Gas Has Gone Way Up (Knoxville, Kingsport: home, car, station)

[marmac]

beachbette-------regarding your search for a comfortable car------my wife and I retired last year and bought a new Toyota Camry in August.
In November we took a 3,000 mile trip from Minnesota to Alabama.

We averaged 33.2 mpg and thought the car was very comfortable.

[bebette]

Originally Posted by marmac

beachbette-------regarding your search for a comfortable car------my wife and I retired last year and bought a new Toyota Camry in August.
In November we took a 3,000 mile trip from Minnesota to Alabama.

We averaged 33.2 mpg and thought the car was very comfortable.

Thanks marmac.....I'll definitely check the Camry when we head out on our vehicle search!! Wow...33.2 is great!!!

[LauraC]

Originally Posted by hiknapster

Interesting that the Governor of Maryland proposed it. Maybe they did this in your area?

Except I lived in NY. Wouldn't put it past the current MD Governor, though.

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So, what you are all saying is the dream of a free roasted corn on the cob with a tank fill up is not in my future?

[AlisonL]

I have heard that hybrid cars are not worth it, as they are very expensive to maintain. Like our little Hyundai and we plan to replace our big truck with a smaller one after we move. Do not have the need for a big truck anymore.

[gemkeeper]

I have read that it is about a six year payback on a hybrid car. About then, many people are ready to trade in and buy again!

The motivation would be to live green, not to save your green.

LauraC, only if you grow your own corn!!

[Lucky Eddy]

I can't speak for all hybrid cars, but we have owned a Prius for two years next month and so far no returns to the dealer for any repairs, just oil changes and tire rotations which I do myself. The last tank was 50.4 mpg. I had bought LOML a new Honda Accord in 2005 and was very happy with its gas mileage, getting over 37mpg on an interstate trip. Then I saw a new 2006 Prius on the lot that wasn't spoken for, and bought it. It now has 29K miles on it. Our married daughter took the Accord off our hands. We've driven the Prius From Florida to Colorado, FL to OH several times, FL to IL and of course FL to TN more than once. It will be in the Cookevile/Crossville area in April.

I haven't seen it but I heard that Consumer Reports' new April issue (the annual auto edition) now deems the Prius to be the "least expensive family car" over a five year period. If you just want transportation with good mileage you can go much cheaper than buying a Prius. But then you give up some options that you can't usually get on the other car, like automatic climate control. I like settting the inside temp at a certain setting and not ever having to adjust the heat or a/c while traveling. I intend to keep this Prius until the next generation come out. I would buy a hybrid minivan if Toyota brings them to the U.S. I would guess that with the price of gas as it is, it would be hard to find a Prius on the lot, and impossible to get a "deal".

[LauraC]

Originally Posted by Lucky Eddy

I can't speak for all hybrid cars, but we have owned a Prius for two years next month and so far no returns to the dealer for any repairs, just oil changes and tire rotations which I do myself. The last tank was 50.4 mpg. I had bought LOML a new Honda Accord in 2005 and was very happy with its gas mileage, getting over 37mpg on an interstate trip. Then I saw a new 2006 Prius on the lot that wasn't spoken for, and bought it. It now has 29K miles on it. Our married daughter took the Accord off our hands. We've driven the Prius From Florida to Colorado, FL to OH several times, FL to IL and of course FL to TN more than once. It will be in the Cookevile/Crossville area in April.

I haven't seen it but I heard that Consumer Reports' new April issue (the annual auto edition) now deems the Prius to be the "least expensive family car" over a five year period. If you just want transportation with good mileage you can go much cheaper than buying a Prius. But then you give up some options that you can't usually get on the other car, like automatic climate control. I like settting the inside temp at a certain setting and not ever having to adjust the heat or a/c while traveling. I intend to keep this Prius until the next generation come out. I would buy a hybrid minivan if Toyota brings them to the U.S. I would guess that with the price of gas as it is, it would be hard to find a Prius on the lot, and impossible to get a "deal".

How does it do in the mountains going up?

[WOWAddict]

Originally Posted by AlisonL

I have heard that hybrid cars are not worth it, as they are very expensive to maintain. Like our little Hyundai and we plan to replace our big truck with a smaller one after we move. Do not have the need for a big truck anymore.

That really is not the case anymore, with Gas approaching $3.50 a gallon. You can make up the difference for a hybrid rather quickly. Far as maintenance I have never heard of anything really.

Do your own calculations. Using prices of cars and Est MPG. Though going from a big truck to a small car might provide enough savings for you.

Good Luck

[gemkeeper]

I think you might be right, Wowaddict. Maybe the payback on the hybrids two years ago was 5 - 6 years, but if we keep paying more and more for gas, that payback time is going to be brought down quite a bit.

I heard on CNN this morning that gas is up to $4.23/gal. for regular in CA. How long will it be before we are paying that here in the SE?

I wonder the same thing, LauraC. I wonder if the Prius and others have enough get-up and go to charge up the mountain roads like a light 4 cyl. or average size 6 cyl. car.
How about that Lucky Eddy??

[AlisonL]

Its been a long time since we bought a new vehicle of any kind. Too dang expensive. I'm just glad we won't be bringing the truck with us as it only gets around 12 mpg. That itself is going to be a huge savings in our move. I told my hubby we must be old fogeys now, we drive a little car.