Motorcycle or Festiva?

[ForistellFord]

OK, with gas prices high enough to dent the budget, which would you choose...

[72GTVA]

I want another option - I went with the Festiva 'cause at least you can get to and from work in rainy weather, but I'd like to be able to widen the options to include other slightly larger vehicles...

What does that Durango get MPG? My Crown Vic gets 22 to and from work and over 26 on the highway...

[ForistellFord]

I want another option - I went with the Festiva 'cause at least you can get to and from work in rainy weather, but I'd like to be able to widen the options to include other slightly larger vehicles...

What does that Durango get MPG? My Crown Vic gets 22 to and from work and over 26 on the highway...
Mr. Durango gets 13.5 or so, and I am mostly highway. My E150 got 8, my F150 got 18. I haven't had a sipper in a long time. If I get something different I'm looking for 40 mpg minimum. I had a little 'Stiva that got nearly 50 even dragging my carcass around. It was a stick of course.

[5.0 Chero]

What's the Stiva really going to cost ya? Cost insurance tags ect. over keep driving the Fanrango. How long is the extra 27 miles a gal going to take to pay for its self?

[72GTVA]

I guess you are limited then to hybrids and itty bitty clown cars like the Festiva.

I bought and rode a motorcycle to and from work as sole source vehicle for a couple of years, and as my luck went it was two of the wetest and coldest years on record! I have to admit that it is a real character builder to ride your bike with two feet of snow on the ground and still falling 35 miles from where I lived to the Naval Shipyard, pre-dawn to work and post-dusk home. Fun!!! (not!). I learned to hate every driver out there on the road, probably a little more than I hate all the hugenormous SUV drivers out there now. I stuck with the bike for a couple of years and then traded it for a '72 Ranchero. Still have the Ranchero - I think the bike is long since recycled.

[ForistellFord]

What's the Stiva really going to cost ya? Cost insurance tags ect. over keep driving the Fanrango. How long is the extra 27 miles a gal going to take to pay for its self?

Well, it won't take long that's for sure. Hell I pay insurance and get the Durango licensed every year already. I'm paying a car payment a month on gas alone, with gas being at the 3 buck mark. So, I have to make a decision on it one way or another. Either deal with it or get a little beater. I'm paying about $325/month on gas to commute. Gas only, not maintenance. I could reduce that greatly with a sipper.

[5.0 Chero]

So you keeping the durando too?

[ForistellFord]

So you keeping the durando too?
No I'd be replacing it. Mainly because there's not enough room for all those cars, plus I can get a POS like a Festiva pretty cheap. So selling the Durango would net a replacement sipper and a few rancherobuck$$$$ to boot. Frankly, I really like that Durango, but it's a no brainer between it and the Chero. It is very functional and useful, but gas prices have me thinking hard about it.

[5.0 Chero]

that different than now I can vote...................

[5.0 Chero]

one more question...........if its a bike you still replacing the Durango?

[ForistellFord]

one more question...........if its a bike you still replacing the Durango?
Yes. The Ranchero will be my 'other daily driver'.

[5.0 Chero]

Ok i will vote now...........I would not have a bike for a daily driver around here.......

[Sean]

one more question...........if its a bike you still replacing the Durango?

If it's a bike he'll be replacing his hip sockets, spleen and the skin on his legs and side.

$325/month = 108 gallons of gas @ $3/gal = 1458 miles driven a month = 72 miles a day (assuming a 5 day work week).
If you were to buy a car that got 32mpg (the new Focus for example) you would use…..
2.2 gals/day = 45 gals/month = $135/month @ $3/gal
That is a savings of $190 month which is not much less than a car payment on a new car that costs $12K. I would say lease a car and unhook the odometer.

[72GTVA]

...assuming a 5 day work week...


Isn't "work" and DF an oxymoron? :p

[ForistellFord]

$325/month = 108 gallons of gas @ $3/gal = 1458 miles driven a month = 72 miles a day (assuming a 5 day work week).
If you were to buy a car that got 32mpg (the new Focus for example) you would use…..
2.2 gals/day = 45 gals/month = $135/month @ $3/gal
That is a savings of $190 month which is not much less than a car payment on a new car that costs $12K. I would say lease a car and unhook the odometer.
And if I had a 'Stive at around 42MPG we're talking about $77 a month in fuel costs with petrol at $3.25/gal, so wow.

[Sean]

Plus you won't be wearing out the Durango. I killed my old F150, and wallet, driving it 50 miles a day for work. If I had bought a cheap beater, or two, I would have a nice old payed for truck with about 60K miles on her.

[Gremium7]

Hello guys
i send you the price for german gasoil
1 Liter ( 0,26 Gallons ) Super gasoil 95 Okthan cost 2,20$
i think thats very expensiv
i put iiquid gas in my engine thats ceeper than gasoil 0,26 gallons cost 0,77$
my engine taks of 62,5 mls. 5,8 gallons gas
i think you in USA live in a wonderland of gasoil

[RancheroUS]

Buy a Hybrid and be done with it. Get rid of the POS Durango and get an AWD Escape Hybrid or Similar car.

[ForistellFord]

Buy a Hybrid and be done with it. Get rid of the POS Durango and get an AWD Escape Hybrid or Similar car.
You're hawking a Escape Hybrid to me, and you have the nerve to call the Durango a POS? You be goofy, my man. Goofy.

I don't want some pretend SUV hybrid green tree hugging POS. I want to save my money, not the planet. Geez louise.

[RancheroUS]

An Excursion, Hummer or Youkon is a Real SUV sorry Durangos, Explorers, Jimmys, and Cherokees dont count. They are a Womans SUV. :D Last time I looked a most hybrids got around 50 MPG but that does not count I guess.

[ForistellFord]

An Excursion, Hummer or Youkon is a Real SUV sorry Durangos, Explorers, Jimmys, and Cherokees dont count. They are a Womans SUV. :D Last time I looked a most hybrids got around 50 MPG but that does not count I guess.
Escape hybrid gets 34 max downhill with a tailwind. Besides, it's way too expensive, would take forever to pay for itself and I would sooooo hate it by then. So, is the 73 351c chero gonna do better than 13.5????

[RancheroUS]

Close probably would say 12 - 14 on a good day if the carb is well tuned.

[ForistellFord]

Close probably would say 12 - 14 on a good day if the carb is well tuned.
Oh. Well I'd rather drive it than the Durango anyway of course, so that's something. But I thought it would do better honestly.

[5.0 Chero]

mine get about 20mpg........

[ForistellFord]

mine get about 20mpg........
That's the 5.0 EFI right? Not too bad.

[RancheroUS]

:eek:

Read this about Hybrids. Guy in his Honda Hybrid got 73 MPG.

http://townhall-talk.edmunds.com/direct/view/.ef2d147

You are running an original pushrod V8 that has not been rebuilt yet. The Chero is a Tank with aerodynamics like a Kite. I had a 302 with a little larger cam, intake and headers and got 13 MPG. Anything I have ever owned Older does not do well in the MPG department I am not a carb tuner though. I will sell you my 79 F-250 with a 460 750 CFM carb and a 3 speed C6 that gets about 8. I only drive it when its loaded now.

[RancheroUS]

My Mustang with an EFI, 5.0, Explorer intake swap, MSD stand alone billet distributor, 3.73 gears and Tweaked 5 speed got 25 to Carlisle and back last year. The 5.0 in my opinion Hit it dead nuts with that EFI set up. A guy had a Bone stock car like mine and got 30 plus to carlisle.

[ForistellFord]

I get it with the whole 'old technology in a land barge' thing. Hybrids cost a lot of bread. I would be happier in a $900 Festiva pushing 45 MPG than dropping thousands in a hybrid requiring special maintenance and getting less than 10 mpg better. Or a bike, whichever.

[5.0 Chero]

Fuelinjection and overdrive are the ticket to MPG.............

[ForistellFord]

Fuelinjection and overdrive are the ticket to MPG.............
True. I'd just need to find the perfect bolt-in donor near me, that's all.

[5.0 Chero]

True. I'd just need to find the perfect bolt-in donor near me, that's all.


No such thing...............

[ForistellFord]

No such thing...............
Shut up. You have some nerve correcting me, mister. I'm not doing any of that anyway. I like my Cleveland just fine.

[5.0 Chero]

Not correcting you just letting you know that it is a pipe dream and by the way Clevlands suck.............................................. ........................................lots of gas

[ForistellFord]

Not correcting you just letting you know that it is a pipe dream and by the way Clevlands suck.............................................. ........................................lots of gas
Maybe, but if I get 14 then it's right on par with my fuel injected 1998 318, so it can't be all bad...

[5.0 Chero]

but you wont!!!!!!!!!!! and that durango really sucks my f350 superduty get 18

[ForistellFord]

Hey my 5.4 4 door FX4 got 18, and that was no Prius. Man I miss that truck.

[RancheroUS]

I get it with the whole 'old technology in a land barge' thing. Hybrids cost a lot of bread. I would be happier in a $900 Festiva pushing 45 MPG than dropping thousands in a hybrid requiring special maintenance and getting less than 10 mpg better. Or a bike, whichever.

OK sorry but if you feel comfortable driving a 900 dollar Festiva 140 miles a day 70 to work and 70 back correct? You are asking for more problems than just filling up a dependable car in my opinion. The cost of the car at 900, when it needs brakes, tie rod ends, suspension parts, possibly a transmission insurance for another car. Its an Old car made til 1993. It may look appealing now but once reality hits with repair costs etc its not really beneficial. Once again just my 2 pennies.

[ForistellFord]

Your opinions are always welcome. 70 miles round trip. Not one way. Anyway the Durango is 10, the chero is 35, and I'm older than that. I trust all of them so I'm not concerned with the Festiva's age. Keep those opinions comin.

[RancheroUS]

How often do you take the Ranchero on Road Trips? You said before you would not drive it a Long Distance to a meet so are you changing stories now? :rolleyes: I am just Busting on ya DF. Its Easy :D I guess my point is its easier just driving one of the vehicles you have because you actually know they are dependable and wont leave you stranded. I am sure there are MANY of us on this site and others you visit that have bought someone elses problems. I would hate to see you buy a Festiva and have to dump huge money in the thing because its a Junker and be way Behind where you would have been if you just used what you have. Figure out how long a bike at 3-5K or a Festiva in decent shape for 1,500 will take you to recoup your funds and actually save. Nobody like Gas prices now we are at 3.47 a Gallon, second only to California here in NY. That is why my 8 MPG 79 F-250 does not move unless its loaded with my camper or moving something I need moved.

[rwitt]

So, is the 73 351c chero gonna do better than 13.5????

Heck yes!!! Your 351c must get killer mpg. You've had it what, 6-8 months? and I bet your still on that first tank of gas........:p:p:p

[ForistellFord]

Heck yes!!! Your 351c must get killer mpg. You've had it what, 6-8 months? and I bet your still on that first tank of gas........:p:p:p
Ah, that rwitt 'humor' again. Where's it been?

Bill I don't drive long distances to meets because I don't have the time. I'd love to have the 73 out on the road for a nice jog. But I forgot what that has to do with the thread.

As far as 'big money' on a Festiva, there's no such thing. Heck, the tires are 12" and they're like ten bucks mounted at Wally. You can use Double Bubble for brake pads, canola for motor oil, the steering wheel is actually a milk jug lid. No big ticket items on those little butt skates. The 91 I had was pull start, like a Briggs.

[Sean]

This may sound dumb, but have you thought about carpooling? Assuming there is somebody you work with that lives on the way and they can stand to be in a car with you for 40 minutes. I corpooled with 2 guys in MI and saved a ton of gas. Me and a guy here alternate days so we have each cut our gas bills in half.

[ForistellFord]

This may sound dumb, but have you thought about carpooling? Assuming there is somebody you work with that lives on the way and they can stand to be in a car with you for 40 minutes. I corpooled with 2 guys in MI and saved a ton of gas. Me and a guy here alternate days so we have each cut our gas bills in half.
There aren't enough people living in Foristell that would follow my schedule but good idea anyway. Plus no one wants to be near me in such close proximity for so long every day. I've seen passengers on planes sitting next to me actually leave scratch marks on the windows trying to jump out.

[RancheroUS]

Then sell all of your cars and move out of the Sticks :D:p Buy a house close to work and ride your Bike if Gas is such a big deal. Love to push your buttons;)

[Hillbilly]

Three more pennys on the pile. Ever consider that on highway trips those now dirt cheap Crown Vics with 4.6 engines pull around 25 mpg ? 91 thru 95's are $5K or less and actually have room in them. My wife beats on her 91 Town Car all short runs and it still get's 19.6 mpg like clockwork. My 93 T-car pulls 26 mpg at a steady 80 mph loaded with five passengers. Pretty good payback for the small investment.

[ForistellFord]

Three more pennys on the pile. Ever consider that on highway trips those now dirt cheap Crown Vics with 4.6 engines pull around 25 mpg ? 91 thru 95's are $5K or less and actually have room in them. My wife beats on her 91 Town Car all short runs and it still get's 19.6 mpg like clockwork. My 93 T-car pulls 26 mpg at a steady 80 mph loaded with five passengers. Pretty good payback for the small investment.
Check this one out Hillbilly...

http://stlouis.craigslist.org/car/633916322.html

[5.0 Chero]

Plus no one wants to be near me in such close proximity for so long every day. I've seen passengers on planes sitting next to me actually leave scratch marks on the windows trying to jump out.

How come I believe this is true?????

[Dan the ranchero man]

If you live in a climate that allows you to ride a bike without to much bad weather and you still have something to fall back on for those "bad days" then a bike is great. but if you are going to be riding in the rain or worse snow then a fuel efficent car is the way to go. I like bikes but SUV's really push them around here and unless you are real fast and can get out of the way forget it! I see more bike/suv accidents on my way home from work in the summer than any other kind.

[pdw72]

Bikes are great but to drive that distance every day on one could get taxing, then there are those days when the weatherman was wrong:mad:
If you want a bike, I would plan it as a recreational vehicle and buy yourself something else for the daily commute, it will help you keep you sanity.

[72GTVA]

Saw a bike the other day, can't say what kind it was, rider was WAY TOO BIG and from behind all you could see was a rump and two wheels with stressed tires on the road... :eek:

Does that sound like you DF - "The Rump" riding his bike into work or home??? :p

[pdw72]

DF, what's a mototcycle:confused:(choice on your poll)

[Rayell]

I voted Festriva, but it don't count. Find you a Yugo, and buy it. Then you will be able to write about something worthwhile. :p

[Hillbilly]

Check this one out Hillbilly...

http://stlouis.craigslist.org/car/633916322.html

If those miles are correct I'd leave a little cash aside and try to dicker them down about $500. It's already parking lot broken in so it's perfect for a beater car. Left rear quarter sure has some sorry paint repair though. At that milage it's ready for new brake pads, a new set of Michelins, fuel filter, plugs and wires, trans filter and fluid. Basic service. I'd drive it a good 50 miles before I bought it just to see if it all does what it's supposed to.

[fomocomofo]

propane. it has a high octane rating and is alot cheaper than super. also its great for the environment.

[ForistellFord]

also its great for the environment.
Woah, hold on there, buddy. Who asked Mr. Greenie to pop in here? :D My environment is perfectly fine, thank you. I'm concerned for the environment of my wallet. More green there is the goal.

I am still searching for the special little someone. Probably will be a 4 wheel car rather than a bike just for the cargo capacity of it. Hard to throw a lot of junk into the back of a bike. If anyone has a Festiva, Suzuki Swift, Escort wagon, or something like that they don't need anymore, let me know.

[fomocomofo]

http://www.gasresearch.com.au/

check this out. some guys here have set ups from this crowd and one is getting the equivalent of 60 miles to the gallon out of a 470 plus cid chubby in a 56 shoebox. (money wise). sorry to use such bad language here but its true. spare a thought for geremy clarkson of top gear fame with him having to stop 3 times a day at gas stations when he comutes to work in his gt40.

Doobie Doobie Doobie Do. R.O.