Gas prices no excuse for new debt (The Morning Call)

Dear Mary: I'm thinking of getting a scooter. I commute 12 miles every day in city traffic. Scooters typically get about 120 miles per gallon, and my Saturn VUE gets about 24 mpg. I live in Minnesota, so I would not be able to ride the scooter year round. Should I add to my debt by buying the scooter and cut my gas expenses?