In car crazy Southern California, we tend to drive everywhere. In college, I literally lived across the street from Cal State Fullerton, and I still drove to school—even though the parking was less than plentiful. That’s when gas hovered just north of a buck a gallon.
The road trips with the dogs in the 30 mpg Toyota Corolla just didn’t cut it anymore when Kate was born. Cramming all of the baby paraphernalia, supplies for the dogs and suitcases in a subcompact was a challenge. We decided to go as big and safe as was financially possible.
Enter the minivan. Not sexy or fast, but safe and gobbled up luggage and baby supplies with ease.
With a gallon of regular gas currently hovering around $3.50, the thirsty Toyota Sienna costs us $70 to fill up. We try to fill up at the local Costco—which usually gives us a 10-15 cent discount compared to our local gas station—yet every week it seems that we’re spending more.
But unrest in the Middle East is driving prices through the roof; USA Today ran a story on Wednesday predicting that if the unrest spread from Libya to other oil-producing countries, it might top $5 a gallon this summer. Our Auto writer, Matt Degen, is following prices locally, and says that prices might pass $4 by Memorial Day. For us, this translates to around $120 more per month, or $1,400 more per year—and that’s just for the one car. Ouch.
The van averages around 19 mpg, and recently we’ve been rethinking what our next car might be. At this point, it is purely an academic exercise, as we have a habit of driving our cars until the wheels come off.
But the thought of trading in the venerable minivan has crossed my mind on more than one occasion—usually when I’m filling it up and imagining the $20 bills flying out of my wallet into oblivion.We’ll definitely go with a smaller model, but need a car that will still have enough space to fit everything into the trunk; we want to be able to throw it in and go.
The requirements: four doors, lots of airbags, a hatchback, space for a few 10 foot long 2 by 4s, and good gas mileage. Maybe some kind of station wagon like a Subura Outback, Mazda 5, Honda CR-V or Hyundai Santa Fe, or the new Prius wagon. Something that gets 25 mpg or more. Read my 2011 family car review from the OC Auto Show.
So far, gas prices haven’t affected our driving habits. But at $5 or higher a gallon, it definitely might make me think twice before firing up the minivan and I might take the smaller Corolla instead…or end up walking to the grocery store across the street. At least I’ll get more exercise!
How do people manage with Hummers, pickup trucks or sports cars? Priorities I guess.
TELL ME: At what point might gas prices start affecting your driving habits or choice in vehicle?
Mark Uyemura has officially traded in his bachelorhood to go all in to the dad life. When not mowing his spacious lawn, fixing something on his 80-year old house, or detailing the 16-inch plastic wheel covers on his minivan, he’s at his day job continuously improving the Orange County Register’s web site. Mark is a Cal State Fullerton grad, and lives in nearby Brea with his wife, Andrea, 5-year-old daughter, Kate, and two trusty old dogs, Cooper and Andy.
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Would $5 gas change your driving habits? is a post from: OC Moms: The Mom Blog
