Use your lunch break to fill your gas tank.

mrbigbluelight

Looks like the Alaska pipeline is having a little problem with corrosion and BP is shutting down lines for inspection.

Half of the production on Alaska's North Slope oil field was shut down last night (Sunday).

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060807/ap_on_bi_ge/oil_field_shutdown

Kris Siegel

It says in the article there is no threat as the U.S. has high crude inventories. Plus this only makes up 8% of our oil.

We'll be fine and I doubt it'll go up much on the pump.

I found research from an organization a few weeks ago (I'm looking for it again) that basically said if we cut down our use of vehicels that use a lot of gas (i.e. SUVs and other large vehicels) by just a few percent, our gas prices would go down drastically. Honestly, do you really need to drive a hummer to work everyday if it's just you?

VR3

I like driving my Hybrid truck.

15 MPG...outstanding.

Although its hardly "large" - it seats a max of 3 people.

bobman1235

Why do they bother making a Hybrid that gets 15MPG? What a joke.

brettw22

I dunno what Sid's talkin about.........he has an older Ford full size truck..........

faster100

Vr3MxStyler2k3 wrote:

I like driving my Hybrid truck.

15 MPG...outstanding.

Although its hardly "large" - it seats a max of 3 people.

did ya get a new truck?

I just read an article in the paper last week saying the cost from birth to being crushed for a car/truck, the hybrids are higher cost then a hummer in that aspect and they didn't get the mpg they claim and all but either toyota or honda can't remember which, was pulling out of the hybrid game..

read-alot

BP has a problem so everyone raise prices. Since we have no off shore storms to use for an excuse, may as well use this. 7 billion net profit last quarter for BP, lets see if their number one competitor Exxon Mobil uses this to gouge us.

Demiurge

Kris Siegel wrote:

It says in the article there is no threat as the U.S. has high crude inventories. Plus this only makes up 8% of our oil.

We'll be fine and I doubt it'll go up much on the pump.

I found research from an organization a few weeks ago (I'm looking for it again) that basically said if we cut down our use of vehicels that use a lot of gas (i.e. SUVs and other large vehicels) by just a few percent, our gas prices would go down drastically. Honestly, do you really need to drive a hummer to work everyday if it's just you?

Why do people always say "Do you really need to drive a Hummer to work?" How many do you actually see? Is a Ford Explorer with one occupant really that big of a deal?

This new paradigm of blaming SUV owners for the price of gas is amusing. Oil is more than just what goes into gas. It's in every piece of plastic you have in your home or office. We were driving lots of SUVs in the early 90s and we didn't have these kinds of prices. Ever see the vehicles of the 70s and 80s? Todays SUVs get better fuel economy than most large cars back in the day.

I would rather see us build more refineries, which actually would reduce the price of gas (more availability), but the environuts who want to ban SUVs are the same ones blocking that.

For the record I currently own a little 4 banger for my daily travel vehicle.

I like driving my Hybrid truck.

15 MPG...outstanding.

Although its hardly "large" - it seats a max of 3 people.

Funny stuff!

I know you were joking.

Mike682

faster100 wrote:

did ya get a new truck?

I just read an article in the paper last week saying the cost from birth to being crushed for a car/truck, the hybrids are higher cost then a hummer in that aspect and they didn't get the mpg they claim and all but either toyota or honda can't remember which, was pulling out of the hybrid game..

Consumerreports ran an article comparing hybrid cars to their gas equivalent (Civic hybrid to Civic gas). Basically it comes down to the residual value of the car after 5 years. While hybrids cost less than non-hybrids in gas over 5 years, most hybrids depreciate faster than its gas equivalent therefore driving the cost of ownership higher; According to consumerreports, faster depreciation is where most of the money is lost.

The Toyota Prius and Honda Civic Hybrid were the only two hybrid cars to actually cost less after 5 years, but only with the federal tax credit deduction. If there were no tax credits avail, these hybrids would cost more after 5 years just like the others.

faster100

No, the article i spoke of.. talked about making the hybrid. plants cost more to run when they make hybrids and it will cost more to demo and dispose of after its life cycle, then a typical gas vehicle.. in the end the hybrid isnt cost effective, and its alot more on the lot cost wise then a typical gasser

VR3

If you guys honestly thought I was being serious... LOL

That gave me a bigger laugh than my comment...

I have a few friends that get 30 mpg or more and they complain more than I do about gas prices. I just do not complain about gas prices.

Mike682

faster100 wrote:

No, the article i spoke of.. talked about making the hybrid.

That's ok. The article I mentioned spoke about owning a hybrid..

Now we have articles highlighting the high cost on both sides: manufacturer and consumer.

faster100

Honestly,how could you complain about gas prices, you live at home.. have no bills i'll assume and drive to work and school.. you have plenty of money for gas Living at home is a great thing, but you will complain when you have lots o Bills and spend 40- 75 bucks a week (depending on your vehicle) in gas , One day

faster100

Mike682 wrote:

That's ok. The article I mentioned spoke about owning a hybrid..

Now we have articles highlighting both sides: manufacturer and consumer

I wasnt doubting your comment, just saying mine was from a different angle.. both make sense

VR3

faster100 wrote:

Honestly,how could you complain about gas prices, you live at home.. have no bills i'll assume and drive to work and school.. you have plenty of money for gas Living at home is a great thing, but you will complain when you have lots o Bills and spend 40- 75 bucks a week (depending on your vehicle) in gas , One day

Possibly - but in 5 years, I imagine vehicles will have evolved quite a bit. I will most definitely be getting a new vehicle in 5 years. And depending on how much they have evolved, it might just be a car.

dkg999

The problem with the hybrids, per the people I know that own them, is that as soon as you want heat or a/c all of the advantage goes away. Overall, if you tracked it over a year's worth of hot/cold weather, my 2006 Honda Accord would be very close to the same fuel usage as the same car in a hybrid version. I think the alternative fuels are the answer, as we as a country won't invest in better public transit or better planning for residential and business development that takes driving distances into consideration. Just my humble opinion!

Mike682

faster100 wrote:

I wasnt doubting your comment, just saying mine was from a different angle.. both make sense

Never thought that.

Its cool

sucks2beme

What kills me is all the electric car hype. The power grids are all loaded up, and now everyone wants to add this to it? The electricity is not free.
The amount of energy they use is more than gas! You're just robbing from Peter to pay Paul. We need to learn this time around and truly dedicate ourselves to finding real solutions. Then those idiots in the middle east can
blow each other up all they want.

Mike682

sucks2beme wrote:

What kills me is all the electric car hype. The power grids are all loaded up, and now everyone wants to add this to it? The electricity is not free.
The amount of energy they use is more than gas! You're just robbing from Peter to pay Paul. We need to learn this time around and truly dedicate ourselves to finding real solutions. Then those idiots in the middle east can
blow each other up all they want.

I am not too familiar with electric cars. I thought I heard somewhere that electric cars require a 240v line?

If true, then anyone who buys one would also have to install a step up transformer if they wanted to charge at their house..

read-alot

Mike682 wrote:

I am not too familiar with electric cars. I thought I heard that electric cars require a 240v line?

If true, then anyone who buys one would also have to install a step up transformer if they wanted to charge at their house..

Is your house not wired for an electric dryer, heat pump or air conditioner?

240 is just two runs of 120.

Skynut

240v is the same as the dryer in your home.
I think most homes have 240v and break it down to 120v

I think the best bet for our energy future is bio-fuel. If they would start refining plants (ie; corn, soybeans, or whatever works best) into fuel we (the USA) could lead the world in fuel production.

The problem with this is the oil companies don't want to loose the investments they have now.

I think it is time for farmers to get their turn to rake in the money.

Mike682

read-alot wrote:

Is your house not wired for an electric dryer, heat pump or air conditioner?

240 is just two runs of 120.

Yep, you are correct. I totally forgot that

Can you tell that I am not a homeowner yet:D

read-alot

Mike682 wrote:

Yep, you are correct. I totally forgot that

Can you tell that I am not a homeowner yet:D

I doubt I could be a homeowner on Long Island.

MattN03

Kris Siegel wrote:

I found research from an organization a few weeks ago (I'm looking for it again) that basically said if we cut down our use of vehicels that use a lot of gas (i.e. SUVs and other large vehicels) by just a few percent, our gas prices would go down drastically. Honestly, do you really need to drive a hummer to work everyday if it's just you?

Ain't that the truth! A coworker drives a Suburban everyday by himself. I'm sure that thing sucks down dinosaurs quick! I have a 4 cylinder/5 speed Ranger that gets 25+ MPG that I drive daily

DAGLJAM6

dkg999 wrote:

The problem with the hybrids, per the people I know that own them, is that as soon as you want heat or a/c all of the advantage goes away.

I originally thought this might be true but so far this summer my wife has been averaging 52mpg out of her Toyota Prius. The Hybrid may not be the "final" or "best" solution but ,so far, getting 501-521 miles out of a little less than 11 gallons of fuel ain't all that bad.

krabby5

I went to fill up during lunch and it was already too late. $3.12/gallon for me.

I probably missed the old price by less than an hour because the sign was just being changed..:mad:

This is getting rediculous

mhardy6647

I am not really a conspiracy theorist :-) but it does strike me as funny that BP is (mostly) shutting down the Alaskan oilfields:

1) A few weeks before Labor Day
2) Well into the summer of what so far has been a quiet hurricane season (just a year after a summer that produced many vicious hurricanes)

Coincidence?

danger boy

I was in Eye Dah Hoe over the weekend and filled my tank up for $2.94 a gallon.

Mike682

read-alot wrote:

I doubt I could be a homeowner on Long Island.

It's tough. I'm actually in the process of buying a home here. Basically just need to set a closing date.

It will be a learning experience

Kris Siegel

Demiurge wrote:

Why do people always say "Do you really need to drive a Hummer to work?" How many do you actually see? Is a Ford Explorer with one occupant really that big of a deal?

On average I'd say about a dozen or more. I more often see escalades and expeditions though.

Ford Explorer isn't a large and some of really bad gas guzzlers. While it uses more gas per gallon than your average 4-cylinder (and probably v6s), it's not as bad as some of the other SUVs that get about 5-10MPG.

Demiurge wrote:

This new paradigm of blaming SUV owners for the price of gas is amusing. Oil is more than just what goes into gas. It's in every piece of plastic you have in your home or office. We were driving lots of SUVs in the early 90s and we didn't have these kinds of prices. Ever see the vehicles of the 70s and 80s? Todays SUVs get better fuel economy than most large cars back in the day.

The SUVs still contribute to the problem because they use so much gas compared to other vehicles. Every year companies sell more and more cars, trucks and SUVs because our population continues to grow. We have millions more SUVs on the road today than in the 90s so it's impossible to compare the two time periods. Vehicles from the 70s and 80s used more gas per gallon than most cars (many SUVs of today get less gas milage than some of the larger vehicles from the 70s and 80s. Some of our SUVs get well under 10MPG) but talking about the 70s and 80s regarding gas prices doesn't event matter because...

• Since the 70s and 80s, American (and just about all other countries) are using more oil. While most vehicles are more efficient than many of the older cars, we're still using a lot of it and supply and demand are dictating the price of oil.
• Since the 70s and 80s, several million more Americans have reached the age to drive than those who have died or stopped driving. This increases the amount of vehicles on the road thousands of times. That adds up to an increased usage of gas.
• You can't forget about inflation as well. Inflation has added a some money to each gallon of gas you buy.

Demiurge wrote:

I would rather see us build more refineries, which actually would reduce the price of gas (more availability), but the environuts who want to ban SUVs are the same ones blocking that.

Building more refineries would help a lot as I don't believe a new one has been built in over 10 years. Some refineries today that are supposed to not work 24/7/365 have been doing so for a long time to keep up with demand. I'm just waiting for the day when some of them need to be shut down and it hurts gas prices but who knows if that'll happen.

I would also like to state for the record that I am not an "environut" (I know you weren't calling me one). Screw the environment

faster100 wrote:

Honestly,how could you complain about gas prices, you live at home.. have no bills i'll assume and drive to work and school.. you have plenty of money for gas Living at home is a great thing, but you will complain when you have lots o Bills and spend 40- 75 bucks a week (depending on your vehicle) in gas , One day

Were you refering to me with this comment? If so, I currently have several bills and have to drive about 72 miles each way to work everyday. Thankfully I have a 4-cylinder and I can work from home several times a month but I still need to get gas every 2-3 days or so. Granted I don't have a mortgage yet but I do have several other bills (Phone, Credit Card, Car, etc...) and I am hoping to move out in a few months .

MattN03

Gas hasn't gone up in the Memphis area that I see-yet....