If? Just a matter of when. Crude closed today at $138.54 The pain at the pump is going to get a lot worse. I hate that I am right when I was talking about how much of a deal 3.00 a year ago compared to what we are paying now. Oil can continue the rise up, but the more it goes up, America will gradually slow down. It runs this country. It's time for me to get a bike, and give the 4Runner a break.
If gas gets to $5.00 a gallon
- Thread starter JP4RNR
- Start date
Run4urLife
New member
Got the 94 Civic DX on standby just in case!
Both my 4runner and the Civic are paid off. I drive about 250 miles a week for work but may be going to 3-4 days a week of 12 hour shifts so that will be a bit of a break i guess. I would guess that "the masses" would be in a panic and something would be done about it before i would really be that much affected. I know far too many people still driving "8 mpg" vehicles right now! :bash:
As it sits right now, my house is also paid off and i got family land of 100+ acres about 40 miles away that i can "run to the hills" to. I got my contingency plan in order
Gardening, fishing, hunting, and well water (all next to a family fabrication shop) I think we're pretty much covered. :biggrin2:
Both my 4runner and the Civic are paid off. I drive about 250 miles a week for work but may be going to 3-4 days a week of 12 hour shifts so that will be a bit of a break i guess. I would guess that "the masses" would be in a panic and something would be done about it before i would really be that much affected. I know far too many people still driving "8 mpg" vehicles right now! :bash:
As it sits right now, my house is also paid off and i got family land of 100+ acres about 40 miles away that i can "run to the hills" to. I got my contingency plan in order
Gardening, fishing, hunting, and well water (all next to a family fabrication shop) I think we're pretty much covered. :biggrin2:I have a Harley and a Ducati. The Ducati gets 58 mpg and the Harley 42 mpg. I drive them to work every day it isn't raining. I prefer riding a motorcycle over driving the 4 Runner anyway.
I won't be selling the 4 Runner. I have 3 dogs that range in size from 90 lbs to 170lbs. No way they are going to fit in a compact. My 4 runner gets 22 mpg. 4 Wheel drive station wagons don't get much better.
I have 2 1/2 more years of payments on it. When it's payed off I plan to buy a Lotus or Porsche and keep the 4 Runner for inclement weather and dog transportation.
I won't be selling the 4 Runner. I have 3 dogs that range in size from 90 lbs to 170lbs. No way they are going to fit in a compact. My 4 runner gets 22 mpg. 4 Wheel drive station wagons don't get much better.
I have 2 1/2 more years of payments on it. When it's payed off I plan to buy a Lotus or Porsche and keep the 4 Runner for inclement weather and dog transportation.
ARGO
New member
I'm still toying with the idea....
I have changed from premium to regular but have noticed a decrease in MPG... not to mention performance...
I have a secondary vehicle but it requires premium fuel.. it's also a V6,, I'm damned either way.... It does however get closer to 26 MPG 28 on a good day
I alternate between the two vehicles.... I'm lucky I only have to drive 14 miles to work ea. way
Road Trips are a different story...
I have looked at trading my 4Runner, but have not found anything that like as much or would be practical due to size, payment, utility, MPG, etc...
I did look at the new RX, Pathfinder, CX-9, Tiguan, Highlander.
I'm hoping with the spring of Natural Gas Vehicles coming soon the price of gas will go down... We'll see....
I have changed from premium to regular but have noticed a decrease in MPG... not to mention performance...
I have a secondary vehicle but it requires premium fuel.. it's also a V6,, I'm damned either way.... It does however get closer to 26 MPG 28 on a good day
I alternate between the two vehicles.... I'm lucky I only have to drive 14 miles to work ea. way
Road Trips are a different story...
I have looked at trading my 4Runner, but have not found anything that like as much or would be practical due to size, payment, utility, MPG, etc...
I did look at the new RX, Pathfinder, CX-9, Tiguan, Highlander.
I'm hoping with the spring of Natural Gas Vehicles coming soon the price of gas will go down... We'll see....
josh220
Banned
TeryT said:
I always used Premium for the first 6 or 7 months that I owned the truck because i thought it would provide better performance, and affect MPG. However, after switching to regular just to experiment, there wasn't any difference in MPG, and no difference that I could feel on performance.
I think one of the problem here is that many of us actually derive a specific utility out of their 4Runner. And so even now here with $4+ gas, what are our alternatives? Even the V8 gets comparatively excellent gas mileage for a 4500lb 4WD vehicle. The Highlander doesn't save you much in terms of fuel economy. I still think that for what I get out of this vehicle, in terms of size features and performance, it's probably the most fuel efficient offering out there presently.
SConnors
New member
The only way Americans will consider using less oil is them to be hit in the pocket book.
China and India have increased their share of world oil consumption, while the overall consumption of oil continues to increase exponentialy.
It is well known that OPEC countries are only allowed to export a set percentage of their estimated reserves each year. Therefore, in order to "keep up with the Joneses", each country conveniently discovers additional oil reserves equal to what they ship each year. Actually finding oil to support these claims is laughable.
Investment in energy is one of the safest investments out there. This does not justify the blind optimism driving up recent crude prices. After the inevitable 20-30% market correction, I'll get back into the energy market.
In the mean time, I'm gratefull that I've got enough income to run my 'runner through $10/gal. That said, I'm commuting on my motorcycle a minimum of four days a week. As mentioned earlier, it's more fun on the bike, it provides acess to the carpool lane in traffic, and the gas mileage is much better as well.
If Toyota offered a 3 liter turbo diesel with a manual transmission, I'd take a $10k loss and order one tomorrow. I'm aware it may be ilogical, but I've always had a thing for small diesels. The efficiency of combustion engines is directly linked to compression ratio. Deisels are always at a maximum compression ratio, while gasoline engines are never at full compression ratio except when they're at full throttle. A manual transmission allows full throttle to be applied without downshifting. This in and of itself might warant a new runner if it was available.
I wish there was a way to keep the auto transmission locked up and in the present gear when it would otherwise downshift.
Am I upset over the prices? No. I think it's a necessary step in the evolution of the energy crisis. I'd rather have expensive fuel and financial incentive for the development of alternatives than cheap fuel and no incentive for alternatives.
My $.02
Sean
China and India have increased their share of world oil consumption, while the overall consumption of oil continues to increase exponentialy.
It is well known that OPEC countries are only allowed to export a set percentage of their estimated reserves each year. Therefore, in order to "keep up with the Joneses", each country conveniently discovers additional oil reserves equal to what they ship each year. Actually finding oil to support these claims is laughable.
Investment in energy is one of the safest investments out there. This does not justify the blind optimism driving up recent crude prices. After the inevitable 20-30% market correction, I'll get back into the energy market.
In the mean time, I'm gratefull that I've got enough income to run my 'runner through $10/gal. That said, I'm commuting on my motorcycle a minimum of four days a week. As mentioned earlier, it's more fun on the bike, it provides acess to the carpool lane in traffic, and the gas mileage is much better as well.
If Toyota offered a 3 liter turbo diesel with a manual transmission, I'd take a $10k loss and order one tomorrow. I'm aware it may be ilogical, but I've always had a thing for small diesels. The efficiency of combustion engines is directly linked to compression ratio. Deisels are always at a maximum compression ratio, while gasoline engines are never at full compression ratio except when they're at full throttle. A manual transmission allows full throttle to be applied without downshifting. This in and of itself might warant a new runner if it was available.
I wish there was a way to keep the auto transmission locked up and in the present gear when it would otherwise downshift.
Am I upset over the prices? No. I think it's a necessary step in the evolution of the energy crisis. I'd rather have expensive fuel and financial incentive for the development of alternatives than cheap fuel and no incentive for alternatives.
My $.02
Sean
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technoholic
New member
Lets face it, demand for oil will continue to increase just as the demand for just about every other commodity. Its called progress. Conservation is not the ultimate answer. With rising demand coupled with the US (non)energy policy, our dependence on foreign oil can only increase as well.
So, how do we reduce our dependence on foreign oil? How about increasing the supply of domestic oil?? And how about increasing our capacity to refine this oil.
Heck, we might even create some jobs in the process. Of course, congress will have to get off their dead backsides and actually DO something. Doesn't seem like too much to ask.....
That's my $.02
So, how do we reduce our dependence on foreign oil? How about increasing the supply of domestic oil?? And how about increasing our capacity to refine this oil.
Heck, we might even create some jobs in the process. Of course, congress will have to get off their dead backsides and actually DO something. Doesn't seem like too much to ask.....
That's my $.02
TeryT
New member
Government is Biggest Problem
I consider this to be a result of a continuing, unreasonable, radical environmental agenda. The democrats in congress, are wanting to look good to all their environmental groups, and are stubbornly digging in their heels. They seem stuck in this paradigm that they need to oppose most everything concerning new oil, nuclear energy, clean coal, etc. They keep pointing to some new technology, which will probably come along eventually - but what about now!?
While the environmental measures were good, and the US has cleaned up its act almost more than anyone, the time for some reasonable energy actions is past due. This means taking what we have learned environmentally, applying it and moving forward.
In hindsight, this should have been done about 10 years ago. But it is often the way of the free markets that not much gets done until there is a profit to be made - and congress gets scared that the people are finally so upset they might vote them out!
Don't be fooled - the main reason is governmental - we are in this pickle largely from all the overly draconian environmental measures that kept us from doing anything! :awais:
I consider this to be a result of a continuing, unreasonable, radical environmental agenda. The democrats in congress, are wanting to look good to all their environmental groups, and are stubbornly digging in their heels. They seem stuck in this paradigm that they need to oppose most everything concerning new oil, nuclear energy, clean coal, etc. They keep pointing to some new technology, which will probably come along eventually - but what about now!?
While the environmental measures were good, and the US has cleaned up its act almost more than anyone, the time for some reasonable energy actions is past due. This means taking what we have learned environmentally, applying it and moving forward.
In hindsight, this should have been done about 10 years ago. But it is often the way of the free markets that not much gets done until there is a profit to be made - and congress gets scared that the people are finally so upset they might vote them out!
Don't be fooled - the main reason is governmental - we are in this pickle largely from all the overly draconian environmental measures that kept us from doing anything! :awais:
technoholic
New member
Re: Government is Biggest Problem
I couldnt agree more. And when looking at the past record of unfounded environmental prophecies of doom and gloom, their misrepresentations and outright lies, they have little credibility left IMO. Yet the hysterical rantings of an extremist minority seem to be what is influencing the direction of the country. What's wrong with that picture?
TeryT said:
I couldnt agree more. And when looking at the past record of unfounded environmental prophecies of doom and gloom, their misrepresentations and outright lies, they have little credibility left IMO. Yet the hysterical rantings of an extremist minority seem to be what is influencing the direction of the country. What's wrong with that picture?
TeryT
New member
At it's core, capitalism is driven by greed and government by power. The US constitution does an admirable job at striking the balance that's needed. Personally, I will always want to err on the side which means less government.
In one sense, free markets are the most democratic - even more than government - because everyone can vote with their money.
In one sense, free markets are the most democratic - even more than government - because everyone can vote with their money.
K_Labs
Member
When gas gets to $5.00 a gallon
Maybe it's time to get a new title.
When get gets to $5.00 a gallon. There is no more "If" it's "When"
We could look at all the negative sides of the issue but what for. I like the fact that gas is so expensive the cheap jerks that can't even afford insurance can no longer afford gas.
If you drive on the freeway rush hour has been moved to like 8 or 9 because the people who are barely making it from paycheck to paycheck need to work OT to gas up.
HA HA! Wait there's more. I really think it's awesome when you look around and see some of the junk that people are driving just to save gas.
ALOT more people are starting to ride. It's a great way to bring back old POS cars that no1 could appreciate up until now. Even old bikes are being bought up. No1 cares about what car or bike they have now. Fast/Nice cars are depreciating and old crappy hondas are expensive as all hell. Late model V8 Muscle cars aren't worth ish. You could get more in scrap metal. It's all about the MPG.
TERYT can you post a larger pic of your avatar that looks funny as hell.
Maybe it's time to get a new title.
When get gets to $5.00 a gallon. There is no more "If" it's "When"
We could look at all the negative sides of the issue but what for. I like the fact that gas is so expensive the cheap jerks that can't even afford insurance can no longer afford gas.
If you drive on the freeway rush hour has been moved to like 8 or 9 because the people who are barely making it from paycheck to paycheck need to work OT to gas up.
HA HA! Wait there's more. I really think it's awesome when you look around and see some of the junk that people are driving just to save gas.
ALOT more people are starting to ride. It's a great way to bring back old POS cars that no1 could appreciate up until now. Even old bikes are being bought up. No1 cares about what car or bike they have now. Fast/Nice cars are depreciating and old crappy hondas are expensive as all hell. Late model V8 Muscle cars aren't worth ish. You could get more in scrap metal. It's all about the MPG.
TERYT can you post a larger pic of your avatar that looks funny as hell.
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