Forget A Sub-Compact If Want To Save Real Money Just Buy a Gas Hog!

One way to turn high gas prices in your favor is to consider buying a gas hog vehicle.

That may sound crazy at first, but the plummeting value of larger, not-so-fuel-efficient pick-ups, SUVs and larger sedans has left buyers holding all the cards. It’s a virtual sure bet that you can drive home such a vehicle at a tremendous discount — very possibly enough to keep you in “free gas” for several years, even at 15 mpg.

Especially if you don’t use it as an everyday vehicle.

GM, Ford and Chrysler, for example, are offering discounts as large as $8,000-$10,000 off on several popular models — and that’s just “up front.” You can count on being able to haggle the price down even more — because the dealers are increasingly desperate to get these vehicles off their lots. Private sellers may be even more motivated — because they literally cannot afford to keep the vehicle any longer and will be sorely tempted by any offer that puts cash in their hands.

 

HSCenterconsole - 8/27/2008 2:34:35 PM

+7 Boost

$10k can buy you a ton of gas.

HSCenterconsole - 8/27/2008 4:08:31 PM

+3 Boost

I only put on about 8 miles a year on my car, so 20k miles would buy me gas for a little over 2.5 years. Not bad in my opinion. Gas going up is a risk, but for a huge discount on a car, it might be worth it.

For the record, I will not be buying an SUV anytime soon.

WorldofLuxury - 8/27/2008 8:33:37 PM

+2 Boost

I still think SUVs are fun cars...and I'll quote (from Jezza) "the [Hummer] reminds you why you loved cars in the first place."

A friend of mine bothered to go to a Hummer dealer and managed to get 15k off! That's a lot of money! I mean, it's not like we're gonna drive it 24/7, nor is it gonna stay in the garage as long as a Ferrari.
I think taking 15k of is a bargain!

drew630 - 8/27/2008 10:02:14 PM

+1 Boost

kthor:

What vehicle gets 8 mpg??

America - 8/28/2008 12:58:42 AM

+1 Boost

Drew360, everyone who comes in trying to trade in their Hummer. What mileage did you think they got?

The ones with REALLY huge wheels get even worse. I've seen 28's.

kablaam - 8/28/2008 8:19:24 AM

+4 Boost

Comparing a "fuel efficient" car like a camry vs a trailblazer, if you include the 10k in incentives, you should calculate the difference in fuel costs not how much gas $10,000 can buy you.

ie.25mpg combined for Camry @ 20k @ $4 dollars gallon = $3200/year.

16mpg combined for trailblazer @ 20k @ 4 dollars gallon = $5000/year.

1800 difference is about 5 1/5 years worth of gas before costs equalize.

Unless you are an envirofreak....... then we're talking differences.

Chip - 8/27/2008 2:39:29 PM

+6 Boost

A Jeep Dealer by my house has 2 brand new Grand Cherokee SRT-8's parked in front with huge stickers in the windshields that read $32,999. Thats almost 15 grand off sticker!!!! They've been there a little over a week.

Then again, the sucker gets 8-10 mpg on Premium. But you still save big time.

Jaybrn - 8/27/2008 4:59:45 PM

+1 Boost

Whoa! What colors?

Chip - 8/27/2008 10:01:57 PM

+2 Boost

Silver and Deep Red.

NItePhire - 8/27/2008 5:27:12 PM

0 Boost

I wonder if the chick on the Hummer likes the size of its winch. HEHEHE

woood - 8/28/2008 12:46:32 AM

+1 Boost

looks like it. hehehe.

t_bone - 8/28/2008 9:31:11 AM

+1 Boost

The last thing I want is a vehicle with high operating costs. It discourages driving, no matter how good the math looks on paper.