Gasoline prices

[Andy D]

Hi, I'm going to be in the states next week on a Fly-drive Vegas to LA (can't wait!) just wondering what I will be expecting to pay $ per US gallon for gas? Just done a quick calculation based on the $/£ rate that I got, on the current £ per litre price over here in the UK, and it works out to be $6.26 per US Gallon.

Thanks in advance.

;)

[Thenethiel]

Prices are hovering around $2.30/gal. around here. Around here is of course nowhere near Vegas or L.A., but I would guess it won't go much if any over $3.00

[Andy D]

Thanks Chris, I was hoping it would be around that kind of price (helps with the budget, a little ;)) at 90 pence per litre over here, we sure are getting ripped off! (thanks Tony, thanks Gordon!)

AndyD

[CyberPet]

We pay $1.5 per liter here in Sweden (that's $5.6 per US gallon). *gulp*

Maybe I was stupid to buy a new car? Althogh this new one drinks less per 10 km's than the old Ford. :D

[MazerRakhm]

I just drove from Chicago Illinois to Kalispell Montana (1700 miles.) and the average price for unleaded was about $2.25 - $2.35 through most of the country.

I was hoping that as I headed away from Chicago prices would get a little better as Chicago usually sits high on the gas price board but to my dismay gas was actually cheaper here! The price at my local gas station when I returned on Sunday was only $2.14!

[Noni]

Los Angeles is hovering around $2.50 - $2.70, give or take a few pennies...and the place you get gas. Closer to the freeways, it gets more expensive. Dunno about Vegas, though. They tend to be just a bit less expensive then we are, from what I've seen.

That's a long, hard, hot drive during summer...I'd suggest you do it either early in the morning, say leave around 5ish am, or leave around 10 at night.

Best-
Noni

[Persian-Rice]

Right now our prices here in Toronto are near a doller/litre.

Ever since King Fahd's death a few days ago, our gas prices shot way up........

You would think since the Iraq invasion gas prices would go down, especially with the new US pipeline built, or being built, through the heart of Afghanistan. I guess they still rely quite a bit on the Saudis.

[dewmuw]

I remember my dad arguing with the owner of a petrol station on the Denbigh Moors about rip off prices, because he was charging 25p for a gallon of 4star and it was 21p in town! Those were the days!

[lomond]

I remember my dad arguing with the owner of a petrol station on the Denbigh Moors about rip off prices, because he was charging 25p for a gallon of 4star and it was 21p in town! Those were the days!

Are you sure it wasn't 5 shillings and 4 shillings and tuppence ha'penny, Damian ? :lol: :lol: :lol:

BTW those were the days.

[dewmuw]

Are you sure it wasn't 5 shillings and 4 shillings and tuppence ha'penny, Damian ? :lol: :lol: :lol:

Now I think about it, it might have been an argument about paying 2 groats for a new horse shoe! :D

[Maureen Souza]

It is about a 5 hour drive from Vegas to LA (& visa versa)..... you can easily make it on one tank of gas.

I won't complain about our prices after hearing what you and Petra are paying.

[martook]

Maureen: No, the day you in US get the same price as many other western countries have, I'll allow you to complain... ;)

Actually, I wish you did, then maybe the oil usage in the world would be less, as you'd all (hopefully) have smaller and fewer cars and drive less in general... and maybe your country would join the rest of us with the Kyoto protocol, so the enviroment would actually at least stop getting worse... :D
Ok, that was very political, and I don't want to start a flame war... if you don't like it, please send me a PM instead. I don't dislike your beautiful country, I just wish the oil companies had less influence on your politics :)

[PhotosGuy]

FYI, prices are usually cheaper on Tuesday-Wednesday. DON'T take the rent a car back & let them fill it up!
Before you leave, DO check to see if you're insurance will cover the rental car, or if you'll need to get the agencies (overpriced) insurance coverage here. ;-)

[Andy D]

Thanks for the feedback guys! Insurance all sorted ;)

Cheers!

Andy

[Citizensmith]

Maureen: No, the day you in US get the same price as many other western countries have, I'll allow you to complain... ;)

Actually, I wish you did, then maybe the oil usage in the world would be less, as you'd all (hopefully) have smaller and fewer cars and drive less in general... and maybe your country would join the rest of us with the Kyoto protocol, so the enviroment would actually at least stop getting worse... :D
Ok, that was very political, and I don't want to start a flame war... if you don't like it, please send me a PM instead. I don't dislike your beautiful country, I just wish the oil companies had less influence on your politics :)

I mostly agree with you. This country desperately needs smaller more economic cars. As for the oil companies controlling the government, its more like any large company. It may help the vice president is on the payroll of Halibuton still though. Funny the large no-bid contracts they have been getting. It's doesn't seem to be party specific, the political corruption over here, anyone reaching that level will have sold out. It just depends to whom.

The only thing I'm disagreeing with is the drive less part. It's a big country, everything is very spread out and public transportation sucks. It's kind of hard to drive less as there isn't the option for a lot of folks.

[Tom W]

Supply and demand have, as always, dictated prices. If it is too high, people will find alternatives. Some may drive less, some may take the bus, some may buy a smaller car, and some may absorb the cost.

EDIT: Rather than get in a peeing match over political BS, I've deleted part of my post. Suffice to say that I don't agree at all with the previous poster.

[martook]

The only thing I'm disagreeing with is the drive less part. It's a big country, everything is very spread out and public transportation sucks. It's kind of hard to drive less as there isn't the option for a lot of folks.

Well, that is true, but it's a bit of a catch 22 really... because most families has at least two cars, and gas is very cheap, how could you possibly make public transportation break even?

But yeah, I agree, drive less might not be an option in many cases, and to tell the truth, I drive my car wherever I go... but at least I drive a small japanese car with a 1.4 litre engine, not a 6 litre V8 SUV :D

[martook]

Supply and demand have, as always, dictated prices. If it is too high, people will find alternatives. Some may drive less, some may take the bus, some may buy a smaller car, and some may absorb the cost.

EDIT: Rather than get in a peeing match over political BS, I've deleted part of my post. Suffice to say that I don't agree at all with the previous poster.

*hugs Tom W*
That's good of you Tom, because I would probably not be able to stay away from writing some cheeky comment, but now you edited out that part while I was writing my first reply ;)

[Tom W]

Well, that is true, but it's a bit of a catch 22 really... because most families has at least two cars, and gas is very cheap, how could you possibly make public transportation break even?

But yeah, I agree, drive less might not be an option in many cases, and to tell the truth, I drive my car wherever I go... but at least I drive a small japanese car with a 1.4 litre engine, not a 6 litre V8 SUV :D

Middle-of-the-road here - 3 liters. :)

[Citizensmith]

Well, that is true, but it's a bit of a catch 22 really... because most families has at least two cars, and gas is very cheap, how could you possibly make public transportation break even?


Kind of. The government needs to make the initial investment in transportation infrastructure and accept it will be loss making. Unfortunately a lot of decent infrastructure was ripped out in this country in years past, and its only now starting to re-appear. Sacramento has a slowly expanding light-rail system which is a great way of getting downtown. Thing is, I don't work downtown so unfortunately don't make use of it. What the US has in great abundance is roads so you can drive anywhere really easily. It really does de-insentivise using public transportation.

When I lived in London, a city with great public transportation, I didn't even own a car because I didn't feel the need. Now I drive a small (at least by American standards) Japanese car.

[booggerg]

we americans are spoiled when it comes gas prices.

[GerryDavid]

We pay $1.5 per liter here in Sweden (that's $5.6 per US gallon). *gulp*

Maybe I was stupid to buy a new car? Althogh this new one drinks less per 10 km's than the old Ford. :D

A new car can be a good thing, especially a highbred. Hopefully in a couple of years I can get a used toyota hybred at a really good price. :0) I think the prius *or what ever name* gets 76 mpg *canadian gallons*, while my current car gets like 20.

[Belmondo]

we americans are spoiled when it comes gas prices.

You're right. It sure has destroyed our perspective. I filled up my Tundra today, and it cost $51.00 to do so. That was at $2.60/gallon, and I'll burn that whole tank tomorrow just running down to San Diego and back.

I can honestly say that if gas cost $5.00/gallon or more, I'd have bought a very different vehicle and I'd be spending more time in my backyard looking for things to photograph there. Heck, I might even dig out that macro lens and try to shoot a bug or something.

[Belmondo]

Hi, I'm going to be in the states next week on a Fly-drive Vegas to LA (can't wait!) just wondering what I will be expecting to pay $ per US gallon for gas? Just done a quick calculation based on the $/£ rate that I got, on the current £ per litre price over here in the UK, and it works out to be $6.26 per US Gallon.

Thanks in advance.

;)

I'm going to be in Las Vegas on Monday/Tuesday. Look for the POTN neck strap.

[CyberPet]

Our car is fairly fuel efficient for being a fairly large car and 1.8 liter engine. We haven't done any measurements yet since the car is still new and we haven't broken it in yet (and they say that new cars takes about 10,000 km to break in to become most fuel efficient). But according to specs in "mixed driving" the car should drink about 0.8 liter per 10 km. On highways it should drop to about 0.6–0.65. We'll see.

Here's my pride and joy... Lucy Laguna (Renault Laguna Touring) :D
http://the-halls.se/350D/IMG_4671_600.jpg

[epolevne]

You can always check current US gas prices on the MSN Autos page (http://autos.msn.com/everyday/gasstations.aspx?zip=&src=LeftNav).

epolevne

[Maureen Souza]

I do my part to conserve gas by driving a small, sporty car that gets almost 40 miles/gallon. I do commute 98 miles a day, 3 days a week to work so keeping the gasoline costs down are important to me! The next time I buy a car, though, it will be a hybrid.

[Tom W]

I do my part to conserve gas by driving a small, sporty car that gets almost 40 miles/gallon. I do commute 98 miles a day, 3 days a week to work so keeping the gasoline costs down are important to me! The next time I buy a car, though, it will be a hybrid.

Just consider battery replacement costs 3-4 years down the road before you make that leap.

40 is pretty doggone good. The next car I'm looking at will probably only get about 25-30 tops. But it'll have 300 horsepower and that's important!

I don't think I'll be making that move for a while, though. "L" glass gets infinate mileage. :)

[Citizensmith]

From listening to the news it sounds like the SUV trend in the US may well be declining. I'm not sure how much this is tied to the slowly increasing gas prices and how much may just be long term trends. The signs are nice and clear though in things like the tough time GM and such who have relied on their truck/SUV sales are having, and the huge discounts offered on the larger SUVs.

Of course some of these problems may be resulting as much from changes (maturing) of the workforce and the increasing propotion of retired workers the companies are dealing with. However, I can't help feeling that the significant gas price increases would also influence people's purchasing decisions. If enough people decide to get a Subaru outback instead of a Chevy Suburban it will really change the direction these companies need to go.

[Belmondo]

I save gas by only driving downhill. I now have a bunch of cars down at the bottom of the hill, and no earthly idea of how I'm going to get them back up to the top. :confused:

This gas thing is a real problem.

[martook]

I save gas by only driving downhill. I now have a bunch of cars down at the bottom of the hill, and no earthly idea of how I'm going to get them back up to the top. :confused:

This gas thing is a real problem.

Man, when I reach your age (that would be year 2100-something I guess!), I wish to be as wise as you are! Only driving downhill is just... erh... :)


Yeah, it is a problem... but I've also read that the SUV market is slowly declining, and that's great! The hybrid cars are interesting, but I think a lot more money has to be spent in battery research to make them really good, since batteries still are very heavy, you loose a lot energy driving around with them. Another good thing is the small cars that use very small amounts of gas, like 0.3 liter/10km.

Interesting issue anyway, I guess most people would agree that there is a problem, but how to solve it is another thing. This might not be the most proper forum to discuss it though :)

[primoz]

I just came back from US and I was going around there quite a bit. Gas prices in Vegas are lower then in LA. In Vegas it's around $2.5-2.6/galon while in LA it was from $2.6-2.8. When I was counting a bit I came on end to this, that we were paying about same price ($/100km) for gas as I'm paying here ... with one little difference. My car uses about 6l/100km while car, which we had rented in US, was using around 12-13l/100km :)

[Wazza]

In New Zealand prices are at an all time high.

Approx US$1 per litre. (NZ 1.39 - 1.44, depending if it's 91 or 96 octane).
Luckily I'm using 91.

I was driving a fuel guzzling Ford XR6 Turbo a few weeks back, and with 68 litre tank, running on 96 octane, that's close to US$70 for a full tank, and that will only go about 400km (250miles).
Glad it's not my car!

[Tom W]

Man, when I reach your age (that would be year 2100-something I guess!), I wish to be as wise as you are! Only driving downhill is just... erh... :)

Belmondo is eternal. :)

Yeah, it is a problem... but I've also read that the SUV market is slowly declining, and that's great! The hybrid cars are interesting, but I think a lot more money has to be spent in battery research to make them really good, since batteries still are very heavy, you loose a lot energy driving around with them. Another good thing is the small cars that use very small amounts of gas, like 0.3 liter/10km.

The price of gas is what's driving the market away from the SUV. People will still buy them, but as the second car rather than the primary "around town" vehicle. Don't underestimate the force of economics - gas is up and people are reacting to that. Maybe some day, the SUV will return to its dirty, rugged, off-road, truck-based roots rather than being the luxury sedan & grocery-getter that it's become.

The hybrid solution seems to be hyped up a bit too much at this time. There are some issues with battery replacement and such, but also with battery disposal. There are even some safety issues due to the batteries that have caused concern among firefighters and paramedics that would be on the scene of an accident.

Interesting issue anyway, I guess most people would agree that there is a problem, but how to solve it is another thing. This might not be the most proper forum to discuss it though :)

It is an interesting issue. I'm just of the mind that the free market will adjust to the situation better than any government reaction might.

YMMV :)

[zacker]

please dont even start this... I have seen many a good furum thread go straight to H**l over anything that remotly has to do with comments about our gvmnt! We ALL know what wrong with it so lets just say, have a great visit here and be carefull.. its awfully hot out where your going so drink lots of water and be sure the car you rent is newer.. really newer! You dont want to end up stuck out on a freeway in 150 degree heat!
Have a safe, fun trip!
-zacker-

[Tom W]

please dont even start this... I have seen many a good furum thread go straight to H**l over anything that remotly has to do with comments about our gvmnt! We ALL know what wrong with it so lets just say, have a great visit here and be carefull.. its awfully hot out where your going so drink lots of water and be sure the car you rent is newer.. really newer! You dont want to end up stuck out on a freeway in 150 degree heat!
Have a safe, fun trip!
-zacker-

I agree with that. And yes, we all know what's wrong with government, but the problem is, we all know differently. The biggest problem with government is probably that it exists. But unfortunately, that's considerably better than the alternative. :)

[Belmondo]

On the road from Las Vegas to Los Angeles (Interstate 15), you will go past a town called Baker, California. It is home to Bun Boy Restaurant which has the 'World's Tallest Thermometer.' You'll also see an exit for Zzyzx Road.

Unfortunately, those are the two most interesting things during that entire trip.

[ilya]

On the road from Las Vegas to Los Angeles (Interstate 15), you will go past a town called Baker, California. It is home to Bun Boy Restaurant which has the 'World's Tallest Thermometer.' You'll also see an exit for Zzyzx Road.

Unfortunately, those are the two most interesting things during that entire trip.

ahh memories ... zzyzx exit ... thanks tom

we probably have the biggest suv known to man - had to get it for the space and to avoid alternative minivan to deal with 2 boys and a dog. but it gets 17 on the highway, which isn't too bad.

[Citizensmith]

I save gas by only driving downhill. I now have a bunch of cars down at the bottom of the hill, and no earthly idea of how I'm going to get them back up to the top. :confused:

Just wait a while, plate tectonics is your friend.

It may be a really long while though.

[Citizensmith]

but it gets 17 on the highway, which isn't too bad.

I don't think anyone outside the US would ever make that statement. :)

[ilya]

I don't think anyone outside the US would ever make that statement. :)

true, you won't see too many like that outside us. i don't want to post a picture cause CDS may come after me :)

[CyberPet]

Oh btw, the reason why the gas is expensive in Sweden is that about 70% of the price is TAX. Yes, we are taxed to fill up the car, this to save the enviroment. Kind of an oxymoron, but in larger cities with great public transportation, it works. Where I live, you need a car.

[aam1234]

Agree with Petra, and I think in some places the tax is even higher than 70%.
I read somewhere that European countries make more money from oil than oil producing countries themselves (from the tax).

[Andy_T]

40 is pretty doggone good. The next car I'm looking at will probably only get about 25-30 tops. But it'll have 300 horsepower and that's important!


That's really pretty good for a car with a petrol engine.
With a Diesel engine ... no big deal. A Volkswagen Golf 2 litre TDI (140 hp) can get 80 mpg, if you want to.

I once got 35 out of my 2003 911 Carrera (340 hp) when I really didn't want to go to a filling station on my way home and the tank was nearly empty. But I was not going very fast that day...

Best regards,
Andy

[Skip Souza]

I agree with that. And yes, we all know what's wrong with government, but the problem is, we all know differently. The biggest problem with government is probably that it exists. But unfortunately, that's considerably better than the alternative. :)
The scariest phrase in the English language:
"I'm from the government and I'm hear to help" ~Ronald Regan. ;)

[RockOne]

Oh btw, the reason why the gas is expensive in Sweden is that about 70% of the price is TAX.
Same as in Australia :-) !

[robertwgross]

Between Las Vegas and Los Angeles, you can expect to pay roughly $2.50 per gallon, or a little more. If you take a detour through Death Valley National Park, you can expect to pay $3.00 or a little more. In this season, it is a place to be avoided.

If you detour out around Palm Springs, the favorite activity is to go looking for Belmondo's missing tripods along the railroad tracks.

My car is one of those famous Detroit models that gets twenty miles per gallon. That is, eight in town and twelve on the highway. (joking)

---Bob Gross---

[Belmondo]

If you detour out around Palm Springs, the favorite activity is to go looking for Belmondo's missing tripods along the railroad tracks.

You mock me. :mad: I haven't abandonded a tripod for at least a month. ;)

[DxHatchback]

it's like $2.39 here for 87 and i drive 60 miles a day :(

to stay on topic, good luck with your trip!!

[Andy D]

Thanks again for the input and travel tips and good wishes. ;) We fly out to Vegas on Wednesday morning, catching the 07:30 flight from Manchester. We have to check in at 05:00, which means we have to get up at stupid o'clock to be there on time!

:) can't wait, the kids are excited to the point of bursting.....