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I have a gas price question for you folks..

5K views 89 replies 49 participants last post by  Immortal 
#1 ·
Since you all love gas price rant threads. I'm curious at what price point gas needs to reach before it starts affecting your basic ability to get yourself to work/school/etc.

I for instance work 13 miles from home on a time schedule that doesn't parallel anyone I work with or live near to effectively carpool without drastically changing my work hours etc.. My wife works the same distance in the opposite direction and has the kid to drop off in the morning at school. Similar time schedule co-worker location situation as me.

At present its costing me $50 a week in gas for commuting to work as I need a tank every week. The wife can get a week and a half to two but at $70-80 a tank. This of course was being in the $3-3.20 range. It would not surprise to see $4.50 by Xmas this year.
 
#2 ·
it's currently at that rate. I've had to start walking every place close to my apartment because I can't afford to drive other places and still get to work. Heck even last winter I told my boss it wasn't worth me to drive to work a few times because I would just be breaking even between driving to work that day and the amount I made that day
 
#3 ·
I guess one could say, in theory it already has impacted the commute - mostly by factoring in the combined cost of all of the inflationary items, from food, gas, utilities, and tuition. we're still very blessed, and able for my wife to stay at home, but as folks in the marketplace can attest to, I am basically in total tire kicking mode for a 3rd vehicle/toy.

I really want another SWB, and the ability to get back out and do some trail rides. At this juncture it just doesn't make basic economic sense for me to have one. My daily commute is some 70 miles round trip, so it definitely isn't cost effective to get rid of the go-kart to buy a SWB. In addition to the higher fuel costs, it seems that the SWB's have higher maintenance costs per mile as well (especially if one wheels it)

Been kicking around the idea of doing it however, but also buying a knee-dragger bike to save on fuel costs during ½ of the year give or take.
 
#4 ·
Been there for me. I actually for the first time was contemplating selling both jeeps. Even if I get the YJ done I can't afford to drive it anywhere. I finally dumped the truck for a car and started saving money again and gas shot up another .80/gal, which made that a wash. I ride an 1987 Honda Spree around Owosso, and still with the fiancee's hours getting cut at work for an unknown amount of time we are in a hurt right now. I don't know what I will do if it hits $4+
 
#40 · (Edited)
What I don't understand is why you don't have money. I'm 100% positive that your degree is SUPER WAY HARDER then my degree. Is your job field not in demand?



I don't drive the Gas Guzzling Diesel :tonka: when ever I get the chance.

I'm on the Motorcycle every time its sunny. I figure that the gas I save by driving it can go towards that gas I'll spend trailering the Jeep when I go on a ride.

We also don't go see the rent or in-laws as often as well. In my mind that's the only good thing about the high Gas price . . . it gives me a good excuse :sonicjay:


Edit: I'm also thinking about just replacing the engine in my MR2 with another stock turbo engine and sell off all the performance parts and super built block because of the gas price. Do I really need a 400HP 2.0L engine??
 
#8 ·
I do. Easily. Especially if Iran keeps messing around in the Gulf.. don't ignore the surging demand for petroleum from Asia as well as the limited supply/refineries. Election year or not, I think we're in for a lot worse, for quite a while.

Internationally there has been quite the backlash against ethanol as well...
 
#9 ·
It doesn't.

I might adjust the vehicle that I drive, but thats not a big deal. If I'm paying $500 a month on a car, and $150 in gas per month, then if gas doubles, I'll find something that does it for $350 a month. Probably just get the same thing, but used for a year or two...

It doesn't *affect* my ability, but would slightly influence how I accomplish it.
 
#11 ·
When I'm at work, it takes three-quarters of an eighth of a tank to get to work and back per day. (3/32 of a tank for you math whizzes)

At school, I only drive to the mounds and to the fiance (Flint to Kzoo and back), and that's only once or twice/month.

I can't switch my car, because I need one that will haul all of my crap from work to school and back.

I don't know how high gas prices have to get for me to worry too much (I already worry a little bit), but it's a price that must be paid, so I'm going to keep doing what I have to do to stay employed and move on with life.

Whatever needs to happen, I will make happen.
 
#12 ·
I actually left my last job for this reason. I was a merchandiser for a bread company and had to drive my own personal vehicle. I did not get mileage reimbursement or a gas allowance. Some days I was driving upwards of 150 miles to various stores. (Lansing to Portland and back to Lansing and then to Grandledge...) All this i my XJ. When I started gas was about $1.40 a gallon.Out of the 3 years I worked there, I only recieved a 25 cent raise, even though gas doubled! I am thinking about buying a bike to scoot around town, seeing I spend an average of $15 every other day just driving the XJ here and there.
 
#48 ·
It only takes $12 and change to fill up my bike once it hits its reserve. So figure about 130-150 miles on 3 1/2 gallons. The savings after the monthly payments for the insurance and the bike itself actually offsets the cost to fill up the truck over the month.
 
#13 ·
I no longer drive to Alpena every weekend... And I think twice before making road trips.
 
#15 ·
I love it when I hear people say they "can't" get a different car because they need to haul all of their crap be it for work school weekend toys whatever.

Gas has affected me to the point where I should have had the boat out 2 or 3 times already this year, it still sits wintereized.

I drive 110 miles a day, I am looking for a commuter car and my truck is for sale. I am not sure how many long trips to go wheeling/boating I will be able to pull off this summer. Gas prices have seriously affected the things I do for recreation.

I am also much less hesitant to drive to meet up with friends who live more then a half an hour away because of what it will cost in gas.

It keeps going higher, and I am not making anymore money, so yes it has already affected me.
 
#16 ·
Being in college some 3 hours from home I have just quit going home for any reason because I cant afford it with a 35 gallon tank and a thirsty motor. I would sell the truck, but wouldnt get more than 1/4 of what I have into it.

And I do see $4.25 by memorial day. sad thing is Ohio, PA, and MD are all still in the $3.15 range. MI is durn near equal to gas prices in Claifornia...sad
 
#26 ·
I don't drive a lot for work but it has already had it's toll on me. I have to plan out my trips to see my girlfriend in mt pleasant based on what extra money I have and the price of gas.

Having the jeep as a DD has really hurt, but I just can't think about parting with it.
 
#27 ·
I look at it from the standpoint of having money purchase and insure another vehicle solely for the benefit of better mileage. My vehicles are paid off and the insurance is dirt cheap. I'm not going to take a loss on a vehicle sale to replace it with a cheap beater that might get a few more miles to the gallon. I'm still out ahead a bit for while.
 
#28 ·
I hope you realize gas is going to over $5.00 per gallon by the end of summer if things keep going the way the are. You guys think it's bad for you with gas try paying for what a semi has to pay without a increase to cover the cost of fuel. 150 gals per day, 6 days a week= 900 gals = $3600.00 per week for just fuel. Oh this doesn't count all the rest. Which is more than most make in a month including me. So with that I shut the truck down. Becuase it cost me too much to work.
 
#30 · (Edited)
In 2005 when gas first hit $3.00 right after Katrina I took the Jeep out of DD and bought an Escort... and not the same kind that Elilot Spitzer had.

As it now sometimes touches $3.50 a gallon we are driving said Escort more often and the Jeep is at about 1000 miles per year and since I work from Home the mini van only gets about 5000 miles per year.

We still drive as much as we want but we take the small car most of the time. Our weekly gas bill is about $40 unless we go out of town somewhere.


I was able to insure the escort and make changes to the jeep policy so the insurance was only $25 more per year... With the gas savings of 12 MPG while the jeep was DD vs. 32 MPG the Escort was paid for in 10 months.
 
#33 ·
[rant]
Personally I'm not worried about gas prices...It's been a long time coming. They were stable for so long. It is kind of expected. Yeah I'll probably get flamed for this post, but whatever. I just get sick of hearing people bitch all the time. I drive a gas guzzler and I'm proud of it. :sonicjay: I'll eventually get a motorcycle because I want one anyways and will help offset the cost for gas. If you drive a gas guzzler you have no gripe against them because there are plenty of alternatives. Theres no reason you couldn't get a commuter for under 20k thats gets 30-40+ mpg. Same with people that bitch about commuting. If you drive 70miles a day get a smaller house closer to work. Make some sacrifices. If I was driving all that every day I'd move in a heart beat because not only am I wasting gas, but I'm wasting time as well and my time is worth more than that.
[/end rant]
 
#36 ·
what if you're stuck in a mortgage you can't get out of to move closer to work? My wife has been job hunting for 3 years hard now and can't find a better place to go. You're assuming people aren't willing to make sacrifices assuming there are ones to make. Some people are stuck in a car loan/lease, some are stuck in a mortgage, some are stuck in a job. Life's a shit filled twinkie and every once in a while you getting the filling.
 
#68 ·
Then its not really the gas prices that are killing you per se, its your circumstances, your planning, living outside your means, and maybe just dumb luck. I know you have talked about your wife having an Expedition, so, yeah, that would suck for gas.

Again, if gas going up like $100-$200 a month is killing you, and you have a house, expidition, built newer jeep, etc then you cut yourself too thin.
 
#37 ·
Luckily combined my wife and I only commute 25 miles a day. The downside is that i deliver pizza, and in the winter I plow snow (4 trucks@5hrs daily). I spent over 12k on fuel last year,and almost 6k so far this year. This is kinda scary I havent even used my jeep yet!
 
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