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Location: We_tside PNW (Columbia Gorge) / CO / SA TX / Thailand
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Originally Posted by Cruz Azul Guy
Except OP’s location is California so you better double that gas price. Suddenly the desire to get something more fuel efficient starts to make sense.
Thus free fuel (since 1976) can be a benefit.
50 mpg on free fuel is just another bonus.
I vote for OP to pursue the Enterprise weekend option. (But the $9.95 cars are restricted to 150 miles / day + mileage fee over that) You can use CheapCars, Kayak, Hotwire to get bargains on rental cars.
I shoot for <$0.10 / mile for rental car cost (+ fuel)
I vote for OP to pursue the Enterprise weekend option. (But the $9.95 cars are restricted to 150 miles / day + mileage fee over that) You can use CheapCars, Kayak, Hotwire to get bargains on rental cars.
I shoot for <$0.10 / mile for rental car cost (+ fuel)
Except OP is looking to buy, not rent. It’s a personal preference. Many people, myself included, prefer to drive a vehicle that is owned and not rented. For me it’s a hassle to arrange a rental as opposed to opening my garage and hopping in my own car.
Except OP is looking to buy, not rent. It’s a personal preference. Many people, myself included, prefer to drive a vehicle that is owned and not rented. For me it’s a hassle to arrange a rental as opposed to opening my garage and hopping in my own car.
Were not talking about a daily driver purchase. It’s a once a month trip.
The most financially efficient way is to simply drive a vehicle that you already own. If you’re afraid the vehicle will break down....what’s the difference between that and buying a used car for 8k? You’re still broken down but 8000 bucks lighter in the wallet. Car can still break down. You got fuel costs regardless what you do as far as rent or own. As far as mileage....stop worrying about the resale. I’m not keeping my miles low for the next guy.
There is a huge advantage to renting such vehicle for this purpose. The costs of buying a car for such single purpose is more than just mpg/fuel. But your answer (financially speaking) is to buy a car incurring initial acquisition costs, additional costs for insurance, fuel, maintenance and repairs? For a once a month trip?
Were not talking about a daily driver purchase. It’s a once a month trip.
The most financially efficient way is to simply drive a vehicle that you already own. If you’re afraid the vehicle will break down....what’s the difference between that and buying a used car for 8k? You’re still broken down but 8000 bucks lighter in the wallet. Car can still break down. You got fuel costs regardless what you do as far as rent or own. As far as mileage....stop worrying about the resale. I’m not keeping my miles low for the next guy.
There is a huge advantage to renting such vehicle for this purpose. The costs of buying a car for such single purpose is more than just mpg/fuel. But your answer (financially speaking) is to buy a car incurring initial acquisition costs, additional costs for insurance, fuel, maintenance and repairs? For a once a month trip?
I acknowledge there may be a financial advantage to renting. My argument was to not discount the intangible benefits, such as the hassle associated with arranging a rental once a month, the piece of mind of driving something you own as opposed to driving someone else’s property, etc.
I had a strong 4-cyclinder used Camry that got 34 on the highway. The ultra-low maintenance made my Toy mechanic pissed. I put on 93,000 miles more than when I bought it and it still drove the same when I sold it.
It just kept going. kind of like the terminator it's mission (to drive) would not be stopped.
Were not talking about a daily driver purchase. It’s a once a month trip.
Well, that would be the primary reason for buying it, but once we owned it, I'm sure we would use it much more just to get around/do errands simply because of the mpg. This would leave the truck for truck stuff and the Jeep for Jeep stuff. I'm thinking having the extra vehicle would actually save money by cutting done on the usage of the more expensive vehicles....
I’dd add Toyota Prius to the mix. You should be able to find one in a similar model year range at around 8k. They get significantly better mileage than the three options you listed.
A Prius of the appropriate years would be a good car to consider. They are solid and reliable, as well as getting outstanding gas mileage.
Just beware that Prius (and most other hybrids and electrics) batteries tend to wear out after a number of years, and must be replaced. Cost is several thousand dollars to replace the drive battery, contact your local service center that does Priuses.
If you consider buying one, make sure the drive battery has already been replaced, preferably within the last year or two.
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