Why do people buying $25,000 cars worry about gas mileage?

[notfred]

I keep seeing people on here considering buying $20,000+ cars, and they want the bigger engine option, but are afraid of how much the extra gas costs. Even if the smaller engine gets 10mpg more than the bigger engine, if you drive 1000 miles/month, you save about $25/month by buying the car with the smaller engine... Now, when you're spending $400/month or more on a car payment, and $100/month or more on insurance, why is this $25 such a significant burden to you? I don't get it. Anyone that can afford a big car with a powerful engine shouldn't have a problem paying for the gas for it.

 

[StageLeft]

You're right it seems kind of pointless.

 

[ggavinmoss]

$25 is $25. Being frugal at times allows you to have more $25. Maybe that's how they are able to afford $400 car payment and $100 insurance -- by being frugal in other aspects of life...?

-geoff

 

[TomC25]

It can also be the hassle of having to fill up more often.

 

[ThuperChargedF150]

notfred - a wise man you be.

 

[bmacd]

it's getting the best bang for the buck. A true performance enthusiast wouldn't mind putting in the extra dollars for premium gas...and babying the car. Everybody's out to pinch a penny where they can...as they have every right to.

-=bmacd=-

 

[chuckieland]

sometimes people spent all their budget on the car they want
one of my friend, purchase a bmw, and after monthly payment, insurance, he only have $30 CDN per month budget on the car.
needless to say, he prefer to take ride from other.

 

[GTaudiophile]

Rich people don't stay rich by waisting money.

 

[Viper GTS]

Originally posted by: GTaudiophile
Rich people don't stay rich by waisting money.

Like buying new cars?

Viper GTS

 

[notfred]

Originally posted by: GTaudiophile
Rich people don't stay rich by waisting money.

Then why are they driving around in BMW's when they could have got a Honda Civic that gets them to the same places?

 

[Viper GTS]

Originally posted by: notfred

Originally posted by: GTaudiophile
Rich people don't stay rich by waisting money.

Then why are they driving around in BMW's when they could have got a Honda Civic that gets them to the same places?

Those usually aren't the truly rich.

I heard it best said by the author of Rich Dad, Poor Dad, & while I might not get it exactly right the general idea was:

Poor people accumulate liabilities.
Middle class people purchase liabilities they think are assets (homes, boats, cars, etc).
Rich people accumulate assets.

Kinda changed my thinking.



Viper GTS

 

[CraigRT]

I completely agree. the only time i'd have a problem would be going from a 4 cyl to a v8

i don't have a problem going from a 4cyl to something like a 2.5 V6.. that's like no big deal at all. and sometimes the V6's are very close in gas mileage to the smaller engines. but yeah, to have less power for a few bucks a month is totally ridiculous, IMHO.

 

[FrogDog]

Originally posted by: notfred

Originally posted by: GTaudiophile
Rich people don't stay rich by waisting money.

Then why are they driving around in BMW's when they could have got a Honda Civic that gets them to the same places?

Maybe they wanted the luxury and comfort of the BMW, but don't need the extra speed that the larger engine provides. So instead of wasting the extra $25 a month on gas, they go with the smaller engine and save that $25. As some one else said, $25 is $25.

 

[Spook]

Well, I don't know about others... but if the consumer market demands higher, and higher gas milage cars, maybe they will stop making these 10MPG beasts.

 

[Ameesh]

Originally posted by: notfred

Originally posted by: GTaudiophile
Rich people don't stay rich by waisting money.

Then why are they driving around in BMW's when they could have got a Honda Civic that gets them to the same places?

then whats the point in being rich? if you cant have what you want then who cares if your bank account has 6 figures.


and just a difference in opinions here but someone buying a $20k+ car isnt rich because he's doing so. its more like when you can buy a 7 series bmw because you feel like it and you dont have to check your bank account to be able to write the salesman a check.

 

[damiano]

it's like fat people who go to mac donald's, order three big macs , fren fries and a diet coke !!!!!!!!?????!!!!!!!!

 

[FrogDog]

Originally posted by: damiano
it's like fat people who go to mac donald's, order three big macs , fren fries and a diet coke !!!!!!!!?????!!!!!!!!

WTF! Calories are calories! And did you ever think that maybe they get the diet coke because of the sugar, and how bad it is for your teeth?

 

[Descartes]

it's like fat people who go to mac donald's, order three big macs , fren fries and a diet coke !!!!!!!!?????!!!!!!!!

Yes, because that's exactly like people buying $25k cars and complaining about gas costs?? Hmmm.........

 

[damiano]

Originally posted by: FrogDog

Originally posted by: damiano
it's like fat people who go to mac donald's, order three big macs , fren fries and a diet coke !!!!!!!!?????!!!!!!!!

WTF! Calories are calories! And did you ever think that maybe they get the diet coke because of the sugar, and how bad it is for your teeth?

still don't agree....

 

[Amused]

25K isn't really an expensive car anymore. I might be inclined to ask this question about a 35K+ car buyer, but not 25K-35K.

25-30K is where most of your mid level sedans end up once optioned out. You still haven't reached the entry level luxury market yet at that price.

 

[Demon-Xanth]

I spend $500/mo for three years on a car payment
I spend $150/mo indefinately on insurance (on the fall)
I spend $150/mo indefinately on gas (on the rise)

if I could spend $110/mo on gas, I could get an extra game every month

 

[Linux23]

lemme see. my father's huge pushrod V8 gets 24-26 MPG on the highway, yet my smaller DOHC V6 only gets about 22MPG. how is his V8 block getting better fuel economy than my modern car?

if that's the case my next car is going to be an SUV.

 

[notfred]

Originally posted by: Linux23
lemme see. my father's huge pushrod V8 gets 24-26 MPG on the highway, yet my smaller DOHC V6 only gets about 22MPG. how is his V8 block getting better fuel economy than my modern car?

if that's the case my next car is going to be an SUV.

Your father's car sounds like a F-body or Corvette, w/ a six speed transmission. 6th gear is there for no other reason except to improve the EPA figures on those cars.

 

[tcsenter]

Why do people buying $25,000 cars worry about gas mileage?

Often, its because they are not able to afford a car in that price range to begin with, and so they are already very near if not at the maximum amount per month they can afford for a car payment, and so they are overly sensitive to every other cost of owning and operating the vehicle. You know, its the typical "I gotta buy the most expensive car I can possibly afford, even if it means living on Ramen noodles for the next 5 years" mentality of many Americans, which is why the average debt load is ridiculous in the US (screwed up priorities).

Then again, maybe they are worried the price of gas could rise sharply at any time and they'll be shelling-out way more for fuel than they can afford, wishing they had bought the more economical vehicle to begin with. This is a reasonable dilemma for many people.

 

[777joee]

I drive 60K per year my car is a 2000 Passat V6 5pseed and the MPG difference adds up quick,

Nuff said