Looking For- Gas sipping Commuter car

Lol,bet my bobcat trailer empty would be to much for that truck, no illusions,wont be pulling anything with that truck even though it has a towing package,thats what the 3/4 ton is for, the Colorado is just a daily driver, todays fuel info, had just under a quarter tank, put in $56 bucks, this is my mileage per tank today, I can live with that.

 

Wife and I drive a vibe and a corolla respectively @Mike B. , good choices.

 

My brother in laws Vibe was nothing but a money pit

 

My mechanic told me a Vibe is, aside from the body, 100% Toyota...bulletproof

 

We bought a 2006 Vibe, drove it for a few years then sold it to my parents (bought a truck). Then a few years later life circumstances changed and we needed a 2nd Vehicle. Bought another Vibe (2008). The 2nd one now has 140,000 km on it. I would highly recommend if you can get past the fact that some people will tease you for driving a station wagon. haha

 

Mike, i am sure you considered this, but a few years back, i thought of getting a $2-3000 gas sipper. I currently drive a chev 3/4 diesel...
Anyhow, after adding the vehicle cost, annual insurance, maintenance, etc., i deemed it to be as cost effective to drive the diesel solo as opposed to two vehicles.
Your situation may be different, but certainly worth looking at the numbers.

 

It can be as cost effective but it can depend on your driving commute and use of your vehicles. I have 2 vehicles for my wife and I and live in a rural area. 2012 Civic and 2004 Toyota 4runner. If I drove the 4runner to work every in no time I'd rack up the km and be in for larger more expensive repairs to a 4 wheel drive vehicle, 2 sets of far more expensive tires just because of the higher use. Trucks and SUV's are more expensive to maintain and repair than a small car. Right now I put on a lot of km's to work on a fuel efficient vehicle (uses roughly half the fuel of the 4runner per trip. I know my fuel savings/year will easily cover my insurance cost of my 4runner or the Civic. I can also insure the 4runner as a pleasure vehicle as I rarely would take it to work. My 4 runner has about 150000km as I use it only to go to the lake, pull the boat and haul my utility trailer. When a vehicle needs repair I also have a backup vehicle. I'm fortunate enough to be able to car pool to work with my wife so in general it's just the Civic on the road during the week.

If the cost of owning two vehicles vs just a truck, was the same or even fractionally more than just a truck I'd still have 2 vehicles for convenience and the safety of a backup vehicle. It can depend on how far you drive and where you live what makes the most sense for any family.

 

I just got a second vehicle because it becomes a real inconvenience in a semi remote rural area to be without a vehicle when repairs/accidents happen. I currently run a Suzuki Grand Vitara and a Kia Sorento. Both can tow my boat. I am considering selling the Suzuki and getting a fuel sipper for my work commute, so this thread is very timely.

 

Figure after insurance and lower cost of maintenance, like replacing car brake shoes, car tires over truck brakes and tires and way less fuel cost, I'll save about $1200/yr ...not huge, but it's something

Originally I was going to bite the bullet and buy a new Silverado cuz they are supposed to go down to 4 cyl on the highway...but I was told they rarely ever kick down to 4 cyl, even on the prairies with no wind.... then I'm putting 2000 k on a month on a new truck anyways... not ideal.

I hate driving cars...I feel like a weiner, I've only ever owned Chevy trucks.

Any truck is going to burn more fuel than a little 4-banger.

I've got no use for a half of a truck either, like a Colorado.......quarter tons are for pulling an 1/8th of a yard of soil and daisies or a box of tampons

 

@Thane beat me to it. That is the real meat and potatoes of my decision right there ^^^ I'm watching my old truck wrack up the K's by the thousands, and I'm seeing my mechanic far too often. Bearings, tires, brakes....with the repairs I've spent on my tow vehicle, I could have a $3500 car to beat up and wear out, and spend 1/4 of what I do at the pump.

And if trudeau's twat taxes keep popping up every 6months...... my ex-Father in law said he'd buy the bullet if someone wants to get rid of him lol ..I'd go halfers

 

Use more fuel when the truck goes into v4 anyways when my truck is off of warranty I'm finding a way to disable the v4 mode find it very hesitant on the Highway until it kicks into V8

 

Found just what your looking for @Mike B.

 

At least he will have an excuse for driving around saying “ look at my wiener!!! LOOK AT IT!!!”

 

I can see for a lot of really tall or big guys moving to a car seems like down grading and having to squeeze yourself into a little vehicle. You'll lose that feeling quick when you can drive from Oakbank to Roblin on 23 litres of fuel and your wallet is a whole lot fuller. My newer Honda drives great and it's comfortable as hell. Newer engines have lots of power for the size of car so you don't feel like you're driving a gutless car. I'd rather drive a Corvette too but reality sets in and we live within our means. On the weekend when I'm pulling the boat I get to use my SUV and money I saved driving the Honda during the week I can spend on the boat or a case of cold beer.

 

Good points @Thane but some of us have been and always will be truck guys, you all know who you are,half a truck is better than no truck,just sayin......

 

That's because it's a GM! I've had older Toyota 4x4s that I have put a yard of 3/4 down on multiple occasions with no problems. The guy in the loader dumps some in and motions to me and I just wave to dump it all and he kind of gives me the look are you sure and I just nod. The newer Tacomas I can't vouch for on what they will carry weight wise and they won't be a lot better on gas mileage, I just typed this to defend 1/4 ton pickups!

Now I'm going to say this as a friend and somone who know, buy a Honda or Toyota commuter and be done with it. If you don't you aren't as smart as I thought. The lack of repairs will go a long way! Trust me and everyone on here that owns foreign.

 

Yep and Honda Civic are built in Canada as a bonus. Better engines, power train and parts than the big three domestics

My 4runner doesn't have a box but it's on a truck chassis. Doesn't mean I can't drive smart and save money the rest of the week when I don't need the capabilities of a truck and 4x4.

 

Im not knockin anybody's choice of transportation, I took many cars for test drives in the same price range I paid for the truck but just couldn't pull the trigger, didn't feel right,kept thinking yea,its the middle of summer now, but how is this front wheel drive going to get down my blown in road in the winter? Road down to the cottage is to steep for a car as well,4X4 only,First time I sat in the Colorado it just felt right, no regrets.

 

Bought a Toyota Sr5 once, never again. Rust like crazy and replaced every single bearing in that truck and lots of electrical components and let me tell they weren’t cheap parts.