%@#$%$# Gas Prices!

[K3 Chris Onwiler]

2004 was a missed racing season for me , because I just didn't have any money.  2005 may shape up even worse.  Why?  I blame gas prices.
I drive 100 miles a day to get to my job and back.  I also have a huge, 1912 house with drafty windows and no real insulation.  Gasoline prices are the highest they've been in my lifetime, and heating costs are just as bad.  Of course, I'm not getting paid any more money than I was when Gasoline was $1.50 instead of $2.08, and natural gas cost half as much.
Maybe we should start a war with an oil producing nation, or something? >:(

[jp233]

if racing means a lot to you, get yourself a really thrifty car (hybrid?), sell the house and move into somewhere more efficient (and/or way closer to work), and get back on the track.

gotta prioritize... only reason I dont own a boat or jetski is because of racing. and I live on the water with a 90 ft dock (sheesh)  :o

[Dawn]

Oil prices are really not that high when you adjust it for inflation.  Here's some interesting information....

Link

 ;)

[Jeff]

There's no need to buy an overpriced hybrid when there are some extremely economical vehicles around.

In the 80's I was pimpin in a 2door 5 speed Honda Civic hatch back.  The thing got 45mpg no matter how hard I beat on it.  Of course, if it was piled with kids, only 2 were allowed to ride up real steep hills, but still...  The hybrids of today are a farce.

For the first time in my life, I factored gas prices into a shopping trip this last weekend.  My son needed a winter jacket. Normally we'd go to the outlet mall about 50 miles away.  Not this time.  I went to Kohls which is 2 miles from my house.  I spent $10 more on the coat, but considering 96 miles saved (my mpg averages 15 in the gas van) equated to roughly $15 saved, it worked out better.

I get pissed when I pump another $60 tank of gas or $75 tank of diesel, so I'm doing what I can to personally conserve.

Yes, I could get a smaller car, but right now it's not economically feasible since nobody on this Earth wants my van.

If the prices stay like this (which they will) or (gulp) increase (which they likely will), people will shift their thinking and start buying smaller homes closer to work.  Welcome back to the 50's folks...  

We'll be in that mode until oil consumption drops safely below supply, and then prices may drop a bit so people will again go nuts.  It's cyclical.

[OmniGLH]

There's no need to buy an overpriced hybrid when there are some extremely economical vehicles around.

Couldn't have said it better myself. DanO and I talk about this all the time.  Why do we need some ridiculous, hybrid-electric computer-controlled $20,000 Civic that gets 40mpg, when Dan's old '84 CRX HF got 45-50mpg with 200k+ miles on it?

[OmniGLH]

For the first time in my life, I factored gas prices into a shopping trip this last weekend.  My son needed a winter jacket. Normally we'd go to the outlet mall about 50 miles away.  Not this time.  I went to Kohls which is 2 miles from my house.  I spent $10 more on the coat, but considering 96 miles saved (my mpg averages 15 in the gas van) equated to roughly $15 saved, it worked out better.

I get pissed when I pump another $60 tank of gas or $75 tank of diesel, so I'm doing what I can to personally conserve.

Funny you say that - I've found myself doing that lately as well.  Even something as simple as going out to dinner.  I've never hesitated to travel for good food.  My friends and I usually have this bi-weekly ritual of heading downtown to get an authentic Maxwell Street polish sausage (#1 on my list of favorite foods.)  But now, at $2.46/gallon (as of yesterday), I think twice - it costs me $10 in fuel JUST to get down there.  All of a sudden, a $2.90 polish sausage and a coke doesn't sound so hot... for $12.90 I'll get a mini-pan pizza and a beer at Georgio's, right down the street from me - and save $1-2 in the process.

[spyderchick]

The reason you should consider a hybrid is as a big f*** you to the oil companies. That and to move toward separation from our dependancy on oil. Those resources will not last forever and to support companies that offer an alternative when it comes to purchasing a new vehicle is worth our consideration.

Granted Hybrid vehicles are not for everyone, but if you want a good commuter car thats light on fuel, cars the like Honda Insight rock, as they can realistically get up to 75MPG. Ford now has the Escape model SUV available as a hybrid, so this technology is here to stay. No, there's curreently no hybrid available to replace your Dually Deisel, but I'll bet dollars to donuts you could get a conversion kit that would allow you to use agro based deisel in place of the traditional kind.

*I'll get off my organic/free trade soapbox to go wash my cotton hippy clothes in the river with a rock.  ;)

[Dawn]

Here's some helpful hints to save money (or at least, this is what the Buxton house does).

1. Don't eat out.  Think about it, if you go out to lunch at a fast food joint, for one person you're lucky if you can get out for under $3.00 for one person.   More in likely your paying $5.00 or more.  Now, go to the store, buy a loaf of bread ($1.10) pound of  butter ($2.69) and a stick of sausage ($5.99).  For $9.78 you can have sandwiches that will last you the entire week or more.  Plus bring your own soda (or milk), you will pay $.29 cents a can for soda at the store ($6.99 / 24) verses $.50 to $.65 from the vending machine.
 
2. Food is one of the largest bills that your family has.  Try and stay away from any pre-packaged pre-made entrees and try your hand at cooking yourself.  Also, scour the ads for your local grocery store and try and plan your meals around what's on sale.  (Do you really need that NY strip steak at $7.99 a pound?)

3. Reduce your speed when driving by 5 miles an hour (I am assuming that none of you do the speed limit).  You would be amazed at what a difference you could see in your gas mileage.  It may only be a mile or two, but if you travel 94.2 miles a day like I do, it will add up.

4. Do you really need that new car?  If you think about the money you spend for the loan payment and the full coverage on your car insurance, is it really worth it?  The money that you save buying used could be directed towards other things such as R A C I N G!!!!  8^)    Buying used however does have some risk, if you are not well versed in the auto mechanic arena, it would be helpful to bring a friend who is or take the car you are interested in to a reputable mechanic.  (FYI:  We have found the older GM 3.8V-6 motors to be really reliable, I'm sure there are others).

5. Keep up with the maintenance on your car: tire pressure, oil changes, spark plugs and wires, etc.  This we keep the mileage at it's peak and hopefully keep expensive repairs at bay.


There are many more, but here's just a few to get you started.

[Pierre - Team PMR]

The reason you should consider a hybrid is as a big f*** you to the oil companies.

if you want to do that - then consider E85 - thats 85% ethanol mixed with 15% gasoline.  Most newer cars can burn it & you will not see a difference in the performance (check your owners manual)...and it is available at some gas stations in the midwest.

Ehtanols is alcohol made from corn (or any starchy plant).  We can decrease our oil dependancy by using this and give the middle east a big F*** you!.  The best part is that the exhaust is only water and Co2.  Look into it.

[boo181]

i agree on th e ethenol it's good all across the board, it reduces our need for oil, it's renewable, it's cleaner, buy increasing production it creates jobs and boosts our local economies, and you can run it in the vehicle that you already have. on to hybreds, as a long distance commuter car(i.e. driving 50mi. from the country to the city for work and back everyday) you won't see much, if any, differance between one and say a honda civic with a conventonal gas engine. but for driving from say southside chicago to the north side in rush hour traffic you would see a differance. this is because the electrical part of the hybred engine only works when the vehicle is sitting at an idle for x amount of time. so if you are on the highway/interstate the hole time with out having to sit in traffic you won't use the electrical portion of your hybred engine, only the conventional gas powerd motor. so in short, hybred good for some stupid for others, and ethenol good for all.

[OmniGLH]

Here's some helpful hints to save money (or at least, this is what the Buxton house does).

1. Don't eat out.  Think about it, if you go out to lunch at a fast food joint, for one person you're lucky if you can get out for under $3.00 for one person.   More in likely your paying $5.00 or more.  Now, go to the store, buy a loaf of bread ($1.10) pound of  butter ($2.69) and a stick of sausage ($5.99).  For $9.78 you can have sandwiches that will last you the entire week or more.  Plus bring your own soda (or milk), you will pay $.29 cents a can for soda at the store ($6.99 / 24) verses $.50 to $.65 from the vending machine.
 
2. Food is one of the largest bills that your family has.  Try and stay away from any pre-packaged pre-made entrees and try your hand at cooking yourself.  Also, scour the ads for your local grocery store and try and plan your meals around what's on sale.  (Do you really need that NY strip steak at $7.99 a pound?)

3. Reduce your speed when driving by 5 miles an hour (I am assuming that none of you do the speed limit).  You would be amazed at what a difference you could see in your gas mileage.  It may only be a mile or two, but if you travel 94.2 miles a day like I do, it will add up.

4. Do you really need that new car?  If you think about the money you spend for the loan payment and the full coverage on your car insurance, is it really worth it?  The money that you save buying used could be directed towards other things such as R A C I N G!!!!  8^)    Buying used however does have some risk, if you are not well versed in the auto mechanic arena, it would be helpful to bring a friend who is or take the car you are interested in to a reputable mechanic.  (FYI:  We have found the older GM 3.8V-6 motors to be really reliable, I'm sure there are others).

5. Keep up with the maintenance on your car: tire pressure, oil changes, spark plugs and wires, etc.  This we keep the mileage at it's peak and hopefully keep expensive repairs at bay.


There are many more, but here's just a few to get you started.

1&2)  Figuring that out.  A $3 frozen pizza is cheaper than $5 on a deli sandwich from the local butcher.  $2/day x 5 days/week x ~4 weeks/month = $40/month in savings right there.

3)  Already play the mileage game  :)  65mph seems to be optimum... so I hit the expressway, set the cruise, and let everybody blow around me.  I travel 85 miles a day... and it does add up - to just shy of $60 a week.  Then when you factor in $1.60/day in tolls (doubles to $3.20/day starting 1/1/05 thanks to our great IL governor) it REALLY adds up.

4)  A new car is my ONLY financial "problem".  After driving total beaters through HS and college, I've come to appreciate a new car with a warranty.  It may not be cheaper... but it's worth it for the peace of mind.

One thing is for certain:  each day that I pass that fuel pump and see a higher price listed, next year's racing season gets shorter and shorter.

[Jeff]

the F-U to the oil companies comes at a cost of the auto companies saying F-U to the consumers in inflated prices...

Actually I take that back.  It's not the auto makers, it's the dealers who no longer HAVE to haggle for a sale.

Agreed, tons of things can be done to save costs, & agreed that food is probably the biggest.  

Home heating/energy is another.  I live in a +3000 sq-ft house, and last year, my largest heat & electrical bill (combined) was under $400 for the month.  

If you're not in the house, don't heat it.  If you're sleeping, let the temp dip to 60, just pack on another quilt & have some flannel sheets.  A digital set-back thermostat with a good programming can save a TON of money...