Gas Prices: When Do You Complain?

[fnkngrv]

We are at $3.07 and have been that way here in Northern Maine for about a week. To me once we break the $3 mark I start to get a bit peeved. When I lived in Memphis in 08 there was one of those world events or weather that was looking to come through and I paid close to 6 a gallon because idiots were panicking...it was insane. People were waiting at the pumps and causing backed up traffic on the highways for miles. I really wish that I could remember why the gas skyrocketed that weekend.

[why?]

i will still complain as long as we pay 1 cent in special taxes on gas. The evil greedy fools in the state house and washington should be forced to try and live like we do for a week or two, and i bet a lot would change.

[kargoboy]

Originally Posted by BailOut

Every time I see a 5,000+ pound vehicle with a temporary tag on it I know that gasoline still doesn't cost enough yet.

100% agreed.
And I'm an old guy who still loves the rumble of a V8...

[chrisj]

Originally Posted by BailOut

Every time I see a 5,000+ pound vehicle with a temporary tag on it I know that gasoline still doesn't cost enough yet.

[rningonfumes]

I personally should be okay with gas up to about 7 bucks a gallon. I'm sure I'll feel the hit at about 5 gallons from prices related to transport costs going up...ie things which need to get to market. This is assuming that the price of gas goes up more than inflation is affecting it.

Then at 7 bucks, I'll need to figure out how to eek out more mpgs. I've been less diligent with my mpg because prices went down.

[.Kevin.]

Aslong as I am filling for 3 percent of my pay cheque once every two weeks I am fine.

[chrisj]

What gets me most about rising gas prices is shipping. I ordered something yesterday that was $7 and the shipping was $8. Yeah, now THAT makes me upset, but what are you gonna do?

[TLyttle]

The fact that everyone wants their stuff TODAY is where the freight hit is coming from. Shipping by rail is 1/10th the price, bu no one is going to wait for their stuff. So now it comes by truck, longhaul, by guys who are driving for below minimum hourly wage... unless they are on, shall we say, "other imports". Sure, it is faster, but since diesel became popular, the price will be what the market will bear, and the hell with ruining the country.

Europe has an elaborate and efficient rail system for both freight and passengers, and we are stuck in our cars... Ah, well, GM etc are making good money on their truck sales, and all is well in North America!

[rningonfumes]

For me, I meant food, clothing (my wrangler/lees that get to walmart), etc..stuff that I can get from Target, Walmart, or the local grocers/chains. I don't see myself buying a TV every week.

[.Kevin.]

Who needs a tv s the question

[rningonfumes]

Exactly.

[chrisj]

^ Well, I never ever order anything rush, but just standard ground. Prices really jack up when you want it by air or something. I have done that in the past, but only for an emergency part for a computer or something, and even then I warned my customer of the hit.

I try to conserve shipping when I can, and try to save orders until I get a few things I want to order at once. I like Amazon because a lot of their stuff has free shipping if you're willing to wait about 1 1/2 weeks for it. I generally take them up on it.

The UPS/FedEx hike came about 5 years ago when gas got up to over $3 a gallon here (I think that's when I remember it rising a lot). It never went back down.

This is way off, but I remember many years ago wheat took a hit in our Midwest, and the price of breakfast cereal doubled. Thing is, it never came down either. I don't even buy it, because it's just too high.

[BluYrs]

I meant 6 USD per US gallon. This being relatively cheap when compared to Western Europe (UK etc). So yeah, glad I got the 1.0 :)

[chrisj]

My wife and I are thinking of taking a driving tour through some of Europe next year sometime. Seems we should start saving up now just for the gas!

[p123456789]

I remember the last big hurricane that came through here a few years back I was filling up my subaru next to this lady that looked like she was going to cry as the filled the tank of her excursion v10 I glanced over at the total after she left and it was $180!!!. I wonder if she had to have her suv after that. The only good thing about higher fuel prices is cars like ours will increase in value, I sold my 95 honda civic during that time for $1000 more than I paid for it. I could really care less if people drive suv's but I dont want to see you on the news when gas prices go up complaining about it, Its your own damn fault you don't drive something more efficient plenty of midsize cars get 40 mpg now.

[p123456789]

Originally Posted by BluYrs

I meant 6 USD per US gallon. This being relatively cheap when compared to Western Europe (UK etc). So yeah, glad I got the 1.0 :)

Is 34.9 your average? I always get atleast 39mpg out of mine driving it kinda hard in 50/50 traffic.

[why?]

Originally Posted by TLyttle

The fact that everyone wants their stuff TODAY is where the freight hit is coming from. Shipping by rail is 1/10th the price, bu no one is going to wait for their stuff. So now it comes by truck, longhaul, by guys who are driving for below minimum hourly wage... unless they are on, shall we say, "other imports". Sure, it is faster, but since diesel became popular, the price will be what the market will bear, and the hell with ruining the country.

Europe has an elaborate and efficient rail system for both freight and passengers, and we are stuck in our cars... Ah, well, GM etc are making good money on their truck sales, and all is well in North America!

Um, this is USA, not europe. There isn't a real rail station within 2 or 300 miles of where I live, probably more. And then it is passenger only. Rail is far too expensive to lay down in the USA. There is simply too much land. So yes, the cost of shipping by rail is cheap, the cost of laying it down is not.

[TLyttle]

I'm aware of that. In fact, after the war it was decided by the fuel companies, and vehicle manufacturers, that rail was too cheap, hence the switch to road vehicles. Stuff gets from place to place "faster" by truck, and they are still selling that crap to justify their industry.

Rails opened up this continent, both in the US and Canada, but tearing up the rails and closing stations and depots has been the byword for 50 years. Consequently, road transport is the only viable option left...