Your response to rising gas prices?

[VanTraveler]

I don't know. At 15 mpg over 10,000 miles thats about $1300 in gas at $2/gal and $2000 at $3/gal. Now 10000 miles is a nice long trip that should take you 3 or more months so that extra $700 is spread over "X" months. It hurts but it's not going to stop me from taking a multi month trip. I'd rather be on the road than home watching gas prices on the news.

That's my 2 cents on that subject...oh crap the gas just went up again! LOL I knew I should have left already.

[Queen]

...The car got an average of 50 mpg...

Your car gets better gas mileage than I got on my old Harley!

[TWIH]

Yep, gas isn't a huge issue yet it adds up, I mean most people spend more on food and drink a month than fuel.

At 50 mpg highway average mpg, over an annual 15,000 miles, my Prius will use 300 gallons, x $3 is $900 annually, which is $75 a month.

A minivan that got (highway) 25 mpg would double the gallons used so that’s 600 gallons x $3 = $1,800 annually, which is $150 a month.

A full sized van that got 15 mpg highway over the same mileage would be 1,000 gallons used x $3 = $3,000. That’s $250 a month.

So if a person could stand being in a Prius, over a year, they could save $2,100 ($175 a month) assuming the 15,000 miles driven.

Now I know some dwellers may not drive 1/10th that but I do, bi-annual trips to BC and down to AZ as well as trips from the Oregon coast the the east coast and return.

So for me the gas increases keep me (uncomfortably) in the Prius as opposed to a full sized mid-top conversion van, which would be the “lap of luxury”.

[MN C Van]

Saw a guy pulling a rickshaw type trailer into DEATH VALLEY ...

Gas prices are of little concern, but Yikes!

[TWIH]

Got great fuel mileage tho’ 

This whole fuel thing boils down to comfort vs cost. More comfort, less cost. 
I don't see any way around that choice. When I turn 66 and get social security the comfort arguement will likely win. For now, having to work temp jobs for an income, the cost factor wins.

The saying “quit your bitchin’” comes to mind... (applying to me of course) 

[MN C Van]

And mobility. Even a little "B" wouldn't go in many places, regardless of the amount it cost.

Like tanks, the Abrams was a wicked weapon, but a bloke on horse with a tommy gun's better given a 30 ton bridge.

[Blacktank]

let say the fatvan get 10mpg and gas is $5 a gallon,thats still a hell of a deal,you couldnt feed a team of mules for $5 and 10 miles would be a days journey
looking at a gallon jug and thinking how that little of fuel can move that much steel so far is quite amazing

and i get amazing mpg sitting at the river

[TWIH]

Driving a lot vs a little is a real factor. I could be in a schoolie or a v-10 powered class C if I drove just 5,000 or fewer miles a year. 

My 77’ 1 ton 4x4 with the 8 foot truck camper got 8 MPG driving, which about ran me out of fuel a few times. High winds made it even worse. Sure was convenient to have a small kitchen and heat though.

Maneuvaribility is a factor too (a plus for the mini) yet minivans have relatively low ground clearance and P rated tires, vs full sized E-350’s.  I’m sure a minivan, carefully driven, can get down quite a few roads, but I wouldn’t go too far with one without a tow strap and a friend... Theres a tradeoff for every attribute it seems.

[MN C Van]

Even at 24 MPG, I wonder about a 2.0 5spd swap.
not sure how I'd get a clutch pedal bracket for this chassis, and 3.94 ratio might (is?) be too tall for a minivan.
It'd be in 4th even on the flat.

Allis Chalmers put a diesel 4cyl in their combines- It doesn't use any fuel whatsoever, every farmer that's had one brags about it. THAT would be the miracle engine for economy.

[TWIH]

The new mid-sized trucks have 4 and small (3.0 liter) 6 cyl engines for 2019, but I doubt they'd ever pay for themselves vs the new and efficient gas motors, when diesel many places has a 40-60 cent price premium and the engine itself is a multi-thousand dollar option... not to mention oil change cost differences.