I was playing with Excel and trying to figure out if getting a cheap gas car would be worth it. Hope this helps anyone thinking the same thing.

Data
Fuel cost (as of today in CA) Gas: $3.20
Diesel: $3.50

Mileage (hwy)
Gas: 27 mpg (what the wife’s 2005 Accord gets)
Diesel: 21 mpg (what my truck gets)

Miles traveled/yr: 16,000 (just going to work)

What I found out was that for my commute, I am paying an additional $700.37/yr (or 58/month) to drive my truck.

Ok, so what if I start upgrading my truck. If my upgrade improves my mileage by 3 mile/gal, my yearly commute cost is reduced by $333 (or approx. 95 gals/yr). The difference/yr compared to gas $437.04 (or $36/month).

Interesting, I can save $333/yr if I upgrade my truck to get 24 mpg. Do you think my wife will buy this load of BS?

The better question is how to do this?…Synthetic oil, electric fan, tires, gearing, injectors…

21 mpg
Mileage Diesel Gas Difference
10,000 $ 1,666.67 $ 1,185.19 $ 481.48
16,000 $ 2,666.67 $ 1,896.30 $ 770.37
20,000 $ 3,333.33 $ 2,370.37 $ 962.96

22 mpg
Mileage Diesel Gas Difference
10,000 $ 1,590.91 $ 1,185.19 $ 405.72
16,000 $ 2,545.45 $ 1,896.30 $ 649.16
20,000 $ 3,181.82 $ 2,370.37 $ 811.45

24 mpg
Mileage Diesel Gas Difference
10,000 $ 1,458.33 $ 1,185.19 $ 273.15
16,000 $ 2,333.33 $ 1,896.30 $ 437.04
20,000 $ 2,916.67 $ 2,370.37 $ 546.30

 

Slow down and just tell her your mods gave you the increase in mileage

 

Buy a diesel VW and get the best of both worlds.

 

very interesting info

I only have my truck and thats it.......I have often thought that if I went out and got me a lil car for work I would be ahead....never did no math on it but figgered the cost of insurance tires oil crap like that....aint worth it to me

 

New used POS car cost $2000
Insurance cost $1000
hmmmm
Would try to bs her and say I got the increase but she is my wife and she would check. I have been married to long.

 

just sneak the mods in and dont tell her

 

yah, that'll work...lmao -- everyone knows she would find out!

 

I told my wife my truck came from the dealership the way it is now. I forgot she met me at the window tint place to drop it off on the way home.

 

years ago I kept tellin my wife about all these gadgets for the truck and how well they would increase the fuel milage....I didnt really need her approval on thing just thought it would be nice to include her in on some purchases ............anyway on day she told me to go siphone some fuel from my truck before it flows out on the ground.... was puzzled but she said with all my mods the truck was actually makin fuel........

then she got her truck and didnt mind moddin **** so it was all good

she drove that truck into the sunset with her new boyfriend and we all lived happily ever after .........just wished I had fixed the truck so it couldnt come back to town

 

you havent been married very long apparently NP.......


thats such a sad story Whit....you know you live in wyoming.....there are tons of desolate, open, hard to find places out there where people wouldnt bother to look for bodies..................................