Gas prices

it happens every year.

"Don't tell me there is a good reason for this..." OK, we will not have a conversation about supply, demand, price elasticity, refining capacity, or non-economic factors that influence the prices of crude oil and gasoline. Let's just go with "greed."

<facepalm>

Great, I am on fumes and will need to fill up today

you see prices going down before holiday weekend?? smart money tops off their tanks every day if they have to because they know it's gonna go up. it'll go back down on tuesday...

Actually, though I'm sure the 4th has a good bit to do with it, a lot of this is because of Europe too. Basically, it happened like this:
-Greece looks like it's going to default on its loans, which makes the euro look really unstable.
-Greece agrees to austerity plan, providing a way that they can meet their financial obligations.
-The euro strengthens as a result.
-Europe can now afford more oil, conversely driving our prices up.
So while it sucks for us at the gas pump right now, in the end, it's for a very good reason. If Greece defaults, the euro tumbles, and the whole world (at the very least, the west) falls back into another financial crisis.

They know folks are going to drive a lot over the holiday weekend.
The equivalent of this would be if Kroger started doubling their prices every time a snow storm was on it's way. I doubt people would put up with that.

I was lucky and noticed a $2.99 deal at the Speedway on Secor/Laskey a few days ago, filling up both cars, though my wife had some extra driving this week and burned through 2/3 of that tank.

Hoops: if you can get by with $10 or $15 worth of gas Friday through Monday, we should see a decent drop after the holiday demand ebbs. Whoops - sorry: I forgot we were leaving out of this thread any high-falutin' stuff like the short-run inelacticity of demand for gasoline. My bad. :-)

I have a Sam's Club membership just for the gas discount - we use a LOT of gas.

That being said, never buy gas around holidays if you can help it. Yes the jump is bullshit, oh well nothing we can do but be smart shoppers.

Has anyone actually cut back their gas use to make a difference? Didn't think so.

I cut back my gas use simply because I can't afford $$$$$ per fill up all the time. Plus instead of a fill-up, I find that I'm only throwing $10-$15 into my car (just enough to keep it going for a week or maybe 10 days if I really stretch it).

Only trying to "make a difference" in my wallet. But I have that luxury, others have to drive, have to fill up.

HockeyFan wrote:
"Has anyone actually cut back their gas to make a difference?"

My answer is "Probably not the people who are waiting for the Government to step in or complain about the situation."

I purchased a Civic in 2001 to replace a Chevy Camaro
My wife also purchased a Prius in 2010.

I've logged 3600 miles on my Schwinn which I use to commute to work and to the gym.

• My Gasoline expense for the first 6 months of 2011 compared to the first 6 months of 2005 is $316.93 less then we spent 6 years ago.

Exxon and Chevron are the first and third largest holdings in my portfolio.

God Bless America!

I was thinking something similar a few minutes ago, Danneskjold: Americans tend to be quick to gripe about gas prices, but few of us take active measures to reduce our fuel costs via the consumption route.

I have written before about the 1995 Hyundai Accent I picked up for $700 four years ago. This is a car that gets a consistent 30 MPG, and I can go 1-1/2 to 2 weeks on 10 gallons. My transportation costs each month are ridiculously low. Also, when we sold our Suburban and bought a minivan, we began to save at least $60 a month on gas.

Then there are the carpooling, ride-sharing, and public transportation options, all of which Americans tend to be less than enthusiastic about. Finally, few vehicles can match the humble moped for mileage - many models get 100 mpg or more. Of course, these are uncool options to may folks, especially the types who are convinced they need an oversized pickup, a decked-out SUV, or an 8-cylinder passenger car as a primary vehicle.

I wish I had other options besides driving what I do but having to haul a tool trailer with ladders, all other options are out for me.

I downsized to a 30 mpg vehicle. It's not pretty but when you drive over 700 miles a week, couldn't keep filling a V6.

It totally baffles my mind why a "soccer mom" would need a full size SUV. I love seeing them pull up somewhere, park, and then mom and one kid gets out. Great conservation. Those things can't get the same gas mileage a minivan gets, yet I see them everywhere. I guess it really gets down to looking cooler in an SUV than being a minivan driver.
The only worse vehicle I see is the Hummers.
Who is going on manuevers in suburban Toledo, or storming the doors at Meiers that requires a hummer?

Living the hard city life clearly requires a v6 offroad suv, geez. Who cares about silly gas milage these days anyways? ;)

exactly. lol

i actually get worse milage with my newer car, but i dont complain either. what else can you buy a gallon of for 3-4 bucks that does more than satiate? i really dont even look at the prices because i have to buy it regardless, i just use my kroger card and hope for the best.

Damn Richie Rich, make sure you pick some food up for Dollar! :)

its not going to get cheaper by freaking out, so i dont. not sure what you mean.

Ya know, I get so sick of people like some of the posters here who feel the need to bitch about people who drive SUV's or other gas guzzlers. What business is it of yours? I could care less if that soccer mom has one kid or eight. I don't care if she can afford the monthly payment or not. I don't care if Mr. Hummer Driver chose his vehicle because of some kind of feelings of inadequacy in other parts of his personal life. Who cares?? How is it hurting you any?? Get off your tree-hugging high horse and mind your own damn business. All I see is pure jealousy in your judgements.

Although its not their business, the point was people buy huge autos they dont need and then comppain about gas prices. its like moving into a house on 40 acres and complaining about the real estate taxes. due diligence is our friend.

Ryan, Yours was the first post about people with huge autos complaining about gas prices. No one came close to even implying that point until you wrote it.

As far as due diligence . . . . how kind of you to offer advice to us mere mortals.

???smoke another one, or show me my post if you can. dont start with me jimmy.

wow, dell diva, touch a nerve?

My point was just that while some are complaining about the higher gas prices, I do not see a real reduction in the size of vehicles driven or a reduced number of cars on the road.
You are right it is none of my business what vehicle you choose, or anything you do as long as it doesn't affect me. This is a message board where people can come on here and spew their own opinions. It's just my opinion. Relax, no one really listens to me anyway. I think you might be the first one who paid attention to my posts. Thanks.

I think Meow2's initial intent concerning the post was to label "greedy gas companies" and vent about them "making Billions... " "Venting" on the computer can be more positive then driving your car over the BP pumps but there is a risk if you do not also engage in solutions, at least for me.

Nobody, including HockeyFan is admonishing anyone for the car decisions they make. What I read here is that HockeyFan and others are encouraging people in any circumstance to determine what power they have and what actions they can take in life and finances - in this case the price of gas which is a necessity for all of us.

Personally, the time I spend frustrated in a problem is generally a waste. I have to get out of the problem and look for what I have the ability to change and then take it to the next level and ask "What opportunity exists here?"

If I just complain about a situation I have conceded my power and am engaging in self pity.

I listen to you Hockeyfan btw...

Just pay it and quit crying about it. You need it, someone else owns it, you pay the price they ask or find another way to get where you need/want to go.

Oil companies - employ hundreds of thousands of people,
are part of your retirment, pension, and IRA plans,
pay tens of billions in taxes, risk hundreds of billions in research and development, and make an 8% profit.

PURE EVIL.

no one really listens to me anyway

Oh, I don't know about that HockeyFan. I think a lot of people on TT listen to you and take your opinions seriously. Dell_Diva, for instance, seems to take you very seriously.

On the bad side of the quarter, Ryan only takes himself seriously.

I've always respected your astute observations Jack.

Those things can't get the same gas mileage a minivan gets, yet I see them everywhere. I guess it really gets down to looking cooler in an SUV than being a minivan driver.

Actually, there doesn't seem to be a huge difference in fuel economy between the minivan options and full sized SUV options from the same manufacturer:

Dodge Grand Caravan - 17 city, 25 hwy
Dodge Durango - 16 city, 22 hwy

Toyota Sienna - 19 city, 24 hwy
Toyota Highlander - 18 city, 24 hwy
(The Highlander also has a hybrid option that's rated at 28 mpg.)

Honda Odyssey - 18 city, 27 hwy
Honda Pilot - 17 city, 23 hwy

I suppose you could make an argument between the Odyssey and Pilot, if you were going to be doing a lot of highway driving. But their city mileage is pretty comparable.

(I didn't include crossover SUV mileage, because you made the initial argument about full sized SUVs and minivans. But it appears that many of the crossovers get the same or better mpg than the minivans.)

P.S. For the record, I want a minivan. But my husband absolutely refuses to drive or be a passenger in one. We usually try to have between us one vehicle with larger seating capacity, and one smaller vehicle for daily commutes.

Harley Ultra Classic- 35+ city 45+ Highway :-)

Honda ~1100cc motorcycle - 40+ city 50+ hwy with more horses and a lot less noisy than the Hardley Ableson.

My 8-cylinder GMC Suburban got 12-13 in the city and maybe 16 on the highway. Our 4-cylinder Dodge Caravan gets a little under 20 in the city and closer to 25 on the highway. For us, the shift to a smaller engine with greater fuel efficiency represented about a 60 percent drop in fuel usage on our primary vehicle, and we are easily saving $800 a year on gas (besides, we no longer have a house full of kids, so the Suburban no longer made vehicular sense, either). Anyways, if you are interested in comparing models and MPG, the Department of Energy posts these numbers in an easy-to-use interactive application.

Also, my earlier point was not to take potshots at SUV drivers (I have been one many times in the past) but rather to point out the senselessness of complaining about gas prices while doing nothing to reduce personal fuel consumption. There are a number of ways to reduce travel expenses for folks on tight budgets, and perhaps the latest round of gas price spikes will encourage a few more people to reassess their consumption patterns and figure out what they might do differently.

The gas mileage ratings are put out by the manufacturer. How accurate can they really be? I can drive the same car 2 different ways and "change" the gas mileage I get.
There is no way that if you drove both vehicles the same, a full size SUV gets only one MPG less than a minivan.