Gas Prices - Consider Selling Z?
I paid $1800 for a 1994 Mazda Protege Beater. I've put about $1800 into it with maintenance items (timing belt, radiator, misc electrical). For my $3600 investment, I have a car that runs great, is cheap to repair, AND gets 38mpg. For a car with 124K miles that is absolutely crazy...but true.
This works for me because I have an 80 mile commute every day...so the car will pay for itself over time (plus the Z won't get beat up on Hwy 680 in Nor Cal).
To the OP, in the long run it probably wouldn't make sense to sell the Z simply becuase of the gas prices. As others have noted the car actually gets great mileage on the freeway. But your situation is unique to everyone else's here...so you ultimately have to decide what is best for you...
This works for me because I have an 80 mile commute every day...so the car will pay for itself over time (plus the Z won't get beat up on Hwy 680 in Nor Cal).
To the OP, in the long run it probably wouldn't make sense to sell the Z simply becuase of the gas prices. As others have noted the car actually gets great mileage on the freeway. But your situation is unique to everyone else's here...so you ultimately have to decide what is best for you...
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Joined: Jun 2006
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From: Hood Canal, WA.
Most people could change their driving habits to increase their mileage such that it would even out the increase in prices. I think the Z gets decent mileage. My computer shows I average 23.6 mpg tank after tank in normal driving....the average speed per tank shows about 35 mph. Freeway trips is always above 28 mpg with computer reported averages around 60 mph for the tank.
I could do better too. I red-line at least a couple times every day.
I could do better too. I red-line at least a couple times every day.
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Joined: Oct 2007
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From: south florida
No intention of selling my DD Z anytime soon. Might get a beater instead of a tt setup so that i will put less miles on the Z. Like a previous poster said, you can die at anytime, so why sell something that makes you happy over a few $$?
Then again i am not in the OP's situation. Maybe he couldnt afford this car in the first place and now he has to reconsider, rough.
Then again i am not in the OP's situation. Maybe he couldnt afford this car in the first place and now he has to reconsider, rough.
Last edited by my05350z; Mar 11, 2008 at 08:35 AM.
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Joined: Feb 2003
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From: indiana
Originally Posted by Kinraze
What do you mean the price of premium gasoline? It is only 20 cents more than regular gasoline where I live. 20 gallons at $3.50 is $70. 20 gallons at $3.70 is $74, you are crying about 4 dollars? Do 4 dollars really matter when you are spending 70+ regardless? I think your question should be whether you want to drive a car at all.
Luckily it is still the only car I can afford AND enjoy. If I was strapped for money then I would have to make a big jump to justify trading it on something that gets at least 38mpg+. This thread is kind of pointing out 2 different things about complaining premium vs. regular and just needing a more fuel efficient vehicle.
Last edited by bjr; Mar 11, 2008 at 08:42 AM.
Why even let the tank get so low? I fill up around a quarter or so left and it is only around 45-50.
If gas is that big of a deal then you shouldn't be driving the car. I don't see how the 4 dollar difference is that big of a deal either.
Gas is just one of those expenses we will always have. I think we should just get used to paying it unless you have some authority to get the price lowered. The big companies don't car that we have to pay for it.
If gas is that big of a deal then you shouldn't be driving the car. I don't see how the 4 dollar difference is that big of a deal either.
Gas is just one of those expenses we will always have. I think we should just get used to paying it unless you have some authority to get the price lowered. The big companies don't car that we have to pay for it.
Originally Posted by Kinraze
What do you mean the price of premium gasoline? It is only 20 cents more than regular gasoline where I live. 20 gallons at $3.50 is $70. 20 gallons at $3.70 is $74, you are crying about 4 dollars? Do 4 dollars really matter when you are spending 70+ regardless? I think your question should be whether you want to drive a car at all.
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Joined: Apr 2003
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From: The Kingdom of Kansas
Originally Posted by BhamZMan
Nothing about the Z is practical in the least bit - not even the price of its gas 
+1
If you're worried about gas cost, MPG, insurance, maintance cost, etc. etc . you shouldn't have bought a Z.
There is nothing practical about a sports car.
Originally Posted by kenpo_350Z
Why even let the tank get so low? I fill up around a quarter or so left and it is only around 45-50.
If gas is that big of a deal then you shouldn't be driving the car. I don't see how the 4 dollar difference is that big of a deal either.
Gas is just one of those expenses we will always have. I think we should just get used to paying it unless you have some authority to get the price lowered. The big companies don't car that we have to pay for it.
If gas is that big of a deal then you shouldn't be driving the car. I don't see how the 4 dollar difference is that big of a deal either.
Gas is just one of those expenses we will always have. I think we should just get used to paying it unless you have some authority to get the price lowered. The big companies don't car that we have to pay for it.
I also say +1 to "You don't buy a sports car and then worry about gas mileage". The Z gets really good gas mileage for a 6, especially on the highway.
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Joined: Dec 2007
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From: georgia
Don’t sell the Z for roughly the same cost per year get the 27-30+MPH 2nd car. Call the Insurance Company make the Z your 2nd car, you should get a multi car discount, and less than 5k miles a year(good insurance savings). Liability only on commuter(I only pay $35) so roughly the same cost on insurance depending on your driving recorded and insurance company. One fill up + o r- a month on the Z roughly 4 oil changes. The gas savings per year are about $115.00 that cover the cost of DIY oil changes on the commuter car. The bonus and a MAJOR bonus is the Z gets much fewer miles, holds a higher resell value and lasts longer. But thats just my 2 cents.
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Joined: Oct 2004
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From: New Jersey
Originally Posted by DracoLancet04Z
gas is screwed up because the middle east is upset with the US being in that part of the world right now, on September 1st 2001 gas was $20 a barrel, today it closed at $108 a barrel, and yes it isnt a ton of savings that you will make by getting a prius or the sort, sorry for the rant but politics has been pissing me off latly
Crude oil pricers per barrel closed above $108 because the Federal Reserve somehow believes that lowering interest rates and thereby not having tighter controls over inflation will save the economy from its credit crisis.
According to most economists a little bit of inflation is good but when you're getting higher than expected inflation and STILL having very slow growth as well as no end in sight for the credit crisis there's not much you can do. Keep interest rates where they are now and let the economy take its inevitable ride.
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Joined: Jul 2007
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From: Portland, OR
Originally Posted by SOLO-350Z
I only get 19-20 mpg average on my Z with easy driving. If I went and got a Prius (heaven forbid), or a VW Diesel of some type, we would see over 40 mpg, or even 50 on the Prius.
That is a huge savings every fill up. Right now it costs me $50-55 to fill up the tank on the Z, every 1.5 weeks at the moment since I cut my driving down due to gas prices. I use to pay $25 a fill up 2 years ago on my G35! I sold my Nissan Titan to cut down on gas costs, and I am back to where I was in 2004 filling up the Titan. It would cost me near $75-80 to fill that truck up now.
So yes, getting a more econnomical car these days does make more sense than it use too. The higher the gas gets, the more sense it makes. If we reach $5 a gallon which I am sure will happen, it's going to cost us close to $90-100 to fill up the tank on the Z. That isn't going to be fun.
That is a huge savings every fill up. Right now it costs me $50-55 to fill up the tank on the Z, every 1.5 weeks at the moment since I cut my driving down due to gas prices. I use to pay $25 a fill up 2 years ago on my G35! I sold my Nissan Titan to cut down on gas costs, and I am back to where I was in 2004 filling up the Titan. It would cost me near $75-80 to fill that truck up now.
So yes, getting a more econnomical car these days does make more sense than it use too. The higher the gas gets, the more sense it makes. If we reach $5 a gallon which I am sure will happen, it's going to cost us close to $90-100 to fill up the tank on the Z. That isn't going to be fun.
I found a different solution... I bought a motorcycle.
Now i split my daily driving... i get about 18 (all city) in the Z, and about 50 on my GS500F. Assuming a near 50/50 split in time.. I'm effectively getting 34mpg... Just like driving a civic but I'm having WAY more fun.
Not to mention.. owning the bike is saving me money at a much higher rate than the bike is depreciating.... so in a way its actually making me money... AND I'm putting fewer miles on the Z!
Now i split my daily driving... i get about 18 (all city) in the Z, and about 50 on my GS500F. Assuming a near 50/50 split in time.. I'm effectively getting 34mpg... Just like driving a civic but I'm having WAY more fun.
Not to mention.. owning the bike is saving me money at a much higher rate than the bike is depreciating.... so in a way its actually making me money... AND I'm putting fewer miles on the Z!
Last edited by sintaxeror; Mar 11, 2008 at 05:07 PM.
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Joined: Nov 2004
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From: SinCity, NV
Originally Posted by marhot
+1
If you're worried about gas cost, MPG, insurance, maintance cost, etc. etc . you shouldn't have bought a Z.
There is nothing practical about a sports car.
If you're worried about gas cost, MPG, insurance, maintance cost, etc. etc . you shouldn't have bought a Z.
There is nothing practical about a sports car.
LOL The Z has pretty good Mpg as well (tho if ya stomp it everytime, even a civic is going to suck gas)
Gas is probably the cheapest thing... Just think how much a smoker coughs up a month
or how much another lap dance comes out to. 
IE: You cant buy a more economical sports car than the Z.. Best bang for the buck bar none.
Last edited by zipgun; Mar 12, 2008 at 02:03 AM.