We're All Mad Here » 2008 » July

07-22-08

Car shoppin’

We’re looking for a new car. Don’t tell Fifi, but as a one car family…we’re upgradin’ and I’m kinda sad. Our biggest concerns: space for >5 and good gas mileage. Apparently I am asking too much. Of course there are the hybrids, with their shiny exterior promising amazing gas savings…which you will need to pay off the hefty price tag. Is it worth it? Let’s say you drive 10,000 miles…city each year (worse case scenario) So…normal mcnormal car gets 20, shiny mchybrid gets 40 mpg. Will it pay off…10 years.

Normal McNormal: 10,000/20= 500 gallons @$5 (est.) = $2,500 * 10 years = $25,000

Shiny McHybrid: 10,000/40 = 250 gallons @ $5 (est.) = $1250 * 10 years = $12,500

- Normal McNormal costs $10,000 and uses $25,000 in gasoline = $35,000
- Shiny McHybrid costs $30,000 and uses $12,500 = $42,500

Why is this not working out? Let’s say gas prices go higher than $5, the scales may even out a bit more, true…but will I still be able to afford to drive anyway…prolly not.

Other notes: Normal McNormal (or Normal McYawn) actually gets higher gas mileage than 20 mpg city and Shiny McHybrind doesn’t include the extra money for special parts and the technician who knows what they hell they are doing with …MyHybrid. I don’t know. I hate cars. Why can’t we just have a trolley?