helimatt
Key Veteran
Location: Lafayette, IN
| I drive an old car- my personal economics do not justify buying a different newer car for improved mileage... it just wouldn't pay for itself. '86 BMW 325, get 27mpg on the highway, and I have a hard time keeping my speed below 80mph. Sometimes 80 is a distant memory. Slowing down would increase my mileage, yes. Hey, I get paid for being at work, not for being on the way to work. I have a long commute, so my family is seriously discussing our longer term plans (moving closer to my job, or...). I carpool about four days per week.
I do plan for long coasts sometimes I turn the motor off, like a ramp off the highway to a stoplight that is or will be red. Since the thing is rated 28mpg highway, and I drive a little hard, I feel good about the car's performance. Overall economy (cost, insurance, repairs) is very very good.
I keep the tires at 38lbs pressure- the BMW manual says its okay. Never had a blowout.
Right now, a $1/gal increase in gas equates to about $55/month just for my commute. That is way way less than a car payment. So overall, the fuel prices are not killing me, even when you add in family driving (old Toyota minivan, 23mpg).
Never, ever, ever, ever give up. |
