OT - Anyone have an E85 ethanol compatible car?

Hi ladies,

I can't remember if I posted it here or not, but in the first part of January, Jer and I hit a deer on the way to the mall.  It kind of annihilated our van.  I am thankful though, that the deer didn't roll up into our windshield.  Poor deer flew about 15 ft in front of our van.  I was sad for the deer and for our van.  Especially since we only had the one vehicle.

So, we were planning on buying another vehicle when we got our taxes and using the van as a 2nd when we got our tax return.  We ended up buying a cheap 1995 Honda Accord for now, so Jer can go to work and I can go to the grocery without having to ask the neighbors to use their car or get a lift.  It cost us around $1000 after the small repair we had done, the purchase and the transfer..etc.  But that still leaves us needing another vehicle, because naturally, my family of 6 doesn't fit into a Honda accord.  LOL

So we have been looking at SUV's because honestly I had a van for 6 years and I liked it, but we need a tad more room and I am sick of driving a van.

So we found a really awesome deal on a 2004 Chevy Suburban.  It is well maintained, but has high milelage.  It is a V-8 Vortec engine... and according to the manufacturer specs gets 14 city 18 highway.  Which is a little less than my V-6 van got.  However... it is an E-85 ethanol compatible. 

So we are thinking, if gas prices start to get astronomical again, we could resort to the E-85.  Which currently is more expensive here in PA, but when gas prices were soaring, it was cheaper than gas. 

Does anyone have one of these vehicles???  Does the E85 run differently than gas?  Anyone have any info they would like to add?

Thanks
B

I don't know too much about it. We have a local gas station that carries it. And it was MUCH cheaper when gas prices were higher.

My car can use it but I never have. I guess because I don't know too much about it and am scared to use something I know nothing about. I guess I could and should research it a little as it may be better for me to use.

I would appreciate some info on this subject too...........thanks for bringing it up. (And hope the car works out for you. That is what we are looking for.)

If I get any info, I will pass it along. =0)

B

My husbands truck and my car can both run on E85, but we have never used it.  There is only 2 places I know of that sell it and they are both like an hour away from us.  I have also heard that the mileage that you get with the E85 is alot less than you can get with regular gas.  I am not positive if that is true or not but may be something to check into.  
Good luck and sorry about the deer, I am always so worried about that.  We have elk to worry about here too.  I am glad you didn't get hurt!  My dh went to a call that a elk came through a windshield and killed the driver.  Very sad and scary.
Chrissy 

You do get a little less MPG with the E85, but if it is a lot cheaper per gallon than gas, then it should be worth it.  We have a few places around here that sell it... none right around the corner, but there is one close to Jeramie's work.  So I guess if we needed it, he could get it on his way home.

That is one thing about the Suburban,  if we get it... I know it will fair better than my van did in the deer collision.  Plus, we are planning on moving to CO in a few years and it will do well out there... especially since E85 is super super cheap out there.

B

 

I know nothing about E85 but I had a van and needed more room also. We just bought a Ford Expedition! We LOVE it! So much room! I liked it more than the Suburban. And on the consumer reports it faired much better! Good luck on picking a car!!

Jackie

We like the expeditions, too.  This Suburban is just a great deal.  It has all the bells and whistles... heated leather seats, BOSE sound system, Rear DVD entertainment system, Sunroof, heated mirrors, extra clean interior.... I fell in love. =)

B 

I dont know anything about that type of fuel, they dont sell it anywhere near me. I have seen it while traveling, but never looked into it. I was in a car accident back in November, my van was totalled and my hubby drives a two seater cargo van.....not much help with this family of 6 either! My van was totalled and we needed to get another one FAST! I wish that we had more time to look around, but we ended up getting an 07 Chevy Uplander. It is a van, but far more room inside than our previous van. It drives really great and was super reasonable, but lacks the "bells and whistles" that I have been used to. (But its a much lower payment than the other van too....so at this point that was more important!) It seems to do well on gas...we traveled for a week over Christmas and got like 26mpg for most of the trip!

We have a ton of deer here and I am always on the lookout for them, but NO~I get slammed by a utility van! Im sure you were like I was....didnt care about the van as long as everyone was ok. Was it just you two? I was driving with the girls, and let me tell ya I was FREAKIN OUT! Gennas shoe went flying, but thankfully they were both just fine. Well, I sure have rambled long enough....Good Luck on the car hunt! We now have to look for one for hubby as his van finally died a wk ago....never ends!!

Take Care and God Bless,

I have seen the Uplanders on my search.  I think hubs wants to get out of a van for several reasons.  I know we need more room, we want the capability for 4 wheel drive w/ all of our steep hills around here and the snow, and I think the van is crimping his "style" lol. 

It was me, Jer and Sydnee.  No one was hurt except for the deer, Thank God.  Those damn deer are all over the freaking place around here.  I have never hit one before in my life.  Jer did hit a dead one that someone hit and left in the middle of the road.  He caught air on the thing.  Why on earth wouldn't you make sure that it was out of the way of other vehicles??  We called the game warden, but they were taking too long and our car was spewing fluids and we wanted to be sure to get it home before it completely died.  So Jer just pulled it off to the side of the road.  Gross!

B

i dont know anything about that.. i have a 06 chev trailblazer, with the 3rd row... LOVE it.. all of jaysons luggage fits nice... one time.. i hit a frog.. i was so upset i had to pull over and cry haha