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Automotive News & Views Are gas prices fueling your pain? 
10042 messages, Last post on Jul 12, 2008 at 3:07 PM
You are in the Automotive News & Views Forum. Your Hosts are steve_ & claires
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Replying to: nippononly (Apr 13, 2008 10:01 am)  about 47-48 mpg. The cost per mile using VA gas which is E10 is about $3.15-$3.20 ( $.9.50 ) or about 6.55 cents/mi. Using NC gas which has no ethanol in it I get 49-50 mpg thus use about 2.9 gal but at a price of $3.25 / gal. That's still $9.50 or about 6.55 cents/mi. The Lord Giveth and the Lord Taketh Away...or less piously 'You can pay me now or you can pay me later.'
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I've averaged around 16 MPG for the 145K miles that I've driven my car since I got it in 2003. I still have the window sticker, and it was rated (2003 rating) at 15 City, 23 Highway. I've seen huge swings - my typical city commute can drop a tank to 12MPG, at an average speed of 17-20 MPH. If I take the machine out on the open road, I've gone a couple hundred miles at 2500 RPM in 6th gear, and averaged 26-29 MPG. This feels like the "sweet spot" for this engine... I know that if I run the thing flat out - above 3000 RPM in 5th, let's say, it will suck fuel at a rate of about 14-15 MPG. Ironically, when I look at the economy conundrum, I wonder about where my gains would be - as much as I love the open road, if I were to try to roll along at 1500/2000 RPM in 6th to save some fuel, I'm not sure of how beneficial - I don't spend as much time as I would like on highways, and the city economy isn't gonna change much, no matter what. I have definitely eliminated idling time when waiting though. |
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A reporter from a large daily newspaper hopes to speak with consumers who have postponed purchasing a new or used vehicle right now. If this is you, please respond to ctalatiedmunds.com with your daytime contact information no later than Friday, April 18, 2008.
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April 16, 2008 Impatient Subway Riders Revolt in Chicago By CATRIN EINHORN CHICAGO — The packed rush-hour subway train had been stopped for about an hour Tuesday morning, held up by a malfunctioning train ahead. In air hot and stuffy, the passengers had turned nervous and impatient. Ignoring pleas of transit workers, they decided to leave the train and walk through the dimly lighted tunnel toward freedom. The unauthorized evacuation, transit officials said, caused a bigger problem. Fearing that passengers could be electrocuted by the third rail, officials cut off power to part of the Blue Line, which travels a large U-shaped route between the West Side and O’Hare International Airport. Service was disrupted for about four hours, and more than a thousand passengers had to be helped off several trains. “If those particular passengers had not self-evacuated, we could have gotten people out on trains and restored service much sooner,” said Ron Huberman, president of the Chicago Transit Authority. Esmeralda Cuevas, 26, who works as an administrative assistant, was on the train immediately behind the stalled one when she saw a few people walk by a window of her car. “I felt a sense like I want to be with them,” Ms. Cuevas said. “I was impressed with their courage. I thought, ‘I can stay in here with these people and feel hot and uncomfortable, or I can start walking.’ ” Walk she did. So did an undetermined number of other passengers from a total of four trains, who forged ahead despite intercom announcements asking them to return. About two hours after her ordeal began, Ms. Cuevas emerged from the subway crying, dirt on her hands and face. An executive at her office advised her to avoid the subway for a few days and take cabs. Since he did not offer to pay, she said, she plans to take the train, but on an elevated line. You can have your big cities and Mass Transit. I will take the peace and quiet of the country and my Sequoia. I don't care if gas is $20 per gallon. I just will consolidate my trips.
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Replying to: gagrice (Apr 16, 2008 8:31 am) "Making a Mountain Out Of A MoleHill - By Gary" For every instance like this - (what, once or twice in a transit system's history?) there are MILLIONS of people who take mass transit without incident and save themselves tons of money and time and frustration in the meantime. There are hundreds of millions of riders every year who never see ANY sort of interruption of their commute. Mass Transit is not an experiment. It's a proven system which saves millions of people dollars and minutes every year worldwide. It's not perfect, but it's safer than riding in a car. And it's easier on the transportation dollar, USUALLY. And it's much better for pollution control. |
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Replying to: gagrice (Apr 16, 2008 8:31 am) Not sure if this is really a case against mass transit.... I suppose the next time there is a major accident on a Cali highway on a foggy day we can say "see, that's why cars are a bad idea." I live in a city, and appreciate the benefits of both city living AND mass transit... and I greatly enjoy my car, and drive way more than the national average. I also enjoy ex-urbia. Both venues work, different folks, different strokes. |
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Replying to: larsb (Apr 16, 2008 9:04 am) Put it this way, a few years ago the CTA was supposed to put out a bus schedule showing times and routes, what a joke!! First, the buses didn't (and still don't really) follow a time schedule except when the weather is anything but perfect. Then the go from late to very late. Second there was a budget gap so the schedules never made it out. The L-trains are kind of on a schedule but you just need to be on the platform around a certain time to catch it. RTA is better in terms of schedules but once you get into suburbia they really don't run long or convenient routes; mostly between malls and shopping centers. |
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Replying to: jae5 (Apr 16, 2008 9:46 am) I live near DC but have never taken the Metro. However in talking to people that have their overall impression is favorable. I know that ridership has gone up with gas prices. On top of that trying to commute in your own car via the DC beltway is far from pleasant or convenient.
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Replying to: tpe (Apr 16, 2008 10:21 am) Now in all honesty, I could have driven down to the convention center faster than the train got us there. But it was nice getting off right there at the convention center, and not having to hunt around trying to find a place to park. I'd definitely use the Metro again, if it's convenient for me. |
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Replying to: jae5 (Apr 16, 2008 9:46 am) I have used both San Fran and Phoenix mass transit dozens of times, and for the most part everything was on schedule and problem-free. Canonizing Mass Transit because of one incident or another is a silly thing to do, IMHO. Like another poster said - does a shutdown freeway during rush hour mean that personal vehicle commuting is not a good idea and should not be used? The answer is obvious. No system is perfect, but then you have to weight the pros and cons - and in almost every case, the overall "PROS" for mass transit IN GENERAL come out ahead. Mass Transit as a personal way to get to and from work is not for everyone. But the millions of riders who use it certainly appreciate it being an option for them.
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