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

[charlier180]

Yeah I did the calculations for the amount of money I'd have to spend to buy a bike as well as insure so I know I won't come out even until a few years.

I hope when you say "insure" you are also looking at the level of disability and life insurance you are carrying. Not carrying adequate coverages for disability and accidental death could leave yourself or your family in a very bad financial situation should you be diabled or killed when riding a bike. BTW, don't fool yourself into believing that you or or family can simply sue the other party that hurts or kills you. Believe it or not there are people on the road that are not insured, underinsured and/or simply have no assets. In a case like that a lawsuit would get you next to, if not nothing and leave you or your insurance company paying all your medical bills.

Personally I don't own a bike or sell insurance. However, I have seen what bike accidents have done to the lives of people I know.
(ie. two died, one in the hospital for 8 months, another had 2-3 accidents each resulting in 1-3 months each in lost work time) BTW, in almost every case these people were simply in the wrong place at the wrong time and could do nothing to avoid their accidents.

 

[sharp4runr]

Yeah I had State Farm give me a quote that matched my Auto insuarance. That already is pretty substantial so hopefully will be enough to cover medical costs if it ever arises. I also have extra life insuarance through work that I hope won't be needed for a good long while (I'm only 25). The extra life insuarance is probably overkill, but it is peace of mind.

Thanks for the thoughtfullness to post though, it is appreciated.

Oh BTW, I've been an organ donor since I've started driving too. If anyone wants a set of blurry eye balls when I'm gone, they're welcome to it!

 

[Fourty-four]

I wouldn't change a thing unless gas tripled today's prices. Maybe $9/gal would make me think twice about driving a 4Runner. Anything less wouldn't make a big enough difference to really care.

 

[Fourty-four]

When I was a kid I remember when gas hit $1.00 per gallon, and my parent's and everyone was talking and complaining . People just accepted it and kept driving,and all was well after the shock wave.

.

I was driving when gas hit $1.00/gal and believe me when I say that nobody was complaining. The price increase was incredibly gradual, so it wasn't a shock that it hit $1.00/gal.

I mean, it's not like it went from 50 cents to a dollar overnight. Back in those days, the prices remained stable for long periods of time, and only went up a few cents at a time.

 

[kimboy]

I bought a 250cc Yamaha Morphous Scooter, and will be getting 65 mpg. Although I plan to use the 4runner for commuting, the option of using the scooter on weekdays always exists.

It is capable of crusing at 85 mph and is highway legal. I can also use it in the HOV lane.

 

[Jeff Kleb]

I don't think people will be dumping their SUVs anytime soon - at least with fuel staying at the $3 mark for awhile. Car-pooling is going to be given a second thought by some, while others will rely on mass transit (buses, light rail) where feasible. Perhaps people are going to combine trips or cut out driving far away on weekend trips; who knows?

I'll be driving my 4Runner much less often, and will be taking my Sentra instead -- as it goes twice as far on a gallon of fuel. I used to drive the Toyota to work 2 days out of the week, but now I just use it for weekend driving, etc., etc. (I am fortunate enough to have a reliable Sentra that is paid off, but feel for those who have a gas guzzler as their only vehicle.)

I'll be taking two trips this summer - one to Michigan and another to Florida, both in the 4Runner. I'm just putting some money aside for gas, as I know it will be expensive. However, it is cheaper than flying (even when factoring in hotels and meals) and I'd rather drive than fly anyway.
:awais:

I predict that those who can afford it will be buying new cars that get excellent mileage (Toyota Yaris, Honda Fit, Nissan Versa, Chevy Aveo, etc., etc.) and driving them to work, while keeping their SUVs and pickup trucks for weekend duty. After awhile, it gets to the point where the fuel you'd save will compensate for the amount you'll pay for a car loan.
:bash:

We Americans are too 'hooked' on our automobiles and freedom of movement, and are not going to adjust our lifestyles too drastically. I reckon that families are going to cut back elsewhere - dining out, new clothes, vacations, movies, etc., etc. - rather than give up the family bus.

Only time will tell, though. Let's hope that we'll increase our supply soon, because we certainly won't be reducing our demand for fuel in a growing economy.

 

[Fourty-four]

I reckon that families are going to cut back elsewhere - dining out, new clothes, vacations, movies, etc., etc. - rather than give up the family bus.

Only time will tell, though. Let's hope that we'll increase our supply soon, because we certainly won't be reducing our demand for fuel in a growing economy.

Yup, I think that's exactly what is already happening--people are cutting back in other areas because of the extra money they are spending on gasoline. That's why it hurts the economy so much.

And I agree that our demand will not decrease, but keep in mind that China has the fastest growing demand and an incredibly high population that is just not beginning a rapid growth of the driving public. That will affect our gas prices, if it hasn't already.

 

[charlier180]

I'll be driving my 4Runner much less often, and will be taking my Sentra instead -- as it goes twice as far on a gallon of fuel. I used to drive the Toyota to work 2 days out of the week, but now I just use it for weekend driving, etc., etc. (I am fortunate enough to have a reliable Sentra that is paid off, but feel for those who have a gas guzzler as their only vehicle.)

I too am fortunate to have a paid off, inexpensive commuter car (VW Golf) that gets Twice the MPG of my 4Runner. Once again this year I will be using my 4Runner for weekend towing or long trips and leave the commute to work for the Golf.

One bit of advise for those here that will be parking their 4Runners outside during the week for the Spring/Summer/Fall. Last spring I went to the local Walmart and purchased three of the silver, truck size sun shades. I used one on the windshield and cut up the other two to be used for the door windows and the small rear side windows. I also bought suction cups with hooks on them in the housewares department and use them to hold all the side window sun shades.

For me, using these sun shades has reduced the temperature inside my 4 Runner by 30-40 degrees and helps to reduce fading of the interior. For those that may be parking their 4Runners outside for longer periods of time this summer, consider spending a few $$$ to help keep your 4Runner cooler. I did and it makes a BIG difference.


I'll be taking two trips this summer - one to Michigan and another to Florida, both in the 4Runner. I'm just putting some money aside for gas, as I know it will be expensive. However, it is cheaper than flying (even when factoring in hotels and meals) and I'd rather drive than fly anyway.
:awais: [/QUOTE]

If you have not already done so, book your hotels A.S.A.P.
I have noticed that hotels that I book every year for events I attend have raised their rates $10-20 per room per night since last year. Like everything else, hotel rates are going up due to fuel cost increases (Natural Gas, Electricity, etc).

 

[Jeff Kleb]

Originally posted by charlier180

If you have not already done so, book your hotels A.S.A.P.
I have noticed that hotels that I book every year for events I attend have raised their rates $10-20 per room per night since last year. Like everything else, hotel rates are going up due to fuel cost increases (Natural Gas, Electricity, etc).

I will not need a hotel room, except for one night. We're already booked & prepaid for a cruise........and will only have to pay for a hotel room one night on the way down there. I wanted to drive 'straight through' from here to there (about twelve hours or so), but my girlfriend wants us to split up the trip. More likely than not, we'll just get a room at the first "national chain" place we see whenever we're tired of driving. It will be her and me -- plus her three teenagers. Ack! Those kids eat like locusts.


I figure we'll make it to the FL state line (near Jacksonville) in a long stretch, have a nice dinner at a local eatery....and then will only have a few hours to drive the next day before we get to our cruise ship's port.
:awais:

When I go to Michigan, I'll have my son with me and we will be staying with relatives (free!). My only cost is the fuel (and tolls, thanks to Ohio and Pennsylvania) to get there, some meals along the way and a dinner out with my peeps after we're there.


It takes fourteen hours by car from my house to Saginaw, and I will probably drive straight through. Last year, we stayed one night in Ohio with friends on the way up there.....but I drove straight through on my way home. I drive a commercial truck for a living, so I am used to putting on lots of miles in a day.

Last year, Katrina happened while I was in Michigan and fuel that was $2.49 became $3.49 in less than 48 hours!! I figure that it is a 1500-mile round trip to Michigan and might run me 78 gallons to and fro at 19 mpg. With unleaded costing $3 per gallon, my 4Runner will cost me $240 for a round trip this summer. Still a cheap vacation in my book!!

Florida will run me about 1800 miles round trip -- about three hundred dollars (94 gallons X 19 mpg), if fuel is just over $3 per gallon. Considering there will be five of us {with four of us being licensed drivers}, I reckon it is still far less expensive than flying from VA to FL using anyone's math. (Okay, I just hope I can stand it that long in a car with her three teenagers. My son won't be with us on the FL trip, since I'll have him with me when I go to MI later in the summer.)
:arrow:

While I am not changing my plans much, I do believe that many people are going to re-think their getaway plans for travel this year. We can only hope that our economy does not go into the tank because of increased fuel costs. So far it has not, but the fallout from energy costs is often a lagging economic indicator -- and it may be several months before we see the whole picture.