Update and Feedback Request
Updates:
M and the kids are coming here for Christmas. HBH's therapist put the Absolutely Not label on the idea of them going to visit C. It was partly for reasons we'd all considered and partly for one we hadn't: HCH. The therapist asked M, "Is HCH still taking care of him?"
M thought about it and said, "Wow. Yes. She makes sure she's available every time he calls, whether or not she actually feels like talking to him." [NOTE: I'm betting he doesn't ask her about herself much, if at all. He soaks up her care and concern, forgetting that she's seven.]
The therapist said, "Right. So if she goes down there, she's going to be worrying and taking care of him 24-7. Listen, we need to intervene on this behavior NOW, before she's old enough to turn this into a predilection for being attracted to men she has to take care of."
Wow. Yes. Right. I won't pretend I'm sorry that they're coming here, beyond the fact that they'll be safer. Two weeks with my scrumptious kiddles? Twist my arm.
I'm changing vehicles. This is where your feedback comes in.
I love my CR-V, but it's a 2003 with 66k miles on it and I owe significantly less than it's worth. My goals are to both lower my monthly car payment amount and increase my MPG.
My friend, L's, husband works at a multi-dealership in M-town and I trust him to be fair, so I'm planning to buy from them. But what to buy?
I've ruled out Fords, Chevrolets, Jeeps. They don't fit my needs and I've never had luck with "American" brands (I put that in quotes because my Honda has more American labor in it than most "American" brands). I'm leaning towards Toyota. Heavily.
So, here's the question: do I suck up a higher price tag and get the Prius or do I go for the Corolla and several thousand less?
The Prius stands out because they're comfy, the package is nicer than the Corolla, they handle well (even in snow, due to weight, distribution, wheel base, etc.), and beyond the great MPG stats, they produce something like 70% less noxious emission stuff. My biggest question is: what do they do with the batteries when they wear out? Batteries are pretty toxic, generally speaking. The reviews on the 2008 Prius are very favorable.
The MPGs average about 46 (, with not as much difference city to highway as most vehicles. The performance depends entirely upon how much of the time the electric motor is engaged. Highway performance isn't always as good, unless you've got hilly terrain, which I have here and will have in NH. The one I want will run about $26,400.
The Corolla is less expensive and handles well in snow. They're solid, have an impeccable track record for reliability and do better on MPGs than my CR-V. They're cute enough, hold their value well. My only concern is that the design is going to be seriously revamped for 2009 and I wonder how that may affect resale value.
The MPGs for the Corolla are listed as 26 City and 35 highway. The price will be somewhere around $19,300 minus my trade in. The reviews place it as solid and hard to criticize.
How long will it take for the $700 + interest difference in price to be mitigated by the better mileage? How much does the emotional satisfaction of contributing fewer emissions count?
With the Prius, my monthly car payment will drop somewhere between $20 and $70 per month. With the Corolla, it will drop maybe more like $90 and $150 per month. (The variation in both cases is based upon zero value for my trade in v. $3000 value above existing loan amount.) Right now, counting only going to and from work, I'm burning about 1.25 to 1.5 gallons of gas per day. Seeing my mom is more like 2 gallons, round trip. Going anywhere else, goes up from there. The price of gasoline is absolutely having an effect on what I do and don't do right now. The Prius will increase my MPG by about double. I average between 20 and 24 now. The Corolla will not increase it by tons, but will increase it by some.
These kinds of maths defy my mind. Anyone out there interested in helping me walk through it to see what's really going to have an impact on my monthly bottom line?
We had our first real snow! Three inches of lovely fluffy stuff. Meanwhile, Monday dumped more than a foot on Doc at the rental house and more than two feet at the university. Yay! Can't wait to be there. I. Love. Winter!!! (When it snows. Can't stand winter rain. I'm just not that tough.)
I think Doc's found a used Subaru Forester to replace the Chevy truck that is a ridiculous and useless piece of white metal when presented with snow. I'll be much relieved when she's not swimming around the roads. It's not fun to address a 13% grade without four wheel drive and with a high center of gravity.
Cheers,
Dot
Copyright 2007 Dot's Stuff. All rights reserved. I mean, what do you want?
M and the kids are coming here for Christmas. HBH's therapist put the Absolutely Not label on the idea of them going to visit C. It was partly for reasons we'd all considered and partly for one we hadn't: HCH. The therapist asked M, "Is HCH still taking care of him?"
M thought about it and said, "Wow. Yes. She makes sure she's available every time he calls, whether or not she actually feels like talking to him." [NOTE: I'm betting he doesn't ask her about herself much, if at all. He soaks up her care and concern, forgetting that she's seven.]
The therapist said, "Right. So if she goes down there, she's going to be worrying and taking care of him 24-7. Listen, we need to intervene on this behavior NOW, before she's old enough to turn this into a predilection for being attracted to men she has to take care of."
Wow. Yes. Right. I won't pretend I'm sorry that they're coming here, beyond the fact that they'll be safer. Two weeks with my scrumptious kiddles? Twist my arm.
I'm changing vehicles. This is where your feedback comes in.
I love my CR-V, but it's a 2003 with 66k miles on it and I owe significantly less than it's worth. My goals are to both lower my monthly car payment amount and increase my MPG.
My friend, L's, husband works at a multi-dealership in M-town and I trust him to be fair, so I'm planning to buy from them. But what to buy?
I've ruled out Fords, Chevrolets, Jeeps. They don't fit my needs and I've never had luck with "American" brands (I put that in quotes because my Honda has more American labor in it than most "American" brands). I'm leaning towards Toyota. Heavily.
So, here's the question: do I suck up a higher price tag and get the Prius or do I go for the Corolla and several thousand less?
The Prius stands out because they're comfy, the package is nicer than the Corolla, they handle well (even in snow, due to weight, distribution, wheel base, etc.), and beyond the great MPG stats, they produce something like 70% less noxious emission stuff. My biggest question is: what do they do with the batteries when they wear out? Batteries are pretty toxic, generally speaking. The reviews on the 2008 Prius are very favorable.
The MPGs average about 46 (, with not as much difference city to highway as most vehicles. The performance depends entirely upon how much of the time the electric motor is engaged. Highway performance isn't always as good, unless you've got hilly terrain, which I have here and will have in NH. The one I want will run about $26,400.
The Corolla is less expensive and handles well in snow. They're solid, have an impeccable track record for reliability and do better on MPGs than my CR-V. They're cute enough, hold their value well. My only concern is that the design is going to be seriously revamped for 2009 and I wonder how that may affect resale value.
The MPGs for the Corolla are listed as 26 City and 35 highway. The price will be somewhere around $19,300 minus my trade in. The reviews place it as solid and hard to criticize.
How long will it take for the $700 + interest difference in price to be mitigated by the better mileage? How much does the emotional satisfaction of contributing fewer emissions count?
With the Prius, my monthly car payment will drop somewhere between $20 and $70 per month. With the Corolla, it will drop maybe more like $90 and $150 per month. (The variation in both cases is based upon zero value for my trade in v. $3000 value above existing loan amount.) Right now, counting only going to and from work, I'm burning about 1.25 to 1.5 gallons of gas per day. Seeing my mom is more like 2 gallons, round trip. Going anywhere else, goes up from there. The price of gasoline is absolutely having an effect on what I do and don't do right now. The Prius will increase my MPG by about double. I average between 20 and 24 now. The Corolla will not increase it by tons, but will increase it by some.
These kinds of maths defy my mind. Anyone out there interested in helping me walk through it to see what's really going to have an impact on my monthly bottom line?
We had our first real snow! Three inches of lovely fluffy stuff. Meanwhile, Monday dumped more than a foot on Doc at the rental house and more than two feet at the university. Yay! Can't wait to be there. I. Love. Winter!!! (When it snows. Can't stand winter rain. I'm just not that tough.)
I think Doc's found a used Subaru Forester to replace the Chevy truck that is a ridiculous and useless piece of white metal when presented with snow. I'll be much relieved when she's not swimming around the roads. It's not fun to address a 13% grade without four wheel drive and with a high center of gravity.
Cheers,
Dot
Copyright 2007 Dot's Stuff. All rights reserved. I mean, what do you want?