Doing the Math

Good guesses, but no...Lasse Viren isn't the dog who rescued Timmy when he fell in the well. And Vitas Gerulaitis is not a 1950's hair gel. I appreciate the enthusiasm for the quiz, but assure you that the answers are either "A" or "B" for each question. Just pick one.

More about that tomorrow. Today's discussion is about automobiles.

As I've mentioned before, I was born without the typical male genes that provide enthusiasm for carpentry, power tools, and auto repair. OK, I'll admit that I did enjoy working on motorcycles back in my biker-gang-hippie-stomping days...but have since decided that I'd rather pay an expert than risk injury (and/or explosions) by attempting my own repairs. This also means that I really can't generate much enthusiasm for car shopping.

This may seem odd to people who know that I've driven real race cars, and who've seen me treat the morning commute like the Indy 500. I admit that I view the posted speed limit as a mere suggestion, and I change lanes to pass people even when I don't have any reason to be in a hurry. But that's just a manifestation of my general annoyance with slow drivers...not an indicator that I'm a "car guy."

But the fact is that I need to start looking for a new vehicle. My trusty station wagon is starting to show its age, and I recognize the wisdom in being prepared to replace it when the time comes.

The good news is that there are a lot of high-quality options available, even considering my restrictive budget limitations. All of the cars that would be a direct replacement for my wagon are about the same price, get nearly the same gas mileage, and are comparable in performance and features. I could probably make my choice by flipping a coin and be perfectly happy.

But there is one other option I'm considering. Instead of an SUV-type vehicle, I've been thinking of going back to a dinky economy car. I really liked my old Tercel, and I certainly appreciate the savings that come from the fuel efficiency of a compact.

But I do live in Colorado, which means there will be snow. Having reliable all-wheel drive these last 10 years has meant relief from weather-related driving anxiety. I would definitely miss that. And then there's the triathlon conundrum -- I need to be able to transport my bicycle from one location to another. That means I need some space.

It gets interesting. There apparently are some small economy hatchbacks that offer bike-sized cargo areas. If this turns out to be true, and I find a car I like that holds the bike, then winter traction becomes the only argument in favor of the SUV. So here's where the math comes in:

It appears that the purchase price difference between an economy hatchback and a small SUV is around $5000. When you factor in the additional savings over the car's lifespan (cheaper tires, 25% less gas, shorter car washes, etc.) it probably averages out to more than $600 per year in amortized savings. That means that I could call a cab or rent an SUV during every major snowstorm and still come out ahead in the long run. And when you consider that I could also opt to walk and/or snowshoe to most of the places I go during the week, well, it just seems silly to pay the premium for the more capable vehicle.

Of course, I might go for a test drive and decide that I really don't like the small car. Or maybe the radio won't be up to my audiophile standards, or the engine won't handle my "gotta get around this pokey idiot NOW" driving demands. We'll see. The test driving will begin this Friday, and I'll have a lot better feel for the whole question once I've had my handcrafted Italian racing gloves wrapped around a new steering wheel or two.

In the meantime, I'm continuing to work toward my 2014 goals, which means getting up from my desk more frequently to do my stretching. It's hard, but so far I'm doing better than I did last year. I hope to touch my fingertips to the floor by the end of the month. Anyway, I hope to be back here tomorrow with the answers to yesterday's quiz. Thanks for dropping by, and have a great day!