3/gallon gas comming soon

[coffiend]

Originally Posted by sbergman27

Personally, I think that in the long term it would be better for the U.S. and, in fact, the world, if the U.S. saw about $5/gal gas in the near future. I think that is what it would take to wake the public up to the realities which have been pretty obvious, to those of us who have been paying attention, since the mid 1970s. All the unnecessary and pointless use of SUVs as single person transports that has become so ubiquitous over the last 20 years has got to stop. The inexplicable exclusions of the new high efficiency diesels, already commonplace in Europe, from the U.S. market must end.

We're 30 years late taking action. (I know, I've been watching.) The sooner we get started on a sustainable path, the better for everyone.

-Steve

Sure, it might be an eye opener to the American public.

But you've got to think about those of us who have a longer commute to work / school and cant afford 50 dollars to fill up the tank of a Yaris... If gas was consistently $5/gal. I would not be able to afford to get a degree. Believe me, I would depend on a public transit system if there was one available to my use here...but there isnt... $5 gas would send me into a downward spiral.

[pawsplus]

Ugh! I know we have cheap gas compared to most of the world and I know I have a Yaris, but I drive around 3000 miles a month and it will KILL my budget to pay much over $3/gallon. Darnit.

[sbergman27]

Originally Posted by coffiend

But you've got to think about those of us who have a longer commute to work / school and cant afford 50 dollars to fill up the tank of a Yaris...

Then it's unfortunate that you did not have better options available to you when you bought the Yaris, isn't it? You know... like we had back in 1988 when my Chevy Sprint Metro (EPA 54/58) was made? The car is 22 years old and blows away the 3rd generation Prius for highway fuel consumption. If you had had a car like the Sprint, with a real world FE of well over 50 mpg, available to you, then you wouldn't have this problem today.

Think in the long term. If people had been doing that over the last 20 years instead of flocking to buy SUVs and eschewing efficient cars, then you'd be better off today. Just as future students will be if we manage to get our heads out of our a**es anytime soon. (Which at this point is something that I'll only believe when I see it. 30+ years of watching and waiting makes one skeptical regarding such things.)

[coffiend]

Originally Posted by sbergman27

Then it's unfortunate that you did not have better options available to you when you bought the Yaris, isn't it? You know... like we had back in 1988 when my Chevy Sprint Metro (EPA 54/58) was made? The car is 22 years old and blows away the 3rd generation Prius for highway fuel consumption. If you had had a car like the Sprint, with a real world FE of well over 50 mpg, available to you, then you wouldn't have this problem today.

Think in the long term. If people had been doing that over the last 20 years instead of flocking to buy SUVs and eschewing efficient cars, then you'd be better off today. Just as future students will be if we manage to get our heads out of our a**es anytime soon. (Which at this point is something that I'll only believe when I see it. 30+ years of watching and waiting makes one skeptical regarding such things.)

I'm not questioning your logic, it makes complete sense.

I'm just saying if RIGHT now, ga was 5/gallon I could even afford to go to school. Rather than having a future where my children are going to college in their 60mpg cars, it would probably consus of me begging for change out f a cardboard box.

[sbergman27]

Originally Posted by coffiend

I'm not questioning your logic, it makes complete sense..

And I understand your situation. I think we can safely blame the American auto industry, which used its considerable marketing powers to convince people they needed and wanted SUVs, the American public, for being impressionable enough to fall for it, and the last dozen or so Congresses, which consistently failed to act in the long term public interest.

Even if my dire warnings over the years haven't actually done a whit of good (and I don't think they have) I can at least take solace in the fact that no one could reasonably blame *me*. I've done the best I can over the years.

-Steve

[Twistoffate0817]

Paid 2.65 yesterday. Price was around 2.48 about two weeks ago

[darthbauer]

There was the upside of a lot less traffic when gas was over $4/gallon.



... but thats about it to me.

[sbergman27]

Originally Posted by darthbauer

There was the upside of a lot less traffic when gas was over $4/gallon.
... but thats about it to me.

Don't forget the self-destruction of the U.S. auto industry. That was something that we'd been needing to happen for a long time. And is arguably the biggest plus we got out of the $4+ period.

-Steve

[talnlnky]

Originally Posted by coffiend

Sure, it might be an eye opener to the American public.

But you've got to think about those of us who have a longer commute to work / school and cant afford 50 dollars to fill up the tank of a Yaris... If gas was consistently $5/gal. I would not be able to afford to get a degree. Believe me, I would depend on a public transit system if there was one available to my use here...but there isnt... $5 gas would send me into a downward spiral.

I don't believe for a second you are that helpless... Sure, I get living in Nebraska isn't the best of places in terms of transportation options... but really... dropping out of college because of gas prices. That is absurd, and frankly, if you can't find a way to make things work, you don't deserve a degree.

Trade in for a motorcycle.... buy a bike, solicit on craigslist that you are looking for a car-pool buddy to help cover half the price of commuting to school and back. LIVE CLOSER TO SCHOOL! Take out a small loan, chances are you already are in debt due to school loans, a few hundred dollars of debt per quarter more isn't going to significantly change your life.

Go to the Top ramen, rice, beans, and oatmeal diet that soo many true "poor college" students know about.

[sbergman27]

I would be disinclined to second-guess coffiend's apraisal of his own financial situation. He made a very sensible decision in choosing a Yaris, even if a different history might have made better choices possible.

Back when gas was $4+, the news stories that I did take a perverse pleasure in seeing were those ones where the couple goes on TV, tearfully telling the channel 4 news reporter about how their dreams had been crushed. You see... they bought a Nissan Titan V8 for him, and a big Chevy Suburban for her, and then found the home of their dreams out in the country, with a 70 mile commute to work. But now that gas is so *unfairly* high, they're going to have to sell their dream home, and move back to a cramped apartment in the city. Boo hoo.

People who make stupid decisions deserve what they... well... deserve to get.

Coffiend made a wise and sensible decision based upon what was available to him. In a very real sense, he is the one who has been wronged.

As much as I love my Sprint, the major reason for my decision to downgrade (in an FE sense) to the Yaris, was safety. Bicycles, mopeds, motorcycles... and featherweight cars from the 80s... have a significant safety penalty attached.

-Steve

[darthbauer]

Dodge had the Magnum and that was as close to a station wagon as i think we are gonna get for sometime.


Unless you call the WRX hatchbacks and Lancer sportbacks wagon's.

[talnlnky]

Originally Posted by sbergman27

I would be disinclined to second-guess coffiend's apraisal of his own financial situation. He made a very sensible decision in choosing a Yaris, even if a different history might have made better choices possible.

Back when gas was $4+, the news stories that I did take a perverse pleasure in seeing were those ones where the couple goes on TV, tearfully telling the channel 4 news reporter about how their dreams had been crushed. You see... they bought a Nissan Titan V8 for him, and a big Chevy Suburban for her, and then found the home of their dreams out in the country, with a 70 mile commute to work. But now that gas is so *unfairly* high, they're going to have to sell their dream home, and move back to a cramped apartment in the city. Boo hoo.

People who make stupid decisions deserve what they... well... deserve to get.

Coffiend made a wise and sensible decision based upon what was available to him. In a very real sense, he is the one who has been wronged.

As much as I love my Sprint, the major reason for my decision to downgrade (in an FE sense) to the Yaris, was safety. Bicycles, mopeds, motorcycles... and featherweight cars from the 80s... have a significant safety penalty attached.

-Steve

the major flaw in your thinking is that everybody NEEDS 4 wheels.... or wheels at all for that matter.

Hell, he could've bought an old Honda CRX or Geo Metro... both got better milage than the yaris, and can be had in good condition for under $1,000.... $12,000 in savings pays for the first 6,000 gallons of gas... but... we'll factor in a few replacement parts and call it even at 4,000 gallons of gas for free, or about the equivalent of 140,000 miles (at 35mpg).

[Black Yaris]

Originally Posted by talnlnky

the major flaw in your thinking is that everybody NEEDS 4 wheels.... or wheels at all for that matter.

Hell, he could've bought an old Honda CRX or Geo Metro... both got better milage than the yaris, and can be had in good condition for under $1,000.... $12,000 in savings pays for the first 6,000 gallons of gas... but... we'll factor in a few replacement parts and call it even at 4,000 gallons of gas for free, or about the equivalent of 140,000 miles (at 35mpg).

+1, he paid for the luxury of new(er) car. He knew when he bought the car that there were other options that would cost much less money with just as good MPG, his fault.

[sbergman27]

Originally Posted by talnlnky

the major flaw in your thinking is that everybody NEEDS 4 wheels.... or wheels at all for that matter.

That depends, greatly, upon where you live. My home address is here in Oklahoma City. I've never once been able to get through to the number where you can request bus schedules. But I think they show up every 2 to 3 hours along the major thoroughfare in front of where I live. Thing are so spread out that bicycling is a nonstarter. Back when gas was $4, and during the summer, I saw a number of moped and motorbike riders. But I think they're all dead now.

Hell, he could've bought an old Honda CRX or Geo Metro... both got better milage than the yaris, and can be had in good condition for...

Really, talnlnky. Get over yourself. As much as I love both of those series' of cars, there is substantial risk in buying one today. Buy a Metro that ends up needing an engine overhaul and you are out $2400. (I know. I just paid it.)

Coffiend expressed a reasonable concern to my call for $5 gasoline. I responded. And he was very reasonable in his response. I do not doubt his logic or motives.

I still call for $5 gasoline. But consider coffiend to be one of the folks that I worry about should my wish come to be. Providing, of course, that he does not end up turning into some Hummer-driving republican who thinks it's OK to spend the rest of his existence tromping on the backs of his "peers" with the force of the law behind him.

-Steve

[talnlnky]

Originally Posted by sbergman27

That depends, greatly, upon where you live. My home address is here in Oklahoma City. I've never once been able to get through to the number where you can request bus schedules. But I think they show up every 2 to 3 hours along the major thoroughfare in front of where I live. Thing are so spread out that bicycling is a nonstarter. Back when gas was $4, and during the summer, I saw a number of moped and motorbike riders. But I think they're all dead now.



Really, talnlnky. Get over yourself. As much as I love both of those series' of cars, there is substantial risk in buying one today. Buy a Metro that ends up needing an engine overhaul and you are out $2400. (I know. I just paid it.)

Obviously you didn't even read my post. Even if you had to "overhaul" the engine on a metro for $2400 (bet it can be done for cheaper), I know it can be in the crx... you are still about 9,000-10,000 cheaper than buying a new BASE yaris.

so, 3,000 or so gallons of gas or about 100,000miles of gas for free.

Get over myself? you got under 100 posts on this site dude... and I swear i've seen your post count about double in the past 30 hours. And this isn't the only thread you've been very vocal in (read: argumentative) Who's the one throwing around ego?

the yaris is a cool car, its arguable one of the cheapest new cars to own.... but, there are cheaper alternatives EVERYWHERE IN THE USA than a New Yaris... Take a new or used Scooter for instance... He could trade in his yaris and get two or three scooters for free... get 60 + mpg, and save a lot on maintenance. Half as many tires, much less oil...etc etc.