Gas prices soon to be $3.00 / gallon

[Vic]

Originally posted by: Eli
The econoboxes of today are probably more safe than the boat cars of yesteryear. Has anybody actually done any studies? I'm not talking about new models of the old cars, either.

Studies are not needed. A big heavy I-beamed framed solid steel car 4 wheel drum brakes and no seatbelts against one of today's lightweight unibody cars with 4 wheel discs and airbags? No contest.

American vehicle safety engineering before the 70s was based off the concept that a super strong steel box was all that was needed to keep the passengers safe. And the consumers not only bought this, they believed that the much safer Japanese imports were unsafe because of the different (but now standard) design of crumble zones and cushioning the passengers.
Did you ever do the "egg drop" thing in high school? You know the one where you drop an egg from 10 feet in some type of box and try to keep the egg from breaking? Think of it this way, with the car as the box and the egg as a person. The American belief was that if you put the egg unprotected inside a strong steel box, the egg would survive. Of course, we all know today that after the box hits the ground the egg will hit the inside of the box and shatter, but that is how old American cars were built, and part of how the Japanese manufacturers broke into the US market.

You're right on one thing. It was entirely Detroit's fault. I saw this great interview with Lee Ioccoca a few years back where he even admitted it.

And yeah, hybrids will be better and cheaper someday. But that someday is not today. As for their effect of the environment, the batteries in a hybrid are an environmental disaster in the making.

 

[dmcowen674]

The OP needs to change Title to $4.00 /gallon

Largest refinery in U.S. blew up today in Texas and after hours trading of Oil & Gas is going through the roof.

 

[Eli]

Originally posted by: Vic

Originally posted by: Eli
The econoboxes of today are probably more safe than the boat cars of yesteryear. Has anybody actually done any studies? I'm not talking about new models of the old cars, either.

Studies are not needed. A big heavy I-beamed framed solid steel car 4 wheel drum brakes and no seatbelts against one of today's lightweight unibody cars with 4 wheel discs and airbags? No contest.

American vehicle safety engineering before the 70s was based off the concept that a super strong steel box was all that was needed to keep the passengers safe. And the consumers not only bought this, they believed that the much safer Japanese imports were unsafe because of the different (but now standard) design of crumble zones and cushioning the passengers.
Did you ever do the "egg drop" thing in high school? You know the one where you drop an egg from 10 feet in some type of box and try to keep the egg from breaking? Think of it this way, with the car as the box and the egg as a person. The American belief was that if you put the egg unprotected inside a strong steel box, the egg would survive. Of course, we all know today that after the box hits the ground the egg will hit the inside of the box and shatter, but that is how old American cars were built, and part of how the Japanese manufacturers broke into the US market.

You're right on one thing. It was entirely Detroit's fault. I saw this great interview with Lee Ioccoca a few years back where he even admitted it.

And yeah, hybrids will be better and cheaper someday. But that someday is not today. As for their effect of the environment, the batteries in a hybrid are an environmental disaster in the making.

Yeah, I've thought about the battery issue, but.... it could be dealt with.

Engine oil could've been an environmental disaster in the making.. it was in some ways, since we have people that still don't care. Anyway, they can be recycled, and I'm sure every autoparts store or whatnot would be accepting them if their usage increases..

I'm shocked we don't have recycling programs for regular (AA, etc) batteries. They're nasty, too.. less now, but still.

I do believe that we already recycle used automotive batteries anyway. Aren't the batteries they're using in hybrids basically the same? Probably sealed instead of vented, but... lead acid nonetheless.

 

[Ornery]

The cars of today may be smaller and built differently, but I'd be willing to bet money that they are in-fact safer than cars of the 50s, 60s, 70s and probably the 80s too.

With all other factors the same, the larger vehicle is ALWAYS safer. Compare a '64 Falcon to a '64 Cadillac. Compare a '74 Pinto to a '74 Imperial. Compare an '84 Duster to an '84 Lincoln.

When American consumers were flocking to econoboxes in '74, they were NOT being ecologically motivated. They were strictly worried about the few dollars saved for fuel. Those econoboxes were NOT safer than the larger cars of that period.



You are forgetting one major piece of the puzzle: average miles driven daily.

Those same American consumers were NOT driving any farther than they did before the embargo. Believe me, I NEVER forget about that issue, because I HATE commuting. That's a major factor in where I live and work. Actually that's a major consideration in real estate and has been forever... LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION!

So much for being ecologically minded. :roll: They buy econoboxes so they can save money on their insane commutes, which are the result of wanting a big house without paying the premium of homes in good LOCATIONS! They don't give a damn about the environment, just having a nice big house on a modest budget.


It was entirely Detroit's fault.

It was entirely the American consumer's fault! Fickle consumers changed their automobile preference overnight. Japan & Europe had been building econoboxes all along. Detroit was slow to react, but I wouldn't have been in a big hurry to retool the whole operation overnight either! Who would have dreamed that people who were raised in living rooms on wheels, would take so quickly to the cramped quarters of a friggin Honda? 😕

 

[Vic]

Originally posted by: dmcowen674
The OP needs to change Title to $4.00 /gallon

Largest refinery in U.S. blew up today in Texas and after hours trading of Oil & Gas is going through the roof.

Ugh... Chicken Little, can we wait until gas finally reaches $3/gal before you started screaming that it's going to hit $4/gal.?


Eli, hybrids use sealed nickel-metal hydride batteries. Toyota specifies that the batteries in the Prius will require replacement every 10 years.

 

[Munky]

Seeing how the sales of the Maibatsu Monstrosity are going through the roof, I don't think many people care about the gas prices. At least not yet.

 

[conjur]

New record high here today:

$2.25/gal for 87 octane

 

[silverpig]

Originally posted by: Pepsi90919

Originally posted by: Colt45
I bought gas yesterday. 91.9/L which is uh $2,95 or so USD

and we have oil. i.e. it comes out fo the ground here. wtf.

jesus christ

still at 83.9 here

95.9 here in Vancouver. It was kind of nice, the g/f and I spent the weekend in Oregon on a road/camping trip. $20 USD pretty much took her tank from below 1/4 to right full. The exchange rate is pretty good right now so that's a damn good price. Here it'd cost $40 CDN for the same amount of gas.

 

[OS]

Originally posted by: conjur
New record high here today:

$2.25/gal for 87 octane

Heh, it's not going to come down in any meaningful amount for near future.

Supposedly OPEC is pumping at near max capacity now and it's not even summer yet.

 

[ragazzo]

Originally posted by: OS

Originally posted by: conjur
New record high here today:

$2.25/gal for 87 octane

Heh, it's not going to come down in any meaningful amount for near future.

Supposedly OPEC is pumping at near max capacity now and it's not even summer yet.

Scary...

 

[DaWhim]

I just paid $2.24 for 87 octane.

it would be better if the gas price is $4/gallon. I have my joy thinking the SUV drivers paying much more than I do. 😀

 

[chowmein]

those damn hybrids look pretty good now

 

[FlyLice]

Isn't Gas Price in Europe, Asia the same as in the US except per liter?

 

[Fausto]

Originally posted by: DaWhim
I just paid $2.24 for 87 octane.

it would be better if the gas price is $4/gallon. I have my joy thinking the SUV drivers paying much more than I do. 😀

I must say the whining is highly amusing. 😀

 

[FlyLice]

I say we invade OPEC countries and ravage their oil supplies.

 

[Danzilla]

exciting! can't wait to break $50 / fill up! 😛

 

[Vampirrella]

paid $2,31 a gallon yesterday in portland oregon, not really concerned tho.. i need my car(s) for everything i do, so even if it goes up to $3 a gal, too bad!

 

[Fausto]

Originally posted by: chowmein
those damn hybrids look pretty good now

Bah.

Get a bicycle.

Use it for short trips/commuting.

Develop massive quads.

Women swoon.

You save gas

?????

Profit.

 

[dmcowen674]

Originally posted by: Vic

Originally posted by: dmcowen674
The OP needs to change Title to $4.00 /gallon

Largest refinery in U.S. blew up today in Texas and after hours trading of Oil & Gas is going through the roof.

Ugh... Chicken Little, can we wait until gas finally reaches $3/gal before you started screaming that it's going to hit $4/gal.?


Eli, hybrids use sealed nickel-metal hydride batteries. Toyota specifies that the batteries in the Prius will require replacement every 10 years.

Originally posted by: conjur
New record high here today:

$2.25/gal for 87 octane

😎 :thumbsup:

Some stations in California near Oakland at $2.79 :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: FlyLice
Isn't Gas Price in Europe, Asia the same as in the US except per liter?

oil is a commodity that is very easily shipped, once refined, so, yes.


the problem really isn't supply, it is that china is sucking down huge amounts of oil.

 

[EMPshockwave82]

Right says the only thing that will drive fuel costs down is a reduction in demand and an increase in supply. He's not sure motorists will see any relief because crude oil could go up or down $3.00 a day, depending on events that occur far from our neighborhood gas pumps.

that was from your link.... the $3 a day he's referring to was the price of CRUDE oil.... not price of gas per gallon.. that was the only reference to $3 i saw

 

[Bullhonkie]

Originally posted by: dmcowen674

😎 :thumbsup:

Some stations in California near Oakland at $2.79 :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

Few weeks ago I was up in San Francisco. There was a Chevron on 19th Ave that had 87/89/91 octane for $2.69/$2.79/$2.89 respectively. :Q

 

[conjur]

Originally posted by: FlyLice
I say we invade OPEC countries and ravage their oil supplies.

Even if we had all of the crude oil, it wouldn't help much. It's our limited refining capacity in conjunction w/the high crude prices.

 

[dartworth]

Originally posted by: conjur

Originally posted by: FlyLice
I say we invade OPEC countries and ravage their oil supplies.

Even if we had all of the crude oil, it wouldn't help much. It's our limited refining capacity in conjunction w/the high crude prices.

Yes, we need to build more crackers

 

[funboy6942]

My family is ultra poor on the fringe of being homeless. I am disabled and my wife who is unskilled has had to find a job. Being she is unskilled she makes $6.70 an hour. We are also on welfair that ONLY gives us food stamps and NO money whatsoever because they claim we make too much money to get that assistance.

Because of this we have to use my wifes paycheck to pay for the utilities, rent, and gas for her car. We are left with, if were lucky, $40 to last us 2 weeks till her next check for gas. All of the rest is gone. That means we have no money left to get my kids clothes, shoes, toys, really anything they do need. If fuel prices go up further we will not even be able to get my wife back and forth to work. Taxi is out, going to work with someone is out, going anywhere is out, and if she cannot go to work job is out and then we will be homeless.

Rich, middle class, and kids that get things handed to them do not see what kind of an impact this has on the poor. If the prices go up OR if my car even breaks down we are screwed completly. And before you flame I am disabled to the point I cannot work and because my wife works I need to stay home and watch the kids so for me to work again is out of the question. For my wife to get a better education is out because after work she comes home and has to do the house chores that I or my oldest cannot do which she has to do for the rest of the night so there goes school. I am trying my best to do what I can but were at our ropes end so not much more I can do then cross my fingers we get a break.

This little bit of a gas hike is a huge deal for us. I just though for some that done see the real world I would give you a glimps in ours and see what kind of effect this can have on someone.

And for the gramar natzi's yes my gramar/english/spelling sucks no need to prove it 😛