Gas Prices (Again)

[mrsalvo]

What are we going to do?
Gas hit $3.19/gal here in San Marcos Texas this week. I managed to find it at $3.05 next town over but it won't be long before it reaches this level. $34.00 to fill up my little Toyota Corolla, still not too bad.
My question to everyone is anyone finding that they are trying to drive a little less? Or trying to conserve in any other areas to make up for it?
I've heard from reliable sources $3.50/gal by May.
This is so disguisting.

 

[petek]

And you're complaining...we've been paying $3.75 to $4.00 for the last year.. LOL Even at those prices people are still bombing around.. It costs us over $100 to fill up the RAM now and it doesn't last long with the paltry 12 mpg it averages on the trip computer. I knew it was a mistake when my other half so deperately wanted one but would he listen.

 

[~sudsshane]

And you're complaining...we've been paying $3.75 to

I would GLADLY pay $3.75-$4.00 a gallon for gas if I could have free healthcare.I would also LOVE to have the RIGHT to marry my partner and have all the legal rights as heterosexual couples. I hope Canadians, especially our Gay and Lesbians friends up there know how good they have it.

 

[petek]

Well I am thankfull... don't want to hijack the thread from gas prices though, just to say that our healthcare isn't "free". Perhaps a new thread on that topic

 

[irishwashguy]

WOW! that is kind of spendy for gas at 3.75

Here in the Portland Metro it is 3.24 at Costco, although, I have seen it for as much as 3.96 for Diesel, Regular at 3.49. I use my car for business, so they pay for my gas for the time that i am using it. I moved to this neighborhood for the purpose of having restaurands and shopping within waling distance. My Mom came over today. We went to lunch, she got her hair done, and we went to Uncle Pauls Produce, all within a two mile or less radius from here. i walk to Hathorne on my days off, like today. Lots to do, even on foot.
Question I have for folks that use natural gas to dry and cook, how much is that affected at the moment? I have never used it. All electric here.
Oh! and the Canadians have it really good. i would love to marry the love of my life when he come along

 

[scott55405]

It's already $3.65 a gallon for regular in west LA, and probably more than that in other parts of LA and certainly San Francisco. Who knows what's next. I cut the fat long ago, since to me it was too high at $1.50. It would be one thing if it had been a steady climb over years, but it's not right that we're paying this when we paid $1.00-$1.25 5 years ago, it's kind of like the housing market.

I average maybe 7,000 miles per year and have a fairly fuel efficient car, so I'm not as affected as some, not saying that I like it, because I absolutely don't. I walk or use public transportation as possible, and will be happy in a few years when I will have train connections all through LA. We do have great bus service in Culver City/Santa Monica. Oftentimes for me it's far more a savings in parking fees than gas, but just the same.

Irishwashguy, at least here in CA I haven't seen much difference with natural gas costs, it's pretty much always the same, and goes up 2 months out of the year when I use the heater some at night during winter.

 

[toggleswitch1]

We cry, but relatively speaking, we pay a reasoanbly low energy cost when looking at other contries in comparison.

I personally can't wait to see those huge SUVs and trucks make it into the recycling heap and krusher.

I am hoping the impending "energy crisis" will finally and permanently enlighten our thinking as to conservation, efficiency, re-thought architecture in new homes and to generally take advantage of passive heating and cooling.

I still want to see photo-voltiac cells generating electricity directly on every roof before I die.

 

[rp2813]

I'm with many posters here who would love to find regular gas at $3.19/gallon. I'm going to need to fill up this week and as I passed my corner station it was $3.59 for regular and I'm sure it will be higher by the end of the week.

I read in the paper that this has nothing to do with a shortage. It has everything to do with Bush squandering the U.S. reserves. This is why OPEC isn't willing to increase production, as the way they see it there is no worldwide shortage, just an emergency here in the U.S. caused by an idiot.

So thank the prick in the White House who is cashing in on obscene oil company profits in the final (thankfully) months of his reckless reign. This is so like Bush I, where he left the U.S. in a recessionary tailspin that Bill Clinton pulled us out of. Fasten your seat belts. It's going to be a bumpy and costly ride to 1/20/09.

 

[rocketeer500]

Just filled the tank this morning....

Paid $3.59/gal. for premium. Regular was $3.24. This was the first time it cost me over $50 to fill up. I expect the price of gas to reach $4 (for premium) by the summer.

The last six months or so, I've really tried to maximize my driving and to be as efficient as possible, cutting out quick runs to here or there. Where I live, public transportation is almost nonexistant, and what we have, you'd need to transfer 3x before you arrive at your destination.

 

[buffster]

Bay Area Gas Prices...

Again, it appears that San Francisco has some of the highest gas prices in the nation--$4.09/gallon for regular. So, pardon me if you don't get my sympathy. And, we--here in the U.S.--still have some of the lowest gas prices in the world, if you don't count Venezuela. I believe it's currently 14 cents a gallon there.

 

[peterh770]

The President has done nothing to squander anything. Instead, he has let us remain at the mercy of OPEC instead of getting our own drilling done in ANWR and other offshore drillings. We have plenty of oil reserves, we just need to tap into them, restrict the influence of the envionmental whack jobs and increase refining productions. As long as we remain at the mercy of OPEC and the price of a barrel of gas keeps going up, we will keep getting screwed.

 

[rp2813]

I do think that the psychological impact of $4 a gallon gas along with the sticker shock on a full tank will help to get many of the ridiculous SUV's off the road. I can't think of any other consumer product that screams "UGLY AMERICAN!" to the rest of the world than a stupid Hummvee plying paved city streets or lumbering down a freeway.

The rappers have the bucks to fill up their Escalades but the low-life types that idolize them don't. Something will have to give at some point.

 

[peterh770]

Interesting reading. Shows that the government makes more on taxes per gallon than the profit of the oil companies.

http://www.energy.ca.gov/gasoline/margins/index.html

 

[dalangdon]

Yeah sure - blame the environmentalists for this mess. Everyone knows how the Republicans (who have basically controlled everything for the last twenty years or so) coddle them.

How about two unnecessary wars that were funded on credit while the rich were given welfare, thus causing the dollar to tank? Could that be the reason why gas (and everything else) is so expensive?

No, it must be the environmentalists.

One thing you can say for the GOP - at least they're consistent. They always mess up the economy, and they always use the same scapegoats. Makes it easier for their rank and file to rememeber the talking points.

Now if only we could get them to take some personal responsibility, instead of preaching to everyone else about it....

 

[mrsalvo]

This has been insighful to what everyone is thinking. I do think it's like a psychological war on consumers and there needs to be more personal responsibility with all Americans. The old thought of "I have mine. Go get yours" attitude isn't going to cut it at $4.00/gal.
Yes, I too, would like to see less Hummers and SUV's on the highways. I personally have a 68 mile a day commute to work, so the cost of gas does impact me greatly.

 

[runematic]

It has everything to do with Bush squandering the U.S. reser

UH, ok.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2000/09/21/national/main235327.shtml

 

[runematic]

Here's another one for you, Ralph. Again, doesn't look like Bush wanting to use the reserves, as hard as this may be to swallow, it's our pant-suit queen urging this. Just like ol' Bildo did for Gore.

http://www.reuters.com/article/politicsNews/idUSN0822219320071108

 

[hydralique]

Paid $3.99 for diesel yesterday. I was utterly amazed to fork over $53 to fill up my VW - it was the first time I've ever put over $50 worth of fuel in the tank. On the way to my favorite cheap Union 76 station, I passed some others with up to $4.49 gallon posted! So much for anyone who thinks $4 fuel has yet to arrive.

Generally I haven't worried much about fuel prices, as my car is pretty economical and I cannot avoid driving if I want to work, but this does hit home. One big problem for many of us is the fact that so many roads are poorly maintained and insufficient for modern traffic. It creates a huge amount of waste in terms of both time and fuel, but at least here Caltrans is mired in incometance and inefficiency and so all we hear is that we can't afford good roads.

 

[brisnat81]

AUD Prices

Hi All,

We're now paying $1.40AUD/L or $5.30AUD/Gal.

That works out to $4.88USD/Gal

So there is no sympathy to be found here for those paying $3.50USD/Gal And we're lucky compared to Europe.

It has cost for the last 18 months or so, $70-80AUD to fill my car, and Michaels Landcruiser costs around $150 for a full tank. We use it on the beach and offroad every other weekend, however the time is approaching to look at a small efficient car for the Weekday commute, and save the 4wd for weekends.

I now take the Ferry, or walk the 8km to work, and my week day transport costs are now $30 per week.

 

[bethann]

Our gas is 3.50 as of today.

Dean has to drive a truck or he can't make a living.

I drive a truck because I'm blind as a bat! But, then again I only drive about 50, 60 mile a week!

 

[tuthill]

Like brisnat said, I'm sure everyone else from other parts of the world have no sympathy for us Americans and our rising gas prices. Sure gas prices suck... but people in Europe have been paying upwards of four bucks a gallon for years. They just don't drive gas-guzzling cars like Americans do. Americans will adjust, we'll just see how high prices go before they do it.

 

[alexb1186]

Went up to 3.09 here in CoMO yesterday

after it being 2.99 for regular for about 2 weeks, but diesel has fluctuated between 3.49-3.59 depending on what station you fill up at. Missouri is one of the few states with the cheapest gas, and this is the first time since last summer I've seen gas over 3 bucks. Thank God I got rid of my v8 Cadi Fleetwood 2 months ago for a new Kia Rondo, oh I have a mini orgasm every time I fill up.

 

[Brent-Aucoin]

It is crazy!!!!

I am glad that I drive two cars that get over 30 mpg. I got rid of an Audi A8 that I had because it only got about 19 max on the highway, and compared to most SUV's and large trucks, that is not too bad.
On a humorous note. I remember complaining about 10 years ago when Super Unleaded was about .99 cents. I should have kept my mouth shut!
A friend of mine in London wrote to me and said they are paying over $10 a gallon for regular unleaded.
Brent

 

[kenb]

Drillng ANWR

I'm not so sure that the benefits from doing so would be that great. If ANWR was used to meet 100% of our demand, it would last for 215 days under the low estimates, and 525 days or just 1.4 years under high estimates.

Even if we used ANWR to meet a small percentage of or demand it would only slightly reduce our dependence on imports and would lower oil prices by less than 50 cents a barre. At peak production we would still have to import two-thirds of our oil.

 

[gansky1]

I was hoping after 9/11 that gas would rise to over $5/gallon. Not because of shortages but because our president would have asked us to in order fund energy conservation, exploration, development of alternative sources of energy, technology that doesn't require fossil fuels, etc. None of that happened. We weren't asked to do anything except go shopping on a credit card printed in China and secured with the deeds to our primary residence. Most economists will tell you that the latest (bi-partisan) economic stimulus package will do little more than put a band-aid on the problems we are facing. Links to articles from eight years ago do little to explain the rises in prices we face today, that can simply be explained in one word: demand. Until we use less, the price will continue to rise. China, India and other developing nations are putting strain on a finite commodity and the price will never come down until demand decreases. This year at the auto show, I saw only a few Hybrid vehicles and lines of people waiting to get their fat fingers sticky with nacho cheese on the steering wheel of a Hummer, Land Rover, etc. Again, there is so little demand for the hybrids and alternatives to petroleum, the market responds accordingly. This country has never had a comprehensive energy policy or even goals that make it outside of a campaign or state of the union speech. In one of Bush's Final Solution speeches two years ago, he said we were addicted to oil. How true that was, but ask yourself this; what has he done to lead us away from that addiction? What have any of the presidential candidates said about it? Are there any REAL plans out there to resolve this problem once and for all - not just for we in the U.S., but in the world? Give it some thought the next time you're waiting in line to buy war bonds or counting your sugar-ration coupons at the grocery store...

 

[hydralique]

"Little Demand For Hybrids" ?

Gansky, most of what you say is spot-on, but certainly there is lots of demand for hybrid cars. A couple of weeks ago an old friend of mine and I discussed the popularity of Toyota's Prius, so I decided to see how many I could count in a certain timeframe while driving around. I did this twice, counting each Prius I saw, whether on the road or parked. I'm sure I missed some due to having to pay attention to my driving or because parked cars were obscured by trucks. The first time, for 5 minutes, I counted 15, the second time, for 15 minutes, I counted 32. It seems like they've become the New Age VW Beetle because I see them everywhere from middle class areas to luxury neighborhoods.

I also see a fair number of Lexus and Honda hybrids, and I occasionally spot one of the Ford SUV hybrids, but none of them seem to generate the enthusiasm the Prius does. It's a real shame that American companies pretty much sat on their tails while Honda and Toyota took the lion's share of this market, as it could have increased the credibility of Detroit among people who normally won't look at an American product because most of them are so uneconomical. Ford's little SUV is progress and I commend them for building it, but an SUV is really a self-defeating place to start building a fuel-efficient car as the extra weights kills town economy and bad aerodynamics do the same for high-speed driving.

Now I wonder who will be first with a diesel hybrid - that has the potential for tremendous economy. Ford could engineer one using the bits from the little SUV hybrid and the European-spec diesel Focus (which they've never sold here), but I doubt they will bother. Honda recently introduced a diesel in Europe, and I wouldn't be surprised if they are the first with a diesel hybrid.

 

[petek]

Funny thing is, when you read thru old 1940's 50's etc Popular Mechanix mags etc you see ads for potions and gizmos touting ways to increase your gas mileage, if not articles on little imports that get wonderous MPG. King Midget anyone LOL

 

[scott55405]

Why is it, anyway, that the prices are and for so long have been so ridiculously high in Europe and other countries? Many of you all are a whole lot closer to the lion's share of the supplies than we are in the US. I do feel for our friends in other countries who have been and continue to pay these prices. Still, right or wrong, most folks' lives and budgets in the US are not set up for this kind of pricing, and it is a shock paticularly for those with many obligations or long commutes.

I'm really not sure why nothing has ever been done about it in other countries or if there is anything to be done about it, but I worry we're going to end up with the same mess if this goes on much longer. We just can't have our basic expenses, whether it's gas, food, housing or anything else, tripling every 5 years unless salary structures change an awful lot.

 

[gansky1]

Plethora of Hybrids -

That's good to hear, Hydralique, I wish I could say the same for this part of the country. Perhaps our low air pollution combined with gas prices being traditionally lower than on the coasts make a difference in how people view "economy" and make buying decisions. Despite wartime food shortages, et al, we still have a love affair with giant road-monster SUVs and trucks - I'll never understand why a soccer-mom from the burbs needs to drive an F-350 Super-Duty.

I think the a greater share of the price of petrol in Europe and elsewhere is due to taxes. I'm not sure what they're funding with the income, but I remember that being one reason. I guess if you keep the price artificially high with taxes, there is a good likelihood that people will use less.

 

[brisnat81]

Its taxes

And the Fact that Our Ecconomy is based against the US.

That's why our Fuel is affordable still, because it is purchased in USD and whereas 3 years ago, the AUD bought $0.55USD, $1.00AUD now buys $0.92USD. Therefore the price of Crude has tripled, but our fuel price has only doubled.

If our ecconomy falters and the Value of the AUD drops against the USD then we will be in big trouble.

We currently pay about $0.50AUD tax and $0.90AUD for the oil per litre of fuel. Technically, this money is supposed to go back into Federally funded roads, whether it does or not, is anyones guess.