ACK! Gas prices...

[DvlshAngel985]

Originally Posted by Jennxling

This is the reason that I take the bus...too much money to spend on gas when I can just take the free school shuttle. It's scary though to see how much the gas increases week by week. My bf complains about it a lot since he does all the driving. My car just sits and relaxes in the garage. haha

That's not good either. You gotta get the car moving at least once a week or you'll actually ruin the car. We bought a new truck back in 95 and didn't use it for a year. Brand spankin new truck, and we had to spend A LOT on repairs to get it moving again. We were lucky that the dealership guys took pitty on us, and they claimed it as warranty manufacturer problems. That saved us a bit of money, but we still had to put some money in to get the truck moving again.

[MauiGirl]

Originally Posted by YorkichonBella

Here's a helpful website to find local low prices
GasBuddy.com - Find Low Gas Prices in the USA and Canada

Thanks for that link! I've noticed a wider price spread between different stations lately.

So on Maui today, reg=4.17 and premium 4.45. I have always used premium but wonder if I really have to in my 2003 Nissan Murano. What do you all think about reg vs premium?

[DvlshAngel985]

Originally Posted by MauiGirl

Thanks for that link! I've noticed a wider price spread between different stations lately.

So on Maui today, reg=4.17 and premium 4.45. I have always used premium but wonder if I really have to in my 2003 Nissan Murano. What do you all think about reg vs premium?

I've honestly felt a performance difference between a tank full of regular and a tank full of premium. I'm all about the zoomies, so I want the car performing better. I also follow all recommendations from the owners manual. Premium gas, a certain type of oil, grade V tires, etc. Actually, I downgraded to grade H tires (I think) because the V ones were over a grand and I wouldn't get any warranty on them.

But, if your car isn't sporty, and is pretty basic, I don't see why not go for reg gas vs premium. If your main goal is to get from point A to point B, then why not? Then again, I'm no car expert.

[Justin]

Follow your owners manual prior to selecting gasoline. If your manual says 87 do not fill up with 93. You are wasting money at the pump every week. This does not make your car faster, it is all placebo effect. If your car is rated for 93, use 93, lower octane will create more knocks and this will do more harm than good in the long term depending on the car.

Although it feels like you are bending over every time you fill up gas, we are still only paying half price compared to Europe and other countries. The age of the SUV is over... If you are interested I can post countless articles on fuel efficiency and some spreadsheets with the ROI on hybrid vs regular cars.

[MauiGirl]

Thanks, I hear mixed opinions all the time, so I've asked our car expert Shodanusmc for his opinion on this

I hate wasting money if I don't have to.

[capt_noonie]

Hello people? Public transportation and bicycles! Complaining will get us nowhere. Do something about it instead.

There are plenty of university students who have opted for a bike instead of driving to school and having to pay for a parking permit, when there are no parking spaces anyway to begin with! Here at Cal State Fullerton a parking permit can cost over $200 for one semester, and no one can ever find parking, what are they paying for???

[DvlshAngel985]

Originally Posted by capt_noonie

Hello people? Public transportation and bicycles! Complaining will get us nowhere. Do something about it instead.

There are plenty of university students who have opted for a bike instead of driving to school and having to pay for a parking permit, when there are no parking spaces anyway to begin with! Here at Cal State Fullerton a parking permit can cost over $200 for one semester, and no one can ever find parking, what are they paying for???

The chance to park there if you're lucky enough to find parking, DUH! Just kidding. They're just trying to make $$$ like everyone else.

Oh, Justin, I fill up with 93 because my manual says so. If I do put anything lower, VTEC just doesn't work the same for me. I do feel a difference.

[babbsiam44]

OK..today gas here in Suffolk, VA was $3.47 for 87 octane.

[sugarmamma]

Originally Posted by Justin

Follow your owners manual prior to selecting gasoline. If your manual says 87 do not fill up with 93. You are wasting money at the pump every week. This does not make your car faster, it is all placebo effect. If your car is rated for 93, use 93, lower octane will create more knocks and this will do more harm than good in the long term depending on the car.

Although it feels like you are bending over every time you fill up gas, we are still only paying half price compared to Europe and other countries. The age of the SUV is over... If you are interested I can post countless articles on fuel efficiency and some spreadsheets with the ROI on hybrid vs regular cars.

I'm interested

[Lil Sis]

Originally Posted by Justin

Follow your owners manual prior to selecting gasoline. If your manual says 87 do not fill up with 93. You are wasting money at the pump every week. This does not make your car faster, it is all placebo effect. If your car is rated for 93, use 93, lower octane will create more knocks and this will do more harm than good in the long term depending on the car.

Although it feels like you are bending over every time you fill up gas, we are still only paying half price compared to Europe and other countries. The age of the SUV is over... If you are interested I can post countless articles on fuel efficiency and some spreadsheets with the ROI on hybrid vs regular cars.

my dh has a Toyota Prius. He loves it, smiles every time he calculates the mile per gallon. We have a small solar company, solar hot water, solar pool heating and of course solar electricitiy PV... If I had power I would get this country off oil as much as possible and use all the different alternative energies ..solar, wind, tides and such.
I don't feel sorry for the owners of the big suv and hummers.. maybe a little for work trucks and vans.

[Justin]

So...for those of you who are more interested in the economics of hybrid technology, I found an article which would better express the view.

Study reviews break-even point for hybrid vehicles — Autoblog

All they really had to do was create a spreadsheet to break down the additional cost of the hybrid technology and look at the price of gas. Although the hybrid cars gain additional miles, the parts are not exactly bio-degradable.

[Justin]

Top 10 Diesels and Hybrids With the Shortest Break-Even Periods for 2011 — Edmunds.com

There are tons of articles out there, I will have to retract the prior one simply because it does not dish out a compelling argument. The article does not describe the research process or how numbers were compiled. If you look at the comments you can find more info. The above article shows cars with quick break-even points in case you are shopping for a hybrid.

[JesStang]

So glad gas is going down!! It's down to $3.15 this morning and I've got to fill up at lunch.

And yes, always go by what your owner's manual says to use. 91 gas is only for cars that need it (like mine ).

I know people always say that Europe and others are paying more but that's because their demand is not as big as ours in the US. Their cities are smaller and everyone usually walks everywhere. Such is not the life here, I live 26 miles from my job.

[MauiGirl]

Shocked, but today I paid $4.99/gal. for premium.

Glad I don't have to drive much, it is sickening.

How is it where you all live????

[Princess10]

Originally Posted by MauiGirl

Shocked, but today I paid $4.99/gal. for premium.

Glad I don't have to drive much, it is sickening.

How is it where you all live????

omgsh! if it was like that here i think i'd have princess pull me in a wagon!
last time i checked it was $3.85 for reg. so $4.05 for premium i guess...WOW!
(im gonna sound like my dad now..."i remember when it was only $1.99/gal.")