Forget MPGs, what about $$$?

[ShoshTrvls]

There's lots of talk here about mpg's, and jokes about driving more so saving less, but I'm talking cold, hard cash.

I didn't buy the smart for gas reasons -- hell, who knew gas would be $4.00+/gal 18 months ago? No, I ordered my smart because I couldn't find street parking for the Outback.

That being said, I have 1 credit card that I use for gas and only gas. This month that bill was less than half of what it was the month before. LESS THAN HALF!

[NCC1701]

Originally Posted by ShoshTrvls

I didn't buy the smart for gas reasons -- hell, who knew gas would be $4.00+/gal 18 months ago? No, I ordered my smart because I couldn't find street parking for the Outback.

I agree (in a roundabout way). I pick up my smart Saturday (7/12). I'm not spending $20K on it for MPG, although 33 MPG in city isn't anything to moan about! The thing is, my Nissan gets 25-26 MPG in town, and that's not half bad either. It hurts my head to try think how many miles I would have to drive to at an extra 8 MPG to make up for the cost of the smart. But, that's not really why I'm buying it. I'm buying it because my Sentra bores me like no other car I've owned. It's practical as all getout, but no fun at all. The smart may be lacking in practicality considering my 300 mile distance to the nearest dealer ... but, I want a car that doesn't bore me. I'm convinced the smart will fill that bill.

[Karl Roth]

More fun less money
There is a substitute for ...
karl

[mike-in-sa]

My GMC has 100,000 miles on it and has been paid for for a long time. The money I'm spending on a smart car payment would buy a lot of gas. I NEVER buy new vehicles- untill I found out I could get a smart. I would have ordered it if gas was .99 cents a gallon. I fell in love with smarts in europe and I just had to have one. Most fun set of wheels I have had in a long time.

[16d @ 4]

Originally Posted by mike-in-sa

My GMC has 100,000 miles on it and has been paid for for a long time. The money I'm spending on a smart car payment would buy a lot of gas...

Lets look at this from a different perspective:

How about the amount of MONEY (in terms of gas) you're saving not driving your GMC could actually be paying for your Smart. This is how you figure out:

1. how much would you have to spend per month to drive your GMC?
2. how much is your Smart payment & gas per month (for the Smart)

If 1 > 2 , then your Smart is actually PAYING FOR ITSELF (YEAH!!!)

However, This condition usually only occurs for those who comments alot with a gas guzzler.

For me, the amount of money I spent on gas for my Honda Element almost paid for my Smart. I'm only spending an extra $130 per month to own my Smart!!! YEAH!!!!!!!WHAT A STEAL

FOLKS, GIVE UP YOU GAS GUZZLER AND JUMP INTO A SMART. I GAURENTEE THIS WOULD BE ONE OF THE BEST MOVE YOU EVER MAKE.

[mike-in-sa]

If it were all about the $$$$, then the $400 a month smart payment is twice what I was spending on gas for the GMC. So that puts me $200 a month in the hole + $60 a month in smart gas = $260 a month in the hole. Full coverage insurance digs that hole a little deeper. For the next three years I will be in the hole. I'm not saving any money by buying my smart, that could change if gas hits $8 or $9 a gallon. Having said that, do I regret buying my new smart? No way Jose! I get way more smiles per miles in the smart.

[16d @ 4]

Originally Posted by mike-in-sa

...Having said that, do I regret buying my new smart? No way Jose! I get way more smiles per miles in the smart.

For sure

I can understand for those who do not drive a lot, buying a Smart is like buying an additional car. Fortunately for me, I commute enough to, in some financial ways, justify the purchase of my Smart. More importantly, though, I found out about the smiles per mile thing after buying my Smart.
Like everyone else, I just want to have a Smart, and I made the right moves to put myself in the position to own one.

Hey now...

[Dave Van]

I wanted a Smart 10 years ago when I saw them being developed by Swatch. Gas was a lot less then! I have always liked the car and I think the 451 is even better than the 450. Glad we got them....never mind the gas price!

[ex300SRT8]

My ex was averaging 12 mpg, now I'm at 38. Plus in many ways, my smart is way more fun to drive. This car has not stopped making me smile from day one!

[Thru the Eyes of Ruby]

I agree- I was driving my boyfriends Lexus RX 300 after I sold my Beetle, and my gas bill went from reasonable, to $170 every 2 weeks (OUCH!) back down to $15/wk!!! INCREDIBLE.

Plus- call me a tree-hugger, but it's helping the environment out a lot too. If it's possible to get from point A to point B using 10 gallons of gas, or using 17 gallons, who am I to use more than I need? Why do I need to waste a finite resource? Why do I need to make it any tougher for the polar bears looking for a place to rest? I aknowledge that we're a more evolved species, and that for my lifestyle, a car is essential. But I also aknowledge that all you big SUV driving weenies must feel really important. You say you have to tote your kids and all of their crap around, but what kind of world are you leaving to your kids?

Chicken soup for the soul right there...