A native Californian transplanted in southern Illinois.HauserNet paid me for February, $2.25.
My part-time job paid me $160 for July's work.
My budgeted automatic transfer of $170 happened.
And we are up to $739.87 in Car Fund.
I have been thinking about my car needs. I was thinking small SUV for several reasons. I am not used to driving in snow and I might like to tow a small travel trailer one day. Upon further investigation, I have learned that towing a travel trailer with a small SUV is not recommended. On another forum I visit, there was a thread recently discussing driving in the snow and many people there reported driving in sedans with front wheel drive and snow tires and doing just fine. And many of them live in places which get much more snow than Reno, NV. That started me thinking that perhaps I don't really have a compelling reason to spend more to buy a small SUV and more to keep gas in its tank.
So, now I am thinking car. But, I would like a hatchback for easier in/out with bicycles. I have been browsing online, pricing cars which come with a hatchback option. Of those, I really like the looks of the Ford Focus hatchback. They are super cute! I'm not crazy about the Ford brand, though. I still have plenty of time to think about it.
Car Fund Update; Car Thoughts
August 18th, 2014 at 04:01 pm
August 18th, 2014 at 04:11 pm 1408378280
August 18th, 2014 at 05:08 pm 1408381702
(If money was less of an object our next car would probably be Ford Focus, BUT, we seem to end up with a completely different brand car every time because brand loyalty isn't very cost effective).
August 18th, 2014 at 05:13 pm 1408382039
In regards to travel trailers with small SUV, it will need a small 6 cylinder engine, which normally tow 3,500 lbs GVWR, gross vehicle weight rating. Some of the larger 6 cylinder engines can tow 5,000 lbs, but your choices are limited. Of course 8 cylinder vehicles have higher ratings. Most of the small SUV's have 4 cylinder engines, usually can't tow anything more than $1,500 lbs.
August 18th, 2014 at 06:13 pm 1408385632
Also, I have never put snow tires on this car and still have had no problem driving in the snow.
August 18th, 2014 at 07:21 pm 1408389711
Snow tires are all new to me. So you have to put them on the car at the beginning of winter? Then you take them off after? Or do you just leave them on year round? I believe they are more expensive than regular tires, aren't they? If you change them out, you always need to store a set of tires someplace.
I have read that small SUVs are just not designed for hauling travel trailers. Hauling a flat trailer loaded with cargo weighing 2k lbs is not the same as hauling a small travel trailer weighing 2k lbs. The travel trailer is generally taller than the vehicle, so the wind is dragging at the top as you drive. While you can still do it, it is bad for your vehicle and not considered safe.
I don't want to buy a larger SUV, pay even more, get even worse gas mileage all the time, just in case I maybe want to buy a travel trailer some day. It just doesn't make sense to me. I still like the idea of a travel trailer, but I will consider my vehicle again if that travel trailer buying day comes.
August 18th, 2014 at 09:43 pm 1408398190
August 19th, 2014 at 01:25 am 1408411511
I will be giving my car to my son in May when he graduates from high school, so will be buying something.
September 3rd, 2014 at 05:12 pm 1409764343
If you're at the on-line Ford site, ask Focus owners if they had it to do again, would they buy the vehicle they're driving? why?