May let the Solara go :(

[mr1114]

Been considering it for a few weeks now. I would decide I'm going to sell, then change my mind. But I feel it being close to happening now. Sad because I've only had the car a few months and absolutely love it. THE best, and nicest car I've ever owned and probably will own. But right now with gas at over $3 a gallon, I'm not too fond of $50 fill-ups and MPG's in the low 20s (thats with the A/C off most of the time). There are other toys I want right now, and constantly putting gas in the car is getting in the way of me saving up money to get other things. The Solara is my daily driver, and I do all city driving so that doesnt help. And the last time I owned a car bigger than 4 cylinders was years ago when gas was $1.25 a gallon. Of course the economic situation was better back then than now.

I dont really want to sell but I feel I have to. If it happens, I plan on buying a motorcycle and have at least a little fun while saving gas at the same time

[LynchburgCSI]

NO! You're not allowed to complain. It cost me $80 MINIMUM to go 350 miles. And I'm a broke college student. Keep the Solara, and buy a Honda Ruckus.

[fenixus]

don't sell it, it's lame for that reason, gas price will change over time
you either love it or you don't...

[LynchburgCSI]

He's not emotionally attached to his car yet since it's so "new". That's the ONLY problem in this thread.

[dudutzu]

Originally Posted by mr1114

I dont really want to sell but I feel I have to. If it happens, I plan on buying a motorcycle and have at least a little fun while saving gas at the same time

depending on what kind of motorcycle you are gonna by and depending oh how your are gonna ride it you might not get as a good mileage as you expect, so do your home work first

[carsrus]

Originally Posted by mr1114

Been considering it for a few weeks now. I would decide I'm going to sell, then change my mind. But I feel it being close to happening now. Sad because I've only had the car a few months and absolutely love it. THE best, and nicest car I've ever owned and probably will own. But right now with gas at over $3 a gallon, I'm not too fond of $50 fill-ups and MPG's in the low 20s (thats with the A/C off most of the time). There are other toys I want right now, and constantly putting gas in the car is getting in the way of me saving up money to get other things. The Solara is my daily driver, and I do all city driving so that doesnt help. And the last time I owned a car bigger than 4 cylinders was years ago when gas was $1.25 a gallon. Of course the economic situation was better back then than now.

I dont really want to sell but I feel I have to. If it happens, I plan on buying a motorcycle and have at least a little fun while saving gas at the same time

I mean low 20's with a 3.0 all city isnt to horrible. Just about any car smaller (corolla etc) will probably do high 20's?

That extra 5mpg will take a long time to recoup money wise. Now if you were going from a 5.7 v8 to a 1.8 then yeah it would pay off quickly.

[mr1114]

Originally Posted by LynchburgCSI

NO! You're not allowed to complain. It cost me $80 MINIMUM to go 350 miles. And I'm a broke college student. Keep the Solara, and buy a Honda Ruckus.

lol. I'm afraid if I keep the car, I will become a broke individual Just dont like worrying about gas. When I was driving the Corolla I was saving money pretty fast. I dont make a ton, so I have to watch it carefully.

Originally Posted by fenixus

don't sell it, it's lame for that reason, gas price will change over time
you either love it or you don't...

I dont see gas going down anytime soon. I will probably be in the teens as far as MPG goes when it comes time to use the A/C all the time. Not too crazy about that.

Originally Posted by dudutzu

depending on what kind of motorcycle you are gonna by and depending oh how your are gonna ride it you might not get as a good mileage as you expect, so do your home work first

I had a few years experience already before I took a break. I see myself taking it easy nowadays and just being on my own rather than groups. The days of riding fast and being stupid are long gone. It'll be to and from work.

Originally Posted by carsrus

I mean low 20's with a 3.0 all city isnt to horrible. Just about any car smaller (corolla etc) will probably do high 20's?

That extra 5mpg will take a long time to recoup money wise. Now if you were going from a 5.7 v8 to a 1.8 then yeah it would pay off quickly.

I was getting low/mid 30s in the 2000 Corolla, so its kinda a big difference. To me anyways.

I really do love the Solara, but it sucks not being able to drive as much as I want, anywhere I want, or having to borrow the GF's car when I dont want to waste gas. Without a doubt, once the heat arrives, I'll be going thru tankfulls in a week. One of the goals is to save enough money to sell her older car (which isnt worth that much) and get another Corolla. Preferably an S model from 2001 and up. I definitely want to stay with Toyota

[zythr]

[QUOTE=fenixus;3519295]don't sell it, it's lame for that reason, gas price will change over time


They'll probably change, but probably the other way (mean going higher) for at least a little while. Sad to say, the days of $2 a gallon gas are probably over.

[fenixus]

yeah, I agree prices always go up before Summer and that's when they are at highest point.

right now I'm paying $3.39/gal of regular Shell fuel around here and that's the highest price I ever paid for THIS time of the year (I paid more in Summer of Katrina hurricane year).

so yeah, it's likely prices will go up again just because they always do in Summer. however what is not normal is general price level for this time of year (Arabian problems), so if that region stabilizes it may well compensate the price increase and they may actually stay at same level (I hope).

Originally Posted by zythr

They'll probably change, but probably the other way (mean going higher) for at least a little while. Sad to say, the days of $2 a gallon gas are probably over.

[zythr]

Originally Posted by fenixus

yeah, I agree prices always go up before Summer and that's when they are at highest point.

right now I'm paying $3.39/gal of regular Shell fuel around here and that's the highest price I ever paid for THIS time of the year (I paid more in Summer of Katrina hurricane year).

so yeah, it's likely prices will go up again just because they always do in Summer. however what is not normal is general price level for this time of year (Arabian problems), so if that region stabilizes it may well compensate the price increase and they may actually stay at same level (I hope).

I think this year it will be different, more so now that there are problems in Libya. We'll see what happens, that's about all that we can do.

[mr1114]

Originally Posted by zythr

They'll probably change, but probably the other way (mean going higher) for at least a little while. Sad to say, the days of $2 a gallon gas are probably over.

Sadly, I'd have to agree

I owned a big V8 muscle car back in the days of cheap gas. Took $20 to fill the tank. Nowadays I just have to accept, I can no longer afford a big car. Have to live within my means. Keeps me from going broke

Getting a bike isnt a priority. If I find the type of Corolla I want first, I'll be buying that.

[LynchburgCSI]

You guys are pitiful. This thread is SO pessimistic it's not even funny. Why are we all so set on gloom and doom? There's one thing here that we all love and enjoy. Cars. So why are we going to give up the one thing that we enjoy just because fuel prices are up and the economy sucks? I'm a broke college student that makes $7.50 an hour, and I can afford $80 tanks of gas at as low 10mpg city. I know some of you guys have families to support, but come on! Let's push through this and be positive!

[Kingdom934]

You guys think you're playing a lot? Us folks in the islands are already paying a minimal $4.10+ for regular. On top of that, the minimal wages here is $7.25 and the cost of living here is #$*! expensive like hell. Driving distants is a bit closer though. Thankgoodness I still live with one of my parent (it is very common here for that unless your rich or something) and got a decent paying job.

I'd say before buying another car, is to look how much more you are really spending in a pay period week (usually every 2 weeks) with these high prices VS back before. Granted, it is costing me for any car now about $5 to $15 extra, depending on the car per fill up. It can sometimes be a mind trick to get all freaky when the prices go from $3.50 to $4.00 per gal. In the end though, a tank of gas (about say 10gal) is going to be costing $5 more. This may be an issue if you fill up EVERY DAY though...

If you can justify (or okay with) dropping down to a smaller car with more gas miles after checking out the how much more per week, then great. If not, I'd say start trying to condense traveling and keep the car you like for now...until gas goes for like $9 a gal

[Gothmog3VZ]

Originally Posted by LynchburgCSI

You guys are pitiful. This thread is SO pessimistic it's not even funny. Why are we all so set on gloom and doom? There's one thing here that we all love and enjoy. Cars. So why are we going to give up the one thing that we enjoy just because fuel prices are up and the economy sucks? I'm a broke college student that makes $7.50 an hour, and I can afford $80 tanks of gas at as low 10mpg city. I know some of you guys have families to support, but come on! Let's push through this and be positive!

+1

Lynch is a fueling a monster of a truck - I almost went broke fueling my old Explorer 5.0 lol

Now, I just want to point something out
I work 4.5 hours/week, at ~$9/hour
I still fuel my Camry, and she sports a 3.0 V6
Also, gas here, on average, is about $1.35 - $1.45/litre for me cause I need the 91 - that's about $5/gallon, if my math is right. When it reaches 5 south of the border, I might start to sympathize

So, yeah, keep the solara! Besides, it's hard to find a frugal, fun to drive car these days that isn't a miata or a caterham

[LynchburgCSI]

^ EXACTLY gentlemen. Also consider cutting spending else where. Switch to generic brands of food. Skip starbucks in the morning. Pack a lunch. Etc.

Edit: and if all else STILL fails? $1000 used Honda Ruckus.