$@$#%@ $3.46/Gallon at the pump this morning.

[maddash]

And you aren't even factoring in the $5000 replacement battery at the 4-5 year mark.

You do not need to replace the batteries. I drive a 7 year-old Prius with the original batteries. It still gets the same mileage as when it was new (45 mpg).

Yeah, I have no idea where the 4-5 years is coming from. I believe many batteries are rated for around 150,000 miles, or around 10 years.

[mikechamp]

And you aren't even factoring in the $5000 replacement battery at the 4-5 year mark.

You do not need to replace the batteries. I drive a 7 year-old Prius with the original batteries. It still gets the same mileage as when it was new (45 mpg).

Yeah, I have no idea where the 4-5 years is coming from. I believe many batteries are rated for around 150,000 miles, or around 10 years.

Sorry about that. I had heard/read that from somewhere (can't remember where) and thought it was a reputable source.

Sorry if I mislead anyone. Didn't mean to.

[mikechamp]

I think the max speed limit should be 55...... and enforce the hell out of it (though revenue from tickets should go towards renewable energy, not in the municipalities coffers)

Wasn't there a study done that showed you can get the same (or better) gas mileage at 60 MPH? I always thought they did the testing at 55 MPH because that used to be the old federal highway speed limit.

A lot of people can start offsetting higher gasoline prices by changing their driving habits, not gunning it, driving the speed limit, keeping your tires inflated to the right level.

++

[Popeye_Card]

A lot of people can start offsetting higher gasoline prices by changing their driving habits, not gunning it, driving the speed limit, keeping your tires inflated to the right level. If your not doing it already, try it on your next tank of gas, you will see a noticable difference.

Or better yet, not plan on living 20+ miles away from where they work.

I know it's not always practical, but as a society we forget that it's a priveledge, not a right to be able to drive around for 50 miles every day.

[Leroy]

If I lived closer than 17 miles to work, I'd have to live in a town of 150 people.
Not happening.

[Popeye_Card]

If I lived closer than 17 miles to work, I'd have to live in a town of 150 people.
Not happening.

I'm not saying I'm not guilty of it myself--I live about 10 miles from my office.

But I'm not going to complain about the ~$1500 a year I spend on gas to drive to/from work, instead of living close and walking either. If that $1500 truly represented a hardship, then I would be forced to re-look at my live/work situation.

[TheoSqua]

I actually think higher gas prices is a good thing for private transportation, and absolutely horrible for the rest of the economy.

$4/gallon gas forces people to be more concious about how much gas they use. There's absolutely no reason for some people to be driving around in 10mpg Hummers who have absolutely no need for the size of the vehicle and only drive it because it looks cool.

The problem is that people who can afford to drive hummers for no apparent reason can probably also afford to keep gas in them.

Even on a less extreme scale, I think it's causing people to think more conservatively about the vehicles they're getting. For instance, I changed my focus when looking for a new vehicle from a 6 cylinder to a 4 cylinder primarily because of the gas mileage difference. If the average MPG of vehicles purchased goes up by 5 in the next half decade, then the increase in gas is in the private transporation market is essentially offset.

I'm not sure the oil companies will let the auto industry make more efficient cars to a degree that will make much difference, but I hope you're right.

There are a lot of middle classed people who live right at, or above their means. The top-end consumers won't be bothered by the gas crunch, but the people who are barely able to sustain their current standard of living and probably shouldn't have even purchased the hummer in the first place will have to made adjustments. I know several people personally who own giant gas-guzzling cars that they probably shouldn't have purchased that are hurting by the gas, among other things. I don't think the gas specifically killed them, but it was enough to make them decide to downsize.

[Leroy]

If I lived closer than 17 miles to work, I'd have to live in a town of 150 people.
Not happening.

I'm not saying I'm not guilty of it myself--I live about 10 miles from my office.

But I'm not going to complain about the ~$1500 a year I spend on gas to drive to/from work, instead of living close and walking either. If that $1500 truly represented a hardship, then I would be forced to re-look at my live/work situation.

Oh, no...I don't complain either. But like I said, I will motorbike when the weather gets nice to save some gas.

And to pick up chicks.

[Popeye_Card]

There are a lot of middle classed people who live right at, or above their means. The top-end consumers won't be bothered by the gas crunch, but the people who are barely able to sustain their current standard of living and probably shouldn't have even purchased the hummer in the first place will have to made adjustments. I know several people personally who own giant gas-guzzling cars that they probably shouldn't have purchased that are hurting by the gas, among other things. I don't think the gas specifically killed them, but it was enough to make them decide to downsize.

It's really no different than the housing crunch right now. People who were probably living beyond their means before are feeling the squeeze. It doesn't really affect those who made smart house buying decisions, except that the bubble-bursting has hurt their property values.

Overall, Americans over the last 20 years or so have been generally living beyond their means, and that's reaching a crescendo (sp?). Comparisons could be made to the roaring 20's.

[maddash]

And you aren't even factoring in the $5000 replacement battery at the 4-5 year mark.

You do not need to replace the batteries. I drive a 7 year-old Prius with the original batteries. It still gets the same mileage as when it was new (45 mpg).

Yeah, I have no idea where the 4-5 years is coming from. I believe many batteries are rated for around 150,000 miles, or around 10 years.

Sorry about that. I had heard/read that from somewhere (can't remember where) and thought it was a reputable source.

Sorry if I mislead anyone. Didn't mean to.

No worries. With any new technology, it's tough to get the correct information.

While the $5000 seems to be an accurate cost, I believe most hybrid vehicles were made to run the average life of a car (7-10 years, 100k+ miles) before the batteries needed to be changed.