When architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe adopted the motto "Less is more," he was referring to a minimalist approach that favored getting more function and design cues from a building's structural elements. While he didn't have cars in mind, current trends suggest this idea could work in the automotive world as well.
A recent national survey of new car owners revealed that many buyers chose a smaller model to replace a larger vehicle, in part due to high gas prices or an uncertain economy. Regardless, the surprising finding was that the majority of these owners actually liked their new, smaller car more than the larger model they had before. "Less" really can be "more."
However, there are times when "less" simply isn't enough. This prompts many people to buy larger vehicles than they really need so they can handle the occasional oversize load.
I've been asked on numerous occasions by casual pickup trucker users where they can find a 35 mile per gallon pickup truck that can also handle a ton of sheetrock when necessary. Such a vehicle doesn't exist, so buy the smallest vehicle that meets the vast majority of your needs and then rent when you need a larger vehicle for a specific purpose.
That's easy advice to give, yet I haven't followed it as I have a brother-in-law with a pickup truck. However, this changed earlier this month when my wife found a wonderful three-piece wall unit for sale at fraction of its original cost.
The owner, located four towns away, was downsizing and offering the units, which were in perfect condition, for a song. The problem: We had to move them out immediately and the weather wasn't looking good. The solution: I rented an enclosed van by the hour, as my brother-in-law's pickup truck would have exposed these items to the elements.
Fortunately, we loaded everything while it was dry, and then drove through two substantial downpours on the way home. We backed the van up to the overhead door in our garage so the wall units remained dry. A suggestion if you try this yourself: take plenty of padding.
The total for the rental came to $31.85, tax included, and gas expenses came to $13.80. The rule at the rental agency is: You get the truck with a full tank of gasoline, you return it full. This van went just 10 miles per gallon.
So, my total expenses came to $45.65. If I needed a truck five times a year, the total at this rate would come to $228.25, which is less than what most truck owners pay for the license plates and insurance in a year. It's a bargain.
It also saves you from pickup truck socializing, which is the tendency of family members and friends to ask for your assistance moving stuff. One pickup truck I saw recently had a bumper sticker that said, "Yes: This is my truck. No: I won't help you move."
People looking for more room can also rent multi-passenger vans, minivans and other specialized vehicles as needed. The cost for occasional users who rent is almost always significantly less than the price of ownership. Not to mention, no one asks to borrow my truck. I don't own one.
Jim MacPherson is the host of "The Car Doctor" show airing Sundays at noon on WTIC-AM. Paula MacPherson is his wife and new-car review partner. Send comments, questions, suggestions in care of Special Publications, Hartford Courant, 285 Broad St., Hartford, CT 06115, or email jdee@courant.com.
This content was prepared by the Marketing Department of The Hartford Courant without involvement of the News Department
Heavy Hauling Doesn't Require Dropping Big Money
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