If you had 20-30k, what CAR would you buy???

[JimJ 5,000+ posts]

I average about 13-14mpg on the highway, but that's after 165k miles...a 35 gallon tank hurts //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/frown.gif.a3531fa0534503350665a1e957861287.gif

For $30k, I would probably buy two vehicles - a subcompact to convert to electric for around-town use, and a diesel truck to run off biodiesel for highway use and whenever I needed to haul cargo.

 

[2002XLT 5,000+ posts]

I average about 13-14mpg on the highway, but that's after 165k miles...a 35 gallon tank hurts //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/frown.gif.a3531fa0534503350665a1e957861287.gif
For $30k, I would probably buy two vehicles - a subcompact to convert to electric for around-town use, and a diesel truck to run off biodiesel for highway use and whenever I needed to haul cargo.

Id love to buy an old (85-89) Benz 300D and convert to biodiesel. This year we are opening a restaurant so ill already have access to used oil, just need to do the conversion on a car, and build the processor at home and ill be good to go. Buddy of mine has a F250 converted, says he pays less then 50 cents a gallon by the time everythings done.

That year benz are about 3-4000 + conversion = 10G and you can run practically free gas through it forever.

 

[22mountaineer 10+ year member]

This reminds me of my buddy still living at home that bought him a brand new (12k miles) Ford FX2 all decked out, 24's speed grilles ground effects, EVERYTHING on it for 28k... Now he is broke all of the time.. STUPID! He makes decent money but he is always broke b/c of the **** thing...

 

[JimJ 5,000+ posts]

Whole lot cheaper than $10k, transesterized biodiesel will run on an unmodified engine, though you have to replace all the fuel lines with inert ones and expect to go through several fuel filters. Fuel line heaters help, also.

 

[2002XLT 5,000+ posts]

Whole lot cheaper than $10k, transesterized biodiesel will run on an unmodified engine, though you have to replace all the fuel lines with inert ones and expect to go through several fuel filters. Fuel line heaters help, also.

I was always told that you would need an extra tank in case you needed to "fill up." I will have to assume that i wont always be able to use oil, so diesel would be needed at some times.

I know i overestimated because usually if you have a shop do the full conversion, with an extra tank, lines, and switch they usually charge close to 3. So maybe 6-7000.

There was a really nice one i saw a few months back that was a "green" conversion. Some shop in california had completely converted it with the extra tank, and the car was completely restored, had a warranty, new paint, rebuilt engine, new interior. I mean this was like buying a brand new car almost. Anyway, it was "ready to go" and sold for 7500 i believe. I wanted that car so fcking bad its not even funny.

 

[J31Rob 5,000+ posts]

2008 burban.

 

[JimJ 5,000+ posts]

I was always told that you would need an extra tank in case you needed to "fill up." I will have to assume that i wont always be able to use oil, so diesel would be needed at some times.
I know i overestimated because usually if you have a shop do the full conversion, with an extra tank, lines, and switch they usually charge close to 3. So maybe 6-7000.

There was a really nice one i saw a few months back that was a "green" conversion. Some shop in california had completely converted it with the extra tank, and the car was completely restored, had a warranty, new paint, rebuilt engine, new interior. I mean this was like buying a brand new car almost. Anyway, it was "ready to go" and sold for 7500 i believe. I wanted that car so fcking bad its not even funny.

The two-tank thing comes in handy if you're running pure veggie oil - a lot of people use the diesel tank to start and in cold weather, and switch over to straight veggie oil when it's warmed up. But you can mix processed biodiesel and regular diesel in the same tank.

Hybrids aren't my thing, I want to be able to carry a full sheet of plywood at the same time I'm saving gas //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/biggrin.gif.d71a5d36fcbab170f2364c9f2e3946cb.gif

 

[2002XLT 5,000+ posts]

The two-tank thing comes in handy if you're running pure veggie oil - a lot of people use the diesel tank to start and in cold weather, and switch over to straight veggie oil when it's warmed up. But you can mix processed biodiesel and regular diesel in the same tank.
Hybrids aren't my thing, I want to be able to carry a full sheet of plywood at the same time I'm saving gas //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/biggrin.gif.d71a5d36fcbab170f2364c9f2e3946cb.gif

Ya see my thing is im not sure what all ill be running so i guess ill have to wait until after we do our move and see whats available.

I definantly agree. I want to have the benz for a DD, but also will be buying an older (95-97) F-250 4X4 with the 7.3 and do the conversion as well.