I am about to get a gas guzzling car, Help please?What do I do?

Question

I am about to get a 2002 Nissan pathfinder. My dad wanted me to get it because it was a very cheap price and yes I mean real cheap. Low mileage and good condition.

It will be mine but I don't want to deal with it's low fuel efficiency.

I don't want to pay a lot for gas and I will soon live in the city and it will commute a lot.

I am also an environmentalist and want to not pollute a lot. This car is so cheap and I can't pass the offer but my parents don't have enough money to buy a hybrid.

So my question is, how do I make my SUV fuel efficienet, is there a way to turn it into a electric engine?

What can I do because I will commute a lot? I need to boost the fuel efficiency of the car.

The car get 17mpg but i want to make it like 30mpg. Is that possible? I am going to live in houston which has a lot of traffic. Help please

Answer 1

First of all, spending an additional 4 to 5 thousand dollars for a car that gets better gas mileage doesn't make sense -- it will take four years just to make up the difference in fuel savings. Second - the Pathfinder isn't a 'dirty' vehicle. In fact, any vehicle sold in the U.S. since 1998 runs so clean that air pollution is actually going DOWN in every major city in the country. Third - NO, you cannot convert it to full electric without spending 10,000+ dollars. It may be possible to increase fuel mileage by installing a narrower tire with a harder rubber compound, remove everything in the car that isn't needed (if you don't transport several people around you can remove the rear seat, door trim panels, carpet, luggage rack and other non-essentials). Last, it's more about your driving habits vs posted mileage. Keeping your foot out of the gas pedal, coasting down hills and minimizing stop and go driving as much as possible is agony and tiring but fuel economy will leap upward.

PS - remember, it takes more energy  to build a hybrid than it does to build a Humvee and the batteries are highly toxic and will have to be disposed of after they go bad (about 4 to 5 years at a cost of $4,000+). So much for hybrids being 'green'.

Answer 2

How much is it?  

Judging by the price of gasoline now, it would be worth it to pass on the pathfinder and get a more fuel efficient car

Answer 3

unless you need the truck for work; there is not one good reason you need to get an the SUV; if you are truly an environmentalist; even if gas prices are cheap.

Answer 4

a few things that will improve mpg is

1. use air conditioner only when needed

2. accelerate slow

3. drive on highway more

4. keep windows up

5. if you have an overdrive, use it, or put it in the highest gear.

you can find tons more if you search on google.

Answer 5

No, you cannot convert it to an electric engine.

There's only one way to actually improve the fuel efficiency of a passenger vehicle.  You have to gut out the interior!

The back seat, the headliner, the upholstery, insulation, sound deadening material, etc.  It all has to go.

Of course the ride is going to be noisy and maybe a little hot, but you can cut out a couple hundred pounds of weight.

Answer 6

Some tips for help with mileage:

keep your tire pressure as high as your owners manual allows.

drive carefully. accelerate slowly.

when you see a stop (red light, etc) ahead of you, immediately take your foot off the gas and coast to the stop.

no roof rack

keep the car maintained properly.

If your owners manual says premium fuel required, use it.

on the open highway, drive as slowly as your patience allows. I found that shifting from 75 to 65 increased my mileage by 20%.

Use cruise control. Steady speed helps mileage.

Do not idle. let the car warm only for 30 seconds before driving off. If you are going to be stopped at a long light, shut the engine off.

And the biggest one: don't drive.

Answer 7

You can improve MPG but not that much.

If you are stuck with it then

(1) get a tune up

(2) change driving habit (can improve MPG by up to 38%).

====

This was on NBC morning TV show.   The difference is as much as 38% (their claim).  There are very simple rules to save gas:

(1) drive slow - not too much past 55

(2) accelerate slowly

(3) don't brake unnecessarily

(4) use cruise control - whenever it is safe to do so.

Don't coast - it is NOT safe (to coast in Nuetral) and it does NOT save gas.  It only saves gas, if you are planning to slow down (exiting, tolls, traffic).  Coasting then accelerating again is LESS efficient than just cruising.

The above really works. Using those simple rules I was able to drive from Boston to NYC (210.5 miles) on just 5.112 gallon (94 Civic).  That's 41 MPG (94 Civic 187K miles).  Actually I was speeding at 72 MPH so I could do even better at 55.

WOW !!

Good Luck...

Answer 8

What you do is the math.  Figure out what you are actually paying in gas and figure out what you can afford to do for that cost.

I'll tell you the answers now: Unless you have a really long commute, you won't be able to justify a new car, but you might be able to justify buying an older car that gets 40 mpg instead.  It is possible to do a home-made electric conversion.  They are fun, but very very expensive. Not worth it.

Answer 9

Why not just sell it after you have had it for a little while?You could probably get enough out of it to get a smaller,more fuel efficient car.Then maybe your Dad would understand,once he sees how much this rig is costing you. Save your receipts,so that you can show him.