Gas payback calculator

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Jul 10, 2008 | 12:32 PM

#31

s2kpdx01

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Joined: Jun 2002

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From: Foster City, CA

[QUOTE=ruexp67,Jul 9 2008, 12:30 PM] I was playing around with the idea of trading in my Yukon using more realistic numbers.

Jul 10, 2008 | 12:43 PM

#32

ruexp67

Joined: Mar 2003

Posts: 79,195

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From: Home

Quote:

Originally Posted by s2kpdx01,Jul 10 2008, 02:32 PM

So buy a $12k used accord. You are getting rid of a vehicle that has depreciated a lot go get another vehicle for the same price and it would save you a lot over the next 5 years.

That's a fair point. I was adding in the additional value of a newer car. If I compared trading in my 2002 Yukon on a 2002 Accord with the same miles, it does make more sense financially. And it is a very good point.

I do have a hard time justifying the idea of buying a car that's just as old as the one I have though, but that's an emotional thing rather than an ecomonic thing.

I am gonna have to ponder this some more.

Jul 10, 2008 | 12:45 PM

#33

ruexp67

Joined: Mar 2003

Posts: 79,195

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From: Home

Quote:

Originally Posted by qsmarcei,Jul 10 2008, 11:26 AM

You chose the g35 as your own data point.

Accord, Camry, Malibu, 3-series, G35, it's a "nice" $32,000-ish car. I would be willing to trade some utility for some luxury, but am unwiling to trade the utility for gas mileage alone.

Jul 11, 2008 | 01:28 PM

#34

yellow2001

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Joined: Jun 2001

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From: houston

Quote:

Originally Posted by ruexp67,Jul 9 2008, 02:03 PM

With the windows down and the AC on?

I did a calculation. If gas hits $10 a gallon, and I trade my SUV in for a G35, and go from 14MPG to 30MPG and I get $13,000 for my car, and pay $33,000 for the G it would STILL take 5 years to pay for the G.

if gas was $10 a gallon, what will your 14 mpg SUV be worth?

the hidden factor is lower mpg suv worth less and less as the price of gas goes up.

if your suv is old, it maybe a good time to get something different, before the value dropping