795 messages,
Last post on Apr 01, 2013 at 9:05 AM
You are in the
Automotive News & Views Forum.
What is this discussion about?
Automotive News
#666 of 795 Re: best car for gas shortages when the idiot light goes on? [steve_]
by hpmctorque
Nov 05, 2012 (6:48 am)
This is the first positive comment I've heard about the Aztek (GM's Pacer, or Edsel?) since that car was introduced. Why had we not heard about this great feature before? It makes me want to run out and buy an Aztek - while supplies last - as insurance for the next natural disaster. As with insurance, you buy it hoping that you'll never need it.
#667 of 795 Re: A Scene Reminiscent of the 1970s [gagrice]
by robr2
Nov 05, 2012 (7:16 am)
I switched to Organic Valley Milk, because it comes from contented cows fed on natural pasture grass here in CA. That and my wife really likes the taste better than generic brand milk like Alta Dena or Swiss Maid.
I have to drive 13 miles to a yuppie grocery to get it.
Here's a little tip to perhaps save a few pennies on milk. Right around the expiration date on the jug is a code. That's the dairy the milk came from. Around here, Hood and Garelick Farms are the two big brand names. But they supply all the milk for the store brands. Compare the codes between brand name and store brand. Same milk, cheaper price.
#668 of 795 Re: best car for gas shortages when the idiot light goes on? [steve_]
by gagrice
Nov 05, 2012 (7:58 am)
I can't believe that many fools let their vehicles run out of gas. The only time I pushed a vehicle past the empty light in the last 30 years was that new VW Passat TDI. We went 55 miles after the light came on, and I was sweating it. I wanted to get to an ARCO in CA that had ULSD. That was April of 2005. Oregon was still selling high sulfur Diesel. The first tank of dirty diesel, put in by the dealer, was the only time in the 13 months I owned it that it did not get ULSD. That was the only time I pushed it past the light coming on. I generally fuel up when the tank gets close to a quarter full. I ran out of gas out fishing in Alaska back in the early 1970s. Had to walk 16 miles to Soldotna. I vowed never again to let that happen.
#669 of 795 Re: best car for gas shortages when the idiot light goes on? [gagrice]
by andre1969
Nov 05, 2012 (8:14 am)
I think the last time I ran out of gas was back in 1998, in my Mom's old '86 Monte Carlo while delivering pizzas. Fortunately I had run out right across the street from a gas station!
While I have nobody to blame but myself, I think the reason it happened was that I had gotten accustomed to cars that had fuel warning lights. I was used to old cars not having warning lights, but my '79 Newport and '82 Cutlass Supreme both had them, so it didn't even dawn on me, until it ran out of gas, that the '86 Monte wouldn't have one.
My 2000 Intrepid's fuel light would usually come on when it had burned about 13 gallons of fuel, leaving about 4 left. So, depending on my driving habits and whether it was local or on a trip, I might only have 70-80 miles left, or as much as 110-120.
My 2000 Park Ave's low fuel light will start to come on once it's burned about 13 gallons as well, but I think it has an 18.5 gallon tank, so I have a bit more range.
#670 of 795 Re: best car for gas shortages when the idiot light goes on? [gagrice]
by steve_ HOST
Nov 05, 2012 (8:19 am)
16 miles? LOL, that would do it.
I often let the light come on before I refuel but if I'm on the road, I just watch the trip odometer and go by it. It gets reset every fill-up. I figure I get my best mpg when I'm not hauling the extra gas weight around.
The last time I ran out of gas was in the Quest in Anchorage when it was pretty new. I stuck a gallon of gas in the back and intentionally ran it dry. Would up dying less than a block from the house. Poured the gallon in and went to the station.
Cars these days probably would burn up the fuel pump in two minutes, and wouldn't restart unless you primed all the injectors or worse.
#671 of 795 Re: best car for gas shortages when the idiot light goes on? [steve_]
by fezo
Nov 05, 2012 (9:36 am)
I'm the opposite. I've never run out of gas. I trace this to when my older brother and I shared a car with a dead gauge. He always assumed there was gas in it and I was constantly bailing him out. I started always assuming there was no gas in it.
Made for a couple fifty cent fill ups but worth the while.
#672 of 795 buddy, can you spare a dime?
by steve_ HOST
Nov 18, 2012 (7:26 am)
"Thirteen cents of every retail dollar is spent at gas stations, but that level has stagnated in recent years amid weaker demand.
Gas sales have been subdued amid continued weak demand in the U.S. Gasoline use posted its weakest October since 2000 last month. A modest economic recovery and continued high unemployment, as well as higher fuel-economy standards, have reduced demand.
The more goods people can get online, the less time they need to spend in the car traveling to brick-and-mortar retailers."
13 Cents of Every Retail Dollar Spent at Gas Stations (Wall St. Journal)
#673 of 795 is there an election or something?
by steve_ HOST
Dec 04, 2012 (7:20 am)
"AAA Michigan says gasoline prices have fallen roughly 12 cents during the past week to a statewide average of about $3.45 per gallon.
The auto club said today the average is about 15 cents per gallon more than last year at this time."
Michigan gas prices down 12 cents from last week (Detroit Free Press)
I'm ready for another road trip but my wife is balking. A three week break from the last one isn't long enough for her this go round.
#675 of 795 Re: national average is $3.248 [steve_]
by michaell
Dec 17, 2012 (3:34 pm)
With my $.10 grocery discount, I paid $3.259 at Shell for 91 premium today.
Still cost $53 to fill up, however.
RUG is now down to $3.039 at the local grocery store.