Hi all. Just landed my dream job. Unfortunately, it will require a 150.3 mile round trip to and from work for the time being. I will have to make this trip 5 days per week for a year and then drop to 4 days per week after that. I'm in southeast lower Michigan so there are no altitude issues although we do get some snow up here.

Ultimately, I will likely move or seek a transfer to a different location, but for at least two years I'll be driving 150.3 per day - almost all freeway and always against traffic and not during rush hour. Therefore, I should be able to drive 75 miles per hour for an hour of the trip each way.

Now, here's the rub. I own a Jeep Grand Cherokee free and clear. It only has 59,000 miles on it and runs like a champ. Unfortunately the 4.7 liter HO motor gets me conservatively 17-19 on the highway. I like the 4 wheel drive, but, lets face it, even in Michigan, I rarely need it. I also like the size given that, on I-75, I'll be surrounded by fast moving SUVs and trucks.

I'm thinking about just driving the wheels off the Jeep since I don't owe anything on it. But, given the rising cost of gas, it might be time to sell the jeep and buy a good gas mileage car. If I'm going to dump the jeep or keep it as a back up for bad weather, I'll want the best gas mileage available for this type of driving. I'm open to suggestions. What do you recommend?

Thanks in advance

[edit] This isn't just a dollars and cents calculation. I wouldn't mind spending a bit extra to burn less fossil fuel - which is why I've always lived very close to work, done some cycle commuting, ride my bicycle to the grocery store, my children and I ride bicycles and walk to school or the park. I suppose that's why I've made it to this forum

There is a ton of questions you need to ask yourself prior to purchasing any vehicle, hybrid or not. You mentioned driving 75 mph on the interstate and being surrounded by fast moving SUV and trucks. Does this mean you want/need a vehicle that can quickly accelerate to move with and thru this type of fast moving traffic? Will the next vehicle be used sometimes for cargo carrring duties--storage space needs? Driving 75 mph is not going to deliever super fuel efficiency and hybrid vehicles tend to sparkle at slower speeds. A smaller profile vehicle (car) with a smaller engine should deliever a significant improvement in mileage but how high do you desire? We can go on and on but only you can decide.

2005 AWD Escape Hybrid
Best Interstate tank trip MPG 39.02 (scangauge II) for 402 miles on I-70, 10.3 gallons used over mostly flat terrain.

Best Interstate tank trip E30 MPG 34.6 for 271 miles along I-80 in Indiana and Ohio.

Best multiple road tank trip E30 MPG 36.2 for 202 miles in Southwestern Pa.

I'd say keep the jeep since you own it free and clear and buy a hybrid for the commute.

With your commute you will be driving a little less than 40,000 miles per year.

Gas cost with the jeep:

40000 miles/17mpg = 2353 gallons * $3.25 price per gallon = $7647 per year spent on gas.

Gas cost with Prius:
40000 miles/48mpg = 833 gallons * $3.25 price per gallon = $2708 per year spent on gas


So if you would drive a Prius to work rather than your jeep, you'd be saving about than $5000.00 a year in gas.

OK. I'd like a 700 hp station wagon that gets 700 mpg.

Really, I'd like some power - the jeep is overpowerd though. I'll need to get on and off the freeway once each way and would like a little pep to do so. Otherwise, something that isn't too anemic will do just fine.

I'd like a little size (crash protection) so I don't want a smart car, but I'd be happy with a mid size sedan. The only thing I'll have to carry is myself. We have a minivan for family trips although the ability to put three children in it if I have to pick them up from school wouldn't be bad.

What's the best gas mileage I can expect for something like this and what car would be better on the freeway. BTW, I'll likely load it up since I'll be in it a lot although I'd like to keep the price down into the the high $20K range.

I guess I'm curious as to what I could expect if I go this route. BTW, thanks for your reply. It gives me more to think about.

Mpress, Thanks for the input.

Has that been the general experience that one can get 48 mpg with the Prius on the freeway?

Yeah, about between 45mpg and 55mpg on the freeway. From your previous post it sounds like the Prius would be perfect for you.

Hold everything, the Prius is highly rated as a hybrid from many reviewers and posters. However, I have my concerns that it will not obtain 45mpg at 75mph driving! There is a concern on my part about the ability to quickly accelerate into and out of traffic on the interstate at that speed. I suggest our poster go to Priuschat.com, read the Prius section here on Greenhybrid, go to hybridcars.com and cleanmpg.com prior to testing out this vehicle. You need to obtain more information. To give you an concept what what speed can do to a hybrid vehicle, one poster with a Honda Insight stated he gets 90mpg at 55 mph and 55 mpg at 75 mph!

2005 AWD Escape Hybrid
Best Interstate tank trip MPG 39.02 (scangauge II) for 402 miles on I-70, 10.3 gallons used over mostly flat terrain.

Best Interstate tank trip E30 MPG 34.6 for 271 miles along I-80 in Indiana and Ohio.

Best multiple road tank trip E30 MPG 36.2 for 202 miles in Southwestern Pa.

Here's proof in the first 10 seconds of this video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HBht8...eature=related

-Mike

We were looking at "instant" fuel mileage and not trip or average mileage (75 mile one way trip was mentioned) for the one hour journery. That is a big difference.

2005 AWD Escape Hybrid
Best Interstate tank trip MPG 39.02 (scangauge II) for 402 miles on I-70, 10.3 gallons used over mostly flat terrain.

Best Interstate tank trip E30 MPG 34.6 for 271 miles along I-80 in Indiana and Ohio.

Best multiple road tank trip E30 MPG 36.2 for 202 miles in Southwestern Pa.

Whatever mpg you get @ 75 mph, the Prius will MORE than pay for itself over the 40,000 miles per year your commute requires.

You're the reason that Toyota and Honda make hybrid cars.