Gas Prices--Anyone switching cars??--HOw bout the SMART CAR??

[ebayhateluv]

Hi Guys:
Anyone taking any action to hedge against the gas prices?
I put myself on the waiting list for the little Smart car--its only $99 , but then I find out its a year to 18 month wait@@

Then, I find out about an "orphan list" the dealers have--so i pay the $200 to get on it,,, that was last week..

(Im not a real patient person)--I want things now... So, for the last week Ive been researching prices on best gas mileages,, I found Prius, Yaris, both by Toyotas, and the Kia Rio,,

I got a Kia coming from Car max, takes 2 weeks from Georgia, so I thought Id keep looking for another family 2nd/3rd car--

So- I go out today- and I bought a new Yaris,, all the Prius are gone,, and theyve made them start at $25-$29k.. (I was looking for a $10-$15k 2nd car)--
So- I got the Yaris-- They gave me a Platinum Warranty for 6 yrs, bumper to bumper. as well as a 1 yr all maintainence--wiper blades,oil changes,,

I drove it home, and the gas gauge didnt move-- so this is a Victory!

I like the 8 cylinder for overall safety, but i cant see--just filling up and filling up...if you charge your gas, a $1,000 cc bill is not hard at the end of the month..

So- I feel pretty good- Ive got a 2008 and I am gonna save in gas what the pyt is, (FYI--ck your Fico score before you shop--730 is the key)--You seem to get alot of breaks if over 730..
Something to think about...

As Ive read and heard-its gonna get WORSE... So, maybe nows the time to bite the bullet and go smaller...??

[jscan]

lol ive seen those little zippy smart cars around the city, there so small there like matchbox cars. Nowdays i dont really drive, i usually tram or train it, although sometimes there packed so tight that you struggle to breath.

[divine422]

I live in the city so i take the subway all day everyday.

[GreenBean]

After working too many long hours in Emergency Rooms, I would never consider a small car. I do understand the economy of having one but I make do with a SUV with a great hulk of a bull bar! OK, so it runs on LPG but I am safe. LOL.

[aspkin]

I'm waiting for the GM Volt to come out... 40 miles on battery and after that it uses its gas engine to recharge the battery for another 400 something miles. If you drive under 40 miles a day, you don't have to use any gas, simply charge it back up with its wall charger and you're good to go.

GM-VOLT : Chevy Volt Concept Site

[GreenBean]

Wonder if they could ever make a Chevy pick up all electric? Now that would be something!

[twdell]

SUVs aren't "deathproof" either though. i have seen plenty of them just completely totalled, or flipped over on their tops.

luckily i bought a honda CRX last year. it gets 35-40 miles per gallon. i have a mustang that gets about 8-10 miles.

[GreenBean]

True. Not not a vehicle on the road that is safe. It is becoming a matter of necessity to run a car that does not take much fuel to run.

[imjustme]

You guys should get one of those small solar cars. They're making bigger versions now, too. The next model is supposed to be able to transport a whole peanut.

[Jonas]

Smartcars are tiny things. You can't really carry groceries or other stuff in them, like motorcycles. But at least they're not insanely loud like motorcycles and ever motorcycle owner I've come across loves to rev their motorcycle for hours in their driveway.

[2eXclusiive]

god forbid
arent you afraid that if you get into an accident what will happen to your tiny car?
its going to go flying, people won't even know where you land thats how far you'll end up, But if your a good slow driver your good to go, for the most part.

[Jonas]

I read about how some people drive slow to save gas and so other people have to accelerate hard to get around them and that negates the overall gas savings.

[highwhey]

Only 2 things stopping me from buying a "smart car". The look, and safety. Not to mention my size...I'm ~6'6, a prius would probably be hell for my long legs. My current Truck(Titan) allows me to fit and still has space left over, plus in an accident I'll be pretty safe. In all the accidents that I've been involved, I've never been seriously injured. Although gas prices are just getting more and more ridiculous...starting to wonder if there's a limit to how high oil will cost.

[aspkin]

I think the limit would be $5-$6 per gallon... after that it'll be all hell not just for American but the rest of the world. It probably won't go past $5.

My Titan loves lot of gas as well. I'm glad I sold my Mustang, that thing was sucking gas down at 12mpg... I still want to buy a BMW 335i, even though it's probably not the best investment… still thinking about it though.

[twdell]

the good thing about buying a car like a BMW is the re-sale value though. cars like the gas savers do not hold any kind of re-sale, except maybe a civic and prius. a lot of trucks have bad re-sale too. i traded in my 1 year old f-150 for my 350Z, and the value of the used truck was horrible. the dealership couldn't even resell it. i was watching it, because they were trying to sell it on ebay.

i have always owned small cars, and have never worried about being in an accident. i have had 3 fieros, and they get one of the worst sterotypes for being bad in an accident. it's all about driving defensively, and not texting while you're driving.

[Lisa B]

I own a 2002 Toyota Echo and love my car!
Gas mileage is great. 34mpg/41mpg.
Gas prices in the Bay Area averaging $4.25

Makes me mad though because it takes a little over $40.00 to fill her up!

[topazcorp]

[quote=aspkin;43325]I think the limit would be $5-$6 per gallon... after that it'll be all hell not just for American but the rest of the world. It probably won't go past 5$
Prices have already pass the 5$! In europe its already 6-12$ and in Canada its 5-6$... Its a matter of time before the prices in the US start to rise for real.

[2eXclusiive]

if gas prices were low id buy the cadillac cts.

[imjustme]

I believe the main reason why gas prices are raised is to combat global warming.

Higher gas prices = less driving = less pollution.

Nobody can tell me that gas went up by $5 in one day just because 5 Nigerians in a rubber boat blew up a pipeline somewhere in the jungle, like they're telling on CNN every day. Seriously, come on.

[2eXclusiive]

thats a smart thing to do, if we keep polluting our planet like we are right now mankind won't last the next thousand years.

[ebayhateluv]

UPdate:.. Guys: I had 1/2 tank today- filled up-- costs $16.40!!!
(versus my 2 tank truck which is over $300 to fill up!!!)

[2eXclusiive]

=O
wow you saved alot of money
smart move on your end.