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Gas price per gallon threshhold poll (Page 2)
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 2005-04-04 10:13 AM in reply to: #135316 |
Expert  948    Mount Vernon, Iowa |  Subject: RE: Gas price per gallon threshhold pollRower - 2005-03-29 12:35 PM I was looking into getting one of the Turbo Diesel VW's (either the Bug, Jetta, or Golf). Close to 50 MPG Highway. Plus BioDiesel is springing up around me. That and you can always convert it to run on Veggie Oil: http://www.greasecar.com/ Actually, you don't have to do any converting. A friend of mine is running his 2003 VW Golf on 100% biodiesel and getting nearly 200 mpg (petroleum gas, which he only buys for mixing when temps drop below freezing). Biodiesel used to cost more, but with the tax incentives, his mileage and the increasing cost of petroleum, he's coming out ahead these days. |
| 2005-04-04 10:17 AM in reply to: #136588 |
Expert 948 Mount Vernon, Iowa | Subject: RE: Gas price per gallon threshhold poll cityplannerx - 2005-04-01 9:09 AM GatorGirl22 - 2005-04-01 6:53 AMMaybe the high prices of gas will force SUV-loving Americans to abandon their environmentally-polluting, ginormous, take up 2-parking spots CARS!!! Sorry, I just can't stand SUV's. I drive a tiny, reliable Acura Integra, and have for 5 years, and have never paid more than $24 (most recently) to fill up. When I go the gas station, all I can do is laugh at the guys in the Ford Excursions, who are still there filling up, 10 minutes after I've left! What posesses people to get that big of a car? Someone please tell me! Well, I drive a Jeep Wrangler which gets between 15-17 mpg. I drive an SUV because it satisfies my needs and wants. I realize many people by an SUV as a status symbol; particularly those Hummer H2s with street tires, what is up with that? But people buy what people want. If people want to drive a genormous SUV, let them. As for me, I am happy riding my bike to work and driving my Jeep on the weekends to save on gas. And I get a workout too! Whatever. Osama bin Laden loves your SUV.  |
| 2005-04-04 10:29 AM in reply to: #137679 |
Veteran 150 Citrus Heights, CA (Sacramento) | Subject: RE: Gas price per gallon threshhold poll CLLinIA - 2005-04-04 7:17 AM cityplannerx - 2005-04-01 9:09 AM Whatever. Osama bin Laden loves your SUV. GatorGirl22 - 2005-04-01 6:53 AMMaybe the high prices of gas will force SUV-loving Americans to abandon their environmentally-polluting, ginormous, take up 2-parking spots CARS!!! Sorry, I just can't stand SUV's. I drive a tiny, reliable Acura Integra, and have for 5 years, and have never paid more than $24 (most recently) to fill up. When I go the gas station, all I can do is laugh at the guys in the Ford Excursions, who are still there filling up, 10 minutes after I've left! What posesses people to get that big of a car? Someone please tell me! Well, I drive a Jeep Wrangler which gets between 15-17 mpg. I drive an SUV because it satisfies my needs and wants. I realize many people by an SUV as a status symbol; particularly those Hummer H2s with street tires, what is up with that? But people buy what people want. If people want to drive a genormous SUV, let them. As for me, I am happy riding my bike to work and driving my Jeep on the weekends to save on gas. And I get a workout too! Osama didn't attack America because we drive SUVs. And oil prices have nothing to do Osama. Perhaps I do not understand your statement. |
| 2005-04-04 11:06 AM in reply to: #137686 |
Expert 948 Mount Vernon, Iowa | Subject: RE: Gas price per gallon threshhold poll cityplannerx - 2005-04-04 9:29 AM CLLinIA - 2005-04-04 7:17 AM cityplannerx - 2005-04-01 9:09 AMWhatever. Osama bin Laden loves your SUV. ;) Osama didn't attack America because we drive SUVs. And oil prices have nothing to do Osama. Perhaps I do not understand your statement. OBL wants to turn the US into a target and exhaust our resources by dragging us into sordid little wars we can never really win. Our ever-increasing thirst for oil is one of the best ways to do that. IMHO driving an SUV is a profoundly unpatriotic act, for that and many other reasons. Edited by CLLinIA 2005-04-04 11:07 AM |
| 2005-04-04 2:19 PM in reply to: #137709 |
Veteran 150 Citrus Heights, CA (Sacramento) | Subject: RE: Gas price per gallon threshhold poll OBL wants to turn the US into a target and exhaust our resources by dragging us into sordid little wars we can never really win. Our ever-increasing thirst for oil is one of the best ways to do that. IMHO driving an SUV is a profoundly unpatriotic act, for that and many other reasons. Driving SUVs has nothing to do with patriotism. Patriotism is defined as "love of and devotion to one's country." I believe what makes America the greatest country on the planet (at least as it was created by the Constitution) is our ability as individuals to live a life of freedom or capacity to exercise choice and free will. If people choose to spend lots of money buying an SUV and even more money to fuel it, let them. As the price for oil increases over the next decade, hopefully people's attitudes towards SUVs will change. In my opinon, OBL attacked our life of freedom which resulted in changing attitudes towards freedom (e.g., Patriot Act) but has not changed attitudes towards materialistic items (e.g., SUVs). Edited by cityplannerx 2005-04-04 2:19 PM |
| 2005-04-04 3:05 PM in reply to: #137853 |
Expert 948 Mount Vernon, Iowa | Subject: RE: Gas price per gallon threshhold poll cityplannerx - 2005-04-04 1:19 PM Driving SUVs has nothing to do with patriotism. Patriotism is defined as "love of and devotion to one's country." I believe what makes America the greatest country on the planet (at least as it was created by the Constitution) is our ability as individuals to live a life of freedom or capacity to exercise choice and free will. If people choose to spend lots of money buying an SUV and even more money to fuel it, let them. As the price for oil increases over the next decade, hopefully people's attitudes towards SUVs will change. In my opinon, OBL attacked our life of freedom which resulted in changing attitudes towards freedom (e.g., Patriot Act) but has not changed attitudes towards materialistic items (e.g., SUVs). Totally disagree. The choices we make as consumers affect our country's economy and security. That's why people say buy American. It's basic economics, and those same choices shape foreign policy. Bush's "the American way of life is a blessed one" rhetoric is just propaganda for his oil industry buddies. We are FREE to do lots of things that are harmful to ourselves and others. The wise exercise of freedom is the cornerstone of democracy. Your choice to drive an SUV contributes to wars fought by Americans in oil-rich parts of the world and the degradation of the last pristine lands in the U.S. for petroleum extraction. I call that unpatriotic because I define patriotism as working to keep my country as safe and unspoiled as possible. You seem to define patriotism as declaring yourself free to do anything you want regardless of the consequences. |
| 2005-04-04 3:08 PM in reply to: #136578 |
Master 2346 Dayton, Minnesota Bronze member | Subject: RE: Gas price per gallon threshhold poll Well, the fact that we have four kids and two dogs played a big part in our TrailBlazer purchase. We had to get something that would hold at least all six of us at once, so that pretty much means an SUV or a minivan. We went with the SUV for the better four wheel drive performance as we live in MN, and my parents live in the Upper Peninsula of MI (250+ inches of snow per winter, usually), and because it had more room for luggage, bikes, dogs, etc. (it actually seats 7, so there is some extra room). And, at the time, the financing was right. That said, I don't drive it every day because I still have my old Ford Taurus that I drive when I don't have to haul all the kids at once. That doesn't get outstanding gas mileage, but it's better than the TB. And regardless of which vehicle I drive to the park-n-ride, I take the city bus to work 95% of the time. I know I could always be better where gas is concerned, no doubt. Just trying to explain why my family has an SUV. |
| 2005-04-04 3:59 PM in reply to: #137677 |
Veteran 152 Central Connecticut | Subject: RE: Gas price per gallon threshhold poll CLLinIA - 2005-04-04 10:13 AM Rower - 2005-03-29 12:35 PM I was looking into getting one of the Turbo Diesel VW's (either the Bug, Jetta, or Golf). Close to 50 MPG Highway. Plus BioDiesel is springing up around me. That and you can always convert it to run on Veggie Oil: http://www.greasecar.com/ Actually, you don't have to do any converting. A friend of mine is running his 2003 VW Golf on 100% biodiesel and getting nearly 200 mpg (petroleum gas, which he only buys for mixing when temps drop below freezing). Biodiesel used to cost more, but with the tax incentives, his mileage and the increasing cost of petroleum, he's coming out ahead these days. There is a diffrence between straight veggie oil and bio diesel. The Hydrocarbon chain is exactly the same. The problem is that veggie oil has glycerin in it which is why you cannot put it into a Diesel engine without pre-heat. Biodiesel is vegtable oil, except it was treated with ethanol. Ethanol is used to seperate the glycerin, from the usable hydrocarbon stock (biodiesel). The usable hydrocarbon stock is even more pure than regular petrolium diesel (no nitrous based compounds which is the leading cause of pollution). You can use straight veggie oil in a diesel engine, you just need to pre-heat it with regular petro-diesel or biodiesel for about 3 minutes. Then you switch over to veggie. Most of the kits they sell are just servo-valves and spare tanks where you switch between a diesel tank, and veggie oil tank. The advantage to using Veggie oil is the glycerin acts as a cylinder head lubricant so it decreases wear and provides more even heat distribution. |
| 2005-04-04 5:29 PM in reply to: #137881 |
Veteran 150 Citrus Heights, CA (Sacramento) | Subject: RE: Gas price per gallon threshhold poll The wise exercise of freedom is the cornerstone of democracy. First, we do not live in a democracy. The United States of America was founded as a republic. The U.S. Constitution guarantees every state a "republic" form of government. I wish people get this right, especially the media. Second, who defines what is considered a "wise exercise of freedom?" You? The government? Any reigns placed on freedom can no longer be defined as freedom. You seem to define patriotism as declaring yourself free to do anything you want regardless of the consequences. That is incorrect. It it is the role of goverment (hint: republic) to set the rules/laws for protecting our freedoms and including the protection of the environment to prevent irreversible consequences from occurring. I agree our actions effect the world around us including the environment, economy, and community. But it is the rules/laws established by the government (republic again) that protects our freedoms and protects our environment, economy, and community. Through those rules/laws I am no longer free to anything I want regardless of the consequences. Note: It is not my intention to be adversarial, but only for a friendly debate. How is this related to Triathlons exactly? I think we have gone a bit off track.  |
| 2005-04-04 6:46 PM in reply to: #135279 |
| Regular 80 | Subject: RE: Gas price per gallon threshhold poll << We have a Ford Expedition because we have a large family (read: 4 kids don't fit into small cars well..), plan on having pets and I required 4x4 for the winters up here in AK. Our other cars are an S-10 which was hubby's commuter (it's dying a slow and painful death) and his 70 Chevelle, which is/will be a much thirstier car than my Expedition. He should be done with the resto here...soon. A few more parts and it'll be good to go. And then I'll have a car again. The Expedition holds all of us in reasonable comfort and even has room for 2 more. Perhaps those will be seats for the puppies... Diana |
| 2005-04-05 11:11 AM in reply to: #137910 |
Expert 948 Mount Vernon, Iowa | Subject: RE: Gas price per gallon threshhold poll Rower - 2005-04-04 2:59 PM CLLinIA - 2005-04-04 10:13 AM Rower - 2005-03-29 12:35 PM I was looking into getting one of the Turbo Diesel VW's (either the Bug, Jetta, or Golf). Close to 50 MPG Highway. Plus BioDiesel is springing up around me. That and you can always convert it to run on Veggie Oil: http://www.greasecar.com/ Actually, you don't have to do any converting. A friend of mine is running his 2003 VW Golf on 100% biodiesel and getting nearly 200 mpg (petroleum gas, which he only buys for mixing when temps drop below freezing). Biodiesel used to cost more, but with the tax incentives, his mileage and the increasing cost of petroleum, he's coming out ahead these days. There is a diffrence between straight veggie oil and bio diesel. The Hydrocarbon chain is exactly the same. The problem is that veggie oil has glycerin in it which is why you cannot put it into a Diesel engine without pre-heat. Biodiesel is vegtable oil, except it was treated with ethanol. Ethanol is used to seperate the glycerin, from the usable hydrocarbon stock (biodiesel). The usable hydrocarbon stock is even more pure than regular petrolium diesel (no nitrous based compounds which is the leading cause of pollution). You can use straight veggie oil in a diesel engine, you just need to pre-heat it with regular petro-diesel or biodiesel for about 3 minutes. Then you switch over to veggie. Most of the kits they sell are just servo-valves and spare tanks where you switch between a diesel tank, and veggie oil tank. The advantage to using Veggie oil is the glycerin acts as a cylinder head lubricant so it decreases wear and provides more even heat distribution. Cool! Thanks for the science lesson! I've been looking around for a used diesel but they don't seem very common. |
| 2005-04-05 11:16 AM in reply to: #137949 |
Expert 948 Mount Vernon, Iowa | Subject: RE: Gas price per gallon threshhold poll cityplannerx - 2005-04-04 4:29 PM Note: It is not my intention to be adversarial, but only for a friendly debate. How is this related to Triathlons exactly? I think we have gone a bit off track. :> This is the forum for off-topic posts, remember? You seem to be arguing why govt shouldn't regulate your use of an SUV, not why it's okay for you to drive one. I'm telling you my *opinion* that SUVs are a really lousy consumer choice, not proposing to ban them, although I would be in favor of legislation requiring higher fuel efficiency and more renewable fuels. Why do you suppose the administration is opposed to that? |
| 2005-04-05 12:22 PM in reply to: #138191 |
Veteran 150 Citrus Heights, CA (Sacramento) | Subject: RE: Gas price per gallon threshhold poll This is the forum for off-topic posts, remember?You seem to be arguing why govt shouldn't regulate your use of an SUV, not why it's okay for you to drive one. I'm telling you my *opinion* that SUVs are a really lousy consumer choice, not proposing to ban them, although I would be in favor of legislation requiring higher fuel efficiency and more renewable fuels. Why do you suppose the administration is opposed to that? Yeah, I realize that, but still do not want to make enemies. We need to realize that the auto manufacturers do not make much strides in increasing fuel efficiency either. There are a number of technologies available today (e.g., bio-deiesel, natural gas) that can be used in our internal combustion engines today, with minor alterations. It is a shame that these technologies are not easily accessible to consumers. This leads back to "comsumer choice." What options do consumers have today? The only easily accessible, low emission vehicles are the hybrids. But even these vehicles burn pteroleum and do not get the mpg that they claim. Until feasible alternative fuels become easily accessible, I am happy reducing the amount of driving in my SUV by riding my bike and mass transit whenever possible. I feel it would much more productive to promote alternative modes of transportation (e.g., mass transit, bike) along with smart-growth community designs (yes, I am a city planner) versus promoting alternative fuels. This will be interesting during the next few decades as the price for oil increases and oil eventually disappears. We should also realize that oil is used to manufacture MANY other products other than as fuel in our autos. |
| 2005-04-05 1:00 PM in reply to: #138191 |
Veteran 152 Central Connecticut | Subject: RE: Gas price per gallon threshhold poll I actually would not mind an Apollo Style program for renewable energy within this country (I know this was one of John Kerry's campaign propsals, too bad..). If we went to the moon and back in a decade, this one should be easy. Too bad the energy industry lobby is way to strong, other than that its up to grass-roots enginuity to stirr up the energy revolution. The only reason why SUV's can get such abomital fuel efficency is because they are not classified as cars, they are Light Trucks or Farm Equipment which has relaxed standards. Its funny because I dont see bales of hay strapped to all the Escalades out there |
| 2005-04-05 1:03 PM in reply to: #138256 |
Pro 5153 Helena, MT | Subject: RE: Gas price per gallon threshhold poll The only reason why SUV's can get such abomital fuel efficency is because they are not classified as cars, they are Light Trucks or Farm Equipment which has relaxed standards. Its funny because I dont see bales of hay strapped to all the Escalades out there LOL! Agreed. Any vehicle with spinner rims on it definitely shouldn't be classified as farm equipment. Though that would be hilarious to see spinners on a John Deere... |
| 2005-04-05 3:17 PM in reply to: #138222 |
Expert 948 Mount Vernon, Iowa | Subject: RE: Gas price per gallon threshhold poll cityplannerx - 2005-04-05 11:22 AM Yeah, I realize that, but still do not want to make enemies. We need to realize that the auto manufacturers do not make much strides in increasing fuel efficiency either. [br] Well, Detroit doesn't. The Japanese have thrashed us for years on fuel efficiency, and Americans just keep buying the biggest gas guzzler they can get their hands on. I hope we can disagree strongly about the morality of driving a gas guzzler without calling each other names or anything. I just want to convert you! There are a number of technologies available today (e.g., bio-deiesel, natural gas) that can be used in our internal combustion engines today, with minor alterations. It is a shame that these technologies are not easily accessible to consumers. This leads back to "comsumer choice." What options do consumers have today? The only easily accessible, low emission vehicles are the hybrids. But even these vehicles burn pteroleum and do not get the mpg that they claim. Until feasible alternative fuels become easily accessible, I am happy reducing the amount of driving in my SUV by riding my bike and mass transit whenever possible. I feel it would much more productive to promote alternative modes of transportation (e.g., mass transit, bike) along with smart-growth community designs (yes, I am a city planner) versus promoting alternative fuels. This will be interesting during the next few decades as the price for oil increases and oil eventually disappears. We should also realize that oil is used to manufacture MANY other products other than as fuel in our autos. I guess I'm still not seeing your argument. It's okay to drive an SUV because low emission, high mileage vehicles haven't permeated the market? Do you think that has anything to do with people who might be expected to know better (like city planners) putting their consumer vote behind SUVs rather than those lovely low emission, high mileage vehicles? That sounds like letting the perfect become the enemy of the good. And don't get me started on the safety hazard SUVs pose to cyclists, pedestrians and other motorists. When someone nearly sideswipes me on my bike, I don't even have to look, it's always an SUV. People just don't have any idea how big those things really are. They ought to have to get a special license. |
| 2005-04-06 10:33 AM in reply to: #135279 |
Regular 66 Dearborn, MI | Subject: RE: Gas price per gallon threshhold poll I have a miata and a pathfinder. I have the pathfinder for my dogs, they don't fit in the miata.... I love my pathfinder, it fits my dogs, my bikes, and whatever else I need, and performs in the snow and on the ice... I just wish there was a way to convert it into something that doesn't eat so much! I get about 20 mpg... so that sucks... I usually drive it between november and april, with summer approaching I will be switching to the miata which gets better gas mileage, so I won't be killing the earth as quickly... but when the dogs have to go someplace, you'll see me driving the gulper, unfortuantely.... I wish cooper would come out with a station wagon w/ roll top roof... then I'd have the best of both worlds! |
| 2005-04-06 11:10 AM in reply to: #135279 |
Champion 4902 Ottawa, Ontario | Subject: RE: Gas price per gallon threshhold poll Hey, we're paying 90 cents a litre up here ... that's about 3.42CND or 2.74AMD per gallon. Think about Europe, they're paying approximately 1 Euro per litre ... that's about 5.68CND or 4.54AMD per gallon! |
| 2005-04-06 11:48 AM in reply to: #138755 |
Expert 948 Mount Vernon, Iowa | Subject: RE: Gas price per gallon threshhold poll Machiavelo - 2005-04-06 10:10 AM Hey, we're paying 90 cents a litre up here ... that's about 3.42CND or 2.74AMD per gallon. Think about Europe, they're paying approximately 1 Euro per litre ... that's about 5.68CND or 4.54AMD per gallon! This might partially account for why most Europeans don't have 4 kids and 2 dogs! |
| 2005-04-06 12:00 PM in reply to: #135279 |
Veteran 152 Central Connecticut | Subject: RE: Gas price per gallon threshhold poll And also why europe has such a great passenger railroad system! |
| 2005-04-06 1:21 PM in reply to: #138786 |
Expert 948 Mount Vernon, Iowa | Subject: RE: Gas price per gallon threshhold poll Rower - 2005-04-06 11:00 AM And also why europe has such a great passenger railroad system! Hey, we have passenger rail in Iowa every time they leave a door open on a boxcar. |
| 2005-04-06 9:35 PM in reply to: #138256 |
Champion 6285 Beautiful Sonoma County | Subject: RE: Gas price per gallon threshhold poll Rower - 2005-04-05 10:00 AM I actually would not mind an Apollo Style program for renewable energy within this country (I know this was one of John Kerry's campaign propsals, too bad..). If we went to the moon and back in a decade, this one should be easy. Too bad the energy industry lobby is way to strong, other than that its up to grass-roots enginuity to stirr up the energy revolution. You mean like this: http://www.apolloalliance.org/ |
| 2005-04-08 5:09 AM in reply to: #135279 |
Champion 5850 Michigan | Subject: RE: Gas price per gallon threshhold poll i think we should be very thankful, i have a friend living in england now and they pay around 2 bucks a liter, that's like 8 bucks a gallon! i also have 2 cars, trz, it must be a MI thing, one to get through my road in the winter and muddy spring ( i live on a two-track, for you non-country people, it's a farm lane) and one to drive fast with in the nicer 3 months of the year. |
| 2005-04-08 12:01 PM in reply to: #135279 |
Extreme Veteran 476 San Jose, CA | Subject: RE: Gas price per gallon threshhold poll I commute on my old Fuji to work when I don't need a car for meetings, field work, or rain. Bike & Walk to places around towneasily get an extra 20-30 miles a week in like that. GF commutes to school on Bike or Lightrail, saves gas, time & a $180 parking pass. She uses her car daily for work (nanny) but other then that, I'd sell my car if she'd let me get a new bike |
| 2005-04-08 12:23 PM in reply to: #135279 |
Champion 11641 Fairport, NY | Subject: RE: Gas price per gallon threshhold poll Next year, the administration will phase out the $2,000 tax credit for buying a hybrid vehicle, which gets over 50 miles per gallon, but will leave in place the $25,000 tax write-off for a Hummer, which gets 10-12 mpg. Fort Worth Star-Telegram For the life of me, I can't see how this is even remotely in the national interest. |
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