gas prices- a deeper look

[BNaylor]

Originally Posted by '97ventureowner

...And how many SUVs do you see flying down the highway doing 80 to 85 m.p.h.? I guess those drivers don't care what gas costs or what their m.p.g. is.

When I'm on the open roads or interstates quite a bit of them. Many of which are Expeditions, Tahoes, Yukons (Denali) and other typical gas guzzler SUVs. Difference is they are getting way less than 20 mpg (most likely 10-15) while I'm getting over 25 mpg at those speeds which is common or legal now in the Southwest U.S. and in West Texas. I luv looking at their faces when they have to fill up though. I imagine their credit card debt is ridiculous. Typical American decadence. Sad!

$4 or more per gallon may be a reality this summer as a nationwide average.

[J-Ri]

Originally Posted by ericn1300

Most Pickups are used for hauling less than 5% of the time and and could be rented on those occasions and still cost less than owning one. With my 96 Pontiac sedan and utility trailer I can haul 3 times the weight of a 1/2 ton pickup and 50% more than a one ton and it gets 25/33 mpg the rest of the time.

You got a source on that 5%? I hear 80% of statistics are made up on the spot I would have thought it was higher than that... but I suppose it varies by area. Out here there are relatively few "shiny" pickups.

What we need is some sort of registration and insurance discount for pickups that are driven less than X miles per year. I know several people that have them to pull a boat/camper and drive it all the time because they can't afford a seperate expense for a car.

I've pulled 2,500-3,000 lbs with my Beretta and it still got better mileage (17 opposed to 8 or less) than my truck and with a more comfortable ride. And that was 70-80MPH most of the way. If it weren't for my stomach knotting up every time I hit the draft off a big rig, I'd even say it was an enjoyable drive.

['97ventureowner]

Originally Posted by J-Ri

What we need is some sort of registration and insurance discount for pickups that are driven less than X miles per year. I know several people that have them to pull a boat/camper and drive it all the time because they can't afford a seperate expense for a car.

Check with your insurance company as many do offer a discount for yearly mileage under a certain amount. I've relegated my '94 C1500 to "yard horse" duties including picking up mulch, compost or topsoil for my property. Hauling big purchases home from the big box home centers, or taking a load of trash ( items too big for regular weekly trash pickup) to the transfer station. I mainly use the truck from April to October/November, then store it for the winter months. My insurance company drops my premium to a very small monthly charge to keep something on it so I don't have to turn in my plates every year and then get new ones the following year. NY runs a 2 year registration cycle and keeping some insurance on it while it's not being used keeps the plates current. I just call them when I take it off the road for the winter and the clock starts ticking for 6 months following that and automatically gets reinstated to regular insurance coverage at the end of those 6 months unless if I call them sooner to reinstate it earlier.
Even id\f you use your truck year 'round but don't put a lot of miles on it , there should be a lower premium for it. Make sure your truck is rated for the lowest possible mileage per year that you travel.Call your agent and find out if i is and if not let them know you don't put a lot of miles on it and see if a lower premium is available for that reason.

[J-Ri]

Thanks, I'll do that. I need something where I can call and get insurance for a day at a time... I've used it 2 times so far this year, because of snow. Unless I need to pull something big I probably won't drive it until the next snowfall.

[ericn1300]

Originally Posted by J-Ri

You got a source on that 5%? I hear 80% of statistics are made up on the spot I would have thought it was higher than that... but I suppose it varies by area. Out here there are relatively few "shiny" pickups.

80%??? seems low. my stats are 100% made up I wasn't talking about country boys with toys or construction workers, it was an observation made of all the pickups in bumper to bumper commuter traffic on the freeway with one person, no load and no mud on them.

my brother was visiting me when i lived in Cali for awhile and noticed the lack of pickups around town. he tosses his empty beer cans in the back of other parked pickups while driving around.

[BNaylor]

Originally Posted by ericn1300

I wasn't talking about country boys with toys or construction workers, it was an observation made of all the pickups in bumper to bumper commuter traffic on the freeway with one person, no load and no mud on them.

Then you'll hate driving in Texas and New Mexico. Too many here on the roads. And most with no 4WD either.

Also, the NBS (New Body Style) GM trucks/suvs are assembled in Arlington and I believe the Toyota Tundra or the Tacoma in San Antonio.

[ericn1300]

Originally Posted by BNaylor

Then you'll hate driving in Texas and New Mexico. Too many here on the roads. And most with no 4WD either.

And I heard another quote on the radio today, "pickup owners that have never even been close enough to the barn to smell the manure, let alone ever to have to muck a stall". Been there, done that so I had to LMFAO

The commuters can control their costs through a variety of programs available but food costs will continue go up just as long as they hold out for the privilege of driving alone in a 3x4 cabin with a 4x8 empty cargo space behind them.

By the way I own two pickups, an 81 GMC and a 50 GMC, both with about 130k. I just choose a more economical ride when I need to go to town for a loaf of bread.

[YogsVR4]

I drive a Titan like a bat out of hell. 12 mpg. No complaints from me.

I've even had people comment how I must hate to fill my tank. I just want to laugh in their face and say that I'm sorry that they're to stupid to get a job that pays enough to where the price of gas is immaterial.

I drive my VR4 for fun so every cent I pay for gas is entertainment related. The same goes for the motorycycles, Delorean and boat. Its amazing how many people complain about the price, but drive around 'just for fun'.

opcorn:

[BNaylor]

Originally Posted by YogsVR4

I drive a Titan like a bat out of hell. 12 mpg. No complaints from me.

I've even had people comment how I must hate to fill my tank. I just want to laugh in their face and say that I'm sorry that they're to stupid to get a job that pays enough to where the price of gas is immaterial.

Oh wow 12 mpg? Only in America! You can have fun with your gas guzzler while I laugh all the way to the bank and my IRA account. There is more to life then being a slave to some vehicle like a pickup truck or SUV unwisely used as a daily driver. To boot most Americans are in debt to their eyeballs driving them and anyone can get one regardless of your income.

With my discretionary income or any income leftover for entertainment and hobby purposes I have fun racing my GTP and Honda MX bike which have no bearing on the rising price of gas since they are used infrequently as off road vehicles and use race gas. Plus the savings pays for the mods.

opcorn:

[Oz]

Originally Posted by BNaylor

Oh wow 12 mpg? Only in America! You can have fun with your gas guzzler while I laugh all the way to the bank and my IRA account. There is more to life then being a slave to some vehicle like a pickup truck or SUV unwisely used as a daily driver. To boot most Americans are in debt to their eyeballs driving them and anyone can get one regardless of your income.

With my discretionary income or any income leftover for entertainment and hobby purposes I have fun racing my GTP and Honda MX bike which have no bearing on the rising price of gas since they are used infrequently as off road vehicles and use race gas. Plus the savings pays for the mods.

opcorn:

Words of Wisdom. QFT

[YogsVR4]

Originally Posted by BNaylor

Oh wow 12 mpg? Only in America! You can have fun with your gas guzzler while I laugh all the way to the bank and my IRA account. There is more to life then being a slave to some vehicle like a pickup truck or SUV unwisely used as a daily driver. To boot most Americans are in debt to their eyeballs driving them and anyone can get one regardless of your income.

With my discretionary income or any income leftover for entertainment and hobby purposes I have fun racing my GTP and Honda MX bike which have no bearing on the rising price of gas since they are used infrequently as off road vehicles and use race gas. Plus the savings pays for the mods.

opcorn:

You must have missed the part where I scoff at anyone who's income is so low that they have to be worried about the price of gas I could tripple my milage, save every cent and it would be lucky to be even come close to one tenth of one percent of my income. Quite a few people are in this boat to begin with. It also has nothing to do with debt (which far to many people are in for other reasons). People need to live within their means. Those who buy something they can't afford to run shouldn't e a reason to limit my choices.

[72chevelleOhio]

Originally Posted by YogsVR4

I could tripple my milage, save every cent and it would be lucky to be even come close to one tenth of one percent of my income. .

When I bought my '02 chevy Z71 silverado, I spent about $130 a month in gas driving EVERYWHERE. Today if I drive all around I spend just shy of $600. I always pay with a card and save all my receipts, I'm not just pulling numbers out of the air. Who cares about your income level? The last time I checked that extra $470 a month could buy a lot of stuff........

[BNaylor]

Originally Posted by YogsVR4

You must have missed the part where I scoff at anyone who's income is so low that they have to be worried about the price of gas I could tripple my milage, save every cent and it would be lucky to be even come close to one tenth of one percent of my income.

I guess a lot of people in this country or even our friends abroad would not find that comment funny especially when they have to pay for higher gas prices caused by the millions of other Americans with a similar attitude. It doesn't matter what your income is but savings makes good sense to me.



With all due respect to you Yogs what do plan on doing converting it to a Honda Civic. .....

[ericn1300]

Originally Posted by YogsVR4

You must have missed the part where I scoff at anyone who's income is so low that they have to be worried about the price of gas I could tripple my milage, save every cent and it would be lucky to be even come close to one tenth of one percent of my income.

Your posting exemplifies why wealth is not a good measurement of a persons worth. You shine the light brightly on the fact that no matter how much money some people have they just ain't worth shit.

[Oz]

Originally Posted by YogsVR4

You must have missed the part where I scoff at anyone who's income is so low that they have to be worried about the price of gas I could tripple my milage, save every cent and it would be lucky to be even come close to one tenth of one percent of my income. Quite a few people are in this boat to begin with. It also has nothing to do with debt (which far to many people are in for other reasons). People need to live within their means. Those who buy something they can't afford to run shouldn't e a reason to limit my choices.

"I earn, there for I am"...