Cost of gas

moses wrote:

One unintended consequence of the war on terror is that the war on terror is beginning to look like war on the dollar.

I'm a pretty conservative guy, but I must admit that is a good observation.

Lets see wrote:

Gas goes up, yearly increase per person $400 = complain

Housing prices go UP, costing $1000s/year in interest, principle and taxes = silent

Housing prices go DOWN, saving $1000s year in interest, principle and taxes = complain

Taxes go up = Democratic platform

Americans just like to complain.

Thank you! Finally, a little logic. The same entitlists (sp) that purchased their homes at the height of real estate bubble are the same ones wetting themselves over gas prices.

FWI I am buying a motorcycle wednesday, 50-60 miles/gallon!

Complaining is almost our only option in Los Angeles...

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/los_angeles_metro/la-me-roadsage12-2008may12,0,6242195.column?track=rss

wawawe wrote:

a guy I work with ordered a smart car a year ago and got it yesterday and it is extrmely awsome it gets 50 mpg anf although it only has two seats it has plenty of room for those two I would definetly get one

Until you get killed in a wreck with a moped

tin can wrote:

wawawe wrote:

a guy I work with ordered a smart car a year ago and got it yesterday and it is extrmely awsome it gets 50 mpg anf although it only has two seats it has plenty of room for those two I would definetly get one

Until you get killed in a wreck with a moped

You really don't know anything about the Smart car do you? 6 air bags and essentially a roll cage built into the exterior of the car means that you'll probably be okay getting hit by a much larger car. As far as the MPG, the real world numbers are a bit disapointing (30ish in the city).

$4/gal is still cheap. i'll be paying $8/gal in sweden this summer.

http://carscoop.blogspot.com/2007/10/euro-ncap-2008-smart-fortwo-gets-four.html

The ? is what options are out there.

My 2 cents.

http://rn4state.water4gas.hop.clickbank.net/?tid=DD2

wawawe wrote:

a guy I work with ordered a smart car a year ago and got it yesterday and it is extrmely awsome it gets 50 mpg anf although it only has two seats it has plenty of room for those two I would definetly get one

My 6 year old Civic routinely gets 41 MPG and doesn't look completely ghey. And I can haul crap in it.

Harry Kooter wrote:

It seems like a lot of people like to complain about gas prices when in reality they don't really care nearly as much as they claim to. . . . I don't see anyone going Euro style and cruising around on the vespa. . . .

I agree with your sentiment, but I'm seeing at least a few scooters around here, something that wasn't the case five years ago. I'm also seeing more motorcycles during the commute hours than ever before. It's a drop in the bucket, but at least a few people are going that route.

Stolen Bikes Ride Faster wrote:

You really don't know anything about the Smart car do you? 6 air bags and essentially a roll cage built into the exterior of the car means that you'll probably be okay getting hit by a much larger car. As far as the MPG, the real world numbers are a bit disapointing (30ish in the city).

I also read somewhere that they got absolutely terrible crash test ratings. You can only avoid the physics for so long.

The Smart Car was reviewed in the NYTimes by 2 separate testers in Sunday's edition. Mileage was not even 35 and there are serious issues with the engine and acceleration. There are plenty of other cars to get that match the mileage of the Smart Car. The reviewers were down on it.

2003 VW Jetta Wagon TDI (yes, diesel). I'm paying $4.35/gallon, but I'm getting well in excess of 40 mpg, so it works out. And now, with 65,000 miles on it and with impeccable maintenance, it drives better and gets as good mileage as it did when I bought it.

Smart Car? Designed and marketed for stupid and gullible people.

In the mileage department, the Smart also failed to live up to expectations. Even with its tiny engine, the two tankfuls of gas consumed while I had the car worked out to readings of only 30 and 34 miles a gallon. That was less than the 36 m.p.g. E.P.A. rating for combined city/highway driving, and certainly not “amazing” as Smart’s press materials proclaim.

“That’s worse than my Honda,” a man yelled indignantly at me in a Santa Monica parking lot. He expected the Smart to do better, and so did everyone else I asked. In an informal survey of friends, relatives, people who stopped me on the street and even the U.P.S. deliveryman, the consensus was that a car this size should go 50 to 60 miles on each gallon. Learning that premium fuel is recommended was an added downer.

With its limited carrying capacity, seemingly mediocre fuel economy, erratic handling and fitful acceleration, one question that potential buyers in this part of the world should be asking is, what’s the point?

From NYTimes Sunday

you didn't read that here, apparentlyhttp://www.thebostonchannel.com/automotive/16256329/detail.html

migo wrote:

Stolen Bikes Ride Faster wrote:

You really don't know anything about the Smart car do you? 6 air bags and essentially a roll cage built into the exterior of the car means that you'll probably be okay getting hit by a much larger car. As far as the MPG, the real world numbers are a bit disapointing (30ish in the city).

I also read somewhere that they got absolutely terrible crash test ratings. You can only avoid the physics for so long.

I hope prices don't get so high that NASCAR has to start cancelling races.

You haven't seen this either have you: http://www.leftlanenews.com/smart-fortwo-passes-iihs-crash-tests.htmlStill doesn't change the fact that the gas mileage sucks, but it's made more for ease of parking and navigating in cities than MPG.

sweathog wrote:

you didn't read that here, apparently

http://www.thebostonchannel.com/automotive/16256329/detail.html

migo wrote:

I also read somewhere that they got absolutely terrible crash test ratings. You can only avoid the physics for so long.

india wrote:

$4/gal soon.

$6/gal by end of year '08.

$9/gal by next May.

$12/gal by end of '09.

Take public transit, or get a fuel efficient vehicle, or move next to your job (in town?) so you don't need a car at all.

I find it funny that a person with a screen name of India would be giving anyone recommendations. India' oil demands are increasing at an incredible rate.

luv2run wrote:

India' oil demands are increasing at an incredible rate.

Don't you people get it? Increasing demand has very little to do with the increase in gas prices. The rapid increase in the last few years is all about the decreasing value of the dollar. You see as the government pumps more and more money into the system INFLATING the money supply (like they are with the latest tax kickback) the value of the dollar drops more and more because there are the same number of good for a much higher number of dollars. We call this process inflation, and it's through the roof right now.

Gas is one of the first places inflation shows it's symptoms because gas comes from oil, a large portion of which is imported. The loss of value of the dollar then comes into play because more dollars are necessary to buy a barrel of oil.

Gold is considered a good indicator of the value of the dollar. The price of gold has roughly quadrupled in the last ten years as has the price of gas.

If you price oil in Euros - it has still more tripled in price over the past 4 years. Since early '07, the price of oil in euoros is up well over 50%. What's your explanation for that?