Monthly Fuel Cost: Best And Worst Large Vans

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By John O'Dell September 26, 2011

We looked at full-size van fuel costs this week, and for flex-fuel models also ran the numbers on filling the tanks with E85 (85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline). There’s a pretty big range between the “best” model in the segment, the 4.3-liter V8 Chevrolet Express/GMC Savana Cargo (above), and the worst -- their beefed-up big brothers, the  Express and Savana 3500s. In fact, after we looked at full-size van fuel costs this week, we ran a separate check on the passenger fleet’s most expensive vehicles to fuel (left) and found that big vans are well-represented in the group.

At last week's national average gas price, the small V8 models ran up a pump tab of $261 for a month’s worth (1,250 miles) of travel. At the other end of the scale, a month’s worth of fuel for the 6.0-liter flex-fuel 3500 models cost $372 at the gas pump and a staggering $441 at the E85 dispenser. E85 costs more because, while usually a bit cheaper per gallon, it is less energy-dense than gasoline so it takes about 25 percent more of it to go the same distance.

For this chart we calculated gas costs at $3.58 a gallon (all models use regular unleaded) and E85 at $3.20 a gallon. The chart for this segment – unlike those posted in past weeks – contains all of the segment members. That’s because it’s a small group. The only manufacturers are General Motors (Chevrolet and GMC) and Ford. Although they are still seen on the road, Dodge quit making its full-size Ram van more than a decade ago. We don’t include the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter or the big 6.6 liter diesel versions of the Chevy and GMC 3500 vans because their fuel economy isn’t rated by the EPA.

Download Monthly Fuel Cost for all vehicles

Previous Best/Worst Monthly Fuel Cost Charts

Minivans
Premium Luxury Cars
Premium Sports Cars
Luxury SUVs
Large Cars
Sports Cars
Luxury Cars
Subcompact Cars
Midsize SUVs
Compact Cars
Compact SUVs
Midsize Cars
Large Pickups

Disclaimers
This series of charts ranks the best and worst monthly fuel costs among the cars, trucks and crossovers in the vehicle segments tracked at Edmunds. It is not designed to stigmatize but simply to provide fuel economy information. The numbers were developed using a common set of assumptions and national averages for fuel pricing and vehicle fuel economy. It assumes monthly travel of 1,250 miles using the cars' EPA combined city-highway fuel economy ratings and the national average price of the manufacturers' recommended grades of gasoline or other fuel.

Individual results will differ based on variances in things like driving styles, fuel sources, climate, terrain, vehicle load and options on the vehicle. With comparisons to earlier charts, keep in mind that fuel prices have been in flux all year so the costs listed in previous weeks would need to be adjusted for a fair head-to-head comparison with the costs in this week's list. In other words, please use the charts as a general guide, not gospel.

John O'Dell:  is an AutoObserver Senior Editor. Follow @AutoObserver on Twitter.

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What, not your town? D.C. has worst drivers

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According to a recent report issued by Allstate Insurance Co., Washington, D.C. can lay claim to having the worst — or at least the most accident-prone — drivers among the 200 largest cities in the U.S.

Residents of our nation’s capitol were found to get into collisions on average once every 4.8 years. This means they’re 107.3 percent more likely to get into an accident every time they take the wheel than the typical driver in the U.S., who wrecks his or her car once every 10 years.

Other cities ranking high on the list include such traffic hot spots as Baltimore, Md., Glendale, Calif., Newark, N.J., Providence, R.I., and Philadelphia, Pa. Los Angeles holds down the number 11 position, with the driving population crashing their vehicles once every 6.6 years. Surprisingly, New York City didn’t place among the top 10, being ranked at number 20 in the survey, with motorists getting into collisions on average once every 7.3 years (guess cab drivers weren’t counted as part of the study).

While collisions have been on the decline, fatalities from car crashes still claim over 32,000 lives each year. “Human behavior is the biggest cause of accidents. It is vital for us to educate American drivers about safe driving behaviors they can demonstrate on the road that will help make our roadways safer,” says Mike Roche, executive vice president for Allstate’s claim organization.

Forbes.com slideshow: Cities with the worst drivers

The Northbrook, Ill.-based insurer found the safest drivers residing in smaller cities — motorists living in U.S. cities with populations of over one million are more likely than the national average to get into accidents. Allstate says the safest drivers can be found in Fort Collins, Colo., where the average motorist experiences an auto collision only once every 14 years. Other cities on the safest driver list included Boise, Idaho, Lincoln, Neb., Chandler, Ariz., and Huntsville, Ala.

The study was based on property damage claims reported over a two-year period (from January 2008 to December 2009) adjusted for population, with a weighted average of the two-year numbers used to determine the results.

A copy of the full report can be found here.

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© 2011 Forbes.com

View the original article here

Peliculas Online

Read More

What, not your town? D.C. has worst drivers

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota
According to a recent report issued by Allstate Insurance Co., Washington, D.C. can lay claim to having the worst — or at least the most accident-prone — drivers among the 200 largest cities in the U.S.

Residents of our nation’s capitol were found to get into collisions on average once every 4.8 years. This means they’re 107.3 percent more likely to get into an accident every time they take the wheel than the typical driver in the U.S., who wrecks his or her car once every 10 years.

Other cities ranking high on the list include such traffic hot spots as Baltimore, Md., Glendale, Calif., Newark, N.J., Providence, R.I., and Philadelphia, Pa. Los Angeles holds down the number 11 position, with the driving population crashing their vehicles once every 6.6 years. Surprisingly, New York City didn’t place among the top 10, being ranked at number 20 in the survey, with motorists getting into collisions on average once every 7.3 years (guess cab drivers weren’t counted as part of the study).

While collisions have been on the decline, fatalities from car crashes still claim over 32,000 lives each year. “Human behavior is the biggest cause of accidents. It is vital for us to educate American drivers about safe driving behaviors they can demonstrate on the road that will help make our roadways safer,” says Mike Roche, executive vice president for Allstate’s claim organization.

Forbes.com slideshow: Cities with the worst drivers

The Northbrook, Ill.-based insurer found the safest drivers residing in smaller cities — motorists living in U.S. cities with populations of over one million are more likely than the national average to get into accidents. Allstate says the safest drivers can be found in Fort Collins, Colo., where the average motorist experiences an auto collision only once every 14 years. Other cities on the safest driver list included Boise, Idaho, Lincoln, Neb., Chandler, Ariz., and Huntsville, Ala.

The study was based on property damage claims reported over a two-year period (from January 2008 to December 2009) adjusted for population, with a weighted average of the two-year numbers used to determine the results.

A copy of the full report can be found here.

Forbes.com: 13 common car buying mistakes  
Forbes.com: The next wave of green cars
Forbes.com: Anatomy of a solar car
Forbes.com: 10 used cars to avoid
Forbes.com: Best and worst states to own a car

© 2011 Forbes.com

View the original article here

Peliculas Online

Read More

What, not your town? D.C. has worst drivers

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota
According to a recent report issued by Allstate Insurance Co., Washington, D.C. can lay claim to having the worst — or at least the most accident-prone — drivers among the 200 largest cities in the U.S.

Residents of our nation’s capitol were found to get into collisions on average once every 4.8 years. This means they’re 107.3 percent more likely to get into an accident every time they take the wheel than the typical driver in the U.S., who wrecks his or her car once every 10 years.

Other cities ranking high on the list include such traffic hot spots as Baltimore, Md., Glendale, Calif., Newark, N.J., Providence, R.I., and Philadelphia, Pa. Los Angeles holds down the number 11 position, with the driving population crashing their vehicles once every 6.6 years. Surprisingly, New York City didn’t place among the top 10, being ranked at number 20 in the survey, with motorists getting into collisions on average once every 7.3 years (guess cab drivers weren’t counted as part of the study).

While collisions have been on the decline, fatalities from car crashes still claim over 32,000 lives each year. “Human behavior is the biggest cause of accidents. It is vital for us to educate American drivers about safe driving behaviors they can demonstrate on the road that will help make our roadways safer,” says Mike Roche, executive vice president for Allstate’s claim organization.

Forbes.com slideshow: Cities with the worst drivers

The Northbrook, Ill.-based insurer found the safest drivers residing in smaller cities — motorists living in U.S. cities with populations of over one million are more likely than the national average to get into accidents. Allstate says the safest drivers can be found in Fort Collins, Colo., where the average motorist experiences an auto collision only once every 14 years. Other cities on the safest driver list included Boise, Idaho, Lincoln, Neb., Chandler, Ariz., and Huntsville, Ala.

The study was based on property damage claims reported over a two-year period (from January 2008 to December 2009) adjusted for population, with a weighted average of the two-year numbers used to determine the results.

A copy of the full report can be found here.

Forbes.com: 13 common car buying mistakes  
Forbes.com: The next wave of green cars
Forbes.com: Anatomy of a solar car
Forbes.com: 10 used cars to avoid
Forbes.com: Best and worst states to own a car

© 2011 Forbes.com

View the original article here

Peliculas Online

Read More