Fuel prices starting to get ridiculous

[Alan L.]

I don't think oil is scarce at all. Unlimited supply - no. But we're not running out for many years. The ability to refine it is limited, there are artificial constraints on production to prop up the price, or to "save the environment". Some day we won't need it. I hope I'm still alive to see it.

I drive 57 miles to work one-way each day. I drive a full-size pickup and the gas is killing me. But I stopped off and picked up 1200 pounds of fertilzer and 200 pounds of bermuda seed on Friday. The Friday before that I brought home my new tiller in my pickup. How would I do without it?

My wife and I discussed it on the way to church this morning (we drive about 25 miles one-way even for that) and we are leaning to selling her GMC Yukon XL (if there is even a market anymore) and letting her have my truck. Then I would get a full efficient car to drive to work. We would surely miss the big SUV on vacations where our grandchildren ride with us, but we gotta do something.......

 

[Mith]

40 years supply, estimate....
but well start using nuclear, ect, so itll probably last longer than that.

 

[gsxr1100]

The prices are a joke.

I love the "world demand" is way we in the USA have higher fuel prices. Hmm, weird since in the last 3 months Exxon/Mobil has had it biggest quarter in history! So I am going to buy more of there stock tomorrow.

Yes, the UK is higher in prices but there there is more behind there prices then just tax too.

 

[RobertN]

Interesting question, "How could you do without it(full size pickup)". We have two of them, on 3/4 ton diesel, the other a 1/2 ton gasser.

Another question, is how does the rest of the world do without them? We here in the US seem to be the ones with the full size pickups. Other countries use some, but not to near the amount we use here in the US.

Vin, Mith, and our other TBN'ers from abroad, how do you do the hauling things you need to do without full size long bed super duty ground pounding pickup trucks?

 

[DaveNay]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Another question, is how does the rest of the world do without them? We here in the US seem to be the ones with the full size pickups. Other countries use some, but not to near the amount we use here in the US.

Vin, Mith, and our other TBN'ers from abroad, how do you do the hauling things you need to do without full size long bed super duty ground pounding pickup trucks? )</font>

I would suppose that TBNers are not going to give you a very good perspective of how people can do without their pickup or SUV, due to the nature of our jobs/hobby/lifestyle, we actually utilize the features available in a large vehicle. The question I can never understand is the number of people in the US that own Ford F350 Super Duty Diesel Duallies, and yet they live in the middle of Chicago or Manhattan, and all they do is go get a gallon of milk, or sit on the expressway idling.

I think this is where you will see 95% of the difference between the US and other countries. I have never seen the residents of London , Beijing or Berlin driving this type of vehicle, just as a status symbol.

Dave

 

[daedong]

Robert,

Fuel price in this country has ingrained conservative attitudes towards the type of vehicle one drives, even to the point that you would cop ridicule for buying a fuel guzzler. I also wonder if business houses are much more willing to deliver items purchased here than their counter part in the US. Whether it is the big box store or the local little hardware delivery charges are minimal and in most cases free if the order is of reasonable size. Big box stores have hire trucks at very low prices.

Having said that I cart most things in an 8x5 trailer that has hurdles, you can put very long pieces on top of the hurdles to clear the car.

 

[Bird]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Whether it is the big box store or the local little hardware delivery charges are minimal and in most cases free if the order is of reasonable size. Big box stores have hire trucks at very low prices.
)</font>

We, too, have the same thing. Having a pickup truck is just a great convenience, not a necessity, for many of us, although I don't really know what percentage of the owners actually need a truck.

 

[Av8r3400]

I looked this past weekend, and I put less than 5K miles on my truck in the last YEAR!

The best thing I ever did was to buy a little car as a "daily driver." I won't get rid of the truck because when I need it I need it, but when I don't its senseless to drive it. My $500 VW diesel has paid for itself many, many times over in the past 4 years I've owned it. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

(Now all I have to do is keep the wife away from the Jeep dealer, she wants another Grand Cherokee. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif)

 

[Durbob]

It is amazing what i can haul even with my little S-10 pickup. And 25-30 mpg is nice and STILL be able to haul something. And my other vehicle is a 32 mpg Cavaliar. I had wanted a little bigger car, but i think i will stick with what i have for a while. My wife drives the S-10 less than 6 miles to work round trip and i keep my box truck at the house so i have 0 miles to drive to work. I'm lucky that the fuel prices haven't hit me hard. Only 27,000 miles on the Cavaliar and 61,000 on the S-10 so i am good for a while anyway.

Dur

 

[Bluecheck546]

"Another question, is how does the rest of the world do without them? We here in the US seem to be the ones with the full size pickups. Other countries use some, but not to near the amount we use here in the US."

People in my native country(Poland) use small 4 cylinder diesel trucks to deliver goods. Just about 50% cars is diesel fuel powered . The gasoline prices at $6 to $7 per gallon right now encourage people to convert to propane gas, almost all gas stations carry it . Most engine sizes you see there are 1.8 to 2.23 liter, stick shift tranny..