Gas Prices

[StrawberryFields]

Has the souring gas prices with the potential to reach $3.00 per gallon had/will have made a change the way you travel?

[Guest TheProudDuck]

Originally posted by Strawberry Fields@Apr 7 2005, 08:57 AM

Has the souring gas prices with the potential to reach $3.00 per gallon had/will have made a change the way you travel?

Not really. I get pretty good mileage with my cars, so a fillup with increased prices only adds about $10 to the cost of a 300-mile trip.

I think gas will come down a bit -- it's mostly speculation in the futures market that's gotten crude oil above $55 a barrel; kind of like the bubble in housing, the price is being driven less by economic fundamentals than by an unrealistic perception that demand and price will continue to rise rapidly. I've read that a realistic price for oil would be around $40 per barrel; it will probably drop to about that level as the speculators bail out.

[Amillia]

I'm hoping you are right PD. I would love to see theprices go back down.

We have a V-8 truck and if I am careful I only pay $20 a week to do all

of my running around. I just have to be careful to not rev it up and blow

out of the intersections when the light finally turns green, or try and go

up all the hills here at 40 mph.

[StrawberryFields]

I agree that it would be a great thing if PD is right.

I am so old, that I remember when gas got to .59 per gallon. I told my friends that if it went any higher I wouldn't drive. Of course I knew I wasn't serious, I was a teenager and nothing like the price of gas would have kept me off the road.

I heard that the airlines were also raising their ticket prices $10.00 per ticket to cover the rising costs in fuel.

Amillia, I also have a really hard time not being the first one "off the line". I think this is something I inherited from my dad.

[MBASS]

I live in South Carolina and its 2.13 here per gallon. Its sad the gas stations have to use upside down fives on their signs because there arent enough 2's! When I was a senior in HS 6 years ago it was .87 cents a gallon! That wasnt too long ago!

[Lindy]

Washington State here $2.40 a gallon today!

[Outshined]

Why is it that when I think about the oil companies I think of Mr. Burns?

[begood2]

I don't like the rising gas prices either, but it is giving me more incentive to park the car and walk, jog and ride my bike when time permits.

I also bought a very light- weight bike trailer that I can pull behind my bike. It has a capacity of 100 pounds, so I can load alot of groceries in it at one time and leave the car at home again!

I like the expression..." when life serves lemons don't pout but use them to make lemonade".

The silver lining to all this could be more exercise resulting in improved cardiovascular systems.

[Jenda]

Unfortunately, it cannot change our travel patterns. Even at $3.00 a gallon, it is cheaper than living in NJ. My husband drives 3 hours to work from upstate NY, and I have to drive 2.5 hours each way to get my daughter from school twice a month, so it is getting more expensive, but all our other driving is very local. We are looking into getting a smaller car for the long drives (at present, I drive a minivan). That will probably be the extent of what we change.

[Winnie G]

Will it change the way I travel?

You bet it changed we went out and bought two bikes.

There is no more taking the car to the Canex (PX) or to rent a movie just off base.

We need the exercise and any small amount of gas we save for more important travel.

I bet this was not what Buss hoped would happen.

[Outshined]

The prices go up every year because they know people have to pay it; it has nothing to do with Bush.

[Guest curvette]

Originally posted by Jenda@Apr 9 2005, 07:36 AM

Unfortunately, it cannot change our travel patterns. Even at $3.00 a gallon, it is cheaper than living in NJ. My husband drives 3 hours to work from upstate NY, and I have to drive 2.5 hours each way to get my daughter from school twice a month, so it is getting more expensive, but all our other driving is very local. We are looking into getting a smaller car for the long drives (at present, I drive a minivan). That will probably be the extent of what we change.

Holy Moly! 3 hours to work every day? Is that each way, or both ways? (either way, it's horrid!)

[StrawberryFields]

We travel to St. George several times a month. We just returned from there and we paid 2.49 for gas in Beaver.

Some ways to conserve gas.

Here's a quick checklist to help you conserve gasoline, from the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE), the organization that tests and certifies automotive technicians:

* Monitor your tires. Under- inflated tires or poorly aligned wheels waste fuel by forcing the engine to work harder to push the vehicle and its contents.

* Remove unused items from your vehicle. Store only essentials. Less weight means better gasoline mileage.

* Observe speed limits. Speeding decreases your miles per gallon, as do sudden accelerations. Anticipate traffic patterns ahead and adjust your speed gradually. Use cruise control.

* Avoid excessive engine idling. Turn off the engine while waiting for friends and family.

* Use windows and air conditioning wisely. Avoid using your air conditioner in heavy, stop-and-go traffic such as traffic jams or holiday weekend backups.

* Consolidate your daily trips and errands. Some trips may be unnecessary. Try to travel when traffic is lighter and stop-and-go conditions are less likely. Join a carpool. Walk more.

* Maintain your engine. This will help you maximize the gas mileage for your specific make and model. A single misfiring spark plug can greatly reduce gas mileage. Follow the service schedules listed in your owner's manual. Replace filters and fluids as recommended. Have engine performance problems, such as rough idling and poor acceleration, corrected at a repair facility.

[Jenda]

Originally posted by curvette+Apr 9 2005, 03:03 PM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (curvette @ Apr 9 2005, 03:03 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> <!--QuoteBegin--Jenda@Apr 9 2005, 07:36 AM

Unfortunately, it cannot change our travel patterns.  Even at $3.00 a gallon, it is cheaper than living in NJ.  My husband drives 3 hours to work from upstate NY, and I have to drive 2.5 hours each way to get my daughter from school twice a month, so it is getting more expensive, but all our other driving is very local.  We are looking into getting a smaller car for the long drives (at present, I drive a minivan).  That will probably be the extent of what we change.

Holy Moly! 3 hours to work every day? Is that each way, or both ways? (either way, it's horrid!)

Actually, it is once a week. He is a pilot, and when he goes, he is gone for 4 or 5 days. When he is off, he is home for 3 or 4 days.