$4.00 Gas A Reality

[sigma]

Originally Posted by likearock00

It's bad, but not bad enough for anyone to do anything about it. I wonder when it will actually be bad enough for people to start demanding at least tax repeals. Uncle Sam currently takes about 55 cents a gallon for taxes between state and federal. I'm sure if we start demanding that to go away the gov't would step and take a look at the situation a little harder.

That's a bad idea, the higher the price of gasoline, the less we will consume. It will be painful, but in the end it will help wean the US off of oil. The less we use, the less gas will cost in the longterm future and the less likely these shock will occur in the future.

Conservation is the only answer. We simply don't have the oil, refining capacity, or the space on the roads to fit all of these cars and trucks.

[joemac]

Another factor we have for usage on the rise is traffic congestion. I've driven the same route to and from work for years. Back years ago congestion do to traffic was a non-issue. Now it's a major issue, stop go, stop go. What happens to your mileage when your doing nothing but 0 to 20 mph? It decreases your mileage.

I've taken measures to try and avoid traffic. I now leave an entire hour earlier in attempts to avoid traffic. I'm close again of bumping my timeline again to avoid traffic.

The congestion we have in our major metropolitan areas certainly doesn't help our consumption. So are we truely using more by driving more, or using more simply by sitting in traffic?

[skylark68]

Just thinking that if does ever get to the $4.00 or $5.00 mark maybe I could pick up a slightly used '07 Escalade for cheap...??

[VibenPontiac]

$2.68 here in Atlanta...land of 60-90 minute commutes! Even when accounting for Florida's higher gasoline taxes thats a long way from $4.00.

Sounds like some airport price gouging. Its not uncommon to see a gas station at a hotel/resort in Orlando charging 30 - 40 cents more than a 7-11 across the road - some morons just pay for the convenience.

[jbernie]

Originally Posted by JonathanRohr

Looks like the guy in that picture can also afford his fair share of cheesburgers. Good lord.

thats another issue as well, not only are the vehicles heavier but there are alot of obese people out there, so even when only the driver is in the vehicle it could be carring 300 or 400lbs. It may not be much difference in a 2 tonne SUV but it all adds up sooner or later.

[member12]

Originally Posted by DarkKnight67

Gas prices are the biggest load of crap since Clinton said he didn't have sex with that woman. No one is doing anything to change them and they provide as many excuses for why they're going up. I can understand paying the price because of the great demand we exhibit, but when the companies tout their profits as if it were normal practice, then it isn't much wonder people are beginning to become disgusted.

That's because they increase prices rapidly when the market price of crude goes up, but it takes months for them to lower the pump prices when crude prices drop.

They have 4 or 5 months of the year where they are grossly overcharging for gasoline.

[importedtuna]

And some (big truck & suv owners prob'ly) are quick to be the eternal optimists.

Same guys were saying a while back how prices were "Only $2.18".

Now they're "Only $2.78".

So which is it? Or will gas prices always be "Only $X.XX" for people who just HAVE to commute in a quad cab duallie pickup to work at a desk job?

[mike's 01ws6]

I went to Orlando in 1998 back when gas was hovering around the dollar mark and an exxon station there charged me somewhere around 2.00/gallon, It seems like they tend to gouge you for gas in orlando anyhow.

[MNdudeswitz]

I never need to drive, unless it’s to Target or to see certain friends or family. I live in a City, not a suburb, but a living breathing city. It is a 2 minute walk to the following: A large grocery store, blockbuster video, 3 bars, 4 restaurants, a barber shop, 2 dry cleaners, 4 coffee shops, and a Barns and Noble bookstore. I absolutely love to drive, love the freedom! But I also love walking, and not just walking for pleasure but walking for a purpose; something that many of you sadly cannot do because of where you live (just try and walk from your house to the Wal-mart). Even though I rarely drive anymore I am troubled by the price of gas because it affects the goods and services I purchase on a daily basis, from the price of groceries to even food at a restaurant. It really does affect us all.

[dindak]

$5 gas in a few years I predict. My SUV plans were shelved last year and they will stay there. I will just buy another ~30mpg sedan again, I can live with that and I still get a nice V6.

[sigma]

Originally Posted by joemac

Another factor we have for usage on the rise is traffic congestion. I've driven the same route to and from work for years. Back years ago congestion do to traffic was a non-issue. Now it's a major issue, stop go, stop go. What happens to your mileage when your doing nothing but 0 to 20 mph? It decreases your mileage.

I've taken measures to try and avoid traffic. I now leave an entire hour earlier in attempts to avoid traffic. I'm close again of bumping my timeline again to avoid traffic.

The congestion we have in our major metropolitan areas certainly doesn't help our consumption. So are we truely using more by driving more, or using more simply by sitting in traffic?

The US is going to have to get over its obsession with subburbs, 12- lane interstates (that are always parking lots by the time they are finished), and cars.

We are going to have to start doing some serious urban planning, verticle construction and a massive expansion of mass transit which should not only connect the inner cities, but also link the subburbs to the cities.

I know everyone likes to rail on San Francisco and the Bay Area in general (or the Metropolis known as the Eastern Seaboard from DC to Boston) but they do have mass transit and verticle construction figured out. For a great example as to how this works google BART (or just click on the link).

[zl-1]

Originally Posted by give_it_all_

Congrats, now you pay what Canada has been paying for a while lol.

Not only Canada: I pay above USD4 per gallon of diesel here in Portugal and the gas price is some 15%-to-20% higher than diesel due to differences in taxation. But the real issue here is if the USD4-a-gallon-gas thing is a sustained or sporadic movement in prices. US consumer tastes when it comes to buying cars won't change significantly unless those higher fuel prices are sustained.

[Saturn69]

Originally Posted by sigma

The US is going to have to get over its obsession with subburbs, 12- lane interstates (that are always parking lots by the time they are finished), and cars.

We are going to have to start doing some serious urban planning, verticle construction and a massive expansion of mass transit which should not only connect the inner cities, but also link the subburbs to the cities.

I know everyone likes to rail on San Francisco and the Bay Area in general (or the Metropolis known as the Eastern Seaboard from DC to Boston) but they do have mass transit and verticle construction figured out. For a great example as to how this works google BART (or just click on the link).

That's all fine and dandy, but I live in a rural area and commute to the city. The only jobs in rural areas are fast-food, convenience store or farming, so I drive to the city. Why not move to the city? Well, higher property taxes, higher home prices, higher crime, and more closely packed neighbors. Sure, it's a choice for me to live where I live. When the kids are out of school I intend to sell the house and move to the city, but I will NOT raise my kids in the Omaha/Council Bluffs area. Besides, the view from my deck of the sun setting over the Iowa hills is just too nice to replace with the view of the next door neighbor's house. So, until then, see y'all on the Interstate in the A.M..

[VivienM]

Originally Posted by sigma

We are going to have to start doing some serious urban planning, verticle construction and a massive expansion of mass transit which should not only connect the inner cities, but also link the subburbs to the cities.

In other words, start living like socialistic Europeans.

That's just not going to happen, at least for as long as there is democracy in North America.

[carscomblogger]

Don't forget record breaking profits EVERY quarter by the oil companies. All of them. They can't use the supply and demand crap on the prices as an excuse because, well, they seem to be meeting demand all the time and making extreme profits. That means to me they're being efficient and calculated on the prices.

Also just last week they said the peak for gas prices would be under last year, it would just come sooner.