Ohh...Horse Hookie

[SARGE]

How so many knuckleheads can ever attain positions of power and wisdom continues to escape me. The Saudi fellers are causing the gas prices but beyond that we just took over Iraq and its oilers and Alaska is sitting there with all the tree-huggers protecting their oil. At a buck 86 dollar wise I'm glad I have an old VW Bug.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=536&ncid=536&e=7&u=/ap/20040330/ap_on_go_pr_wh/bush_oil_prices_3

[Jaggannath]

Similar story in Australia mate

[mbossman2]

here's a partial list of the reasons for high gas prices.

1) There is a higher demand for gas in the U.S. American consumers are using more gas this year than they have in many previous years, even with the high prices.

2) Environmental regulations lower the supply base of gasoline available to consumers. Oil refineries have to switch production at this time of year to boutique gas blends for specific geographical regions. This means that if there is a shortage driving prices up in one region supplies can't be shipped in from another region to meet demand ... wrong blend.

3) We have about one-half the number of oil refineries in the United States that we had 30 years ago. The last time a new refinery opened for business was in 1976.

4) There is an unexpected high demand for petroleum in China. Some think that China may be buying huge supplies to build a strategic reserve.

5) Saudi Arabia has cut production. There is speculation that Saudi Arabia is recognizing that its reserves of crude oil are running out. Saudi production may never again reach previous highs.

6) The gas prices we face right now are not record high prices. In the early 1980s a gallon of gasoline cost about $2.90. That's adjusted for inflation, of course, but so is your income. Tough for government school graduates to understand, I know.

Now .. if you are a consumer aware of the foregoing facts, how likely is it that you're going to nod your head in agreement when some politician starts blaming another politicsan for the current high prices?

[doctorgonzo]

Compared to gas prices in most parts of the world, we in the U.S. have no reason to complain.

[mbossman2]

that's cuz(at least in the UK) over 70% of the price of gas is tied up in taxes.

[grasshopperbe]

Its the same around these places, belgium, holland, germany, france are all around a euro (or dollar) per litre for gasoline. i just found on google that 1 US gallon = 3.4 liter, so I think you shouldn't be too unhappy driving in the states :). We have to pay more than double to keep our cars rolling.

Btw, the vast majority of cars runs on diesel over here which costs 0.8 - 0.85 euro.

[glc]

Diesel over here is seldom much cheaper than gasoline, and in some localities it's as expensive as premium gasoline. That's why you see very few diesel cars, just trucks.

[mbossman2]

as an FYI
average prices as of 3/29/2004

Unleaded regular: $1.758/gallon (or $.465/liter) of that $.42/gallon of that is taxes (federal and state as of 2002)

Diesel: $1.642/gallon (or $.433/liter) of that ~$.22/gallon is taxes

One of the issues with diesel is the overall availability. Diesel fuel is not available as widely as gasoline. In addition, temperature greatly affects the viscocity of diesel fuel which limits its usefulness to the average consumer who will more than likely forget to plug in his fuel tank heater to keep diesel liquid enough for the fuel pump to drive it to the engine.

And finally couple that with a shortage of diesel powered cars with comparable HP ratings and the american infatuation with high HP automobiles and you have a very unpopular fuel alternative.

[grasshopperbe]

hmm maybe diesel is as expensive in the States in comparison because it sells so much less.

like i said almost 70 -75 % of cars over here run on diesel and have between 1.6-2.5 cc engines usually.
1.9 l tdi is super-popular last few years.
most cars that run on gasoline have 1.2 to 1.6 cc engines. cars with more than 3000cc are less than 10% of the regular cars over here.
From what i saw when i was on vaction on the west coast of the States several years ago a 3000 cc is onyl a "small" engine.
My "dream car" is a 1975-1981 corvette "big block" but im afraid that will always be a dream where i live , unless i win the lottery or so

[Jaggannath]

In Australia it depends where you are as to comparative prices. In the inner city, where diesel vehicles are less common, it's about 2-3 cents more expensive
In the bush, where I used to live, it's a reversal, 2-3 cents cheaper.
And thanks to grasshopper for the conversion, I thought it was 2.4, not 3.4, so I thought the US was doing it tough. In Australia, 90 cents for petrol is about the median, so 85c isn't bad