I was expecting an Isuzu or a Toyota. It is a Ford F-150
with power steering, power brakes, an automatic transmission, cruise control,
air conditioning and a great radio!
It rides like a dream.
It’s no effort to steer. It has a powerful motor, no trouble pulling
onto a highway. People steer clear! It’s
big! But it’s easy to drive and no problems. At 70 mph the gauges don’t even
waiver: oil pressure consistent, gear box temperature no movement, engine
temperature no movement, the gas gauge dropped only ¼ between McCandless
Township and Erie, PA.
So after 440 miles I went to fill the tank. It was about 7/8ths empty. I started to fill it… It kept on and on and
on…
In the end it was $58 to fill the tank with 28.9 gallons at
$2.02 per gallon. If my math is right,
that’s about 15 mpg. [My first car, a
Plymouth Fury with a V-8 318 cubic inch engine, got about 12 mpg… but gas was
cheaper in 1980.]
I was shocked at the cost, not overwhelmed but very surprised. I don’t know trucks.
My brother-in-law said, “I wondered what you’d think after
you filled the tank.”…
So, I thought about it… My Fiat Punto in NL get about 36 mpg
(5-6 liters / 100 km). When I fill the
30 liter (about 8 gallon) tank, it costs about 60 Euros ($67). Gas in NL costs about 1.53 Euros PER LITER
(that is converted $6.09 per gallon).
So, $2.02 per gallon sounds pretty good.
I still need to drive 880 miles with the truck, which will
cost about $120.
If I rented a small car, the cost would be about $1100 (If I
can get the waiver for insurance using my VISA card, I’d still pay $600 + gas at
36 mpg [24 gallons at $2.02 mpg = about $50]). So, I’d pay $650 at least or at
most $1150.
Unless my math is off, the truck will save us over the next
two weeks about $1000 of rental costs or at least $530.
So, thanks, good friends!
It’s a great ride at a great price!
Now where am I going to park a truck near the Pittsburgh
Athletic Association for Steve & Renee’s wedding?
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