PPG: Coping With A Gas Guzzler

Larger families need a big truck or van to get the kids around. Necessarily, because we have six kids, we had to choose a 12 or 15 passenger van, or a Suburban. Took the latter, with a bench seat in front, so we can cram all eight of us into the massive half-ton gas guzzler. With a 454 under the hood, we get MPG in the mid-teens.

Perspective here: Rather than MPG, I prefer to think in terms of PGS. People Per Gallon. I can put nine people into this one large vehicle, which gets (conservatively) 15 MPG. Ah, but that works out to 1.6 seats for every 15 miles we go, which requires one gallon of gas.

If we drove two smaller cars, each seating only 5, we'd have to get 30 MPG per car to equal the convenience of driving the Suburban. So, I am fine with the Suburban. Many would say we're being wasteful, but this seems to be the opposite. Only one vehicle to own, maintain, insure. And no need to have two drivers to make a trip. Does this mMake sense? Tell me if I am off base here...

Anyway, the point of this post is simple: Go here to find out where the cheapest gas prices are in your community. It is a nifty site, hope this helps as you seek the best use of those fuel dollars for your family.