I love pumping premium!!!

[SchnellerVert]

no worse than GM with a rebadged Caddy esclade. 50G gimme a break. Hate to see whhat the big 3 profits are after the sale ends...

[Rob]

what Cheades said.

[BimmerToad]

IMHO an increase in gas prices will be the only way to improve public transportation, cut down on traffic, and promote more efficient cars. In the US (esp. SoCal) it seems like public transport are mostly for those who can't afford cars, where as in Europe, all socio-economic classes use public transportation. This is partially due to the fact that insurance, cars, and gas are more expensive (partially due to the massive taxes Europeans pay to support their social programs). Until gas prices really start hurting consumers, I don't think manufacturers are going to see a huge demand for more efficient (and lighterweight) cars, and I don't see politicians demanding for better public transport until people can't afford to operate cars.

One problem is that we're going to pay up the @ss during this transitional period (if it happens), not only in gas prices, the improving of public infastructure, and most importantly for all goods, since the majority of US goods are transported from city to city through the trucking industry.

We've always had the means to create cars that could get 40+ MPG without fuel cells, hybrid technology, etc... look at the 60s VW Beetle. Sure it crash tested abismally, wasn't luxurious, was probably gutless on the freeway, and could spin easily, but it was stripped out enough that it didn't need a large engine to keep up with the rest of traffic. However, in the US over the last few years, there hasn't been a demand for a 'stripper gas mileage hero', and more of a demand for the behemouths that seat 7-9, weigh 2 tons, and have a huge engine to make up for the weight.

Look on the bright side, hopefully it will decrease traffic so you can have fun on the backroads at $5/gal. :)

At least premium is still ~$0.20 more than regular, regardless of average gas prices.

[Rob]

and more of a demand for the behemouths that seat 7-9, weigh 2 tons, and have a huge engine to make up for the weight.

you mean the 5 series?


ha

[uflnuceng]

its great, there's tons of SUVs/Trucks now here in charlotte with For Sale signs that weren't there a month ago. Perhaps people will start to realize they dont need that shit?

Good, I'm 110% in favor of a resurgence in small cars, because that will lead to economical sporty cars...

Yeah... I'm constantly bitching with the wife about what our family vehicle will be. She says we will just get an SUV, which I am fine with cos actually our Denali is uber-fucking nice... shitty mileage but I don't care about that... if I couldn't afford it I wouldn't drive it which is what is happening with a lot of these yahoos who are probably getting shit trade-ins on their Exploders and the like. Makes me laugh.

I just remember having to cram in the back seat of the car during my pre-teen years in my parents Plymouth Sapporo (not my parents car, but gives you an idea) all the way from New Jersey to Missouri... if I had to suffer so will my kids... no multi-function DVD/Sat-Nav leather recliner seats for those ungrateful assholes... and I don't even have kids yet. Just a nice mid-size sedan so I can easily swing back and smack them if need be.

[Rob]

yup, there is very little that 90% of people who own SUVs use them for than an Accord wagon or sedan cannot....

[BMW BMXER]

Haha, I wish it cost me $48usd to fill my tank. Flirted with $70usd for a bit there, around $56 for the past few weeks.

Not like I drive any less.

Your cruises don't help either. But I could just not go.


Chipped eta = I lose like everyone else. Meh. V8 Blaze will be worse.

[Mystikal]

Your cruises don't help either. But I could just not go.


Chipped eta = I lose like everyone else. Meh. V8 Blaze will be worse.

Thanks in part to the cruises I layed down 2000km in just over 2 weeks. Time to adjust the valves and visit the rollers!