This is what I drive. I get over 30mpg out of it, thanks mostly to the variable valve timing on the 1.8 engine. It's 2 engines in 1. Normal driving it runs at 1 setting, but push it to 6,000 rpm & it changes the power available!
Oh & of course it's a Toyota, which means that nothing goes wrong with it, so it's cheap to run.
I was talking to a friend this weekend who bought a new Ford F150 a few years ago when gas prices weren't too crazy. He wants to trade it for something smaller but he can't get anything near what the Kelly Blue Book value. The dealers just don't want them because no one is buying anymore. He was told by a few dealers to sell it himself if he wanted more, but that would even be tough. I think it's a good sign myself...the more people that get the high gas mileage cars the less gas we may need as a nation...though I'm sure it'll take years before any difference is really made on the overall consumer demand.
I have a 1998 toyota tacoma 4x4 and get 18-19 mpg. They still seem to be holding their value though, even with the high gas prices. I'll probably be shopping for a newer one though, as Toyota has a recall on my truck. They have a frame corrosion problem on the 4x4 tacoma's and if it can't be repaired, Toyota is buying the truck back. Regardless of condition, they give you 1.5x Kelly Blue Book retail pricing at excellent condition! It'll suck to see my Tacoma go if it fails the test, she's been a great truck, but at that price I can pick up a good newer used one with a lot less than the 192K miles I have on her. Oh, if you think you can buy one with the frame rust and resell it, Toyota will only pay the 1.5x KBB if you purchased before March 15th. After that, they will give you what you paid for it.
I'll be looking for one of the 4x4 with the 4 cylinder engine this time around.
You've got to ask yourself a question: Do I feel lucky? Well, do ya, punk?
