I tend to agree with you Stan, the last new vehicle I ever bought was a '76 Ford F-250 4x4 pickup with all the bells and whistles, it got 10mpg in all driving conditions, since then it's been all pre 2000 model year cars, they are more predictable and easier to work on and diagnose problems, the two that we have now have been with us for longer than I can remember buying them.
My second car/camping vehicle is a 1990 Ford E-150 high top conversion Van with the center seats removed and a bunk in the rear and built in cabinets, it runs and rides like a dream, has 87,000 original miles on it and it's never failed me, all I've ever had to do to it was regular service and maintenance plus new exhaust manifolds, but it too only gets about 10mpg around town and maybe 12mpg on the highway, we never got more than about 15mpg with any of our cars except the wife's latest, again, we've had it for so long the best I can tell you about when we bought it was that I was still working full time.
It's a 1996 Volvo 5 cylinder model 850 Sport Wagon, the first front wheel drive car that Volvo marketed, It's got about 160,000 miles on it and it's still running great and has cost us next to nothing in repairs since we've owned it, getting back to your point, we have friends and family who have newer and smaller cars that give gas mileage in the mid 30's, my grandson's new Masda is giving him 40 mpg. and that's all well and good because he practically lives in his car or his pick up, our old Volvo gives us about 23 mpg on average, is extremely safe, handles like a sports car, and has plenty of room for five people and for cargo in the back.
When you are used to 10mpg. and you all of a sudden start getting 23, your probably going to be very happy, besides, with the amount of driving we do these days we only have to fill the tank about every three weeks or so whether it needs it or not. (grin)
