Heh, you work 5 days a week? 33 miles * 2 (there and back) * 5 days a week * 4.33 weeks in a month (52 / 12) = 1430 miles per month. Let's say you get 18 MPG. You'll then use 80 gallons of fuel. At $3.50 per gallon that's $280 per month, or $3,360 per year.
Now, if you were getting 35 MPG, you would be using 40 gallons of fuel, so you would be paying $140 per month, or $1,680 per year, for a savings of the same amount. I'm betting you end up with a lot worse with a large vehicle in stop and go traffic though, say, 14 MPG?
Your point about maintaining two vehicles is only partially valid - you will only drive one at a time, thus accumulating wear and tear on one at a time (e.g., you'll mostly be using the brakes on one, so you won't have to replace the brakes on the other nearly as often). However, there's also the breakdown associated with time, so that's partially true.
Anyways, it all depends on getting a good vehicle. If you get a lemon it'll more than burn through the savings from better gas mileage. Eh, so, YMMV.
I wonder, though, if your situation would actually benefit from a hybrid vehicle. If you were only on battery in the stop and go it'd probably save you quite a bit.
Alright, I'm done rambling, I promise this time!
