We finally did it. For the first time in our marriage, we bought a car. Yep, we sold my big beast with the 8" lift and bought a car that we could nearly drive under it. We went from owning 2 diesel trucks to having 1 truck and 1 car.
We put some serious miles on our vehicles, and our fuel bill was larger than our mortgage. To some people, the solution is a no-brainer, but we have a lifestyle that necessitates having trucks. We haul cattle, horses, feed, dogs, etc. and we live on a mountain with lots of snow, and have lots of dirt roads.
Reluctantly, we decided to try owning a car, purely for the fuel savings, and I'm happy to report that after a mere 3 weeks of ownership, we have saved $440. At this rate, we'll be saving at least $550 a month in fuel.We juggle the car and truck between us and whoever needs to pull a trailer or get feed that day drives the truck, and the other person drives the car.
Here's what I'm loving so far:
- We can park something in the garage for the first time ever.
- I get rock-star parking at Walmart
- I don't have to turn the engine off to give my order in the drive-thru.
- I can fit in the drive-thru lane without running over curbs.
- I can sync my phone to the car
- My mother-in-law can hop into the passenger seat without needing a step stool
- My groceries don't get hay on them or blow out the back anymore
- I can take it through the automatic car wash
- I can fill the tank for less than half the cost of filling the truck
- I can go 3 times farther on a gallon of gas
Here's what I'm hating so far:
- I have to take it to irrigate and check the cows and it seems too nice to drive down a 2 track road.
- I feel too close to the ground.
- I feel vulnerable and frail in this little thing.
I'm not sure if car ownership is going to work out for us or not, but a projected savings of nearly $7,000 a year in fuel makes me want to at least give it a shot. Lots of our friends and family are skeptical that this is going to last, but for now, I'm pleased as pie about our savings.
Laughing all the way to the bank,
Nell
Life is requiring us to get something lower than a truck but higher than most cars these days ... but I'm looking forward to saving on gas! Enjoy the benefits of the car but NO FIGHTING over the truck!;)
ReplyDeleteThe new car looks lovely, Nell! I'm sure you'll slowly come into terms with the cons you found in driving a smaller car. I guess you got used to driving a truck around so much, that a smaller car is making you feel uncomfortable. Anyway, the pros obviously outweigh the cons, so I'm more than sure you'll be welcoming that new car sooner than you think. All the best! :)
ReplyDeleteDiane Wilson @ Fletcher Chrysler
Congratulations on the new marriage as well as the new car purchase! The transition from driving a big truck to a compact car is sometimes a difficult one to adapt to, but once you get used to it, the benefits far outweigh anything you may miss from the old days of driving the bigger type vehicles. Gas mileage alone is enough to make it worth it in my book!
ReplyDeleteLonnie @ Viva Chevrolet