Is that all?
 

DH has been talking about buying a newer, give-better-mileage car - -

I think the vehicles we have are fine - they are paid for, still look decent, and run well. They are all over three years old (and nowhere vintage age!) -

Anyway - I'm going to make the example kind of excessive for the purpose of the discussion

If we drove 15,000 miles in a year

at 20 miles per gallon, it would take 750 gallons
750 gallons at $4.00/gallon = $3000

at 35 miles per gallon, it would take 428.57 galling
428.57 gallons at $4.00/gallon = $1714.28

$3000.00 - 1714.28 = $1285.72

Is it worth getting a new, more fuel-efficient vehicle?

For me, it would depend on what kind of financing, if any, were involved. Depending on interest rates and duration of loan, you might not be saving any money for several years. Unfortunately I think gas prices are going to continue to climb. It might be better to wait until there's more of a disparity in fuel pricing??? JMO

That is one tough call to make. My husband has a Buick Century that he drives for his everyday car, it gets around 30 mpg in town. But and I mean a big BUT it has 250,000 miles on it, all the lights that tell you something is wrong is on. I told him if they go off he has to start worrying. He has another newer car but very seldom drives it as he doesn't get the mileage as the old car. He has to decide on getting rid of it or wait until it dies on him. Then he would have to have it hauled to the junk yard or he can get rid of it now and make a little money on it.

Pat in MN

NO! Not until you need to replace what you have. Going cheap, buying a $15000 replacement vehicle, if you could get a 35mpg car for that, it would take 11.5 years before you recouped the extra you spend based on your example.

DH & I have gone over this a lot. That's why our newest vehicle is a 2008. Why go into debt for several thousand dollars to save <$2000 annually? That's based only on math. If you want to get into non-math reasons, like being green, get a bicycle. LOL

Thank you for providing 'the rest of the argument' for me - - - I was 'almost there' with it, but you finished it up for me! :thumbup:

don't forget a newer car will mean higher insurance costs too.

We argue about this alot. My hubby drives 40K a year with gas at 4 a gallon here. No way are we buying a new 35K car to depreciate it down. Buy something in the 15K range and drive it til it drops.

His car has 250K miles on it. The air doesnt work. I am going to swap him my car this summer. I drive 14 miles to work and can do it without air. He drives 135 miles a day. Hopefully this will buy us one more year.

They keep promising that the train terminal will get moved to our town. In which case, he could drive (or walk) about one mile to the train, park for free and walk 20 minutes when he gets at the other end then reverse it at night. Now he has to drive 20 minutes to the closest commuter train station, pay $5 to park, ride 1 1/2 hours on the train, walk 20 minutes and reverse the whole procedure at night.

i was just going to say what ptquilts said. for my use, i only get 12mpg around town and 22mpg on a trip. but i only drive about 6000/year. my 'savings' would only be $1200/yr also. i've been dying for a Prius for the last 10 years. i don't think i can justify that on a fixed income. i guess i might gift myself if i inherit any money... but i can't think of anyone that would leave me that much money :)

Save on gasoline to have more$$$$$ for Fabric!!!!! Hugs