LATEST NEWS FLASH.....Skyrocketing gas prices in the Commonwealth are prompting many residents to trade-in four wheels for two, with one of the island's largest vehicle dealers and some rental offices reporting a rise in consumer interest in motorcycles and scooters. Gas prices rose 18 cents to $4.80 per gallon on Saipan last week - far above the national average of roughly $4 --
So lets do some math before you jump..
So lets do some math before you jump..
This is for the family considering a scooter as a second car, a go to work car or an errand runner. If you have a scooter only then there is no question it will save you lots of money...
We will assume a bike/scooter (as mine does) gets 80 MPG.
Your auto (for an average) gets 20 MPG.
Driving 10,000 miles on a scooter, will cost you, 10,000 mi. / 80 mpg = 125 gal or $4.80 x 125 = $600.00.
Driving 10,000 miles in your auto will cost you, 10,000 mi. / 20 mpg = 500 gal or $4.80 x 500 = $2,400.00 Therefore saving ($2,400.00 - $600 =) $1,800.00 (approx. cost of a scooter.)
To make a simple comparison it cost 4x more to drive a car than a scooter. (this is considering gas only, not other costs as insurance, repairs etc.)
Another number to throw into the equation is how much do you drive in 1 year? If you drive the scooter 10,000 miles in one or two years it will be a benefit to purchase a scooter or any 80 MPG machine. If you drive 10,000 miles in 3 years you may break even + or -. If it takes you 4 or more years, to drive 10,000 miles (I will use this as the life of a scooter) then you may need to consider this more carefully.
A few pros and cons:
Pros:
Fun to ride, fresh air...
No problem parking, stick it in anywhere...
Of course the savings...
A excellent second car...
Cons:
Rain and more rain...
Probable looser in a duel with an auto...
Not much load capacity, only 1 extra rider...
Think about it....
.....GED.....
We will assume a bike/scooter (as mine does) gets 80 MPG.
Your auto (for an average) gets 20 MPG.
Driving 10,000 miles on a scooter, will cost you, 10,000 mi. / 80 mpg = 125 gal or $4.80 x 125 = $600.00.
Driving 10,000 miles in your auto will cost you, 10,000 mi. / 20 mpg = 500 gal or $4.80 x 500 = $2,400.00 Therefore saving ($2,400.00 - $600 =) $1,800.00 (approx. cost of a scooter.)
To make a simple comparison it cost 4x more to drive a car than a scooter. (this is considering gas only, not other costs as insurance, repairs etc.)
Another number to throw into the equation is how much do you drive in 1 year? If you drive the scooter 10,000 miles in one or two years it will be a benefit to purchase a scooter or any 80 MPG machine. If you drive 10,000 miles in 3 years you may break even + or -. If it takes you 4 or more years, to drive 10,000 miles (I will use this as the life of a scooter) then you may need to consider this more carefully.
A few pros and cons:
Pros:
Fun to ride, fresh air...
No problem parking, stick it in anywhere...
Of course the savings...
A excellent second car...
Cons:
Rain and more rain...
Probable looser in a duel with an auto...
Not much load capacity, only 1 extra rider...
Think about it....
.....GED.....
9 comments:
Speaking of scams...
Excerpts from the CNMI OPA report:
1. Department of Finance
Our review of contract documents and discussions with DOF officials and employees showed that a contractor (i.e. Gregorio C. Sablan, Creative Networking
Consulting) was granted a $30,000 advance payment representing 50 percent of the contract amount without adequate justification. The contractor subsequently failed to perform any of the scope of work specified in the contract and the
CNMI Government had no recourse but to sue the contractor to recover the advance payment.
2. Pre- Constitutional Convention (ConCon) Committee
Our review of contract documents and communication with the ConCon
Chairman showed that a contractor (i.e. Mr. Gregorio C. Sablan) failed to perform the administrative and support services required under his $12,639 contract with the ConCon Committee. The contractor received a total payment
of $5,833 as a result of contract terms which required a $2,916.67 advance payment upon completion of contract signing and another $2,916.67 automatic payment after 15 days.
What happened to the recommendations of OPA? has the gov't subsequently collected from Kilili?
Well. Here is a topic upon which I can claim expert status. Rain is ok, although low speed is a must. Raincoat is a must, but they fit in odd tiny spaces, like the fuse box. Keep the larger box for beer cozies and refills, plus extra sun/bug glasses. A bungee cord and collapsible cooler combined with the ever present backpack will bring back a Shelly's pizza and/or ice cream. I tried, but not luck strapping the baby seat on the back, too easy to roll off. Nothing worse than a crying upside down baby while doing 50 next to a truck.
Otherwise, they drive more like a snow machine than a real motorcycle. IE. You need to have your speed down BEFORE entering the turn or you'll have an unpleasent trip to the ditch/ravine/oncoming lane. All the same, Saipan was made for a scooter. Lovely vistas, not too many bugs, rain dries off quickly, and no aircon costs. Down side; you live very close to line of death/life far too often for most. The red 125cc scooters are adequate, but the missus and I loved the white 250cc for comfort and knowing there where few places on the island we couldn't visit with our snorkeling gear and a cooler of cold drinks. We did have to cut our journeys short at seven months of pregancy, but such is life.
To sum up, if you aren't toting a child or in preganis gravis, in a rush, or devoted to a cup holder, the scooter is fun, clean, and economical.
Unfortunately, those of us who have children, will find it very difficult to make the switch to a moped. A family of six won't fit on a bike very well.. and then throw in the groceries and schoolbags.. yikes!
We'll make up the difference in cost with medical bills. :}
Maybe the rising cost of fuel is society's contribution towards birth control. Not that Sailors are all that keyed in on the concept of not screwing more than your wallet can carry, but most of us have progressed beyond the australiopithican stage. Still, you can use the excess kids to gather raw materials for the biofuel plant, which is probably why the big guy gave us the urge to procreate relentlesly.
Lil, Stop calling a scooter a mopad there is a difference. A scooter can run with traffic, a mopad is the guy that is being passed by everyone...
No disrespect meant though..
BSF, I was going to copy and paste the picture of your scooter in this post but decieded agains it at the last minute.
I have a certain wistfulness for old Betsy. Kind of like a horse, even when they fall on you and nearly break your leg, you still love them. Not that I don't miss a little, just heaving the sacks of groceries in the backset, rather than subdividing each item and constantly going to the market.
Sorry Glen.. I didn't know there was a difference. I actually thought a Moped was more powerful :} A "scooter" sounds like something a child would use.
The biggest scam is Governor Ben Tan getting temporary generators for the CNMI. He will be awarding it to a company in the PI which is a front for Uncle Willie Tan.
DCM is owned by Ben Tan's best friend Joe Ada.
Biba Better Times! Ben Tan rules!
Buy bicycles instead.. you dont have to buy gas, you'll see less fat pigs in the streets.
Post a Comment