If gas gets to $5.00 a gallon
- Thread starter JP4RNR
- Start date
It's not if gas will get to $5/gallon..just when it does.
I've thought about it quite a bit. Prices for everything have risen a lot in the last 2-3 years. And living on the coast doesn't help matters with homeowners insurance etc. If (when) we get another hurricane here, I'll be looking at the possibility of not even having the option to buy insurance, and if I can, at rates 5-10x what I pay now.
So $5/gallon (or greater) gas? I don't know. I have spent my entire life spending time around and enjoying fossil fuel burning hobbies. If I'm forced to sell my 4R, and boat (who'll buy them at that price?), and buy a 50+ mpg diesel or some POS beater for a ride back and forth to work--sadly, my quality of life has gone to crap. At that point, is it worth it to put up with the stress I have to every day for the money at my current job? Do I quit my decent paying job, get something less stressfull, all because the payoff isn't worth the effort?
I don't know.
I've thought about it quite a bit. Prices for everything have risen a lot in the last 2-3 years. And living on the coast doesn't help matters with homeowners insurance etc. If (when) we get another hurricane here, I'll be looking at the possibility of not even having the option to buy insurance, and if I can, at rates 5-10x what I pay now.
So $5/gallon (or greater) gas? I don't know. I have spent my entire life spending time around and enjoying fossil fuel burning hobbies. If I'm forced to sell my 4R, and boat (who'll buy them at that price?), and buy a 50+ mpg diesel or some POS beater for a ride back and forth to work--sadly, my quality of life has gone to crap. At that point, is it worth it to put up with the stress I have to every day for the money at my current job? Do I quit my decent paying job, get something less stressfull, all because the payoff isn't worth the effort?
I don't know.
alaskaman
Senior Member
I would set aside money from other things to pay for it....need the car for work. Offer to ride to work with someone share the cost....just a couple ideas. when you commute the cost of 15K miles per year and the difference between 20 mpg and 30 mpg........not that great....not wanting to change into a smaller less safe car.............
Northof49
New member
I think you're missing the problem for some of us.....I use my 4-low weekly and my tow hitch with the same frequency.hulk311 said:
If you actually bought the vehicle to use some of its capabilities, it's not as simple as buying something else with better mileage. A Rav4 is an awesome rig, but it won't tow a 4,000lbs trailer. A minivan is a great cargo hauler, but it won't stradle a water-bar to get to your favorite bike trail. A Civic gets great mileage, but it can't push through 3 feet of snow.
If all you're using it for is commuting, it may be easy to switch to a more economical unit. But if you use the 4Runner for what it's worth, there aren't any choices that give substantially better mileage with the same capabilities and features.
Pirate VI
New member
This does exist places in the US. In the virgin islands any company that comes in tho start up a business, and invests over 1 million in real estate, and employs at least 6 locals on regular salaried payroll, donates a certain amount (I dont think it is very much) to local charities every year, and pays thier taxes to the Virgin Islands is eligible for 90% off thier taxes for the first 10 years. We have the Western Hemispheres largest refinery already, built probably 30 years ago when a less atractive version of this benefit went into effect. Next to Hovensa (the Hess oil refinery) is an old Alcoa plant that has been for sale for years, it would be available to be torn down and a refinery or power plant built there, but no one has been interested in many years.pipspeak said:What about these options:
3. Vote for state/federal politicians that are not afraid to take on the nimbys and offer decent tax breaks to actually get a new refinery built in the US, anywhere in the US.
flame away
I think refineries are not being built not only because of the huge cost to build something that will not be available for years, but also because it is not the refineries that are causing low supply (except intentionally by OPEC, and downtime due to damages after Katrina). The low supply is coming from not having enough crude oil to refine. Companies are spending money to find untapped crude oil, but there just isn't that much out there that is not found or does not have some other issues keeping it from being pumped.
Im not an expert on the subject, but just my opinion based on some facts that I do know, and things we learned in High School (you learn a lot about oil when half your class's parents work at an oil refinery).
Oh, and I only drive about 6k a year so it wouldnt pay not to keep the 4Runner if it was just for the issue of gas prices.
toybox
New member
Jeff Kleb said:
So what does that have to do with the oil companies making record profits on the order of hundreds of BILLIONS of dollars a quater? And profits are profits, they are after all the expensis like drilling, pumping, refining, storing and exploring. Honestly I don't see an excuse for the oil companies and wouldn't defend them for one minute. This isn't some product many people can just say "hey if they are charging that much I'm not going to buy it" That is a little unrealistic with oil.
4RUNNER_RULES
New member
16K a year with average of 16mpg = 1000 gallons.
at $3 gallon = $3000 a year
at $5 gallon = $5000 a year
Still not worth buying a second car, unless it remains at $5 for more than 5+ years
Continue driving 4runner.....priceless
at $3 gallon = $3000 a year
at $5 gallon = $5000 a year
Still not worth buying a second car, unless it remains at $5 for more than 5+ years
Continue driving 4runner.....priceless
Jeff Kleb
New member
toybox said:
Toybox, I was not defeinding the oil companies - per se; just pointing out a strictly economic observation. I am not wild about forking over sixty bucks to fill the 4Runner's tank, but am at least semi-fortunate that I can drive my less-fuelish Sentra when necessary.
As for paying $3+ for gasoline (still about $2.75 here), it definitely sux - big time. However, would you rather pay the "market" price and have plenty of fuel available......or have some type of government 'price control' enacted and face long lines, supply disruptions and rationing? I remember the odd/even days and gas lines from the 1970s and don't want to return to that.
So long as we lag behind demand with regard to our refining capacity, it won't matter how much crude oil we can get.....the supply of gasoline is going to be tight.
Besides, I find it funny how many people will complain about three bucks for a gallon of gasoline as they pay $1.50 for a liter of bottled water. The same chumps also have no remorse about dropping nine bucks for a movie ticket when the same flick will be out on DVD in just three or four months for a mere fraction of that price.
Again, I was not trying to 'defend' the oil companies; just pointing out some economic information. Things may be tight and there exists the chance that someone is "gouging" people; but the alternative of socialism & dictatorial fiat is far worse in comparison.
That is all -- class dismissed.
(humor switch turned to the 'on' position)
:bigok:
Jeff Kleb said:
Toybox, I was not defeinding the oil companies - per se; just pointing out a strictly economic observation. I am not wild about forking over sixty bucks to fill the 4Runner's tank, but am at least semi-fortunate that I can drive my less-fuelish Sentra when necessary.
As for paying $3+ for gasoline (still about $2.75 here), it definitely sux - big time. However, would you rather pay the "market" price and have plenty of fuel available......or have some type of government 'price control' enacted and face long lines, supply disruptions and rationing? I remember the odd/even days and gas lines from the 1970s and don't want to return to that.
So long as we lag behind demand with regard to our refining capacity, it won't matter how much crude oil we can get.....the supply of gasoline is going to be tight.
Besides, I find it funny how many people will complain about three bucks for a gallon of gasoline as they pay $1.50 for a liter of bottled water. The same chumps also have no remorse about dropping nine bucks for a movie ticket when the same flick will be out on DVD in just three or four months for a mere fraction of that price.
Again, I was not trying to 'defend' the oil companies; just pointing out some economic information. Things may be tight and there exists the chance that someone is "gouging" people; but the alternative of socialism & dictatorial fiat is far worse in comparison.
That is all -- class dismissed.
(humor switch turned to the 'on' position)
:bigok:
Comparing oil to a bottle of water or a movie ticket is sorta apples to hand grenades, dontcha think?
If I needed to buy 20 gallons of water a week to get to work (at your example of what would be $16/gallon), I'd complain about that too. Movie tickets? I haven't been to a movie since the last Star Wars came out..and again, I don't think comparing something that is vital to our national security (and has no substitute) is even close to the issues of an increased price of bottled water, OJ, or coffee.
alaskaman
Senior Member
Humor switch on..............=) I dont have a real issue paying more money for gas it sux but hey we have little control over that. As to defending the oil companies they are indefensible. Their policies both environmental and humane are horrible. But in one way I mean that IS capitalism. I enjoy driving and if I really wanted to I would get an Escape Hybrid to get better mileage but for me safety is a priority. My family drives vehicles which are up (like the 4 Runner and/or have side air bags. You have to pay for quality in my view....and I remember going coast to coast where the highest price on gas was in the Rocky Mountains and that was $.32 cents per gallon......
Jeff Kleb
New member
I was afraid this was going to happen when I made that last post.
My 'water bottle' and 'movie' analogies were strictly economic.....not moral. My point - which I poorly articulated - was that we all have to make moral, legal, economic and ethical decisions almost every day when it comes to where we will spend our hard-earned money.
When the price of one good rises, it is generally true that we must "cut back" on something else to compensate for it (since we cannot just print more money as the gub'ment does). When quite a few people, but certainly not a majority, have enough disposable/discretionary income to spend mucho dinero on things that they can get nearly free elsewhere (tap water, movies available through NetFlix, Blockbuster or cable TV), that tells me that they can still "afford" to pay the market price of gasoline.
This is kind of like some people at work who complain about a can of soda costing 75 cents in the breakroom vending machine; but they continue to get two or three cans every day. I go to Wally World or Costco and buy it by the whole case for about six bucks (roughly 25 cents a can). Each day I throw a few in my cooler and I am good to go for the whole day. Better yet, when I am not too lazy to do so, I make my own iced tea and pour it into plastic bottles. That costs a few pennies for 16 ounces of liquid refreshment that is probably better for me than is cola.
:awais:
Again, I apologize for not getting my point across earlier. My bad.
boston_kevin
New member
$5.00 a gallon? Yep, I'd be looking for alternatives. Many people here are already starting to look into making their own Bio-Diesel. Maybe keep the 4Runner and look into a diesel VW for daily suff.
TitaniumToy
New member
I drive 16 - 20k a year, so I have considered replacing my 4Runner even at the current price of gas. However, when I look at the total cost of owning a vehicle, keeping the 4Runner still costs me less than it would to downgrade to a new more fuel efficient car. Except for gas, my 4runner has been a cheap vehicle to own. It is one of the most reliable vehicles around and I have spent ZERO dollars on repairs to my 2003. Insurance rates are good (it would cost me more to insure a new Corolla or Civic) and the depreciation rate is excellent.
In the end, I'll sell my 4runner when I find a vehicle I like better... which is a tall order, because the 4Runner is just sooo good!
In the end, I'll sell my 4runner when I find a vehicle I like better... which is a tall order, because the 4Runner is just sooo good!
Hmmm, I wont be driving for another 6-12 months 
When I do get back I will either run or ride my bike to work as it is only 4 mi. I always live close to work for this reason. And I HATE traffic. Id say $5/gal would be my limit where I would cut back on most of my driving. We will be there too. I need to stockpile some treated gas for bugging out in this case.
When I do get back I will either run or ride my bike to work as it is only 4 mi. I always live close to work for this reason. And I HATE traffic. Id say $5/gal would be my limit where I would cut back on most of my driving. We will be there too. I need to stockpile some treated gas for bugging out in this case.Similar threads
