I'm not knocking them at all. I love both the Prius and VW TDI. I'm just pointing out that they are not the lowest cost solution.
IT, you may be right about a used VW. I need to run the numbers, it's just that I keep coming up against a timing belt change every 1.5 - 3 years which is pricey and kills overall fuel savings. VW should've run timing gears or pushrods IMO.
Prius owners I have a question which could only be answered by a seasoned owner. My 125 mile commute goes like this. Load kids into car and drive to front gate, sit there for 10 minutes with the radio on waiting for the school bus. Then onto the highway for roughly 60 miles at highway speeds 75mph (now the speed limit) with the air conditioner near full blast. The last 5 miles is city traffic stop and go but averages 40 mph. My question is, with the highway speeds at 75, without much battery re-generative braking, what would you estimate the mileage to be? So in effect, I'm NOT a hypermiler.
I know you are on the right track buying cheaper gas cars that get less mileage.
Look at it this way. If your car currently gets 30MPG on the highway, and gas costs $3.25 per gallon and you drive 30K per year, you're going to spend $3250.00.
If you get a car that gets 45MPG, and gas costs $3.25 per gallon and you drive 30K per year, you're going to spend $2166.00.
That's a $1084 savings in fuel costs, but only if you stick with a gas car.
If you switch from a 30MPG gasser to a 45MPG diesel, the average price of diesel is over $3.80.
30000/45*3.80=$2533.00
That's only a $717.00 savings per year.
Its not worth the cost to trade up to a more fuel efficient car once you figure the energy savings payback.
And while you'll find a ton of people that say their VW's are great, you will still see the horror stories of folks that lost a timing belt and face a multi-thousand dollar engine rebuild.
Also, no one mentions the $500.00+ service required at 40K, which is on you, as the warranty runs out at 30K.
Buy 3-4 year old Impalas that get 30MPG hwy and drive them into the ground. They are big, roomy, hold 4 sets of golf clubs in the trunk while still seating 5, or even 6 if you find one with a bench seat.
