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I drive a 12 year old Grand Marquis. Let's say I sold it and took $4,000 less for it just to get something with better mileage. I average 25 mpg overall. If I then go buy a fuel efficient car that gets 40 mpg, it would take 30,000 miles (at $4/gal) before I would break even.
That's just to recoup the $4,000 less, and not taking into consideration that I have less than 95K miles on my Grand Marquis and should get at least 100K more miles out of it, and it's paid for. The new(er) fuel efficient car would likely have a payment for a few years.
Now, a few examples of what I can get that averages 40 mpg according to the EPA Ratings*. A Smart fortwo for around $12K, which seats two, and I could park in my trunk. A Honda Civic Hybrid or Toyota Prius (hybrid); both of which would be OK choices, but both are at over $20K. I'd likely never recoup the costs, and mine has a 5-star crash safety rating.
Then there's the mistaken assumption of "a smaller car must get better gas mileage." I'm averaging better MPG than a VW New Beetle, Suzuki Reno, and Chevy HHR are rated at, just to list a few.
I can see that it might be worthwhile to get something better on fuel (and the environment?) when it's time for me to replace this car; but even when I consider the Hybrids, doing it at this time just doesn't add up. And face it, in this tough economy, it really does come down to the bottom line.
(*MPG reference information is from Yahoo Autos)

How could you take $4000 less for a 12 year old Grand Marquis when a 12 year old Grand Marquis isn't worth $4000? (When my father died he left me a '96 Grand Marquis in excellent condition and currently less than 70,000 miles so I know full well the value of the car.)

That said, my mileage figures are very close to yours and there are people who would lose money to trade in for a more fuel effecent car-- I'm one of them. That's why I rarely drive the Grand Marquis and spend most of my drive time on a vehicle that gets 200 miles per gallon http://www.streetplanes.com

Find a job close to where you live, buy higher mileage vehicles and you won't remain a slave to the economy and the oil industry.

"Why look for new technology to solve problems when the Toyota Prius Hybrid is a reality at 60 mpg?"

Not everyone wants a Prius (they are ugly imo) or a hybrid Bill. More importantly not everyone can afford them. Also where did you get 60 mpg? Consumer Reports gives it 44 mpg.

http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2006/01/cr_mileage.html

I bought a Ford Focus which gets 40+ mpg hwy and it cost $6000 less than a Prius. So your idea forces me to pay more? Not only that but aren't those hybrid batteries expensive come replacement time?

Don't misunderstand I think hybrid technology is great for those who want it, my in laws have a Prius. I simply prefer the govt. and Bill Garrott not mandate what type of vehicle I have to drive.

Dan, it's harder to be self-righteous in a car that somebody else might've bought because it's all they could afford. Or a used car (nod to hinshawbaker above) that doesn't need any new resources. In the Prius you're saying, "Sure, I could've bought X, but I chose to spend my money to save the planet."

Many Hummer buyers and many Prius buyers are cut from the same cloth.

And I guess the LTE writer hasn't been keeping up:
"Americans drive 1.4 billion fewer highway miles"

http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/06/18/driving.cutbacks/

It seems that the market woke up just fine. I'm guessing the call for mandated hybrids is about something else.

The good thing that has happened with out of sight gas prices is an awareness of fuel economy on many Americans. We have too long disregarded the impact of emissions on the environment and the fact that fossil fuel is limited. Everyone can do their part to use less fuel, whether it is buying a more fuel efficient car, driving more conservatively, or driving the one you have less. The sad fact is that some with gas guzzlers can't afford to get rid of them, and some have the attitude that I will drive what I want, how I want, because I can afford it.

Bill said: " It is time for government to step in and fix this oversight."

I say it's never time for the "Guvmint to step and fix any oversite."

I ran the number's on my 20 year-old, 15 mpg SUV vs. a new 50mpg hybrid. Calculating the difference between new car payments, higher county taxes, higher insurance, having to pay the dealership for scheduled service (do my own repairs on the old vehicle). vs. Fuel, maintenance, insurance and taxes on the SUV if both were driven 20,000 miles per year for six years @ $4/gallon is as follows:

Hybrid would cost:
$500/mo. (payment/taxes/insur/scheduled maintenance) +$128/mo. fuel cost=$628/mo.

Old SUV:
$89/mo (no payment+taxes/insur and $33/mo. repairs) + $426/mo.fuel cost= $515/mo.

SUV comes in at $103/mo. better, or $7,416 over six years. I can get and another 100,000 miles out of The SUV and buy a new used one for $2000 or so when it dies.

Cost wise it would be better to buy a new, small 40mpg conventional car that would cost $40/mo. more in gas cost but would be $250/mo cheaper payment/taxes/insurance than a new hybrid. Total operating costs per month at the same miles traveled would be around $410/mo. $105/mo. cheaper than the old SUV and $223/mo cheaper to drive than the hybrid, which totals $16,000 savings in 6 years with the 40mpg gas sipper vs. 50mpg hybrid, and $10,800 cheaper to drive over 6 years than the old SUV.

SUV has much better utility than the Hybrid or gas sipper, can haul big loads and is much safer vehicle for me should I hit someone or something.

Gas would have to hit $5-6 gallon before I'd consider giving up the safety of a large vehicle for a gas sipper. I'd never consider a Hybrid.

Why do none of the respondents get it? When our corrupt self-serving politicians give up their chauffered limos start riding bikes, and begin riding bikes, or Yugos around Washington, and Raleigh talk to me about cutting back.

When Mr. Environment Ahnold, the Governator stops flying daily between his home in the L.A. area, and his office in Sacramento, but wants to tell us we must reduce our "carbon" footprint, whatever that means, let me know.

When Nancy Pelosi refuses to bring up drilling because she knows she'll lose, but says she wants,to "save" the 4.5 billion year old planet, stops flying back and forth, almost 6000 miles per round trip, numerous times, at our expense, then has a limo pick her up at the airport, let me know.

You same mindless sheep just keep "grazing" on the same kool-aid, feeling it necessary to give up your lifestyles, while the dishonest, unscrupulous, elected officials that many of you suppport keep living their lavish, taxpayer funded lifestyles.

These people are purported to be our "servants" but think they are our masters. Wake up folks. How do you think the Nazis took control of Germany! Today's elite media is not much different from Nazi Germany's "Information Ministry" run by Goebbels to restrict the information available to the German people. At least today we have an opportunity to hear the other side of the story.

"I drive a 12 year old Grand Marquis. I average 25 mpg overall."

Sure you do. People who base their opinions on fantasy are easy to ignore:

http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/noframes/2218.shtml

Sorry, wrong link above. a 1996 Grand Marquis gas mileage is even worse than the 1986: 15 city/23 highway.

Read this. Compares the environmental impact of buying a new Prius with a barely-used gas sipper.

http://www.slate.com/id/2194989/

Use the Revolving Door!
http://www.slate.com/id/2196201/#b

MN,

You can get better mileage out of your car than government estimates. It's not like your car knows it's only supposed get 23mpg on the highway. I've been getting 27/28 mpg out of my 06 Escape when most of my driving is highway and 23 mpg or so when I'm in the city. I'm pretty sure the government estimated for the Escape are lower than that.

Anyway, what this letter suggest is ridiculous.

The authentic god known as the "free market" produced Mr. Hippie's Prius, just as it produces free range coffee and chicken powered by biofuels. That's the magic of the market: Mr. Hippy can enjoy the Prius hippie brand and I can enjoy my cosmopolitan capitalist brand (Mercedes). Everyone wins!!

Ha. Obama is now pro-offshore drilling as of yesterday.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/02/AR2008080201538.html?hpid=topnews

"TITUSVILLE, Fla., Aug. 2 -- Sen. Barack Obama on Saturday said a shift in his stance on offshore oil drilling is a necessary compromise with Republicans to gain their support for his broader goals of energy independence."

"Change" certainly was an appropriate mantra for Axelrod to have picked out for him.

Obama '08

"Why do none of the respondents get it?"

I get that Tony. The global warming and "peak oil no new domestic drilling" crowd will continue the "do as I say not as I do" mantra, that hypocrisy is known.

My favorite, next to algore, is John Travolta, telling people to "do their bit" to tackle global warming. Meanwhile he owns 5 jets; 3 Gulfstreams, a Lear, and a gas guzzling Boeing 707.

I freely chose a gas sipper for business travel because I drive about 1500-2000 miles per month and want to save money. Meanwhile I still have the SUV to pull the boat, family vacations, and the occasional day it snows in this area.

As mentioned prior, I don't want the govt. nor Bill Garrot deciding what type of vehicle I can drive. And I certainly don't want govt. "fixing oversights". That translates to lost liberty and more cost.

"Ha. Obama is now pro-offshore drilling as of yesterday."

The Messiah and his team know how to read poll numbers. Yet another flip flop added to the list.

That is REALLY going to piss of the environmentalist wackos Roger.

Well, you have to remember that he was against offshore drilling before he was for it. At this rate, Obama may end up being the most conservative candidate in the race. I'm predicting a deer hunt with an assault rifle outside of Scranton in October, followed by an epiphany wherein the Holy Ghost causes Obama to rethink his support of late term abortion.

Quote of the week:

GOP efforts on the floor to push toward a vote on off shore drilling was “war dance of the hand maidens of the oil companies.”

Nancy Pelosi, savior of the planet.

"MemberName said:
"I drive a 12 year old Grand Marquis. I average 25 mpg overall."

Sure you do. People who base their opinions on fantasy are easy to ignore:

http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/noframes/2218.shtml

Posted on August 3, 2008 12:37 PM

MemberName said:
Sorry, wrong link above. a 1996 Grand Marquis gas mileage is even worse than the 1986: 15 city/23 highway."

My 12 year old Grand Marquis has the digital dash with instant mpg and average mpg displays. According to the average mpg display, as well as my own calculations; regardless of your "research", I indeed do average 25 mpg. As far as 'fantasy', how would you know what kind of mileage I get? You're not the one driving and maintaining my car; you're just copying and pasting links.