MPG calculator

[wackymother Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close wackymother]

Here's a handy calculator that lets you figure out how much gasoline is costing you annually, and how that compares to the highest-efficiency vehicles.

This one uses the manufacturer's mpg.
MPG Calculator > Sierra Club

This one lets you put in your own personal data.
Save Money

Helpful if you're thinking about buying a car.

[gravityrules Member Find all posts View Profile Close gravityrules]

Thanks for the link, it's a useful tool.

I have observed that folks sometimes use the high price of gas to justify buying a new (or newer) more fuel efficient vehicle. But there's more to the equation if you're evaluating getting a vehicle specifically to obtain better mpg.

My example:
Present car: 21 mpg
Proposed replacement: 28 mpg
At $4.00/gallon and 12,000 miles/year the fuel savings calculated over 5 years is $2858.

Almost $3000 over 5 years isn't bad, right? Well really that less than $600/year. OK, not as impressive but still good, right?
How much sales tax will I have to pay on that replacement vehicle? If we assume 6% sales tax on a $15,000 car, then that would be $900. Oops, that wipes out a year and a half of gas savings, that's not so good.
And how about depreciation? That's pretty much zero on my present car, it's worth less than $2500 according to Kelly Blue Book and it's still has under 100K miles and is reliable. But that $15K car may well depreciate $2000/year for several years. Wow, now I'm really negative for the next 5 years and we haven't even considered that I'm now making payments on a car loan! Sure I may have a repair now and then that are equal to a car payment but it won't be every month!

As much as I'd might like to get a newer higher mileage vehicle, I can't justify it on the basis on the price of gas. Of course if you drive more miles the numbers will move in the direction of making a vehicle change, a higher initial price for the replacement vehicle works against a change. Anyone else been through this type of exercise?

[jjw Member Find all posts View Profile Close jjw]

Thanks for the link. It's interesting to check the mpg of the different models.

[johnstp Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close johnstp]

Very interesting... and a little depressing to think how much I could have saved so far.