Gas prices and your response

[mbossman2]

With the increase in gas prices ($2/gallon + in the US and similar increases in other parts of the world), have you changed your gas consumption habits? Drive less? More? Switched to a higher mileage vehicle? People powered transportation?

[doctorgonzo]

I ride the bus to and from work and still do. I only drive on weekends when I need to go shopping for groceries or other things. I haven't really been affected at all, which allows me to laugh at the gas guzzlers.

[diver203_98]

At $2.22 a gallon, (for high test) the only grade I buy, I drive alot less

[fudtone]

I refuse to let it keep me down. The US government has reserves well beyond what is needed to offset this influx in prices however they are too nervous about the mid-east and fear they may need it for there own gain rather than the comfort of there people.

Apparently I haven't thought about this much.

Let me here you rant! Power to the people! ;)

[Redfallon]

$2~$2.10 a gallon isn't *that* big a jump from $1.79~$1.89, which it has been off and on for awhile here. Hasn't changed my habits. I just bite the bullet and fill up when I need it. I haven't gone out of my way to find cheap gas or fill up when it's down...

[mbossman2]

i personally have switched from driving my truck (20mpg) to riding my motorcycle (45+ mpg) for most commuting.

as to fudtone: the USA requires approximately 20millions barrels of oil per day, the most common amount I hear to be tapped from the strategic reserve is 10% (or 60million barrels) which equates to a 3 day supply. The "experts" claim that adding this much oil to the available supply would only decrease prices by approximately 10 cents per gallon for a period of 30 days. after that the price would rebound higher than what it was prior to the release (the government would be scrambling to replace that "lost" oil, increasing competition for available oil)

[HAL9000]

This time last year.. we were 62 cents per litre.. and a week ago it was 96... it has dropped to 87 this week.. so I'm expecting it to go over $1 any day now.

I ride my bike to work... not just to save the gas.. but to stay in shape.

[Colonel Sanders]

$2.25 for '91, what I run. But I did buy '91 for $2.19 yesterday(about 50 miles away...). I think I have started to drive less.

L J

[Hi Ho]

The Arco station in town is about $2.36 I believe. It wasn't that long ago that it was $1.36. It used to cost about $10 to fill up my Civic and $20 to fill my truck. Now it costs over $20 to fill my Civic and almost $50 to fill my truck. At least the cars get 40mpg. I wish I could say the same for the truck. (about 8 mpg :rolleyes: ) I don't drive any less.

[bigpuma]

It really hasn't made much difference to me as far as how much I drive. My wife and I switched cars because hers was more fuel efficient and I drive 17 miles each way to work whereas she drive 4.5 miles.

As a side note I was watching Die Hard the other day and there was a shot where you see the gas price sign. It was $.77 for regular unleaded.

[kram 2.0]

Originally posted by Redfallon
$2~$2.10 a gallon isn't *that* big a jump from $1.79~$1.89, which it has been off and on for awhile here. Hasn't changed my habits. I just bite the bullet and fill up when I need it. I haven't gone out of my way to find cheap gas or fill up when it's down... Ahh wonderful - fellow Cincinnati guys :) . Around my area, gas prices have tended to be fluctuating - as low as 1.83, as high as 2.17. Put it short, they have shot up tremendously. It's actually teaching me conservatism...hmm - maybe it's a plan by Bush to try to make us conservative and vote for him this fall! A trick! :rolleyes: .

Well, I think when I originally filled gas with 1.4+ a gallon, I was doing it weekly, or even every other day. Now, I'm saving until right before my car's supposed to alert me...kinda risky, but that's what's gotta happen with gasses that's going to burden my wallet :D

kram

[mc2phat]

I don't drive any less. My wife has a '99 Altima, she pretty much drives around town. I have a beater Oldsmobile that refuses to die that I drive to work...I just changed jobs, the distance is 1/2 of what I drove to get to my old job. It kinda worked out for me I guess.

[sleepypost]

Again, more complaining from people who shouldn't be complaining. I have been paying 2.00+ for gas fro the past 3 years. I just filled up my car for $38.50 at 2.59 a galllon (Mid grade). I don't complain about it, because that is what we deserve for being so dependent on cars in the first place.

I'll bet you alll aren't paying 9.5 percent sales tax either. If you want a better explanation, for every 1,000 dollars you spend, you pay 95.00 bucks in tax. That's what I live with everyday and I keep my mouth shut.

[Statica]

I've always taken public transport; not for the gas prices or parking prices but because I do believe that it is what I can do to help with my environment. While I don't like the prices of gas, I certainly hope it will encourage a lot of people to look at the alternatives.

[Alienware_Dude]

Originally posted by sleepypost
e.

I'll bet you alll aren't paying 9.5 percent sales tax either. If you want a better explanation, for every 1,000 dollars you spend, you pay 950.00 bucks in tax. That's what I live with everyday and I keep my mouth shut.


I think you misplaced a decimal point there.

[mbossman2]

9.5% taxes is nothing (even factoring in excise taxes) when compared to the UK. gas there is $5.79 a gallon and of that 75% of the price is tax.

[kram 2.0]

Originally posted by Alienware_Dude
I think you misplaced a decimal point there. 1000 USD --> 950 USD of tax! Wow - that's just tyranny :rolleyes: . I lived in California for a while, and it is not useless arguing -California's expense for living is very high. Gas prices are no exception - I bet it shot up a lot.

And go to people in Europe - France pays 17%, I think, and Great Britain pays around 18 %, I think.


Hope that helps,
kram

[Byte 2.0]

high test is 2.25 here is oak ridge.
4 miles away i can get high test for 2.04 so you can guess where I buy my gas.

[Mac Medic]

$2.15 for 93 octane here, I just fill up and go on my way happy in the knowledge that it's still 1/3 the price of gas in other countries.

[tigstah]

1.92 for regular to 2.19 for premium.......
i live in a good spot. everything, job, grocery stores, malls..are less than 10 minutes away......

[CaptTuna]

Originally posted by fudtone
I refuse to let it keep me down. The US government has reserves well beyond what is needed to offset this influx in prices however they are too nervous about the mid-east and fear they may need it for there own gain rather than the comfort of there people.



The so called government reserves only amount to a 30 day supply of CRUDE OIL. Figure in all the other used of crude and that is not much gas.

[Pentium-ant]

Originally posted by mbossman2
9.5% taxes is nothing (even factoring in excise taxes) when compared to the UK. gas there is $5.79 a gallon and of that 75% of the price is tax.

I was just about to say that think of us, the price to fill up over here is just stupid.

PS i only passed my driving test yesterday so i am just happy to be able to drive :D

[james8547]

I exchanged my civic for a turbocharged Hummer.

No change in driving habits but now I don't put my car in the wash. I just let the birds have their way with my car until I get the power to strike them all down (which should be next Tuesday if FedEx tracking is correct).

[Karnevil9]

No, I haven't changed anything. Like OEM-Guy stated, we are still far better off than most countries, and it will come down again. During the gas crisis in 1979 gas went up to a whopping $1.50 a gallon for regular and people screamed. A 75 cent rise in price in 25 years is not that huge.

[RHLinuxGUY]

Here in SoCal, (LA, San Bernadino) Gas Prices are average around 2.35-40 cents (some parts are pretty decent 2.21) for regular. the highest I've seen was next door to me, Orange County (next door as in countys, ther not far off) ther about 2.50 for regular. I dont even want to touch Unleaded, or Super Unleaded.

[Nuclear Krusader]

How long till petroleum is shunned and ppl start looking at nuclear energy?

[Vigo]

Gasoline has increased about 50 cents since last year in my area. I think I have an 18 gallon tank (might be 19). I get horrible gas mileage since the car barely runs (maybe 15 gallons to the mile). I fill the tank- not even- twice a week.

18*2=36 gallons a week. 18 extra dollars a week. Thats 72 dollars a month. Yes, its a lot. But I know people who pay more for their cell phone (per month). So it can't be so expensive its worth talking about. (especially since most people don't chew up 36 gallons a week)

Probably be more serious for an SUV or a large truck, but if you want a F250 just for recreation then you should pay the extra 10 bucks a month over an economy car. If your driving an SUV in the U.S. no body wants you on the road anyway so save your money by selling your vehicle. (Really hope states start passing those laws soon)

[Vigo]

Originally posted by RHLinuxGUY
Here in SoCal, (LA, San Bernadino) Gas Prices are average around 2.35-40 cents (some parts are pretty decent 2.21) for regular. the highest I've seen was next door to me, Orange County (next door as in countys, ther not far off) ther about 2.50 for regular. I dont even want to touch Unleaded, or Super Unleaded.

No unleaded huh? I'd like to know where you can buy gas with lead in it. ;)

[fudtone]

Originally posted by Vigo
No unleaded huh? I'd like to know where you can buy gas with lead in it. ;)

You now have to buy your lead in a bottle or can and add it to your "regular" gas.

I still have not paid over $2 a gal.

[fragmyster]

i've just bought an 84 LTD, this thing is a boat. i have to fill up my 18 gal. tank every week at $2.09. but its not that bad.

there is good news though, OPEC just increased there output by 2 million barrals a day and many econimists are saying that prices should start droping at the pump within a month or so.

[mbossman2]

did you notice that OPEC is "willing" to increase their overall production? Ever wonder why? I think its because the price of gasoline is approaching the area that investing in alternative fuel sources (which are, in the beginning, much more expensive than the incumbent fuel of choice) is now becoming a viable choice and this may signal the beginning of the end of oil dominated energy markets.

Vigo - lead was in gasoline to cut down on engine knocking, if you can find an old bottle of an anti-knocking product, that'll add lead back into the gasoline.

Krusader - nuclear power has pretty much been hammered (in the USA) as a form of energy. the environmental crowd has spun public opinion and gotten legislation passed that effectively prevents any new fission power plants from being built and brought on line.

[doctorgonzo]

Originally posted by Karnevil9
No, I haven't changed anything. Like OEM-Guy stated, we are still far better off than most countries, and it will come down again.

No, it probably won't. This is it: we are finally hitting the ceiling after years of warning.

OPEC said that they would raise their production quota by 2 million barrels a day, to 25.5 million barrels. Guess how much oil they are already pumping out per day? Over 26 million barrels a day. They are already now producing more than they say they will produce to ease gas prices. Every single OPEC nation is pumping as much oil as they possibly can already, above the quota. The only country with excess capacity is Saudi Arabia, which could pump an additional 1.5-2 million barrels of oil a day of needed.

This is why this time it is different from other oil price spikes. 20 years ago, there was 15 million barrels per day of excess pumping capacity in the world, meaning that any oil shocks in the 1980s were destined to be short-lived. Now, however, there is no excess capacity. And since the economies of India and China are booming, world oil demand is going up by 2 million barrels a day per year. Thus, by this time next year, even Saudi Arabia's excess capacity will be gone if nothing else changes.

Demand has caught up to supply and keeps increasing every year. Unless there is a huge economic downturn that reduces demand for oil, these high oil prices are probably what we will be dealing with for a long time.

[Confused]

Not me. Gas adjusted for inflation is still cheaper than it was during tight times in the past.

If this country doesn't open some land up for drilling along with building some new refineries things are only going to get worse. There hasn't been a new refinery bought online for over 28 years and we are running the ones we have at 95% capacity. That and with 28 different blends of gas being sold nationwide creates problems.

Here in Louisville (Jefferson county) we have to use RPG blend gas. Price is .05 to.07 cents more than Bullit county to the south.
Chas

[glc]

My old Taurus wagon died - and I replaced it with an old BMW with a 4 cylinder stick - so I get a lot better mileage. I don't go out of my way to cut down my driving, but I'm consciously more careful in my driving habits and I try to combine trips whenever possible. I've retarded the timing on the BMW so it doesn't ping too bad on 87 octane (which it's supposed to be able to run anyway), and I try to plan my trips to where I can get gas where it's cheapest in my area when I need it without piling on excess miles to get there. With 87 octane running anywhere between $1.97 and $2.29, this can make a difference. I suppose it's a psychological barrier - I just do not want to pay over $2.00 a gallon if I can help it. A customer of mine has a psychological barrier too - he's a lawyer and can afford anything - he drives a Tahoe - but he refuses to put more than $50 in the tank at a time.

[kittyfire]

Paying around $2.29 for 87 in Las Vegas. High test is over $2.50.

Everything is more expensive in Vegas, though. And it's hot, too. Damn desert.

[lil Jimmie]

I've missed a lot of work due to an injury with my back so I haven't been driving too much the past 2 months but it's $1.95 for 87 oct which is down from $1.97 2 days ago. It doesn't bother me, no tree hugger or opec will take my will to drive away.

[Hi Ho]

Krusader - nuclear power has pretty much been hammered (in the USA) as a form of energy. the environmental crowd has spun public opinion and gotten legislation passed that effectively prevents any new fission power plants from being built and brought on line.
True. However, there are how many nuclear power plants in the world? And how many have actually melted down? One. Nuclear energy is extremely clean unless something like Churnobel (sorry about spelling :) ) happens. It's too bad it has such a bad reputation. The same thing happened with hydrogen in the Hindenburg though it was recently proven that hydrogen was not the cause. They unknowingly coated the thing in rocket fuel and that's what acutally caused it. :eek:

[morriswindgate]

Remember that Chernobyl was caused by several things including shoddy USSR construction and materials problem, add then that the design was one not used anywhere else in the world, due to stability. It is no surprise the thing blew - up.

http://www.world-nuclear.org/info/inf31.htm

[charlie1]

Originally posted by Pentium-ant
I was just about to say that think of us, the price to fill up over here is just stupid.

PS i only passed my driving test yesterday so i am just happy to be able to drive :D

Well done on passing your test! but for now its going to cost you a packet to drive.

[Vigo]

Chernobyl was the only complete meltdown. Anyone remember the partial meltdown at 3-mile island? No one can deny power plants are a risk. You can argue whether its worth it or not.

"The same thing happened with hydrogen in the Hindenburg though it was recently proven that hydrogen was not the cause."

That doesn't make hydrogen any more stable when mixed with oxygen then it was then, and it doesnt make it less flammable or dangerous. The hindenberg was not the only hydrogen blimp to go up in flames.

Everything in life comes at a price. Whether its technology, comfort or security. Gasoline included (which is the topic).

[DougL]

apparently our Prime Minister has promised to review the predicted 4 cents per litre rise in September as announced in the last budget, i'll sleep better tonight knowing i'll still only be paying around $6 a gallon! needless to say i keep my car journeys to a minimum and use my motorbike.

[kittyfire]

Three Mile Island ring a bell with anyone?

Until "the powers that be" come up with some safe way to dispose... errr.. contain the waste for thousands of years till it's no longer hot, then I don't think it's a viable option.

Ever seen one of the contracts the government hands out for private companies to handle nuclear waste? They expect these companies to guarantee that the waste will be safe for 10,000 years. Now... the only way I can see them logically being able to do that is for us to have 10,000 years of history handling nuclear waste to know exactly how it's going to respond at each stage of the decontamination. Anything else is pure speculation. Guesswork. For all we know, spent fuel rods could turn into begonias after the first 4,000 years. Yeah, not bloody likely but there's not a soul who can guarantee it doesn't happen because we have never crossed that milestone yet.

Besides, what's the government going to do if those companies fail their guarantee? They store this stuff in concrete. No matter how thick they make it, there is still the possibility that the concrete won't be able to contain the waste that long. It may break down long before 10,000 years is up. Besides, do you know any companies that have been around 10,000 years? Forget that... anyone know any governments that have been around 10,000 years? If anything is breached in... say... the first 6,000 years, what's the government going to do? Sue?

Piffle.

I say let's go back to horses and have done with high gas prices and worrying about technology that has so many risks.

[Vigo]

Costs more to feed and maintain a horse these days then it does to maintain a car and fill it with gas! :)

[Karnevil9]

"No, it probably won't. This is it: we are finally hitting the ceiling after years of warning."

Doesn't matter though. While I still think it will come down, since most of our gas prices come from taxes not the cost of the fuel anyway, My main point was that paying this much more after 25 years is not really a that great a sacrifice

As far as the hydrogen debate goes. After the Hindenburg, hydrogen got a really bad rap. Like it was mentioned, they now believe that the cause of the fire was not the hydrogen. Even so, My understanding is Hydrogen is less dnagerous than gasoline. something like two thirds of the people on the hindenburg survived. Most of the ones that died, died from jumping out and the fall killed them. In the film you can see that many people just ran through the flames. I've heard that this is because hydrogen burns up and away when ignited.

[ajf815]

You could get a Toyota Prius like i we have and get 50/53 miles pr gallon. They also have a nice Fuel Cost Savings Calculator kinda nice might want to check it out. With the goverment right now you can get 1500$ back with taxes ends soon tho.

[willboy]

In my town for the lowest grade we pay $2.50-$3.00 a gallon and diesal is $2.45!!!

[mbossman2]

you have to remember when it comes ot nuclear power it is still a fairly "new" technology in the commericial sector. the legislative restraints on allowing it to grow as a power source also limits any kind of innovation and improvement in the technology, waste disposal etc.

I think that the future of energy production will revolve around the use of energy cells akin to what is used in the space program. the big problem will be in developing the distribution network for providing the key component.

[RayH]

Don't worry about any OPEC inceases, the price of gasoling isn't going to go down much. The Chinese are now world players in the energy consumption game!

[Vigo]

http://www.api.faa.gov/foreca00/actab22.pdf

Lets put things in perspective. Thats just U.S. civil aviation in millions of gallons. Tack on non-civil (military) aviation plus ground forces. (I wonder how a sherman compares to a civic as far as miles to the gallon). Plus the world's largest fuel guzzlers- naval craft. Military and non-military.

Add all that together and compare it to the 13 gallons a week my girlfriends geo prizm uses.

[mbossman2]

without civilian aviation gas supplies would increase to a certain extent but eliminating or curtailing their usage would have cause a 2 fold problem:

1) do considerable short to medium term damage to the economy: a good percentage of the 600,000 airline employees put out of work and then the ripple effect thru the various airline support companies etc)

2) The other is the shift of fuel consumption to other areas to make up for the loss of cargo capacity and "people" transportation may actually increase overall oil usage.

As to the military uses...well, I am not sure that you can eliminate those uses without even more serious geo-political repercussions. BTW an M-1 battle tank gets .6 miles per gallon (http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ground/m1-specs.htm)

[nooblark]

hah, my 71 camaro (not fully restored yet) is going to eat that lil 2$ per gallon right up, old engine type, but new so its pumping pure power.. im thinking maybe 10mpg

[CaptTuna]

One other thing, the cash flow of the company I work for had almost doubled due to crude prices. We are a marine fuel and oil distributor. Marine diesel is in the $1.08-$1.13 range, depending on the amount. Our average sale is 6000 gallons and some vessels take as much as 85,000 a shot. One facility sold over 6 million gallons last month. Now if only the boss would give me a raise I could buy gas for myself.