Generally, the only product sold at a minimart that the oil company sells you is the gasoline. Those stores and the products inside are usually owned by another entity or individual.
Mike
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gas prices
- Thread starter plexibass
- Start date
Mike
I'm afraid we're going to see exactly that. HUGE changes driven by economics.
In 10 years we're going to be wishing for European prices.
Wanna buy a moped
100 MPG
50 MPH
20$ sticker
no insurance
no yearly fee
no bull **** like cars have.
100 MPG
50 MPH
20$ sticker
no insurance
no yearly fee
no bull **** like cars have.
If European prices keep going the way they're going, you won't be wanting that... if we're talking an Imperial gallon (4.55 litres), petrol is already over $11 a gallon in the UK and climbing.
- Mar 30, 2007
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There was a piece on the local evening news here last night (Dallas area), that was talking about some of the school districts are running out of money to pay for school bus gas...and may not be able to provide busing...so guess what that means...we will all see a big spike in our property (school) taxes real soon...
i can roll with the punches.
...and in 10 years I might own the company I currently work for. I'm sorry that I might be the exception for The End of Days, but none of this really worries me that much. This week I got paid $160 per day just for my mileage to the work site. I paid $32 a day for the gas. The difference far outweighs the increase in gas prices on the days I don't get paid mileage. I'll take my commute. In the highly unlikely event that gas costs SO much that my clients decide to cancel their projects in lieu of paying the industry standard mileage rates (doubtful, as they would lose millions), I have a handful of backup plans that were drafted for other reasons (like a hurricane).
Necessity will force change and new products will come to the market. I'll buy one of those and continue about my way. Hybrids are far from perfect and arrived slowly, but they are here. In 10 years, who knows what will be available?
You may want to continue fretting over this. Me? I've got things to get done.
Mike
If European prices keep going the way they're going, you won't be wanting that... if we're talking an Imperial gallon (4.55 litres), petrol is already over $11 a gallon in the UK and climbing.
I meant European prices of today - European prices are going to skyrocket along with everywhere else.
no protection from elements (Hondas or weather, you choose!)
unlawful to ride on freeway (necessity in many parts of Texas)
great for short commutes, but try doing your monthly food shopping on a moped!
do you really want your friends or that hot chick you want to date seeing you driving a moped?
A lot of drawbacks, but a lot of positives.
I don't even think the worst crunch will come with respect to fuel - remember, less than half the oil we use goes to fuel uses. The biggest impacts are going to be in things like fertilizers, plastics, chemicals, etc.
or a little Ninja:
105 MPH (indicated)
55-70 MPG
20 a month for FULL coverage insurance
you can get from 0 to 80 MPH way quicker than the majority of production cars out there
you can put cases or bags on it
this is what i do.. no it's not a Connie 14, FJR, Goldwing or Sprint ST, but it's mine and VERY cheap. valve adjustments are sooooooo easy on it, too.
Tires. Tires are made from petroleum. And you're right- plastics, and foam insulation, and...the list is longer than my brain is tall...
Basically, petroleum is the oil that makes our economy go around.
Did that sound like a certain Texas oilman who currently resides in a big white house?
Basically, petroleum is the oil that makes our economy go around.
Did that sound like a certain Texas oilman who currently resides in a big white house?
Are you talking about the 600, or the little 250? I rode one of those 250's for a while in Austin...great fun on the ride out to Lake Travis! It belonged to a friend, and a big group of us al went out for some riding. Great little beastie!or a little Ninja:
105 MPH (indicated)
55-70 MPG
20 a month for FULL coverage insurance
you can get from 0 to 80 MPH way quicker than the majority of production cars out there
you can put cases or bags on it
this is what i do.. no it's not a Connie 14, FJR, Goldwing or Sprint ST, but it's mine and VERY cheap. valve adjustments are sooooooo easy on it, too.
And many of them are also diesel. This is why Europe has a chronic smog problem, due to particulates released from diesel combustion which DOES trap in heat and leads to local changes in climate (higher temps, etc.).
Although a gas powered car gets less fuel economy than a common rail diesel car, it spews less crap into the air than a diesel engine does.
The cars that get better mileage that are gas powered are in many cases unusable here in the States because they are too small (couldn't even take them to grocery store with 2 children), unsafe, wouldn't last 2 seconds on a dirt road, etc.
Other than that, you are left with the larger BMWs, Mercedes, etc. which many people drive here, but they are also expensive here.
I currently live 4 blocks from work. Its fantastic. I spend $40 a month on gas (10 gallons a month=50 miles a week). but I ride my bike wherever I can. I hope to get a house close to my next job also, but it might be hard to do.
Just... wow. Talk about misinformed.
Your analysis of diesel cars would have been accurate 10 years ago, but it doesn't hold up nowadays. Modern diesel engines are just as clean as an equivalent petrol engines (modern diesels have had very effective particulate filters on them for quite a few years now), far torquier, return 30%-40% better fuel economy than an equivalent petrol engine and often have much longer service intervals. They're just as quiet these days too. They just haven't taken off in the US because of the lack of availability, until recently, of low sulphur diesel, and the different criteria used for emissions here, not to mention a perception of diesel as the preserve of trucks and tractors (a perception you obviously share).
As for European cars being unusable in the States... absolute rubbish. Firstly, your point about safety... the Euro/NCAP safety tests are more stringent than the NHTSA tests in terms of vehicular impacts, plus they also test for pedestrian impacts, which the NHTSA tests kinda skirt over. I'd go as far as to say that most Europe-produced cars are actually safer than their US equivalents. Plus, you'll find safety equipment such as ABS, EBD, traction control, curtain airbags, etc installed as standard equipment in almost all European cars, where they're often only sold as options on US cars. And, as for the size thing, not everyone drives sub-compacts! There are quite a few around, but I'd say the typical size car you'll see in Europe will be something along the lines of a Mazda3 or Cobalt, with larger families driving smaller MPV-style vehicles - the nearest equivalent sold in the US would be the Mazda5. These all have plenty of room for 5 people (and, in some cases, 7 people) and all their stuff. You don't see big SUVs or trucks there, mostly because they're a) too thirsty, and b) they just don't fit on the roads.
And I have no idea where you got the idea that European cities have a smog problem... I used to live in London and haven't seen smog since I was a little kid, nor have I ever seen smog in any other European capital I've ever been to, including hotter cities like Madrid.
The vast majority of problematic diesel emissions come from older diesel trucks and buses that were never fitted with catalytic converters or particulate filters - not from diesel cars. If you got rid of those old vehicles (or even upgraded them), you'd eliminate 99% of the problem right there.
Duly noted, but this whole discussion about my inability to drive my commute began with rising gas prices. I shouldn't have to point this out, but the market will adapt. As product A gets too expensive to manufacture using the commonly accepted methods, a new paradigm of manufacturing for that product will take its place. I'll do my part by asking for paper at the grocery store next time.
Mike
I think they're generally considered as "compacts", with the likes of the Toyota Yaris, Mini, Honda Fit, etc considered as "sub-compacts". But, regardless of semantics, they're more than sufficient, size-wise, for everyday family use.
Are you talking about the 600, or the little 250? I rode one of those 250's for a while in Austin...great fun on the ride out to Lake Travis! It belonged to a friend, and a big group of us al went out for some riding. Great little beastie!
250
I have a question for those living in other parts of the world besides the United states and Canada: How have gas prices fluctuated in the past 3 or so years?
