gas prices

[oaklandopen]

today our instructor had written the following on the whiteboard:

1966 10 33.6
2008 10 2.56

he was trying to see if anyone understood what it was. eventually he let ppl know that in 1966 $10 worth of gas was like 33gal, and now that same amt of $ will get you 2.5 gal.

i can remember when i started driving i used to get change back from filling up a tank on $20, and im only 24.

i know that there are those who are truly affected by expensive gas prices, while at the same time there are some to whom $70+ fillups don't affect whatsoever (else why would manufacturers still be mass producing guzzlers like trucks or top end bimmers, mercedes, audis, etc)

as it seems to be going by the time i receive my BM GT premium will be leaning toward $4.50/gal, and my wife cringes more and more for the decision of buying the ms3. my reasoning was that i enjoyed the old 2.3 gt so much i wanted the same car, just this time with more hp. sure, she didn't like the fact that it requires 91 octane, but she enjoyed the car to, and her deal to me was that we exchange vehicles on a weekly basis.

has anyone gotten the ms3 because it was a good comprimise between performance and economy? would any of you have still selected the ms3 if the prices were steady at $2/gal? was gas price more of a factor than the $24k msrp?

curious.

 

[evilmonkeyMSP]

The way I see it, why sacrifice being able to drive something fun to save a few dollars a fill up. In the end premium is only typically 20 cents more than regular. In an average tank size that amounts to less than $3 difference in fill up compared to a car that runs 87. Yeah, you might not get spectacular gas mileage compared to a civic hybrid but you didnt buy the car for the gas mileage...

 

[buttdart]

i don't have a fuel efficient car, therefore i don't think i should be allowed to b**** about gas, so i don't.

 

[zoom-zoomhatch]

Exactly, and eventually they will have to do something about the price of gas. It will never be as cheap as it was when I started driving in like 2001(about 1.30 for premium) but hopefully in the next 2-3 years settle back at a reasonable 2.50 or so. Unless there's something else effecting gas prices I'm unaware of.

 

[SuperStretch18]

i don't have a fuel efficient car, therefore i don't think i should be allowed to b**** about gas, so i don't.

Awesome. Rep for you...

 

[TheDoc]

I've driven V8's my whole life prior to my MS3. My last vehicle was a 99 Lightning with full bolt ons and a tune it averaged in the single digits for fuel economy around town. My first road trip I averaged 12 mpg. There was no second road trip. I loved that truck to death, but I'm really ok with taking a drop in performance to more than double my fuel economy.

I can drive to work in my MS3 (42 miles) and get 32mpg. I took a 960 mile roadtrip last weekend and averaged 28mpg. The reason for the drop was moving 70-75mph through Indiana and Ohio, even in 6th gear, I'm pushing 3k+ revs.

On the trip, I filled up four times or so... Each time it cost in the area of $4.10-$4.30 a gallon (hurray for Chicago having the most expensive gas around).. and despite that, I wasn't too bothered. With a 24 gallon tank, back last September at the $3/gal junction, I was paying $75 in premium to fill up every, single, time. And usually wound up filling up twice a week. Today, it would cost me over $100 to fill up.

The price of gas didn't effect my purchase decision, I wanted a speed6 in 2005 and I couldn't afford it, so I bought the Lightning instead. When I decided it was time to get rid of that, I opted for the 3 because the 6's were done being made and I felt I deserved a new car.

To say that the price of gasoline is "okay" would be wrong. There are too many injustices happening in the fuel market- but if I'm asked, I can tell people that I have the best compromise between performance and economy that there is, and I love it.

 

[oaklandopen]

The way I see it, why sacrifice being able to drive something fun to save a few dollars a fill up. In the end premium is only typically 20 cents more than regular. In an average tank size that amounts to less than $3 difference in fill up compared to a car that runs 87. Yeah, you might not get spectacular gas mileage compared to a civic hybrid but you didnt buy the car for the gas mileage...

that's kinda what im trying to figure out. you absolutely right about the minimal difference between a premium fillup and a low grade fillup in the same vehicle...but no one looks at gas that way. because gas had allways been cheap before, they think that gives them the right to b**** and complain, when there's more important stuff to worry about.

what's $3 difference in fillups? don't get a jumbo starbucks coffee (which per gal would be wayyyyy more than gas, even though ppl get those everyday)

my calculations show me that a mazda3s gt, at a steady 10,000 miles in one year, a steady $3.80/gal, and mazda's rated 25.5mpg respectively....it would annually cost $1489 to fill up
a ms gt with the same annual mileage, $4/gal, and mazda's rated 22mpg respectively...would annually cost $1816

now your example of the civic hybrid goes as follows:
10,000 miles on 42.5mpg would be about $893/year on low grade....and that car is almost $2k more than the mazda3s gt. so the $500 difference in yearly gas would mean it would take 4 years for the honda owner to realize he made a good decision to get that instead of the mazda

and i realize driving habits aren't equal as well as gas prices don't stay the same. but if you have a steady decent job (which you should have if you buy a new car anyway) than these differences really are minimal

 

[Kobyoshi]

Unless there's something else effecting gas prices I'm unaware of.

It's called the falling value of the US dollar, but we dare not mention that here.

has anyone gotten the ms3 because it was a good comprimise between performance and economy? would any of you have still selected the ms3 if the prices were steady at $2/gal? was gas price more of a factor than the $24k msrp?

When I was looking for cars, my choices came down to a Honda Civic Si (4 door), a Subaru WRX hatch, and what I ended up with a MS3.
They all take premium and I drive a crap load of miles for my job. I simply wanted my drive to be enjoyable.
I test drove each of these many times over a several month time span and the MS3 won hands down.

 

[ecniemann]

yes

yes

no

 

[Donas64]

Gas prices will not stop my dreams of owning a G8 GT. Thats what cylinder deactivation is for

 

[Donas64]

It's called the falling value of the US dollar, but we dare not mention that here.

Its also called an increased supply due to demand from growing economies like India & China.

Economics 101: Demand skyrockets + Supply stays stagnant = Increase in price.

 

[08cosmic3]

Exactly, and eventually they will have to do something about the price of gas. It will never be as cheap as it was when I started driving in like 2001(about 1.30 for premium) but hopefully in the next 2-3 years settle back at a reasonable 2.50 or so. Unless there's something else effecting gas prices I'm unaware of.

Gas will only continue to climb. It will not be going back down. World demand and the fact that we won't allow new drilling in this country will mean that it will be $5 a gallon next year. My wife and I live close to work and Wally world so I'm not sweating it. We don't eat out as often and will be vacationing closer to home.

It will never happen but we should form a food cartel. We are in fact the greatest producer of food. We should tie the price of food items to the price of oil for those countries in the oil cartel. Let them eat oil.

 

[08chris]

Gas prices blow ass!! I'd really like to know how Dodge/Crysler/Jeep is offering new car buyers $3 gas for 3 years???

Not to mention...it's funny that gas prices keep going up even though Bush has stopped sending oil to the reserves AND the gas companies are still making BILLIONS in PROFITS!!

 

[dallasms3gt]

Much like the reply from Doc, I have been driving V-8's for many years. Corvette, Camaro Z-28, Roush F-150, etc., and the my latest purchase prior to the Mazdaspeed3 was a brand new 2003 Lightning. I bought it straight from the dealership brand new, and promised myself that i would keep this truck for 10 years, or more, and not buy anything else..... However....

As gas prices have increased, and I do a fair bit of driving, and have done a lot of mods to the Lightning, I find myself at the Gas Station more often, and spending in the neighborhood of 150-200 per week on gas. I just paid off the Lightning this year, and REALLY hated the fact that I was even considering getting rid of it, but analyzed the situation over and over in my head, and decided that it was more practical to buy soemthing with a lot better gas mileage, get rid of the truck, and pay cash for the MS3.

So, my input to your question is Yes.. I did buy the Mazda due to the rising cost of gas. I am very happy with the car, and on an average for the past month, I am spending approximately 40-50 per week on gas, and am not missing the truck too much. I still have the truck, and I am going to sell it, but keep procrastinating...(sad2)

 

[User Name]

If you can afford the car, you can afford the gas.

But to answer the question, the price of fuel didn't influence my decision. The fact that I can haul all my work gear around, and still have friends in the car, did.

 

[FrequentFlyer]

Its also called an increased supply due to demand from growing economies like India & China.

Economics 101: Demand skyrockets + Supply stays stagnant = Increase in price.

And our country's love of big vehicles to drive our fat, McDonalds-fast-food eating-butts around doesn't help either. Face it, we are probably one of the most inefficient countries in the world. We love to waste resources. Why? Because we can. For how much longer? Who knows? Over the past 15 or so years, car sales have dropped and SUV/small truck sales have more than doubled. US Car manufacturers like Ford, Chevy and Dodge have reaped the profits on these behemoth vehicles because they don't pay a gas guzzler tax on them (loophole in the whole "small truck" category that SUV's fall in). So what incentive is there for these manufacturers to explore more efficient technology? There is none. They sell what people will buy and what do people like to buy? A vehicle that can transport 3/4 of their belongings through the Rocky Mountains to drive to work and back everyday... .ALONE. Why must someone drive a vehicle that gets 15mpg on the highway as a daily commuter when they rarely ever use it for its intended purpose? You'll probably say, "This is America... it's their right to buy whatever they want." and you are correct, but it doesn't stop me from thinking that they're morons. Whether this country likes it or not, we will get more and more like Europe as time goes on. You don't see giant SUV's driving the streets in Europe. 1, because they don't have the room for them and 2, because gas is about $8+ a gallon over there. Mass transit is 400% better and people have no problem getting on a train or a bus to go to work (or even riding a bike). Our transportation system as a whole... well, blows. Why? No incentive to improve it. That's my .02. Just think how much gas we'd save if more cars got 30mpg than 15mpg.

 

[Betelgeuse]

Compared to the 10-14 mpg SUVs and trucks floating around, the ms3's fuel economy is not bad at all. But like someone said, it was not a major factor in my purchase.

As for gas prices, it's probably gonna hit $6.00 or $7.00 in six months. The supply and demand excuse floating around is just part of it. Greed is another (and a BIG one) as well as the speculative aspect. But I believe there's going to be a backlash and big one. These prices are putting too much strain on many businesses as well as many average Americans. And just like the real estate fiasco something's going to give.

 

[D_Roc7822]

Compared to the 10-14 mpg SUVs and trucks floating around, the ms3's fuel economy is not bad at all. But like someone said, it was not a major factor in my purchase.

As for gas prices, it's probably gonna hit $6.00 or $7.00 in six months. The supply and demand excuse floating around is just part of it. Greed is another (and a BIG one) as well as the speculative aspect. But I believe there's going to be a backlash and big one. These prices are putting too much strain on many businesses as well as many average Americans. And just like the real estate fiasco something's going to give.

I completely agree with you 100%.. gas is never gonna be 2.00 a gal or anywhere near that. I remember back in the day, when gas was 1.99 and everyone thought that was high. What I wouldnt give to pay 1.99 for gas nowadays lol. What I dont understand is why has the price increased so much here recently... like the last 3 or so months. I mean before gas would go up... then go down a lil bit... then go up to a new higher price... and then go back down a lil bit and the cycle would keep going. Now.. it goes down 2-3 cents a gal.. and then flies up 15 cents a gal in a day or two. Is demand really just now making it go up and up and up each day? Is demand really making oil/gas go up more than a 1.00 in just over a year? Cause last year youd be paying 2.50 for premium goodness... now your lucky if you can find it for 3.50 for 87 octane. Maybe Im just out of the loop.

 

[FrequentFlyer]

Gas goes up due to paranoia and speculation that demand for crude will outgrow supply. Most of the time, it's major bull$hit and instead of accurately representing what the price should be, the oil companies are laughing all the way to the bank.

 

[redspeed3tk]

jeep can offer that because its a max of 12k miles and its prob less than most people get off the sticker price anyways ha so if gas is 4.00 and you get 22mpg they are givin you $500 a year so they could of just gave ya 1500 back but it sounds better as "free gas" and its prob only at some stations as they prob made a deal with a oil company