What would be your limit on gas prices to force you to change?

[LSUMBA]

My wife asked me this weekend what the price of a gallon of gas would have to go to for me to drastically alter our lifestyle.

I told her that if regular unleaded (87) hit $5 a gallon & they predicted that it would stay that high or go higher for more than 6 months, I would sell my brand new 4Runner (probably at a loss) and get a Camry or something smaller.

I know other posters have a second vehicle or even a motorcycle to break up the usage time on their SUV. What would be your price breaking point & what would you do to alter your driving lifestyle?

 

[broncosi]

What would be your price breaking point & what would you do to alter your driving lifestyle?

bike, i have a new, very nice Trek bicycle. My work is 1 mile away from my apartment and my parents are .5 miles in the same direction, even extended family(cousins, aunts and uncles) are .7 miles in the same direction.

 

[Falls]

If gas was that high,you would not get crap for your 4R on a trade or a sale.

I personally would just deal with it and keep driving, what else could I do I guess.

Right now at $3 per gal. I use $100 + per week in fuel. I drive alot for work. THANKFULLY my work pay's for my gas. Although I've been off work for a month already and have been paying for my own gas , it does get expensive. I've been off on medical leave and thankfully have not driven my 4R much at all so that has helped, but even though I like what I drive and I'll drive what I like.

 

[biglatka]

I

 

[spyne]

Right now, I'm fortunate in that I'm able to work from home. A tank of gas in the 4Runner lasts me a month or two. Like Falls, I also have a Cobra in the garage, although mine doesn't make anywhere close to the HP his does. However, being stock it gets about 22 around town and 29 on the highway (as long as I upshift early and keep my foot out of it ).

If gas gets over $4 I'll start putting more miles on the Cobra and less on the 4Runner. If it gets over $5, I'll park the 4Runner, except for the times I have to haul or tow something, only drive the Cobra on sunny weekends (which is why I have it in the first place) and buy a econobox that gets 40+ mpg for the daily trips from here to there.

 

[fastgenious]

Right now, I'm fortunate in that I'm able to work from home. A tank of gas in the 4Runner lasts me a month or two. Like Falls, I also have a Cobra in the garage, although mine doesn't make anywhere close to the HP his does. However, being stock it gets about 22 around town and 29 on the highway (as long as I upshift early and keep my foot out of it ).

If gas gets over $4 I'll start putting more miles on the Cobra and less on the 4Runner. If it gets over $5, I'll park the 4Runner, except for the times I have to haul or tow something, only drive the Cobra on sunny weekends (which is why I have it in the first place) and buy a econobox that gets 40+ mpg for the daily trips from here to there.

I would drive my 04 Vette Z06 which gets 24+ mpg.

 

[Northof49]

I honestly don't care.....I'll just work more or something.

My sled uses $50 of gas everytime I go, boat uses $60-100 everytime I start it. So add that up a couple times a week depending what season, and car gas is the least of my worries.

Bottom line is, no one's going to ruin my fun haha.

 

[toto]

If gas got up to $4 - $5 a gallon, I'd find ways to cut back on unnecessary driving, but I wouldn't go so far as to change vehicles. Fortunately, I live close to work, so one tank lasts me at least 1-1/2 weeks, and a lot more if I really tried to conserve.

 

[rw229]

I've already made a change due to the rise in gas prices...

I traded my '04 Land Rover for an '06 4Runner Sport. The Rover got 12-14 mpg on premium fuel and I'm averaging about 19 mpg using regular in the Runner. It's like driving an economy car!

 

[Jeff Kleb]

Gas Prices


I filled up my Sentra this evening and it was about $25 - and not even empty! It is doing most of the commuting duty lately, as fuel here is now at $2.90 per gallon!

I only drive the 4Runner on weekends now, as I can go twice as far on a gallon in the Sentra......and the Sentra is paid off!!
:awais:

Since I leased the 4Runner, I'll have it until January of 2008 - regardless of how much I drive it. However, I "paid for" 36,000 miles as part of my lease and will be sure to drive it a lot in the last six months if I have to.
:

If gasoline stays at $3 or more by that time, I'll hang onto my Sentra a few more years and may not even replace the 4Runner at all. I'll just have to wait and see.

I have not reduced my overall mileage, though, but have cut back on other stuff -- new clothes, dining out, renting movies, etc., etc.; but have no plans to drive less.

:

P.S. I only have 11,000 miles on my 4Runner so far (since 1-05).

 

[4RunnerSE2006]

My wife asked me this weekend what the price of a gallon of gas would have to go to for me to drastically alter our lifestyle.

I told her that if regular unleaded (87) hit $5 a gallon & they predicted that it would stay that high or go higher for more than 6 months, I would sell my brand new 4Runner (probably at a loss) and get a Camry or something smaller.

I know other posters have a second vehicle or even a motorcycle to break up the usage time on their SUV. What would be your price breaking point & what would you do to alter your driving lifestyle?

If gas hit $5 / gallon, forget Camry. get a Corolla or Civic. I would actually consider a Hybrid at that level.

 

[wilsoncwil]

Buy an investment property and set up an LLC, that's what I did. I use it as a tax shelter and write off gas, mileage, meals, you name it. Just make sure you get a good accountant. I don't care about the rising gas prices because I will get the money back during tax return season.

 

[charlier180]

Like some others here I use another vehicle (VW Golf) for the commute to work, etc.
The 28mpg+ for the work commute and 38mpg+ highway helps to save a few dollars for running the 4Runner for Towing, etc.

If I didn't have a commuter vehicle then $5.00/gal gas would probably prompt me to change my driving habits.

 

[Thai]

If gas ever reaches $5/gallon, then it's time my G becomes my living room ornament.

Go Corolla!!:driving: Like most above, my G is my weekend toy. Corolla is my DD.

 

[Falls]

I would'nt mind getting like used Camry and use it for general beatin around to save gas , but even if I buy a high milage used vehicle (Camry) it would not offset the cost of fuel.

Even if I spent like 5000.00 on one that would buy alot of gas, not to mention insurance cost's , maint. cost's.

Spyne & Fastgenious , c'mon who are you guy's BS'n with milage of your Cobra or Vette , like you can really keep your foot off the go pedal...LOL . I know if I drive my Cobra nice it get's pretty good milage , BUT that's never happened.....lol

 

[Mark86]

If gas hit $5, I would definitely use my feet more or ask my mom to borrow her hybrid for an extended period of time! My 4Runner would probably spend a lot more time sitting in the garage.

 

[Bluto]

I think I could stomach $6. It would cost me $10-11/day to commute.

Due to location, I can't use public transportation. But taking bus/subway cost people $6-7/day. So $10 does not look too bad for your own seat, music, and AC.

 

[sharp4runr]

I'm already at the point of change. I have been looking at motorcycles the last few weeks and I'm going to pull the trigger by the end of the month.

I'm going to use the bike as much as possible and only use the 4Runner when the weather doesn't cooperate.

 

[benhar]

I'm already at the point of change. I have been looking at motorcycles the last few weeks and I'm going to pull the trigger by the end of the month.

I'm going to use the bike as much as possible and only use the 4Runner when the weather doesn't cooperate.

Unless you just want a motorcylce, I wouldn't buy one to save on gas. It would only be cost effective if you got a good deal or used it for several summers.

I'm making a lot of assumptions here, but if you drive 5,000 miles paying $3.50/gallon, you would spend ~$1030 at 17 miles/gallon. If you got 55 miles/gallon with a motorcycle, you'd spend $318. So, you'd be saving $711. If you got a motorcycle for $3,000, given those same assumptions you'd need to drive it for ~21,000 miles for it to pay for itself.

If course, I did that on the fly and more than likely failed to take many things into consideration. I probably even made an error.

But, I say if you just want to have a motorcycle, go for it! They're lots of fun!

 

[Koz]

I got this email yesterday.

There is a solution for every problem we face