Any logic to buying a new gas sipper or hybrid to "save money" on gas? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

frosty · #1 02-28-2009, 09:17 PM

Remember a few months back when gas was in the $4 range and people were talking about buying a Prius or a Mini or whatever "green" high-mpg car dealers were pushing? Now with gas prices going back up, I'm hearing the usual talk, and I'm thinking does it make any economic sense to buy a new car just to save a few bucks on gas yet have new payments to make, which are even more than what one will save on gas? The savings, if any, isn't even immediate, to boot. I don't understand--am I missing something? Gas is up, oh, I'll just buy a Prius and problem solved. Yeah, maybe after five or even ten years then one might reap the benefits.

Palangi · #2 02-28-2009, 09:35 PM

<< deleted >>

POS · #3 02-28-2009, 09:49 PM

If you're buying one to strictly save money on gas, the math won't work unless you drive $30,000 miles a year. Spending $15000 on a used anything so you can save $4000 a year in fuel doesn't quite make sense. Cheapest way to save fuel is to drive slower; you can also take whatever you're driving and buy an equivalent-valued car that gets better mpg.

Simpler=Better · #4 02-28-2009, 09:53 PM

Add 1/16" plexiglass fairings and other stuff to improve your current aerodynamics.

If you want to buy something to save on gas, a $1000-$2000 500cc bike that gets around 50-60mpg is the best way.

SwampYankee · #5 02-28-2009, 09:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frosty

Remember a few months back when gas was in the $4 range and people were talking about buying a Prius or a Mini or whatever "green" high-mpg car dealers were pushing? Now with gas prices going back up, I'm hearing the usual talk, and I'm thinking does it make any economic sense to buy a new car just to save a few bucks on gas yet have new payments to make, which are even more than what one will save on gas? The savings, if any, isn't even immediate, to boot. I don't understand--am I missing something? Gas is up, oh, I'll just buy a Prius and problem solved. Yeah, maybe after five or even ten years then one might reap the benefits.

From a purely economic standpoint it makes no sense unless the "guzzler" is paid off or they do a lot of commuting. A family friend just bought an '07 loaded Suburban with 38,000 miles for $18.5K (PO was asking $25K) from a guy who just bought a Prius. Just rough calculations (Suburban @ 16mpg=1187 gals.x$2.95=$3501 to go 19,000 miles, Prius @ 45mpg (might be low?)=422 gals.x$2.95=1244.90) but if you drove 19,000 miles/yr. like the above example you could save $2257/yr. but then you've got a Prius payment and whatever you've lost due to depreciation from the previous vehicle on top of it. In my case at less than 12K (wife's Ody goes about 15K miles/yr.) it'd take a long time for that ROI.

If it's for philosophical or ecological reasons then it doesn't matter.

LUVMBDiesels · #6 02-28-2009, 10:42 PM

Get a nice 190 D if you want to save fuel

Me I am sticking with my 300SDL

I also do not think we will see gas going up to 4 or 5 dollars anytime soon. Demand just is not there to support that price and the speculators have been scared off by the oil crash.

frosty · #7 02-28-2009, 10:50 PM

Why are you guys giving me advice on buying a car? My post is just a musing on why people think they will save money by buying a new car.

Carleton Hughes · #8 02-28-2009, 11:04 PM

New car Hell! My 1915 Stellite gets me around 40mpg.
Of course I can't exceed 50mph but who's counting.

LUVMBDiesels · #9 02-28-2009, 11:24 PM

Oh, I thought this was for real and just a logic exercise

I have no idea why people would trade in a perfectly good car to buy a hybrid to save money. Now before gas shot up and people were buying them to "save the planet" I could see some merit to their idea, although I did not buy into it. In my opinion saving an existing car is better resource wise than buying a new one. This is the same idea I have when buying a house, I never bought a new house, always an older home as it has already impacted it's environment and is saving resources over building something new.
The real Greenies drive 20+ year old Diesels on BioD but walk or ride bikes as much as possible.

If somebody is going to buy a hybrid or any fuel saving car over their existing one, you have to take what Swamp said very seriously. Factor in the car payment, depreciation, maintenance that can't be DIY, and you do not have a very pretty picture if you want to save $$ I think most people dumped their SUV's and other cars in favor of smaller cars or hybrids due mostly to hype.
I had done some math back when gas and Diesel were both high and it cost less than $.10 a mile more to run the Suburban over the 300SDL.

frosty · #10 02-28-2009, 11:32 PM

[QUOTE=LUVMBDiesels;2125878]
The real Greenies drive 20+ year old Diesels on BioD but walk or ride bikes as much as possible. QUOTE]

Yeah, I've always wondered why these biodiesel guys never get the credit they deserve. They're the one's who really should be smug about "doing their part," unlike the fake greens who think driving a Prius gives them the authority to look down on you for not caring enough about the environment.

sd300td · #11 03-01-2009, 12:07 AM

[quote=frosty;2125884]

Quote:

Originally Posted by LUVMBDiesels

The real Greenies drive 20+ year old Diesels on BioD but walk or ride bikes as much as possible. QUOTE]

Yeah, I've always wondered why these biodiesel guys never get the credit they deserve. They're the one's who really should be smug about "doing their part," unlike the fake greens who think driving a Prius gives them the authority to look down on you for not caring enough about the environment.

The few I've met are smug about "doing their part". Rightly so. Good for them. As far as Prius, I mean Pious, owners, I wish they'd stop looking down at me and my 300td long enough to merge right and let me pass.

Having said that, if I were in the new car market and a Pious or whatever other econobox was in the price range, I'd consider all available options. I don't think I drive enough miles per year to really warrant a Pious (or a diesel for that matter), but if circumstances change I could see something like that being a possibility.

I buy cars used, and drive them for 10 years, 100,000+ miles..until they basically break down completely. Longevity is a much bigger factor to an automobile purchase in my mind than 25-30 mpg vs. 40+ mpg.

Emmerich · #12 03-01-2009, 12:14 AM

How much are the hybrid batteries, how often are they replaced, and how do you dispose of them? Add that on top of the new car price, higher insurance, and crappy performance.

Ara T. · #13 03-01-2009, 01:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Emmerich

How much are the hybrid batteries, how often are they replaced, and how do you dispose of them? Add that on top of the new car price, higher insurance, and crappy performance.

About $4000 installed. Barring collision damage, no record of them having to be changed (yet at least). Batteries are recycled. I would guess the shop that replaces the batteries would have to deal with the batteries just like they do with fluids and the lead-acid batteries of normal cars. TBH I would be more wary of all the other electronic stuff in the car.
I would never want one, certainly a neat technology but I'd rather just spend $8K less and get an economy car if saving money was my concern. Sad to say battery tech isn't where it needs to be yet.

t walgamuth · #14 03-01-2009, 08:23 AM

I wouldn't mind having a honda insight five speed. They should be dropping in cost now.

Frosty, is this post ok?

SwampYankee · #15 03-01-2009, 08:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by t walgamuth

I wouldn't mind having a honda insight five speed. They should be dropping in cost now.

Frosty, is this post ok?

I think the Insights are kinda cool, too. There are two of them here in my town. My one question is do they attract collisions? Both of them have some side paint rash, one of them has the front passenger side attached with duct tape on one has the rear bumper corner pushed in.

Quote:

Originally Posted by sd300td

The few I've met are smug about "doing their part". Rightly so. Good for them. As far as Prius, I mean Pious, owners, I wish they'd stop looking down at me and my 300td long enough to merge right and let me pass.

Pious.