So I am sitting here thinking...how to save gas!!!
05-26-2008, 11:35 AM
#1
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Joined APC: Oct 2006
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So I am sitting here thinking...how to save gas!!!
Ok here is the scenario...I own a G35 Infiniti Coupe and I am thinking of downgrading (or upgrading how ever you think of it) to a Toyota Prius (Turbo...just kidding)...You know...trying to do my part in saving the demand on fuel and all...maybe save a couple of jobs...you know it all starts with one.
Well here is the problem.....I did the math
!!!
Here is the equation....
G35 Coupe
20.00 Gallon Tank
Best 23 MPG
Total Distance on one tank....460
Balance owed $28,000 approx
Toyota Prius
12.00 Gallon Tank
Best 48 MPG
Total Distance on one tank...576
Total Cost (including tax and interest)...$40,500
Total Investment = $12,500 (difference between balance owed and total cost of new car)
So this is how I figured it...The Prius can go 116 miles farther on a full tank of gas do therefore @ 23MPG on the G35 I would have to get 5 more gallons of fuel to travel that distance which would cost me 5 times $4 per gallon = $20.00....following me?
So I said...Ok...How many times would I have to have a full tank of gas to make back my investment in the fuel efficent car...
So I took $12,500 (total Investment) divide that by $20.00 (Cost savings per tank if stayed in G35)...which means I would have to fill up my tank 625 times and travel (Total Prius mileage 576...times...Total times you have to fill up the tank 625) = approx 360,000 miles in order to make my initial investment back of $12,500...on a average of 12,000 miles per year it would take me 360,000/12,000 = 30 YEARS!!!!! of gas savings!!!!!
Now I consider myself to be an average American...Why would I do this???? How are we expected to reduce our demand for oil when to total return on your investment is after you are dead!?!?!
I mean I tried...but its not worth it.
I have also tried to save cost in the air by doing Flight Idle Descents...it saves approx 100 pounds per flight...
But 100 pounds per flight and multiply that by 500 departures per day and think of the cost savings and the reduction on demand we can accomplish!!!
I guess its better than buying a Prius....Any thoughts???
Well here is the problem.....I did the math
!!!Here is the equation....
G35 Coupe
20.00 Gallon Tank
Best 23 MPG
Total Distance on one tank....460
Balance owed $28,000 approx
Toyota Prius
12.00 Gallon Tank
Best 48 MPG
Total Distance on one tank...576
Total Cost (including tax and interest)...$40,500
Total Investment = $12,500 (difference between balance owed and total cost of new car)
So this is how I figured it...The Prius can go 116 miles farther on a full tank of gas do therefore @ 23MPG on the G35 I would have to get 5 more gallons of fuel to travel that distance which would cost me 5 times $4 per gallon = $20.00....following me?
So I said...Ok...How many times would I have to have a full tank of gas to make back my investment in the fuel efficent car...
So I took $12,500 (total Investment) divide that by $20.00 (Cost savings per tank if stayed in G35)...which means I would have to fill up my tank 625 times and travel (Total Prius mileage 576...times...Total times you have to fill up the tank 625) = approx 360,000 miles in order to make my initial investment back of $12,500...on a average of 12,000 miles per year it would take me 360,000/12,000 = 30 YEARS!!!!!
of gas savings!!!!!Now I consider myself to be an average American...Why would I do this???? How are we expected to reduce our demand for oil when to total return on your investment is after you are dead!?!?!
I mean I tried...but its not worth it.
I have also tried to save cost in the air by doing Flight Idle Descents...it saves approx 100 pounds per flight...
But 100 pounds per flight and multiply that by 500 departures per day and think of the cost savings and the reduction on demand we can accomplish!!!
I guess its better than buying a Prius....Any thoughts???
05-26-2008, 11:43 AM
#3
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I got it from the toyota website...based on average credit...on a 60 month buy @ 675.00 per month...of course 0 down...but you still have to pay the final price...ya know with downpayment and trade in and what not...
05-26-2008, 11:45 AM
#4
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Posts: 1,383
Is that $40,000 for a prius including the balance of your current loan and no money down or something? Last I looked they start at $22,000? Also, throw in a few hundred bucks to replace the battery every 1-2 yrs (i've heard). I have a nissan titan. the thing is kickin' my a$$. I'm in the same boat as you. my loan is too big to trade it in!
05-26-2008, 11:49 AM
#5
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Ok I just re did the math based on a lower model....$534 a month at 60 months = $32,040 which is still a difference of approx $4000.00...You still have to drive the car for anywhere from 125,000 miles to 135,000miles to get a return on you investment of $4000.00 believe it or not.
05-26-2008, 11:50 AM
#6
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Joined APC: Apr 2007
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Posts: 836
I just built one online. I selected the most expensive version and then added every option.
Total Price 29,000
You'll make a return on investment much quicker than you think, and it'll be good for the environment.
Total Price 29,000
You'll make a return on investment much quicker than you think, and it'll be good for the environment.
05-26-2008, 11:57 AM
#7
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Payment Estimator
1. Enter Zip Code: 55431 Start a new estimate
The system is experiencing some problems. Please try again later.
Please select a vehicle class
3. Estimate Credit Rating
Choose one of the following to estimate your terms:
Excellent I have a long, established, positive credit history. FICO score 720 and above.
Great I use my credit wisely and never miss a payment. FICO score 690-719.
Very Good I have a positive credit history with no recent late payments. FICO score 670-689.
Good I am responsible with my credit and usually make my payments on time. FICO score 650-669.
Fair I try to be responsible with my credit but have had some recent credit challenges. FICO score 630-649.
Poor I have a number of issues with my credit. FICO score 610-629.
Very Poor I have significant credit issues or have only very recently established credit. FICO score 580-609.
Extremely Poor I have an extremely poor credit history or I have no credit history at all. FICO score 579 and below.
3. Estimate Credit Rating Excellent Great Very Good Good Fair Poor Very Poor Extremely Poor
Tips
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Term Duration 24 months 36 months 48 months 60 months 72 months 84 months
Estimated APR1
MSRP2,3 $
Down Payment $
Estimated Trade-In
(What's my trade-in value?) $
Balance Owed on Trade-In $
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Estimated Amount Financed $28,804
Estimated Monthly Payment $638
Tips
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Term Duration 24 months 36 months 48 months 60 months
Annual Mileage Option 12,000 15,000
Gross Cap Cost $
Cap Cost Reduction $
Estimated Trade-In
(What's my trade-in value?) $
Balance Owed on Trade-In $
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Estimated Adjusted
Gross Cap Cost $28,804
Estimated Monthly Payment $528
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Refundable Security Deposit $500
First Monthly Payment $528
Acquisition Fee $550
Capitalized Cost Reduction $0
Total Due at Lease Signing $1,579
This was 60 Months...Straight off the website...Fair Credit
Top Trim Model 638 at 60 months gets you a total bill of $38,380.00....
You have to add interest.
1. Enter Zip Code: 55431 Start a new estimate
The system is experiencing some problems. Please try again later.
Please select a vehicle class
3. Estimate Credit Rating
Choose one of the following to estimate your terms:
Excellent I have a long, established, positive credit history. FICO score 720 and above.
Great I use my credit wisely and never miss a payment. FICO score 690-719.
Very Good I have a positive credit history with no recent late payments. FICO score 670-689.
Good I am responsible with my credit and usually make my payments on time. FICO score 650-669.
Fair I try to be responsible with my credit but have had some recent credit challenges. FICO score 630-649.
Poor I have a number of issues with my credit. FICO score 610-629.
Very Poor I have significant credit issues or have only very recently established credit. FICO score 580-609.
Extremely Poor I have an extremely poor credit history or I have no credit history at all. FICO score 579 and below.
3. Estimate Credit Rating Excellent Great Very Good Good Fair Poor Very Poor Extremely Poor
Tips
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Term Duration 24 months 36 months 48 months 60 months 72 months 84 months
Estimated APR1
MSRP2,3 $
Down Payment $
Estimated Trade-In
(What's my trade-in value?) $
Balance Owed on Trade-In $
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Estimated Amount Financed $28,804
Estimated Monthly Payment $638
Tips
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Term Duration 24 months 36 months 48 months 60 months
Annual Mileage Option 12,000 15,000
Gross Cap Cost $
Cap Cost Reduction $
Estimated Trade-In
(What's my trade-in value?) $
Balance Owed on Trade-In $
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Estimated Adjusted
Gross Cap Cost $28,804
Estimated Monthly Payment $528
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Refundable Security Deposit $500
First Monthly Payment $528
Acquisition Fee $550
Capitalized Cost Reduction $0
Total Due at Lease Signing $1,579
This was 60 Months...Straight off the website...Fair Credit
Top Trim Model 638 at 60 months gets you a total bill of $38,380.00....
You have to add interest.
05-26-2008, 12:07 PM
#8
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Joined APC: May 2006
Position: Corporate Chief Pilot
Posts: 198
Theres a much simpler way to figure that out.
Go to town:
http://www.fueleconomy.gov/Feg/savemoney.shtml
Go to town:
http://www.fueleconomy.gov/Feg/savemoney.shtml
05-26-2008, 12:12 PM
#9
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Joined APC: May 2006
Position: ATP, CFI etc.
Posts: 6,056
Priuses (Prei?) are great cars for the efficiency but hardly worth it for most people until gas hits $8 or better. They use nickel metal hydride batteries that eventually decay in output which reduces gas mileage a bit since they use the engine when the battery wears down, but they do not require battery replacement for the duration of the normal car. NiMH is the same type of rechargeable you have in your camera.
The way to get a Prius is to schedule one as an eventual replacement for your present ride when it wears out, gets wrecked, stolen or goes back to the leasing agency and hopefully not all the same day. This is because there is an average two month waiting list on Priyuses plus the buy-in cost is not justified over what you may have now. You also may want to wait for the Prius-smasher supposedly coming from Honda next year, because they claim the difference between their hybrid and gas-only version of the same thing will be limited to $2k.
The way to get a Prius is to schedule one as an eventual replacement for your present ride when it wears out, gets wrecked, stolen or goes back to the leasing agency and hopefully not all the same day. This is because there is an average two month waiting list on Priyuses plus the buy-in cost is not justified over what you may have now. You also may want to wait for the Prius-smasher supposedly coming from Honda next year, because they claim the difference between their hybrid and gas-only version of the same thing will be limited to $2k.
Last edited by Cubdriver; 05-26-2008 at 12:18 PM.
05-26-2008, 12:17 PM
#10
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Joined APC: Oct 2006
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Originally Posted by Cubdriver
Priuses (Prei?) are great cars for the efficiency but hardly worth it for most people unless gas hits $8 or better. They use nickel metal hydride NiMH batteries that eventually decay in output (like 12 years on) which reduces the mileage a bit since these cars use the engine when the battery cuts out, but they do not require battery replacement for normal wear period. NiMH is the same type of echargeable battery you have in your camera. The way to get into a Prius is to schedule one as an eventual replacement for your present ride when it wears out, gets wrecked, stolen or goes back to the leasing agency hopefully not all at once. This is because there is an average two month waiting list on Priyuses plus the buy-in cost is not justified over what you may have now. You also may want to wait for the Prius-smasher supposedly coming from Honda next year, because them claim the difference between hybrid and gas-only versions of the same thing will be limited to $2k.
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