I've had a pickup and 2 blazers over the last 15 years. When this Blazer needs replacement maybe 2010 , I will be looking for a more gas eficient vehicle but hopefully still roomy. 4 wd is not essential but wouldn't hurt.

So what vehicles out now look like good bets to replace SUV's for fisherman in the future. I would like 30 MPG at least (more is better too). I avergae about 50/50 highway vs city driving.

subaru outback? or new hybrids? Toyota highlander is nice

i think the honda CRV gets 30 mpg.. and its got 4wd..

What can get 30 mpg and tow 5000 lbs?

i think the honda CRV gets 30 mpg.. and its got 4wd..

With serious feathering of the gas pedal... I wouldn't exactly call it 4wd either as you can't enable or disable it..
I could get 24MPG if i just did the speed limit on the highway and drove like everyone else when entering an on-ramp to the highway...(ya know super slow acceleration)
if i baby it 320 miles to 13 gallons..
if i just drive normal 270 miles to 13 gallons..

i was getting 250 miles to 19 gallons with my truck..

I will say this... i am impressed by the CR-V... it holds it own, it's peppy to boot too...

10' fits in side too... ;)

only thing i don't like is the roof racks are not adjustable they are a fixed distance apart so using a rod rack on the roof for some rods will be a PIA as the upper part might fall to close on a guide...

Good luck finding 30MPG with normal driving and fishermen friendly...

What can get 30 mpg and tow 5000 lbs?

This:

http://ecotality.com/life/2007/10/24/the-60mpg-hybrid-hummer/

That amazing, Neil Young's 1960 Lincoln to get 100 mpg? Heck, I'll drive it!!

1 vote for the CRV. Can be made into a decent fishing vehicle.

have new crv 26mpg on highway,local mid 20's.newer ones have 17'' tires.

Not an suv or fuel efficient but my next vehicle will be a Toyota Tundra Crew Max 4X4, if I decide not to go the GMC route.

i think the honda CRV gets 30 mpg.. and its got 4wd..

I get 22 and I baby mine.

22 is not even close to what I want. I want double my 17 mpg so i want over 30 for sure average.

i once had a car called a datsun B210. Thing got a solid 38 highway and averaged for me at 31 MPG. It also had a 20 gallon tank so you could go about 600 miles between fill ups. Compare that to a 17 gallon tank in a blazer that gets about 17. What a pain in the butt filling up every 250 miles! the B210 was also a hatchback so despite being small , you could shove a good size rod into it lengthwise.

The new saturn view green line hybrid should come in around 30. The older view hybrid did not and barely got 24 or something in 2 wheel drive.

I have the crv and while I like it it only gets 22 normally and 25-26 highway at 65-70 mph.

there should be a hybrid van from toyota by 2010

from the net...

We put together a list of the 10 SUVs with the highest combined mileage, according to ratings from the EPA's 2008 Fuel Economy Guide. The EPA'€™s guide lists ratings using new testing procedures, which result in lower numbers compared to 2007 and previous ratings. To see how the testing differs and why the numbers are supposed to be more realistic, see Why Mileage Estimates are Falling for 2008.

Ford Escape Hybrid FWD — automatic — 32 mpg
Mazda Tribute Hybrid FWD — automatic — 32 mpg
Mercury Mariner Hybrid FWD — automatic — 32 mpg
Toyota Highlander Hybrid AWD — automatic — 26 mpg
Lexus RX 400h FWD — automatic — 25 mpg
Jeep Compass 2WD — manual — 25 mpg
Jeep Patriot 2WD — manual — 25 mpg
Nissan Rogue FWD — automatic — 24 mpg
Toyota RAV4 FWD — automatic — 24 mpg
Honda CR-V FWD — automatic — 23 mpg

Does FWD mean Front wheel drive or 4 wheel drive?

Once I get back to work I am thinking of a smart Car.
http://www.smartusa.com/index.aspx

I get 22 and I baby mine.

i average 24 in mine, 26-27 highway. its an '08. fits a 10' rod inside

Does FWD mean Front wheel drive or 4 wheel drive?

Front Wheel Drive

Keep in mind that many hybrids typically achieve best mileage in stop and go city driving. On the open highway they cannot employ all of the pretty fuel reduction benefits...

As for full size non hybrids, the GM trucks get the best fuel economy with the 4.8 & 5.3 liter engines.

I've heard the Tundra and the Ram are the worst.

If any of you want to try something new with your existing (1996 cars and later) trucks, get a Scan Gauge ( http://www.scangauge.com ) . In addition to being able to geek out some codes and show what's really happening with your engine, the best feature is that it provides an Instantaneous Fuel Consumption Display. IFCD will allow you to actively drive for better mileage than what you think you would get. I've been doing this for 3 years now and it allows me to do one type of "Hypermiling". I boost my MPG on the highway & city by 20-25% and sometimes on back roads I've gotten as much as 23MPG average. Might not sound like much but that is in a 300HP V8 SuperCab F150 with 3.73 gears. Over the course of a 30,000 mile YEAR this device and modifying my driving habits I'll save a couple thousand dollars in gas at today's prices.

In my wife's Focus I got from 30MPG typical (without) on the highway to 38MPG average (with) from RI to Virginia

Once I get back to work I am thinking of a smart Car.
http://www.smartusa.com/index.aspx

I went past one on Rte 9 yesterday, driver looked like they were standing up. The thing is really tiny face to face.

I think hybrids are the way to go, the days of cheap gas are over and you will make back the extra money spent on a hybrid a lot sooner now. Plus, you can take it to these guys:
http://www.a123systems.com/hymotion

and get 100mpg

Moto's parents just got a smart car there is a one year waiting list :sleeps: Anyway I took a ride in it last week and the thing is pretty cool really does'nt feel like your in a car that small. You can switch them from manual to automatic as well

If any of you want to try something new with your existing (1996 cars and later) trucks, get a Scan Gauge ( http://www.scangauge.com ) . In addition to being able to geek out some codes and show what's really happening with your engine, the best feature is that it provides an Instantaneous Fuel Consumption Display. IFCD will allow you to actively drive for better mileage than what you think you would get. I've been doing this for 3 years now and it allows me to do one type of "Hypermiling". I boost my MPG on the highway & city by 20-25% and sometimes on back roads I've gotten as much as 23MPG average. Might not sound like much but that is in a 300HP V8 SuperCab F150 with 3.73 gears. Over the course of a 30,000 mile YEAR this device and modifying my driving habits I'll save a couple thousand dollars in gas at today's prices.


John, are you talking about just adjusting how you drive (coast into corners and down hills, etc) based on the fuel mileage info? Or something more involved? Alot of new cars (the crv included) give you the instantaneous fuel mileage and a running tally of your average fuel mileage from each time you reset the trip odometer.

I have an Element - it's a good fishing car and it's pimped out, rod rack, thule cargo top, neoprene seats - but I don't consider it a beach vehicle.
It gets about 22-24