My lazy **** finally did some real world calculations on how much I'm saving by buying Mini. Here they are

Prior Car: 97 BMW E36 M3

15 gallon tank (approx) X $4.25 (Chevron Supreme) = $63.75

$63.75 / 315 mi (total miles driven on tank) = $.2024/mile driven

Existing Car: 08 Mini Cooper Sa

13 gallon tank (approx) X $4.25 = $55.25

$55.25 / 400 mi (total miles driven on tank) = $.1381/miles driven

Okay...let's say I average 1500 miles per month:

$.2024 X 1500 (per month) = $303.60
$.1381 X 1500 (per month) = $207.15

Savings: $96.45 X 12 months = $1,157.40/year

Not to mention the minimum $1,500 or so in maitenance I would have put into the BMW over the next 2 years. Overall, not bad.

How much did you save over your old car?

 

Calculated as you did:

Old car (truck); $.1950 per mile
MINI; $.1106 per mile

I'm saving about $120 a month on gas.

 

I lose money hand over fist.

But I have AC and my back isn't crippled by the time I get to work.

 

If my calculations are right...you are saving over 2 gas fill-ups a month...

 

Yep, pretty close. Basically went from 19mpg to 36mpg (by actual calculation).

 

I do mine a little differently.

I average 1750 miles per month:

old car has 22 mpg. 1750/22 mpg = 79.5 gallons per month

new MC has ~35 mpg so 1750/35 mpg with the MC = 50 gallons per month.

savings of 30 gallons per month @ NJ prices of $3.65 per gallon (for now) = $109.50 per month.


although it's costing me $220 extra per month for the car and $20 for insurance......but in the long run it should even out (or when gas gets to be $6 per gallon)

 

Dang...but 19mpg isn't really bad for a truck. Trucks/SUV's are going to get real cheap over the next few years. Especially if current economic factors stay as they are and gas prices keep increasing over the next few years.

 

My insurance actually went down by $10/month...My E36 held its value pretty well, and cost to repair was pretty high. And the E36 had high ratings for safety.

 

Crap were paying $4.35 here in Ct for Gas

 

I drive around 2250 miles a month.

Old diesel truck, caclulated with 4.59$ diesel = 0.218571429/mile

Mini s calculated with 4.35$ premium = 0.1359375/mile

Mini = $305.85/month
Truck = $491.78/month

Wow, I hadn't considered how cheap this car was to buy until now.....

But, I never put that expensive a fuel into the truck. I sold it before the prices got quite so bad. Makes me feel like I should start trading stocks. The wife's TDI Jetta still beats me in cost/mile, though = 0.104318182, and no speeding tickets.

 

Current stable:

2004 Cadillac Escalade ESV 6.0L gasoholic
32 gal. tank x $3.50 = $112.00
$112.00 / 448 mi (total miles driven on tank) = $.250/mile driven

2004 Dodge 2500 Crew Cab 4x4 Cummins Turbo Diesel
32 gal. tank x $4.50 = $144.00
$144.00 / 640 mi (total miles driven on tank) = $.225/mile driven

2007 MINI Cooper Sa
14 gal. tank x $3.75 (supreme) = $52.50
$52.50 / 475 (total miles driven on tank) = $0.111/mile driven

Needless to say, I drive the MINI on all the trips.
I'll keep my 'Lade and truck because I have a need for them, but for the everyday driving to work, errands, and stuff we can take the MINI, we're doing it!

 

I should have specified....that $3.65 is for 87 octane...the same thing I plan on putting in my MC (after break in period)

 

I race motorcycles and I bought a 2007 Toyota FJ cruiser. Which by all accounts does well with gas.

FJ = 19.0 gallons so 1 tank = (19 * 4.05) = 76.95
Cost = 76.95 / 300 (# miles of one tank of gas) = .2565
Cost per month (average) = 1200 * .2565 = 307.8

MCS = 12 gallons (13 but I don't run it that low) = 48.6
Cost = 48.6 / 450 = .108

FJ monthly cost = 307.8
MC month cost = 129.6

Now, when it comes to the race weekends I average 300 miles driving to and from the track so alone in a weekend I would spend $77 where the MCS I do not have to even fill up the tank so as you'd imagine...the weekends where I am driving more just save me that much more money...and I have that much more fun!

 

That's a bad idea there. It might work out, but if you have a problem with "bad fuel" it could add up to a lot of non-warrantied expenses. I'd use what's recommended in the book that comes with the car (I know what it says).
I figured my savings when I got the Mini (unloaded Jeep GC) and I was saving about $90/month (less gas, a little more for ins). That was a year ago, so I'm saving more now for sure. Figure 87 gas will hit $4 this summer, $4.50 by the end of the year, probably $5 by 2010 once the new pres has a chance to up the taxes on fuel (I think both candidates will, Obama for sure). Looking good for Mini folks these days.........

 

I calculated out, based on $3.45 a gallon when I did the calc, that I would save $86/month based on my yearly average of 9200 miles driven and the estimated gas mileage difference between my truck and a MINI.

Of course, the price of gas keeps going up, so my "savings" is just going back into the gas tank and when all is said and done, I will be driving my MINI more. I'm figuring it will all be a total wash in terms of total gas expenditure, but Excel will tell me that a few months after I get my MINI.

 

where are u in CT? i can still get gas at my area for $3.96

 

where are u in CT? i can still get gas at my area for $3.96

 

You should attach the hitch to the MINI and tow away

 

Heh...good idea :-)I can say the MINI is the closest thing to a motorcycle I have driven. And prior to the MINI I've had two E36 M3's...of course they handled very well however, the size and proportion of the MINI's stance make it communicate that much better on the road.

 

I'm in an 08 MC. I'm running 10.8 cents/mile conservatively (took 1mpg off because I'm not yet into a/c). Old car was exactly double.

Didn't buy MINI until old car was too unreliable to use for work commute.

 

Based on the super bullish energy-based headlines and this thread topic, I'd say we will reach a top in oil prices by Friday, if not today!

 

Based on averaging 900 miles per month:

Old--05 S4 Avant @ 11 mpg average, $4.15/gallon premium = $340/mo

New--08 MCS @ 28 mpg average, $4.15/gallon premium = 133/mo


Savings = $207/mo