Brenda and I were out exploring today as we usually do on weekends. We'd taken her car as opposed to my SUV because for local driving we can plan on 20 MPG as apposed to 15 MPG. There is another reason, by Sundays Brenda's car need filed up for the next week and I'd rather do it for her.
We were about 10 miles north of home when we stopped for our usual 12 gallons of gas. It's notable only because our normal station near home was at $2.519 / Gal, and this one was only $2.429 / Gal. Brenda mentioned we'd have to remember this station.
We've all felt like that buy gas at the lowest possible price! It makes a lot of sense and saves a lot of cents if! If the low priced gas is on your way to where you were going anyway!
But, at today's prices just how far can you go for a bargain? Filling our car averages about 12 gallons a week. My SUV averages 18 gallons a fill up, but I only fill it every 6 weeks or so, one of the advantages of working from home and not far far from the airport.
To fill up the car at $2.52 / Gal takes $30.24 or about $0.13 / mile.
To fill up the SUV at $2.52 / Gal takes $45.36 or about $0.17 / mile.
We could get a powered enclosed roller skate that gets 30 / MPG. And takes the same 12 gallons to fill up. At $2.52 that's $30.24 or about $0.08 / mile.
So how far can we go to save $0.09 / gallon?
With our car, buying 12 gallons we break even at 8.3 miles round trip or 4.15 miles one way! Any closer and we might save money any further it will cost us money.
With our SUV, buying 18 gallons we break even at 9.5 miles round trip or 4.75 miles one way! Any closer and we might save money any further it will cost us money.
With a new powered tin can buying 12 gallons we break even at 13.5 miles round trip or 6.75 miles one way! Any closer and we might save money any further it will cost us money.
Of course that's just to break even! What about a more common $0.01 / gallon savings?
Our car 0.46 miles, to break even on a penny savings / gallon.
Our SUV 0.53 miles to break even on a penny savings / gallon.
Penny Wise Gallons Foolish. A new skate board 0.75 miles to break even on a penny savings / gallon.
The reality is that unless "cheap" (cheaper) gas is on your normal route of travel you can't afford to do much more than cross the street to save money.
After thoughts:
Why keep a 15 MPH SUV? I'm comfortable in it! It rides better in town or on bad roads. It sits 5 full size adults! It halls every thing I'm capable of loading! It jumps to 22 MPH on the highway. The SUV weighs 4,200 lbs. In a collision the SUV wins more often that cars. The SUV can tow a trailer. I like stuff! If there is less than 6 going we can all ride together. I can see over most traffic! I can be seen by every body! The SUV horn commands attention!
Honking at slow trafic.
The car holds 2 adults and two small people. The car is full with a weeks groceries, if there's no holiday that week. The car gets 27 MPH on the highway, but is extremely tiring. The car weighs just under 2,000 lbs. The car has no room for stuff! If there are more than 2 adults going we need 2 cars. The car can be as hard to see as to see from. I never look at who I honk at, it's embarrassing to peep!
Death Vally.
I fit! It can tow.
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