Where will it stop for you?

[AKaiser]

I would tend to agree.



On April 3, 2003 I paid $1. 579/gal. On March 27, 2008,I paid $4. 049. That's a ratio of 2. 6 in 5 years.



If we assume, optimistically, a ratio of 2 every 5 years, we'll be at ~$8/gal in 2013.



Without public transportation infrastructure, what will our government do to help us out? I'm hoping they open up ways for us to use human power to get to work (bicycles, walking). Although, it occurred to me the other day that if food prices continue to climb with fuel prices it might not be any cheaper to "fuel" yourself for the ride/walk to work every day!



Ryan

I think you're using a trend that doesn't take any actual factors into account, besides the fuel price trend of the last five years. That's not much to go on. Besides, it doesn't take into account the fact that, typically, high prices are the cure for high prices.

 

[rbattelle]

I think you're using a trend that doesn't take any actual factors into account, besides the fuel price trend of the last five years. That's not much to go on. Besides, it doesn't take into account the fact that, typically, high prices are the cure for high prices.

Yeah, you're right. A far-too-simplistic view. But I was trying to be optimistic.



Ryan

 

[AKaiser]

The refineries don't want to keep up, In Cali we use 99. something of everything refined. One hiccup and we are screwed. Just the way they like it (oil companies) Exxon posted some nice profits again. Seems that we will be the ones on bicycles. And that "cheap" stuff from China won't be no more. We will have to find another country to exploit.

The refining companies are kinda stuck due to laws that make it very difficult and cost prohibitive to expand or build new. Typically, it's heavy-handed GOVERNMENT that, as Ronald Reagan put it so eloquently, is the problem. Everyone wants to blame "BIG OIL" as if they were so powerful. Well, if they were, they could take advantage of the windfall that they haven't seen until the last 5 years and start building additional refining capacity in the U. S.

 

[pullya]

Parked the truck and use the wifes car for everyday errands. Use the truck for towing only, usually weekends. Gotta save money for gas for the boat(twin 496's). When you play you gotta pay!!!

Jay

 

[bnlsox57]

I've been driving mine for 6 years, and the fuel mileage it gets and if I can get the power back that I lost from fuel pump changes, it beats the gas rigs as far as I am concerned. Now if I fail to get the power problem fixed, then I may look at dumping it too.

 

[bnlsox57]

I have a strong hunch that when those who are truly in power, (Those with the gold), finish bringing this country to it's knees to the point of neutralizing the choke hold the screaming liberals have placed on US, then we may get some relief, though it will never be as before!

 

[Tractorat]

By this time next year, we'll be referring to May 2008 as the "good 'ol days"

 

[JRBurton]

I used to drive a furd, saved a long time for my 2001. Ordered it from factory. I love driving mine, used it for towing my 5er also, get 20 mile per gal. so I guess I'll stop driving it when I'm dead.



John

 

[PRattenbury]

One nice thing about mine is, it's paid for. I gotta burn a lotta fuel to make up for a car payment.

 

[Yo Hoot]

One nice thing about mine is, it's paid for. I gotta burn a lotta fuel to make up for a car payment.

Me too. Too much money lost and for what? A smart car?:-laf

 

[Mhouse4]

Aready sold mine! The saddest day because it took me so long to get one! Loved the power and such. Just couldn't afford $600 payment and $200 in fuel.

 

[Yo Hoot]

Aready sold mine! The saddest day because it took me so long to get one! Loved the power and such. Just couldn't afford $600 payment and $200 in fuel.

Did you make a profit after all things considered?

 

[mberry]

I'm waiting for mine to be paid off too. I'm paying over $1K per month in expenses for it but I've only got 4 more payments to go. I was thinking about getting a new one, but I just can't justify it now since there's nothing wrong with my truck now except I'm getting tired of shifting gears and it's a want, not a need. Guess I'm lazy.

 

[Grizzly]

My 05 is paid and I only use it when I need it to haul things or to haul the 5er. For regular commuting, I use the much more economical Toyota car.

 

[aharman]

My '01 gets close to 20mpg, and I'm driving it daily now because my 02 Z28 is undergoing elective surgery. Since the Camaro gets 24mpg and can run OK on mid-grade, I would be driving it. With diesel at $4. 20/gal, the truck costs much more to drive.



When I first bought the truck in 2004, gasoline was $2. 18, and diesel was $1. 78. I congratulated myself on my good judgment. Now I'm thinking of marginal ways of reducing the cost of those dreaded $120 fill-ups.



I wonder if I can find a safe, steady supply of used motor oil to stretch the diesel? Sure I can, I work at Eaton Corp. , and we throw away lots of oil from our valvetrain test rigs every week. If I can run 2 gallons of WMO per fill-up, that would be like cutting the cost of diesel from $4. 20 to $3. 95/gal. This would only work when the weather is warm; no way I'm going to risk injecting high-viscosity fuel in sub-freezing temperatures.



Then again, there is the vegetable oil thing. Invest $2000 in a conversion kit and fuel tank. Wouldn't even necessarily have to run waste vegetable oil; go to Sam's Club and buy fresh Wesson Oil for $2. 00/gal. The first 100 gallons of VO that I run through the truck would pay for the conversion kit. This kind of thing can become a lifestyle, however, and I appreciate the convenience of pulling up to the pump and putting in fuel that has guaranteed quality.

 

[DJW]

How much will cooking oil cost with increased demand? Only the Shadow knows. At least keep dreaming, costs very little, and adds pleasure to life.

 

[aharman]

Oops, I should have said 1000 gallons of VO to pay for the conversion kit. That would be 20,000 miles of driving, which is a little over a year, considering how fast I put miles on the truck. If I was getting the VO for free, the payoff would be much faster. The first 500 gallons of diesel that I didn't have to buy would pay for it.



Like anything else in this world, if enough people start doing something, the government will get involved and screw it up for everyone. The first thing they would do is come after people for not paying taxes on the VO used for fuel.



DJW is right. Once demand for cooking oil increases, the price will go up, and then the food vs fuel debate expands past the ethanol debacle. So don't tell anyone; it'll just be a secret among people in the know!

 

[DJW]

aharman as a child I had my first lesson in economics, read in a newspaper that people in Australia was boycotting meat owing to the high price, as soon as the Fishmongers were aware of it they doubled the price of fish owing to demand. That was goodbye to a Cheap (not free) Lunch. Competition and Demand can work both ways, Decrease cost, also Increase cost, that's to the consumer of course, a business has to make a profit.

 

[EArp]

I use mine as a daily driver (hoping to get a 5er sometime soon). I figure I can get nearly 20 mpg or better (if I keep my foot out of it!!), so in my mind getting the better fuel mileage kind of justifies it for me. I can't imagine not having a truck and our diesels get a heck of a lot better mileage than a gasser truck! I'll drive mine til the wheels fall off. I've always wanted one, and one day it'll be paid off and I won't have to worry so much about fuel prices. I also like the fact i'm driving something that'll last forever if properly maintained.

 

[Forrest Nearing]

as long as I've got my current job, I don't care what fuel costs... If that changes, I'll definately keep one of the trucks, but I'll probably replace one with something to drive when I don't "need" a truck