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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
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and figured out that I put 295 gallons of gas in the smart over the last year, plus another 50-75 gallons for the other 2 cars, and 40 gallons for the lawnmower. So maybe 400 altogether? I suppose that's not awful, but it's more than I'm happy with. Unfortunately, the only diesel cars that fit my tastes and budget are junky VWs.  There is a wide variety of new and used diesel options to cut the grass, though. 
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Replying to: lemko (Jun 12, 2009 6:33 am) I have my 5th Ave's mileage log with me right now, as I was entering some data into a spreadsheet. The first time I broke $4.00 per gallon was on 7/11/08, as I filled it up down here, before going up for the Mopar show. I paid $4.319 per gallon for 93 octane at the local Shell. When I got up to Dillsburg, PA, where I turn off 15 to take the back roads to Carlisle, I stopped off and topped off because I saw gas for the low, low price of $4.099! When I ran the math, somehow I got 21.3 mpg on that stretch, which I'm not buying. However, it was pure highway, and I wasn't driving that fast, so I guess it's possible. Probably more possible though, that the pump just shut off a little early! That fill-up lasted me all weekend up there, and I didn't fill up again until 7/15/08, again at the Shell station, and again at $4.319. And then I didn't put gas in it again until November, when it was down to $2.599 for 89 octane. It bottomed out at $1.759 for 93 octane the day after Christmas. The cheapest fill-up I ever had for that car was on 10/20/01. I had just brought it home, and filled up for $1.079 per gallon. I think that was mid-grade. If gas prices get too high, I guess I can always borrow my uncle's Corolla for the shows we attend where I don't put a car in. But even there, it's really not saving much money, considering the sacrifice (slower, noisier, not as good of a highway cruiser, weaker a/c, more cramped etc). My Intrepid can break 30 mpg on that trip pretty easily, where my uncle's Corolla gets around 37-38. Over the course of 250 miles, we're talking about a savings of less than two gallons of gas. If that's enough to break me, then there are some pretty deep-rooted problems in my finances! |
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Replying to: bumpy (Jun 12, 2009 7:06 am) Hmm, I had a VW Jetta TDI and it was one of the best built and rewarding vehicles I've ever owned (It shamed my grandpa's Park Ave of the same year in terms of interior material and quality). Nice ride, quiet, refined, top notch interior, good handling, and an honest 50mpg vehicle. Never had any trouble with it and I take another over any GM vehicle in the same price range. If I needed another car that's probably where I'd look first and I'd also look at a Fusion Hybrid too.
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Replying to: dieselone (Jun 12, 2009 7:18 am) http://richmond.craigslist.org/cto/1206024724.html http://norfolk.craigslist.org/cto/1210074800.html $5,000 is way too much for a 12-year-old German car that got a new engine because some part fell into the oilpan, and for $5500 you can spell correctly and buy a new camera. The 99+ Jettas are too fat and heavy, and the pre-TDIs are too slow. |
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Last time around, I had a car with marginal gas mileage, and every fill up hurt. On our turbo forester, we even disconnected the factory boost control to keep boost at the minimum, although that did not help much. Now, I drive less and in a more efficient car, so, its bad, but not terrible. The other interesting thing about last time around is diesel was freaking expensive. Over $5 in many cases. Now with prices often under regular, it seems the clear future for the US, and hopefully we can get some of the high efficiency diesels from europe like the Polo blue. Top gear got over 70mpg in it which crushes hybrids and at a decent price. Should gas go up there and stay there, this would become a real consideration for many people and push the diesel cause further. |
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Replying to: bumpy (Jun 12, 2009 7:06 am) When gas hits $4 you could trade your Smart car in for Smart Brabus Electric Drive. http://news.cnet.com/2300-11386_3-10001035.html?tag=nefd.gallery |
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Last year when gas was $4 a gallon I started riding a bike. This year I upgraded to an electric bike so I could make it up the hill. Works rather well. I still use the car about half the time to commute, but the electric bike is more fun to ride. 
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3.5 acres = 1.5 gallons a week every week for six months. A good diesel tractor would cut that at least in half (and more with a wider mowing deck). The smart ED is tempting, but I'd need a 15 kwh battery pack to make it work for me, which would probably mean stacking batteries to the roof behind the seats. So, looks like I'll be keeping the plain old smart for a while.
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Replying to: bumpy (Jun 12, 2009 7:06 am)  ok, now i see your explanation. |
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Replying to: bumpy (Jun 12, 2009 2:38 pm)
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