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Lucky09
2017!
Member since 1/06 7539 total posts
Name:
DW
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Beater Car?
Can one of you wise women advise me (well, my DH) on whether it makes financial sense to buy a "beater" car?
My DH wanted to buy an older Dodge Neon for $1000 to drive to and from work instead of using his LARGE gas guzzling GMC Yukon.
He drives 12 miles each way to and from work (24 miles /day) and says he is filling up his tank every other day. 
I'm just not sure that the additional expense of maintaining another vehicle makes up for the price of gas savings.
Can anyone point me to articles or has anyone worked this out for themselves?
I think he should just trade in the Yukon, although I do love it for long trips which we take often.
Thanks in advance!!!
Message edited 5/12/2008 2:24:16 PM.
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Posted 5/12/08 2:23 PM  |
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JenniferEver
The Disney Lady
Member since 5/05 18163 total posts
Name:
Jennifer
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Re: Beater Car?
What is your mileage like on the Yukon?
if the Dodge is old it might not get great gas mileage either, and it's only 14 miles. I don't think you will recoup the costs in gas, depending on how long the dodge lasts. You'd have to figure out the mileage on the yukon, the mileage on the dodge, how many mailes you drive in a given time period, and how many gallons each would use, then multiplu the difference by current or projected gas prices.
Can we convince you to trade in the Yukon for one car that doesn't guzzle gas? 
Message edited 5/12/2008 2:26:30 PM.
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| Posted 5/12/08 2:25 PM |
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Lucky09
2017!
Member since 1/06 7539 total posts
Name:
DW
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Re: Beater Car?
Posted by JenniferEver
What is your mileage like on the Yukon?
if the Dodge is old it might not get great gas mileage either, and it's only 14 miles. I don't think you will recoup the costs in gas, depending on how long the didge lasts.
Can we convince you to trade in the Yukon for one car that doesn't guzzle gas?
ETA: I think he gets 8 MPG in it.
I know - we should trade it in. The thing is, he still owes on the Yukon (he bought it used last year) so I am sure there would be negative equity.
We take 8 hour road trips frequently and the larger truck with 3 rows and DVD is awesome for that! Everyday driving though --- it's not so good!
Message edited 5/12/2008 2:30:24 PM.
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| Posted 5/12/08 2:29 PM |
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ave1024
I Took The Wrong Road
Member since 12/07 6153 total posts
Name:
That Led To The Wrong Tendencies
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Re: Beater Car?
Dont forget you still have to insure the beater car.
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| Posted 5/12/08 2:31 PM |
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headoverheels
s'il vous plaît
Member since 6/07 42079 total posts
Name:
LB
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Re: Beater Car?
Posted by ave1024
Dont forget you still have to insure the beater car.
this would be my only concern.
my DH plans on getting a "beater" car from his father, so all we will have to pay is the insurance - right now he drives a Jeep, which guzzles gas like there's no tomorrow. so financially, it makes sense for us (we have geico and pay very little for insurance as it is).
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| Posted 5/12/08 2:34 PM |
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JenniferEver
The Disney Lady
Member since 5/05 18163 total posts
Name:
Jennifer
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Re: Beater Car?
ETA: I think he gets 8 MPG in it.
!
OMG. Nevermind!
Ok, so let's say he drives 14 miles a day for 5 days per week= 70 miles.
In the Yukon that's over 8 gallons of gas. let's say it's 8. * gallons at $4 gallon is $32/week. In one year (let's exclude 2 weeks vacation) that's $1600
Let's say the Dodge is old and therefore has sucky mileage. 16 mpg. That's 1/2 the mileage, half the gas, so you'd save $800 in a year. probably more since you'd probably put lower grade gas in the old car.
If the car last over a year without major major repairs, it sounds like you'd recoup the money, but what about insurance?
If you had the Dodge would you use it on weekends too, for errands, etc and save the Yukon only when needed?
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| Posted 5/12/08 2:35 PM |
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Lucky09
2017!
Member since 1/06 7539 total posts
Name:
DW
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Re: Beater Car?
Posted by JenniferEver
ETA: I think he gets 8 MPG in it.
!
OMG. Nevermind!
Ok, so let's say he drives 14 miles a day for 5 days per week= 70 miles.
In the Yukon that's over 8 gallons of gas. let's say it's 8. * gallons at $4 gallon is $32/week. In one year (let's exclude 2 weeks vacation) that's $1600
Let's say the Dodge is old and therefore has sucky mileage. 16 mpg. That's 1/2 the mileage, half the gas, so you'd save $800 in a year. probably more since you'd probably put lower grade gas in the old car.
If the car last over a year without major major repairs, it sounds like you'd recoup the money, but what about insurance?
If you had the Dodge would you use it on weekends too, for errands, etc and save the Yukon only when needed?
He called about the insurance already and it would only be an additional $4 per month!!!!!!!!!
I guess he would do all of his errands with the neon... I am just worried about repairs/maintenance to a car that old especially w/ daily use. That could significantly reduce the savings!
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| Posted 5/12/08 2:38 PM |
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GoldenRod
10 years on LIF!
Member since 11/06 26792 total posts
Name:
Shawn
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Re: Beater Car?
On-line, a GMC Yukon gets 16mpg city (we'll assume that as worst-case scenario)
Say you get a "beater" that gets 28mpg (it's an old car, so we know that it probably won't, but Edmunds.com says a 2002 Neon with a manual transmission will get around 28mpg)
24 miles/day x 200 days/year (average work year)
4800 miles per year
Yukon uses 300 gallons/year
Beater uses 171 gallons/year
Difference = 129 gallons/year
ABSOLUTE maximum savings/year is $516 at $4.00/gallon. Minus $1000 cost to buy the car, minus annual insurance, minus annual inspection and registration. Repairs are more frequent on older cars, etc.
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| Posted 5/12/08 2:40 PM |
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GoldenRod
10 years on LIF!
Member since 11/06 26792 total posts
Name:
Shawn
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Re: Beater Car?
Posted by Lucky09
ETA: I think he gets 8 MPG in it.
I know - we should trade it in. The thing is, he still owes on the Yukon (he bought it used last year) so I am sure there would be negative equity.
We take 8 hour road trips frequently and the larger truck with 3 rows and DVD is awesome for that! Everyday driving though --- it's not so good!
If he's getting 8mpg, tell him to take it easy on the gas pedal! All the stats on-line say it should be getting about 16 city. Why is he getting half of the worst-case scenario?
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| Posted 5/12/08 2:43 PM |
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Lucky09
2017!
Member since 1/06 7539 total posts
Name:
DW
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Re: Beater Car?
I actually don't think the MPG can be that low. I think he was exaggerating to support his desire for this "beater".
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| Posted 5/12/08 2:43 PM |
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JenniferEver
The Disney Lady
Member since 5/05 18163 total posts
Name:
Jennifer
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Re: Beater Car?
Posted by Lucky09
I actually don't think the MPG can be that low. I think he was exaggerating to support his desire for this "beater".
ahhh
Is it full of heavy stuff? That can really reduce gas mileage. I also imagine that in the summer since the car is so big you have to put the air conditioner on longer to cool it.
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| Posted 5/12/08 2:45 PM |
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Lucky09
2017!
Member since 1/06 7539 total posts
Name:
DW
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Re: Beater Car?
Posted by GoldenRod
Posted by Lucky09
ETA: I think he gets 8 MPG in it.
I know - we should trade it in. The thing is, he still owes on the Yukon (he bought it used last year) so I am sure there would be negative equity.
We take 8 hour road trips frequently and the larger truck with 3 rows and DVD is awesome for that! Everyday driving though --- it's not so good!
If he's getting 8mpg, tell him to take it easy on the gas pedal! All the stats on-line say it should be getting about 16 city. Why is he getting half of the worst-case scenario?
He did put some kind of beefier tires on the truck and a front bar thing with lights.. Could those things have impacted the MPG?
Message edited 5/12/2008 2:48:19 PM.
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| Posted 5/12/08 2:46 PM |
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wannabemom
look who's freshly baked!
Member since 12/07 7364 total posts
Name:
aka marriedinportjeff
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Re: Beater Car?
WHOAH! 8 mg?
if it were me, I'd totally get rid of the yukon, especially if you don't need it's towing /hauling capacity on a regular basis. The beater sounds like a good solution in the interim, but I would get a sedan with a hatch trunk and fold-down rear seats, which likely would be able to handle most of your trunkspace needs.... preferably one with 35 mg or better...
I'll 'out myself' as a prius owner... I can totally put ikea furniture, rugs, even a u-haul refrigerator cart in my trunk if the seat is folded down... and I get roughly 48mpg....
the only way that wouldn't work for you is if your DH does serious construction / repair work and needs a truck... you likely could still trade it in for a truck with closer to 20 mpg that would still work for you
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| Posted 5/12/08 2:48 PM |
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GoldenRod
10 years on LIF!
Member since 11/06 26792 total posts
Name:
Shawn
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Re: Beater Car?
Posted by Lucky09
Posted by GoldenRod
Posted by Lucky09
ETA: I think he gets 8 MPG in it.
I know - we should trade it in. The thing is, he still owes on the Yukon (he bought it used last year) so I am sure there would be negative equity.
We take 8 hour road trips frequently and the larger truck with 3 rows and DVD is awesome for that! Everyday driving though --- it's not so good!
If he's getting 8mpg, tell him to take it easy on the gas pedal! All the stats on-line say it should be getting about 16 city. Why is he getting half of the worst-case scenario?
He did put some kind of beefier tires on the thing and a front bar thing... Could those things have impacted the MPG?
Tires do have an affect, as well as any additional weight. The front bar shouldn't add that much weight, though, so I wouldn't factor that into the equation. The tires could definitely have a noticeable impact, depending on what tires he uses.
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| Posted 5/12/08 2:48 PM |
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JenniferEver
The Disney Lady
Member since 5/05 18163 total posts
Name:
Jennifer
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Re: Beater Car?
Posted by wannabemom
WHOAH! 8 mg?
if it were me, I'd totally get rid of the yukon, especially if you don't need it's towing /hauling capacity on a regular basis. The beater sounds like a good solution in the interim, but I would get a sedan with a hatch trunk and fold-down rear seats, which likely would be able to handle most of your trunkspace needs.... preferably one with 35 mg or better...
I'll 'out myself' as a prius owner... I can totally put ikea furniture, rugs, even a u-haul refrigerator cart in my trunk if the seat is folded down... and I get roughly 48mpg....
the only way that wouldn't work for you is if your DH does serious construction / repair work and needs a truck... you likely could still trade it in for a truck with closer to 20 mpg that would still work for you
SOmeone keeps telling me the Prius isn't as great for hihway driving because over a certain mph it goes to gas anyway. IS this true? I really want a hybrid, i wanted one before they even came out. But my commute is mostly highway.
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| Posted 5/12/08 2:53 PM |
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wannabemom
look who's freshly baked!
Member since 12/07 7364 total posts
Name:
aka marriedinportjeff
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Re: Beater Car?
it's true it gets more impressive milage in town than on the highway, but it still gets about 36-40 mpg on the highway.... that milage is comperable to a compact, but the prius is a mid-sized car (similar interior size to a camry)...
best part of my car is that I  it... it's so comfy and well designed... It would be hard for me to drive anything else at this point...
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| Posted 5/12/08 2:56 PM |
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