The gas mileage conundrum...

[1stFord]

Amen Wildsailor! My wife and I had some friends 25 years ago that made substantially more that we did (about $80k) and we were naive enough to make the comment that we would be totally debt free if we made that much money. Karma has a way of biting you in the ass on things like that. While I do know some folks that kept a more frugal lifestyle while their wages increased, more often I see the lifestyle cost increase at the same or faster rate.

I will echo what others have said. Just because someone makes a little more does not mean they want to burn it where they do not need too. I still try to get the very best deal I can on ANYTHING I buy and I still clip coupons more often than not. Every dollar I save now is much more than that in retirement. The only things I buy/do that are expensive now are things that I worry about NOT being able to use/do once I get older.

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[GordieBobfish]

I'll be honest, I never even paid attention to the advertised MPG when I bought the car. It factored exactly zero into my decision.

I'm 1400 Kms in and I couldn't even tell you what the car gets for mileage. It puts a smile on my face when I drive and the smile gets bigger in relation to the position of my right foot. The car could get 6 mpg and I'd still love it.

I think I looked at the mileage after the first tank and went "yeah it's pretty good I guess"...lol.


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[113]

My current 'Stang is my DD and when I get the 2015/2016 that will be my new DD. I also commute 100miles/day so MPG definitely matters to me, but it's just another item on the Pro/Con list. For me the joy of owning and driving a Mustang GT everyday outweighs the con of lesser gas mileage.

But that doesn't mean that it's not a consideration. I try to maximize my fuel economy most of the time but that also doesn't mean I don't have fun with my car when I want to. And I'm most definitely not one of those making 100k+. I make much less than 50k.

 

[Wblv17]

mpg weren't out when i ordered and added pp, 18.4 first 970 miles

 

[OppoLock]

The entire flaw with your argument is trying to create a connection between those making six figures and those complaining about the cost of gas.

Forum polls are inherently biased. And just because wealthy people participate in a poll on a forum where people make threads bitching about MPGs means jack all.

 

[Dragen]

What thick skulls can't seem to grasp is just because you can afford to spend it doesn't mean you necessarily want to spend it. I certainly could've gone with the 4 series I wanted, but, I foolishly fell for how much more equipment I could get for less money. Sometimes the idea of saving money where you can is appealing.

I'd rather spend 80 bucks a week on anything else in the world besides gas. Maybe that will change in two weeks when my new car arrives and I once again own something I actually enjoy driving, but right now, that's not the case. I can blow 80 bucks in one night on dinner and a few drinks, and that appeals to me more than wasting it feeding a slow ass turd that ford lied and claimed would see mid 20s in mixed driving.

 

[Ecoboosted]

LOL

 

[klumpikat]

 

[wildsailor]

What thick skulls can't seem to grasp is just because you can afford to spend it doesn't mean you necessarily want to spend it. I certainly could've gone with the 4 series I wanted, but, I foolishly fell for how much more equipment I could get for less money. Sometimes the idea of saving money where you can is appealing.

I'd rather spend 80 bucks a week on anything else in the world besides gas. Maybe that will change in two weeks when my new car arrives and I once again own something I actually enjoy driving, but right now, that's not the case. I can blow 80 bucks in one night on dinner and a few drinks, and that appeals to me more than wasting it feeding a slow ass turd that ford lied and claimed would see mid 20s in mixed driving.

A few years ago a typical non-consequential automotive survey was reported on and this one surprised me. It applies here in complete perspective. The #1 car that millionaires drove in that particular survey was a Chevy Impala. You gotta keep it to have it.

 

[cbrookre]

Well, there is a perfect explanation for this. It goes something like this....

It does not matter how much money a person makes their bills swell up to consume their salary. They are not really better off except what they are paying for may be nicer.

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You cannot extrapolate what they earn onto your cost of living and say "wow, they have it made." It doesn't work like that. Unless, of course, you earn more than me then I can say that!

I completely agree, that is why these arguments over "so and so makes x amount and so they can afford to give/be taxed more" just does not fly with me. Expenses and income often meet each other sooner than you would like. I make a good living, but max out 401k, savings for my kids' college, contribute to savings plan and other things, so my income on paper looks much smaller.

 

[Dirtleg]

I was going to respond in this thread but it's just way too much of a mess already.

Oh wait I just did. Nevermind.

And yeah EBPP manual overall average mixed driving at 5500 miles is 27.7 mpg. On the cars computer. Real life, hand calculated about 26.5.

So where's the conundrum again? And it can't just be the GT guys. I seriously doubt many, if any of them, bought based on mileage claims. Hell I didn't buy the EB based on mileage either. Just wanted something different this time. The last 7 vehicles before this one were all V8's.

 

[SnoopisTDI]

My last car was a GTI, and a TDI before that. Having mpg on the brain is just old hat for me. My commute is short, so the actual cost doesn't have any measurable effect on my budget, but I still pay attention to it. To me, that's part of being a car guy. :headbonk:

 

[MagneticA]

I've mentioned this before elsewhere, but it bears repeating... it's not your income that matters, it's how much you spend and what you spend it on. I have friends who earn exactly the same as I, but "can't afford" a new car, "can't afford" a home, "can't afford" to set aside $ for retirement. They complain and bemoan that if only they earned more they would be much happier. Many, many people choose to live outside their means and end up penny-pinching on basic things.

 

[S550_Magnetic]

Just because someone makes 100k+ doesn't mean they don't care about spending money.

Then why did they get a gas hog for a car?

 

[S550_Magnetic]

I'm far from cheap but I do not just 'waste' money either.

So complaining about gas mileage in a car that gets bad gas mileage is gonna make it so you don't waste money on gas? Now that is confusing... If you were concerned about gas mileage, why not get a Prius?

Just imagine how many more trips you could take to Europe if you were driving a car that got 53 mpg. You might not be able to drive fast but you will be able to see more art shows.

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