Gas prices?

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JHEM · #31 Post by **JHEM** » Mon Apr 24, 2006 12:07 pm

jdhurst wrote:This is off-topic, and I have been around for a while, so ....

We appear to be from approximately the same model year John!

I well remember passing gas during the same time period for similar prices in the NYC suburbs.

I also remember folks pulling in and asking for as little as $.25 of gas, and getting it.

One fellow pulled in once and asked to pay for a gas purchase with some empty Coke bottles he had in the car. He had 6 of them, each worth $.05 in deposit refund, so I gave him $.25 worth of gas and charged him a $.05 "handling fee".

The fun portion of the job was trying to figure out where Detroit had hidden the gas cap on recent vintage cars in the 50's and 60's. Everything from rotating portions of the chrome trim, to flip up tail lights, to fold over parts of the "fins". It was as if each of the Big Three were involved in a competition to find the most obscure and difficult to find place to put the filler pipe!

Regards,

James the Ancient

JHEM · #32 Post by **JHEM** » Mon Apr 24, 2006 12:09 pm

daeojkim wrote:In America and we strongly believe that gasoline should be cheaper than water.

Until recently it was cheaper than a gallon of milk.

And it's still cheaper than a gallon of Coke or Pepsi, even at $4 a gallon!

Regards,

James

JHEM · #33 Post by **JHEM** » Mon Apr 24, 2006 12:11 pm

bhtooefr wrote:I drive a dying Jetta diesel. (well, when it runs... )

WTH you been Eric? Disappear for a month without a word!

The ad was GREAT!

Regards,

James

JHEM · #34 Post by **JHEM** » Mon Apr 24, 2006 12:27 pm

smugiri wrote:Commuting in a Gulfstream 550 maybe?

Gulfstream? How gauche!

smugiri wrote:Pictures please, this is one ride I want to see.

Newest ride is a Pilatus PC-12.

I'll send you some photos if you're really interested Steve.

Regards,

James

bhtooefr · #35 Post by **bhtooefr** » Mon Apr 24, 2006 1:03 pm

Eh, hanging out on other forums, lately...

smugiri · #36 Post by **smugiri** » Mon Apr 24, 2006 3:02 pm

JHEM wrote:
smugiri wrote:Commuting in a Gulfstream 550 maybe?
Gulfstream? How gauche!
smugiri wrote:Pictures please, this is one ride I want to see.
Newest ride is a Pilatus PC-12.

I'll send you some photos if you're really interested Steve.

Regards,

James

Photos would be really nice: pm me some links if you would please.

I am not yet in the market for a plane, if and when I am, I would want to be ready and well informed.

Rob Mayercik · #37 Post by **Rob Mayercik** » Mon Apr 24, 2006 3:50 pm

bhtooefr wrote:I drive a dying Jetta diesel. (well, when it runs... )

I had a feeling that was you - greetings from a fellow TDIClubber!

Rob

bhtooefr · #38 Post by **bhtooefr** » Mon Apr 24, 2006 6:05 pm

C'mon, how many bhtooefr's are there in the world?

What's your username on the TDIClub forums?

DIGITALgimpus · #39 Post by **DIGITALgimpus** » Mon Apr 24, 2006 7:03 pm

Indeed Gas is still very cheap in the US compared to other countries.

What's sad is that despite prices going up, SUV's still grow in popularity.

Part of the problem according to most experts is supply. Limited refineries in the US (nobody wants them in their neighborhood), limited cheap oil production (when they can't get any more they supplement with more expensive oil sources), and shipping issues (US port security).

IMHO 30 years ago Congress should have mandated the US develop an alternative energy source and moved towards it as a standard. But of course our government is full of men who made their money in the oil business, all the way up to our president.... so I doubt it will ever change, at least in our lifetime.

Meanwhile, other countries have been working for years already on getting rid of foreign dependency for energy.

What I find ironic is that we could go to the moon in about a decade, but energy research has pretty much stalled for 30 years. IMHO that's sad.

Our power grid isn't much better. Many plants are oil powered, or coal powered (not as limited, and almost 100% domestic, but still not very great, not to mention a major source of air polution). Solar, Wind, Hydro, and Nuclear plants are rare (and some even shutting down with no clean replacements).

Yea, our energy policy is in very bad shape. Enron was just the tip of the iceburg.

Hopefully some researcher out there is on the verge of a breakthrough... and will release the technology rather than patent the living heck out of it and demand royalties that make it impossible to use.

Sad. We're a generation behind where we should be.

#40 Post by **BillMorrow** » Mon Apr 24, 2006 7:18 pm

i drive a mercedes SL600.. thats a V12 and it will pass anything.. execep[t a gas station..
the little gauge on the dash tells me i get about 22mpg on the highway at 80mph..
50 mph with a tailwind and i get near 28mpg..
it matters little to me as i gas up every two to three weeks..

my aston martin lagonda is a classic and passes when i want to risk a classic car, but at 10 to 15 mpg, never a gas station..

i have owned the car for near 2 years (4 hurricanes!) and put about 300 miles on it..

when i lived in san francisco i had a honda 50 motorbike i took downtown from portola drive and miraloma drive..
1 gal. a week..
at 29 cents a gal..
rarely took the public transit (which in SF is excellent) because i was too independent.. and impatient..

now, i would, but here in florida there is no such thing..

i also should mention the VW Rabbit pickup truck with a tiny diesel engine..
not enough power to run the AC and pass.. i had to shut the AC off to pass even a bicycle.. but it got me where i was going..

i noticed the last time gas hit $3.50 a gallon that traffic was WAY lighter.. fewer soccer moms with entitled kids watching a movie in the back of the lincoln navigator..

america will learn, i hope, that a 6000 lb. (3000 kg) bus is not needed for transporting groceries..
and the kids can walk or ride a bike..
like i did before i was old enough to buy my own car..

when i traveled in the UK and france and italy 15 years ago i made sure NOT to look at the cost of fuel..
it would have spoiled the trip..

now i am planning on moving to the rural areas of georgia and grow hay and cattle..
where some vestige of america still exists and you not only know your neghibor but you have them over for dinner and help when he needs help..

take a look at www.dieoff.com

i have been complaining that we are driving ourselves into big trouble and now it seems to be the time to pay..

you might ask why i have two such costly to operate cars..!?!
i gave up trying to give warning and decided to enjoy what is a fast disappearing way of life..
sort of the last hurrah..
a beautiful F A S T car and an open road..

those of you who live in atlanta or nearby can come and visit me when i finally settle in morgan or putnam or greene or hancock county.. or close by..

#41 Post by **AlphaKilo470** » Mon Apr 24, 2006 7:28 pm

I'll keep that last part about visiting in mind...

As for cars, I find that the minivan I have the, ahem, privellage (said sarcastically) of driving has it's gas mileage good enough that I can get across two counties then do a ton more driving around with the fuel light on and still be able to get home in time to let another family member be stuck with having to tank up.

As for passing cars, I found out yesterday that when this minivan with me driving, when put up against two old ladies in an Altima, will win the drag race.

ThinkPad · #42 Post by **ThinkPad** » Tue Apr 25, 2006 12:50 am

tfflivemb2 wrote:$2.99 in cheeseland. By the way, Thinkpad, I have used the exact same gas station that is listed on your receipt.

Nice, I live right around the corner. Prices here is not as bad compared to the downtown prices. I just passed the gas station on Ontario street and price was up to $3.35. Up north it is around $3.19.

ThinkPad · #43 Post by **ThinkPad** » Tue Apr 25, 2006 12:51 am

draco2527 wrote:Thinkpad! Why Gold?

The M3 recommends only Premium

ThinkPad · #44 Post by **ThinkPad** » Tue Apr 25, 2006 12:52 am

AIX wrote:I don't think you can fuel your BMW (let's say) with 87 octane gas.

Most BMW's, including mine, require Premium.

ThinkPad · #45 Post by **ThinkPad** » Tue Apr 25, 2006 12:57 am

BillMorrow wrote:i drive a mercedes SL600.. thats a V12

Post pics! That is a sweet machine

BillMorrow wrote:when i lived in san francisco i had a honda 50 motorbike i took downtown from portola drive and miraloma drive..
1 gal. a week..
at 29 cents a gal

Bikes are always and still is the cost effective way for transport. I ride my Yamaha most of the year till it starts snowing and the bills show the savings.

AssPenny · #46 Post by **AssPenny** » Tue Apr 25, 2006 12:58 am

Sorry, quit looking for my posts.

techflavor · #47 Post by **techflavor** » Tue Apr 25, 2006 11:36 am

I drive a Mazda RX-8 and I get about 16 miles per gallon

My car also recommends that it only run on premium but I have been putting plus in lately. Gas in my part of Louisiana has been around 2.90 (give or take a little).

#48 Post by **archer6** » Tue Apr 25, 2006 12:17 pm

Thinkpad wrote:
AIX wrote:I don't think you can fuel your BMW (let's say) with 87 octane gas.
Most BMW's, including mine, require Premium.

Expensive combination:

My car (2005 M3) my lead foot (what fuel economy) my speeding (having been pulled over, Hello Officer Bob !) my tickets (don't ask) my insurance (obscene). All just for the fun of it!

bhtooefr · #49 Post by **bhtooefr** » Tue Apr 25, 2006 12:30 pm

Buy an old Volkswagen 1.6L naturally aspirated diesel.

Approximately 85 MPH top speed.

Zero to 60 in a week.

50 miles to the gallon.

#50 Post by **archer6** » Tue Apr 25, 2006 12:47 pm

bhtooefr wrote:Buy an old Volkswagen 1.6L naturally aspirated diesel.

Approximately 85 MPH top speed.

Zero to 60 in a week.

50 miles to the gallon.

Thanks for the great suggestion!

Hmmm... park it anywhere without fear of dings, James Bond like smoke screen out the back, save money on car wash and detailing, tire prices...no problem, tune ups...what spark plugs? Gripping

#51 Post by **BillMorrow** » Tue Apr 25, 2006 1:04 pm

yes..
i really loved that VW diesel pickup..
those were the days when i was bulletproof and immortal..

20+ years later i have a new view, especially after a guy hit my wife head on on I95 (aug-04) and if it were not for the toyota avalon i insisted that she drive she would have worse than a broken neck..

so until VW brings that tiny tinny car back with airbags i'll stick to the mercedes with active suspension and airbags all over (besides the airbag in the driver seat)..

and yes, i'll post a pic of both cars in the appropriate forum..
later when i can find them..

bhtooefr · #52 Post by **bhtooefr** » Tue Apr 25, 2006 1:15 pm

Well, if you don't care about the tinny, don't mind not having the smokescreen ability, and don't mind a lot more speed, but want the airbags all over and a five-star crash test rating, there always is this...

http://www.42mpg.com

And, 50 MPG is within reach, 42 is just the EPA rating - once you break a diesel in (takes 20,000 miles), it's easy to beat the EPA.

muffd · #53 Post by **muffd** » Wed Apr 26, 2006 4:30 pm

Gas sucks here in San Diego! Just the other day, I filled up my 05 Chevy Avalanche. This cost $85.00. I then took my wife's 06 Honda Pilot. This one cost about $60.00 to fill up. I am seriously going to look around for like a used Honda Civic or something that will get at least 30 mpg for me to drive to work.

FYI, when I started driving back in 1991, I thought it was expensive to put 92 octane into my car 1988 BMW 325es at $1.05 a gallon.

Website · #54 Post by **tfflivemb2** » Wed Apr 26, 2006 4:44 pm

muffd wrote:FYI, when I started driving back in 1991, I thought it was expensive to put 92 octane into my car 1998 BMW 325es at $1.05 a gallon.

WOW, back in 1991 you could put gas in a 1998 BMW???? And you were complaining about the price of gas??

(ducking and running)

#55 Post by **AlphaKilo470** » Wed Apr 26, 2006 5:31 pm

Under the same light as the comment by tfflivemb2, Can I borrow the time machine when you're through with it?

dsigma6 · #56 Post by **dsigma6** » Thu Apr 27, 2006 8:03 am

its funny to see Waukegan again- I had never heard it before, but ended up on a random trip to chicago where I stayed on Waukegan rd. never thought id hear that silly word again!!

gas in philadelphia is hovering around $3.00, i guess like most of the country. highest paid was during katrina @ $3.46/gal.

I remember paying $1.05 for premium about 3 or 4 years ago during a two month period. boy the old caddy liked that!

muffd · #57 Post by **muffd** » Thu Apr 27, 2006 10:53 am

tfflivemb2 wrote:
muffd wrote:FYI, when I started driving back in 1991, I thought it was expensive to put 92 octane into my car 1998 BMW 325es at $1.05 a gallon.
WOW, back in 1991 you could put gas in a 1998 BMW???? And you were complaining about the price of gas??

(ducking and running)

Lol! You got me. I corrected the post.

f1reverb · #58 Post by **f1reverb** » Thu Apr 27, 2006 5:52 pm

9/11 caused a collapse in oil prices. Not many seem to remember how cheap it was only four years ago. It took months to get back to one dollar a gallon.

Now as far as BMWs go on octane, my 1983 533i runs fine on 87 octane, but my 1974 BMW 2002 needs premium and in perfect tune only gets 20mpg on the hwy and about 15 around town. They didn't even have a 5-speed as an option then. Here's my original condition original paint car. I shot this in October 2004 . . .

http://www.jaypix.com/pix4/t13.jpg

MOD EDIT: No Pics please, links only.

morgie · #59 Post by **morgie** » Thu Apr 27, 2006 5:53 pm

Average 96.13p a litre in the UK, that's about $1.73 (USD). BBC News article.

leoblob · #60 Post by **leoblob** » Fri Apr 28, 2006 12:12 pm

dsigma6 wrote:its funny to see Waukegan again- I had never heard it before, but ended up on a random trip to chicago where I stayed on Waukegan rd. never thought id hear that silly word again!!

It's from a Native American Indian word... just like Illinois and Chicago are.

Gas prices?

In January 2002, 87 octane was 79.9 a gal in Los Angeles . .

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