Fuel prices

[wavery]

I just came back from filling my tank so that we can head out to go camping at Doheny SP (140 mile round trip) .

It cost me $50 to put 14 gallons of gas in my car ($3.56 per gallon). I was pretty shocked. So far, it's not going to impact the way that I live my life but at some point, it may. I think what actually shocked me more was that it cost me $4 to put gas in my generator.

At some point, it will become cheaper to fly to your destination and get a hotel room. In fact, I have a friend that changed his plans for a trip to Florida from California. They intended to drive their class-A motorhome. Now they have decided to fly.

At what point is too much....too much?

[Recumbentman]

I was just telling my better half. that I am thankful we have a PU and not a TT or motorhome. Can you imagine how much it is going to cost them.$$
I don't know about flying though. I am sure the airlines are going to start raising there prices pretty soon or add an extra fuel tax to there tickets.
look at the good side, we should be able to get more camping in this summer since the bigger rigs will start cancelling there trips and there will be more opening at the CG's

[Buzz]

I don't know where that point is but it has to be somewhere. While our gas prices are about a $1 less than yours it cost me $11 for 4 gal of gas for my lawn mower the other day.

Almost every year we try to attend the Sheridan Wyoming rodeo (about a 800 mile trip one way). I called our favorite motel there to make reservations. They gave me a price of $77 per nite, last year is was around $50. That along with rediculously high gas prices we decided not to go this year. So there is $200 the gas companies are not going to get and $350 (the old price) the motel ain't gonna get either.

If others choose to make the same decision we did the amount lost will add up quickly. And maybe all will lower their prices.

[Old Goat]

We will definitely be camping closer to home with shorter trips here in NC...Price of regular here has been $2.89.9 for the past two weeks...Our yardman had to up his mowing price by five bucks which is understandable......Bumper sticker seen here; EAT MORE BEANS AMERICA NEEDS THE GAS.

[SpeakEasy]

I'm thinking that with so much uncertainty about people's travel plans, places like hotels might be in a position to negotiate. Buzz, did you tell them that you were strongly considering cancelling your travel plans when they quoted you that $77 figure? I'm thinking that they are nervous and are hearing this uncertainty from many who call to inquire. I would ask them if they can do better on that price.

[Buzz]

I'm thinking that with so much uncertainty about people's travel plans, places like hotels might be in a position to negotiate. Buzz, did you tell them that you were strongly considering cancelling your travel plans when they quoted you that $77 figure? I'm thinking that they are nervous and are hearing this uncertainty from many who call to inquire. I would ask them if they can do better on that price.

The motel is locally owned. I didn't talk to the owner I talked to the evening clerk. I told her what we paid last year and since I was 1/2 way through making the reservations when she gave me the price I told her to "scratch it". The clerk told me it was the decision of the owner to raise their summer prices.
I'm just bull headed enough not to stay at the motel again.

[Azusateach]

I'm thinking about picking up a little putt-putt car, just for using around town.  I drive all over the place in my Explorer, but it scares me to think what my gas bills are going to be this summer when I'm off for 10 weeks.  If I can get a car for the right price, I just might be able to justify it, especially if I only use the Explorer for long travel (safety & comfort reasons), and pulling the trailer.  We'll see ... it's free to look, and I LOVE looking!  

[wavery]

In my opinion, at some point, Americans are going to have to get committed to buying electric automobiles (not hybrids either).

There are only 2 things that are really effecting the feasibility of electric cars.

1. Battery technology. The batteries that we are currently using are using the same science and technology that was used to develop the original batteries in the 1800's. That is really sad. The person that discovers a new technology for storing electricity that does not involve lead/acid, will be the richest person on earth. Lead/acid batteries are heavy, unreliable and horribly destructive to the environment.

2. Nuclear power plants. That's because if we buy electric cars now and charge them up from our current electric sources, we will still be consuming oil.

Of course, fuel cell technology has a long way to go also. The biggest drawback, again, is old battery technology.

The other thing that could be done is to have electric lines run in the roads that cars could draw from. That way, the car would be connected to the grid most of the time but be able to go off on it's own batteries when necessary.

[OC Campers]

We just traded in our Honda Odyssey minivan and bought a new Civic.  Just couldn't afford 2 gas guzzling cars.  Couldn't get rid of the truck because of the popup.  Van didn't have enough umph to pull the camper, especially with the way we like to bring stuff.:confused:     Unfortunately, the 3 kids are stuffed in the back seat but we figured that we hardly ever have the 5 of us in the car at the same time (except maybe to go out to dinner) and if we have a longer distance to travel as a family we can drive the truck.

Jacqui

[4campinfoxes]

In October 2004 I think, we traded in our Ford F150 Pickup for a Toyota Corolla - we wanted to get a vehicle with better gas mileage.  With the price of gas these days boy am I glad we did!  We still have a gas-guzzling Ford E150 van but we couldn't get rid of that - it pulls the camper!  

We were considering buying a hybrid this year but decided that between the difference in trade-in vs. cost & the lower gas mileage there were plenty of better things to do with our money.  So - I'm also glad we still have the PU (although not the lightest on the block....) so we can get out & enjoy.

Sharon

[ilovecamping]

We went camping this wknd and when figuring our rough gas milage it was a little over 11 mpg.  We think it is the fact that we are using the tow haul mode.  We have once again decided to not take the camper on our trip to GA as we feel it would be less or about even to just rent something like a cabin or tt when we get there.  This trip is one we cannot cancel as it is to visit our DGC.

[TheViking]

A couple of months ago I blew up my 90 Toyota Tercel Commuter car that got 28 mpg.  I got a 98 Ford Taurus that is getting 29 MPG!  Often times as I found out, a small car, with a small engine may seem to get good mileage when it's new but often times the engine is way underpowered.  Especially when your drive includes hills and such.  This Taurus gets better mileage than the Tercel did because the engine doesn't work as hard to cart around the weight of the vehicle. I drive a min of 150 miles round trip to work each day so I'am a professional.  
 
 
The moral of the story is don't think you have to get a tiny car for good fuel mileage.

[TheViking]

A couple of months ago I blew up my 90 Toyota Tercel (4 cyl)Commuter car that got 28 mpg. I got a 98 Ford Taurus (V6) that is getting 29 MPG! Often times as I found out, a small car, with a small engine may seem to get good mileage when it's new but often times the engine is way underpowered as it gets older. Especially when your drive includes hills and such. This Taurus gets better mileage than the Tercel did because the engine doesn't work as hard to cart around the weight of the vehicle, especially up hills. I drive a min of 150 miles round trip to work each day so I'am a professional.
 
 
The moral of the story is:  Don't think you have to get a tiny car for good fuel mileage.

[wavery]

A couple of months ago I blew up my 90 Toyota Tercel (4 cyl)Commuter car that got 28 mpg. I got a 98 Ford Taurus (V6) that is getting 29 MPG! Often times as I found out, a small car, with a small engine may seem to get good mileage when it's new but often times the engine is way underpowered as it gets older. Especially when your drive includes hills and such. This Taurus gets better mileage than the Tercel did because the engine doesn't work as hard to cart around the weight of the vehicle, especially up hills. I drive a min of 150 miles round trip to work each day so I'am a professional.
 
 
The moral of the story is:  Don't think you have to get a tiny car for good fuel mileage.

That's very true. My 2001 Chrysler Concorde (tank) gets 28mpg and my wife's Toyota Camry gets 27mpg.

[dthurk]

I thought I read recently that crude prices went DOWN $6 a barrel and are now under $70 per barrel.  Has anyone seen a drop in prices at the pump yet?