Gasoline is going up like crazy!

[javacontour]

We have two sedans and a minivan. The van sits most of the time, only pressed into use when the whole family goes somewhere or we are purchasing a large item, etc. I.E. we use the smallest vehicle that will get the job done.

Most days, I drive my 1.6L sedan and my wife drives her 2.4L sedan. Her replacement may be even smaller since most days it's just her in the car.

Like cousincletus said, there really isn't much difference in fuel economy between the two sedans once up to highway speeds. Around town there may be a 5 MPG difference, but on the highway, both get in the 30's. I have hit in the 40's in the Prizm, but that was a perfect 65 degree spring day with no wind driving to KC from STL.

 

[oilyriser]

Originally Posted By: javacontour
We have two sedans and a minivan. The van sits most of the time, only pressed into use when the whole family goes somewhere or we are purchasing a large item, etc. I.E. we use the smallest vehicle that will get the job done.


Do you have to pay for liability insurance on the van even when nobody is driving it?

 

[CharBaby]

I left Rochester on May 9th and gas was:
Reg $2.25
Plus $2.35
Prem $2.45
These are some of the better prices in the area in which I fill up. I don't know all of the prices in the area.

Flew into Phoenix and after leaving Sky Harbor I noticed that the gas is:
Reg $1.89
Plus $1.99
Prem $2.09

This is just my observation on my way to our hotel in Scottsdale.

 

[IndyIan]

Originally Posted By: crinkles
Originally Posted By: javacontour
Originally Posted By: NHHEMI
Originally Posted By: javacontour


Feel free to complain, just don't try to take away my right to poke fun at those who are fueling up their 12MPG Durango they never take off road and the passenger seats are not worn relative to the drivers seat.


There are many more reasons to own a truck or SUV than off roading.


Exactly, but then those would be the folks who may actually NEED an SUV instead of just wanting one.

And as I said, this is America, if you want it, you can have it.

Yet sometimes wanting comes with a price, and I laugh at those who complain about the costs of satisfying their wants.

I would never begrudge them the right to satisfy their wants. But I do laugh at them when they complain that their wants are expensive and they think they have some sort of right to drive 3 tons of vehicle that for 99% of it's life carries nothing more than the owner.


what about battler families where the father goes to work, in their only car, a van, that gets 12MPG? he may only need to haul his 5 kids and wife once a month but he still needs the functionality.

Situations like this makes me think that a variable tax rate would be good for gas. The first 250 gal are tax free and then start adding 5% for every 250 gal over that you use.
Of course implementing a system to manage it would be very hard to do but if it was possible it would help lower income folks get by.
We have a similar system for electricity prices in Ontario, the first X number of kilowatt hours is one price then after that they cost about 20% more. Easy to do with electricity as the meter is always at your house.
Ian

 

[The_Jeff]

Originally Posted By: IndyIan

Situations like this makes me think that a variable tax rate would be good for gas. The first 250 gal are tax free and then start adding 5% for every 250 gal over that you use.
Of course implementing a system to manage it would be very hard to do but if it was possible it would help lower income folks get by.
We have a similar system for electricity prices in Ontario, the first X number of kilowatt hours is one price then after that they cost about 20% more. Easy to do with electricity as the meter is always at your house.
Ian


This is a great idea. Collect the tax up front. One should have to have a valid license and insurance to get that tax refunded. Disabled and retired folks could get a stipend coupon they can give their ride or cabbie.

While we're at it cut insurance, registration and excise tax fees on multiple vehicles so the most expensive one pays full price. Naaah... the local governments that benefit would never go for it.

 

[PT1]

I paid $2.22 for Shell 87 last night here. Last November when I traded in all the gas guzzlers for Toyota rebated vehicles everybody thought I was nuts. But it cut our fuel consumption by 35%. Now all my friends are saying Hmmm...might not be a bad idea. No more V8 engines for my fleet. In 3 years they will be converted to all 4cyl models.

 

[Bill in Utah]

Originally Posted By: aquariuscsm
Originally Posted By: duaneb9729
The other reasons might just be as simple as more folks travel for mothers day, lets make us some extra money.


^^Yep. It`s holiday time when people will be travelling,time to gouge the public.
No. It's due to us NOT building refineries to produce all the fuel NEEDED for this time of year.

We have not built a new refinery in over 25 years. And I'd bet the old ones need to be maintained so they go off line here and there.



Originally Posted By: StevieC
I think the Oil industry is squeezing the cow for as much milk as possible before they are a dead industry because consumption will be going down as new technologies are released and people try to break their dependence on non-renewable resources.

Unfortunately all us dependant on oil will feel the pinch until we are all driving electric "or whatever the new technology is" vehicles.


Good laugh. I'll be dead and long time before all those new technologies show up. (and I plan to be here at least another 25 years)

And if you think its expensive for Gas powered engines, electric powered engines would KILL North America. Our grid can not handle it. (esp with all the greenies and their kill off coal powered plants)

Gas will keep going up. And up..

Just think what it will do to the recession..

Makes me happy that my worst MPG vehicle averages 27mpg and the other is a little over 44mpg this time of year.

Bill

PS: Agree with you about diesel vs gasoline in the long run in passenger engines.

 

[javacontour]

Originally Posted By: oilyriser
Originally Posted By: javacontour
We have two sedans and a minivan. The van sits most of the time, only pressed into use when the whole family goes somewhere or we are purchasing a large item, etc. I.E. we use the smallest vehicle that will get the job done.


Do you have to pay for liability insurance on the van even when nobody is driving it?


I pay based on the miles driven per year, and this vehicle is set to under 10K miles/year, while the other two are set for 15K and 20k miles.

I get the more cars than drivers discount. So I figure owning the van actually drops the cost for the other two cars, while adding a small amount of cost for it's coverage.

Given we drive 40-50K miles/year, gas for the van picking up 1/2 of that is more than what we pay in additional insurance to have the van for weekend and vacation use.

I think we pay $80/month for insurance for all three vehicles when my USAA rebate check is figured in.

 

[StevieC]

Originally Posted By: StevieC
I think the Oil industry is squeezing the cow for as much milk as possible before they are a dead industry because consumption will be going down as new technologies are released and people try to break their dependence on non-renewable resources.

Unfortunately all us dependant on oil will feel the pinch until we are all driving electric "or whatever the new technology is" vehicles.


Originally Posted By: Bill
Good laugh. I'll be dead and long time before all those new technologies show up. (and I plan to be here at least another 25 years)

And if you think its expensive for Gas powered engines, electric powered engines would KILL North America. Our grid can not handle it. (esp with all the greenies and their kill off coal powered plants)

Gas will keep going up. And up..

Just think what it will do to the recession..

Makes me happy that my worst MPG vehicle averages 27mpg and the other is a little over 44mpg this time of year.

Bill

PS: Agree with you about diesel vs gasoline in the long run in passenger engines.


Bill I was poking fun at the industry... If Big-oil has it their way we will never see anything but costly fosil fuels...

 

[oilyriser]

Originally Posted By: IndyIan

Situations like this makes me think that a variable tax rate would be good for gas. The first 250 gal are tax free and then start adding 5% for every 250 gal over that you use.
Of course implementing a system to manage it would be very hard to do but if it was possible it would help lower income folks get by.
We have a similar system for electricity prices in Ontario, the first X number of kilowatt hours is one price then after that they cost about 20% more. Easy to do with electricity as the meter is always at your house.
Ian



What if the "lower income folk" drives his own taxi, and uses huge amounts of gasoline to earn that meager income? Pizza delivery? Flower delivery? Cleaning lady? Courier? There are many low income people who use large amounts of gasoline in doing their jobs.

 

[bruno]

Costly fossil fuels ?

just wait until you start paying for the ' environmentally correct ' stuff our new Pres is going to shove down our throats !


You ain't seen nothin' yet !

 

[Benzadmiral]

My big grey beast gets about 21-22 mpg, 70% or more city driving, on regular over each 10-day period. I survived last year's price spike, but this year I'm thinking about a road trip up to eastern Tennessee. I'd better do it soon, before the liquid gold soars back up to $3 or more.

Bah. I plan to pay the car off this year. Since it needs no expensive work for the near future, I won't be feeling the same pinch as somebody who gets 12 mpg, or has just bought a newer more efficient car and has a searing car note.

 

[smokey1]

relative traded in his S.U.V. . Now has a YARIS sedan . We have another relative that drives an EXPEDITION just for traveling to work or going to casinos and has to borrow money for gas at times to get to work . So sad . The payment on the FORD is over $600 a month . So , smaller is better for finances for lower car payment ( ex. YARIS : < $ 14,000 , compared to $20,000 or > S.U.V. ) and gas expenses ( avg. of 38 m.p.g. vs. 15 m.p.g. on average ) . Thing is there are many in this same pickle . Part of reason why we're in this recession and paying for others ___________ ( fill in the blank ) . :- )

 

[smokey1]

I don't care if gas is $2 or $ 4 a gallon , you're still saving money with a fuel efficient vehicle over a larger one . More money to apply to : 1.) utilities 2.) house payment , car payment ( save on interest by paying off loan early ) 3.) credit card(s) ( used at pump to fill your S.U.V. , etc. ). 4.) money used to pump back into the economy to re-fuel it ( not the larger vehicle every week or less ) . I can understand a large vehicle if needed for a business , but for going to work or casinos , etc.. NOT !

 

[Tornado Red]

Originally Posted By: Fester
Ive heard that the threat of Israeli attacking Iran maybe causing the hike, that and the annual summer time increase.

That's as good a reason as any.

Also, all the trillions in stimulus spending is inevitably going to increase demand, or inflation, or both.

Forget speculators -- every trade involves a buyer and a seller. Speculators are on both sides, they absorb the risk that hedgers want to avoid. I read that Delta Airlines has hedged 75% of its fuel requirements for this year and next.

There is a seasonal pattern to gasoline and diesel prices -- gasoline higher in spring and summer, diesel higher in fall and winter. There are good reasons for this pattern.

Crude prices are not seasonal, but crude overshot on the way up to the peak in July 2008, and overshot on the way down back in December 2008. The markets are still trying to find a reasonable price that will 1) encourage exploration, drilling, and production, and 2) encourage conservation. The current $55-60 range is probably not high enough, crude will probably have to rise to about $70-90/barrel.

To the guy who thinks VW TDIs cost too much: the cost of ownership includes depreciation, not purchase price. The car that depreciates more slowly is the one that costs less to own.

 

[daves87rs]

Originally Posted By: javacontour
We have two sedans and a minivan. The van sits most of the time, only pressed into use when the whole family goes somewhere or we are purchasing a large item, etc. I.E. we use the smallest vehicle that will get the job done.

Most days, I drive my 1.6L sedan and my wife drives her 2.4L sedan. Her replacement may be even smaller since most days it's just her in the car.

Like cousincletus said, there really isn't much difference in fuel economy between the two sedans once up to highway speeds. Around town there may be a 5 MPG difference, but on the highway, both get in the 30's. I have hit in the 40's in the Prizm, but that was a perfect 65 degree spring day with no wind driving to KC from STL.


That's kinda my thinking too. We have a Cavy and a Cobalt now, and I'm considering a used minivan to add to the fleet. Maybe even a Trailblazer or Explorer, as they can be found dirt cheap used. Then we could just drive the "van" around when we need it.

 

[Tornado Red]

Originally Posted By: Bill in Utah
Originally Posted By: aquariuscsm
It`s holiday time when people will be travelling,time to gouge the public.
No. It's due to us NOT building refineries to produce all the fuel NEEDED for this time of year.

We have not built a new refinery in over 25 years. And I'd bet the old ones need to be maintained so they go off line here and there.

This argument could have been made three or four years ago, but not now. Gasoline, diesel, and other fuels are traded globally and the wholesale price is basically the same everywhere, with adjustment for transportation costs.

The world has plenty of refining capacity right now, and hopefully refining margins will stay high enough to discourage the closure of existing refineries.

Do not bother asking oil companies to build new refineries in the United States. There are too many barriers in place, and new ones being put in place all the time. MAYBE the Hyperion oil refinery in South Dakota will go ahead to completion, or maybe it will be canceled because economic conditions make it infeasible. Another refinery near Yuma Arizona MIGHT be built, but probably not.

 

[smokey1]

larger vehicles ( S.U.V.s' ) depreciate highly now these days . Especially with the large rebates and the climbing costs of fuel . Another reason to avoid them . Next round of high gas will make depreciation more than last summer . Therefore , higher payment when trading in a gas guzzler for a fuel efficient vehicle , because of wide margin of trade in to payoff of loan to be re-applied to new loan . What comes around goes around . Another thing that gets my goat is seeing those luxury S.U.V.s or C.U.V.s ( nothing more than a rounded off S.U.V. with a lower roof line ) with only one person talking on a cell phone zipping past us on an interstate going 80+ m.p.h. while we're going 67 in one of our YARIS . THANKS for contributing to the higher gas prices for the rest of us you self centered BLEEP ! ;- )

 

[Gary Allan]

Quote:
No. It's due to us NOT building refineries to produce all the fuel NEEDED for this time of year.

We have not built a new refinery in over 25 years. And I'd bet the old ones need to be maintained so they go off line here and there.


You make that sound like they can't build them. It's just cheaper to grandfather all the existing ones. Do you think that they would let some regulations get in the way of profits. It's never stopped them before.

Maybe they know that they'll never make the ROI when they're going to be in decline before it pays.

Remember, 5% of the global population ..consuming 25% of the global production.

Do the math.

 

[smokey1]

think the threat of ISRAEL bombing IRAN is bad news , PAKISTAN falling into the hands of the extremists is a horrific scenario . Would likely block the passage of oil tankers heading to the west through the STRAIT of HORMUZ or make us pay a fee for their exit . BLACKMAIL with NUKES . Lovely thought .