| Trying to figure out the WHYS of good gas mileage can be vexxing. You hear stories where people with bigger vehicles with bigger engines can get better mileage than someone with a lighter vehicle with a small 4-banger. Strange!
That said, consider something I figured out today. Remember how I said my neighbor got a different car? He said his first mileage check came back at 34 mpg. I got 24 this last check. That said, we both agree that mileage drastically comes down in winter (we get 20 below or so up here, and idle vehicles longer, etc.)Anyway, figure for comparison that he will avg. 32thru the year, and I will avg. 22. He has a Nissan Sentra with a small? 4, dual overhead cam, 16 valve engine - and I have my little 2.5 4-banger Dodge.
If we both drive 20,000 miles per year, (which is close to being right) he will save $1136 a year over MY gas bill (based on $4 gas)! Wow! I could buy another used car for that! If I found a car like his, I would pay for the car, in gas savings, in just one year!  |