Understanding the Results
We Americans hate high gas prices because the cost appears right in front of us, dollar by dollar. We stand at the pump with the prices spinning and a sinking feeling in our stomachs. Furthermore, we feel we are being held hostage by foreign countries that exploit our appetite for oil and then attack our way of life. These factors make gas prices an emotional subject.
However, it's important to calm down, set aside our feelings and look closely at the dollars and cents. This calculator will show that the monthly payment of a new vehicle actually dwarfs even today's high gas prices. In some cases, people who make a panicked car-buying decision could sacrifice thousands of dollars of value just to save a hundred at the pump. While they might feel better because they are getting more bang for their gas buck, their bank account is being raided by higher payments extended over a longer time period.
There are many reasons to make a change in the kind of vehicle a person drives. Some people might have strong feelings about protecting the environment or feel it is now politically incorrect to drive an SUV. These reasons, and others, don't come with a price tag and shouldn't necessarily be rejected.
Still, the gas-guzzler trade-in calculator will starkly reveal the bottom line — and that bottom line might be very different from what was initially imagined.