I was speaking figuratively (and, at the time, ranting)... honestly I don't know how many miles she actually driving - but I do know she spending about $30 a week in gas and the last time I looked at the MPG gauage it was reading 9. It's neither here nor there.

As far as justifying another car... I somewhat agree with your statments considering that most people are looking at getting something semi-nice and a recent year model, probably in the $7k+ (upto the price of a new car) range and financing it. In that scenario it would not be a cost worthy venture. In my case, however, I don't care about appearence, luxury items or convienences - I'm looking for something under a grand and more than likely > 10 years old. I would not finance it (no interest), the insurance would be dirt cheap, and maintenance I could do my self (as I do now). If gas continue to climb as predicted... our monthly gas bill could go from the current ~$300 per month to $500 or more. So if I get a good little 4 banger for a few hundred (just missed a 93 Escort for $600 the other day), it could pay for itself over the summer, beyond that it would be a savings. I'm lookng at the long term, not the short term. As a bonus, like others have mentioned, it would reduce the miles driven on the X as well as our Accord - so in the longer run (2-3 years) the savings could be even higher. But I do see your point and I reevalute our situation continually - hopfully, we'll make the right decision in the end.

 

I spend about $250./Gas a "WEEK" so far since I got my Ex.

No complaints...I'll write it off. I use it for work. Plus, it saves me hours in New York City in that I can get from one point to another in a 1/4 of the time that it takes me to get there in my '97 E-250 Cargo Van (traveling on parkways with a passenger vehicle as opposed to having to travel "through" town in a commercial vehicle).

There's no way I can do what I need to do with an economy car.

However, once I am more set up business-wise (where I'll have crews doing my work), I'll get a Ford Escape Hybrid not only for the fuel savings, but for the drivability and parking in tight city streets and for it's ability to still be a workable vehicle (cargo capacity, ability to carry an aluminum extension ladder on it's roof, 4X4, etc...).

I wouldn't put my daughters in a small car. It's rolling coffin as far as I'm concerned. I'm a safe driver, but I can't control other's actions. If I were to get hit by a large vehicle (or even a small vehicle which is still a two ton canon ball) and I had my daughter in my car, I'd want it to be my Ex.

That is one of the major reasons I got my Ex...safety. How much of a gas savings is my daughters' lives worth?

I'm a firm believer in "to each his own". My "own" is to drive a large, safe, high, all weather, all terrain, powerful, truck.

For me, my Ex pays for itself in the money I save in travel time. Off the top of my head, I save $150. a week in labor by transporting my worker on the parkways instead of having him sit in traffic with me. Plus, I can write off it's purchase as a work truck and the gas I use while working with it.

On top of all of that...I love it! King of the road! Little cars think twice before trying to cut me off when they see me in their review mirror.

It's a lot like driving the '87 Ford F-250 XLT I once owned with a custom 12" Skyjacker Lift and 42" Interco's & custom 5.0 Mustang GT w/no cats, headers and Flowmasters.

Ultimately, it's all relative.

More Power! Argghhh!

 

I have also heard that they leave a bigger footpring behind compared to our X's, or even a hummer.

By the time they get done recycling everything on them, especially the battery, it's more expensive.

I'll keep my X, drive one of my SHO's for fun.

Kris

 

Yeah! What Kris said!

 

I agree with just about all comments. I actually did the reverse. I bought my commuter first. Then, once it was paid for, i decided to get a "Toy" so to speak, that being the X. I have no intentions of selling it. My commuter (VW Jetta TDI) has just over 255000KM's and i am only half way there.... The plan is to run it into the ground. For comfort's sake and safety, we have another small car for my wife as she too commutes but in a different direction.....

Works for me!

 

Small cars don't necessarily mean un-safe cars.

Take a look...we have one of the smallest out there...here's a crash test and the results...

Mini Cooper - Car Crash Test

In their words "With today's technology...small isn't necessarily synonymous with unsafe"

BTW...I KNOW I will never re-coup my $$$ outlay...but I grin from ear to ear each time I drive that fun little car...so to ME it is worth the $$$ outlay...life's too short NOT to have FUN!

Joe.

 

I find it funny how no one ever mentions the inertia the occupants are subjected to in a small car.

In a head-on, the lighter car will bounce off the other. It's like a hard baseball and a ping-pong ball colliding.

The occupants of the lighter vehicle are subjected to higher G's than the occupants of the heavier vehicle.

For instance, if I hit a Honda Civic head on with my SD, when we're both going 50 MPH, which driver will see the higher number of G's?

Sure, the occupant hit the air-bag, the belt did it's job, and the steering column didn't shove the wheel up into the guy's face. The passenger compartment was intact enough to keep the guy from breaking both his legs.

But overall, which driver is going to "feel" it less the next day? The next month? The next year? Those "soft tissue" injuries can last a lifetime.

 

You are talking to a person who rode motorcycles. Risks in life are just that. Bad things happen each day. I choose to NOT live my life based on what ifs...but that's just me...

Joe

 

Me too...

 

No doubt their safer today. All vehicles pretty much have improved.

However, here's a look at an SUV VS a small car...not a pretty sight.

YouTube - Honda Accords Vs. Blazer and Trailblazer

 

MyEx,

No doubt when small meets big...big has the advantage in mass.

What happens when a 7500# Ex meets an 80,000# semi?...so an Ex isn't anywhere near the biggest thing on the road...

So unless we are all gonna drive around in fully ladened commercial big rigs (which BTW has its own mass=mass problems)...the I'm gonna be the biggest vehicle on the road no matter what the fuel costs...is one folks are free to make for themselves.

My point isn't that a small car WILL WIN a meeting with a big car. My point is that not every meeting of a big to small car will result in complete devistation for the occupants in the small car. In life there are always risks that you MAY get into a wreck...that cannot be ignored. There are further odds that your wreck will be with a big car, a small car, a semi truck, a commercial bus, a deer, a telephone pole, a bridge abutment, and on and on...Each person has to determine for themselves what they feel comfortable with. If someone only feels comfortable with near 4 tons of vehicle around them...that's fine. Like I said...I rode a motorcycle...hanging out there COMPLETELY in the wind...in a wreck...there is NOTHING to surround you...so you know where I stand on risk management.

BTW...for a point of reference...I've been in a wreck on that motorcycle in my avatar...spent 3+ months in a level 1 trauma center...while I do not ride anymore for personal reasons...I do not feel riding a motorcycle is an unacceptable risk...afterall...I'm still here typing...right...and I got about as close to the edge as anyone has a right to.

So each has to make their own decision...sure when small meets big...big will win the mass war...but that doesn't mean all in the small will perish either. Not all accidents play out like that one you linked to...we've all seen some horrific wrecks where folks walk away...and we've all seen the others too where it seems like a small fender bender but someone dies...so the situation can certainly dictate the outcome...

I do strongly subscribe to if it is your time...it's your time...no matter what you 'TRY' to do to change that...but again...that's just my philosophy...

For me...I believe there is no better snow and/or tow vehicle for a family to use...but I do feel there are better people ONLY movers out there...but that's just my opinion and I respect others opinions on this...

Again...if folks don't feel safe in small vehicles...that's fine...but don't feel that your position/feeling/opinion is the ONLY right one...just like you are free to make your decisions on what you drive...others are free to make their decisions on what they drive (or ride). It is a personal decision with no WRONG answer...afterall it is PERSONAL CHOICE on what makes YOU comfortable.

And with that...I need some coffee

joe.

 

Good morning Joe...yeah.

That's why to carry my daughters around, I use the Ex.

I actually found a pic of a Hummer kissing a school bus's rear:




That too me looks like pure driver idiosy. He had to be flyin' to get that deep up a bus's rear. God bless them anyway.

Me too...I need my Bustelo (Puerto Rican Coffee)!



Have a good one brother.

PS Once I have things running business-wise, I will be buying a Ford Escape Hybrid (used) to fo my personal shuttling around.

Don't get me wrong...I miss my Datsun 280ZX's. Those little things flew! But...the things I used to do, I can't do no more! lol

 

I saw my favorite car salesman at a local convienience store yesterday and he asked me if I wanted to sell it to him!!! He said he had a buyer that wanted a 2005 V-10 unit in excellent condition real bad. That was weird in this economy, I mentioned. He said it was a fluke.

Anyway, I said not for sale. I will cling to my Excursion, my guns, and my bible!!!

Here's some more info on the crash. Notice that the Bus driver got the ticket!!!


2 IPS Buses Involved In Monday Crashes - Indiana News Story - WRTV Indianapolis

 

Ohhh! From that angle, it looks like the Bus Driver backed up onto the Hummer (from my pic, it looks like the HMV ran into the bus knocking it up onto the sidewalk).

Either way...ouch!

 

I thought that comment was only about Pennsylvania folk like me, not New Jersey folk like you?