GAS BOYCOTT

[devilwoman]

IT HAS BEEN CALCULATED THAT IF EVERYONE IN THE UNITED STATES DID NOT PURCHASE A DROP OF GASOLINE FOR ONE DAY AND ALL AT THE SAME TIME, THE OIL COMPANIES WOULD CHOKE ON THEIR STOCKPILES. AT THE SAME TIME IT WOULD HIT THE ENTIRE INDUSTRY WITH A NET LOSS OF OVER 4.6 BILLION DOLLARS WHICH AFFECTS THE BOTTOM LINES OF THE OIL COMPANIES.

THEREFORE MAY 19TH HAS BEEN FORMALLY DECLARED "STICK IT TO THEM" DAY AND THE PEOPLE OF THIS NATION SHOULD NOT BUY A SINGLE DROP OF GASOLINE THAT DAY. THE ONLY WAY THIS CAN BE DONE IS IF YOU FORWARD THIS E-MAIL TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU CAN AND AS QUICKLY AS YOU CAN TO GET THE WORD OUT.

PASS THIS ALONG IF YOU FEEL THE SAME WAY.

[slejhamer]

PASS THIS ALONG IF YOU FEEL THE SAME WAY.

Feel the same way as what?

[belmondo]

Not to be a cynic, but if what you propose actually does happen, and if in fact the oil companies do lose 'billions' (I doubt they will), they'll simply raise the price of their products as soon as we start buying again and recover their loss that way. Basically, they have us by the neck, and the only way to hurt them is to buy less gas over the long term. Drive less, buy more efficient autos, import less oil.

One day is not likely to change anyone's habits at all.

(although I did quit smoking on the first Great American Smokeout)

Tom

[devilwoman]

I agree...in the long run we need to drive less, buy more economical cars, support new kinds of energy efficient vehicles, but there is power in the masses. It would make an impact to see people make a silent statement such as this. Yeah they have us by the family jewels, but why cant we make a serious statement and reach over and give a little tug on their family jewels...maybe I am just dreaming. But hey I can live for one day without buying gas.

[Scottes]

This is ridiculous. Do you really think that the oil companies are going to care if you don't buy gas on Wednesday? You're going to have to buy it sooner or later, and you going to buy the same amount. And those companies sell the gas to the dealers & stations and bill them at the end of the month anyway. So they won't notice a day.

It's a pathetic little non-protest.

Ride a bike to work that day, walk to work, even car pool. But not buying gas on that one day isn't going to do a blessed thing because you're just going to buy the gas on Thursday instead.

[Ikinaa]

Don't buy gas on wednesday, so the gas stations are full of cars on thursday...
What you have to do is use less gas, drive less, buy more economic cars, so that there's less gas used.
Take the bus, the train, and so on.

Every time I see pictures of the streets in US, I see big cars.
So ... how much does your car drink?
Mine for example uses about 7 litres of diesel per 100 km, if I'm correct, that's about 2,8 gallons per hundred miles or 35 miles per gallon.
And I think that's a lot, other cars go down to about 5 litres per 100 km here.
But the US cars, how much do they use?

[Andy_T]

And I think that's a lot, other cars go down to about 5 litres per 100 km here.
But the US cars, how much do they use?

I think the difference between European and US cars is somehow overrated.

I'm pretty sure that most US cars also manage with about 5 gal. / 100 km :lol:

Best regards,
Andy

PS: As I write this, the price (estimated average) per liter of petrol here in Germany is around 1.214 €. That means, that a US gallon (3.7854118 l) costs about US$ 5,50 over here...

[Scottes]

Don't buy gas on wednesday, so the gas stations are full of cars on thursday...
What you have to do is use less gas, drive less, buy more economic cars, so that there's less gas used.
Take the bus, the train, and so on.

Every time I see pictures of the streets in US, I see big cars.
So ... how much does your car drink?
Mine for example uses about 7 litres of diesel per 100 km, if I'm correct, that's about 2,8 gallons per hundred miles or 35 miles per gallon.
And I think that's a lot, other cars go down to about 5 litres per 100 km here.
But the US cars, how much do they use?

I've got the biggest car we make, just about, a Ford Crown Victoria. Highway driving, I get 31 mpg. Yes, the US cars are bigger for the most part, but we do make some effort in efficiency.

[slejhamer]

Sorry, I still don't know what "statement" would be made by a boycott.
:?

[Ikinaa]

Sorry, I still don't know what "statement" would be made by a boycott.
:?

I guess that people supporting this action want to hit the gaz companies there where it hurts... (money)
but it's not one day that will make a difference, it's changing the attitude of the consumer that will make a difference...

[where1]

It's not like the gas will go bad and the big oil companies have to toss it out at the end of the day. It will still be there on Thursday.

[Andy_T]

I've got the biggest car we make, just about, a Ford Crown Victoria. Highway driving, I get 31 mpg. Yes, the US cars are bigger for the most part, but we do make some effort in efficiency.

Scottes,

you must have a very consciencious driving style, because this site http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/noframes/20435.shtml ranks the 'combined' mpg of the 2004 8cyl 4.6 l Crown victoriy at 15 mpg.

Still, that's in line with the more economical European-built cars like the ... Mercedes-Benz S600 and Rolls-Royce Phantom :shock:

Best regards,
Andy

[slejhamer]

I guess that people supporting this action want to hit the gaz companies there where it hurts... (money)
but it's not one day that will make a difference, it's changing the attitude of the consumer that will make a difference...

I agree completely with the argument that consumption must change. But that is a long-term goal, and may or may not be achievable.

I still don't see any point to "targeting" the oil companies with this proposed boycott. It's like the guy who blamed McDonalds for his overeating... why don't we all not buy burgers tomorrow?

[Ikinaa]

I guess that people supporting this action want to hit the gaz companies there where it hurts... (money)
but it's not one day that will make a difference, it's changing the attitude of the consumer that will make a difference...

I agree completely with the argument that consumption must change. But that is a long-term goal, and may or may not be achievable.

I still don't see any point to "targeting" the oil companies with this proposed boycott. It's like the guy who blamed McDonalds for his overeating... why don't we all not buy burgers tomorrow?

yes... shell, esso, exxon, mcdonalds, they only respond to a demand of the consumer.
If tomorrow, 100 million people would want to have pink stones with blue dots, someone would make them, ...
Not the companies are responsible (ok they are, they make publicity for their products and make us want them more, the want us to buy more and more, but hey it's their right to make profit), we are.
But man is supposed to have his own mind, he's supposed to think ... :roll:

[slejhamer]

PS: As I write this, the price (estimated average) per liter of petrol here in Germany is around 1.214 €. That means, that a US gallon (3.7854118 l) costs about US$ 5,50 over here...

Sorry to hear that, Andy. How can you think about buying that new zoom lens when you are putting so much cash into the gas tank? :wink:

Interestingly, in the US, the news of the week is that the average price of a gallon of gas is now over $2.00. (Well, that and John Kerry's daughter's see-through dress that she wore at Cannes...)

But on an inflation-adjusted basis, gas is about a third less than it was in the early 1980s. Who'd have thought?

[Ideaspark]

<---rides a bicycle, busses to photoshoots. :)

[Scottes]

Scottes,

you must have a very consciencious driving style, because this site http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/noframes/20435.shtml ranks the 'combined' mpg of the 2004 8cyl 4.6 l Crown victoriy at 15 mpg.

Consciencious? No, more like unconscious. :-)

The Crown Vic gets me closer to 20 or 21 mpg if I do straight city driving, but if I can hold at 80mph for 300 or 400 miles then it really just cruises. (I think it has decent coasting abilities.) But CDS and I just did about 370 miles on Saturday and that was about 3/4 of a tank. Going high and saying that 3/4 of a tank was 13 gallons that's still 28.5 mpg.

How do they test on that site? Towing a trailerful of Nikon users? If I was getting 15 mpg I'd puke.

[Scottes]

PS: As I write this, the price (estimated average) per liter of petrol here in Germany is around 1.214 €. That means, that a US gallon (3.7854118 l) costs about US$ 5,50 over here...

Good sweet crappenheimer! If I was paying $5.50 a gallon I'd take a bus to work, too! (Actually I did for many, many years.)

[Andy_T]

PS: As I write this, the price (estimated average) per liter of petrol here in Germany is around 1.214 €. That means, that a US gallon (3.7854118 l) costs about US$ 5,50 over here...

Good sweet crappenheimer! If I was paying $5.50 a gallon I'd take a bus to work, too! (Actually I did for many, many years.)

Now you'll think that I'm kidding you:

We have a party here, the 'Green' a.k.a. Environmentalist party.

Some years ago one of their slogans was:

'Petrol is still way too cheap to make people change their ways ... vote for us, we'll increase the price to 5 DM/l (-> 12$/gal)'

Another one was:

'That archaic German no-speed-limit is way too dangerous ... vote for us, we'll put a 75 mph limit on every motorway'

Your guess how they did at the election :lol:

Best regards,
Andy

[Andy_T]

Sorry to hear that, Andy. How can you think about buying that new zoom lens when you are putting so much cash into the gas tank? :wink:



Believe it or not, but one time, I got about 35 mpg out of my Porsche 911 (company car) ...
but that was because I wanted to avoid having to go to a filling station on the way home.

Normally my mileage was betwen
... 28 mpg (highway with speed limit),
... 18 mpg (highway without speed limit)
... and 13 (smaller mountain and countryside roads, not necessarily within legal limits, but a lot of fun).

3 points to that...

1) I had other priorities then (and no children)
2) I hadn't yet picked up photography as a hobby
3) guess why I don't have any L lenses yet :roll:

My current car does about 30 mpg, has the necessary number of seats for a family and is not used that often...

Best regards,
Andy

[stopbath]

I'm positive that if everybody driving cars bought their gas on tuesday or thursday, and avoided buying gas on wednesday, it would send a strong message to the gas producers. "We don't buy gas on Wednesday anymore" ... Given this stern message they would shut the pumps on Wednesday to save on wages... Oh, and since Tuesday and Thursday will have more drivers trying to fill up, the prices naturally will be higher on those days...

[ilya]

Some reality -

(if this thread is about the causes of the high gas prices)

Gas companies do not set the price of oil

Countries set the price of oil. In particular Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries members, of which there are 11.

And also geopolitical tensions, price of the dollar, and speculation in international oil markets.

And about 300 other variables, none of which have to do with Mobil, Exxon or BP.

Interestingly enough, this particular spike in prices has nothing to do with supply ... there's plenty of that. Just everything else.

If you truly want to make a difference, buy a car that runs on another fuel source.

[Ideaspark]

However, prices of gas and prices of oil are not ALWAYS related and often service station owners will far exceed the amount which would be natural due to an increase in price per barrel of crude.

[ilya]

Profitability of an oil company is determined in pretty much same way as any other company. McDonalds, Microsoft, Canon, whatever. Though oil companies are much more regulated then the camera or software industries, and proly more so then McDonalds. I'm not a fan of big oil, I just like facts and balance.

[stopbath]

The pump prices are not "set" by the crude price. If that were so, then the prices at the pumps would be almost stable. The crude price is merely a factor in the refining cost of gas. Say it costs $1 to refine a gallon. You then add on your profit ($2.00). But if you have zero people wanting it, you may lower your price until some folks start wanting it ($1.25). On the other hand if you have 100 folks already lined up at the pump for that one gallon, you could raise it to $20 and see if you have one person out there who will belly up to pay that price...

The price at the pumps is a reflection of reserves (supply) and how fast the gas is being pumped (demand)...

You'll likely notice that Mondays, is usually a cheaper gas day than Tuesdays. This is due to the drivers not buying gas on Monday as much on on Tuesday (first day of the week blahs, don't wanna buy gas... )

And yes, there are multitudes of other 'factors' in the mix, from political to price wars...

[ilya]

$41 per barrell = Over $2 at the pump.

Everything else is immaterial.

Cheers
Ilya

[stopbath]

$41 per barrell = Over $2 at the pump.

Everything else is immaterial.

Cheers
Ilya
I've seen three prices in one day a little while ago. On the way to work it was one price, in the evening I went on an errand and the price had risen. Then coming back from the errand, the price had fallen below the mornings price... Did the barrell price do that? Are the refineries that fast that crude is refined and delivered thrice in one day? (The variance that day was about 15%)

[Tom W]

The pump prices are not "set" by the crude price. If that were so, then the prices at the pumps would be almost stable. The crude price is merely a factor in the refining cost of gas. Say it costs $1 to refine a gallon. You then add on your profit ($2.00). But if you have zero people wanting it, you may lower your price until some folks start wanting it ($1.25). On the other hand if you have 100 folks already lined up at the pump for that one gallon, you could raise it to $20 and see if you have one person out there who will belly up to pay that price...

The price at the pumps is a reflection of reserves (supply) and how fast the gas is being pumped (demand)...

You'll likely notice that Mondays, is usually a cheaper gas day than Tuesdays. This is due to the drivers not buying gas on Monday as much on on Tuesday (first day of the week blahs, don't wanna buy gas... )

And yes, there are multitudes of other 'factors' in the mix, from political to price wars...

Supply and demand is really all one needs to know. If I have something that you want, I'm going to get as much for it as I can. Conversely, you are going to try to pay as little for it as possible. Where they meet is the market price.

Anyway, if you want to do your part to influence gas prices, the best thing to do is reduce the amount you use, whether through reduced driving, alternative transportation, or a more fuel-efficient vehicle.

[Tom W]

$41 per barrell = Over $2 at the pump.

Everything else is immaterial.

Cheers
Ilya

BTW, $1.89 here today. Probably cheaper in Georgia where they don't confiscate as much gas tax as Tennessee does.

[belmondo]

$2.39 here today.

[ilya]

$41 per barrell = Over $2 at the pump.

Everything else is immaterial.

Cheers
Ilya
I've seen three prices in one day a little while ago. On the way to work it was one price, in the evening I went on an errand and the price had risen. Then coming back from the errand, the price had fallen below the mornings price... Did the barrell price do that? Are the refineries that fast that crude is refined and delivered thrice in one day? (The variance that day was about 15%)

Prices of oil used to be $1 per gallon. Now they are at least $2. That is because crude went from sub $20 to over $40. Crude is what matters.

Intraday-month-whatever moves are immaterial. Even if you do see 15% swings, which I believe you did see, its normal. But that's like most any other consumable or durable good out there.

I can say one thing, I'm sure glad I'm not supporting big tobacco anymore, paying over $5 per pack is worth a few lenses in a year's time. --four weeks smoke-free :D

[timmyquest]

I already had to read about the mornic BS on another message board. To all of you who blame the wrong people...heres this:

Yes I’ve heard about this...I don’t get why we'd want the oil companies to lose money though.

Your really not paying that much for the gas, what you’re paying is tax.

Lets take a look at it here.


Now my source is 2 years old but I doubt much has changed.

Today unleaded gas in my town cost me 2.19

13% of that goes to the gas station. That’s a little more then a quarter a tank to "bob" the gas station guy.

Roughly the same amount goes to the refineries...

Now, roughly (on average) 31% of that 2.19 goes to the government in the form of taxes. That’s almost $.67 a gallon to the government. The remainder of the cost goes to the Saudis (or wherever that barrel of oil came from) which is roughly $.95 a gallon.

Ok, so when you look at it in layers it would look like this

Gas station
American refinery
US government
Middle East government

So a massive boycott would hurt all of these layers yes, but for the people who make a mere $.25 a gallon they would take a larger hit...Bob, the American gas station owner. Imagine Bill Gates losing half his income in one day, I suspect he'd be fine. But if bob loses half his income for a day, he may not be able to feed his child.

Think of that next time you want to "stick it to the gas people".

One final note. Water is by far the most abundant compound on the face of the earth. Oil on the other hand takes millions of years to form and we are using it up at a very fast rate. Yet the average liter of water costs $1, that is about 4 times the amount you pay at the gas pump, yet everyone still throws a fit over the "high price of gas".
_____

[Lamplight]

BTW, $1.89 here today. Probably cheaper in Georgia where they don't confiscate as much gas tax as Tennessee does.

I got it for $1.85 yesterday and today on the way to work the lowest I saw was $1.93. I drive about 250 miles a week just going to work and back, and I'm spending over $60 a week on gas. :shock: I think it's time to get a job in town and bike/walk to work! Geez...

[ilya]

Re: Timmy's pie - The European pie is much much worse. We've got it good hre in the states.

[Sonex305]

Gas is actually cheap when you compare it to so many other things. One example I can give is my wife's bath products. (I hope she doesn't read this) She likes to use the "really good" stuff from Bath & Body Works. (I can see some of you shaking your head already). Her shower gel is $9.00 for 6.8 oz. :shock: Doing some quick math and rounding up or down, that comes to approximately $162.00 per gallon. That's right!!

I think fuel for our vehicles and lawn mowers and everything else that goes VROOOM is a pretty good deal when you really stop and think about what it enables us to accomplish on a daily basis. I will keep paying whatever the asking price because it makes my life easier and is worth every penny.

(off the soapbox now) :wink:
Craig

[CoolToolGuy]

Milk is up to $3.35 a gallon here, and cows are a renewable resource! :roll:

[Tbel]

Milk is up to $3.35 a gallon here, and cows are a renewable resource! :roll:

I think we should all boycott milk tomorrow that price I ridiculous. :wink:
Plus look at all the "greenhouse gases" those cows produce. :lol:

[Canuck]

And I think that's a lot, other cars go down to about 5 litres per 100 km here.
But the US cars, how much do they use?

I think the difference between European and US cars is somehow overrated.

I'm pretty sure that most US cars also manage with about 5 gal. / 100 km :lol:

Best regards,
Andy

PS: As I write this, the price (estimated average) per liter of petrol here in Germany is around 1.214 €. That means, that a US gallon (3.7854118 l) costs about US$ 5,50 over here...

Just try it on the British £! Now the British use the Imperial gallon, 4.546 L/gal and the extortion rate is about $1.82 to £1...so 1 imperial gallon over here will cost you a whopping $7.45! This is figuring 90 pence /litre, which I have seen!

[Conk]

At 99.3 cents a liter CDN now in British Columbia's Lower Mainland, I think I might just steel the plans for running a car on french fry grease from the Simon Fraser University Engineering students. :shock:

[IndyJeff]

A gas boycott won't work and won't affect the bottom line of anyone. People who won't buy gas on Wednesday will buy it on Tuesday or Thursday. So any shortage of gas sales on Wednesday will be offset by record sales on the day before or after.

Now if you really want to make a statement, organize a protest that will last a week. If nobody bought gas for a week and car pooled or used mass transit then the oil companies would feel it.
One thing I have heard too is that it is not the oil comapnies as much as it is people who buy futres in gas and oil that are holding on to it. Don't know if that is true or not but it is a good theory.

[CyberDyneSystems]

It's not really the Oil companies fault that we are a nation of gluttons that insist on driving the latest military issue all terrain vehicle to grab a pack of smokes at the convienience store.

We as a nation should have seen the error of our ways in Septemeber of 2001.. but most don't seem able to grasp the connection.

I suppose the enlisted men in Iraq that see the Haliburton trucks crawling all over the country side on a daily basis may be wondering..

Any way.. as stated above.. the solution is to reduce or consumption of petroleum. It's quitre simple. Anyone remeber that in the Early '80's we took MPG seriously? It is a sahme that we have gone so far backwards.. it is the same with recycling and litter... we just seem to have stopped caring as a nation.

[Canuck]

It's not really the Oil companies fault that we are a nation of gluttons that insist on driving the latest military issue all terrain vehicle to grab a pack of smokes at the convienience store.

We as a nation should have seen the error of our ways in Septemeber of 2001.. but most don't seem able to grasp the connection.

I suppose the enlisted men in Iraq that see the Haliburton trucks crawling all over the country side on a daily basis may be wondering..

Any way.. as stated above.. the solution is to reduce or consumption of petroleum. It's quitre simple. Anyone remeber that in the Early '80's we took MPG seriously? It is a sahme that we have gone so far backwards.. it is the same with recycling and litter... we just seem to have stopped caring as a nation.

I understand this...one of my British friends calls the BMW I have (a 730i) a really thirsty car and is amazed that I put up with the 20ish MPG I get driving it. Granted, it is a 6 cyllinder car. Now the Volvo I also have (a 440I) is much better...more like 35-40+MPG and that is only a 1.8 4-banger that will top out about just over 120MPH. I've had it up to 120MPH on the M11 at around Stanstead/Mountfichet over a year ago. It was t 5K of 6K redline. I am thinking it was also about nearing the top of the power band. The BMW, other other hand is marked to 160 and won't put it to the test. Going that fast over here is an automatic ban. Just guessing based on 80MPH travel it can probably top out about 130s-140s based on what the tach said at 80. I must say that people are buying more and more of these SUVs, the drinker of tons of petrol. I'm all for taxing the living daylights out of these types or eliminating them like the Escalade, Mountaineer, and so on. What are we gonna do, the average Joe, if petrol goes up to like UK prices converted to US$ ($7+) per gallon? The other option is to do like the UK does...run on smaller L engines like 1.8L-ish. I have more than enough with the 1.8L Volvo. Would you believe over here that that it more likely to see a sub 2L car than anything else? Maybe the US needs to take heed?

[CoolToolGuy]

Maybe the US needs to take heed?

Now, wait just one gas-guzzling minute! Don't you know we Americans need all those big engines and that off-road capability? (tongue firmly planted in cheek)

I went to a vintage sports car race last weekend, and was quite amused. I saw a guy in a Jeep Cherokee running through a wet, semi-marshy meadow turning doughnuts, and when he exited, he tore up the dirt road like a bat out of hell. A couple minutes later he came back and did it again - mud all over the tires and body. And I'd like to bet that he went home and told his friends he was off-roading over the weekend - and it probably WAS the closest he had ever come.

A guy that works here has a Jaguar and makes good income with a side job he has. He went out and got himself a Hummer H2 and, (I swear) brings the Jaguar to work on the worst snow days because he doesn't want to mess up the Hummer. Go figure.

I have heard several stories of folks who bought their SUVs because they need to be able to get to work in all kinds of weather, but ask them to shell out for something work-related and the answer is 'not unless the company pays for it'. Oh, I forgot - those other things don't scream 'Macho' like that SUV in the driveway.

I don't doubt that some folks need those capabilities, but 90% of those SUVs will never tow a thing or will only leave the pavement to park on the field at the soccer tournament (unless they roll over). And what's worse is that they get a break on their fuel economy requirements because they are classified as trucks. Bulls--t, they are personal conveyances.

Hey, how did I get up here (Steps down off of soap box).

Now we return to your regularly-scheduled posting.

Have Fun

[Scottes]

Would you believe over here that that it more likely to see a sub 2L car than anything else? Maybe the US needs to take heed?

WHAT? And give up my 4.6L Engine? ? ?

By the way, I filled up on the way home. ~370 miles of highway and ~60 miles of city driving, ended up at 27.6 miles per gallon. That's an 8-cylinder 4.6 liter engine pushing 4057 pounds of Ford Crown Vic.

[Lamplight]

WHAT? And give up my 4.6L Engine? ? ?

Exactly. Some Americans enjoy the feel of low-end torque that a V8 provides, and are willing to pay to feed it. :D Since there are very, very few V8 rear wheel drive sedans left, many of these people buy trucks and SUVs. Others buy them because they feel safer in them, or because they are roomy, etc. I bought a truck because it was tougher and more comfortable than a car, and I also find myself hauling all sorts of filthy crap that I would never want to put in the trunk of a car. Before my truck I owned a '90 Civic hatchback that averaged 36+mpg. It was a good car, but the problem was it was tiny and uncomfortable, and so slow that it could almost be dangerous to try to get out into traffic from a dead stop. So you have to either choose small and efficient, or large and comfortable. Personally, I got tired of feeling like my passengers were sitting in my lap, and I grew weary of shifting at 6500 rpm in order to keep up with traffic. :D

[timmyquest]

What and give up my 350 V8?!

No way!

:twisted:

[stopbath]

To help with the BOYCOTT, the petrol companies here in town raised the price almost 10% since last night. Sure enough I only saw a few cars getting their thirst satisfied... No, I didn't buy any today. Bought it last night before the price was jacked up. :)

[CoolToolGuy]

Here in Baltimore, Shell has had a long-time custom of picking one day of the week to give a discount (5 cents or so) per gallon. If I have a normal week, I can make it on one tank, and I arrange it so I get gas on that day. Tuesday has been the day, so I got gas last night on the way home. The guy offered to give me a free coffee, soda, water, whatever because I go there a lot. Last night he tells me that it may go up 20 cents today. It was hard to tell this morning, because for some reason all the Shell stations that I pass on the way to work are having new 'Shell' signs put up, and the prices weren't displayed. I'll have to check on the way home.

They say it's going to get worse. If it does, I may have to delay a lens purchase. Now, that is serious. :lol:

[Tom W]

I know that I'm pretty glad that I traded down to a somewhat smaller vehicle last year. Due to family issues, I travel from Tennessee to Florida frequently and have put 24,000 miles on my vehicle in one year. Fortunately, I'm getting around 26 MPG on those trips, as compared to 19 for my previous vehicle.

Granted, I miss the ground clearance, 4WD, 32" all-terrain tires, locking differential, and all that other off-road stuff, but that certainly wasn't useful driving up and down I-75 every month. My off-road days were dwindling anyway, plus this smaller psuedo-SUV rides much smoother on the highway anyways since its a car-based vehicle.

[belmondo]

FWIW, I just saw on the local news that gas prices are highest in the nation right here in the Palm Springs/Coachella Valley area---about $2.49/gallon. The reason, according to our crack TV journalists: we're a hundred miles from the nearest refineries. In less than a week, we're leaving for the east coast (driving), and I know that as soon as I hit the Arizona/California border, prices will drop at least $.30/per gallon---maybe more. In fact, there won't be many places on that entire trip where we'll be within five hundred miles of a refinery, but we still won't have to pay these prices. Living in paradise is damned expensive.

[Tom W]

FWIW, I just saw on the local news that gas prices are highest in the nation right here in the Palm Springs/Coachella Valley area---about $2.49/gallon. The reason, according to our crack TV journalists: we're a hundred miles from the nearest refineries. In less than a week, we're leaving for the east coast (driving), and I know that as soon as I hit the Arizona/California border, prices will drop at least $.30/per gallon---maybe more. In fact, there won't be many places on that entire trip where we'll be within five hundred miles of a refinery, but we still won't have to pay these prices. Living in paradise is damned expensive.

Congratulations!

j/k, it sounds like your crack TV journalists are a little short on common sense. I think the closest refineries to me are in Texas.

Honestly, Tennessee is an above-average gas tax state, and we're still under $2.00. California has a few other issues that contribute to the cost of gas, I understand. But $2.49 per gallon is rather outragous when the rest of the country is 50 cents or so less.

BTW, Have you considered renting a tanker and re-selling the gas back home when you get there? ;)

[CoolToolGuy]

There was a shot on one of the news sites yesterday of a sign at a station in (I think) Menlo Park where they had replaced the price for mid grade wth 'ARM' and the price for premium with 'LEG'.

So, when is the settlement date for this tank of gas, and what will the monthly payments be? :roll:

[Tom W]

There was a shot on one of the news sites yesterday of a sign at a station in (I think) Menlo Park where they had replaced the price for mid grade wth 'ARM' and the price for premium with 'LEG'.

So, when is the settlement date for this tank of gas, and what will the monthly payments be? :roll:

Rather than an arm and a leg, I suspect most motorists aren't willing to part with much more than the finger. ;)

[RichardtheSane]

Put some fuel in my car in the UK earlier. Just worked it out to be $6.20 a gallon

We get ripped off big style.

Here in the UK a couple of years back a lot of truckers who deliver fuel amongst others went on strike over fuel prices and we actually got tax on fuels lowered for a while. Gone back up even higher now :?

[Penguin_101_1]

Put some fuel in my car in the UK earlier. Just worked it out to be $6.20 a gallon

We get ripped off big style.

Here in the UK a couple of years back a lot of truckers who deliver fuel amongst others went on strike over fuel prices and we actually got tax on fuels lowered for a while. Gone back up even higher now :?

:shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock:

[shelbix2020]

There was a shot on one of the news sites yesterday of a sign at a station in (I think) Menlo Park where they had replaced the price for mid grade wth 'ARM' and the price for premium with 'LEG'.

So, when is the settlement date for this tank of gas, and what will the monthly payments be? :roll:

I took a picture of that station in March 2003!! ... meaning gas was about $1.80 something in Orange County and I thought that was bad!!

http://www.ezgoo.net/1705Arm%20Leg%202.jpg