Real cost of driving an SUV/Pickup Truck
http://www.fueleconomy.gov/
F-150 v8 4.6L has a real life 16MPG
Accord 2.4L has a real life - 28MPG
A typical F-150 XLT pickup truck runs over $30,000
A typical Accord EX sedan runs about $24,000
Assuming that both vehicles have same residual value, then
over a 180,000 miles lifetime and at an average fuel cost of $3.30 gallon
Ford Truck = fuel 37,125 + truck costs 30,000/tax = 69,000
Honda Car = fuel 21,215 + car costs 24,000/tax = 46,700
Assuming that both vehicles have same residual value, then
Even driving a used pickup truck with 100,000 miles/trade in @ 200,000, it is the real kicker
Ford Truck = fuel 20,625 + truck costs 12,000//tax-3,000 trade in =30,400Honda Car = fuel 11,800 + car costs 24,000/tax - 7,700 trade in = 29,650
## # # #
What do you expect for your MPG?
On an average of 18,000 miles a year, a typical SUV will consume 900 gallons a year or more. A typical bread-n-butter family sedans consume 600 gallons or less. The difference of $500 10 years ago ($1.75 gallon) was worth the "fun, enjoyment". At the current rate of $3.50 gallon, or $4.00 gallon, the difference become $1000, $1200 a year. That's $100 a month more on gas.
Getting more than 30 mpgs require some serious trade-off. Want to give up the size? Want to give up the comforts?
At 40mpg, it saving translates to (18,000/30 - 18,000/40) 150 gallons or $500 a year. It's kind of same questions, want fun/size for $1000 more or give up some comforts/size to save $500?