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Automotive News & Views How does gas at $4 and higher impact you?
2183 messages, Last post on Nov 21, 2009 at 5:13 PM
You are in the Automotive News & Views Forum. Your Hosts are steve_ & claires
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Replying to: tankbeans (Nov 02, 2008 12:40 pm) I think the '03 Accord 4-cyl/automatic was EPA rated 24/34, before the EPA changed their numbering scheme in the past year or two. So if you're getting 27-28 mpg in mixed driving, I'd say that's respectable. Now in pure highway driving, you should have no problem getting around 34-35, as long as you're not leadfooting it. I've tried a few times to see how little fuel I can use with my 2000 Intrepid (rated 20/29) and the best I ever got was around 32.5 mpg. Just about pure highway driving, but staying around 55-60 mph for the most part, rarely getting above 65, and little to no a/c use. That was back in June, when fuel prices were sky high, so most people were driving slowly. It was still aggravating though, and I had to really make an effort to keep my speed that low. And it turns out, it really didn't save THAT much gas. I made the same trip in early October, but going a bit faster, averaging 60-65, rarely going over 70. Ended up with something like 31 mpg. Then a week later I made the same trip, but drove more or less normally...65-70, getting up to 80 once or twice where appropriate, and still managed to get 30 mpg. |
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Replying to: tankbeans (Nov 02, 2008 12:34 pm) It is a huge leap in maturity to learn what is and isn’t important. Someone posted early on in one of these forums that you can’t debate the wisdom of owning a vehicle you already have and it does no good to condemn a vehicle you never have had. One of the things you will learn by reading many of these forums is that small car owners that consider themselves enthusiasts tend to “hate” SUVs and their owners. There are even forums dedicated to this principle. I didn’t say all small car owners. It is from some of these owners that we received the rants about how life would be better is fuel cost us as much as it did in Europe. They cheered as the gas prices soared as if it was a God given punishment against SUV owners and light truck owners that would effect them and them alone. You won’t find that kind of vitriol from SUV and light truck owners towards compacts but that is another story. So when prices hit $4.00 you would have thought the golden age had arrived. The same people were overjoyed during the 70s when we had gas lines because they “believed” it was a wake up call and didn’t seem to want to believe it was a contrived shortage any more than they want to believe $4.00 gas was artificial at the time. The best position to take is to consider the vehicle that fits “your” needs best. Don’t worry about the pocket protector radical that lives in down town Manhattan and their choice of a Smart car if you live in the middle of Kansas. Just realize that high fuel prices are not good for your wallet and higher prices will not cause your fuel money to be spent on alternative sources of transportation. If the American consumer is going to get alternative vehicles they will get them because companies decide to make them and offer them and the consumer decides to buy them. We will not get them because we have to pay $4.00 for gas. |
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Replying to: steve_ (Nov 02, 2008 8:08 am) The president of Chevron said the same thing. I hope you're both wrong.
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Replying to: oldfarmer50 (Nov 02, 2008 4:34 pm) The president of Chevron said the same thing. I hope you're both wrong. Well e all can hope. 
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Replying to: boaz47 (Nov 02, 2008 8:11 pm)  But I'm still shopping for a higher mpg car than either of the two we have now.... |
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Replying to: steve_ (Nov 02, 2008 8:08 am) " don't see gas pushing $4 a gallon in the next couple of years absent double doses of hurricanes in the refinery zones or other catastrophic events. But I could sure see it settling in at closer to $3 a gallon instead of $2. Anyone got a better crystal ball?" No crystal ball but some insight. Unusually cold winter so lows to be made in 1st quarter '09. Mid to high 40's my guess but it won't stay there. $4.00 gas 27-32 months. That is if we do nothing with the speculators. If by chance we do, much much longer. The fundamental out look is really unchanged, but demand really sucks. jmho.
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Replying to: duke23 (Nov 02, 2008 10:03 pm) So the next time they want to make some profits at everyone else's expense, we will all just have to suck it up and pay those spikey prices for a few months again. And next time I suppose it will be closer to $5 than $4. 
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Replying to: nippononly (Nov 02, 2008 10:39 pm) So if people bidding around the world for the oil being produced doesn't work, what's the alternative? The U.S. government can't set the price. It wouldn't work too well if we demanded $70/barrel oil while the rest of the world was willing to pay $100/barrel. I think this is one of the reasons why financial advisors tell you to keep several months of cash, and don't lead a lifestyle on the financial edge. How many people do you know that supposedly have trouble paying for gas, yet have money for cellphones, $100/month cable-internet bills, go to movies and eat out?
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Replying to: kernick (Nov 03, 2008 7:55 am) Oil is a unique case, one in which there should be no commodities trading, no bidding for contracts. In fact, most energy trading should be the same way. Energy may seem like a market commodity, but in its many forms it is more a necessity of the American lifestyle than it is an option. Imagine the uproar there would be if there was commodity trading and speculation for water.
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Replying to: nippononly (Nov 03, 2008 8:10 am) Hmmm, this link says that the World Trade Organization (WTO) and North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) consider water a trade commodity. Careful what you wish for eh? My subdivision is trying to buy water and get off our wells, and we'll buy it from the French if we have to (United Water is an option here). Oil is down a bit this morning and predictions are that it will go down some more due to the weak global economy. OPEC is trying to cut production, but as usual, not all member countries are following along with the cuts.
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