Simple Manifesto #35 – Consider a smaller car

This is part of our series on The Simple Living Manifesto. We invite you to join us on the journey.

The 35th idea in the manifesto is:

Consider a smaller car. This is a big move, but if you have a large car or SUV, you may not really need something that big. It’s more expensive, uses more gas, harder to maintain, harder to park. Simplify your life with less car. You don’t need to go tiny, especially if you have a family, but try to find as small a car as can fit you or your family comfortably. Maybe not something you’re going to do today, but something to think about over the long term.

Clown car | Photo by Ewan Traveler

This is one of those issues My Life and I are really go back and forth on.

She drives a 2004 a crossover-SUV and I drive a 2001 extended cab pickup truck (yes I do live in Texas).

Her vehicle is a great size, get’s OK gas mileage and comfortably fits two baby seats in the back.

My vehicle is a great size for me (6’5″) but like most trucks, lacks in miles-per-gallon and putting two baby seats in the back seat is a bit crammed — especially when they’re turned backwards like you’re supposed to do with infants.

She’s also concerned about my truck needing some big repair(s) in the not so distant future so she would like to plan ahead and get a reliable vehicle that will easily fit the two baby seats as well.

She would love to see me get a larger truck with more interior room.

I on the other hand love my extra low car payment and I’m trying to hold off as long as I can on getting something different.

I also know that if I’m going to add to my monthly payments, I really want to see a decrease in my fuel costs that won’t compromise the safety of our twins as well. So what to do?

Here in lies our dilemma.

Smaller vehicle = better gas mileage but less room for me and the baby seats.

Larger vehicle = worse gas mileage but plenty of room for me and the family.

And either one will likely mean an increased monthly car payment. Yuck!

So what would you do? What do you suggest? Have you found a perfect car for you and your family? Wanna trade? Let me know in the comments below.

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Posted: April 21st, 2010 by Jonathan D. Blundell
Read more in: Living
advice, car, crossover, Simple Manifesto, SUV, The Simple Living Manifesto, truck, vehicle

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