Need small truck with good gas mileage

[Larry G]

If you are living in this country with the prosperity that it has enjoyed for decades and you "have no bread" then don't blame "your majesty"

Tell that to the people whose job was sent to Mexico, the Enron employees, the folks at the local mill who showed up for work to find the gate locked. The owners had left with their retirement money. Telling people like that to buy oil stock to cure the problem just won't work. The problem will be fixed when we as consumers each do our part to conserve (we don't) and vote in government that will do something instead of just talk and make promises. There are alternative fuels but the politics favoring their development are not in place... but they soon will be.

When the auto first appeared on the scene about 100 years ago, only the wealthy could afford to drive one. History repeats itself.

The people can't afford to buy gas!

Then let them buy oil stock!

Sometimes I wonder why the hell I bother with the morons on this board.

[APFII]

If you are living in this country with the prosperity that it has enjoyed for decades and you "have no bread" then don't blame "your majesty"

Glad you are doing so well. All of the rest of us, that are strugleing, are just not up to your standards . Must be nice to be able to be so condesending .

[Beach Creek Beagles]

Tim H

[Tim H]

Larry G, Again blame, blame, blame. Is it Enron that made it so you can't afford gas, is it the local mill that made it so you can't afford gas or maybe it's Mexico that made it so you can't afford gas?

I don't see any solutions in your posts. You don't have to accept mine but you might consider that it is predicted the price will go to $6.00 per gallon in the next 2 years. If you just keep complaining for 2 more years maybe that will solve the problem and it won't go up. Just maybe if you invest in oil now then in 2 years you will be the evil rich man. By the way, if I'm such a moron then why did I anticipate the price of oil going up and you didn't?

APFII, You set your own standards. It's hard not to be condescending when your level of response includes a cartoon character showing it's butt.

Beach Creek Beagles

[bushytail man]

I read that congress has voted to stop the gas gouging and the White House has said it will veto it. Do these people know that the whole country(middle income) is suffering? Companies sending jobs overseas, people with NO health care, stolen retirements, folks working forever with no chance to retire?
I quess they must be like you Tim, no empathy for the other human beings on this planet. Only the Rich folks count! The Chaney fortune is rooted in the oil industry as is the Bush's. How can they serve us when Big Oil is their Master?

[mtnwaykennel]

Rare is it I post... now I post two times on one thread..... dang...
Tim H ... I am not sure where you live ... or the people who live around you... But I know where I live here in the country side of ol' virginia that so many plants and factory's have closed thier doors that many people can not afford to get to the new jobs they have founds 50, 60 or even 100 miles down the road. It is a shame that SO many people in this country suckle off the goverment welfare tit and those who want to work are getting pushed to the point that they can not.
Gas prices effect everyone. My car sales are WAY down. That has affected my household. There will be no summer vacation for me. Not because gas has gone up to the point I can not travel but because buisness is down to the point that I can not afford the trip if gas dropped to 1.00 a gallon. This country of bread and butter and wonderful dreams you speak of was founded by normal people like us here on this board that work hard for what we have. It just dissapoints me that the goverment allows this to happen and that SOME people seem to think that the effect it has is our own fault. Call my bank and tell them that the house payment and the truck payment will be late because it is my fault. lol my banker will tell you I am the hardest working SOB he knows and he would offset as many payments as needed... but I would never ask!

Climb off ya horse buddy ... " More comander's die on thier horse's because they are to darn vain to climb down" .... good ol mr teddy!
Bill Woods

[Tim H]

Listen, ya'lls stories aren't new to me. I lost a job of many years to Mexico. The town I was in had no jobs and the unemployment was all around. The difference is that I didn't look to anyone to feel sorry for me or complain about the owner of the company for doing something that made perfect sense, nor did I blame the President or congress. I did something about it. Was it easy? No!! I had to make hard choices and work just as hard as anyone else but I also had to not give away the power to steer my own ship.

All I'm saying is whining won't solve a thing and I still haven't heard a single solution in any of these posts other than wait and see what the government will do for me. I'm not judging anyone, I am simply challenging your way of thinking.

If any of you who are attacking me because I dare to say it how it is have some solutions then let's hear them.

[Pine MT Beagle Runner]

Just read through this post. The biggest problem that America has is that Americans cannot stick together on any subject. This post started out as just a simple question. Look what it has turned into. Beaglers bashing beaglers. Everybody just cool your jets and lets get back to the origional point of this thread.

I drive an 02 Chevy S-10 4 door 4X4, I get about 16-20 MPG depending how I drive it. Maybe a little better on the highway. I have not really checked to see. Before I bought this truck, I had a Ford F 150 4X4 LWB with a little straight 6 in it. All I got was about 6-7 miles to the gallon. I had 2 19 gallon gas tanks. I filled them both every 3 days. You may not think that 16-20 MPG is very good, but it is at better than 3X what I was getting. Yes I gave up a lot of hauling capacity, But even with the higher gas prices, I am saving about $60.00 each week.

Chris Chandler

[Jamie Rice]

How nice would it be to have one of those Volkswagon Rabbit trucks? 4 banger diesel. Now you're talking. Relative has one that gets around 45 to 50 miles a gallon. Not sure if my fat ass could fit in one, but I'd try for that kind of gas mileage.

[schleppy]

I just picked up a 1994 geo metro two-door fastback a couple weeks ago. I got 47 mpg on my first fill up. The back seat folds down and I can fit a couple small porta kennels in the back seat. It isnt ideal, but if it works what heck.
The VW diesel would be the solutio, but everyone knows that and you cant buy a used one for less than about 3k. I had a diesel chevette when I was in the military and it got around 50 mpg, I wish I still had it.

[Jamie Rice]

schleppy... you're right around 3K for those VW rabbits. But that's less that most of us spend for gas a year. On a norm most of us fill up at least once a week just driving back and forth to work. At an average of $50 to $60 over a year that's more than what the WV would cost you.

The VW truck would pay for itself in a years time with less fill ups. My only problem is they don't come in club cabs, ha ha. Most of us guys usually have 2 to 3 guys that ride with us to trials to split costs or just to keep from both having to drive. Same goes when hunting. I guess I could always put my buddies in the camper with the dogs. Not sure they'd like that too good though, haha

[DRamey]

I have an F-150, '97 model off-road package, was once a really nice royal blue but now has autumn olive limb and blackberry vine scratches the full length. Gets 15 mpg on its best day, 16 on a trip. Has been paid off for 5 years, has 120,000 miles and is very dependable. It only goes on fishing, camping, running hounds, and little league. My dad keeps tellin me to sell it and buy something that gets better gas mileage and I tell him that I can buy a lot of gas for what a $500 a month payment would cost. Guys, whatever you have, keep it til the wheels fall off and buy gas with what you otherwise would be using for payments. My wife came home with an '89 S-10 with a 4 cyl the other day that she bought off her dad's neighbor so we also park the Honda Pilot all week sometimes too. If you listen to Dave Ramsey on the radio he urges everyone to buy a "beater" to avoid payments. Just my thoughts. Also, if income is a problem Ramsey says that you are having a career crisis and its time for a change. My wife and I both went back to college during middle age and have never regretted it. No offense to anyone here, but living in the greatest country in the world gives us options that are nowhere else. We live where it's either coal or Walmart and have found other options due to the grace of God and men who continue to fight a war to allow us to keep our freedom to choose what to do with our lives. If we don't like the way things are, the only ones in the way of changing them are our own narrow minds. Nothing ever stays the same so we must adapt.

[S.R.Patch]

I've been watching the talk about these new trucks that go from V8 down to V4 on fuel management. Sad to say, I haven't heard of one that paid off or done as well as advertised...
One thing that helps me most is to put egg shells under my gas peddle. Most of my trucks like to run about 2000rpm so I try not to over rev. (drive like an old man )
Car pooling was a great thing back in the late 70's, the 3 of us cut our gas cost by 2/3's. It's the only way we can go on our long hunts as the fuel & cabin cost would be to much for any one of us alone.
The hardest thing will be to get the wife and kids back into the "combined mission mode" insted of making many trips for every single thing. The kids have never known it and I think the wife just likes to run...
If your going to town, call your brother, sister, parents, friend or neighbor and see if they need anything or would like to go along, maybe next time they'll do the same for you.

I don't know how some of the Corporate thieves are not in jail. It's not suprising they do it, but what is shocking is that the judicial system has let them get away with it...

Prosperity has also bred corruption, as times change and the pendulm swings back the other way, the corruption will only get worse as the temptation to hold on to what one was enjoying, persuades them to do what they wouldn't normally do. The love of money and the fine things it provides can be a powerful monkey to shake off your back.

The best advice is, have you an umbrella when you see the storm clouds gathering...

[bushytail man]

Fuzz, you are right. A small truck with diesel engine would provide superior mileage. Problem is, Auto companies won't bring them out. Look back at my comments earlier in this post. I was in Europe and saw plenty of American made Ford Rangers with diesels, mitsubishi and others too. Diesels that run smooth, quiet and are powerful. Not the black smoke belching traps of the past. Why can't we have the same options here from those same American Auto Companies?
I suggest that all of you write or email the auto companies and make your opinions known. Tell them you will not buy their products untill they bring something out more aligned with the reality of today's gas delimma.

[TC]

I have an F-150, '97 model off-road package, was once a really nice royal blue but now has autumn olive limb and blackberry vine scratches the full length. Gets 15 mpg on its best day, 16 on a trip. Has been paid off for 5 years, has 120,000 miles and is very dependable. It only goes on fishing, camping, running hounds, and little league. My dad keeps tellin me to sell it and buy something that gets better gas mileage and I tell him that I can buy a lot of gas for what a $500 a month payment would cost.

Yup I got a 1978 F 150 4x4 (the Tank) aint never got no better than 10mpg loaded or empty bit its been paid for forever on my third motor in it!! rebuilt ground up twice for less than it cost for a new one and i can still pull the new ones out when they get stuck!!!!
I to have been looking for a little beater to drive back and forth and round about but for what they are asking i could put another motor in mine!!!!
Sure wish i could find another older mazda rotary truck last i had got 30 mpg or an old chev Luv diesel they were dirty and noisey but would run forever on a tank of fuel.....
As far as the debate goes about makin your own way i agree if ya dont like it change it!!! BUT it aint easy with folks havin to spend thier paychecks just to get to work and back it just dont pay and we wonder why all the younger folks are leavin the rural areas and headin for the city!!! large Corps are givin LARGE tax Breaks to open business in around citys the small rural communitys just caint compete. then you got your Unions Demanding $12 an hour with 180 days a year off!!! full benifits for workers and familys Aint no Wonder Corporate America has gone South!!!!
my uncle lost everything he had worked for for 25 years when Enron Took em for thier Ride had to sell everything but his home and work 4 more years before he could retire Where did his Dream Go????
Now if YOU or I had done what them fellas did we would still be behind bars REAL bars not the Color tv catered meals sentance those fellas got and when they get out they STILL GOT THE MONEY
Look What Exon did in Alaska and Still aint paid for it!!!!all they did was raise the price of gass to cover the 2 million barrel loss and You want us to get on board with THAT!!!!!
Well right theres yer problem with the U.S. now!!!!!!!
My Solution Fire em All!!!!! Get REAL Americans in Office
We need to get back to FOR THE PEOPLE BY THE PEOPLE!!!! [/b]