Environment & Energy
Related: About this forumMy futile quest to buy a fuel efficient car in Central Maine in 2023
I had a 2005 Nissan Sentra that got 34 mpg on average (not real good, but not a gas guzzler). It had 170,000+ miles on it.
But it was on its last legs - the high beam/low beam switch didn't work, the entire exhaust system was rusted off and hanging by a thread, it developed some serious rust issues on other parts the body (Maine winters) and the check engine light was on constantly. Could not get an inspection sticker, no one wanted to repair it and I doubt the repairs would be worth the money.
Time to get replacement - and (excuse my French) I fucking hate buying cars.
Looking on-line and driving around was a an exercise in Major Sticker Shock. We have a lot of local Mom and Pop "dooryard" car sellers - but I wouldn't buy from any of them - so I decided to buy from dealerships.
Prices of new and used fuel efficient cars were astronomical and some cost as much as I paid for my house in 2016 ($35k cash - yes you heard that right . New and used hybrids were way out of what I could afford (I'm retired on fixed income but had some savings to use). Same for used fuel efficient compacts as well. Sticker Shock indeed.
I saw a on-line ad for a new 2023 Nissan subcompact for $18K at a local dealership. But when I got there, it had been sold - it was posted for sale less than 2 days! The car salesman told me it would be a quite while to find something like that again. My family and some of former coworkers have used this dealership to buy multiple cars for years so I knew they were not "crooks".
While I was talking to the salesman, a young woman drove up with a loaner 2016 Jeep Cherokee. She raved about it - so I decided to check it out. First of all - no rust - not one speck. Secondly, it was 4WD and a "loaded" luxury model with brand new tires. I'm really really not into "luxury" - cars are transportation and that's it. But this vehicle was 4WD had a sunroof and a radio and AC (I never owned a vehicle that had either), heated leather seats and steering wheel and a big screen monitor with a backup camera (again, something that I never had on a car before). And it had cargo space - much more than my old Sentra. It doesn't have a roof rack suitable for a canoe, but it can get one.
My major concern about it was gas mileage. I really wanted something fuel efficient, but nothing, and I mean nothing, was available locally in my price range. The "official" gas mileage for this model Jeep was 29 highway, 15 city. Which sucked in the carbon emissions department and was a "big deal for me". That said, I'm retired and not driving 50 miles a day for work and the only long distance trip I take is to "Go to Camp" an hour away. When I go there, I stay there, and can walk to the local general store that has everything I could possible need. I have a 2.5 hp motor for my fishing boat and a sail kit for my 16 foot Old Town canoe (which is great fun). The camp has a wood stove for heat and we're replacing the propane stove with an electric. Maine's electricity is near 100% renewable so that's OK in the carbon dept.
So, ya, I bought the Jeep for cash at a price much much lower than I intended to spend on a replacement vehicle. Given my current driving habits, my overall vehicle carbon emissions are many times lower than driving my old Sentra to work.
Finally, even though the official gas mileage is 29 mpg highway, I'm getting 33 mpg the way I drive.
So there.
Flame on.
bahboo
(16,355 posts)like you said, you don't drive much anyway. You do what you can...we're not perfect by any means in terms of carbon footprint, but probably better than most. We don't beat ourselves up over the occasional flight somewhere or turning up the heat if we're cold...
jpak
(41,759 posts)rated ones.
All the rest of the windows and doors are Energy Star rated - except for 3 that have old school storm windows on them (they don't leak).
And I have a huge (direct) South facing glassed-in porch that heats the whole house on sunny winter days. When it's 11 degrees F outside, Mr. Sun heats the porch up to 72 degrees F. One of the reasons I bought the house . The windows are all single pane, but it would cost a fortune to replace them with Energy Star panes. They do a great job as it is....
Goonch
(3,614 posts)27 year old Tercel. Still getting nearly 40 mpg - running great. Intend to be buried in it ;-{)
jpak
(41,759 posts)MichMan
(11,971 posts)Most restrict them to only driving to and from car shows etc. They aren't meant to be used for routine transportation
Goonch
(3,614 posts)since I am retired once a week is enough for my needs. No longer do I need or pay for yearly registration or inspections ;-{)
WhiteTara
(29,722 posts)it was a great mountain vehicle.
Easterncedar
(2,323 posts)Also Central Maine. Same thing: old car suddenly not going to pass inspection and I really wanted something that got at least the mileage my 2006 Civic got. Found one car, one car!, in 60 miles. Bought a new Honda Insight, a hybrid, the only car around, for about 10 grand more than I planned, but used cars then were just as expensive. It gets great mileage, but I would have kept the 2006 if I could have.
Enjoy your new ride! And enjoy the canoeing upta camp!
democrank
(11,104 posts)Glad you found a car. I really understand what you were up against.
Im in rural Vermont and have been used car hunting for three years. Ive never seen such high prices for older used vehicles. My 2012 Ford had two holes up through the frame so I couldnt get it inspected. Watched it go out of here on a flat bed. I practically gave it away. I cant seem to save fast enough to keep up with rising used car prices, but I refuse to give up.
The best car I ever owned was an old Subaru I bought off a guys lawn in 2002 for $50 and drove for three years with only one repair job
.brakes.
Carry on with your Jeep Cherokee. Good luck~
yorkster
(1,506 posts)everything I see is still way over what we can handle.
Both retired, driving less, etc., but can't do anything for now.
ret5hd
(20,518 posts)and another thats old enough to buy liquor.
I take very good care of them.
Both suck at fuel economy, but still cheaper than buying something.
really
CousinIT
(9,257 posts)I say "new" because I will NEVER, EVER buy a new vehicle. Can't afford it and they lose most of their value in the first 2 years. And I HATE car dealers, car dealerships, car salesmen (they are the devil afaic), and I DESPISE buying new cars. And the jacked up insurance costs that go with them. Bunch of VULTURES, the lot of them.
It's bullshit. Far too expensive for the non-millionaire/non-billionaire (that seem to be the only market who can afford them now - even used ones).
jpak
(41,759 posts)When the dealer said it was "hell damaged" - I thought it was in some kind of fire, but I couldn't see any flame damage.
Turns out it was "hail damaged" (TX accent - lol) and had a single tiny hail dent of the hood that knocked $4K off the sticker price.
New truck for $7K - woo hoo!
This was 1990.
MichMan
(11,971 posts)Drivers often abuse the hell out of them...
Diamond_Dog
(32,060 posts)They dont generate enough profit. Even though many people still want them
Big pickup trucks and SUVs are where its at now. More profit for the auto company
I hope my Toyota Corolla lasts forever, I dread, DREAD the thought of what it would cost for me to replace it.
Goonch
(3,614 posts)she only 27 years old ;-{)
Diamond_Dog
(32,060 posts)We have had good luck with Toyotas over the years.
MichMan
(11,971 posts)Make sure all the recalls have been performed if applicable to your VIN.
There are five recalls on the 2016 Cherokee at the time of writing. Two cover the risk of the front halfshafts disconnecting and leading to an accident. There's also a fire risk due to a water leak, as well as a potentially inoperable fire extinguisher. The final recall concerns an improper fastener that could cause the seat to move in a crash.
[link:https://cars.usnews.com/cars-trucks/jeep/cherokee/2016#:~:text=How%20Reliable%20Is%20the%202016%20Jeep%20Cherokee%3F%20The,compact%20SUV%20rivals%20have%20a%20score%20of%203.5.|
Finishline42
(1,091 posts)I think fuel economy is a function of how much you drive. Driving as little as you do, other aspects rate higher on the list.
The more you drive the higher it moves up the list of importance.