The rising gas prices have one unexpected benefit that I have decided to take advantage of.

I will explain: My current vehicle is a 1994 Astro Van with about 250,000 miles on it. It currently gets about ten miles to the gallon and I am putting in about $400 a month in gas to run it. It was bought a few years ago when gas was still under $2 a gallon, to be used to move materials and equipment while my wife and I refurbished some apartments and rental houses we bought. Those projects are over and so the van is no longer needed.

I am buying a 2008 Smart ForTwo Passion Coupe that gets up to 45 miles to the gallon.

Here’s the benefit: As gas goes up to $4 a gallon and beyond, the savings in gas will make the payments for me with money left over. My credit union is financing the whole thing, so it’s nothing out of pocket, plus I get to sell the van and pocket the money I get out of it. It’s like getting paid to drive a smaller car.

There are other benefits as well. The Smart ForTwo is classified as an Ultra-Low Emission Vehicle (ULEV) on account of its extremely low exhaust emissions, so it’s much better for the enviroment.

Later I may have it converted over to an all electric vehicle. Granted, it’s range will be only about 100 miles, but that will be equal to driving 100 miles for a total fuel cost (electricity) of less than two bucks. If I spring for a solar panel to help charge the the car while it sits out in the parking lot for 9+ hours a day, the cost drops down even lower.

Want one of these cars? Good news and bad news – the bad news is that the waiting list is almost 14 months. The good news is you can get one a lot quicker by doing what I did – go to the local dealer, figure out what you want or will be willing to take, and ask to be put on the cancellation list. I did and the car I’m getting next week is one that the people who bought it had gone ahead and bought another car so they no longer want it. I guess they got tired of waiting, and I’m getting the car six weeks after I got on the list instead of a year plus later.

Oh, I can have it converted over to electric for about $3000. That’s only about 750 gallons of gas at $4 a gallon, if you wanted to figure it up.

Anyway, the point is that if you are driving a gas guzzler, the savings in gas may actually pay for a more fuel effecient car.

Think about it.

Wayne