Ripped off at the pump ?

[edmscan]

Just wanted to inquire about what you think about the price of gas ? Do you think that the price is fair for what you are getting, or is the price of gas ridiculous and a cash grab by big oil companies ?

Personally .. I think that the 44$ (based on $1.19/litre and 37 litre fill) that it takes to fill up my Yaris is just about as much as I can afford to pay.

I find that a tank takes me about 2 weeks to go though, so it is about 90$ per month for gas. But I just feel lucky that the Yaris gets such good gas mileage as I could be easily paying twice as much with another vehicle.

I am wondering how others feel about the price of gas ?

[b20vteg]

this is how i feel about gas prices:

pre-yaris:

post-yaris:

[nookandcrannycar]

Originally Posted by edmscan

Just wanted to inquire about what you think about the price of gas ? Do you think that the price is fair for what you are getting, or is the price of gas ridiculous and a cash grab by big oil companies ?

Personally .. I think that the 44$ (based on $1.19/litre and 37 litre fill) that it takes to fill up my Yaris is just about as much as I can afford to pay.

I find that a tank takes me about 2 weeks to go though, so it is about 90$ per month for gas. But I just feel lucky that the Yaris gets such good gas mileage as I could be easily paying twice as much with another vehicle.

I am wondering how others feel about the price of gas ?

The price of gas is too high, but I blame the government, not the oil companies. In the US, the percentage of the cost of a gallon of gas that goes to taxes (I'm pretty sure in all 50 states) is a higher percentage than oil company profit percentage. One of the reasons that prices are different in each state for gas is the tax environment. Gas is quite a bit cheaper in New Jersey than it is in New York or Connecticut. I asked a station attendant in New Jersey why this is and he said it is just how each state decides to peg each tax among a basket of taxes----New Jersey has a lower Gas tax than the other Tri-State states, but he said it has a much higher cigarette tax and one other tax (I think it was on alcohol).

President Obama has bragged that oil production is the highest it's been in US history. No thanks to him, thank the oil companies. He has squelched leasing on federal land --- the land he has control over. I think everyone should try to drive cars in our league MPG wise most of the time, but I think people should do it re their own awareness and conscience, and not have it be anything that is influenced by the government.

Oil companies do do some douche bag things, but some protesters are also swimming in their own hypocrisy. I remember a reporter questioning an Occupy Wall Street protester as to why she was using (at that very moment) a MacBook Pro if she is so against corporations and profits. The lady kept tripping over her words and didn't even have the moxie to fake a semi-intelligent response. A cogent response would be impossible, as there isn't one. In addition. Apple's profit margin is 3-4 times that of a lot of oil companies. Why isn't she protesting that Apple should move their manufacturing base back to the US. Oh wait, Apple is cool and oil companies are not.

Wow.You are paying the equivalent of $5.19 USD per US gallon. I paid $3.49 yesterday. I feel rven worse for people in Europe...paying so much more.

[DevilGirl]

Originally Posted by edmscan

Just wanted to inquire about what you think about the price of gas ? Do you think that the price is fair for what you are getting, or is the price of gas ridiculous and a cash grab by big oil companies ?

Personally .. I think that the 44$ (based on $1.19/litre and 37 litre fill) that it takes to fill up my Yaris is just about as much as I can afford to pay.

I find that a tank takes me about 2 weeks to go though, so it is about 90$ per month for gas. But I just feel lucky that the Yaris gets such good gas mileage as I could be easily paying twice as much with another vehicle.

I am wondering how others feel about the price of gas ?

I would LOVE to be paying only $90 a month for gas... My tank of gas will last only about 3 days of commuting to work (3.5 if I decide to push it).

[david_827]

Originally Posted by nookandcrannycar

The price of gas is too high, but I blame the government, not the oil companies. In the US, the percentage of the cost of a gallon of gas that goes to taxes (I'm pretty sure in all 50 states) is a higher percentage than oil company profit percentage. One of the reasons that prices are different in each state for gas is the tax environment. Gas is quite a bit cheaper in New Jersey than it is in New York or Connecticut. I asked a station attendant in New Jersey why this is and he said it is just how each state decides to peg each tax among a basket of taxes----New Jersey has a lower Gas tax than the other Tri-State states, but he said it has a much higher cigarette tax and one other tax (I think it was on alcohol).

President Obama has bragged that oil production is the highest it's been in US history. No thanks to him, thank the oil companies. He has squelched leasing on federal land --- the land he has control over. I think everyone should try to drive cars in our league MPG wise most of the time, but I think people should do it re their own awareness and conscience, and not have it be anything that is influenced by the government.

Oil companies do do some douche bag things, but some protesters are also swimming in their own hypocrisy. I remember a reporter questioning an Occupy Wall Street protester as to why she was using (at that very moment) a MacBook Pro if she is so against corporations and profits. The lady kept tripping over her words and didn't even have the moxie to fake a semi-intelligent response. A cogent response would be impossible, as there isn't one. In addition. Apple's profit margin is 3-4 times that of a lot of oil companies. Why isn't she protesting that Apple should move their manufacturing base back to the US. Oh wait, Apple is cool and oil companies are not.

Wow.You are paying the equivalent of $5.19 USD per US gallon. I paid $3.49 yesterday. I feel rven worse for people in Europe...paying so much more.

i agree with you to an extent, i believe consumer demand can play more of a role on the price of gas. hence why prices tend to rise in summer as more people are on the road taking more trips. i'm not a hypermiler by any means, but i feel if people slowed down a bit and stopped driving like assholes our demand for gas will drop and thus so will the price. Its just a theory for me at this time that im basing on anecdotal evidence.

[goliath1812]

I honestly don't think anything will drop the prices of gas to what I think they should be. The oil companies are raking in billions, the government wants all the taxes they can get...it seems like nothing is going to stop it. Even if we as a country came together to lessen the demand of gas, I'm confident the government will raise the fuel taxes to make up for lost comsumption. Either way, that means higher prices. Oil companies are never satisfied with record breaking profits year after year, they always want more and more. I'm waiting for the day that brings us an EV with a quick charge option AND an extended driving time per charge. Even then, the cost of electricity will just raise. I'm not sure that day will be any time in the near future anyway.

[bronsin]

Its not so much the price of gas. Its the people who drive cars and trucks that get ~20 mpg that I cant believe.

Foreign governments, the oil companies, and our government have put a gun to our heads and the publics response is

Go ahead blow my brains out!

[nookandcrannycar]

Originally Posted by david_827

i agree with you to an extent, i believe consumer demand can play more of a role on the price of gas. hence why prices tend to rise in summer as more people are on the road taking more trips. i'm not a hypermiler by any means, but i feel if people slowed down a bit and stopped driving like assholes our demand for gas will drop and thus so will the price. Its just a theory for me at this time that im basing on anecdotal evidence.

I agree. I might have been reading something into edmscan's post that wasn't there but I assumed he was already assuming the consumer demand part of the equation. You're assertion may be anecdotal evidence rather than a scientific analysis, but it's just about the strongest anecdotal evidence I can think of -- the collapse of gas prices in the US in late 2008 into 2009.

[nookandcrannycar]

^^^^^ I also think 'too high' is a relative term as even when gas prices were low in 2008 some state government's gas taxes were still too high (namely California) and feeding a bloated and inefficient state government.

[nookandcrannycar]

Originally Posted by DevilGirl

I would LOVE to be paying only $90 a month for gas... My tank of gas will last only about 3 days of commuting to work (3.5 if I decide to push it).

At least you don't have to get gas in New York or Connecticut. I have occasionally waited until crossing the border into PA to get gas.....not wanting to pay NY or CT prices and not wanting to deal with the 'unlawful to pump your own gas' scenario in NJ (which, as much as I love New Jersey, drives me nuts).

[cali yaris]

In the US, the percentage of the cost of a gallon of gas that goes to taxes (I'm pretty sure in all 50 states) is a higher percentage than oil company profit percentage.

I have an unpopular view (I think). I think it should be HIGHER. Cost is the only incentive that will get people to change their purchasing and driving behavior.

[edmscan]

Originally Posted by nookandcrannycar

Wow.You are paying the equivalent of $5.19 USD per US gallon.

There is 3.785 litres per US gallon and at 1.19 per litre, that makes it $4.50 per US Gallon, and we here in Edmonton have the cheapest gas in Canada. The highest (as of yesterday) is in Montreal area where they are paying $5.79 per US Gallon. The Canadian dollar is just above par right now .. but really nothing to write home about.

I do agree that Europe is getting screwed, but I haven't been there for many years, so I really don't know how much they are paying. All I know is that you don't see many non-econo box cars over there.

[edmscan]

Originally Posted by DevilGirl

I would LOVE to be paying only $90 a month for gas... My tank of gas will last only about 3 days of commuting to work (3.5 if I decide to push it).

That is one thing I have noticed from YW, the commutes for many people in the US is very far. The most you would see in the city I live in is about 40 KM (24 miles) and that would be going from one edge of the city to the other edge.

Realistically that wouldn't happen anyways as we have a ring road that goes around the city which would cut down the mileage substantially.

I think I would really hate such a long commute .. but that's just me.

[b20vteg]

Originally Posted by cali yaris

I have an unpopular view (I think). I think it should be HIGHER. Cost is the only incentive that will get people to change their purchasing and driving behavior.

makes sense.

[goliath1812]

Originally Posted by cali yaris

I have an unpopular view (I think). I think it should be HIGHER. Cost is the only incentive that will get people to change their purchasing and driving behavior.

it may change driving habits and purchases, but I still don't think it will make prices drop at all. people here talking about Europe, where most drivers have economic boxes, and look at their gas prices. substantially more than here.

[nookandcrannycar]

Originally Posted by goliath1812

I honestly don't think anything will drop the prices of gas to what I think they should be. The oil companies are raking in billions, the government wants all the taxes they can get...it seems like nothing is going to stop it. Even if we as a country came together to lessen the demand of gas, I'm confident the government will raise the fuel taxes to make up for lost comsumption. Either way, that means higher prices. Oil companies are never satisfied with record breaking profits year after year, they always want more and more. I'm waiting for the day that brings us an EV with a quick charge option AND an extended driving time per charge. Even then, the cost of electricity will just raise. I'm not sure that day will be any time in the near future anyway.

Oil companies might be making record profits in total dollar amount, but their profit margin isn't outrageous (only 7-11 percent),,,Apple's profit margin is over 30 percent---Why aren't people outraged about that?

I don't think either is outrageous, I'm just playing devil's advocate. People aren't outraged re Apple because it is cool and it is a want. People need gas and they don't like when they are paying more than they think is right for it. Gas prices are also subject to the price of oil in the commodities markets. Oil companies have a hand in this arena, but aren't the only players.

[nookandcrannycar]

Originally Posted by bronsin

Its not so much the price of gas. Its the people who drive cars and trucks that get ~20 mpg that I cant believe.

Foreign governments, the oil companies, and our government have put a gun to our heads and the publics response is

Go ahead blow my brains out!

Yea, pretty much. One will especially be able to say that when Obama gets re-elected. I say when because the bounce since Clinton's speech at the DNC seems to be holding. If I hadn't been straddling two states (part of my life in each) when the 2008 election rolled around, I would have voted for him. I now agree with him on some things, and disagree with him on most. However, the choice in 2012 is simple and it has nothing to do with the content of any issue. The president only has to do one thing before taking office.....SWEAR TO UPHOLD THE U.S. CONSTITUTION. He is the only U.S. president ever to unilaterally disregard the constitution with an action after admitting---the words coming out of his own mouth---that he didn't have the authority to make the change he wanted. He supports the Dream Act and if congress passed it people might not like it but it would still be properly codified law until challenged by others and overturned by the SCOTUS. Obama admitted that this is something that congress needed to pass, that he didn't have authority to act on any of it alone.....then he later enacts the 'Mini Dream Act' as an executive order. His support should have immediately dropped to zero after this. IMHO it isn't moral to support the re-election of a president who now essentially uses the constitution as toilet paper. I've changed the focus of the trip I'm about to take because if Obama wins, my plan is to never again visit any state that goes majority Obama in the 2012 election and therefore will cast their electoral votes for him. Such states don't deserve my tourism and tax dollars. I've been amazed that citizens aren't outraged about this. He's subject to constitutional checks and balances. He's the President of a constitutional republic, he isn't a king. Again, it has nothing to do with what the issue is, just his lack of respect for the one document he has sworn to uphold. A few days ago I saw Ben Stein in a group discussion on one of the financial channels. Finally, someone seemed as outraged as I am about this. He referred to Obama's base as his "constitution ripping up base".

I don't understand the 20 MPG car thing either. If you have 10 dollars or 10 million dollars in the bank or in a brokerage account why would you want to hand one cent more of it to a gas station than you have to?

[nookandcrannycar]

Originally Posted by edmscan

There is 3.785 litres per US gallon and at 1.19 per litre, that makes it $4.50 per US Gallon, and we here in Edmonton have the cheapest gas in Canada. The highest (as of yesterday) is in Montreal area where they are paying $5.79 per US Gallon. The Canadian dollar is just above par right now .. but really nothing to write home about.

I do agree that Europe is getting screwed, but I haven't been there for many years, so I really don't know how much they are paying. All I know is that you don't see many non-econo box cars over there.

You're right. I accidently plugged in 3.875 x 1.19 into my calculator, rather than 3.785. I took the total I got and plugged it into a CAD to USD converter on the intedrnet. My bad for accidentally enterin g the wrong amount. If the number is still off, I'm glad I don't remember which site I visited to use the currency converter!