrlraven]

I'm thinking of getting a used Honda Civic with a 5 speed to use for commuting to work, and keeping the Marauder as a toy.

I hear ya! I got out bid on a mint 1990 Acura Integra LS with vtakz that was getting 28city/35hwy for the original owner.

[Stranger in the Black Sedan]

I bought a $1400 low milage 1993 Saturn that I will drive if I know the trip I am going on (work commute, etc) is a total waste and there is no chance of needing the extra HP of the Marauder. But I am not going to sell the Marauder because of gas prices either.

[Breadfan]

The big things that concerns me about buying a high MPG beater is safety. I would be happy to buy an older panther to commute in, and get 20mpg or so. The idea of buying a small car that gets 30mpg and is cheap is appealing (until someone sees you in it) but around here I'd admit I feel more comfortable in a safer car (larger car). Oh that and the comfort factor.

[burt ragio]

Before I buy an little death box Al Gore earth crunchy granola hybrid **** box on wheels I will find another means of transportation.

[huot5]

when all the big SUV's are off the road and everyone else is in a smart car or little *****box, then I'll consider downsizing. I put about 8K-9K miles peryear on my vehicles, so the cost of gas does not affect me as much.
and I won't compromise the safety of my family by stuffing them in a coffin on wheels just to save a few $$.
And to look at it another way, the highways are less crowded these days for my 07 F-150 Harley and my MM.
the truck has 5200 on the odo, gets 13.1 mpg ( mostly city), has 4.10's, Nav, remote start, fully loaded, fun to drive, and I don't give a f@ck!
http://www.nhtoc.com/photopost/data/984/medium/07_HD_latest_pic_smaller_for_N HTOC.jpg
the M gets better mileage, but it'll pry go before the truck.

[gmtech]

i just bought a 03 Lightning, these econo crap boxes are driving down the prices of trucks and v8 cars:D.....i will be leaving a carbon footprint:cool:

[Breadfan]

Actually, NOW is the time if you want to buy a truck. Soon muscle cars will follow. I took a short trip on Saturday, we drove about 40 miles out and passed about 10 pickups and suv's for sale during that trip.

I think you'll find supply going up and demand going down, so prices will drop.

[jonroe]

I am totally uninterested in getting rid of my Marauder. I bought it because I LIKE it and not because it's cheap to drive. The next car I get (in addition to the MM) will most likely be another V8. Driving powerful interesting cars is one of my hobbies so I don't mind spending some cash on it.

[baltimoremm]

I am totally uninterested in getting rid of my Marauder. I bought it because I LIKE it and not because it's cheap to drive. The next car I get (in addition to the MM) will most likely be another V8. Driving powerful interesting cars is one of my hobbies so I don't mind spending some cash on it.

You read my mind. My thoughts exactly

[MarauderTJA]

I love my Marauder and will never get rid of it regardless how high gas prices go. I have cut back using it when I am home. It is my baby and treated with TLC. But nothing, nothing compares to driving it whenever I please or have the urge. Just to cut back on driving it somewhat saves on the cars mileage. I get 10 MPG around town and 15 with it on the highway. Still better than my buddies Hummer H2, which gets maybe 8 MPG around town. His Hummer is his toy, but also has another 4 cyl car for highway and around town when needed. What about those with boats with big V8's. They use their boats far less than I drive my Marauder....

I do ride my Harley a lot anyway and always have. It gets 38 MPG. I also have been using my 07 Merecruy Milan as my highway car and more often lately around home. The V6 gets 22 MPG around town and 28-30 on the highway when on business trips. The 6 speed automatic helps with the mileage without question.

My last trip to New Orleans I saw far less cars on the highway, just a few cars at the rest areas and I have slowed it down a bit to an average highway speed of 75 mph. Gas prices are certainly affecting peoples use of their cars. I think the typical Sunday drive for most people is over. But not for me. It is one of the few pleasures I truly enjoy, driving my Marauder.:up:

[Bobmiddle]

At this point I am not going to sell my MM. It is almost paid off $1500 left on the loan. But if we get to the point where we are paying $10 per gal. I might have to rethink this. (when it gets to this point we will have other issues to worrie about like our livleyhood, economy, crime and revolution)
My MM is my Daily Driver but my round trip to work is only 13 miles and any driving I do for work I get 51 cents a mile so that is not too bad of a deal. I have just worked on my driving habbits (less speeding, less WOT blasts, slower accereration ect.) I have increased my avg. per tank by 40-50 miles by doing this.
On the weekend the MM is parked and we take the wifes car. It gets more MPG and takes cheaper fuel. Keeping the miles down on the MM is just a plus.
But in the end if I need to drive I will, if I need to mash the gas to pass I will. It is only money and you cant take it with you when your dead. So go out and drive your MM and live life to the fullest.

[quota]

I am not driving my MM that often. My daily driver is an MGM.
So I made the following calculation :
* my mileage per year is around 40 K
* my average mpg is approximately 22.0 (75 % of highway miles)
* the price for a gallon is 4.50 $ (assumption of the price average for a gallon, for the year)

Total fuel cost per year would be 8180 $ per year.

Yes, I could save up to 1640 $ per year if I drive a car that will make 27.5 mpg. BUT I do not know any car that would bring me the same comfort, smoothness, power (my MGM is lightly boosted), reliability, space and security feeling for the cheap buying price of an MGM (second hand models are VERY cheap) !

So before selling your MM, calculate yourself how much you will save per year by driving a car that could never reach your driving expectations !

JP

[Iowa Rick]

I just bought my MM, a 2003 300A.

My daily driver was a Dodge Ram 2wd Quad cab with the 5.7 Hemi.
In cold weather it got 10.5 MPG, in warmer weather it may see 12MPG. It is a 2003 w/35K miles, dealer said its worth $10K as a trade. What a joke.
I still need a truck occasionally and it is paid for so its parked most of the time.
My MM is my daily driver. Got 18.6 MPG last 2 tanks and 22.8 with just interstate driving on first tank. This thing is an economy car. All you need is the right reference. Rick
:)

[Leadfoot281]

I just bought my MM, a 2003 300A.

My daily driver was a Dodge Ram 2wd Quad cab with the 5.7 Hemi.
In cold weather it got 10.5 MPG, in warmer weather it may see 12MPG. It is a 2003 w/35K miles, dealer said its worth $10K as a trade. What a joke.
I still need a truck occasionally and it is paid for so its parked most of the time.
My MM is my daily driver. Got 18.6 MPG last 2 tanks and 22.8 with just interstate driving on first tank. This thing is an economy car. All you need is the right reference. Rick
:)

Agreed. My Marauder is the most fuel efficient car I've ever owned.

I now have an "offbrand" daily driver that gets 14-16mpg and it's a drag. The sole reason I drive that one and not the Marauder is to keep the miles off it.

I'm currently looking for a motorcycle.

[MENINBLK]

My Marauder will always be around no matter how high fuel costs go.
I am buying a used car for a daily driver to accomplish two things.
1 - Keep the miles from creeping up the the Marauder so fast...
2 - Reduce the cost of fuel for commuting trips and times when I travel alone...

When I am traveling with family, safety comes first regardless of fuel costs.
Saving a few cents per miles is not going to replace lost lives.

So count that into your formula when you are thinking savings.... :bows:

[Aren Jay]

I'm thinking of getting a used Honda Civic with a 5 speed to use for commuting to work, and keeping the Marauder as a toy.


How much money insurance etc... is the Honda going to cost compared to the gas and add ons (SC...) for the Marauder though?

Then again my round trip to work is 5 feet.