Driving 4k miles a month (almost 50k a year)

[dxkj]

Currently driving a 1990 Olds. Ciera... gets about 25 mpg on the highway, 86k miles at the moment. Cruise control is broken, would cost about $100 to get that fixed, otherwise it has a new transmission new brakes, etc...

Also have a 2004 Mazda 3, but my wife will be driving that to school (1200 miles a month) since I'd rather not kill that car right away.


Any advice on my car situation? Drive the ciera into the ground, and pay ~ 400 a month in gas, buy a used car like toyota/honda that I know can take the miles, and pay 300 a month in gas?

Lots of choices, not sure what is best though. 35 mpg cars on the highway wont be hard to find, but one that will take 50k a year... new car is pretty much out of the picture because for most that would wear out the warranty in one year....

 

[Squisher]

50K miles a year! :shocked::shocked::shocked:

"diesel and comfortable", is all that pops into my head.

 

[geno]

buy a Scion xA or xB, either one of those will handle the milage just fine

 

[MrChad]

In terms of cost savings, you'd only save about $1200 in gas per year. Assuming the Ciera is in good working condition, it doesn't seem cost effective to spend $10,000+ on a used Civic just yet.

 

[Analog]

CRx

 

[MercenaryForHire]

Run the existing one into the ground.

- M4H

 

[Vette73]

Originally posted by: MrChad
In terms of cost savings, you'd only save about $1200 in gas per year. Assuming the Ciera is in good working condition, it doesn't seem cost effective to spend $10,000+ on a used Civic just yet.

yep. Change the fuel filter and spray out the throttle body of the olds and ride it until it dies, which should be 200K if you keep it up.

 

[radioouman]

Kee[ teh Olds. It makes hte most financial sense.

 

[edi sucks]

keep your old car until it dies...then buy a used civic hx (i've heard they get ~40-50mpg...)...

 

[VTBigBear]

lol

u must be doing the same thing that i do...

 

[Viper0329]

I'd fix the cruise and drive it into the ground if your strapped for cash.

 

[Tea Bag]

Run the wheels off it.

 

Crown Vic or Grand Marquis. You'll get > 20 mpg on the highway and it'll be comfortable as all get-out.

 

[bjc112]

Originally posted by: MercenaryForHire
Run the existing one into the ground.

- M4H

 

[dxkj]

Originally posted by: Viper0329
I'd fix the cruise and drive it into the ground if your strapped for cash.

I was thinking of getting the cruise fixed and then driving it into the ground.... which may be 10k miles away or 100k miles.... depends on how much more goes wrong with it

 

[mwmorph]

well, it seems inexpensive as hell to maintain so long term, it will be cheaper. besieds, it has minimal resale value left so just drive it fro what it's worth and then get a toyota echo,xa,xb, or any other underpowered but reliable japanese compact or preferanbly subcompact car.

 

[Otaking]

How far do you work from home? :Q

 

[lobadobadingdong]

Originally posted by: radioouman
Kee[ teh Olds. It makes hte most financial sense.

 

[OffTopic1]

Sometime it is not worth it to save money over comfort/safety. 50K miles a year is a lot of time to be on the road ( 4+ hours per day) and your back will thank you if you use a reliable (newer) large comfortable car.

 

[emmpee]

Originally posted by: Otaking
How far do you work from home? :Q

I'm going to guess 4000 miles / 20 working days / 2 commutes per day = 100 miles.

 

[Otaking]

Originally posted by: emmpee

Originally posted by: Otaking
How far do you work from home? :Q

I'm going to guess 4000 miles / 20 working days / 2 commutes per day = 100 miles.

Hah.

 

[Gothgar]

Originally posted by: MercenaryForHire
Run the existing one into the ground.

- M4H

FTW

oh yeah, and use the Mobil 15k mile oil when you change your oil...

 

[OffTopic1]

Originally posted by: Otaking

Originally posted by: emmpee

Originally posted by: Otaking
How far do you work from home? :Q

I'm going to guess 4000 miles / 20 working days / 2 commutes per day = 100 miles.

Hah.

I don't know how much non working mileage the car gets but my guess is higher.

5 days * 52 weeks ? 10 stat holidays = 250 days

50,000 miles / 250 days = 200 miles/day

 

[thomsbrain]

a civic or corolla will take those miles without flinching. they won't be the most comfortable things to drive for that kind of time though!

but here's the thing. edmunds give your olds a private party value of anywhere from $402 to $533, depending on the trim level. trade-in values top out at $149... bwahahahaha... sorry. in light of that, just run the olds into the ground. you're going to have to spend probably $5K on top of that to get a Civic/Corolla of similar mileage.

the fact that the olds already had to have a new transmission before ~80K doesn't bode well, but for $500, the price is right and you already have it, so I'd just go with it.

edit: i never thought i'd recommend someone drive an oldsmobile, but there's a first for everything.

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: OffTopic

Sometime it is not worth it to save money over comfort/safety. 50K miles a year is a lot of time to be on the road ( 4+ hours per day) and your back will thank you if you use a reliable (newer) large comfortable car.

you don't need to buy a whole new car, just a seat.


with a new transmission that olds will probably be good, driveline wise, for another 100,000 most likely