OT -- Gas price milestone
by Adam J. Morris on Jun 8, 2008 12:00 PM CDT
Email
PrintI took this photo on my way home from work yesterday:
This is at the corner of San Felipe and 610, by the Galleria.
Even in Houston, where one would think it would be cheaper, regular gasoline is selling for over $4 per gallon.
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Thats about right,
whats the problem? Not to mention Mobil gas is the most expense around, at least in NY.
The bloggerformelyknownasBigBaddBubbaJ
Damn
Sorry to hear that. I thought you were in Europe.
"Would you mind walking a time or two so I could drive in some runs"? Milton Bradley
LOL
It’s still California…up by Michael Jackson country I believe.
The "Electrician" was born 7/16/07 11:53 PM EDT
http://www.lonestarball.com/2007/7/16/213154/893
wow
i coulda sworn i saw it at 3.79 here in Katy yesterday morning. And last night near Westheimer and 6 it was 3.89.
weak sauce.
When oil goes up over...
$10 a barrel in one day that will happen.
"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates
Thing with that is...
the coast of the gas itself is pretty close to equal from country to country. The difference is taxes.
My 99 Civic still gets 35+
And it’s paid for. Yay me.
Let me have a diablo sandwich, a Dr. Pepper, and make it fast I'm in a God damned hurry!
by LSBUser on Jun 8, 2008 12:10 PM CDT up reply actions
Post of the year
Let me have a diablo sandwich, a Dr. Pepper, and make it fast I'm in a God damned hurry!
by LSBUser on Jun 8, 2008 12:54 PM CDT up reply actions
It's quick
On our way out to a movie and dinner last night we saw it at $3.89. On the way home at the same place it was $4.00.
And yet, It’s still cheaper than the bottled water you could buy inside that same convenience store. Why does nobody complain about that?
20 ounce bottle of water = $1.19 (roughly)
1 gallon of water weighs 128 ounces
6.4 bottles = 1 gallon
$1.19 X 6.4 = $7.616 a gallon for water
Let me have a diablo sandwich, a Dr. Pepper, and make it fast I'm in a God damned hurry!
by LSBUser on Jun 8, 2008 12:06 PM CDT reply actions
Yeah, but I can get water...
...out of the tap if I don’t want to pay bottled prices. With gas, I either need to buy a new car that gets better mileage, take public transportation or stop driving. There’s a big difference between luxury and necessity,
"Hello win column..."
Luxury vs. Necessity
Which one is which in your post?
Let me have a diablo sandwich, a Dr. Pepper, and make it fast I'm in a God damned hurry!
by LSBUser on Jun 8, 2008 1:53 PM CDT up reply actions
No Comparison
Yeah, it’s dumb that bottled water costs so much, but that doesn’t have a thing to do with gasoline. Inflation adjusted, gasoline is higher than it’s ever been except maybe the Model T days before the infrastructure was really developed.
The price of Crude is 80 percent the cost of gasoline, so building more refineries isn’t going to help very much.
The government has to step in with a new energy bill:
1) Serious tax credits for purchasing cars that average more than 35 mpg. Not $600, either…it has to be significant. If there’s demand for a car like that, automakers will build it.
2) Even more stringent CAFE standards.
3) Return to the 55 mph speed limit. The extra 15 mph doesn’t save much time except on a very long trip, but it requires a lot more energy to accelerate to and cruise at 55 mph as opposed to 70.
Reducing consumption probably won’t impact the price of crude significantly. It will a little…we’re still the world’s largest consumer. But there are other things going on in the world that will still put upward pressure on prices.
Reducing consumption will obviously save individuals money, though.
by Black Francis on Jun 8, 2008 2:19 PM CDT up reply actions
I didn't think I could, either.
But since many truckers are already doing it and calming traffic as a result, it only took me a week to break the habit. I’m in sales and have to drive a whole, whole lot and I don’t give shit what the speed limit is, I’m going 55.
My car’s already pretty efficient (no quite as good as that gorgeous ‘99 Civic portrayed above, but pretty good) and I saw a big difference.
I also use this website to get the cheapest gas that’s near wherever I’m going. For example, I was at a little less than half a tank on Wednesday. I live downtown and had to go to Plano, Rowlett, and this little town called Quinlan way out East of here. On the map I saw that gas was $3.71 there, so that’s where I got my gas. It’s a local URL but it’s really a nation-wide site, so almost everyone here could probably get some use out of it.
by Black Francis on Jun 8, 2008 2:34 PM CDT up reply actions
I have found
that my most efficient MPH is actually 68. I drive a jeep, so it’s crappy nonetheless. But, that’s the absolute most efficient speed…on the highway at least.
I'd be interested to know
....just how you found that. If your car is burning less fuel per mile at 68 mph than 55, it’s more than a little counterintuitive. You should be in top gear at both speeds so I just don’t understand how that could work.
by Black Francis on Jun 8, 2008 2:54 PM CDT up reply actions
When I say efficient
I mean for the distance I drove, the time it took, and the gas I burned. Maybe efficient isn’t the correct word.
Yeah
If you’re driving a really long distance and your time is valuable, then I could see where driving faster may actually save you money. But it would have to be a long way to make any significant difference. The math is easy on that.
Here’s something I found interesting. 17.1 percent difference is pretty big.
by Black Francis on Jun 8, 2008 3:08 PM CDT up reply actions
Yeah, that is interesting
I guess to me, spending less time of the road is worth playing a little more in gas. So to me, 68 is the most efficient use of my time, money, and gas.
Click this:
http://viewer.zoho.com/docs/gcaWdad
"...my balls are really like a veiny flesh color" blueballlefty on Jun 4, 2008 7:44 PM EDT
"If you ain't got no money, ain't nobody calls you honey," Bo Diddley
Email me
I’ll give you the scoop.
"...my balls are really like a veiny flesh color" blueballlefty on Jun 4, 2008 7:44 PM EDT
"If you ain't got no money, ain't nobody calls you honey," Bo Diddley
i smell pyramid scheme
or do you want him to send money to Nigeria ?
"I'm against picketing, but I don't know how to show it." - Mitch Hedberg
It's a fuel additive.
I am a distibutor.
Here is the info: http://fuellegacy.com/clientinc/upload/resources/presentations/presentation.pdf
Nigeria? Haha, rentz.
"...my balls are really like a veiny flesh color" blueballlefty on Jun 4, 2008 7:44 PM EDT
"If you ain't got no money, ain't nobody calls you honey," Bo Diddley
You agree to let me sample it for two tanks
Then I’ll give you an e-mail address.
by Black Francis on Jun 8, 2008 8:46 PM CDT up reply actions
well isn't that SPECIAL Rodney!
You sell that too? Ok I’ll take a quart ot that and a dime bag of the other .. you know what I mean :) wink wink
The "Electrician" was born 7/16/07 11:53 PM EDT
http://www.lonestarball.com/2007/7/16/213154/893
In 1985
when I drove from FL to AZ, I remember getting gas for around $0.87/gal somewhere near Houston. Look on the bright side….
Brandon Boggs 2008 Texas Rangers ROY
Oh great .. a $100 fill up looms in the near future..
I need to get an economy car I guess…. NOT!!!!
The "Electrician" was born 7/16/07 11:53 PM EDT
http://www.lonestarball.com/2007/7/16/213154/893
I spend $3000 a month in fuel
At my company. It’s killing me.
"Would you mind walking a time or two so I could drive in some runs"? Milton Bradley
yep
senior year of high school in dallas i could get a gallon for $0.99 9/10. it would cost about $17 to fill up. now it’s $51
http://www.buchanan4pres2008.org/
NIXON: NOW MORE THAN EVER
Its been over 4.50 for a while in San Diego.
I remember paying $0.79 leaving Houston back in ‘98 or so.
Another milestone
GM is apparently thinking about ditching the Hummer brand because of the price of gas.
...and curse Sir Sidney Ponson, he was such a stupid git.
GM is closing
some SUV plants. Also, my neighbor is a used car saleman, he says he can’t give away SUVs now.
Brandon Boggs 2008 Texas Rangers ROY
It got above 4 here in Springfield, IL
a couple weeks back, then dipped a little. It was hanging on at 3.99 all last week (at the cheap places), but I’m guessing it’s back above 4.00 now. Shell, etc. has been >$4.00 for nearly a month.
$4.13
in Carrollton, but that place always charges high prices. $4 a gallon is pretty ridiculous, though.
Build more refineries people!!! Process that surplus!!
Oil Storm
Anyone remember this movie on FX?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oil_Storm
Talk about life imitating art…
"I dont care to debate with a troll." - Sharky
This is why
I haven’t driven out to a Bakersfield Blaze game yet, like I wanted to this year. Stupid oil companies.
stupid oil comapanies?
or Politicians who: throw around junk science(global warming), lead us toward a cap and trade system(which EXON wants), create policy leading to deforestation in order to plant corn but in the process set off enough CO2 emmisions(by cutting down the trees and releasing the CO2 into the atmosphere) that it would take around 50 years of ethanol use insted of gasoling to make up for the detriment being done by the clear-cutting, etc, etc, etc.
The government needs to get out of the way and let this play out. They have already passed enough ignorant resolutions to “protect” the environment that our country will be suffering from these new laws way more than any detriment from melting ice caps….
Please forgive any and all typos, mispellings, etc.
Your kindess in this matter is appreciated.
by red shoe ranger on Jun 8, 2008 3:06 PM CDT up reply actions
What would you expect them to do?
With narrow majorities and George Bush in the White House, they couldn’t do anything about it if they wanted to. I could just as easily blame the whole thing on Bush, but I’m not going say something stupid like that.
by Black Francis on Jun 8, 2008 4:46 PM CDT up reply actions
There's not a lot the government can do
High prices are a result of supply and demand.
There’s not much they can do to increase supply of oil.
And most top-down efforts to reduce demand are insufficient and generally doomed to failure.
by Adam J. Morris on Jun 8, 2008 5:12 PM CDT up reply actions
Doomed to failure
Increasing CAFE standards and implementing tax benefits for purchasing highly efficient cars would probably work, I’d imagine. Together with lowering the speed limit to 55 or 60 mph, I think we’d see some results.
by Black Francis on Jun 8, 2008 8:52 PM CDT up reply actions
Orrrrrrrr.....
instead of the government getting involved we could let the market do what it is already doing.
People are starting to change their habits because of the price of oil/gas. The market is working as it should. Price goes up, people adapt. Amazing how we didn’t need the government to tell us to stop driving gas guzzling SUVs. We didn’t need GM to be told to increase the efficiency of their vehicles. Gm/Ford/Toyota are doing that because people want them to. Whether the reason is the cost or their want to save the planet the market is working. Keep the government out of the fucking way.
If what you're saying is true
...then the government wouldn’t be in the way because they’re already doing these things. IIf you provided a significant tax credit for purchasing extremely efficient cars it would do two things:
1. Make it possible for many people who are already under financial stress to be able to purchase a more efficient new or pre-owned car..
2. This increased demand would add market pressure on all automakers to R&D more efficient technologies.
That’s just giving the market a little nudge. I thought Republicans were for tax cuts?
And the national speed limit…there’s no good reason not to change it. One thing people will not do is slow down because they don’t know how much slowing down saves them. See the link I posted while ago. It’s significant but people don’t know it. People have a tendency to drive with the flow of traffic and the only way to slow that flow is to lower speed limits. Many trucking companies have slowed down on their own and some individuals have, but not many.
I agree the market will take care of a lot of this. People do seem to be driving less and SUVs are disappearing rapidly. But more needs to happen.
by Black Francis on Jun 8, 2008 9:54 PM CDT up reply actions
You'd love South Carolina
We already get a tax break for hybrid purchases:
South Carolina currently (2007) matches 20% of the federal tax credit for hybrid vehicles. Good news for those purchasing Toyota Hybrids, this is based on the original (non-phase out) federal tax credit. Also, starting in 2008, a SC taxpayers is allowed a tax credit of $2000 for the in state purchase or lease of a plug in hybrid vehicle.Starting July 1, 2008, SC will also refund all sales tax (already capped at $300 max) for an in state purchase or lease of the following:
hybrid vehicle
electric vehicle
plug in hybrid vehicle
Flex Fuel Vehicle (FFV), which is capable of operating on E85 motor fuel
hydrogen fueled vehicle
advanced lean burn vehicle
high fuel economy vehicle with a city fuel economy rating of 30mpg or higherSC will also refund up to $500 for the purchase of equipment for conversion of a conventional hybrid electric vehicle to a plug in hybrid electric vehicle or for the in state purchase of EPA certified equipment for conversion of conventional vehicles to operate on propane, compressed natural gas, liquefied natural gas, hydrogen, or E85 (with stipulations)
The 40 trumps all!!!
by thedirkatron on Jun 8, 2008 10:53 PM CDT up reply actions
As long as
the tax credits are not for plug-ins. Using electricity to power your car does not help the environment since power plants have to then produce more electricity.
I think you’ll see more people slow down as word gets around. Many people are really hurting, and they’ll be willing to drive slower if it will help.
...and curse Sir Sidney Ponson, he was such a stupid git.
As dirty as coal plants are
...they can produce electricity cleaner and more efficiently than the way we produce and use gasoline. Plus, plug-in hybrids are typically charged at night when the grid has excess capacity.
I really don’t think enough people will slow down. It needs to be a law.
by Black Francis on Jun 9, 2008 12:35 AM CDT up reply actions
Considering a lot of this is driven
by overseas demand, I doubt CAFE standards and tax benefits would do jack.
High fuel prices are better than CAFE standards and Tax benefits for ultimately lowering prices. Exploration is way up, and demand will eventually drop.
Nothing wrong with $4 Gas to send the right signals to the market.
Sharky said it, I believe it, that settles it
That's a good point that a lot of people forget
China is seeing an explosion in the demand for gas, with the market opening up for cars in China. Plus, there’s the $2,500 Tata car in India… it won’t use a lot of gas but it will surely use more than a scooter. We can drop demand here, but demand needs to drop elsewhere as well.
um
Global Warming is not junk science, but I’m not going to argue with that right now. I will say that cap and trade did and is working for acid rain. It’s worth exploring.
I think we can all see that corn-based ethanol isn’t even a good interim solution.
But as far as the government staying completely out of it, I cannot disagree more. Your whole argument about global warming is specious anyway. Our environmental policy isn’t causing this. Eighty percent of the cost of a gallon of gasoline is crude oil, which is set on a world market. It’s a supply issue. The government can’t really do anything meaningful about that, but they can pass legislation and regulations that would decrease demand.
I imagine you’re thinking “well if they’d open up ANWR”, but it would take years for that oil to get to market and it would be a drop in the bucket in terms of world supply, so it wouldn’t affect the price of crude in any significant way. That oil would trade for whatever oil is trading for. There’s no real point in it.
by Black Francis on Jun 8, 2008 4:55 PM CDT up reply actions
so,
on one hand your saying it is a supply issue, but then tell me that increasing supply(anwr, new off shore drilling) wouldnt make a difference?
I’ve got no problem with competing technology(wind, solar, hydrogen, etc) but it should be consumer/market driven, not government mandated….
Please forgive any and all typos, mispellings, etc.
Your kindess in this matter is appreciated.
by red shoe ranger on Jun 8, 2008 9:58 PM CDT up reply actions
ANWR
How could it possibly make a difference? Crude is traded on a world market. Do you actually think there’s enough there to depress prices when Saudi Arabia, Venezuela, Mexico, Russia, et al. are still exporting??? Even though they’ve peaked they’re still producing far more than ANWR ever will.
If nothing else we may as well save that field for strategic purposes.
The only government mandate I’m talking about is higher CAFE standards which would actually be made redundant by the tax cuts and regular market forces. Well, I guess the speed limit thing is a mandate but if you think people will slow down when they don’t have to I think you’re being a bit naive. Some will. Most will not. It worked during the seventies and is the absolute quickest and most effective way to reduce demand on a large scale. I’d like for it to at least be talked about in DC. Haven’t heard a damn word about it. This is the type of thing that is common sense in my opinion and should be a bi-partisan issue. There’s nothing ideological about it. I’m not talking about setting caps on gas prices, nationalizing the industry, or anything like that.
by Black Francis on Jun 9, 2008 12:29 AM CDT up reply actions
It's about $3.75 here
The Girl has a dodge 3500 dually witha turbo diesel. I’ve wanted her to sell it for a while, since it just sits in my driveway. Really nice, leather, $6,000 in wheels, plenty of diamond plating, manual. Now I wonder if she could give it away. Thankfully we live in Wyoming, so someone wants it if I could just convince her to sell it.
JD drinks the Angels milkshake.
More reason...
To reflect on the horrible decision this nation made in 1980 to elect a B-Movie actor instead of a principled leader who was willing to tell us the unpleasant truth about energy.
I'm really really glad
I bought a Prius in August of 2006. At the time I did lots of research, trying to decide if it would really be cost effective in the longterm (vs. the other cars I was considering which were several thousand dollars cheaper). I finally decided that since I drive cars for 10 years and that gas seemed likely to stay around $3 a gallon, that I would get my money’s worth. I am enjoying my 48-50 mpg right now.
We’ll replace my wife’s car in 2011 or so and I can only imagine what the situation will be, and what kind’s of advances auto makers (non-domestic, most likely) will have made by then.
...and curse Sir Sidney Ponson, he was such a stupid git.
I'm curious...
Prius is a hybrid, right?
How long do the batteries last and what is the cost to replace them?
Brandon Boggs 2008 Texas Rangers ROY
Yes, hybrid.Warranty
is 8 years and 100,000 miles.
To me, the genius of this car is that the battery is recharged every time you step on the brakes or coast. The plug-in hybrids that some other car makers are building are inferior for this reason. Plugging in a car is bad for the environment since the utilities then have to create more electricity. We need to use less gas AND less electricity.
I have been very happy with the car. I don’t drive any differently than I did in my old car, I just enjoy the mileage.
...and curse Sir Sidney Ponson, he was such a stupid git.
Not t ball but...
about 50 mpg.
It cost $35 to fill it right now and my wife drives all over. It still lasts her about 2 weeks a tank.
"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates
Gah.
I get half that if I drive like an old lady.
I’m in the market for a new car right now, and seeing as I regularly commute from Dallas to Lubbock, MPG is pretty much my top priority.
by brettgardner on Jun 9, 2008 10:52 AM CDT up reply actions
Yeah, I get
48-52 depending on how much I have to use the heater or AC.
...and curse Sir Sidney Ponson, he was such a stupid git.
The batteries...
you don’t replace the battery all at once. You replace one cell at a time when they go out. They could start going out after 100,000 miles or so (at least that is what the dealership told me), I need to still look into that a little more.
"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates
Prius
my problem with it has always been, its freaking ugly. ( or at least i think so)
"I'm against picketing, but I don't know how to show it." - Mitch Hedberg
I could care less about that
as long as the inside is comfy. Nearly the same cubic feet area inside as the Camry.
...and curse Sir Sidney Ponson, he was such a stupid git.
Yep
I don’t like how it looks. I happily get almost 30 mpg, and don’t have to sacrifice appearance in order to do so.
While I happily
drive my ugly car and spend much less on gas. :)
Oddly enough, my wife actually likes the look of the car. There’s no accounting for the tastes of Asian women, in men or cars, apparently.
...and curse Sir Sidney Ponson, he was such a stupid git.
To each his/her own
I’m not sure I’d benefit as much from a hybrid anyways since I don’t have much stop and go commute, and I drive more aggressively than most.
prius
one problem i’ve got with it is how expensive it is (other than looks) it almost seems like you could be better off buying a cheap corolla that gets 35mpg….but i guess the extra tax deduction for driving a hybrid is a big bonus
"I'm against picketing, but I don't know how to show it." - Mitch Hedberg
Yeah, when I bought it
I got a $3150 tax CREDIT, not deduction. Very nice. I only paid $23000 for it, did some good bargaining, so after the tax credit my cost was only $19850 plus whatever taxes I paid.
...and curse Sir Sidney Ponson, he was such a stupid git.
cool
the dealers i went to shopping for cars all pretty much said no bargains on the prius or scions
"I'm against picketing, but I don't know how to show it." - Mitch Hedberg
I left the dealership and went home
they called me 10 minutes after I got there and agreed to my price. I was psyched.
...and curse Sir Sidney Ponson, he was such a stupid git.
Can't wait to pay those California prices.
I am about to drive from fort worth to anaheim and palm springs and san diego. It sounds like I am going to really enjoy pumping gas into my car. Got to love the summer vacation to visit the relatives. I am hoping to take in a dodgers game and a Padres game. If there is any money left after filling the tanks.
Watch the movie
“who killed the electric car?” Electric cars would solve every problem, but the goverments and corporations made sure it didn’t happen.
"No bear or disco for Juan" - Mr. Santos
Where do you reckon
Electricity comes from? The electricity fairy?
Sharky said it, I believe it, that settles it
The real problem with electric cars
Cars like the EV1 were great for commuting… but not much more than that. Try putting an entire family in an electric car, luggage included, and driving from LA to Denver… having to stop every 100 miles to plug in the car to recharge for eight hours. That would suck.
Think yourselves lucky
It’s 1,50€ a LITRE here in Germany.
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