Vehicle Data Comparisons
Chevy Van averaged 16.98 mpg.
Pontiac Vibe averaged 32 mpg.
Totals
84,280.3
1435.747
4490.51
3.128
58.701
15,479.31
$10,988.80
$3,720.55
The MPG ratings for this vehicle are 52 highway and 53 city.
Owned van for 4 years.
Owned Vibe for 13 years.
2020 Toyota Corolla Hybrid was bought in May of 2019.
Notes...
12/31/23
Much lower efficiency was more than offset by lower car usage.
Work layoff for 6 weeks led to less car usage (and less audiobook time.) Most trips Jo was in thew car along with either groceries or bringing furniture loaded car on lengthy trip to granddaughter. Another impact on efficiency was I know how to play the road to Rockland and back better than other roads.
11/22/23
This year started bringing home heavier firewood. Pine that is very green with weight. As always I figure the saved heating oil more than offsets the extra transport fuel.
10/11/23
Against the van it took 4 years and 5 months to save $10,000 on gas.
10/1/23
Travel on I95 with high speed limits makes it harder to travel under 60mph safely, at least in southern Maine.
8/12/23
Wondering if I will have another tank where I save $100 compared to van.
7/12/23
Trip to New Hampshire to bike a section of the remaining gap from Newbury to the Lee Traffic Circle. Covered Newbury to Concord over 2 days. Jo was pace car so I did not have to do it solo (bike both ways). A/C was used both days with some idling waiting for me. This isamong the reasons why mpg went back below 60.
6/2/23
Human hybrid mpg is due to biking 7.0 miles to pay property taxes. (Data line aged out.) Those who remember the Liberty Graphics days remember the 'Human Hybrid' tag before I went four years with no car. Ahhh....the healthier days.
4/15/22
Gas savings for the 4th year against the van was $2,750.23. Against the Vibe was $927.79.
Miles driven were 17,079.6.
3/25/23
Car is paid off. Against the van I have saved 36% of the vehicle cost in fuel alone over 44 months. Against the Vibe I have saved over 12%.
2/27/23
In the 1 year since Russia invaded Ukraine I saved $2947.52 compared to the van. Compared to the Vibe I saved $993.57.
11/21/22
Stopped at Maritime on way to work to get gas was with frigid weather I would not make it to Rockland. Running 2 minutes behind I got a couple of gallons and was back on my way. This and another ride to work on this tank was faster travel to not be late. The other time I clocked in at exact start time. So the miles left is the amount when I filled up on ther first stop. Even though gas was cheaper at Nouria I filled up at Maritime Farms on way home to keep the numbers lined up. Notice that did not quite work as the price per gallon came out to an even penny ...which it would be if someone could break the stupid habit of continuing the price structure established in the 1930s when fuel tax was first introduced. In my lifetime gas prices have always been high enough (even under $1) that the pump price could be sold as an even penny. Fuel taxes are paid in bulk buy the distributor. The store does not send fuel tax direct to the state or federal agencies like happens in sales and payroll taxes.
10/26
Some concern over falling below 60mpg when temps have not fallen low enough to bring on seasonal move. Do not know if gasoline blend has shifted to winter mix yet. Tire pressure looks good visually. Air filter is a month old. No heavy wood loads. Some passenger travel but not enough to impact.
10/1
MPG lowered by several heavy loads of firewood. Too bad it is not downhill on the way home from work. When loads of wood are green on the inside the weight is considerably more. I could see it decline with each load. Knew it would be close to 60mpg. However in the long run the saved heating oil more than offsets using a bit more gas.
I simply hope the wood on current tank is dryer/lighter than the last tank. Strange getting under 60mpg before the first freeze.
9/12
Streak of saving $100 against the van ended on 9/11. It began on 5/11 and lasted for ten tanks.
The moves on the commodities market look like pump prices can go under $3 in October but so much depends on Europe and hurricane season.
9/3
Why this happens for pricing in Rockland makes no sense. Watching commodity markets (including New York Harbor price) told me that more than two weeks ago gas should be under $4 a gallon. Last week should be under $3.70. This has a store making a good profit margin. Belfast and Augusta stations were all in expected price range. Yet Rockland and even Union were all in $3.90s or over $4.
New York Harbor price settle on Friday says on next delivery stations should be $3.50 or less for regular gasoline on next delivery. The October futures contract alrerady is in the range of under $3.20. I am leaving in a much larger profit margain than I used to. In a gas price fight station wight now can be approaching $3.25 a gallon. There are two stations in Buxton, Maine in a price battle. One is $3.39 this morning. The other last night was $3.49.
Of course these higher prices really do mean much less for people driving efficient vehicles. I know when prices drop under $4 my saving $100 per tank will end.
Here is more of my data through the August 31 fillup:
In the 112 days of my 4th year with this car I have saved $1,049 (against the van) or $9.37 a day.
In the 189 days from gas surging after Russia went into Ukraine I have saved $1,683 or $8.91 per day.
I did not include the tank from February 23 which was higher in worry about Russian intentions. They invaded Ukraine the next day.
8/21
Savings against the van for the past 3 months is about $950. With gas prices falling I will not come close to saving $4,000 in one year, but $3,000 is possible. Average annual savings the first 3 years was $2,000.
Have not done so for a while, so time to look at effective pricing with pump price at $4.249.
On the last tank which got 65.50mph against the van at 16.98mpg:
If I sold my car to get the van my effective price per gallon is $16.39.
If I sold the van to go to my car my effective price per gallon is $1.10
Compared to the Vibe at 32mpg:
If I sold my car to get the Vibe my effective price per gallon is $8.70.
If I sold the Vibe (which I did in 2019) to go to my car my effective price per gallon is $2.08.
8,211.06
4/12/24
532.3
9.751
33.63
3.449
54.59
58.70
108.12
74.49
10,988.80
57.37
23.74
3720.55
1 mile left; Nouria Thomaston; warm temps/Patten eclipse trip
3/20/24
490.3
9.194
30.88
3.359
53.33
58.78
96.98
66.10
10,852.36
51.46
20.58
3678.78
23 miles left; Maritime Union; fill before work due to pm storm
4/2/24
477.2
9.495
31.61
3.329
50.26
58.72
93.56
61.95
10,914.31
49.65
18.04
3696.81
10 miles left; Maritime Union