What's happeining to our Gas Prices?

[ellie]

WHY IS GAS SO FREAKING EXPENSIVE?! I'm talking to Firefly on AIM right now, and we are both sad about the priceyness of gas. I drive a car that only takes premium gas, which is usually about $0.20 more than regular gas. And I have a 20 gallon tank. And premium gas here is currently at $2.75. That is (lemme check my calculator) $55 to fill up my tank! That is like, the same amount as a new pair of jeans. Or like 12 Blockbuster rentals. Or a meal for 4 at Hard Rock Cafe. That is a serious strain on my wallet, having to dish out that much money for gas. AND to make things even worse, I live way up on a mountain, and it's a 15 minute drive up and down mountain roads to get into town, which is not very fuel efficient.

How much is gas in your town? I'm hopeful that maybe my town is just satan, and gas elsewhere isn't quite as expensive? Maybe I just need to move somewhere where gas is cheap!

[koku]

even though I sympathize and agree...this is seriously the worst topic ever. We and you can do alot better.

[sakana]

I drive a car that only takes premium gas, which is usually about $0.20 more than regular gas. That really sucks. Our gas is about the same but there's this new gas station near my house that is always cheaper than everyone else near us.

[ellie]

even though I sympathize and agree...this is seriously the worst topic ever. We and you can do alot better.

What's wrong with my topic, Mr. I'll-squawk-at-someone-for-their-topic-but-i'll-start-one-called-My-real-name-is-Tselote. ? This IS in the RWPW section, and I am just voicing a complaint about modern life. I seriously cry everytime I put gas in my car, which is like twice a day because I only put about $5 in at a time because it seems even more painful to fill it up in one sitting.

[Benaire]

Yeah and cars suck cause one hit my precious precious Neko!! :mad:

All cars need to be destroyed and replaced with .......things that can't hurt my Neko!!! :mad:

There is only one thing that should make her arse hurt and getting hit by cars isn't it

[Myrsilus]

Yeah and cars suck cause one hit my precious precious Neko!! :mad:

All cars need to be destroyed and replaced with .......things that can't hurt my Neko!!! :mad:

There is only one thing that should make her arse hurt and getting hit by cars isn't it
O.o <whistle>

Anyway, yes the gas prices are getting difficult to deal with. I use mid-grade for my truck and even if I don't drive too much, it puts a dent in my wallet. But oh well... we're going to have to tough this one out.

[akitaka]

Try living in AZ. You are required to have a car to work in some areas. The public transport is often late, and it's very hot and arid; this makes biking a challenge, even within a radius of 4 miles. I like biking, too.

I wanted to save money for a Toyota Prius, but right now I really feel edged against vehicles that use gas...it's bad enough that they make air smell like ass. Life would really be more gleeful here if the busses were improved.

[ChronoSphere]

LoL, I used to have a car back in my younger days that required premium gas too... but that was 3 years ago before gas prices went through the roof. My current car takes only 12 gallons, and I get about 260 miles to a tank.

Plus the town I live in for school isn't conductive to driving, I end up filling my tank every 2 weeks, cause I use the bus most of the time.

[Myrsilus]

Speaking of air smelling like ass, L.A. is one of the most disgustingly polluted places I've ever been. You could cut the smog with a knife. It destroys my Texan lungs.

I don't think I'll ever buy a car that requires premium... Seems way too high maintenance, and I don't like that. I'm a simple guy.

[Lambda]

Around here, we top out at 2.25 for premium. Driving's a bitch.

[Myrsilus]

Ugh, I remember back when gas was relatively cheap. Granted there is always complaining about the prices, but it was more managable.

Btw, the Miyamoto avatar rocks.

[hahaman]

will i'm only 15 so i hope by the time i can drive some cool electrical or vegitable oil powered cars come out so i don't have to deal with these friken overpriced liquid :mad:

[Myrsilus]

Well they are already here... But still, they haven't caught on all too well at the moment. Give it time.

[Thespis]

The new test hybrids get about 250 miles to the gallon. I oh so cannot wait.

[MeneerDijk]

wow, $2,75 for a gallon....we have to pay about 7 freaking dollars for a gallon.

luckily my scooter is is very fuel efficent, my car was relatively fuel efficient, it drove 40 miles to the gallon. Now that my car is gone, i light my cigarettes with 100 euro bills. And i dont even smoke!

[Thespis]

Makes me miss my motorcycle even more.
*Sighs Dreamily* ][ <3 |\| ][ |\| j @.

[Citizen]

That's why my friends and I syphon our gas.

[MeneerDijk]

That's why my friends and I syphon our gas.

You have friends? :confused:

[DJEvan]

stupid question to ask, but.


how many litres is a gallon? :o

my Toyota Altezza gets about 7 klicks to a litre, and about 350 for each tank (50l) so i dunno how that would be after conversion.

oh yeah, and it costs about $50 per fill here.

Edit: googled for a conversion table. 13.21 gallons for my car and 220 miles for a tank.

[Jiant Flying Panda]

Yeah the Europeans got it bad so we shouldn't really be complaining about it.

I was wacthing Top Gear (A European show about cars. It's awesome) and this guy raced his Porcshe from the UK to Switzerland!! Now this is a Porsche people, so you have to understand that it only get's about 15 Miles to the gallon and requires a higher amount of octane. Just imagine how much that guy paid for gas.

But still. I agree with you gas prices are way too high. Around here it is also around 2.70 I think. I try not to go out more nowadays.

[MeneerDijk]

^^ agreed, topgear is the best car show ever. period. I recommend everybody to watch it on BBC world or to download some episode. It's not a consumer program wich hammers on about the boot space of some hatchback economic crappy car. No, it's a program for car lovers with humor. It's quite objective too, if a car sucks, they will tell you.

[MaverickHL]

Gas here in Japan is not to great either, back in Canada, I use to see gas at around 40 cents a litre, now well, it can almost go up a dollar CDN a litre.

[Loc]

heh yeah Top Gear is good.
I'm pretty sure the UK gets screwed over the most with fuel prices, about £4/5 a gallon which is pretty lame :/

[Annie]

Went up to $2.43 yesterday, at the cheapest place around. I almost crapped my pants. And then my boyfriend paid for my gas and all was right with the world.

[Pfalzer]

Well i bought a isuzu trooper along with my aging Beamer now if you want to hear bitching lol tht damn beast holds 45 gallons and its only a freaking SUV but oklahoma's gas range hangs in between 2.31 and 2.21 so its not as bad as you guys i remember how much gas use to cost damn i wish it went back to tht. :(

[akitaka]

And all the while Exxon Mobile is laughing their asses up to the top of the corporate food chain.

Back in '95 gas was les than 99 cents a gallon.

[Jay]

Cars will probably END UP sucking. Half the designs out there today can kiss my arse... and if they even make a concept of one of those "artists' impressions" of futuristic cars, I'm giving up and walking.

At the moment though, cars rule.

[ruaidhri]

What in the hell is happening with our gas prices? Damn, this is really pissing me off. The price at the local station is now $2.69 a gallon. I’m old. I’m retired. I thought for once in my life I’d but a nice big comfortable luxury car and enjoy life. I traded in a Jetta TDI with 50 miles per gallon. My new car gets around 15. Damn! Did I ever make a mistake.

Why aren’t any of our leaders on either side of the aisle screaming? Clinton would have done something. Why isn’t Bush doing anything? Why aren’t the Democrats complaining. What’s going on?

People are canceling vacation plans. That’s not good for the economy. Business is picking up fuel surcharges for freight. That’s got to be passed on.

I fear Bush’s plan is to open up the Alaskan fields to exploitation. I’ve read that would make America not only self sufficient but also a major oil exporter. Now, I wouldn’t mind being self sufficient but if we were forced into raping what little beautiful land that still exists in Alaska, I sure wouldn’t want to share it for the sole purpose of making some rich person even richer.

What are your opinions? What do you know that you want to share?

I know I am really pissed.

[MaverickHL]

Well there are already good cars out there that uses other means besides gas as fuel, but you know most of the government and the gas companies do not like it cuz it interferes with their profits.

[MaverickHL]

Yes, they are expensive, not to criticize, but there already has been a post regarding this topic:

http://www.outpostnine.com/forum/showthread.php?t=106

May I suggest a merger if possible.

[Henjin]

It's still cheaper than most of the rest of the world is paying. Be grateful for that.

[Jay]

I'd LIKE to have cars that run on rechargable electric engines, but they're shithouse little poky front wheel drive things.

[MaverickHL]

True, but hey, the point of the car was to make it more convenient to get from point A to point B.

[Spy]

$2.20 to $2.60 - regular
$2.50 to $2.70 - plus
$2.60 to $2.80 - premium

those are the gas station prices I have seen in my area

[Niki07]

As of yesterday gas at Citgo was $2.60/gallon. There are 3 gas stations in my town, the Mobile & Citgo are usually the same... and the BP a few cents higher. We are about 45 minutes away from cheaper prices, but I try to make it convenient and get gas whenever I go that way. My car gets between 28-32ish mpg...which isn't bad, but for a kid in highschool, it still pulls at my wallet when prices get this high. I live 15 minutes out of town as well, so that just sucks. Oh well.

[Y.T.]

Get real. Gas is cheap now... in the US.
Around here... it's 40 crowns for a litre of
it.. that is 3.785*40 for a gallon, that is
151.40 crowns for a gallon.
A dollar is roughly 30 Slovak crowns...
so.. it's about 5 $ for a gallon.
It's not that people love those prices,
but traffic congestion is still a problem,
and cars are still a prefered mode of transport.
Quite cheap, if you have a car, going
to Košice (400kms) in it is still less costly
(for non-retired adults) than going by train.
Also, the median monthly income (net) is
I think somewhere in the region of ..
15 000 Sk, that is 500$. Unskilled labourers
earn 1.5$ per hour. People still drive..
somehow. Some use LPG
(liquid propane gas I think), that's cheaper
but it stinks(literally).

One of the things we don't understand about the
US is - why are American cars that big? I recently
saw an American SUV on a parking lot.. it was ..
well.. standing out a lot. Sure, many Americans are
big people, with oversized arses, but, it's not
that.
Actually gas would cost something like 2-3$ per gallon
around here, but there is a consumption tax on it.

[KujiInRetsu]

Various news networks have done stories on this gas price pinch. Somewhere in Alaska, the price of regular gas is somewhere above $4.00 a gallon. This is $16 just for 4 gallons. I would sooner throw myself off a 20-story building, which is free as far as conscious postmortem expenses are concerned.

[Praetorian]

However, you seem to forget us Europeans don't travel by car as much. Americans sometimes have to drive 1-2 hours to get where they need to go because everything is pretty spread out. Europeans tend to work in the town they live in, or a big city only 30-40 km (at most) away. Which is why it's only natural that gas prices are more expensive.

[MeneerDijk]

Ok, threads merged, keep on truckin!

[Y.T.]

Well, if they chose to live eighty klicks from their workplace, tough
luck. It's their problem. I don't really understand how
come US cities are so.. expansive? T
hey can save gas, for example by living at
their workplace and only going home on weekends... that's the way
it used to be around here it the 1950's..
Some people commute in Slovakia .. but generally they
pay lots on gas, and often resort to LPG, which slashes
your fuel costs by half, and costs about 20-40 K Sk,
or 666-1200$ to install(depends on car).

[Kos]

One of the things we don't understand about the
US is - why are American cars that big? I recently
saw an American SUV on a parking lot.. it was ..
well.. standing out a lot. Sure, many Americans are
big people, with oversized arses, but, it's not
that.
Actually gas would cost something like 2-3$ per gallon
around here, but there is a consumption tax on it.

As I understand it, SUVs are one of the fastest-selling vehicles on the American market; according to a recent article, there's a huge tax credit (50% or more) on Hummer H2's (among other SUVs) - while there's only a $1,500 USD credit on hybrids. Similarly, many automobile manufacturers here are offering an "Employee Discount" of some sort to the general public to boost sales figures. I want to say that it was Toyota that was considering raising the prices on their cars because Ford and General Motors are selling poorly.

In another fashion, offering huge tax incentives is good for the (various) states - a lower fuel efficency results in more tax money for the states, which is especially needed when many of the states are facing budget deficits and fear raising, say, property taxes or cutting programs to make the budget balance. I've heard from a few different people that with the rising popularity of hybrids (and other highly efficient cars), California would like to start taxing the total milage one drives in a year (by GPS or inspection).

Some states, like New York and California, have banned the purchase of new "consumer" diesels - like Volkswagen's TDI's, on various grounds that may very well be negated by the use of Biodiesel. Here in upstate New York, the ban went into effect in 2002 - dealers can't even offer diesel options if they exist. Pre-ban diesels are ok, and so are used diesels (more than 10,000 miles on the odometer) from other states.

[MeneerDijk]

Wikipedia says this on U.S. fuel prices:


The U.S. federal gasoline tax as of 2005 was 18.4 cents per U.S. gallon (4.86 ¢/L), and the gasoline taxes in the various states range from 10 cents to 33 cents, averaging about 22 cents per U.S. gallon (5.8 ¢/L).


so wheré does the rest of the money go? oild comanys that are getting huge tax-breaks from the US governement... gee... could president Bush somehow be affiliated with oil companies?

[Y.T.]

I'd LIKE to have cars that run on rechargable electric engines, but they're shithouse little poky front wheel drive things.
Well.
Only snobs have cars with the rear wheel drive, around here.
(apart from people who drive Lada. That's a Russian/Polish
knockoff of some early 70's FIAT, still popular(though not made anymore))
(and, apart from early Škoda models.. which have the engine
in the back. And are, as far as cars are concerned, the
pinnacle of crap)
All cars, except the some BMWs and Mercedeses are FWD.
RWD has no benefits at all, I think, the axle takes up space,
makes the car more expensive..
Even less stupid snobs drive Audi, and frequently 4WD.
Cars powered by electric engines are too expensive and
heavy. Lead accumulators are heavy, other kinds too
expensive.

[Y.T.]

Some states, like New York and California, have banned the purchase of new "consumer" diesels - like Volkswagen's TDI's, on various grounds that may very well be negated by the use of Biodiesel. Here in upstate New York, the ban went into effect in 2002 - dealers can't even offer diesel options if they exist. Pre-ban diesels are ok, and so are used diesels (more than 10,000 miles on the odometer) from other states.

That stinks. Modern diesels are in every way superior to gasoline engines.
Even the Germans, number one eco-idiots use TDIs.
(they almost granted laboratory animals the same rights as apply to
humans! ) Around here, diesel is more expensive than gas per litre, and people driving TDIs still pay less.

[Roxie]

The North is different from The South in terms of city layout.

In the Northern US, most places (cities), the oldest places are built for pedistrians. Places are relatively easy to get to.

Here in Atlanta, it's far from the case. Everything is very spread out. Unless you live in the city and have access to the train/bus system MARTA, you're s.o.l. Part of the reason why MARTA hasn't extended to the sourrounding metro is fear. I've heard ppl say some of the most crazy things to cover up deeper fears. They say it'll bring "criminals" into their suburbs.:rolleyes:


This is an ACTUCUAL photo by the way. Not tampered with.

[Buckwheat]

I have a theory regarding Bush economic principles. To him, the oil business is the life blood of the US economy. If the oil industry is making more money the rest of the country must be. Gas prices are being raised because no matter what Americans WILL buy gas. Feeding more money into the oil industry. Unfortuneatly it just kinda sits there since the oil business isn't really interested is spreading the weath.

I am very glad that I can walk most places I need to go in Minneapolis. $2.69 per gallon is just silly when less than 10 years ago I saw prices get as low as $0.85. After I graduate college I will get a motorcycle for the 70 mpg rating that most of them carry. I plan on being one of the first to get a Hydrogen fuel cell car when they are available or if I absolutly need a car before then I will get a hybrid.

[Roxie]

Well, if they chose to live eighty klicks from their workplace, tough
luck. It's their problem. I don't really understand how
come US cities are so.. expansive?
They can save gas, for example by living at
their workplace and only going home on weekends... that's the way
it used to be around here it the 1950's..
Some people commute in Slovakia .. but generally they
pay lots on gas, and often resort to LPG, which slashes
your fuel costs by half, and costs about 20-40 K Sk,
or 666-1200$ to install(depends on car).
1. You can't live at your workplace. There are no bed or showers, no closets for clothes, no real kitchen. You can't live at your workplace.
2. Most cities that ppl work in are too expensive to live in, so you live far out, b/c it would kill your wallet to live intown.

[Mariko-san]

They're going up. End of story.

[Y.T.]

1. You can't live at your workplace. There are no bed or showers, no closets for clothes, no real kitchen. You can't live at your workplace.
2. Most cities that ppl work in are too expensive to live in, so you live far out, b/c it would kill your wallet to live intown.
Well, there are no showers usually.
However, it's quite common for workplaces around here to have a small kitchen..
As to closets for clothes, pardon me? Do you need more than say
a clean pair of socks and some underwear every day? Even if you throw
in several shirts, it's not much,
I can carry all clothes I own on my back, and it's not like
you need ten kilo furs just to survive every day.
A bed is something that is not really necessary, inflatable
matresses are quite comfortable.
Lack of privacy would be worse I think(if everyone lived
at their workplace. )

[Quartermaster]

5 pages and China hasn't been mentioned yet? Bah.

Here goes: China's economy is on the rise and so it's consuming more fuel (than it used to), so the prices elsewhere rise.

[Roxie]

Well, there are no showers usually.
However, it's quite common for workplaces around here to have a small kitchen..
As to closets for clothes, pardon me? Do you need more than say
a clean pair of socks and some underwear every day?)
Are you kidding? YES.

You need a different outfit. I work at IBM and I wouldn't be caught dead wearing the same outfit day after day. No one would believe you washed yourself at all. they'd think you're nasty, dirty, unprofessional.

[Y.T.]

You need a different outfit. I work at IBM and I wouldn't be caught dead wearing the same outfit day after day. No one would believe you washed yourself at all. they'd think you're nasty, dirty, unprofessional.
Well, if you do not give a fuck about what other people think, you are the
winner. How come professionalism is linked to appearance? If you are not a model.. or some stupid salesman, then you don't have to be spotlessly clean.
People would give you more breathing space that way.. and maintain a respectful distance..

[GTARob]

Quarter nailed it. Crude oil prices have been skyrocketing for many reasons.
Middle east instability is one. But the fact that India and China are now starting to consume just as much fuel per year as the US has per year for the past 70 years is a big deal. The middle eastern oil fields can only support so much and they are rapidly approaching thier half-life.

The US has already gone through fuel costs exploding before. During the 70's big, huge fuel inefficient muscle cars were all the rage. Fuel prices began to skyrocket comparatively(sp?) for the times and small Hondas became popular. Over the past 10 years SUV's have become popular again
Now, we are back into rising fuel prices and people are looking more towards the midsized SUV's and hybrid vehicles.

Rob

[KujiInRetsu]

This is the big thing with China and India these days. Eventually, they're going to come into their own being as industrialized nations, and they're going to require natural resources to fuel their economies. Petroleum just happens to be one of those requirements, as the vast majority of construction equipment relies on gasoline to function. Naturally this is going to cause a sharp drop in availability of fuel, and prices are going to skyrocket. Couple this with the fact that their populations are at least three times the size of the U.S. total population, and that's going to make for a lot of gas going to that region. Granted, not all of those people are going to have cars or be driving some sort of industrial equipment in their vocation, but a fraction of their population there is quite a measure larger than a fraction of the U.S. population here (if we're going by the same fractional value, of course).

We really should've been on the ball sooner and seen this energy crunch coming. In fact, after the Mideast Oil Crisis of the 70s, we should've already been throwing more money and researchers into alternative fuels, instead of just now when we're feeling the squeeze of the Saudi royal family again.

[Panhandle Martinez]

This is an ACTUCUAL photo by the way. Not tampered with.


That is an actual photo of what, exactly? I don't buy it. I'm in the Atlanta area so please tell me specifically where I can find a sign like that and crap my pants in laughter.

[Monkey]

AHAHAHAAAAA! American oil prices are soo cheap.

You should try living in the UK. Average prices across the country just broke £4 a gallon in July for the first time ever. That's $7.25 dollars...

I wish I was paying $2.50 a gallon, even $4 a gallon would be amazing.


Having said that though, Britain is one of the highest taxed countries in the world. Even so, I think we are well over the norm for fuel, even when you take into account taxes.

[Roxie]

Well, if you do not give a fuck about what other people think, you are the
winner. How come professionalism is linked to appearance? If you are not a model.. or some stupid salesman, then you don't have to be spotlessly clean.
People would give you more breathing space that way.. and maintain a respectful distance..
You can't be serious. In order to be the part, you have to look the part. If you're supposed to be professional, you need to look professional. It's very simple. It's a condition of your job. So if you'd like to continue getting a nice pay check, you need to at least look clean and presentable everyday.
That is an actual photo of what, exactly? I don't buy it. I'm in the Atlanta area so please tell me specifically where I can find a sign like that and crap my pants in laughter.
......of a gas station.

I can't tell you where b/c this was taken quite some time ago, but appeared in the ajc.

[Myrsilus]

You can't be serious. In order to be the part, you have to look the part. If you're supposed to be professional, you need to look professional. It's very simple. It's a condition of your job. So if you'd like to continue getting a nice pay check, you need to at least look clean and presentable everyday.
Perhaps there are differences in culture and all, so I won't try to say this is true for the world. I do know that in America, however, what she says is true. If you plan on being in some sort of business where you socialize with other people, sell, etc., you better damn well be clean and dressed nicely. It's been like this for a long time. My mother works for Sprint, the cell phone company, and she tells me of her experiences all the time. She gets many customers not only because she is able to comunicate well, but she is always at work clean and in dress code. She's one of the top sellers and is moving up in the corporate ladder.

[Roxie]

Perhaps there are differences in culture and all, so I won't try to say this is true for the world. I do know that in America, however, what she says is true.
Exactly. I figured the trouble was differences in culture, which I totally understand, but since he was talking about America.
Well, if they chose to live eighty klicks from their workplace, tough luck. It's their problem. I don't really understand how
come US cities are so.. expansive?
I thought I'd let him know that living at your workplace, 90% of the time is just NOT an option.

[Dead Sexy Vocab]

Here in Canada, the average gas price is 99.9.....

[MaverickHL]

Here in Canada, the average gas price is 99.9.....

Ahhh so it did go up, see I guess living here in Japan does do that, I lose track at what happens in Polar bear land. Although that is a nasty price considering they use to be what around .60 per litre before I left.

[.zero]

wah? polar bear land?
well for the first time (i think), it broke the dollar mark a couple days back..

[Quartermaster]

What .zero said, it's not Polar Bear land it's Hockey Land. Unless you're not talking about Cananda. In that case carry on.

[Dead Sexy Vocab]

What .zero said, it's not Polar Bear land it's Hockey Land. Unless you're not talking about Cananda. In that case carry on.

Bastard. The Canucks will surely win the Stanley Cup. :p

[harper]

Regular gas jumped up to about $2.55 per gallon this week where I live in Detroit. Up until a few of years ago, gas seemed to hover right around $1 per gallon - maybe a little above or a little below. The cheapest I can recall is 38.9¢ per gallon back during the 70s for a brief time, but even then it was usually a bit more expensive. I remember the big outcry when it topped $1 for the first time.

We don't have a very good public transit here in Detroit as they do in Chicago and New York City. Most people drive where they want to go because of that. I only live about 2 miles from work, but my parents are about 30 miles away and I usually go over there about once a week. My new car (2005 Chevy Impala) has been averaging about 26-30 mpg.

[Marblehead]

Bastard. The Canucks will surely win the Stanley Cup. :p

Canucks??? I remember watching the Canucks getting their ass handed to them by pre-Gretzky Kings!

[Dead Sexy Vocab]

Canucks??? I remember watching the Canucks getting their ass handed to them by pre-Gretzky Kings!

No, ASS, they were overthroned by the Calgary Flames. We DID put up a pretty good fight, since we managed to get a last-time tie to go into overtime.
Alas, in 3 seconds in overtime, the Flames burnt us. :mad:

[Marblehead]

I'm talking about a game I saw in 1988, silly. ;)

[Kass]

^Topic...


Gas prices are correcting and reaching levels they should have hit years ago. Our prices have been very stagnant compared to other countries and have been held in check, sometimes artificially by the government purchasing excess oil to lower the price paid. Those only hold so long before the market HAS to correct itself. Up until recently, after figuring the price per gallon sans taxes, our gas prices were disproportionately low compared to the rest of the world because of the sheer volume of gas we purchased. Buying in bulk helps.

Besides, even at the prices they are now, adjusting for inflation, a gallon of gas in March 1981 would be $3.03 in today's dollars. We haven't hit the high prices we did in the early 80s. Oil would be about $90 per barrel in today's dollars. (http://www.lundbergsurvey.com/)

As for comparing our prices to Europe, you have to do so after subtracting out taxes. Some countries in Europe pay up 60% of the cost per gallon in taxes, so a straight from the pump price comparison is inaccurate. Subtract out taxes on both sides, then compare.

See, here's the thing. We live in a free market economy. Emphasis on free market. The OPEC nations know this and they make almost all their money off of two things: price controls and a captive market. As long as people buy as much gas as they do, OPEC is going to continue to make a lot of money off of it. Why people feel the need to demand the government get involved even more than they are I'll never figure out. It isn't their responsibility of enforce price controls.

If there were to be an actual shortage, like there was in the 1970s, then the president could open up the governement-owned fuel reserves, but there isn't. There is plenty of gas to go around. OPEC is just demanding, and getting, higher prices per barrel. Peace in Iraq (*insert hysterical laughter here*) would do more to lower prices than anything else because it would open up a huge flow of oil not currently being tapped. Too much crude oil on the market, lower prices. You want cheaper gas, solve the multiple crises in the Middle East. More than any other factor, historically, that is the one that most affects gas prices. Everytime something goes boom in the Middle East, prices go up.

You don't want to pay $55 to fill up your tank, buy a more fuel efficient car. It's not rocket science. You buy a gas guzzler, expect to get raped at the pump. Take KY. Why people didn't learn this lesson in the 70s and early 80s is beyond me.

Quite frankly, someone else's gluttony is not my problem, nor is it the government's. Neither is anybody whining because they are paying the same price as the rest of the world. Life sucks, prices go up.

My car, while running the AC 50% of the time, gets 32-34 miles to the gallon and has a 10 gallon tank. I bought it more than two years ago knowing full well that prices would continue to go up. (Working with lawyers and economists does have its advantages.) This weekend was the first time ever it has cost me more than $20 to fill up my tank. I do like the metro system, but gas would have to hit $8 per gallon before using the metro cost the same as my commute. I'm also planning a nice car trip for next weekend. On the highway out of traffic, I can probably get 35-36 mpg. :)

The only crisis here is a crisis of self-indulgence.

[Arilou]

Quite frankly, someone else's gluttony is not my problem

Actually, it may very well be. Environmental changes affect us all after all.

[Y.T.]

There is plenty of gas to go around.

Actually, some people are getting concerned, that
while we at present have lots of oil to throw around,
expanding production is getting very, very hard. And costly.
And demand is growing...

And, by the way, oil fields are inexhaustible... they don't deplete
at all, do they?

[D-pad]

I just checked and the gas at the 711 down the street was 2.52.......Bush's head should be roasted..........

[Kass]

I forgot to qualify my statement. Currently, in this economic situation that everyone is pissing and moaning about, there is plenty of gas available. This isn't another case of OPEC refusing to sell to certain nations. The gas is out there. It just costs more. This is not a case where the government needs to open up reserve stocks to make sure the nation doesn't come to a grinding halt.

I am well aware that oil is not an inexhaustable resource. Duh. It would be why I drive the car I do and encourage hybrids when the are more fuel effcient. They are not ALWAYS more fuel efficient. In reality, if you drive primarily on highways at higher cruising speeds (i.e. 55-65 mph), there are numerous cars out there that are as efficient or more efficient than hybrids. Hybrids are best in town in stop and go driving. That's when you get the 60 or so mpg.

Again, someone else's gluttony is not my problem. If they feel compelled to drive a gas-guzzling road hog or land yacht, then I have absolutely zero sympathy for their situation. Suck it up and pay $55 to fill up your tank or buy a more efficient vehicle. I can and have gotten by without a car before. I could do it now; it would just be costlier than having one.

This is hardly a crisis. It's a market correction that is long overdue for this country. Market demand will catch up and alternative fuel-source vehicles will outsell gas powered engines. Already, hybrids capture 5% of the market share. They captured that chunk of the market long before industry analysts expected. None expected hybrids to take off in popularity like they did.

Toyota had to seriously increase Prius production to keep up with demand. There had been a nine month to a year-long waiting list for the Prius until very recently. Honda has two hybrids on the market, the Insight and the hybrid Accord. Ford managed to get the first hybrid SUV out, the Ford Escape. Toyota's Highlander should be out soon (they've had to delay release a few times).

The higher prices at the pump will only speed up the process. Hybrid development and sales will accelerate, as will alternative fuel research. The higher the prices, the better for the environment. The market conditions will force a change in driving and buying habits and it will correct itself again.

It is neither my nor the government's responsibility to subsidize anyone's driving habits. We've had artifically low gas prices simply because we bought in bulk for so long, people are spoiled. Now we're paying what everyone else does. It's about time.

[Kos]

Kass,

Just out of curiosity, what are your thoughts in regards to the banning of new "consumer" diesels?

[ruaidhri]

My oh my Kass, do I disagree with you this time. You stated, “This is hardly a crisis. It's a market correction that is long overdue for this country.” I wholeheartedly disagree. This is a crisis because it will force undesired changes on the American people. This hits them where it hurts. It takes dollars out of their wallet. It prevents them from taking their relaxing drive in the country. It prevents many from taking their vacations. With those fewer dollars in our pockets we will be less likely to visit that restaurant we like. We will cancel our trip and stay at that nice hotel we were looking to visit. We will spend less money on those things that are less important for our family’s survival. And, because we’re not spending that money businesses and other people will suffer and perhaps lose their jobs.

Remember, the extra money we spend on gas isn’t available for other purposes and I’m not just talking about recreational. Do you really believe that the answer is to brace ourselves for higher prices, buy a new car with better mileage, we’re getting what we deserve is the answer to anything? I don’t.

Have you considered that higher gas prices won’t just affect Americans at the pump. I worked for 36 years in transportation logistics/material flow. I purchased transportation services. The fuel surcharge is now $0.20 per mile. That is a separate line item on the freight bill. We will see higher prices for consumer goods. Don’t think that you won’t be affected simply because you have a fuel efficient car or are able to take mass transit. Should Americans go to their employers and demand more money to cover the added cost of living? Isn’t that inflationary? Doesn’t that affect everyone? Isn’t that a crisis?

I say it’s not OK for insanely rich capitalists to rape our wallets. So what’s the plan. Our President is a supposedly great friend of the oil barons. Why isn’t he using that friendship. Maybe he and his family are also profiting at our expense.

Yes, I am guilty. I have a gas guzzler. I bought it this past January. This is my first big luxury car. I believed I earned it and bought a Chrysler 300C with the Hemi engine and all the options. As much as one can love an inanimate object, I love my car. It’s a great pleasure to take it out. Well, now I’m sorry I bought it. Where I once had pleasure, I now have dismay. That’s good isn’t it? That’s what I deserve for being stupid enough to buy a big comfortable car.

How many people in our auto industry (that has been focused on large cars, trucks and SUV’s) will lose their jobs. Here we go again. People losing jobs while prices go up. What’s that called, stagflation? That’s not a crisis in the making?

Yes, I’m pissed about paying more for gasoline because we’re being manipulated by the super rich so they can get even richer.

[Trump]

Gas prices suck, period. I'm thankful Orlando is still fairly cheap.

But for those really concerned, most cars that suggest premium will run fine with regular. You might notice a slight hit in performance due to timing issues in the motor, and it depends on the car, but you get the idea.

[Kass]

My oh my Kass, do I disagree with you this time. You stated, “This is hardly a crisis. It's a market correction that is long overdue for this country.” I wholeheartedly disagree. This is a crisis because it will force undesired changes on the American people.

Since when have the American people ever taken change well?

This hits them where it hurts. It takes dollars out of their wallet. It prevents them from taking their relaxing drive in the country. It prevents many from taking their vacations. With those fewer dollars in our pockets we will be less likely to visit that restaurant we like. We will cancel our trip and stay at that nice hotel we were looking to visit. We will spend less money on those things that are less important for our family’s survival. And, because we’re not spending that money businesses and other people will suffer and perhaps lose their jobs.

Remember, the extra money we spend on gas isn’t available for other purposes and I’m not just talking about recreational. Do you really believe that the answer is to brace ourselves for higher prices, buy a new car with better mileage, we’re getting what we deserve is the answer to anything? I don’t.

No really? Of course it takes money out of our wallets. That's the breaks, more so if you make costlier decisions. I'm a single mother and the sole support of my child. I have to rent a new cello, get school clothes because pre-teen girls grow like weeds, buy groceries, etc... too. It probably hits me harder percentage-wise than quite a few people on this board.

I have not heard of anyone around here or anywhere else cancelling their vacations. They piss and moan and go out and put more gas in their Sequioa and buy take out on the way home.

Of course luxuries are the first to go. That's what happens, but that also has longterm market effects of reducing prices because of too much supply and not enough demand.

Have you considered that higher gas prices won’t just affect Americans at the pump.

Want my bills? Of course I have.

I worked for 36 years in transportation logistics/material flow. I purchased transportation services. The fuel surcharge is now $0.20 per mile. That is a separate line item on the freight bill. We will see higher prices for consumer goods. Don’t think that you won’t be affected simply because you have a fuel efficient car or are able to take mass transit. Should Americans go to their employers and demand more money to cover the added cost of living? Isn’t that inflationary? Doesn’t that affect everyone? Isn’t that a crisis?

Every negative thing is not a crisis. Just because it affects everyone doesn't make it a crisis. We've had artificially low gas prices for a VERY long time, since the early 80s. This was inevitable. It didn't happen quickly either. In 2000, I paid $1.35-$1.40 per gallon for gas. It's gone up steadily since then with a couple of sharp spikes.

If the market was to continue, this had to happen. The higher prices have already been absorbed by various industries along the way. The government has been buying excess to keep prices lower.



I say it’s not OK for insanely rich capitalists to rape our wallets. So what’s the plan. Our President is a supposedly great friend of the oil barons. Why isn’t he using that friendship. Maybe he and his family are also profiting at our expense.

Where do you think they drill for oil? The majority of the world's oil comes from the middle east and OPEC sets those prices. The oil companies have some, but not a lot of influence. Now, if all those still rigs in Texas start moving again, we might actually make a tiny dent in it, but not much. Those rigs are still because Middle Eastern oil is cheaper, not because they all ran dry.

Bush could release emergency reserves to put more fuel on the market to lower prices, but those reserves are for emergencies and fuel shortages, not price increases. Our prices reaching the same level as the rest of the world does not constitute and emergency.


Yes, I am guilty. I have a gas guzzler. I bought it this past January. This is my first big luxury car. I believed I earned it and bought a Chrysler 300C with the Hemi engine and all the options. As much as one can love an inanimate object, I love my car. It’s a great pleasure to take it out. Well, now I’m sorry I bought it. Where I once had pleasure, I now have dismay. That’s good isn’t it? That’s what I deserve for being stupid enough to buy a big comfortable car.


Sweet car. I hope you got the magnesium green or the silver. Those are the best colors on it. During the time between contracts, I sold cars for about six months (otherwise known as my Time in Hell). They are luxurious and that Hemi goes, but the Monroni sticker on the side tells you exactly what you are in for. That car wasn't cheap to fuel up then either.

Every luxury has its price. Eat too much dessert, you get fat. Spend too much money, go into debt. Buy a costly vehicle to operate, pay later.

How many people in our auto industry (that has been focused on large cars, trucks and SUV’s) will lose their jobs. Here we go again. People losing jobs while prices go up. What’s that called, stagflation? That’s not a crisis in the making?


Not nearly as likely as you think. The auto industry has been tracking a decline in SUV/big car sales for a while. They were a bitch to move off the lot. Most new models introduced have been smaller and more fuel efficient. The 300 would be the exception to the rule. Chrysler was deliberately trying to break back into the muscle car/luxury market all at once.

They've been retooling for a while. Even most Asian foreign cars are made in the US. These companies are not likely to be laying off because their products are what will be being purchased. Even Ford has a safety net in the Escape.

Yes, I’m pissed about paying more for gasoline because we’re being manipulated by the super rich so they can get even richer.

If you want to make an impact, help reduce the demand or develop a new source. Lower demand, lower prices. Too much supply, lower prices. The simple answer is to get Iraq back producing oil, though in reality, that is more difficult to attain. Because of their need for rapid cash infusions, they are likely to buck OPEC price constraints.

We are dependent on foreign oil because WE demand that much oil. We don't NEED it. We WANT it.

By the way, you'd save more money by going on the vacation than staying at home and doing your normal around town driving. The 300C cuts back to four cylinders at cruising speeds. It kicks back in to six cylinders for acceleration and around town driving. The difference in gas mileage is significant enough to be noticeable.

There are other ways to improve your gas mileage. The AC is the biggest killer, though in the summer isn't always easy to turn it off. The second biggest is speeding. Fro every 10 mph over 55, you lose 5% of your fuel efficiency. Jack rabbit starts also suck the fuel out of your tank like no tomorrow. No zooming away from the stops. Combine all your errands into one trip if possible. Keep your maintenance up. A well maintained engine gets better mileage. Also, keep a decent tread on your tires. The more wear on your tires, the worse your car performs. Getting a decent quality set of tires (mid to high grade) will improve your mileage, will quiet and smooth out your ride and will last longer.

[Kos]

There are other ways to improve your gas mileage. The AC is the biggest killer, though in the summer isn't always easy to turn it off.

From what I recall watching on an episode of MythBusters, having the AC running doesn't have as great a negative effect as having one's windows down and AC off.

In checking the fuel efficency by computer, the results were that having the windows down offered better efficency. Conversely, by loading the vehicles the same amount of weight, and filling them with the same amount of gas - the one with its windows down (and AC off) ran out before the one with the windows up but AC on.

[Y.T.]

http://www.financialsense.com/transcriptions/Simmons.html

Well, Mr.Simmons says, that Saudi Arabia has oil, and lots of it, but
cannot further expand production.

[Kass]

From what I recall watching on an episode of MythBusters, having the AC running doesn't have as great a negative effect as having one's windows down and AC off.

In checking the fuel efficency by computer, the results were that having the windows down offered better efficency. Conversely, by loading the vehicles the same amount of weight, and filling them with the same amount of gas - the one with its windows down (and AC off) ran out before the one with the windows up but AC on.

And exactly how many people with AC run their car in say, Texas or even Virginia, when it is 90+ degrees in the summer? I can count them on one hand any day on my way home.

I am sure that the drag coefficient does reduce gas mileage MORE than the AC, but the AC will still reduce your mileage by about 10% and is more common in the summer than windows down.

I'm sorry I didn't answer your commercial diesel question earlier, but after having some issues posting and redoing my previous post, I figured I'd wait until later to try my luck.

I don't know a whole lot about commercial deisels. Up until now, the primary motivator for buying them was that deisel was so blasted cheap compared to regular gasoline. That's no longer the case so I'm not sure what the motivation behind purchasing one would be.

At some point, I'll have to look up more about them, but I've stalled work long enough. It's time for file reconciliation hell.

[Y.T.]

Hmm... that Diesel engines are more fuel efficient. Inherently.. Umm.
REally. TDI car with a 70 Hp engine burns 4-5 litres of diesel per 100 kms.
4 litres, if you drive 80-90 kph, and don't overtake much.

That is 62 miles on 4 litres, and that is .. 58 mpg.
(gasoline engines are capable of this?)..

Yeah, and if we did not have all those stupid safety regulations..
European cars are really mini tanks. A small car weighs
1.300 kg.. Once we had a Daewoo Tico.. and that was
definitely not safe, quite small, and was 450 kgs !
(Still, it was made of steel. No aluminum. And for Koreans.. ideal for
people who are 5'1-7". )
(it accelerated nicely, and had a small turning radius)
It was like a go-cart. Sometimes they got blown
off the road due to strong wind.. and crashes were nasty..
Who cares? Who wants to live forever?

[darkinfero]

dont u remember when gas like 80 cents i miss that
now that i'm able to drive at a older age its like fuck i can't have a car its best that i'm able to walk to work and i be in college i stay at campus and work isn't that far to walk because book take a pretty price

[Trump]

From what I recall watching on an episode of MythBusters, having the AC running doesn't have as great a negative effect as having one's windows down and AC off.

In checking the fuel efficency by computer, the results were that having the windows down offered better efficency. Conversely, by loading the vehicles the same amount of weight, and filling them with the same amount of gas - the one with its windows down (and AC off) ran out before the one with the windows up but AC on.

You've got it backwards. In simulation, having the windows up provided a more streamlined vehicle which more than made up for having the AC on. However, when they ran the experiment, the car with the AC on ran out of gas more quickly.