First off I'd like to say hi. This is my first post on the MMM forums!
Now to describe my situation. I'm beginning to work as a contractor doing satellite installation in rural areas (where most satellite internet customers are located). Currently I have a 98 Plymouth Grand Voyager minivan which I'm using for hauling my equipment around. The mileage is better than that of a truck, but not by much (and it's been steadily decreasing over the past few years). While I'd like to keep driving this vehicle as long as possible, if I don't find a way to improve the mileage it may be worthwhile to jump ship sooner rather than later. I'll easily be driving 100+ kilometers most days I work - an unavoidable part of this line of work. I don't drive much when I'm not using it for work. That being said, I'm taking it in on Monday to get my winter tires taken off (I'm in central Alberta, Canada - it keeps looking like spring but then we keep getting dumped on) and a basic tune-up/inspection done after someone suggested the poor mileage may be from old spark plugs.
However, should the vehicle have a severe failure at some point in the near future which is beyond fixing, or should the mileage continue to decline without a solution, I'll need to replace it. I had previously been thinking about getting a truck - but after reading the MMM blog I've punched myself in the face a few times and realized that there are more economical solutions out there. The toughest requirements are that the vehicle needs to be capable of mounting a 28 foot ladder (collapses to 14 feet), I need to not be totally straining my back to reach in and out to get supplies (which I'll be doing dozens of times a day at multiple sites) and that it needs to able to put up with Alberta winter driving conditions (mucky, heavy snow, sheer ice, etc etc).
From what I've seen, everyone in this business drives either a van or a truck. Not sure you'd find many places in the world with more trucks per capita than Alberta (because of the oilfield - except only about 5% of the guys who own those trucks actually need them). My equipment dealer and coordinator drives a brand new F-150 which he replaces every couple years. The business pays well - but that's only worth something if you can save that money. I'd definitely be willing to go for a hatchback - it just needs to be able to put up with the demands of the job. An all wheel drive option is preferred because the highways can be pretty icy for a good chunk of the winter (makes a major improvement to handling and safety in those conditions).
Summary: looking for a fuel-efficient vehicle, for everything from warm to icy highway conditions, capable of mounting a 28 ft (14 ft collapsed) ladder that's practical to get supplies in and out of dozens of times a day.
