People with gas guzzlers need to think ahead

Welcome aboard. Have you ever heard the expression "Preaching to the Choir" ? :madgrin:

 

GMan, I totally agree with you. I have looked at all the small SUVs, but none have the utility and mpg that the v has. So, in 2 weeks, I should be receiving my new Prius v replacing my 17mpg Blazer.

 

How about history repeats itself. Those of us up in years can see that it does repeat. I can't believe some foolish
people saying the economy is fixed and high gas prices have leveled off. Just wait till summer and have one international situation. The gas prices will also be reflected in all products going north in price , which will crush the recovery.

 

i agree in priciple and theory. but gas could be lower than it is now at any point in the future. it's lower now than it has been in the past. most people don't look beyond tomorrow anyway and there are quite a few who can afford it and don't care.

 

I'm excited to take delivery of my Prius v soon, but I'll still enjoy having my '10 4Runner in the garage as well. There are simply many situations where the 4Runner is the superior tool for the job despite only returning 22mpg (per my Gas Cubby app). I'd rather spend a few extra bucks driving my 4Runner than destroying the bottom side of my Prius when I'm getting to more remote trailheads for biking and backpacking. Same goes for winter travel. The 4Runner gives me a larger margin of error in poor driving conditions thanks to the 4WD and add'l ground clearance.

The great thing about the v is that it gives small families real space and real efficiency. That said, even most of your cute utes aren't too bad on gas. My mom usually sees 27mpg on her V6, 4WD Rav4. With where they live, FWD just isn't an option. Either way, they don't spend much on gas because they don't drive loads of miles.

I'm fortunate in that I can afford an SUV, a fun car ('05 MINI Cooper S), and a Prius. Putting all of my commuting and normal travel miles on the Prius means that the 4Runner will last longer, too. We could afford to keep putting gas in our MINI and 4Runner even if it was well over $5/gallon, but with a little one on the way, we do really need to have two vehicles that can haul the baby and the stuff that goes with it. The v is the perfect car for that.

 

In Southern California it's here now. Just paid 4.399 for regular. The rest of you will see that price soon!

 

America was the Worlds biggest consumer of oil. China has now taken that honour from you, yet you're still consuming the same amount as previously. Well which ever way you look at it, that's a huge amount of oil now being consumed and less and less is being found and utilized.

Something's got to give and the price will continue heading North. I bought my Prius thinking fuel prices were high and that I'd be ready should it increase. I didn't realise it would have increased by over 30% in two years, and am so glad I got the Prius.

 

There can be dips to be sure (like after 9/11 when it briefly went down to $1/gallon, and after the 2008 stock market crash, when it went below $2/gallon), but the average will be trending up to be sure.

People are still saying there's no peak oil problem, what with Canadian tar sands and other sources (Brazilian deep water finds made a big splash a year or so ago). But those are all dirty or hard to extract, and we're running out of easy, low-sulfur petroleum, that can be extracted in large quantities. So the end result is that oil is getting more and more expensive, assuming the demand doesn't decrease.

When I got my Prius in Feb. 2006, the price of gasoline had never gone above $3/gallon in our area (hurricane Katrina and Rita had affected the gulf areas more). So about 3 months later, it did hit $3/gallon and somebody congratulated me on my smart purchase. I didn't say anything, but I was thinking, it's not for $3/gallon that I bought it, it's for $4, $5/gallon in the next few years, and possibly higher prices in the long term.

 

There was a big shock and outrage when gas prices first hit $3/gallon in 2006, and then $4/gallon in 2008. But now people still buy big SUVs at $3.50/gallon. So I'd say they can afford it, it's more of a mental shock than a financial one if gas then goes to $4.50 or even $5/gallon. Besides, you have to think about what will happen in however many years you expect to keep that vehicle.

Except for those became upside down in mortgages the last couple years, people can still afford it. The actually poor people (not the ones who just complain about things) buy the used Escorts, Civics that get 30 mpg or better, and quite often carpool. So they aren't hurt as much as some tend to think. I don't feel sorry for people who drive big SUVs.

You give the example of somebody spending $300-400/month at 20-30 mpg. That implies over 2000 miles/month or 24K/year. That's a 50 mile commute, each way. Why should the average person expect a 50-mile commute to not be expensive? (As well as time consuming). A person didn't accidentally get into that situation, they signed the papers on the house, they applied for the job. Either buy a house closer to work or get a job closer to home, it can be done (I've done it).

 

i like how every time there's a jump high enough to get the media's attention, they always run to the gas stations to interview the people pulling in their mega suv's. not the escalades, but the old beat up bronco's and such. "how do you feel about gas prices?" the responses are ridiculous.

 

We are a little higher now than 1918 adjusted for inflation.
InflationData: Gasoline Inflation
There were long periods of falling gas prices then a spike, decline, and now we are in a spike back up.

Gasoline Price History
looking at more recent history, there was a big decline in the 90s, then a rise back up beyond the 1981 price. The big question is given the history, why did policies not assume the inflation adjusted 1990s low gas prices were temporary. Prices can easily be down from here next fall, but people need to understand long term dips are not permanent.

If the prius v or prius c is the appropriate mix of size and performance why not choose the car that will be less affected by the gyrations in the price of gasoline.

 

Maybe it's a bit more effective to turn around the calculations.

In my area, I still see an insane % of monstrosity class SUVs (aka full-sized ones like the Tahoe, Escalade and extended length ones like the Yukon XL, Escalade ESV, Suburban, etc.), almost always being driven solo or w/minimal cargo and passengers.

Let's assume one got a Prius v wagon and achieved the EPA estimated 42 mpg combined. People seem outraged by $4/gal gas. Right now, the lowest price at San Jose Gas Prices - Find Cheap Gas Prices in California is $4/gal, w/the next one up being $4.09/gal.

If they got a '12 Tahoe which is EPA rated at 17 mpg (regardless of 2WD or 4WD) or got a '12 Navigator (16 mpg for 2WD or 15 mpg for 4WD) or a '12 Escalade ESV rated at 14 mpg combined, below what the $4/gal gas would effectively turn into...

At 17 mpg, that's like driving the 42 mpg v wagon but gas being $9.88/gal. Here are equivalent amounts for 16, 15 and 14 mpg.
16 mpg: $10.50/gal
15 mpg: $11.20/gal
14 mpg: $12/gal

I think most Americans would be outraged if gas went to $9.88/gal or more. But, that's what they're doing when they buy inefficient land barges vs. the relatively efficient Prius v.

To work backwards, here's a sample calculation.
100 miles traveled at 42 mpg = 2.38 gallons used
2.381 gallons * $4/gal = $9.52

100 miles traveled at 14 mpg = 7.14 gallons used
7.1429 * $4/gal = $28.57

$28.57 / 2.381 gallons = $12/gal

 

I think you are missing your calling on the Hybrid/EV chat area... A Gov Rep is complaining about fueling up his Hummer 3 with expensive gas prices.

 

If you're looking to save money, buy a used civic or any other sub $10k car from a couple years ago and be happy with 30mpg. Over 5 years, most people will save more that way than by getting a $20k Prius. Gas prices really need to skyrocket to make up that $10k difference.

That said, I love my new 2012 (non-V).

 

I would think people that buy a Prius v have family to haul around and likely do quite a bit of driving. They can benefit a lot from the 40 Mpg (this is the average so far on fuelly.com).

For others who don't drive all that much, it can still be tough to make a financial case for a Prius. I don't drive a heck of a lot, maybe 8k a year or so, but I like how the car drives, it has exactly the format I wanted, and was willing to spend extra for that. No regrets.

 

I suspect a lot people with those land barge SUVs don't actually drive so much per year. Plus most don't want to give up the 5k+ lbs they're riding on nor the 300 HP (just in case). Other's just want the land barge for the image.

I still say the movies have a big influence. Every time they show the CIA or whateva gubment posse pulling up in massive, black SUVs (they're always black), the types that frequent those movies get all hot to have a vehicle like that of their very own.

Many people just want the gas to go, they're not so concerned of the effects of burning lots of it.