Saving $$ on car gas????

[LearLove]

I Feb I'm based in DCA. That means 185 mile drive to the airport (370 round trip) instead of the 42 I drive now. I usually put 550 miles per month on my Toyota Tacoma which gets 21 MPG. At 1.95 per gallon I spend 50 to 60 dollars per month on gas.

Now being based in DC at 5 round trips per month plus misc driving when home I guess I'll put (5X370=1850+200 or about 2000) 2000 miles per month. Now my gas goes to 2000/21=95gallons time 1.95 is $185.00 per month on gas.

Is there any gas card (mobil/Exxon ect.) that pays you back? Or anyother programs that reward you for buying gas from them so maybe I can save alittle?

Any Ideas?

Thanks

Also I'm going to be driving from Solebury, PA to DCA. Mapquest says go PA turnpike to Blue route south to 95 south. Anyone go a better way? It's been years since I've driven to DCA but I hear that 95 between south of PHL and DCA svcks balls. I going to try to do most of my driving late at night.

 

[Wankel7]

Yeah, I use Shell gas card. It pays 5% cash on your statements.

However, where I live the Shell gas costs the same as the Citgo gas. So, you really can save.

I know in some places Shell costs more than others.

The walmart pre payed gas card can work to. However, I find I will save more using my Shell credit card.

Of course there are other things you can try. Like inflating your tires a few pounds over recommened pressure. Less rolling resistance on your tires. Also, I hope your using 87 octane or the lowest available. Don't forget to empty out all the junk in your car. That can help. Don't forget drafting the big trucks

Good luck!

Wankel

 

[OleGuy]

5% on Shell invoice credit
3% on BP paid with $20 gas cards.
Both have 1% on all other purchases.
If you have a business on the side the 1% can add up sometimes. They don't seem to care what you buy with them, from college tuition, Burger King, or inventory for your business.
I went through South Boston, Va yesterday and Shell was 1.65!

 

[EagleRJ]

You should work the numbers on buying an older Honda CRX or something that gets 35-40 MPG as an airport car. I'm sure you'd break even after a year or two, and you'd have another vehicle as a backup.
It will also save putting all those miles on your truck.

Oh yeah, wrong forum!

 

[GravityHater]

Why not buy one of those 400mpg carburetors?

 

[KeroseneSnorter]

You can always go buy yourself a 3 foot section of hose, a couple of 5 gallon jerry cans and find an unoccupied car and..........oh wait..am I saying that out loud?

 

[qmaster3]

We used to buy gas at SAMS club. And if I had to drive that far all the time I would do it again. I would also look into a hybrid car....Did I just say that

 

[jarhead]

I use a VISA card issued by Super America / Speedway (Ashland Oil Co affiliates) It gives you back a cash credit on your monthly statement amounting to a 4% refund on ALL brands of gasoline.....Shell, Conoco, BP, Amoco, conveniance store gas....it just doesn't matter. If you buy gasoline with it, you get 4% back. That's 4%, not 04 cents. They also give you back a 4% rebate monthly on any oil changes or services done at Valvoline Rapid oil change stores.

On top of that, they also give you back monthly, a 1% rebate on all other things you use their VISA card for. So from meals to junk you buy at Home Depot or Wal-Mart, you get that extra 1% back. If you go into a Super America or Speedway gas station they have several different applications for different VISA cards. Pick up the one for the card called the "Performance Card" There is no annual fee.

 

[mattpilot]

hmm.... $185 a month with a 5% discount = $9.25

I guess every penny makes a difference?

 

[PropsForward]

You can always go buy yourself a 3 foot section of hose, a couple of 5 gallon jerry cans and find an unoccupied car and..........oh wait..am I saying that out loud?

Or get a diesel powered auto and then be super-super thorough on sumping the tanks each day...

 

[jarhead]

hmm.... $185 a month with a 5% discount = $9.25

I guess every penny makes a difference?

It does. Thats $111 in your pocket every year that you would not otherwise have

 

[Hovernut]

My 90 F-150 was eating me alive in gas...and oil, so I got a used VW Jetta diesel. Slightly on the gutless side, but 48mpg makes up for it!

 

[mattpilot]

It does. Thats $111 in your pocket every year that you would not otherwise have

Well in that case, if every day you picked up a penny from the street and did this for 30 years, you could also get $111 you otherwise wouldn't have

Cheopos ;p

 

[Joseph II]

I would go for the Diesel VW's... My friend owned on and constantly had 50 mpg on the highway..

Good luck on the drive. I used to drive 90 miles to work every day, 5 days a week in a Jeep Wrangler.

90 miles x 20 days/month = 1800 miles.

1800 miles / 16 mpg on highway = 112.5 gallons.

112.5 gallons x $1.95 = $219.37.

$219.37 x 12 months = $2632.5

Now I cannot believe I wasted time calculating that out...

 

[mattpilot]

Now I cannot believe I wasted time calculating that out...

If you really want to get into it, you could also calculate the money/value lost on your car for each mile you drove

 

[Vik]

Considering the cost of your fuel, you could probably lease a Toyota Corolla for $99/mo .. a new or preowned. It gets 40mpg on the highway.

Another option -- motorcycle

I Feb I'm based in DCA. That means 185 mile drive to the airport (370 round trip) instead of the 42 I drive now. I usually put 550 miles per month on my Toyota Tacoma which gets 21 MPG. At 1.95 per gallon I spend 50 to 60 dollars per month on gas.

Now being based in DC at 5 round trips per month plus misc driving when home I guess I'll put (5X370=1850+200 or about 2000) 2000 miles per month. Now my gas goes to 2000/21=95gallons time 1.95 is $185.00 per month on gas.

Is there any gas card (mobil/Exxon ect.) that pays you back? Or anyother programs that reward you for buying gas from them so maybe I can save alittle?

Any Ideas?

Thanks

Also I'm going to be driving from Solebury, PA to DCA. Mapquest says go PA turnpike to Blue route south to 95 south. Anyone go a better way? It's been years since I've driven to DCA but I hear that 95 between south of PHL and DCA svcks balls. I going to try to do most of my driving late at night.

 

[qmaster3]

I wouldn't lease with those miles.

 

[FN FAL]

I wouldn't lease with those miles.

Why not? He could drive it for three years, put 60,000 miles on it and just turn it in and tell them to go screw off. Pilots sign training contracts and get away with that tactic...why not kick it up a notch?

 

[sweptback]

Why not? He could drive it for three years, put 60,000 miles on it and just turn it in and tell them to go screw off. Pilots sign training contracts and get away with that tactic...why not kick it up a notch?

Well, because the dealership would win.

 

[wiggsfly]

Try the discover gas card. 5% at all gas stations. I had this problem for a year and bought a diesel VW. 60MPG! I wouldn't go back....

 

[Vik]

Ok, don't lease but buy a cheap used Corolla. Engine will last 250k miles and you'll get 40mpg and its comfortable.

Don't stiff anyone on a least b/c it'll screw up your credit rating and lead to legal issues.