Fuel price and cost of 4x4ing

[GH]

I don't know, people have money. There are still cars driving all over the place. Roads crazy busy for the long weekend and really nice 4x4s driving around, LC 79 drivers making that exhaust beat. Used car market is crazy expensive only because people are paying the price.

I don't think fuel has got to that price where it's unaffordable or people are living off credit but car ownership and driving seems to be a priority.

[clivemd]

Will find a way of paying for fuel to have fun 4x4ing with my son

some times it not the cost of fuel but repairs after

[Langjan]

Hi folks.

In view of constant global fuel increases, exactly what fuel price will compel you to consider selling your 4x4 vehicle of choice due to it simply being unaffordable ?

I am planning my trips so that I have more time, then travelling at 90 km/hour to use less than 5 litres per 100 km with my Duster AWD. Also saves on tyre and mechanical wear and tear and improves safety.

[DustGypsy]

Not that the brick is light on fuel, but fortunately the Gypsy is only a 1300.
Won't consider selling it because I can't afford anything else, but I did the math and my Henties Bay trip around the 26th August public holiday will be unaffordable due to the fuel price as it stands now.

[Peter1949]

Shorter trips less frequently is step one.
I think that we are all (normal income folk) considering all options.
As assisted by the good folk on this forum very recently regarding possibly selling my old Suuz, I decided to KEEP the Suuz (and the little Chevy Spark) - just travel less and closer to home.
As said, used vehicle prices are rising (!!!!)- New vehicles, for me anyway, are totally out of the picture.
Mine are fully paid, minimal residual value, therefore minimal insurance costs due to low value / low Km.

Maintenance also drops significantly with reduced km.
Driving slower also helps a lot.
Also top up the tanks immediately before any price increase (If not too far from a filling station: "Eish").

There are some decisions still within individual control - let's handle those.
Keep well, happy, and above all: healthy.

[Iggi]

Shorter trip distances, longer stays, do the gardening and housework ourselves, problem solved

[riyadh]

Sold my ranger last week. It was fully paid off!! Was spending a fair amount on diesel every month that I just could not see it being worthwhile to keep. I payed off my bond and some dept and now struggling to find something I like in the price range I want to spend.

[Haggy4x4Bedinges]

Still keeping the 200 v8 diesel to tow the explorer

Just bought a X3 2.0d for everyday driving

[PsyPhin]

Just did a 2600km trip, I must say fuel is always on the mind but also YOLO.

I am not sure what future holds for traveling though but keep the speed down, don't rush, makes R1000s difference on the longer trips

[Damdan]

Im using mine less and less for everyday driving.
They are taken for a spin maybe once a month and they each do long trips twice a year.
Both are parked and connected to battery chargers while I wait for the fuel price to drop that will not happen in my lifetime.
But selling? No not yet.

[Rammies]

Already did. Sold the H3 V8 last month

Black one?

[renier_c]

Black one?

No

[Wylie E]

Do exactly the same as Peter1949, do only the most essential trips. When I go out I combine everything into 1 trip. Drive as light as possible. Prado basically parked at the moment. Wife has Jimny for run around. It's still awes me the people that race from traffic light to traffic light. Unless it's company fuel they use. Have been driving as Lightfoot as possible where ever I go. Watch things like Voetspore and other overland trips and wonder how they can afford it. Being a pensioner with a fix income from investments my funds are getting tighter and tighter. Have a garage full of materials and equipment from when I worked that I need get rid of. We are moving to a smaller place with single garage so need to down scale in more ways than one.

[Jeepanator]

Will not sell my Jeep it's paid off, everything else I like will be way more per month than the fuel saving.

Work from home so that helps a HUGE amount.

Everyone says it is a sellers market untill you try and trade in Went wheel kicking and had a look at the Triton. No intention to buy.

Salesman says but while you here lets see what I can give you for your Jeep, had nothing to lose so lets see what the old girl is worth.

In the same breath he tells me these Jeeps currently sells for between R450k and R550k in the current market and then offers me R245k

Good bye Mr. Salesman.

[Wylie E]

Will not sell my Jeep it's paid off, everything else I like will be way more per month than the fuel saving.

Work from home so that helps a HUGE amount.

Everyone says it is a sellers market untill you try and trade in Went wheel kicking and had a look at the Triton. No intention to buy.

Salesman says but while you here lets see what I can give you for your Jeep, had nothing to lose so lets see what the old girl is worth.

In the same breath he tells me these Jeeps currently sells for between R450k and R550k in the current market and then offers me R245k

Good bye Mr. Salesman.

I tend to think the same way about salesmen. Unless they can make thousands on a sale they aren't interested. Have no intention of buying a vehicle let alone a new one. With all the electronics in them making them cheaper to produce but they still rip proverbial arse out the chicken. Not justifiable.

[IanK]

jeepanator's point is key. Price of fuel, crazy as it is, pales into insignificance nearly when you compare the running cost no to what it costs to buy a new vehicle.

If you are going to finance a one million rand car, payments are nearly 15 000 per month.
That is a heck of a lot of fuel.

My one month southern africa overland trip will cost me around 30 000 in fuel. But, my LC 79 is paid off......

[Stranger]

Pajtu is not going anywhere soon. It's paid off, I have no excess on the insurance and we save and plan for trips. I have next to no debt and intend to keep it that way.

[logical daze]

I bought a cruiser right at the end of Feb 2022 and completed out first 3000km adventure in the last two weeks. 20ltr/100km hurt, but after some reflection both "The Master" and I feel the cost of the fuel is far outweighed by the joy of traveling in that vehicle. We are fortunate to have company vehicles and fuel for the everyday mundane travels. Cruiser will be used exclusively for adventures.

[DustGypsy]

Just remembered, December 2021 on the way to Swakop I was overtaken by by two LC79s, they were too fast to be sure but I assume it was a couple, one was loaded with camping/holiday stuff, the other had dogs on the back
At the time I thought the fuel they used from where ever to Swakop would probably last me six months!

[cside]

The economy works like this:

When the price of meat increases - you eat less meat.
When the price of beer increases - you eat less meat.

YOLO so we make concessions for what we enjoy, life is all about priorities...