Life's changes & tbn's influence -It's Rat's fault

[hazmat]

Life\'s changes & tbn\'s influence -It\'s Rat\'s fault

It's all Rat's fault. After this discussion fuel effecient vehicles I've been doing some soul searching.

When I bought my truck (2002), my wife drove a Honda Civic, so I figured the gas guzzling wouldn't bother me. In October 2003, she bought a Honda Pilot (SUV). While it gets great gas milage compared to other SUV's its size, 22 mpg is a far cry from the 40 the civic got. Now that she has the Pilot, I don't really need the truck. I can pick up the various home improvement supplies in her car. It can also tow the tractor (Maxes out the capacity).

Truck gets 13mpg in winter, 15 in summer. Downsizing to a 4 cylinder midsize sedan (Honda Accord 34mpg hwy) will save me $100 a month in fuel. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif So it's time to say goodbye to the big red fuel-a-holic /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif.

Wow - three paragraphs just to say I'm buying a new car. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

Now I'm faced with a very difficult choice. The new car will actually fit in the garage (truck was too big), so now I have to choose between the car and the tractor. Wifey has ruled out a "Quanset Hut" style shelter for tractor...

This is turning into a big year, The tractor is going to be paid for in May. I've started to plan the festivities. I'm thinking I might actually wash it after I mow the lawn.

The most exciting news is that we are expecting our first child in August. I might have to upgrade to a utlitiy tractor with cab & jump seat, so that junior can get in on the action sooner...

 

[RobS]

Re: Life\'s changes & tbn\'s influence -It\'s Rat\'s fault

Hey, congrats on all fronts Steve! Maybe you should have jumped right to the official parent-mobile, a minivan /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[hazmat]

Re: Life\'s changes & tbn\'s influence -It\'s Rat\'s fault

<font color="blue">Maybe you should have jumped right to the official parent-mobile, a minivan</font>

Baby steps Rob, Baby steps. I have to slowly reduce my testosterone levels from 4X4 truck to sporty sedan to -gasp- being fully domesticated. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif Unless we end up with three kids, I don't think a minivan is in the cards...

 

[RobS]

Re: Life\'s changes & tbn\'s influence -It\'s Rat\'s fault

<font color="blue">Unless we end up with three kids, I don't think a minivan is in the cards </font>

I would have said the same thing (wife too), but we did move to a minivan a couple of years back. Neither of us liked it too well but it served it's purpose and is no doubt, the easiest to get young kids in and out of. Now that our youngest can get in and buckle himself we dumped the minivan. Even with only two kids she wanted a third row of seating (seperation factor). Ended up with a Durango, which is more satisfying to drive and still provides the space. No gold stars for mileage, that's for sure /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[hazmat]

Re: Life\'s changes & tbn\'s influence -It\'s Rat\'s fault

<font color="blue">Even with only two kids she wanted a third row of seating (seperation factor). </font>

The pilot has 3 rows with seating for 8, although the third row is pretty tight for anyone >5' tall...

 

[Dargo]

Re: Life\'s changes & tbn\'s influence -It\'s Rat\'s fault

Hey Hazmat, how many people will the Pilot seat? Shh, don't tell, but I have 5 kids. I've had my wife in a Suburban (you guessed, she won't do the minivan thing) but now my oldest is 16 and doesn't often ride with mom anymore. My wife wouldn't mind something a bit smaller than a Suburban, but she would really miss the storage space behind the 3rd seat in her Suburban. I'm wondering if you can fold down one of the rear seats to make more room for the groceries it takes to feed our 7 person family?

 

[mikim]

Re: Life\'s changes & tbn\'s influence -It\'s Rat\'s fault

what about the new honda civic hybrid? looks like a real car - unlike the early hybrids - and reports are 1. gas is going higher yet & 2. hybrids get the best mileage out there

 

[slowrev]

Re: Life\'s changes & tbn\'s influence -It\'s Rat\'s fault

Don't the hybrids help a lot on gas mileage in town, but not as much on the open road ?
Ben

 

[Bird]

Re: Life\'s changes & tbn\'s influence -It\'s Rat\'s fault

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( did move to a minivan a couple of years back )</font>

So did we.

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( easiest to get young kids in and out of )</font>

Our "kids" were already in their 30s and grandkids are teenagers, but it's easiest to get us old folks in and out of; don't have to duck and squat to crawl in like we did with some cars, and don't have to climb up to get in like my wife had to do with some pickups we'd had. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

 

[hazmat]

Re: Life\'s changes & tbn\'s influence -It\'s Rat\'s fault

Dargo,

The third row is a 60/40 split so you can fold down part of it. It seats 2 in the front row (buckets). 3 each in the second & third rows (bench). There isn't a ton of room behind the third row (see attached)

Mikim,

The civic hybrid posts some serious MPG numbers (50), but I want something a little swanker - leather interior and more room. Civic hybrid is $20K. Accord 4 cyl with leather is $22,500 /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif. Accord hybrid is $30K /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

 

[dummy]

Re: Life\'s changes & tbn\'s influence -It\'s Rat\'s fault

A third option could be to look for a decent <font color="red"> used</font> vehicle that gets good gas mileage. I call them beaters (or POS) use them up for running the day to day and still have the truck for towing and hauling stuff. The truck lasts alot longer that way and the SO doesn't get offended when you want to haul fertilizer, mulch, lumber, tractors, etc. in their car.

 

[TOMLESCOEQUIP]

Re: Life\'s changes & tbn\'s influence -It\'s Rat\'s fault

When we had our kids I had to sell my fire breathing pro street GMC pick-up & go with a family ride too..............

 

[TOMLESCOEQUIP]

Re: Life\'s changes & tbn\'s influence -It\'s Rat\'s fault

As luck would have it, I stumbled onto the most highly rated model for the year............

 

[Durbob]

Re: Life\'s changes & tbn\'s influence -It\'s Rat\'s fault

How about a Honda CR-V
Good gas mileage for a 4 wd and you sit up like a truck more than a car.

Dur

 

[TOMLESCOEQUIP]

Re: Life\'s changes & tbn\'s influence -It\'s Rat\'s fault

YES.......We DO take it to fishing outings & little league games.................It's not quite as fuel efficient as a hybred tho.....................Yet ??

 

[hazmat]

Re: Life\'s changes & tbn\'s influence -It\'s Rat\'s fault

In the great state we call MA- a third car will cost me $1,000 a year to insure /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif. There goes all my fuel savings. In 16 years when junior is ready to drive, I'll get him/her? a truck that I can borrow...

 

[hazmat]

Re: Life\'s changes & tbn\'s influence -It\'s Rat\'s fault

Sweet ride Tom.

 

[dmp437]

Re: Life\'s changes & tbn\'s influence -It\'s Rat\'s fault

There are Federal Tax Credits (and possibly state) when buying the Accord Hybrid. How does that impact the price? If I was buying a car right now I would probably be in an Accord Hybrid.

 

[riptides]

Re: Life\'s changes & tbn\'s influence -It\'s Rat\'s fault

Hah. You get to build a pole barn. Lots of info on this site! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Now I'm faced with a very difficult choice. The new car will actually fit in the garage (truck was too big), so now I have to choose between the car and the tractor. Wifey has ruled out a "Quanset Hut" style shelter for tractor...)</font>

My truck got the outside treatment when the tracor showed up. The tractor got the outside treatment when the hot-tub moved in. Luck would have it I found a lot of info on TBN for pole barns. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

The RTV got to share the garage with the hot tub and mini-van.

Her stuff is all in the garage. My stuff is outside and in polebarns. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

Then, she purchased a farm! /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif And NOW, I have ample room for ALL my stuff! Yippie! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Only problem is I have to drive over there to get it. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

-Mike Z. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[texbaylea]

Re: Life\'s changes & tbn\'s influence -It\'s Rat\'s fault

TOMLESCOEQUIP

Beautiful '57. I always liked the '55-'57 Chevys. I owned a '55 6cyl manual with overdrive that could easily get 24-26 mpg on the highway. Then everybody got power mad.

Vernon