- - - - - - GA$ - - - - - -

[Sixty8panther]

It's decided. Gas just hit $3.77 down the street today.

Were getting raped without a reach around & there's

not a damn thing we can do about it!

The end of an era. I had three, four and sometimes

even FIVE V8-powered cars in my fleet at one point

just in the past few years... now I'm down to only

three cars, and while they're all V8s that's got to

change as my wife is on dissability right now due to

her very difficult pregnancy. She's not going to

receive any pay since she wasn't with the company

long enough. Missed it by ten days.

So as much as it kills me, I've got to let either the

B-59 or Banana go, and that's like deciding between

who is you favorite child... not cool.

So I've decided to let both go.

Here's my theory:

Right now I have tow big HONKIN V8 powered

2-door POST sedans.... big V8s cost fuel economy...

but hardtops in and of themselves do not.

So maybe the solution is to downsize to a flat-6

and inline-6 car for Julie and I and mean time

finally go for the Automotive jugular for my

classic:

PRE-WAR.

Here's the long term goal for the latest fleet changeover:

Julie's daily driver: sell '92 RoadmQnster ----> buy '80s or '90s BMW 3-sedan or possibly (I hope) a MB 300CE 2-dr hardtop

My daily driver: '77 CDV sell "Banana Boat" ----> buy 1960s Chevrolet Corvair

Classic Toy: fix up & sell "B-59" LeSabre ----> buy one of my three "realistic" dream cars:

1. 1959 Buick Hardtop

2. 1961 Cadillac hatrdop

3. pre-war car... mid-1930s GM

or maybe a pre-war Mopar like the '37 Dodge in this thread

-------> http://www.cheersandgears.com/forums/index...c=23804&hl=

[Sixty8panther]

So yeah... fu&k this, I'll get a Corvair HARDTOP or nothing and

laugh at the pumps just like the guy in the Civic EX except my

balls will be in my pants =, not in my wife's purse.

Needs some serious TLC but I'm looking at this car tonight:

http://boston.craigslist.org/gbs/car/673553689.html

[AAS]

Well, I haven't had to drive the SS much while in San Diego since the University offers free shuttle and local bus service. But, it looks like I'll be going to work in New Mexico for a few years, and I've been looking into something small, efficient (both in terms of fuel and packaging), reliable, sub $20k... the 4 door Astra is currently topping the list.

edit: This doesn't mean I'll be ditching the SS!

Edited May 15, 2008 by AAS

[A Horse With No Name]

Sixty Eight...you love the B-59, the Bannana Boat is loved by your daughter (sofia, if I recall her name correctly).

Don't sell either one. If you want a real world reliable Euro car, get an Astra or a Rabbit.

If you want cheap by a first gen GTI in decent shape. $2000-$5000 in decent shape, handles great, 35-40 m.p.g., cool car with a huge cult following.

Or get a decent first or second gen Neon, the damned near give them away and they are great cars.

But don't sell one of your beloved classics...that would be IMHO STUUUPID....but do what you want.

Or you could buy a Prius and join your buddy Satty in the Joys of Toyota onwership (Chris ducks as the spare tire from the bannana boat flys his way.)

Chris

[Intrepidation]

What am I doing about it? Driving the Prizm more often than the Intrepid. My driving habits haven't changed much since I normally drive when I need to.

Then again neither car is anywhere near as bad on gas as those beasts you have. Also, it seems sad to give up the Banana Boat you worked so hard to get, especially since you sold off the V6 Buick to get it.

Edited May 15, 2008 by Dodgefan

[FAPTurbo]

I'm not too affected by fuel prices because my commute is nice and short.

But I am trying to decide whether to pursue an old car, like a late-70's, early-80's Corvette, or pick up a motorcycle in the not-to-distant future.

[mustang84]

I was planning on getting a fairly new car, but with gas prices the way they are and having figured how much I will be paying monthly for loans, apartment, food, etc...I've decided to go with something older and preferrably RWD for a couple years. I'm looking at fox-body Mustangs since they get decent gas mileage and are cheap to repair if something goes wrong. Plus, it's a fun car and I've always wanted a 5.0 Stang. So it won't be more fuel efficient or anything, but my apartment is about 2 miles from where I work so I shouldn't be spending too much on gas in the first place.

[z28luvr01]

Sixty8

Three words: Get a bike!

No, seriously. I'm not sure about your location, but I'm fortunate enough to be able to run 90% of my errands within 10 miles of my house. That's easily doable on a bike without breaking a sweat. If your living situation is like mine, buy an old 10 speed off of craigslist or from a garage sale, get a rack and a trunk bag, and you have your infiniti-MPG grocery getter. Save the Banana Boat and the B-59 because you love them so much.

[gm4life]

Yeah I would suggest not getting rid of either you love them so much... Get a bike seriously, or a small Cavailer/Cobalt/Neon type car... Just don't get a Prius, you don't strike me as a Prius driver...

Nothing has changed in my house really we don't make special trips, I told my son to drive like an egg is under the accelerator (yeah he learned way to much from me) although seriously I am trying to get the Torrent close to 20mpg in my hilly down it isn't easy, same goes for the wife in the SLE. As for the Impala my son gets about 21ish with his lead foot... But we all are trying to be more cautious and not flog 'em like we used to do almost daily. (My cars used to have no cobs!)

Edited May 16, 2008 by gm4life

[caddycruiser]

Mom replaced her '04 Suburban with the '08 Malibu, and has never looked back. Just repeatedly says now "See, and good thing I didn't wait ANY longer trying to trade the bus in..."

Dad still has both his '92 Roadmaster daily and '93 Fleetwood driveway ornament. Moans about how much he spends on gas, but both cars were paid for long ago, and he drives a roundtrip of 5-6 miles a day. "Would like to have" something new and efficient, but won't yet, and...oddly...was looking for whatever little things he could remove over the weekend "to eliminate weight". I was visiting and saw him outside messing with the Roadmaster. What did he remove? The horns. "I don't need 4 of them...so 2 are gone now." Oy.

Brother? Still driving his '86 Regal LTD and it's wonder of wonders Olds 307...occasionally only bringing up how much he now spends on gas. But he can't stand anything less than a V8 or RWD yet, so it (and other things like it) will be around for ages, I think.

I'm still tooling around in my '95 Fleetwood LT1 daily driver extraordinare. Best case situation, I can pull 21 mpg highway. Around town, stop and go, which is my daily commute, 12-13 mpg max. It was going to be (ideally) new car time anyway...so I'm still pondering what to replace it with now. As much as it annoys me, painful to get rid of it, and another problem being it may be difficult to do so. Dad wants it. I said no, no way. Due for maintenance and fixing of some things too, but sell it is, I think. Next car? Some kind of sedan or wagon (wagon ideally I think) that's a 4-cyl OR a V6 of some kind if the mileage is high enough. After my '07 Malibu 4-cyl rental and mom's new '08 Malibu 4-cyl, I have a big "thing" for new, light, and 4-cyl cars. We'll see. OR...the Fleetwood will have to remain, get the work done on it needed, and continue being a driver...bad mileage, old age, and all.

OVERALL? Brother aside, there will be NO more V8's in this house or heavy, BOF, etc. cars as daily drivers, and in the meantime, the focus is driving as lightly and easily as possible, trying to eek out every mpg possible.

Edited May 16, 2008 by caddycruiser

[Robert Hall]

My commute is about 40 miles a day round trip, so I'm spending about $60/week on gas...not bad.

[Nick]

Do not care about prices. I just filled up for $4.20...no biggie.

I also have my bike though...but I still drive my car quite a bit.

Gas is just one of those things I don't care about.

[loki]

i tend to only fill up once every 3 weeks or so.... sometimes 2 weeks usually 11-12 gallons a time. ~240miles on my car.

[daves87rs]

I drive compacts (Cobalt and Cavalier), and my commute isn't bad-so I'm not sweating the prices yet...

the new job is farther, but not too far away....

I still plan to dust off the bike though...

[Sixty8panther]

SP just dropped $12K on a brand new '08 Harley Davidson cruiser.

After driving $100 - to - $3000 cars he went all out on a brand

new bike. Can't blame him. $12K for a gorgeous LOADED bike with

1200cc and drop dead sex appeal... better than spending $20K on

a brand new POS Civic with 1600ccs.

I appreciate the suggestions but one thing I WILL NOT DO is FWD,

and being such a hardtop fan it seems like a great excuse to buy

a hardtop classic that sips fuel.

The downside of the bike is the obvious problem of not being very

practical when a large percentage of my driving is done with Sofia

in the back seat.

----

If I ever sell my B-59 it will be to buy ANOTHER B-59 but with a

hardtop greenhouse & frameless doors OR a pre-war car that

is solid & restorable if not drivable.

Sofia will miss the Banana boat if we sell it but I have only so

much driveway at the new place... three cars plus (maybe) in

a pinch temporary storage in NH at a friend's back yard.

I talked to Sofia about how I might have to sell the Cadillac

and she thinks it's okay so long as we get another "cool old

car or maybe a biiiiiiiig Peterbuilt truck" to replace it with, so

I guess maybe I'll buy a 379 with a sleeper cabin and do a

veggie conversion so I can get almost free fuel to feed the

turbocharged diesel Cat motor.

----

Speaking of Olds 307s in BOF cars... my '86 Fleetwood Brougham

got 18 mpg... that was about 40% highway @ 85mph and 60%

light traffic back roads.

[daves87rs]

What about a early 90s Cavalier? Those J body's tend to hang in there, are good on gas, and are pretty cheap to pick up.

Friends of ours picked up a 92 Sunbird for 650 bucks...it's their "around town" car...

[Sixty8panther]

Daves:

No offense but like I wrote twice in this thread already FWD is not for me.

I was considering for about 20 minutes buying a Cavalier ragtop for my

wife... just because it was dirt cheap, but as for myself, I can not.

It's against everything I stand for. I'll convert my B59 to electric or get a

nasty beat up old Indian motorcycle with a sidecar before I buy FWD...

[Robert Hall]

Daves:

No offense but like I wrote twice in this thread already FWD is not for me.

I was considering for about 20 minutes buying a Cavalier ragtop for my

wife... just because it was dirt cheap, but as for myself, I can not.

It's against everything I stand for. I'll convert my B59 to electric or get a

nasty beat up old Indian motorcycle with a sidecar before I buy FWD...

In the Northeast, though, FWD would make sense...get a used minivan, would be practical for a family and decent on gas.

[vonVeezelsnider]

- - - - - - GA$ - - - - - -, what are YOU doing about it?

Nothing.

Our least fuel efficient car hovers around 22MPG in 100% City these days. I can't really accurately say for the G5 yet but the Cavalier got 24 MPG City (Same as the Malibu) so it should be similar methinks.

[Sixty8panther]

Moltar:

Dude, how many years have we known each other on this forum?

I'll string up a noose on the tree in my front yard & cash out of this

plane of existence before I give up my 425 cu. in. powered Cadillac

and buy a FWD minivan. Never gonna happen. Ever.

Seriously I'll buy a 2wd S10 Blazer with a 5-speed or a Astro Van

before I ever own a unibody, FWD, automatic car with a breadvan

body. AINTGONNAHAPPEN.

I'm not that desperate. Just had the carb. rebuilt in the Banana so

I should be averaging 13.8 mpg again, I'd like to be closer to 18

or so AND get some cash out of the Banana while flipping it.

[Robert Hall]

Moltar:

Dude, how many years have we known each other on this forum?

Long time..

I'll string up a noose on the tree in my front yard & cash out of this

plane of existence before I give up my 425 cu. in. powered Cadillac

and buy a FWD minivan. Never gonna happen. Ever.

Seriously I'll buy a 2wd S10 Blazer with a 5-speed or a Astro Van

before I ever own a unibody, FWD, automatic car with a breadvan

body. AINTGONNAHAPPEN.

I'm not that desperate. Just had the carb. rebuilt in the Banana so

I should be averaging 13.8 mpg again, I'd like to be closer to 18

or so AND get some cash out of the Banana while flipping it.

I'm just wondering if you will ever get rational and join the 21st century.. Seriously, those old land yachts are nice, but way impractical as a daily driver....

[daves87rs]

Daves:

No offense but like I wrote twice in this thread already FWD is not for me.

I was considering for about 20 minutes buying a Cavalier ragtop for my

wife... just because it was dirt cheap, but as for myself, I can not.

It's against everything I stand for. I'll convert my B59 to electric or get a

nasty beat up old Indian motorcycle with a sidecar before I buy FWD...

Well, if it saves you gas and helps you keep your hobby...then I would say it is worth it.

A little FWD won't hurt.....you might even like it....

[Sixty8panther]

Long time..

I'm just wondering if you will ever get rational and join the 21st century.. Seriously, those old land yachts are nice, but way impractical as a daily driver....

If I was not hurting so bad in terms of income, I mean if I had a yearly income of $50,000

and the same bills I do now I'd be driving a '59 Buick or '61 Cadillac right now with not a

care in the world. Even at $4/gal I would be spending less to drive a car cooler IMHO than

a typical BRAND new $65,000 Lexus LS or even a BMW 5-series, & yet the additional gas

money I'd spend a week, say about $100 would not even buy you a POS used Corolla.

[daves87rs]

Long time..

I'm just wondering if you will ever get rational and join the 21st century.. Seriously, those old land yachts are nice, but way impractical as a daily driver....

Granted, they are fun...

I want a land Yacht.....

[Sixty8panther]

My first ten cars:

1. 1994 Pontiac Sunbird (2.0, auto)

2. 1993 Oldsmobile Achieva (Quad4, auto)

3. 1997 Pontiac Grand Am (3.1, auto)

4. 1987 Mercury Cougar XR7 (5.0, auto)

5. 1994 Oldsmobile Cutlass Sierra (3.1, auto) "stop gap" quick fix car when a girl hit my parked Cougar & totalled it...

6. 1968 Chevrolet Camaro hardtop (377 horsepower 5.7, ratchet shifter)

7. 1987 Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham d'Elegance (olds 307)

8. 1983 Pontiac Firebird T-top (350 crate motor, auto)

9. 1997 Cadillac STS (4.6 northstar) --- bought with MY credit for girlfriend, legally my car for next 5 years... drove it occasionally

10. 1991 Blazer S10 2dr (4.3, 5-speed)

I've been there & done that. Once you've had A+ quality steak

you CAN NOT go back to eating hamburger helper and not

feel like you're missing something. FWD is something I despise

to such a large degree (esp. with transverse mounted motors)

that I feel sick to my stomach at even the thought of owning

& driving one... I'd rather rollerblade to work to make up the

MPG savings that would allow.

Or I could buy another diesel Benz. That $h! got 24 mpg in the

city delivering chinese and almost 30 on the highway, even w/

over a QUARTER OF A MILLION MILES on it!

Aaaaaaannd there's the veggie conversion route. 300TD would

make for a great starting point.

[FUTURE_OF_GM]

Gas doesn't bother me...

Although I do fear for the V8 if prices keep going up.

Yet another reason to hate life.

[2005 EquinoxLS]

I havent changed too much. Both my old ones get about 15-17 mpg in town. The Equinox about 17-18 in town. So not a huge difference between the 3. Actually the old 2 get slightly better highway mileage than the Equinox. About 23-24 for both though sometimes the Bonneville can get into 25 with a light foot. The Equinox manages 22-23 on the highway. Though I should point out I use mid-grade in the old ones compared to regular in the Equinox. If Mom and I need to make a longer run we use her Aveo. She is currently getting 26 mpg in her normal driving. When the lease on the Equinoc is up I may get an Impala or Aveo or a HHR. Or I may just get nothing at all and go through the summer with the 2 old ones and get a new one in time for winter 2009-2010. I am not bothered by FWD and actually like it better in winter. I am into a mix of the old and the new.

Edited May 16, 2008 by 2005 EquinoxLS

[Satty]

I should do what my neighbor's landlord has done and quit mowing. Last year they had someone out mowing the lawns of all the rental houses weekly, so far this year, they've mowed twice.

I have begun taking a different route to work, the distance is the same, but its almost all highway, so I do get better mileage. The unfortunate side-effect is that I no longer drive past Krispey Kreme, so I no longer get my daily mocha. Gas station coffee just isn't the same.

[PurdueGuy]

What do I do about gas? Wife & I drive Saturns, no need to do anything. Not sure what she's getting (it should be a little better than me), but I'm getting 36mpg mixed, zippy driving. If gas gets up in the $5/gal range, I might just have to start thinking about buying a 3rd Saturn (already sold the '94 SL2) and do an electric conversion.

[z28luvr01]

The downside of the bike is the obvious problem of not being very

practical when a large percentage of my driving is done with Sofia

in the back seat.

Trust me when I tell you that the bike industry has thought of something for every excuse imaginable.

[FUTURE_OF_GM]

I've been there & done that. Once you've had A+ quality steak

you CAN NOT go back to eating hamburger helper and not

feel like you're missing something. FWD is something I despise

to such a large degree (esp. with transverse mounted motors)

that I feel sick to my stomach at even the thought of owning

& driving one... I'd rather rollerblade to work to make up the

MPG savings that would allow.

True that...

When I retired the '73 to show car status I almost went manic. Nothing matches the feel, attention and experience of a classic.

[Satty]

These things are awesome, at least until you start getting into hills, then you really notice the weight. I've quit riding one of my favorite trails with my son cause it has so many inclines.

Edited May 16, 2008 by Satty

[Drew Dowdell]

I'm using the Roadmaster even less. Using the BF's CRV whenever possible. Always take the bus to work.

[XP715]

If gas ever really gets out of hand I will probably park the Suburban and get a '73-'80 Chevrolet/GMC C10 longbed with a 250 inline six and a stick. They get low 20's in mixed driving. I've actually already started looking for one to redo. Any excuse to buy another old truck is good enough for me!

[A Horse With No Name]

I'm not too affected by fuel prices because my commute is nice and short.

But I am trying to decide whether to pursue an old car, like a late-70's, early-80's Corvette, or pick up a motorcycle in the not-to-distant future.

A co workers bother has an 82 Special Edition Vette. I want a C3 vette so bad...and a motorcyle....

Good luck with your quest, dude!

Chris

[A Horse With No Name]

I'm using the Roadmaster even less. Using the BF's CRV whenever possible. Always take the bus to work.

Hopefully the price of gas means we get some real mass transit in this nation...

Glad to see you ride the bus. If I could I would.

Chris

[A Horse With No Name]

My first ten cars:

1. 1994 Pontiac Sunbird (2.0, auto)

2. 1993 Oldsmobile Achieva (Quad4, auto)

3. 1997 Pontiac Grand Am (3.1, auto)

4. 1987 Mercury Cougar XR7 (5.0, auto)

5. 1994 Oldsmobile Cutlass Sierra (3.1, auto) "stop gap" quick fix car when a girl hit my parked Cougar & totalled it...

6. 1968 Chevrolet Camaro hardtop (377 horsepower 5.7, ratchet shifter)

7. 1987 Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham d'Elegance (olds 307)

8. 1983 Pontiac Firebird T-top (350 crate motor, auto)

9. 1997 Cadillac STS (4.6 northstar) --- bought with MY credit for girlfriend, legally my car for next 5 years... drove it occasionally

10. 1991 Blazer S10 2dr (4.3, 5-speed)

I've been there & done that. Once you've had A+ quality steak

you CAN NOT go back to eating hamburger helper and not

feel like you're missing something. FWD is something I despise

to such a large degree (esp. with transverse mounted motors)

that I feel sick to my stomach at even the thought of owning

& driving one... I'd rather rollerblade to work to make up the

MPG savings that would allow.

Or I could buy another diesel Benz. That $h! got 24 mpg in the

city delivering chinese and almost 30 on the highway, even w/

over a QUARTER OF A MILLION MILES on it!

Aaaaaaannd there's the veggie conversion route. 300TD would

make for a great starting point.

A diesel benz would be sweet...

Chris

[A Horse With No Name]

Moltar:

Dude, how many years have we known each other on this forum?

I'll string up a noose on the tree in my front yard & cash out of this

plane of existence before I give up my 425 cu. in. powered Cadillac

and buy a FWD minivan. Never gonna happen. Ever.

Seriously I'll buy a 2wd S10 Blazer with a 5-speed or a Astro Van

before I ever own a unibody, FWD, automatic car with a breadvan

body. AINTGONNAHAPPEN.

I'm not that desperate. Just had the carb. rebuilt in the Banana so

I should be averaging 13.8 mpg again, I'd like to be closer to 18

or so AND get some cash out of the Banana while flipping it.

Astro might not be a bad idea, mine loaded down is getting 17-18 mpg, and empty on the highway I get 21 If I don't speed.

And while Minivans are practical I was actually very, very happy when my wife totaled our Voyager after a short period of ownership. They can string both of us up on your front lawn before either of us buys another Chrysler or other minivan..

Chris

[A Horse With No Name]

And why even thip the Bannana? You can buy a decent Astro for a grand or so for sure if you look...

Chris

[Robert Hall]

And why even thip the Bannana? You can buy a decent Astro for a grand or so for sure if you look...

Chris

Astros were unsafe at any speed (ever see the crash test video?). Definitely not something for a family. I'd recommend an old Volvo wagon if you want something cheap, RWD and safe.

[Robert Hall]

Granted, they are fun...

I want a land Yacht.....

I'm thinking of getting one...a 2005+ Grand Marquis or Town Car...lots of them around here. And they get better mileage than my Jeep.

[A Horse With No Name]

Astros were unsafe at any speed (ever see the crash test video?). Definitely not something for a family. I'd recommend an old Volvo wagon if you want something cheap, RWD and safe.

Seriously...damn...I've been looking for a good reason to 86 our Safari Van (Astro twin).

Methinks I may have a good reason.

THANKS!

Chris

[Cremazie]

Sold my corolla today, I am going to be driving my 4x4 Vortec max everywhere. Hell with gas prices, in a few years these prices will seem cheap. I just hope that high prices discourage people in developing countries from buying too many cars.

[PurdueGuy]

Hopefully the price of gas means we get some real mass transit in this nation...

+1, let the high-speed rail development begin (well, in some areas development already has, but development has happened here & there for decades... implementation, not so much. I hear there's supposed to be a new high speed route being setup going south from DC...

[Sixty8panther]

Moltar:

Hmmmm... that's not a bad suggestion. An old 240/740 wagon

with a 4-cyl. & 5-spd would be a great "economy-mpg beater"

and a turbocharged one would be alright... too bad they didn't

make a Cabalero Volvo wagon. Hardtops are king.

[capriceman]

How about a Ford Aerostar? RWD v6 and you can get them with a 5 speed?

I love RWD beasts from the past as much as the next guy but at 5 am when i drive my FWD Buick i could careless which wheels have the power going to them.

I respect you very much for never breaking your promises, but it might be time to swallow your pride and get a 3800 W body. Great on gas, safe, very comfortable. I mean to back and forth to work its perfect then every go cruising or shopping take the Classics out. I saved $20 bucks last week by driving the LeSabre from the caprice. Thats a nice carry out dinner for free. I still feel the same at the end of the day.

[C.H.U.D.]

I'm not even driving right now. I either take the bus or ride my bike to work.

[Blake Noble]

I have went from paying ten dollars or so for one-fourth of a tank back during the fall and early winter to almost twenty dollars for one-fourth of a tank this past week. Twenty dollars would have bought me almost one-half of a tank.

This is far beyond tolerable.

I still get good mpgs, though: around 26 mpg or so in mixed conditions if I take it easy on the throttle.

Edited May 17, 2008 by YellowJacket894

[daves87rs]

Astros were unsafe at any speed (ever see the crash test video?). Definitely not something for a family. I'd recommend an old Volvo wagon if you want something cheap, RWD and safe.

That's what they say, but every Astro I've seen has done a great job of protecting the people inside...

My friend had a 91 and got caught in a 3 truck accident (it was between the other two) and he walked away...

[Camino LS6]

4th gen F-body for the win! :AH-HA_wink:

Seriously.

They get great mileage.

I wonder what sort of mileage the wagon will get when it's done? Might surprise a few folks around here.

Meanwhile. I suffer with the cost of diesel (paid 4.99 9/10ths today) as I am driving the Silverado exclusively now.

Found a viable answer recently: I super low-mile '76 Chevelle sedan with a 250 6cyl. and three on the tree! The thing even has a factory radio delete - total stripper!