On the right side of this MSN page, there's a calculator to determine how many years it'll take for a scooter purchase to pay for itself in gas purchases.

You can also put in numbers to look at going from, say, a truck to a hybrid. Assuming you'd be replacing a vehicle, for purchase price take into account the trade-in value of the old one, and for miles you can use it put the same as your weekly miles. (And for insurance, just put in zero dollars assuming that the new vehicle isn't much more than the old one.)


http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/Savin....aspx?GT1=33007

Might be of interest to people reading the "Overreacting to gas prices" thread.
https://www.s2ki.com/forums/index.ph...&f=73&t=608365

For example, if it costs you $20k to trade in your 14 mpg truck for a 45 mpg hybrid, it'd take you 9.77 years to break even driving 200 miles a week with $4/gal gas.

 

I'm glad this resource is available for folks... I keep hearing soooo many people biatch and complain in my office about gas prices and how they want to trade their SUVs or other cars for something more efficient...the $$$ difference is amazing...but they don't get it.

 

[QUOTE=Elistan,Jul 9 2008, 06:35 AM] For example, if it costs you $20k to trade in your 14 mpg truck for a 45 mpg hybrid, it'd take you 9.77 years to break even driving 200 miles a week with $4/gal gas.

 

Most of the Hyrbids I see in Charlotte on the interstate are doing 80mph+ I'd say that's not the most fuel efficient way to drive a Hyrbid.

 

I envy you. Most of the hybrids I see in DC are directly in front of me forcing me to drive slightly below the speed limit!

 

I got 37mpg averaging well over 80mph (2/3-trip at 80mph, 1/3 at 92mph) from Baton Rouge LA to Laurel MS in my dad's Prius. Not bad!

All this talk about buying more fuel-efficient cars being a dumb move is a bit misguided imo. The really DUMB move was so many people buying such outrageously fuel-inefficient vehicles (in most cases gaining little to nothing in real-world utility) in the first place.

Here's looking forward to EFFICIENCY being a driving factor in new car designs. To anyone who prefers simplicity and light weight to overwrought complexity and excess MASS, 240Z to a 350Z, E30 M3 to the latest $60k V8 ubersuperultramegaM3, this could be a very good thing.

Lighter-weight cars NOW!
(or SOON, anyway?)

 

the new E92 M3 got better gas mileage. Thats how I am justifying buying an E92 M3.

 

[QUOTE=Elistan,Jul 9 2008, 06:35 AM] On the right side of this MSN page, there's a calculator to determine how many years it'll take for a scooter purchase to pay for itself in gas purchases.

You can also put in numbers to look at going from, say, a truck to a hybrid.

 

They still haven't made a decent electrical system have they?

I made the same transition you're talking about. Albeit from a very fuel efficient vehicle to an extremely fuel efficient vehicle. I didn't take a huge hit on selling my other car because it's fuel economy was far and away better than SUVs on the road today.

I added over $6,000 to my bank account AFTER I bought the replacement. I save >$60.00/ month on insurance alone...have no car payment, and can buy regular fuel.

 

it really depends on the numbers. i play around with the calulator

my sti = i average about 18 mpg (thats if i shift at 3k rpm and not go into boost)
gas mileage for the scooter = 80 mpg (i am using there numbers)
price per gallom = $4.25 for the good stuff
miles I drive per week = 250 miles
miles per week you can use your scooter = 100 miles. I would only drive to work
amount you cold save a year = $951.53

price for scooter = i would buy use so, $2000
yearly insurance = no idea on scooter insurance

years to break even = 2.1 years

that calulator does not include, maintance, tires, repairs.

if gas is at 5.00, years to break even = 1.79 years
if gas is at 6.00, years to break even = 1.49 years

the articale does say that you can not carry a flat screen tv or winter. no winters here in houston and how many flat screens do people buy? i rare have them deliver it.