So what do you drive in retirement?

[In-control]

Saving $ via Alternate transportation

I am FI but not ER, waiting for a package.

I drive a 2002 Subaru Forester and the Wife a 2005 Toyota Sienna. However last year I performed an analysis comparing the use of a Scooter, highway legal w/ABS etc, which gets 75MPG. I have reduced the use of my Forester by 50% and now my wife drives it because it gets 28mpg compared to 18 for the Sienna.

I am winning multiple ways, reduced gas consumption, lower annual operation costs and increased life of the vehicles. I have added the savings up to .16/mile operating cost savings and .32 if you include the reduction in depreciation.

Since I put 6k miles on the scooter a year that's $960/1920/year. Payback is in 3-4yrs for the scooter and after that it is all profit.

 

[CyclingInvestor]

Does that mean L.A. is a bicycle friendly city? On average, how many miles do you ride per day? I like bicycles too, but Houston is definitely not the right city.

Well, the weather is near perfect for cycling. I consider LA bike-friendly for a big city,
but you have to get used to traffic. Eventually I find neighborhood streets for most of
my routes. The long river trails and beach trails help for longer rides.

Over the last 24 years I have averaged about 8000m per year, commuting and
touring, mostly solo.

On my one cycling experience across Texas, I found West Texas pretty bike
friendly (low traffic or big shoulders), but East Texas was a little trickier. The
people were always nice, though.

 

[MasterBlaster]

Here is a picture of my new (to me) car. I had to buy a new one cause the old one was just falling apart and it just wasn't any good anymore. Won't the neighbors be jealous !

 

[whitestick]

Me Saab Convertible ('cause there's sunny days in Texas)
DW Hummer H3 (replaced 3 vehicles with this one, so we tell ourselves it was economical to do so)

 

[unclemick]

1994, GMC Sonoma, 4 banger five speed pickup - with rusty fender and 249000 miles - my baby.

2006 Chevy Equinox SUV, 18k miles for long trips/vacations.

heh heh heh

 

[Lakedog]

1992 Toyota Pickup 251,000 miles

2007 Honda Element (for trips/camping)

FI but not RE until end of this year......

 

[KB]

2003 Toyota Camry XLE which just hit 30K miles. I would prefer a small SUV or a wagon, but since it was a gift I took it.

I've never had a sedan before, and while I like driving it and having a trunk....I'd prefer a larger opening to haul stuff for my garden. Hay bales don't necessarily fit in a trunk.

 

[DesertRat]

Well my cars are

97 Mazda Miata
96 Ranger 4wd
69 VW Poptop Bus
59 Studebaker Silver Hawk

and my wife's $300 car that I drive when she needs gas in it..
95 Hyundai Scoupe

 

[VaCollector]

Me - 2004 Toyota Sienna

DW - company car (2008 Ford Escape)

Garaged Fun car - 2001 BMW convertible....mostly spring and fall ;o)

 

[Zipper]

2003 Chevy Impala.

 

[jclarksnakes]

Semi-retired me= ZO6 Corvette
Nose still (her choice) to the grindstone DW=Honda Pilot

 

[AltaRed]

DW - 2006 Toyota RAV4 Limited V6
Me - 2007 Infiniti M35X

Our retirement toys.

 

[Cb]

'00 Camry
'99 Z-28
'97 Miata
...and 2 motorcycles, a Suzuki DR650 and a Kawasai Concours

Cb

 

[racy]

Gift to myself for 30+ yr career and turning 55, a 2008 MX-5 Miata:

 

[sailor]

another bicycle user here

Also cycling, not driving.
Currently furiously exploring options for carrying two strong willed and opinionated small children on one bicycle (3 yr old Little Sailor and 4 yr old neighbor kid) I'll need to take to school few days a week

sailor

 

[Sundance Kid]

I drive a 2003 Honda Accord EX. DW drives a 1998 Dodge Durango.
Honda has 36,000+ miles and DW hasn't yet turned on the ignition.

I love both vehicles but, the Durango sure doesn't get the same mpg as the Honda. But, it's not supposed to.

 

[kumquat]

Me: 05 Mustang GT
DW: 03 Ford Escape

Toys
59 Hillman Minx
60 Sunbeam Alpine

 

[tightasadrum]

DW tells me I have an "issue" about hording stuff. Maybe she's right. Here's what I have "horded" in vehicles:

1996 Camry, 4-cyl, will turn over 200,000 miles on way home tonight! (My mechanic swears I can get 300,000. I plan to find out.) Bought it used in 2002 for $6500 with less than 70,000 miles on it. Unquestionably the very best auto purchase I ever made. Period.

DW drives a 1998 Toyota Avalon, Purchased used in 2004, bartered for rent payments over two years time by owner's student son. Great car.

2003 Toyota Tundra, used for rental property work. Bought almost new in 2003. Great truck, but much too nice for what I use it for.

2006 Toyota Avalon, bought used when hand-me-down cadillac wore out. Need to get rid of this one. DD learned to drive and remodeled the exterior several times. Still runs great, but really do need to sell it or give it away soon.

1999 Chevy Blazer, DD uses. So far, has not remodeled this one. My father drove it before he died, and promised DD she could have it someday. I don't care for it myself. Has a short wheelbase, doesn't track well on the highway, and you have to stay on top of what you're doing constantly.

1970 Porsche. bought it when I was in the Navy in 1970, while single; a veritable chic magnet. A pure driving machine. It now lives in my basement to be someday restored....? Can't bring myself to get rid of it.

 

[yakers]

Our Fleet

DW retired last year, mostly drives a 97 Mazda Miata. I mostly drive a 05 Ford Focus. Our younger son is about to start college in a couple weeks and take the 98 Jeep Cherokee. Then we have a 1985 VW Westfalia camper, lost of fun for us, off to Burning Man in a couple weeks. And its good for hauling our kayaks around. With last child off to college and I plan to retire in a few months, should free up a lot of time to use the camper.

 

[Bikerdude]

Car:

2006 Pontiac G6- 7,000 miles

Truck:

1993 Chev K1500- 80,000 miles

Motorcycles:

2001 Yamaha FZ1- 14,000 mikes

1991 BMW K1- 48,000 miles

1980 Yamaha XS1100G- 47,000 miles

 

[martyb]

Me: '98 Ford F-150 XLT
DW: '07 Toyota Camry LE

 

[packrat44]

2004 1/2 Dodge 2500 diesel 4x4
1997 Mazda Miata
1995 Dodge 1500 4x4
1992 Honda Accord
1976 Mercury Comet
1942 Willys Jeep
1940 Ford coupe
1936 Ford coupe
1929 Model A

10 motorcycles
4 boats

 

[bruce1]

2001 Hyundai Accent 120,000 km Fast becoming the most expensive car I ever owned as far as repairs are concerned.
1998 Explorer 4X4 228,000 Km
1980 Volare Roadrunner (in restoration)
1977 Cordoba T-top car
1945 Chev Flat bed Truck

 

[bow-tie]

2001 Hyundai Accent 120,000 km Fast becoming the most expensive car I ever owned as far as repairs are concerned.
1998 Explorer 4X4 228,000 Km
1980 Volare Roadrunner (in restoration)
1977 Cordoba T-top car
1945 Chev Flat bed Truck

An '80 Volare being restored? No way. I thought the one my older brother restored for a guy would be the only one ever re-done. This one was painted a darker gold... had a rainbow looking stripe right next to the rocker panel... yellow, orange, and red I think, with roadrunner logo. Had a straight six in it . Come to think of it... I'm not sure if it was a true Roadrunner, but the owner thought enough of it to stick a bunch of money into it. Turned out pretty nice.

My buddy had an '80-81 Aspen in high school. Had a 318 in it. What a pooch. But it went fast enough to get him in trouble, though.

What kind of shape is the Cordoba in? I haven't seen a nice one for many moons.


Sorry for the hi-jack.

 

[bow-tie]

2006 Chevy HHR

I bought it used last Oct. to replace my 11 year old Mitsubishi Galant.

Absolutely LOVE it!!!

Hi-jacking again.

What do you like about your HHR, Goonie? I thought about getting one, but it looks really small on the inside and I'm a bit lanky.

Good power? Mileage? Ride/Drive well?

I think you can a manual trans for that, if I'm not mistaken. Thought that would be cool to row gears again.