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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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When gasoline prices were above $3 here, Texas, I started trying to get better fuel economy from my 2003 Focus. For most of the summer I did not run with the A/C on during the less hot morning commute. I also experimented with running with the windows down and the A/C off during the evening commute. As long as I was in a speed zone of 40 mph or less, I tried to have the A/C off and the windows down. I also experimented with putting the transmission in N as I approached a red light, and down hills. I also left the transmission in N as I waited for a light to turn green. Through all this, I recorded my fuel economy. With no economizing efforts, my Focus got 24 mpg. With economizing efforts, my Focus got as much as 33 mpg. Now, with gasoline yesterday at $1.389/g, I'm still practicing economizing efforts.
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Replying to: jeromeb (Dec 25, 2008 10:23 am) In D the wheels turn the engine and keep it running - in N, you have to burn gas to keep it running. When coasting in gear, the fuel injectors cut off all gas to the engine. Now try turning the car off at lights instead of putting it in N.  Pretty impressive mpg gain you've achieved - congrats! |
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Replying to: jeromeb (Dec 25, 2008 10:23 am) i did that with my 04 focus, but i went through the front brakes pretty quickly. changing my style to leaving the car in gear down hills(manual trans), didn't seem to have a negative effect on the mileage. the terrain i drive on is not very flat. |
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Replying to: steve_ (Dec 25, 2008 9:14 am)
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Replying to: dave8697 (Dec 25, 2008 4:22 pm)  $4.00+ gas, i would be a bit concerned about adding dead weight to my vehicle. i really would not worry about putting sand bags in the frame. i used bags of play sand (sand you put in the kid's sand box). |
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In my opinion, the price of oil will be up on Monday and continue up to probably $80 a barrel, i.e.,double from the current price level. That won't help the American economy. One important new development has been Israel's aggressive bombing of Gazans. I assure you that Arabs and Muslims all over the world hate the Israeli belligerence, and they will take action. I see that coming in different ways, but here are two obvious actions which will work against America's long-term interests: 1. Muslims will cut back the production of oil. OPEC countries are now willing to earn less money in order to show Americans their disdain for unequivocal support for Israel. I assure you that the Israelis would not be so brazen without U.S. Presidential, Congressional and media support for Israel. The Israelis have considerable military power, but they also use the power of the United States to protect them. 2. A new coalition of Arabs and Muslims with Russia will evolve. Russia has a common interest with them which is the price of oil as well as dislike for the Israelis. Russia will sell them military technology and partner with them on oil and gas development. The excessive force and destruction in Gaza may be construed as a tactical victory by Israel over basically unarmed people ("thugs" according to a White House spokesman), but it is a major strategic blunder! Every American will pay the price. It will not abate hatred and terrorism. those negatives will increase. 
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Replying to: euphonium (Dec 28, 2008 9:56 pm) That's certainly the way the media is spinning it. MSNBC was playing a montage of pictures this morning showing crying Gaza people set to the backdrop of bombs dropping. Oil is up $3 this morning. I hope it doesn't go back to $80 but there are lots of speculators just waiting to take advantage of the latest crisis.
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Replying to: oldfarmer50 (Dec 29, 2008 4:36 am) Too bad MSNBC does not show the 100 or more rockets per day shot into Israel from Gaza over the last year. I do agree it may kick up the price of oil I would say closer to $60 before leveling out. Speculators are still gun shy after the bubble that had to cost some of them a tidy fortune. Congress is also looking at legislation to curb speculation, by forcing buyers to actually take possession of the oil. That would leave the guy in his Manhattan apartment out of the game. Unless he has a big fuel storage in the basement. |
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CA is also looking at this method of taxing highway usage. Makes sense to me with EVs and more CNG cars that pay no road tax. Kulongoski to pursue mileage tax By Hasso Hering Albany Democrat-Herald A year ago, the Oregon Department of Transportation announced it had demonstrated that a new way to pay for roads — via a mileage tax and satellite technology — could work. Now Gov. Ted Kulongoski says he’d like the legislature to take the next step. http://www.dhonline.com/articles/2008/12/28/news/local/1aaa02_road.txt |
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