Cheapest and Best Gas?

[Jand3rson]

I've recently noticed that a lot of the same people bitching about the price of a gallon of gas don't bat an eyelash at paying $3-4 something for their 20 oz. of coffee every morning.

I'm just as guilty on the coffee, I'm an addict. But I don't care about gas prices. I just thought it was funny, because I was in Starbucks yesterday, and the guy in front of me was bitching and moaning to the woman he was with about how he just paid $3.65 for regular, and when the girl said "That'll be $3.80", he just tossed her a $5. And I usually see this guy everyday.

[nando]

I've recently noticed that a lot of the same people bitching about the price of a gallon of gas don't bat an eyelash at paying $3-4 something for their 20 oz. of coffee every morning.

I'm just as guilty on the coffee, I'm an addict. But I don't care about gas prices. I just thought it was funny, because I was in Starbucks yesterday, and the guy in front of me was bitching and moaning to the woman he was with about how he just paid $3.65 for regular, and when the girl said "That'll be $3.80", he just tossed her a $5. And I usually see this guy everyday.

I love coffee too, but i make my own - 3lbs of whole bean french roast is $9 at costco and lasts me about 3 months. screw paying $4 for starbucks.

[E30 Cabrio]

I paid $3.90 for 91 Octane the other night at Shell.

BTW, gas is gas. All the independents get their gas from the same place.

I used to work as a contractor several years ago and part of my job was going to the various distribution centers in Richmond, CA where the trucks fill up.

You would see the Unocal trucks filling their tanks and right along side of them, the Independent haulers that would service the no-name stations.

[James Crivellone]

I drop by whatever gas station is near me, that is not Arco.

Shopping around for gas is fucking stupid, who gives a shit if you save an extra 2 dollars. You bought the car, you can afford the gas... my basic rule of motoring.

[Jand3rson]

Shopping around for gas is fucking stupid, who gives a shit if you save an extra 2 dollars. You bought the car, you can afford the gas... my basic rule of motoring.

Thank you. Driving is a priveledge. If you can't afford the gas, don't drive.

[Jon325i]

I'm a faithful customer of 76 brand fuels - mainly because there's a good number of them in my area as well as being a quality product. What gets me is how widely the prices range for the same brand/grade of fuel in different parts of town. The other day I was half way across town doing some work and saw a 76 station selling 91 octane (that's all I run due to the JC chip) and it was $.08 less per gallon than the station that's just down the street from my place. Now I'm not the type who will drive out of his way to save a few cents on a gallon of fuel, but if I happen to be out there because of work or whatever and the guage reads 1/2 or less, I'm stopping and topping off the tank.

As someone who earns a living by driving all over town and the outlying areas, the recent spike in fuel prices has changed my driving habits. I'm upshifting at lower revs, cruising between 65 & 70 on the highway, checking engine oil & tire pressures daily and keeping all unnecessary shit out of the car. Where I live, 91 octane 76 fuel seems to be averaging around $3.75 a gallon these days - a troubling sign when you consider the actual summer driving season has yet to arrive. I am anticipating $4+ a gallon by summertime. I wonder how much more it has to climb before peoples' driving habits and choice of vehicles will change? Perhaps the human psyche will reassess this matter once fuel gets to $5 a gallon or more.

Jon

[nando]

John, i don't know that $5 is enough to change most people's habits - even at $4/gallon, gasoline is still one my smallest monthly expenses. people just like to bitch about it, while they simultaneously go 1 block from home in their Escalade to the drive up mocha stand.

[danno14]

so many things I could post....

(Disclaimer: Costco employee familiar with the gas biz)

most of it having to do with the "gospel" of misinformation "I know for a fact Exxon and Mobil...". A few of you have the right data, and more probably do but haven't bothered to post.

Gas is fungible. The same gas from a various refiners end up in the same tank. The haulers pull from that common tank and take it to the retailer. The difference in additives is put into the tanker based upon where it's going. Same additives, differing ratios. The retailer banks on the "Brand Loyalty" that many here display. As a side note, did you know that mid-grade is just blended premium and regular? GREAT profit margin potential for the retailer!

So here is what most of you (all?) have missed: How well do the retailers care for their filters? Their system? Do they do it themselves, or wait until lots has to be done to call out a technician? Just because it says ****ron or **ell, what's the level of quality from one station owner to the next? Not the quality as it drops from the truck but the standards they impart from that point onward? I know what the standards are, and am glad to be able to run Costco fuel in all my cars.

One last misconception to dispel:
"I've heard this is true for the gas stations ran by stores, costco and sam's club"

The 52 Costco gas stations in the NW region pumped over $70m in the recent 4 week period. Over 26m gallons in the last 3 weeks. There aren't enough "leftovers" to supply that volume.

[nando]

my car pings like mad with costco fuel - I used to run it all the time in the stock M20 though, and it was a great bargain. if I really wanted to be cheap I could retune my car for costco 87 I guess. ;)

[Jbs]

91 at 76 here