[RipSawyer]

I drive a 2004 Mercury Marquis and get 19 mpg around town and average 27 mpg on the road! I have pushed it to 31.4 mpg over 440 miles of mostly hills but I was drafting trucks to do that. I don’t see the point of paying a ton of money for a small car when I can buy size and luxury for less and get practically the same mileage. If I were six inches shorter and a hundred pounds lighter I might be interested in a Fusion or Camry but it still wouldn’t make sense from a cost per mile standpoint.

[JamesP81]

If I were six inches shorter and a hundred pounds lighter I might be interested in a Fusion or Camry but it still wouldn’t make sense from a cost per mile standpoint.

I see your point. I've been doing some car shopping, and I enjoy sporty vehicles. A 1999 Z28 will still get right at 30 mpg on the highway, even running the 5.7L V8. The vehicle in excellent condition with low miles blue book's at about $8500. An econo box of similar age will only get another 5 mpg, cost about $2k less, and not be nearly as fun to drive.

[Don W]

I didn’t see your post until I had put mine up. Interesting that these big old luxo-barges are competitive with “econoboxes” when the playing field is level, huh?

As you said, why would I buy a little POS when I can drive down the road in my living room and arrive comfortably and alert, rather than all scrunched up and cramped from the aircraft seating in a Camry?