Come On $6 per gallon gas!

A lot of people still don't get it. I see people driving guzzlers still punching the throttle, over-reving the engine, and speeding. Are they morons? Do they not understand the relationship of gas pedal mashing to money wasting? They probably drive all over town looking for the cheapest gas too.

I know the answer: Yes, they are morons.

 

I beg to disagree, anybody who buys a car that gets 12 MPG when gas costs on average $4.10 a gallon is either a millionaire or stupid. I'm guessing this factory worker is not a millionaire.

 

Why in the world would you wish $6 gas on this country? So your co-workers would think you were bright? If that were to happen ($6) gas), you might not have your factory job.

 

It's stupid to waste gas and money. Don't know how you can argue that. I test drove a Yaris. Scary-small and no Nav, Bluetooth, Leather etc. I'm too good to ride around in a tin can.

 

Well, it's a learning curve. Some people figure it out sooner, some later. And some people don't value efficiency at all, and for some people, the cost of gas matters less than the pleasure they get from driving something big.

The Hummer gets a lot of flack, but it's really no different from 30 other vehicles you could name, in terms of MPG. Just went to the Fuel Economy website. The Hummer H3 gets 15 mpg, a Ford F150 flex-fuel get 15. Heck, an F150 with 4wd and the larger 8-cylinder engine gets 14. Ford Explorer, 4WD, 8 cylinder gets 15, Chevy Tahoe flex-fuel gets 16, Chevy Suburban with larger engine gets 15.

Basically, all those big vehicles get the same mileage. Hummer, Tahoe, Explorer, F150. They're all the same as far as I'm concerned.

If you really want to out-guzzle your neighbors, you have to trade up to an F250 or larger.

And be sure to leave it idling whenever you possibly can -- one of my pet peeves.

When I drive my non-hybrid car, I turn the engine off at stoplights. Best modern studies say this is the smart thing to do. The estimated additional wear and tear on the battery and starter is estimated to be far less than the cost of the gasoline saved. But as far as I can tell, I'm the only person in Northern Virginia who does this. Instead, when I turn off the engine, I get to hear all the SUVs around me idling.

 

It really doesn't bother me that people buy and drive big vehicles. From my perspective it is just wasting money but if they can afford it and that is what makes them happy (or think it will) I say let them wallow. Heck I buy Big Macs and gas station burritos occasionally even though I know that they are bad for me (even dangerous?) but I don't want people telling me I can't do it.

G

 

At our campus we have both manufacturing and offices--including THE HQ.

One Prius besides me. Of course, you don't expect VPs and company officers to drive them, do you?:nerd:

 

Not going to happen soon. Watched the congressional hearings yesterday on c-span, and even the oil lobbyists testifying said oil is on a speculative bubble, and the Congress should act to break the bubble. One said the true price of oil is about $65. a barrel. Others say it's $90-95. I expect it will be down to $100 soon, and the stock market will jump.

It's maddening to hear the questions of Republican congressman: "Do you think an oil windfall profits tax will drop the price of gas?" Lobbyist answer: no.
Note: Of course it won't, but it will give some unearned dollars back to the Government--to restore some balance to the budget, and make up for the taxpayers being robbed at the gas pumps right now.

Another Republican question: " Do you think more off-shore drilling will help lower gas prices? Lobbyist answer: Not a short term solution. The speculation bubble needs to be broken quickly--and it can easily be done.
Note: The oil companies have substantial off-shore drilling rights they haven't used for 20 years--probably because of the cost of drilling in the middle of the ocean.

The Republicans have become a phoney-baloney Party aimed at protecting oil companies and other big corporate interests--period.

 

Paying a 100$ dollars for gas doesn't make you a millionaire.
I decided to buy a jeep GC soon (Since that the prius isn't mine)

But I mean hey, we prius drivers are people who don't like to pay much for gas, but other than that, it's people's opinion.

Some people see it as:

Fun > Money(Gas)
Size > Money(gas)
Looks > Money(gas)

Let people do what they want, but you can't call them morons for choosing to purchase a ride that guzzles gas.

 

Could it maybe be that he figured he was getting all sorts of incentives now since GM can't move these guzzlers he could use those savings to offset the gas prices? Not saying I condone the purchase, I would love to see those things off the roads, but just trying to understand the motivation for purchasing one. I'm sure, to him, it made sense in some twisted way...

 

What gets me are not the people the need large vehicles, or even just want them, but those that buy the gas guzzlers and then complain about gas prices.
I mean come on, year over year anyone can see prices are going to go up.

 

Anyone who routes for $6 per gallon gas is a moron. If you want to lose your job, home, security, etc. then keep routing for this.

Look at the big picture, do you want goods to be delivered? Or are you one of those who wants to grind our economy to a halt just to prove a point that oil is a finite resource?

People are suffering now. People are having to choose between gas and food in some instances. Do you really think more of an increase is necessary to spur the development of alternative energy sources/more efficient cars etc?

ps. Anyone who buys a hummer or big suv now is making their own bed. I would hate to see the depreciation he is going to have to absorb. That said, some of us do need them....I still have my 05 Durango and will probably keep it until it dies(it is now 3 yrs old and has lost 2/3 of its value when new....over $20k depreciation) Show me a 30 mpg vehicle that can tow my boat and I will consider it, like it or not many of us still need our gas hogs. I do drive the prius whenever/wherever I can, but, will always own a suv.

The one thing I hate about my prius, people think I am a judgemental, arrogant environmental whacko.......I just want to save a buck.

 

I'd bet many of you are just as stupid, just not as far as gasoline consumption goes.

At 12,000 miles a year and at $4.00 a gallon, a 12 MPG vehicle will cost $253 more a month in gasoline than a 50 MPG Prius.

So... How many of you buy your lunch from a resturant or the office cafeteria instead of bringing your own lunch to work? How about breakfast? Do you stop by McDonald's to pick up breakfast? Buy a bagel at the office cafeteria? Maybe stop by Starbucks or Dunkin Donuts for your morning coffee on your way to work?

If so, then you're stupid too. You are easily spending close to, if not considerably more than the H2 driver, depending on your habits. It only takes $12.50 a day on breakfast, lunch, and coffee to hit $250 a month. You could easily spend less than $3.00 a day for breakfast and lunch if you paid attention and brought your own from home.

 

Don't sweat it. Those who use such terminology and make such accusations are usually judgemental, ignorant, politically-charged saps who have been fooled by media and don't know how to fact check.

Marlin, You are correct. I was noticing I had much less money in my pocket since I started working at the internship office 4 days a week. It was the damn $6 sandwhich and $1.79 soda I was buying each day. Once I realized what I was doing I hit the grocery store and started bringing my lunch. lol The thing is, I didn't even notice I was wasting so much because it seemed to natural to just go buy lunch.

 

The thing is, most people, being short-sighted, just walk into the dealership to "look around" and see all the great deals on the large trucks / SUVs, and don't stop to think about the eventual costs of gas / maintenance. Most dealers are giving fantastic deals on all of their "behemoth-class" vehicles and can't keep fuel-efficient cars in stock. One of my co-workers just recently purchased a fully-loaded Ford Expedition for less than I paid for my Prius back in December, before the waiting lists started here. Most people are too impulsive and will jump at a good deal without considering the eventual consequences, and car salesmen have been counting on this for years.

 

some people do need larger vehicles.. some.. Most who say they "NEED" them do not. To say you need a large truck to tow your boat??? really? Do you need a boat??

But you're absolutely right, much of it is personal choice. I know a woman who buys $250 bluejeans. I think she's an idiot, but it's her money.. let her spend it how she likes. The big difference is when she buys expensive jeans, it doesn't make my jeans any more expensive.. however, when people drive low mileage vehicles for fun, it DOES make my gas more expensive.

But if you want to get technical.. I COULD live without a car. Most of us could. We just don't want to, and we've set up our lives so that it would be very very difficult.

 

Seriously, you're cheering for $6 gas????? How shortsided and naive can you get?

Well, kudos to your decision. Voting for $6 gas, though, is just wrong. I don't suppose you realize the implications on our economy do you?

 

I'm not exactly cheering, but I think that what's happening is about the best thing that could have happened.

Why?!?!

Well, oil is a limited resource - we all knew that. Instead of being quickly and completely cut off (like the 70's - I'm old enough to remember gas rationing), we're slowly being priced out of the market.

That's bad, right? No that's good. Here's why:

The US energy policy has been, well, not to have an energy policy. The Federal government hasn't had an effective policy for ensuring that we have ample energy in the future.

But, by making oil increasingly more expensive, the free market is being encouraged to come up with alternatives.

There is a move afoot to open the US to more drilling. This will improve our oil situation (if it actually happens).

GM is _FINALLY_ understanding that there is a strong market demand for hybrids and electric cars (read: Chevy Volt).

The cost of fuel, and the concerns about green house gasses are causing nuclear power to get serious consideration again.

Solar power is being addressed now.

Folks, we all knew that society would have to divorce itself from oil one day. We can't do it painlessly, but a slow increase of prices will likely be the least painful and most effective way to get a change in energy policy brought about by the free market.

Oh, the US is in a nice position for this. We have plenty of technology to support solar and nuclear. We have plenty of sunny land that we aren't using for anything else to support large solar farms, or large ethanol production plants. This is an incredible opportunity to shift the global energy balance of power from the middle east to the midwest.

(Maybe this thread should be moved to Fred's House o' Pancakes?)

 

Yes, many still didn't get it. Still speed away . cut-off or tail-gating people in their Gas-Gazzling Sport Car & SUVs (including my little Prius)

Auto-Dealers are now giving Gas $2.99/g price guarranty for 3 years or Give-away 1 Ton Gas vouchers for new purchases .... I never see anything like this in my life !! .. Our oil-supply are really is in some kind of deep Sh#t.

The cost of extracting oil is getting more & more difficult...and had been transfer to oil prices for the past few years (sorry no more cheap-oil) http://www.cbc.ca/national/blog/special_feature/running_on_empty/why_oil_is_up.html

To me reason for purchasing Prius is a strategy to prolong "Affortble Driving" as long as possible ..... until the time Oil hit $10/gallon (say in 10 yrs from now)


PS: * WARNING * Don't peek @ Other link on CBC site "Life Without Cheap Oil" if you have a weak stomach. It talk about what can happen next...in (short ?) distance future. May God give our leaders wisdom to deal with whats coming.