What's up with Fuel Prices ....

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100 miles/day / 28 mpg = 3.6 gal/day * 200 work days/year = 720 gal/year

My commute is 100 km, but I'll use your numbers to compare:
summer 1995 Kawi Ninja 600E, 600cc, 51 mpg

100 miles/day / 51 mpg = 1.96 gal/day * 100 work days/year = 196 gal/year

winter 2001 Honda CRV 2L, 25 mpg

100 miles/day / 25 mpg = 4 gal/day * 100 work days/year = 400 gal/year

Total = 196 + 400 = 596 vs 720

Saving 124 gal/year:
$4/gal = $496
$5/gal = $620
$6/gal = $744

Note these are older machines, no hybrid technology of any sort. In fact my bike doesn't even have fuel injection, old style carburetor.

My real winter number is lower because I only drive SUV during bad weather and take a car otherwise.

Despite better engines, the big difference is weight of a machine: 400 pound motorcycle vs 3K car (about) vs ??? truck/SUV (don't even know their weight)

Unless you make a radical engine design change (such as hybrid) you just cannot make up for the weight difference.
 
OK. It's a strange idea, I know, but what if there was a internet site that everyone could log onto and on day XYZ and someone spins a big wheel and.......the winner is BIG DINO...and everyone in the country stops buying their gas. The other companies would pick up the market no doubt, we still drive...but ONE of the BIG BOYS gets to feel a little pain justr like the poor working slobs filling up their work trucks and so on. Then we spin again in X months if that doesn't shake up the government and the oil companies to finally build some more refineries and so on.
 
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On my 220 mile/day commute I still see lifted F350s going 95+mph at WOT very regularly... Gas isn't high enough, simple as pie.



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I swear, as gas tops $3/gallon, people drive faster and more aggresive/angry! They take their anger at high gas prices out by driving faster. I'd like to do an experiment where you could some how measure aggresive/speedy driving (the kind where your mpg tanks!) compared to gas prices. I'm willing to bet it's a bell curve, with the top at around $4.50/gallon.

I get passed like I'm standing still (when I'm actually doing 5moh over the limit) all the time by big ol SUVs and big motored cars.
 
Drew,

Seems most drivers are not aware of their consumption variation, just how divergent consumption is based on speed, wind, etc.
There were several posts on this site about Prius drivers which have a sophisticated display that shows a lot more information than the standard cars offer. For instance Prius displays all sorts of consumption and efficiency variables.

Turns out when drivers can observer these numbers their behaviour, driving style changes a lot. They actually start doing all the right things (such as anticipating traffic ahead) simply by observing the fuel consumption more or less real-time.

So if most cars had such a display and prices keep rising I think many people would switch from desperation anger to a more proactive approach by changing their driving style. As it is today you have no feedback, you don't know what is going on.

I think most aggressive driving is simply due to lack of patience and being late. Simple as that. Once people can start to measure what "aggressive" driving actually costs in terms of $, then some may change their driving style and relax.
 
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Turns out when drivers can observer these numbers their behaviour, driving style changes a lot. They actually start doing all the right things (such as anticipating traffic ahead) simply by observing the fuel consumption more or less real-time.

So if most cars had such a display and prices keep rising I think many people would switch from desperation anger to a more proactive approach by changing their driving style.

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If I can jump in, I'm tempted to think this is just wishful thinking on your part. I mean, my VW gives me instant feedback and I enjoy using it, but I don't think most people drive like I/we do. They just wanna put it in "D" and go like h.e.l.l. to their destination. I think people generally understand that flooring it uses more gas than driving gently and I think they don't care. They want to moan and groan but not actually take responsibility for their consumption. Just blame the evil oil companies.

On a side note, the Texas House has passed a bill to suspend the state gas tax ($.20 per gallon) for the summer. This is brilliant -- gas is relatively expensive and scarce so let's encourage consumption! Yee-haw!
 
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For instance Prius displays all sorts of consumption and efficiency variables *snip* Turns out when drivers can observer these numbers

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Is that why so many Prius jockeys are not paying any attention to the road and to what's going on around them?
 
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For instance Prius displays all sorts of consumption and efficiency variables *snip* Turns out when drivers can observer these numbers

Click to expand...


Is that why so many Prius jockeys are not paying any attention to the road and to what's going on around them?

Click to expand...


Compared to other drivers that talk on their cell phones, eat pizza, etc.? Compared to van drivers who are late for something all the time and drive like race car drivers? Compared to a non-hybrid SUV driver who packs 6 kids into a SUV, overturns and kills 2 kids? Do you really want to compare Prius drivers who glance at the display once in a while to other drivers?????? I think not.
 
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If I can jump in, I'm tempted to think this is just wishful thinking on your part. I mean, my VW gives me instant feedback and I enjoy using it, but I don't think most people drive like I/we do. They just wanna put it in "D" and go like h.e.l.l. to their destination. I think people generally understand that flooring it uses more gas than driving gently and I think they don't care. They want to moan and groan but not actually take responsibility for their consumption. Just blame the evil oil companies.


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To be honest I didn't think of it. There was a post some time ago from a mechanic that maintains bunch of cars. Either leased or rented or ... don't remember.

His non-scientific observation was that Prius by far was in the garage the LEAST OFTEN for repairs. He seemed to think (or perhaps he talked to some of the Prius drivers) that they drive more gently (due to display ...) hence putting much less wear and tear of Prius cars, hence didn't need repairs.

Now to be fair, there is certainly a bias at work as well. People who are inclined to be more gentle will go for Prius as it suits them well. Similarly people who are not gentle and drive hard will seek bigger engines and won't touch a Prius. So it is not the car alone. There are other factors.

Again he has several posts and I seem to remember him talking about display and how people would notice consumption, then alter their driving style.
 
I'm amazed frankly, at how idiotic people drive, doesn't seem to matter what time of day, or what day of the week. You can be a thousand feet away from a blaring red light, and they'll still swoop in front of you and slam on the brakes, then give you that crusty look when you've almost hit them for cutting YOU off.

Used to think people - car/suv & truck drivers (not limited to any certain vehicle design) - drove like idiots around me simply because I drove an SUV, and figured it's medium size (not huge Expedition like, but not RAV4 size either) had something to do with irritating car drivers, but that's not the case.

I've been driving a little '85 BMW 325e 2-door car that still has very good mechanical capabilities and can more then easily keep up with traffic, they're still passing me, riding my bumper, and cutting me off like crazy - even when I'm doing 5-10mph over the limit!

It's no wonder more and more people are killed in accidents yearly, IMHO, doing 80+mph on any highway or in the CITY for that matter, is stupid - irregardless if it's a sports car, minivan, or a big ford diesel. Not too mention how much money is lost in gas yearly due to irresponsible driving styles.

For the record, jeep cherokee drivers are REALLY irritating the #@$%! out of me!!
 
Well, I have started driving my Audi more. I still have my SUV and will keep it but I save a little money but love the fun drive with the top down. As far as prices go, they are getting up there but I look at gas like I look at food. I need it so I am going to buy it. The price really has not bothered me yet so I will keep chugging along.
cheers.gif
 
Around here, it's dropping again, now $2.81 at the least expensive place I go...but still high volume (Flying J). It's $2.83 across the street at Pilot. Most places that were at $3.19 last week have come down to the $2.95 to $2.99 range.
 
Pumped FreakMart gas yesterday with a $50 pre-paid card I bought 5 minutes earlier. Instant 3 cent/gal savings ($3.229>$3.199). Total spent: $49.30. I can live with them making interest on my 70 cent balance.
 
Not to get off topic, but to respond to the previous comments regarding speeding, I have a few theories as to why speeding and accidents are on the rise.

First, it's being glorified in the movies and video games, like Need for Speed, Tokyo Drift, etc. Heck, even all the Cops and Wild Police Video shows make it look like "fun" to some, or maybe some folks think they can get their 15 minutes that way if no other. No, I'm not "blaming" those for bad behavior...just stating a fact that's it's more glamorous now to a younger generation. As if it weren't already that way enough.

Second, people feel that today's cars are safer and roads are better, so they feel they can take more risks.

Third, people are just more aggressive and in a bigger hurry nowadays. They feel they have to get to wherever they're going faster than necessary, and G-o-d help anyone who gets in their way. We're so busy nowadays that many check their brain at the car door when they get in and drive.

Fourth, people generally have less respect for others and for authority than they used to. I won't even get into all of the "why"s, but there is a severe shortage of discipline, respect, consideration, and just plain old manners being taught in too many homes today.

My
twocents.gif
anyway.
 
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For instance Prius displays all sorts of consumption and efficiency variables *snip* Turns out when drivers can observer these numbers

Click to expand...


Is that why so many Prius jockeys are not paying any attention to the road and to what's going on around them?

Click to expand...


Compared to other drivers that talk on their cell phones, eat pizza, etc.? Compared to van drivers who are late for something all the time and drive like race car drivers? Compared to a non-hybrid SUV driver who packs 6 kids into a SUV, overturns and kills 2 kids? Do you really want to compare Prius drivers who glance at the display once in a while to other drivers?????? I think not.

Click to expand...


The Prius drivers may have all those other bad habits, too! Today one of them bumped the car behind me when parking in. The Prius driver was on the phone at the time. If he'd hit my car, he'd have to get that phone surgically removed.
 
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His non-scientific observation was that Prius by far was in the garage the LEAST OFTEN for repairs. He seemed to think (or perhaps he talked to some of the Prius drivers) that they drive more gently (due to display ...) hence putting much less wear and tear of Prius cars, hence didn't need repairs.

Now to be fair, there is certainly a bias at work as well. People who are inclined to be more gentle will go for Prius as it suits them well. Similarly people who are not gentle and drive hard will seek bigger engines and won't touch a Prius. So it is not the car alone. There are other factors.


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Yup, I think the Prius group is generally self-selected to be gentle on their cars. It's kinda the same thing with Volvo and their safety record -- I mean, great cars but you also have to look at who's driving them. Very generally speaking, not a bunch of speed demons.

Of course that could change with their new V8...
 
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