How bout those gas prices?

Well, 15,000 miles still isn't 9,000km.

More like 24,000.

I'm so glad I traded my jeep in for a Honda Fit last year. It has already saved me enough on fuel to pay off half of my loan.

I don't even notice the price changes at the pump anymore. I usually only put in 7 gallons a week.

Chuckoir said:

Well, 15,000 miles still isn't 9,000km.

More like 24,000.

Click to expand...

Yep. I had it backwards. I was thinking 100 miles is about 62 kilometers. It's the opposite. So, I wonder if Europeans drive anywhere near 24,000 km in a year on average... ?

Wow those gas prices are just Wow.
They jumped very high. About a few days ago, it was about $3.70, then like overnight it jumped to like $4.50.
I'm in the city so yeah it is going to be more money.

This weekend, my dad came over, and when he paid for gas on the highway, he paid like 3.65 a gallon.

$3.57 down the street from me. Highest I've seen around here is $3.65.

I notice it rises anywhere between eight cents to thirteen cents every day.

Diesel is about .40c more.


I shouldn't complain, but to be honest, I have to drive 30 miles to school everyday...in a pickup. 19 MPG used to be good, right? I'm lucky to get anywhere near 21 MPG.

Chris H. said:

19 MPG used to be good, right? I'm lucky to get anywhere near 21 MPG.

Click to expand...

Ha ha, i know how that feels! I used to have a Mitsubishi Evo 8, and that averaged around 20mpg. Not very good at all! Well not in the UK.

I've now got an Audi A4 Avant - It's still an unleaded so fuel consumption isn't the best, but if I drive it sensibly (70mph on the Motorway) I can get up to around 37mpg! I filled up last night - £74 for 55 litres of fuel. Bleurgh.

toMACsh said:

Yep. I had it backwards. I was thinking 100 miles is about 62 kilometers. It's the opposite. So, I wonder if Europeans drive anywhere near 24,000 km in a year on average... ?

Click to expand...

I normally do about 12,000 personal milage and about 10,000 miles business. The fact is, if American car buyers realise bigger engines != more power, you will not notice the tiny cost increases you face. My 2L, 4 cylinder Renault produced around 190 bhp; newer cars of similar engine capacity can output around 300 bhp. My current Mercedes C Class (2.2L CDI) returns 52 mpg cruising at 80-90 mph.

Economical doesn't have to be bland.

Comfort doesn't have to be supersized.

XJ-linux said:

Funny. See, I could stomach the $10 petrol complaints if you hadn't conceded to 120% taxes, thus relegating you to driving around in little fart-cans.

Click to expand...

That was unnecessary...

Besides, our cars are as big as they need to be... Why're yours so over-sized? Compensating for something?

dauber said:

I'll tell ya what...if there's one thing driving up gas prices, it's the MEDIA. I think by reporting that "gas prices are increasing" it basically gives the oil companies the okay to increase the prices, know what I'm sayin'?

Click to expand...

M̶i̶n̶i̶p̶r̶o̶d̶ ̶p̶r̶e̶d̶i̶c̶t̶s̶ ̶n̶o̶ ̶d̶e̶c̶r̶e̶a̶s̶e̶ ̶i̶n̶ ̶3̶0̶ ̶g̶r̶a̶m̶m̶e̶ ̶c̶h̶o̶c̶o̶ ̶r̶a̶t̶i̶o̶n̶.̶

Miniprod predicts increase in choco ration from 20 to 25 grammes.

I drive a fuel efficient car but I still would want our society to find alternative fuels that each nation can have control over instead of being dependent on other nations for fuel. The solution probably will be a combination of technologies rather than only relying on one.

I'm actually surprised that Europe hasn't been the front runner in finding alternative fuels since the gas cost there are so high. I don't want to wait for gas prices to rise to $20 before there are alternative fuels. Gas prices will only go up in the future. It's best we prepare now for the switch before prices become any higher.

Ctrl-Opt-Del said:

That was unnecessary...

Besides, our cars are as big as they need to be... Why're yours so over-sized? Compensating for something?

Click to expand...

Play nice, fellas.... That's rule #1 here at Mac-Forums.

cwa107 said:

Play nice, fellas.... That's rule #1 here at Mac-Forums.

Click to expand...

I was joking! Sorry if my dry British humour was a little too deadpan for you

[There, I edited my post to make it a little clearer]

I currently drive a Subaru Impreza. On a good day, if I try real hard, I can probably get 30-32mpg. Average I get around 25mpg. But I wouldn't trade it for something more fuel efficient. I love the car, it has tons of room, all wheel drive, and can still return a decent gas milage.

Besides, its a wagon*.

*What is America's hate with wagons? Wagons are awesome, and much more practical than a giant gas hog of an SUV.

Stretch said:

I currently drive a Subaru Impreza. On a good day, if I try real hard, I can probably get 30-32mpg. Average I get around 25mpg. But I wouldn't trade it for something more fuel efficient. I love the car, it has tons of room, all wheel drive, and can still return a decent gas milage.

Besides, its a wagon*.

*What is America's hate with wagons? Wagons are awesome, and much more practical than a giant gas hog of an SUV.

Click to expand...

My wife bought a 2010 Legacy. It gets about the same mileage as yours, which is pretty good in our book. Absolutely love the car and we've been thrilled with how well it does in adverse weather. Big Subaru fans here, for sure.

I'm actually surprised that Europe hasn't been the front runner in finding alternative fuels since the gas cost there are so high. I don't want to wait for gas prices to rise to $20 before there are alternative fuels. Gas prices will only go up in the future. It's best we prepare now for the switch before prices become any higher.

Click to expand...

That's because generally European countries (and Asian countries) have better public transportation than we have. I spent some time working in Tokyo, Japan and even though I had my Volkswagon with me I hardly ever had to use it. Public transportation there is outstanding. Clean, fast, convenient and safe.

cwa107 said:

My wife bought a 2010 Legacy. It gets about the same mileage as yours, which is pretty good in our book. Absolutely love the car and we've been thrilled with how well it does in adverse weather. Big Subaru fans here, for sure.

Click to expand...

Yeah, mileage isn't the greatest for Subarus, but they'll take anything you throw at them and shrug it off. The new Legacy is a nice car, currently looking to get on for my fiancee to replace her aging Chevy Malibu.

I really like Subaru; the first car I ever bought (on my own) was a Subaru. But, the last six cars we have purchased have all been Toyota (most of them well used before we got them).

Gas in Illinois is climbing each day. Its up to $4.39 a gallon and I have a Saturn Vue AWD . I'm thankful I only have to top off the tank once a week and I am disabled and don't drive much.

Stretch said:

I currently drive a Subaru Impreza. On a good day, if I try real hard, I can probably get 30-32mpg. Average I get around 25mpg. But I wouldn't trade it for something more fuel efficient. I love the car, it has tons of room, all wheel drive, and can still return a decent gas milage.

Besides, its a wagon*.

*What is America's hate with wagons? Wagons are awesome, and much more practical than a giant gas hog of an SUV.

Click to expand...

I think a lot of people see there automobile as a status symbol. I choose a vehicle for its utility based on what I "need" and then on safety, reliability and fuel economy. I find the one vehicle that is top rated in all those areas by Consumer Report, and that's how I pick. For 2011, the clear winner in my book is the Mazda3i, even though CR rates the Impreza as top in that class. I'm not sure how they worked that out. It suffers by comparison to the Mazda in both reliability and economy. Of course, many of those factors can change from year to year.

toMACsh said:

I think a lot of people see there automobile as a status symbol. I choose a vehicle for its utility based on what I "need" and then on safety, reliability and fuel economy. I find the one vehicle that is top rated in all those areas by Consumer Report, and that's how I pick. For 2011, the clear winner in my book is the Mazda3i, even though CR rates the Impreza as top in that class. I'm not sure how they worked that out. It suffers by comparison to the Mazda in both reliability and economy. Of course, many of those factors can change from year to year.

Click to expand...

Did you buy it yet? I had a 2006 Mazda 6 and it was very trouble prone. Things started breaking from the first week I had it and never stopped until I traded it in 18 months later (and it depreciated by nearly 50% in that time period). Never again.