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Price of gas!
Posted: Wed Apr 06, 2005 12:20 pm
by Joe Baker
Gas survey:
- 1 Where do you live?
2 How many days ago did you last buy gas?
3 How much did you pay per gallon?
4 What price is the same station posting today?
5 Over the last two months, how would you characterize your changes in driving behavior?
I'll go first:
1 Knoxville, TN
2 5 days
3 2.03(9)
4 2.15(9)
5 Driving has become something of a a luxury. We used to occasionally just go for drives in the mountains without so much as a thought about the gas cost. A couple of weeks ago, however, we found ourselves deciding whether we'd go out to eat in a mid-price restaurant or go for a drive (we took sandwiches and drove through Cades Cove in Great Smoky Mountain Nat'l Park

). My daughter, who works at Chili's about 7 miles from our house, is contemplating a job change because driving to work has become so expensive. I've also cut to driving my van (14 MPG) 1 day per week, and that just to keep it from dry rot.
Thanks to anyone who will contribute to the survey.
_______________________________________
Joe Baker, who is not so much saying that gas is "too expensive" as he is just surprised at the extent to which people are taking the price jump in stride.
Posted: Wed Apr 06, 2005 12:48 pm
by TMurphy
Currently living in New Brunswick, NJ....I haven't put gas in my car in well over a week, and then it cost me $1.91 a gallon for regular...which was up about 10¢ from the previous week. The gas stations aroud here, it seems, have just hit $2.00 a gallon for regular, although (I haven't really checked) there are usually some cheap gas stations that are a few cents less per gallon.
Posted: Wed Apr 06, 2005 12:59 pm
by Tubaryan12
Euclid, OH (near Cleveland)
I last bought gas 7 days ago at a price of $2.14/gal
The price today is $2.24/gal
I havent changed how I drive one bit. I always buy cars that get at least 30mpg on the highway so I never worry about it. It only cost me between 1-2 dollars extra per week to drive to work since the price started rising...I guess that's one less trip to McDonalds for me

Posted: Wed Apr 06, 2005 1:09 pm
by Mark
In my part of Washington state, gas is somewhere around $2.50 a gallon. My last fill-up cost me about $75!
And, Joe will like this, our state legislature is considering adding an additional 15 cents per gallon tax! Joe, when you sell your house, do you want to move here?
Posted: Wed Apr 06, 2005 1:46 pm
by UDELBR
Location: somewhere in Europe.
Last tank o' gas cost (in US equivalents): $5.96 per gallon.
Count your blessings!
Posted: Wed Apr 06, 2005 2:31 pm
by TexTuba
1. Corpus Christi, Texas
2. Sunday
3. $2.09
4. $2.19
5. Home to school. School to work. Work to home. I don't "cruise" any more because it's just too expensive. Whoever is to blame for these ridiculous prices deserves several kicks to the cojones!
Ralph
Posted: Wed Apr 06, 2005 3:15 pm
by JHardisk
Dayton, Ohio.
Today.
$2.34
$2.38 Yes, only hours later, it's gone up 4 cents.
Driving as usual.. Uncle Sam requires that I show up for work, daily, and my wife needs to go to school. Been considering buying a bicycle to come to work. Only a 5 mile trip one way. Only problem.. the gig bag may not work so well on the bike.
Posted: Wed Apr 06, 2005 5:31 pm
by ThomasDodd
1. N.E. Mississippi
2 vehicles: #1 200 Mercury SUV, 18MPG around town
2. Sunday
3. $2.09
4. $2.19
5.No changes related to gas prices.
#2 1970 Cadillac, 7-8 mpg, need premium!
2. 3 week ago
3. $2.19
4. $2.39
5.No changes related to gas prices.
Changes related to deadmotor in the cady. So the Merc is getting more miles now. But neither vehicle is used for joy riding. 1) I hate long drives. 2) no time for such. I'd love to take the cady cruising, but spend my "free" time doing body work on the cady.The days are just getting long enough for me to do anything after work.
Anyone know the inflation adjusted prices from 1980 for their area?
I know the national average peaked in 1980 at $2.97 (adjusted for inflation) for regular unleaded. But Some areas are historically well above/below that average.
Posted: Wed Apr 06, 2005 6:28 pm
by tubatooter1940
I got home today and my wife asked me to take her someplace really expensive.I took her to a gas station.
www.johnreno.com/
Posted: Wed Apr 06, 2005 6:32 pm
by AndyCat
I paid just short of 8 dollars for an imperial gallon today (84p per litre).
on gas, you don't know how lucky you are!

Posted: Wed Apr 06, 2005 9:42 pm
by Leland
I liked the one-liner about taking the wife someplace expensive, and the Brit/Yank one's pretty funny, too.
1. Washington, DC
2. um... over a week ago, I think; not due for probably another two weeks.
3. $2.79, I think.
4. I haven't been near the same station since; it's way out of my neighborhood.
5. No changes in driving behavior.
Frankly, I'm lucky enough that I found a place to live that's just over a mile from work. There's also a supermarket on the next block, and Union Station is just two blocks further away. The Metro is one of the nicest subway systems I've ever seen, and there are cabs galore. Compared to my hometown of Omaha, Nebraska, this is great. It's a comparative hassle to get anywhere in Omaha without a car -- never mind what it's like in the more rural parts of the state.
I haven't curtailed my driving because of gas prices. In fact, I enjoy driving -- I dig my car. I fiddle with modifying it, and I take it to the track when I can. Maybe that's why I don't want to drive during rush hour.
I haven't lived more than ten minutes from my workplace; I can't stand the idea of commuting. Fortunately, I'm still single, so moving around is quite a bit easier than if I had to uproot a family.
**I forgot to add (I tend to do this a lot lately!)
I started truly distrusting gas companies when I saw the price at a station jump 20 cents from one day to the next. Absolutely nothing happened in those 24 hours (or less!) except a blurb on the news about unrest in the Middle East.
Is that really "news" anymore? It's in the paper every day -- might as well include a story in the stockroom to pull out as filler when space needs to be filled. But, it's another excuse to raise prices at gas stations.
Bastards.
Posted: Wed Apr 06, 2005 10:54 pm
by chevy68chv
Santa Barbara, CA
2 weeks ago it was around 2.55
I havent been around a gas station since then
I ride my bike pretty much everywhere. I've used my car to go to the grocery store and to drive to LA once. Thats it.
Posted: Thu Apr 07, 2005 2:42 am
by AndyCat
To answer a couple of the elephants queries:
Well, petrol was at 69p/litre this time 7 months ago, and it's now 85p/litre. Not quite the same increase as you lot, but ours has been going up steadily for years

.
I drive 38,000 miles a year, 360 a week to work, rest for playing/teaching/socialising.
We generally get no allowance/expenses for travelling to normal day jobs in this country anyway.
Although we do generally drive less thirsty vehicles

Posted: Thu Apr 07, 2005 7:35 am
by Jeffrey Hicks
AndyCat wrote:To answer a couple of the elephants queries:
Well, petrol was at 69p/litre this time 7 months ago, and it's now 85p/litre. Not quite the same increase as you lot, but ours has been going up steadily for years

.
I drive 38,000 miles a year, 360 a week to work, rest for playing/teaching/socialising.
We generally get no allowance/expenses for travelling to normal day jobs in this country anyway.
Although we do generally drive less thirsty vehicles

just what do you drive Andy?
Posted: Thu Apr 07, 2005 8:48 am
by AndyCat
just what do you drive Andy?
A Nissan Primera 1600cc Estate (do you call them wagons?).
This is considered a normal family car over here! I've looked on the Nissan US site and can't find any car less than 2500cc! The Nissans over here start at 1100cc.
Posted: Thu Apr 07, 2005 8:58 am
by Matt G
AndyCat wrote:
A Nissan Primera 1600cc Estate (do you call them wagons?).
This is considered a normal family car over here! I've looked on the Nissan US site and can't find any car less than 2500cc! The Nissans over here start at 1100cc.
Even VW in the US will be a 2.5l 5cyl asa base motor soon. A 2.0l turbo will be the smallest engine in the VW lineup.
Americans definitely have an issue with the size of cars. The cars that the wife and I drive normally both get over 30mpg.
I think that the SUV has finally seen its pinnacle. Its all downhill from here. I am always amazed at the folks who drive at least 50 miles a day and own a vehicle that struggles to get 20 mpg. Well, they all helped Exxon/Mobil to get back to #2 on the Fortune 500 list and post an all-time record in profit for any company on the list.
FWIW, I passed a station looking for $2.25 a gallon here in New England.
Posted: Thu Apr 07, 2005 9:06 am
by AndyCat
I'm hoping to get a more economical one (>45mpg) soon. This one does 35-40mpg.
Posted: Thu Apr 07, 2005 10:45 am
by Captain Sousie
AndyCat wrote:I'm hoping to get a more economical one (>45mpg) soon. This one does 35-40mpg.
You want economy? Try a Volkswage Golf TDI with a manual trans. 38/46 MPG. I have done even better on the one I got to drive for a bit.
Sou
Posted: Thu Apr 07, 2005 10:56 am
by Captain Sousie
1. Cheyenne, WY
2. A week ago I got $10 worth and I will have to fill up tomorrow.
3. I paid $2.03/gal
4. $2.21/gal
5. I drive to work and back. I used to go see my parents who are getting to be needing more help but I can't eat and go see them, I have to choose one. I walk across the street for gorceries and otherwise I stay inside going stir crazy. Bike more you say? Temp monday 60, tues 28, wed, 50 but with 15mph wind. Have fun trying. it varies how far it is to work from .5 miles to 35 miles 'cause I am a substitute teacher.
My favorite part of the last couple of months was the announcement on the national news that gas prices *might* go up $.20/gal in the next 2 weeks and by the end of the next day, do you know how high gas prices were? You guessed it...$.20/gal higher. Happened the same way a couple of days ago. Curse you ABC, NBC, and CBS!
Sou
Posted: Thu Apr 07, 2005 10:57 am
by Captain Sousie
1. Cheyenne, WY
2. A week ago I got $10 worth and I will have to fill up tomorrow.
3. I paid $2.03/gal
4. $2.21/gal
5. I drive to work and back. I used to go see my parents who are getting to be needing more help but I can't eat and go see them, I have to choose one. I walk across the street for gorceries and otherwise I stay inside going stir crazy. Bike more you say? Temp monday 60, tues 28, wed, 50 but with 15mph wind. Have fun trying. it varies how far it is to work from .5 miles to 35 miles 'cause I am a substitute teacher.
My favorite part of the last couple of months was the announcement on the national news that gas prices *might* go up $.20/gal in the next 2 weeks and by the end of the next day, do you know how high gas prices were? You guessed it...$.20/gal higher. Happened the same way a couple of days ago. Curse you ABC, NBC, and CBS!
Sou