Got a Beater because of high gas prices!!

[bzizzi]

I just purchased a 2000 Celica GT that gets 33 mpg to help with high gas prices,it had 79mk on it is fully loaded.I got it for $2800
and it runs great but uses a little oil,these engines are known for this !!! This will also help keep the miles of the 4R.My 05 SE already has 58Km on it.

 

[TheBlueWave]

I have thought about doing the same but is there really a savings when factoring insurance and maintenance of another vehicle? I'm leaning towards no.

 

[004Gunner]

:iagree: Just figure out how long the fuel savings offset would take to earn back the initial $2800. Then when you factor additional maintenance costs and insurance? Financially savvy only if BOTH vehicles are kept for a long period of time. Hard to say exactly how long without crunching several figures

 

[E30RUNNER]

Get a motorcycle! 60+mpg, 230/yr insurance and it cost me $1,ooo bucks. You can start seeing savings right away and it's minimal maint.

 

[Jeff Kleb]

I kept my old Sentra for fuel economy and to keep the miles low on my leased vehicle.

With gasoline near four bucks a gallon, I feel badly for people who have gas-guzzlers as their only mode of transportation.

It is common for SUV drivers to fork over $100 for a full tank!
:bash:

 

[bzizzi]

I have three drivers and four cars,this make it easier when one is being inspected or goes in for service.I kind of fell into the Celica deal,it was a steal @ $2800,the check engine light was on so the person thought there was something with the engine,turned out to be a sensor and is already fixed for $100.I might sell and make a few $$$$$.

 

[Net4n6]

With gasoline near four bucks a gallon, I feel badly for people who have gas-guzzlers as their only mode of transportation.

It is common for SUV drivers to fork over $100 for a full tank!
:bash:

Near four bucks a gallon??? Where do you live? Where I live it cost $4.65 now.

 

[Mark86]

I was thinking about that too along with the rest of my family. It just didn't make financial sense to buy a new car for that reason. After test driving a few of the cars I did, I have a larger appreciation for my 4Runner!

Near four bucks a gallon??? Where do you live? Where I live it cost $4.65 now.

In New Jersey, regular is $3.89 per gallon.

 

[Uneek]

In New Jersey, regular is $3.89 per gallon.

Lucky you Mark, we're almost a whole dollar more than NJ. $3.89 was almost three months ago.

I calculated it on another thread for another member. If I changed jobs and end up with a 80 mile a day commute using my 4Runner (using 19mpg as my baseline) at $5/gallon, it would cost me almost $5500 a year. Using a car that gets 35mpg, it would cost almost $3000 a year for gas. This is strictly for communiting mileage. It's a savings of $2500 a year for gas, but that's before insurance, maintenance and acquistion cost of the car. It would take at least a couple years to break even. I still say, don't buy another car because gas is expensive, but when the time comes to get another car make a wise choise because gas is expensive.

 

[Mark86]

Lucky you Mark, we're almost a whole dollar more than NJ. $3.89 was almost three months ago.

I calculated it on another thread for another member. If I changed jobs and end up with a 80 mile a day commute using my 4Runner (using 19mpg as my baseline) at $5/gallon, it would cost me almost $5500 a year. Using a car that gets 35mpg, it would cost almost $3000 a year for gas. This is strictly for communiting mileage. It's a savings of $2500 a year for gas, but that's before insurance, maintenance and acquistion cost of the car. It would take at least a couple years to break even. I still say, don't buy another car because gas is expensive, but when the time comes to get another car make a wise choise because gas is expensive.

I did the same and it would take quite a long time for your investment to be worthwhile. Even a Prius would not be worth the money with gas prices the way they are.

On the bright side, gas went down $.02 today in NJ!

 

[Jeff Kleb]

Unleaded regular "87" was $3.91 last night at the Wawa down the road about two miles (Richmond, VA). The mid-grade was going for $4.09, however, and premium "93" was all the way up to $4.18.

Fortunately, both my Mustang GT and Nissan Sentra run just fine on the 'cheap' stuff.

My company's trucks are diesel-powered and cost almost $800 to fill up the larger ones. So much for this trucker seeing a pay raise any time soon!!
:bash:

 

[TheBlueWave]

I have three drivers and four cars,this make it easier when one is being inspected or goes in for service.I kind of fell into the Celica deal,it was a steal @ $2800,the check engine light was on so the person thought there was something with the engine,turned out to be a sensor and is already fixed for $100.I might sell and make a few $$$$$.

I do agree that its a great deal for $2,800.

BYW around here gas is under $4 per gallon the last few days.

 

[keylay31]

Guys! I know a really good unknown secret for dropping fuel prices instantly! And on top of that, it will make your 4runner run better than before! I can save you up to $.20 per gallon! The solution: stop being stupid and start using regular unleaded... :bash:

 

[bzizzi]

Here is a Picture of my 00 Celica beater W/79K,runs great after I cleaned the MAF sensor and reset the CEL.Ended up not needing the $100 sensor after all,it just needed cleaned.

 

[XJeepguy]

Thats a decent little car for that price .

When I used to commute into town I had a 86 Ford Escort with a factory diesel in it .It was in mint shape and bought it for 500 bucks . That little sucker got 60 MPG on the highway , it was awesome . Wish I would have kept it now

I had rock bottom basic insurance too , like 50 a month .

 

[TheBlueWave]

Thats a decent little car for that price .

When I used to commute into town I had a 86 Ford Escort with a factory diesel in it .It was in mint shape and bought it for 500 bucks . That little sucker got 60 MPG on the highway , it was awesome . Wish I would have kept it now

I had rock bottom basic insurance too , like 50 a month .

Tell me about it. I sold a perfectly good Honda Civic when I got my runner. Insurance was cheap ($130/6months) and maintenance was easy. It was ugly but ran well. Definately worth more to me than the money it brought in.

 

[loner]

Here is a Picture of my 00 Celica beater

That's a nice looking beater, and a great deal too!


I have been going over this in my mind a lot lately - thinking maybe a Celica, an Integra, or an Accord. However, I figured out that getting a 30 mpg car could save me $1200 a year if I drive 12K miles a year, assuming a $4/gal gas price. The only way it would pay off for me would be if I sold my 4Runner and only drove the gas miser. Otherwise insurance, maintenance, parking hassles, and the decreased reliability of an older car would outweigh the gas saved.

I've just about decided just to modify my 4Runner some more and keep myself happy with it.

 

[bzizzi]

I commute 80 mi /day and am putting way too many miles on the 4R,right now it has 58K on it,so when this car came up I jumped on it.Now I only use the 4R for trips and and when I need to tow or haul something.The Celica is a really cool car to drive,I had a 91
Celica that I sold three years ago that was in excellent condtion and since gas has gone up so much my wife and I regreted selling it.It was also white but had the 2.2 Camry motor in it,this one has the 1.8 Corolla motor in it and I am getting 33 mpg out of it compared to 28 that I got with the 91.Don't get me wrong,there is no comparison between the Celica and my 4R,If I had to choose one the Celica would be SOLD in a heartbeat.I really like my 4R that much !!!

 

[dwulffusa]

I just purchased a 2000 Celica GT that gets 33 mpg to help with high gas prices,it had 79mk on it is fully loaded.I got it for $2800
and it runs great but uses a little oil,these engines are known for this !!! This will also help keep the miles of the 4R.My 05 SE already has 58Km on it.

It makes sense to do this, specially if your beater is actually still a bit sort after like a Celica and is clean. You have to pay another insurance premium, but on $3,000, cant be much, and 33mpg vs about 19mpg is a pretty big. Not to mention that you are not writing off $2,800, it will still be worth something when you get rid of it, and additionally if you arent driving the 4R its not going to need maintenance as regularly as usual (unless you are driving 2 cars at once!) and you wont be afraid to do minor maintenance like oil changes yourself.

I used the fuel price argument to justify buying a roadster, ofcourse I am paying more overall for driving, but I wanted it in any event and there are immediate savings on the work commute when you get 29mpg instead of 19mpg.

My advice to anyone considering selling a 4R if you are nearing replacement, for a crossover or whatever that gets higher mileage. Just keep it and spend the difference between trade in and the new car instead on a used sedan.

 

[KimoSan]

New beater

Funny that I saw this thread today. My wife and I are looking at getting a beater this weekend. We'll be keeping the T4R but selling her CR-V. Looking to get a late 90's/early 2000's Civic that gets mid to high 30's on the MPG. We'll be able to pay off the CR-V and cover the cost of the beater which will eliminate the 2nd car payment which for us makes it worthwhile not even accounting for the gas savings.

Best part is I don't have to get rid of the Runner.