Are low gas prices changing your driving behavior or 4runner purchase decisions

[MLA]

Have the low gas prices had any impact on your driving habits or travel decisions?

What about 4runner related purchases or mods? Have the lower prices had any influence on a decision to purchase a new 4runner? What about adding more aggressive tires, lifts or other mods that you wouldn't otherwise consider if prices were in the $4/gallon range? I found an older thread where folks were talking about buying a second commuter car or biking instead of driving when oil prices were over $100/bbl. I'm curious to see if this goes both ways...

 

[hearno]

A gallon of 87 was in the $1.9X not long ago in my area. I was literally looking for reasons to go out and drive. $4.XX/gal would suck but it wouldn't stop me from enjoying my life.

 

[Drunner97]

I spend about 400/month just commuting Mon-Fri, if the prices would go down I'd have more money to go screw around during the weekends.

 

[NoDak]

just means more fishing trips. I avg $75 to go fishing 1 day for about 12 hrs.

gas (about 2/3 of that $75 is for gas), bait, drinks, chips and that just for me. goes up if the warden/kids come along.

 

[GHARP57]

goes up if the warden/kids come along.

I laugh every time you mention the "warden". I finally figured it out and this cracks me up!

OP, I am similar with hearno it stays cheaper for us and I will drive what I have to drive. I have an 01 camry so I usually drive that

 

[BlackWorksInc]

Not at all, to be honest I rarely pay attention to gas prices as I just expect them to be in the $4 range. At 21 gallons (I usually put in about 19~21 gallons in the 4th gen) a tank of gas at $4 is $84 a tank at $3 is $63. $21 is not going to make or break me since I fill up usually twice a month; sometimes 3 or four if I do a trip or offroading. I mean I could use the money for something else, but I budgeted for $4 gas when I bought the 4Runner and now that it's paid off I just factor gas as a "car payment" per month. Still end up less than what I paid per month for the 4Runner to begin with. Lol

Now if gas jumps up to $5+ I may get a commuter or a better paying job to offset the gas cost.

 

[Speedy Gomez]

Have the low gas prices had any impact on your driving habits or travel decisions?

What about 4runner related purchases or mods? Have the lower prices had any influence on a decision to purchase a new 4runner? What about adding more aggressive tires, lifts or other mods that you wouldn't otherwise consider if prices were in the $4/gallon range? I found an older thread where folks were talking about buying a second commuter car or biking instead of driving when oil prices were over $100/bbl. I'm curious to see if this goes both ways...

Who cares about gas prices! In my opinion, if it was high, I would not hesitate to do the same things I'm doing now. Wish the TRD Pro had a V8. That was a low blow on Toyota's part. :bash:

 

[Range]

Nope. I don't even pay attention to gas prices. Once I did the lift years ago I just considered my 4Runner a money pit.

 

[NoDak]

I laugh every time you mention the "warden". I finally figured it out and this cracks me up!

OP, I am similar with hearno it stays cheaper for us and I will drive what I have to drive. I have an 01 camry so I usually drive that

and I didn't give her that nickname, my guild from classic WoW did, just kinda stuck.

Not at all, to be honest I rarely pay attention to gas prices as I just expect them to be in the $4 range. At 21 gallons (I usually put in about 19~21 gallons in the 4th gen) a tank of gas at $4 is $84 a tank at $3 is $63. $21 is not going to make or break me since I fill up usually twice a month; sometimes 3 or four if I do a trip or offroading. I mean I could use the money for something else, but I budgeted for $4 gas when I bought the 4Runner and now that it's paid off I just factor gas as a "car payment" per month. Still end up less than what I paid per month for the 4Runner to begin with. Lol

Now if gas jumps up to $5+ I may get a commuter or a better paying job to offset the gas cost.

I budgeted for $5 when I did the numbers when I bought this one. when I had my v8 2004, I didn't, which caused me to get rid of it for a sonata.

 

[Unner]

A gallon of 87 was in the $1.9X not long ago in my area. I was literally looking for reasons to go out and drive. $4.XX/gal would suck but it wouldn't stop me from enjoying my life.

This is exactly right. If gas prices were that high I would still be driving my 4Runner, and I really wouldn't cut down on the amount of miles. There's not much to be cut there anyway.

just means more fishing trips. I avg $75 to go fishing 1 day for about 12 hrs.

gas (about 2/3 of that $75 is for gas), bait, drinks, chips and that just for me. goes up if the warden/kids come along.

I laugh every time you mention the "warden". I finally figured it out and this cracks me up!

OP, I am similar with hearno it stays cheaper for us and I will drive what I have to drive. I have an 01 camry so I usually drive that

It took me a minute, but I got it now too. I like your sense of humor NoDak.

 

[ChildrenOfBodom]

Low gas prices? It's 4.50 a gallon near me. Lame ass 91 at that... Wish we got 93 like many other parts of the country.

Doesn't stop me really... I have been driving my 94 supra more often, mileage isn't any better, but it's nice not being confined to the slow lane.

Hmm... Gotta hit the trail again soon.

 

[470SNC]

^I feel ya, I live in Anaheim so in the same boat, and my GX takes 91 so it hurts the wallet when I fill up but I dont drive any different really.

 

[02SE]

When gas is around $1.00 per gallon, I'll consider the price to be low.

That being said, gas prices don't affect what I do.

 

[BlackWorksInc]

^I feel ya, I live in Anaheim so in the same boat, and my GX takes 91 so it hurts the wallet when I fill up but I dont drive any different really.

You can run regular without any real damage done to the vehicle to be honest; I recently went back to premium mostly because I wasn't concerned about the few dollar difference between a tank of regular and premium.

 

[LandCruiser]

I run Premium when gas is cheap.

Tends to move quicker that way.

I remember running 85 octane this winter... that swill shouldn't be even sold.

 

[oljedi11950]

Nope ! Woulda bought a Prius or leaf !

 

[Jernik]

It hasn't changed my driving plans/patterns, but it has become more of an inconvenience since prices are lower. I actually liked it when gas was around $4 per gallon - more people stayed home. Especially on holiday weekends. It made road trips much more pleasant.

 

[tH1e swiN1e]

My V8 swallows whole tanks of gas in one gulp. Regardless of gas prices its just a toy used for fun and has and always will be a money pit.

....time for a Prius. :yield:

 

[amalik]

It hasn't changed my driving plans/patterns, but it has become more of an inconvenience since prices are lower. I actually liked it when gas was around $4 per gallon - more people stayed home. Especially on holiday weekends. It made road trips much more pleasant.

damn poor people. stay home. lol.

layball:

 

[Jernik]

damn poor people. stay home. lol.

layball:

:hat: haha! Yeah, my post comes across (unintentionally) as a tad elitist, but it's true. Less congestion on the roads makes for a more relaxing trip! :thumb: