Irrational responses to the high gas price

[Darus Grey]

Yeah, that's understandable, though not really informed either. A Prius uses more energy over its lifetime than a Hummer right now. Part of it is the shorter lifetime (100k miles vs 300k miles), part of it the additional accessories and part the much more specialized components. A Hummer is steel and shit that's used in other vehicles also.

Isn't that estimate of 100k for Prius some bullshit off a completely inaccurate report from awhile back?(I remember we discussed this like...a year ago or more).

I almost have 100k on mine and it's still in great shape and the battery pack is holding charge just as good.

[Desx]

If you regularly drive 70 to 75, try dropping down to 60 to 65. In a SUV/Truck you can improve your gas mileage 2 to 3 MPG going 60 to 65 vs. 70 to 75. Netting you about $9 to $12 a fill up.

This works the same way by driving 55 instead of 65. or 45 instead of 55. etc. I think people in Austin are going by this because they drive slow as hell.

[Adam12]

Originally Posted by Desx

This works the same way by driving 55 instead of 65. or 45 instead of 55. etc. I think people in Austin are going by this because they drive slow as hell.

I still drive about the same on the toll roads, ~70, and I still feel like I'm going slow. People just try to get out of Round Rock as fast as possible I guess. Probably should bring it down though, $200/month for gas is bullshit.

[James]

Originally Posted by Desx

This works the same way by driving 55 instead of 65. or 45 instead of 55. etc. I think people in Austin are going by this because they drive slow as hell.

Which is one reason I cannot fucking stand driving in Austin. Bunch of stoned hippies that can't remember where they're going or why and end up going like 20 mph just to royally piss me the fuck off.

I love when people tell me to drive 75 instead of 85, or 65 instead of 75. My dad actually did this the other day. I was like, dad, you've driven in Houston traffic before -- was there ever any point during rush hour where you felt you dictated your own speed? It's not dipping down 10mph or some shit to get more mileage per gallon, Houston traffic is go 5mph, go 70mph, go 5mph, go 80mph, rubberneck at the wreck, go 5mph again.

[Dr. Funkenstein]

Originally Posted by Malakriss

Car payments are monthly and stretched out for years. Gas payments are at least weekly and may fluctuate even higher.

Either way, your (ir)rational perspective is irrelevant beyond yourself and your situation. Everyone else has their own.

So you're saying that relativity doesn't only apply to morality, but also economics now? It's no wonder so many people got "scammed" by lending institutions into taking loans they couldn't afford.

[tseveng]

Originally Posted by Desx

This works the same way by driving 55 instead of 65. or 45 instead of 55. etc.

Wrong. At 45 miles an hour your car is probably not in it's main gear (which happens to produce the most efficient MPG for a vehicle). Typically 55-65 produces the most efficient gas consumption, although it varies from car to car. I know when I drive my sister's Concord I get better MPG at 65-70 MPH than at 55-60 MPH.

[Dis]

Originally Posted by James

Which is one reason I cannot fucking stand driving in Austin. Bunch of stoned hippies that can't remember where they're going or why and end up going like 20 mph just to royally piss me the fuck off.

I love when people tell me to drive 75 instead of 85, or 65 instead of 75. My dad actually did this the other day. I was like, dad, you've driven in Houston traffic before -- was there ever any point during rush hour where you felt you dictated your own speed? It's not dipping down 10mph or some shit to get more mileage per gallon, Houston traffic is go 5mph, go 70mph, go 5mph, go 80mph, rubberneck at the wreck, go 5mph again.

Very true, but some points on the Beltway you can maintain certain speeds. The point being is you want to lay off changing speeds constantly (IE speeding up, and then gunning it to speed up). The faster you drive, inevitably you get stuck behind someone going slow, so you have to slow down, wait, pass, and speed back up. If you are going say 65 down beltway, it is somewhat rare to really get stuck behind someone. Trust me, I make the drive multiple times during the day, pretty much everyday. Of course, when you hit 290/8 or 10/8 you will get stuck in some traffic, but past that yeah.

I have improved my gas mileage by just doing the speed limit, I swear it works.

[James]

I dunno what part of beltway 8 you drive on, but it gets pretty hammered in my little stretch from 290->45. Sure, there's gaps where it opens up, but if you don't speed up with everyone else you lose your spot in line.

[Dis]

My daily trips consist of driving Barker Cypress/290 to 59/Sterling McCall stores taking the Beltway. I do some 59 south, to 59 north to Kingwood drives as well, also to Clear Lake from time to time.

Out of all of the drives, 290 is really the only place I cant dictate my speed. I avoid leaving work at 5, I either leave at 4, or after 6. 5 - 6pm 59 to Beltway to 290 is pretty much bumper to bumper all the way home.

[renaissance]

Originally Posted by realadxm

I use public transport. Maybe that's not an option for everyone but at least here in Melbourne, Australia the transport is great. Cost me $28 per week and i'm saving so much money not having a car.

Bah I'd rather take public transport down there any day. Driving in Melbourne is like playing Russian Roulette. Crazy drivers + "round abouts"+ hook turns or whatever the hell that move is called = one scared fucking Canadian.

Aussie drivers are damned insane.

[Lambourne]

How are diesel cars doing these days in the US? I know they were just about unheard of 10 years ago.

Common rail diesels really are a night and day difference compared to the noisy and slow diesels from the 80s/early 90s.

I get 31 MPG average with my 2001 BMW 530d, and that includes driving to/from work at 90+ MPH every day (late night shift is nice for your commute time ). Not too bad considering it's a 3900 lbs luxury car, I'm sure a 4 cylinder diesel VW Golf would easily do 40+ MPG.

Of course, gas costs €1.65/l here these days (~ US$9.41/gal) so the savings add up more quickly than they do in the states.

[Adam12]

I only know about Central Texas, but diesel is running atleast $.50/gallon higher here than regular unleaded. The gas station down the street just took their diesel pumps out due to lack of demand.

[Hachima]

Originally Posted by Dis

In a car, you can typically see 7 to 10 MPG improvement in doing the above suggested. Netting you $7 to $10 a fill up.

haha I call BS. I don't know where you are making these numbers up from... I can reset the MPG calculations on my car at any time and test it for any span of driving. In my BMW 330xi if I drive on the freeway at a constant 55 MPH I will get ~24 MPG and when I drive at 110+ MPH I still get ~21MPG. In city driving I usually get ~19mpg.

Just letting the car coast a while doesn't count for showing high MPG... You need a good 20 miles of driving to come up with anything... Even then I guess I could claim my record of 65MPG going at 40 MPH since I was coasting down a canyon the whole time.

Anyway I think there are a lot more important things to be worried about than gas prices as far as the economy goes... Like the overall value of the US dollar (which is partially related to gas prices anyway)

[Cathan]

Originally Posted by James

Which is one reason I cannot fucking stand driving in Austin. Bunch of stoned hippies that can't remember where they're going or why and end up going like 20 mph just to royally piss me the fuck off.

I love when people tell me to drive 75 instead of 85, or 65 instead of 75. My dad actually did this the other day. I was like, dad, you've driven in Houston traffic before -- was there ever any point during rush hour where you felt you dictated your own speed? It's not dipping down 10mph or some shit to get more mileage per gallon, Houston traffic is go 5mph, go 70mph, go 5mph, go 80mph, rubberneck at the wreck, go 5mph again.

That rubbernecking shit pisses me off. I lived in cali and the news out there parked a car on the side of the road with a camera in it pointed out the driver side window into traffic to see how much of a problem it was. Results: you saw people leaning forward and doing a full idiot stare at the "tire change" on the side of the road and guess what? Multiple wrecks happened and were caught on tape because stupid fucks were staring at the oh so interesting TIRE CHANGE...!!!!!!!

I make it a point to keep my roadside viewing to a glance when I see shit on the side of the road because I hope to be part of the solution to that bullshit. I probably do other stupid shit but gd rubbernecking pisses me the fuck off when we could still do 70 or so and get my ass to work/home 30 minutes sooner...

[Dis]

Originally Posted by Hachima

haha I call BS. I don't know where you are making these numbers up from... I can reset the MPG calculations on my car at any time and test it for any span of driving. In my BMW 330xi if I drive on the freeway at a constant 55 MPH I will get ~24 MPG and when I drive at 110+ MPH I still get ~21MPG. In city driving I usually get ~19mpg.

Just letting the car coast a while doesn't count for showing high MPG... You need a good 20 miles of driving to come up with anything... Even then I guess I could claim my record of 65MPG going at 40 MPH since I was coasting down a canyon the whole time.

Anyway I think there are a lot more important things to be worried about than gas prices as far as the economy goes... Like the overall value of the US dollar (which is partially related to gas prices anyway)

We Test the Tips

I will call bullshit on you, if you drive at a constant 65 +/- vs. a 110+ or even 75 you WILL see an improvement on your gas mileage. We have done the same thing on the civic, and we have seen a 38 vs. 33 at doing 65 vs. 75-78 that I normally do. (this is in city)

Edit: And the whole point is you cant effect the price of the dollar, which some believe we are purposely keeping it undervalued (we being the US Government) but you can effect the demand for gas

2nd Edit: Also, this wasnt the study I found initially either, just googled this