94 Toyota Tercel as a daily commuter. Friend is selling one for $1000. With the gas prices they way they are in cali I need something with better gas milage than the minivan i drive everyday. All I care about is gas milage, AC and reliabe. Dont care much for anything else.

 

For a daily... do it.

 

For a grand I don't see how you can go to far wrong.

 

Go for it. Eventually it'll pay for itself in the gas you save... well... maybe not but still.

 

Why not figure out the actual cost savings?

The calculation should be pretty straightforward (cost of ghetto gas, estimated Mileage per day, etc.) but you'll have to account for the potential devaluation of driving the Z that much.

 

I dont see the saving happening for a long time...

 

Well, let's see...If the Tercel gets just 5 MPG better than his other car, then for every 4-5 gallons of gas he uses, he's getting one gallon free (Assuming mileage in the 20-25 MPG range). On a 15 gallon tank of gas, he's making back almost what, $6? If he fills up twice a month, he'll save $12, or $144/year. Granted, it would take quite a few years to make back all of the investment, but I think this math is pretty conservative considering the Z makes about what, 18MPG (depending on weight of right foot), and a Terel can make probably 25MPG. So now you're making up a gallon for every 3 gallons and change used.

 

Not to mention: Insurance, Maintenance, Registration. Could take a bit longer than a few years.

 

not worth it IMO

 

You're forgetting the decreased mileage on the Z (or other car) delaying a major service has a value in the hundreds of dollars by itself.

 

a 94 Tercel for 1k, has at least 150k miles. Sure, youre saving the miles on the Z, which is why I have a DD (with the Z being my Weekend Toy ), but youre just spending That Major service $$ on another car. In the end, you arent saving much.

 

Here is a a little more background. Dont even count the Z into the equation, I dont drive it much except on weekends. I drive a minivan as a communter around town, it gets about 12mpg, it has 328K miles on it and it sucks on gas mileage. The tercel gets about what 35mpg. It will take me about 9600 miles to make up the $1000 difference. I'll put 9600 miles on it in no time. Oh yea and the tercel will be replacing the minivan so I'll be canceling the insurance for that and retire it somewhere.

 

Sell the van for $300, buy the Tercel.

 

Another vote for buying the Tercel. Besides the gas mileage factor, you still retain the "park anywhere and not worry about door dings, etc." peace-of-mind that you [might] currently have with your minivan.

 

In that case - get it..

 

^^yea, that.

 

Guys,

I am in the same situation. I am trying to sell my father in law's old corolla 1981 (drives really good, he was a former mechanic so he took care of his car).

I was going to use that as a daily driver and hopefully decrease my insurance in the Z. But then again, i have to pay the insurance for the second car, so it balances out.


But the key thing that you have to remember, don't you want to drive the Z or just stare at it? Its a depreciation product!!!


Tony

 

one of these days I'm going to give up, by a 1992 Honda Civic beater.... and park in any spot I can fit in and get door dings like it's going out of style....

But until then... the phrases "door ding", "keyed", "parallel parking", "parking", "leaving the Z alone", "scratched bumpers", "insurance premium", "insurance deductible", "body shop" make me cringe and crawl up in the fetal position...

I'm what Tyler Durden makes fun of in Fight Club. My possession owns me... and I do mean I am OWNED.

 

The things you own, end up owning you. So true. If you let them

 

or.... since no one is gonna buy a minivan with 328k miles on it.. (damn that's a lot).. you can juss try and go for a 400k record. ;D or........ instead of selling it for like 50 bucks, get a metal bat. Invite some friends over. Get drunk.. and smash away. oh yeah, don't forget to drive into a wall. hahah jk