Quoting:
  $2.05 for premium.  If I had a longer commute, I'd be switching grades right about now, I'll tell ya.  A month ago it was $1.89.
End Quote

so you always use Premium?  

I gotta be honest, I use Regular 99% of the time, and Medium occasionally when its cheap.  But never found a need to use Premium.

Quoting:
we are about 70 miles from a Nuclear Power Plant, though.  
End Quote

ouch  :-/

Quoting:
My husband went to Home Depot this morning & said that they have a big sign in front of the store that list all the supplies needed in case of a terrorist attack (to seal rooms off in your home) and they were sold out of everything on the list.  This is so disturbing to me.  I am getting a little freaked out.  What is it like where you live?  
End Quote

A co-worker went over to Home Depot at lunch and she said they have duct tape, plastic/tarps and bottled water at the entrance.

Quoting:
As for gas by me, it is in the 1.60 range. I think I will strangle an arab if it goes over 2 bucks.  ;D ;D ;D
End Quote

Hmm...
In my area, Petrol (Gas is something completely different ;)) costs approx £3.50 / gallon ($5.66)
Although, most of that is tax (which goes to support the strangling of arabs)

Quoting:
As for gas by me, it is in the 1.60 range. I think I will strangle an arab if it goes over 2 bucks.  ;D ;D ;D
End Quote

That's a pretty harsh statement don't you think?  What if I told you that I was an ARAB?  Would you strangle me?  

Quoting:
I live in one of the cheaper gas price areas of the state.  For Regular it is $1.49 mid-grade is $1.59 and premium is $1.69.  The average in our state is $1.56.  It just went up two weeks ago.
End Quote

Ours is nearly the same.  Maybe a little higher in some areas.  Not too bad compared to some of the prices I've seen posted.

Quoting:
The hubby and I were talking the other night and we are about 70 miles from a Nuclear Power Plant, though.  
End Quote

My sister-in-law lives about ½mile from Hinkley Point nuclear power station.  A couple of years ago, they repainted it "Sky blue and mushroom" - I kid you not, and it took a while before they realised why I found it hilarious... but then, I've always had a pretty sick sense of humour.

On topic: Petrol my side of London's basically the same as Tao's... somewhere between 2½ and 3 times what you guys pay.  :-(

Phil

Quoting:
As for gas by me, it is in the 1.60 range. I think I will strangle an arab if it goes over 2 bucks.  ;D ;D ;D
End Quote

Or just invade?

Quoting:
What if I told you that I was an ARAB?
End Quote

As the poet once said: "Never be rude to an Arab"

Phil

Quoting:

Or just invade?
End Quote

We could drill in Alaska, but you and I both know the hippie treehuggers would never EVER go for that ;)

Quoting:


We could drill in Alaska, but you and I both know the hippie treehuggers would never EVER go for that ;)
End Quote

What I would like to see is more alternative power sources for cars. Even if it was still a gas engine with some solar power or electricity. Imagine a car which got 60+ miles to the gallon. And then there are the hydrogen cars. I would love to see these on the street. I am not advocating getting rid of gasoline cars, just more choices of cars which use less gas. Personally, I would start with the escort or cavaleer type cars, as most people who buy these cars are all about saving cash. Leave the corvettes and high performance cars alone, so the car enthusiasts can still have thier fun. If we could reduce our dependance on gas by 30%, that would be a good start.

And I do not like the idea of drilling in Alaska. We need to preserve our national forests and parks. Believe it or not, many cures to diseases are found in naturally occuring wilderness areas. Plus, I like the outdoors.

Quoting:


We could drill in Alaska, but you and I both know the hippie treehuggers would never EVER go for that ;)
End Quote

oh no no no, we couldn't do that.  We might disrupt the mating habits of some ancient fungus that grows in the area.  And we wouldn't want that. ::)  


Disclaimer:

That my friends was extreme sarcasm.

Quoting:
What I would like to see is more alternative power sources for cars. Even if it was still a gas engine with some solar power or electricity. Imagine a car which got 60+ miles to the gallon. And then there are the hydrogen cars. I would love to see these on the street. End Quote

Thats a good idea in theory, but in a society where the demand for SUV's and other gas-guzzlers is so high, it's easier said than done.  The demand for SUV's grows more and more every year, which means one thing, people are wanting and buying them, despite the rising gas costs.  

We do have a couple different hybrid cars available, and their sales numbers are laughable when compared to SUV sales.  The biggest obstacle in putting more gas-effiicient autos on the road is not manufacturing more of them, its somehow getting people to prefer them over the much more popular SUV's.  

The technology is there, but the demand isn't.

Quoting:
What I would like to see is more alternative power sources for cars. Even if it was still a gas engine with some solar power or electricity. Imagine a car which got 60+ miles to the gallon. And then there are the hydrogen cars. I would love to see these on the street. I am not advocating getting rid of gasoline cars, just more choices of cars which use less gas. Personally, I would start with the escort or cavaleer type cars, as most people who buy these cars are all about saving cash. Leave the corvettes and high performance cars alone, so the car enthusiasts can still have thier fun. If we could reduce our dependance on gas by 30%, that would be a good start.
End Quote

I agree with that.  But the politics and economics dealing with automobile gas efficiency are so complex that I don't want to go into it (because frankly, I don't know everything).  My Saturn gets 35 mpg, and if I can maintain 100 mph, I can get it up to 40 mpg :)

Quoting:

And I do not like the idea of drilling in Alaska. We need to preserve our national forests and parks. Believe it or not, many cures to diseases are found in naturally occuring wilderness areas. Plus, I like the outdoors.
End Quote

John, most of Alaska is tundra.  I'm sure they'll drill somewhere where it's devoid of Eskimos, polar bears, permafrost-lichens and transplanted penguins.

Quoting:
oh no no no, we couldn't do that.  We might disrupt the mating habits of some ancient fungus that grows in the area.  And we wouldn't want that. ::)  


Disclaimer:

That my friends was extreme sarcasm.
End Quote

Aw come on, I'm such a fungi ::)  ;D

Quoting:
John, most of Alaska is tundra.  I'm sure they'll drill somewhere where it's devoid of Eskimos, polar bears, permafrost-lichens and transplanted penguins.
End Quote

Good point.  Remember when the Alaska pipeline was built and the environmentalists protested it because they insisted it would disrupt the mating habits if the wild carabou(sp?).  The numbers of carabou hasn't dropped since the pipeline was installed.  In fact, on a 20/20 special a few years back, they stated studies showed that the warmth of the oil flowing through the pipeline actually encouraged mating in the carabou.  They also showed video of the carabou just casually walking around the pipeline as if it wasn't even there.

Anyway, I wonder how high gas prices will have to get before some people realize that maybe drilling in Alaska isn't such a bad idea.  And like Rice said, its not like they would build an oil rig right msack dab in the middle of a polar bear area or eskimo community.  Alaska is a big big big area.

Quoting:
This isn't the first time local gas stations have made the excuse of war to raise gas prices. If anyone in our state remembers, the gas prices were gouged as high as 5 bucks a gallon immediately after 9/11 occured. Our Attorney General has already sent out a heads-up to be aware of the sleazy practice of new price gouging in the advent of another Iraqi war. They'll make any excuse to cheat the Hoosiers here.  >:(
End Quote

Yes I remember that.  I remember on Sept 11, our local news stations were telling us the gas was going to jump to $5+/gal and everyone freaked out and the lines at the gas stations were outrageous.  Some stations were around $3/gallon, while others across town were around $5/gallon and they were charged with price gouging.  

As of last night only one station here was accused of price gouging since the latest price jump, I'm not sure if they were charged or not.

Quoting:


Thats a good idea in theory, but in a society where the demand for SUV's and other gas-guzzlers is so high, it's easier said than done.  The demand for SUV's grows more and more every year, which means one thing, people are wanting and buying them, despite the rising gas costs.  

We do have a couple different hybrid cars available, and their sales numbers are laughable when compared to SUV sales.  The biggest obstacle in putting more gas-effiicient autos on the road is not manufacturing more of them, its somehow getting people to prefer them over the much more popular SUV's.  

The technology is there, but the demand isn't.End Quote

Of course the demand isn't there. Some of the hybrids cost 8 thousand dollars more than the regular non hybrid version of the same car. The manufacturers claim that you'll recover that 8 grand in the long run with the fuel economy, which is a joke because it would take up to 20 years for you to save 8 thou worth of gas.

Quoting:


Of course the demand isn't there. Some of the hybrids cost 8 thousand dollars more than the regular non hybrid version of the same car. The manufacturers claim that you'll recover that 8 grand in the long run with the fuel economy, which is a joke because it would take up to 20 years for you to save 8 thou worth of gas.


End Quote

It's true, but the fact is that the hybrid cars that I've looked at get twice the gas mileage of a normal car, so it might not take 20 years, but to drop the down payment and the car payments for these cars is rough on the average family.  

I do like VW's diesel powered cars.  While they don't burn as cleanly as gasoline, they do have much better mileage than gasoline-driven automobiles.  And they are comparable in price to normal cars.  Just not as many places will sell diesel.

Quoting:
As for global warming, that happens all the time, in cycles even.  The only reason people are kvetching about global warming now is because they only see the 100 or so years of recorded temperatures, but not the happenings of years before...
End Quote

Bravo, well said.  I guarantee if we had records of the last 3-4 centuries, we would see that the global temperatures and climates change on a regular basis, both warming and cooling.  And the whole global warming thing wouldn't be made out to be such a big "crisis".

What I find funny is that many of the same scientists that are on the global warming bandwagon now were warning us of an upcoming ice age no more than 25-30 years ago.  They are finding out that, like Rice said, the climate changes all the time in cycles.

Quoting:


Of course the demand isn't there. Some of the hybrids cost 8 thousand dollars more than the regular non hybrid version of the same car. The manufacturers claim that you'll recover that 8 grand in the long run with the fuel economy, which is a joke because it would take up to 20 years for you to save 8 thou worth of gas.


End Quote

I think the demand is there. Anyone who is in the market for a Ford Escort or Chevy Cavalier or Dodge Neon is a poetential customer. If I could buy a Neon with 70 mpg, I would! As for the price being alot more, I think it will even out. With all new technology, there is a price paid in the beggenning for the R&D. Remember when a VCR cost $500+? Now you can get a better quality one for $40 on sale. My point is the car companies have to make these cars. Eventually they will go down in price.

Plus, I would bet that SUV's would not be a problem if they made these solar/electric/hydorgen cars. Why? Everyone wants a fun car to drive around town, but for the monday - friday grind, people will drive the crap mobile to work.

Quoting:
I'll be readying my bike.
End Quote

Same thought occurred to me.  However, it is -9 degrees here today.  Unfortunately,  we have to pay the prices at the pump and pay to keep our home warm.  And need to keep the gas tank pretty full or car won't start at all.  Pump prices are around 1.70.    

Quoting:
Well here in Georgia the state average for gas prices a month ago was $1.36 which is about right i normally paid about $1.45-$1.49 for premium and regular was about 20 cents cheaper.  Though lately it seems to have gone up some cause now i am paying about $1.55 for Premium but i guess compared to what some of you have to pay i shouldnt complain much.  They say its supposed to rise some more though.  :P
End Quote

I was stationed at Ft. Benning back in '86 and was paying $1.36 a gallon at one point. So, you have to consider that over the last 17 years the price has only gone up about 10%.

Quoting:


What I would like to see is more alternative power sources for cars. Even if it was still a gas engine with some solar power or electricity. Imagine a car which got 60+ miles to the gallon. And then there are the hydrogen cars. I would love to see these on the street. I am not advocating getting rid of gasoline cars, just more choices of cars which use less gas. Personally, I would start with the escort or cavaleer type cars, as most people who buy these cars are all about saving cash. Leave the corvettes and high performance cars alone, so the car enthusiasts can still have thier fun. If we could reduce our dependance on gas by 30%, that would be a good start.
End Quote

Back in the '80's they tried gasohol. It was about 10% alcohol mixed with unleaded gasoline. It could have worked. In fact a mixture of 50/50 could work with a little tweaking of the system. The problem was, with gasohol you lost a little performance and your mileage wasn't quite as good.
They only priced it about ten cents less per gallon than regular. No one was going to give up mileage and performance for a ten cent savings.
If they had priced it 30 or 40 cents less people would have bought it and we'd be using it today.
It's the same thing with natural gas vehicles. First you have to pay for the conversion. Then you have to pay for the fuel which isn't that much cheaper than gasoline. Plus you have the mileage and performance drawbacks.
If they would charge a significant amount less for these fuel alternatives, people would use them.
If our government was sincerely interested in our nation becoming less dependent on arab oil, it would give significant enough tax breaks to makers of propane conversion kits and propane sellers to make propane a cheap, viable replacement for arab oil and people would buy it.
Henry Hill would be in hog heaven! :D

Quoting:


What I would like to see is more alternative power sources for cars. Even if it was still a gas engine with some solar power or electricity. Imagine a car which got 60+ miles to the gallon. And then there are the hydrogen cars. I would love to see these on the street. I am not advocating getting rid of gasoline cars, just more choices of cars which use less gas. Personally, I would start with the escort or cavaleer type cars, as most people who buy these cars are all about saving cash. Leave the corvettes and high performance cars alone, so the car enthusiasts can still have thier fun. If we could reduce our dependance on gas by 30%, that would be a good start.

And I do not like the idea of drilling in Alaska. We need to preserve our national forests and parks. Believe it or not, many cures to diseases are found in naturally occuring wilderness areas. Plus, I like the outdoors.
End Quote

I'm with Rice all the way on this one.  To be honest, the fact that we dont have an alternative fuel source is all about polictics.  The middle east would have absolutley nothing to offer if it were not for oil.  Unless you consider olives worth fighting over :)

Hydrogen bonds are very weak and can be broken easily with a minimal electrical charge, such that is found in a spark plug.  The problem with Hydrogen and Oxygen is they are highly unstable forms of fuel when ignited.  This is why they are reserved for things like rockets, and the costs of producing them is really, really high.

But don't be fooled.  With a little money and some creative engineering, Hydrogen and Oxygen atoms can be separated from plain old water.  We could all be driving around in Hydrogen based cars that give off O2 as exhaust.  So much for global warming.  Of course, if that extra electron which is the "2" after the H could be given to the oxygen to expel, then we'd have O3 which is ozone.  I could sunbathe again without risking myself to unprescribed radiation therapy :)

Quoting:


I'm with Rice all the way on this one.  To be honest, the fact that we dont have an alternative fuel source is all about polictics.  The middle east would have absolutley nothing to offer if it were not for oil.  Unless you consider olives worth fighting over :)

Hydrogen bonds are very weak and can be broken easily with a minimal electrical charge, such that is found in a spark plug.  The problem with Hydrogen and Oxygen is they are highly unstable forms of fuel when ignited.  This is why they are reserved for things like rockets, and the costs of producing them is really, really high.

But don't be fooled.  With a little money and some creative engineering, Hydrogen and Oxygen atoms can be separated from plain old water.  We could all be driving around in Hydrogen based cars that give off O2 as exhaust.  So much for global warming.  Of course, if that extra electron which is the "2" after the H could be given to the oxygen to expel, then we'd have O3 which is ozone.  I could sunbathe again without risking myself to unprescribed radiation therapy :)


End Quote

I would sunbathe with you.  ;D

Quoting:

I was stationed at Ft. Benning back in '86 and was paying $1.36 a gallon at one point. So, you have to consider that over the last 17 years the price has only gone up about 10%.
End Quote

Quoting:
I also want to mention that I've spent a quite a bit of time in Alaska in quiet a few areas, it is HUGE!!! ...
Drilling there makes good sence.
End Quote

correct.  

According to the Anchorage Chamber of Commerce:  The land area of Alaska covers 586,412 miles.  Alaska is one-fifth the size of the continental U.S., 488 times larger than Rhode Island, two and a half times larger than Texas, and larger than the three largest states in the U.S. combined.

Currently, approximately 20 percent of the nation’s domestic oil is produced in Alaska. At peak production levels, the 800-mile Trans Alaska Pipeline delivers nearly 1.2 million barrels of oil a day from Prudhoe Bay to the ice-free port of Valdez.

you're right, drilling there does make good sense indeed! :D

Quoting:
But don't be fooled.  With a little money and some creative engineering, Hydrogen and Oxygen atoms can be separated from plain old water.  We could all be driving around in Hydrogen based cars that give off O2 as exhaust.  So much for global warming.  Of course, if that extra electron which is the "2" after the H could be given to the oxygen to expel, then we'd have O3 which is ozone.  I could sunbathe again without risking myself to unprescribed radiation therapy :)
End Quote

Sorry to interrupt the daydream, but your chemistry is way off...

1. Separating hydrogen and oxygen in water takes a heap of energy: it needs to, because that's the same energy you get back in a hydrogen-fuelled car which mixes them back to give water as an exhaust product.

2. See 1 - you'd not get O2 from an exhaust under any circumstances

3. It's another Oxygen, not electron, you need to get O3 (ozone) - and it's a nasty carcinogen in too high concentrations at sea-level, and is too heavy (50% heavier than O2 if you think about it) to rise to the upper atmosphere.

{$pedant-}

Phil

Quoting:
Is there anywhere where gas is still under two bucks?
End Quote

I just filled up this morning with low-grade for $1.66/gallon.  Not bad considering it was nearly $1.80 a week ago.








 

Quoting:
Anyway, I wonder how high gas prices will have to get before some people realize that maybe drilling in Alaska isn't such a bad idea.  And like Rice said, its not like they would build an oil rig right msack dab in the middle of a polar bear area or eskimo community.  Alaska is a big big big area.
End Quote

Would that make much of a difference though? World oil prices are regulated by OPEC, so we pay the same for oil whether we buy it from Brunei or domestically. That's how the oil nations protect their profits.

Quoting:


I just filled up this morning with low-grade for $1.66/gallon.  Not bad considering it was nearly $1.80 a week ago.



 
End Quote

So if the low-grade was $1.66, how much were the other grades?

Quoting:
I'd hate to think what full serve is up to now.  :(  :'(
End Quote

Probably involves a sex act even I would not do.  ;D

And to an Arab too.  ;)

Seriously, I pay $1.80 for the cheapest gas. Karl is so expensive. I should pay him in burritos. Then it would be free.

Quoting:
$2.06 a gallon for regular in So. California. >:(
End Quote

What a coincidence. It's $2.07 for regular here. Money grows on trees apparently. The residents don't seem to mind though... even their kids drive Mercedes and BMWs :P

Quoting:
$1.639/gallon.  :P
End Quote

What I don't get is the fraction-of-a-cent thing. If one were to get exactly one gallon of gas, how much would they pay? I can't cut my penny into ten pieces and give only nine. U.S. currency doesn't work that way. If the price of one gallon of gas were $1.63 9/10, wouldn't it really be $1.64?

Quoting:


What I don't get is the fraction-of-a-cent thing. If one were to get exactly one gallon of gas, how much would they pay? I can't cut my penny into ten pieces and give only nine. U.S. currency doesn't work that way. End Quote

Look at it this way:  if you go to a store to buy something that they are charging $2.00 for, and right beside it is the same item for $1.99, natural instincts will urge ou to get the item priced $1.99.  

The gas stations aren't going to be affected by $.001 as much as they would be by $.01.  Its natural instincts that if you had 2 gas stations close together, one charging $1.634/gal and the other charging $1.633/gal, naturally people will be inclined to go to the chaeper one.  Even if it is only cheaper by $.001.


A good example of this is here just down the street there is a Marathon station and a Sunoco station, just across the street from each other.  All last summer, the Marathon station was always just a fraction of a cent lower than the Sunoco station, and as a result the Marathon station was always crowded, while the Sunoco station hardly had any customers.  It must have worked, because the Sunoco station closed up in Nov, while the Marathon station continues to thrive.

Quoting:


Look at it this way:  if you go to a store to buy something that they are charging $2.00 for, and right beside it is the same item for $1.99, natural instincts will urge you to get the item priced $1.99.  


End Quote

I understand about that, because $1.99 makes sense. You can pay exactly $1.99

Quoting:


The gas stations aren't going to be affected by $.001 as much as they would be by $.01.  Its natural instincts that if you had 2 gas stations close together, one charging $1.634/gal and the other charging $1.633/gal, naturally people will be inclined to go to the chaeper one.  Even if it is only cheaper by $.001.


A good example of this is here just down the street there is a Marathon station and a Sunoco station, just across the street from each other.  All last summer, the Marathon station was always just a fraction of a cent lower than the Sunoco station, and as a result the Marathon station was always crowded, while the Sunoco station hardly had any customers.  It must have worked, because the Sunoco station closed up in Nov, while the Marathon station continues to thrive.


End Quote

However, I still don't get that part. How does one pay a fractoin of a cent for anything? ??? ??? ???

Quoting:

However, I still don't get that part. How does one pay a fractoin of a cent for anything? ??? ??? ???
End Quote

It's an aggregate, and they usually round up anyway ;)  If you buy one gallon, you don't see any difference...but if you buy 20, you might just be able to save two cents :)

Quoting:
It's an aggregate, and they usually round up anyway ;)  If you buy one gallon, you don't see any difference...but if you buy 20, you might just be able to save two cents :)
End Quote

Thanks for clearing that up Rice.  I had a hard time trying to explain it in my post.

Bottom line:  The $.001 value in the gas prices is just Creative Marketing.

Quoting:

Bottom line:  The $.001 value in the gas prices is just Creative Marketing.
End Quote

Okay... but I just think it's plain silly.

Quoting:
I don't think I've seen 'em go up any more in the past couple days, at least that I've noticed. ::)
End Quote

That's probly becuz of the war. :(

Quoting:
I am happy to announce that I just paid only $1.59/gal. today.

Its the lowest its been in months. :D


End Quote

It went down 3 cents here this weekend...now if it would only go down more.

Quoting:
A buck sixty-four for regular now. When it hits two dollars, I'm buying a horse!!
End Quote

Wow $1.64! You'd have been riding a horse for awhile here. I paid $2.17 a gallon yesterday. >:(

Quoting:
I was going to look for this thread last night & forgot....but I got gas yesterday & it was $1.86/gallon.  :-/  WTF?  I thought our gas prices were supposed to go down.  What happened?

Modified to add:  That was what I paid for REGULAR  >:(
End Quote

I don't understand.

I just got back from breakfast and noticed the Walmart station was $1.58, which is a penny lower than yesterday, and $.33 lower than a week ago.  So our gas here is dropping like a rock in water.  But other parts of the country are not?

Quoting:
well slap me silly and call me happy, I just paid $1.48/gal!

its been a loooooooong time since it was this low! :D


End Quote

Hey, happy, come here...

***slap****silly***

How's that? ;D

Quoting:


Hey, happy, come here...

***slap****silly***

How's that? ;D
End Quote

OUCH! >:(

No need for the violence! ;D

Quoting:


OUCH! >:(

No need for the violence! ;D
End Quote

Well, you asked someone to slap you silly.

I'm sorry.  Let me kiss it better  :-*

Quoting:
Gas is STILL high here.  >:(

F this, I'm buying a Barbie Jeep with a rechargeable battery.  :D
End Quote

Cool PoP! I have been telling my coworker I'm getting a battery powered golf cart.  ;D

Quoting:


Cool PoP! I have been telling my coworker I'm getting a battery powered golf cart.  ;D
End Quote

ha ha ha ha ha i only get 8 miles to the gallon and it costs about 100 dollars to fill up >:( i take  the bus

Quoting:

ha ha ha ha ha i only get 8 miles to the gallon and it costs about 100 dollars to fill up >:( i take  the bus
End Quote

  Hey now...ain't no dishonor in taking the bus... 8) ;D

  Come 'ere, Fred...*puts Fred's head in a friendly headlock and gives him Dutch rub*

Quoting:
Since the war started, the price of gas here has dropped from 90 cents per liter, to about 75 cents per liter.  :)
End Quote

and exactly were is this?

Quoting:

and exactly were is this?
End Quote

Montreal, Canada.

These prices are from Ultramar and Petro Canada. It's 72 cents per liter on the Indian reservation, but the last time I bought gas on the reserve my car kept stalling.

Quoting:
What the h*ll? We're up to almost $2.25 for regular here. It cost $75.00 to fill up the 'burb. ::)
Cube, what's it like up North?
End Quote

Pretty much the same...just a shade or two over $2 :P

Quoting:
What the h*ll? We're up to almost $2.25 for regular here. It cost $75.00 to fill up the 'burb. ::)

End Quote

YIKES!  :o

The cheapest I've seen in a while was $1.49 this weekend just down the street from me at BP.

Quoting:
I filled up this afternoon for $1.46 a gallon... this is the cheapest gas has been here in months, and I hope it keeps falling!!  ;D
End Quote

Still over $2 here.  You lucky sumb*ch ;)

Thank goodness my car gets at least 30 mpg ;D

Quoting:
You know...people complain about gas prices, but when you work it out..........water is more expensive >:( If gas is 75, 80 cents a liter, and water is $1.50 for 600ml (1 sixth a liter) then those goddamn vending machines are ripping me off!!!! >:(
End Quote

you got a good point.

Its funny how some people will pay an arm-and-a-leg for "premium" water and a a small fortune for cup of Starbucks, then have the nerve to complain about gas prices. ::)

Quoting:
Got gas this morning, it's at $1.549.  Oh, and can someone explain to me what the he|| the 9 means at the end?  
End Quote

Living in CA sucks @$$, everything's more expensive here :P

See page 5 of this thread for a discussion of gas pricing.

Quoting:
Got gas this morning, it's at $1.549.  Oh, and can someone explain to me what the he|| the 9 means at the end? ?End Quote

It means nine-tenths of a cent, but that's already been discussed in this thread.

Quoting:
There's this one station I pass by most every day in the Los Angeles area that has had $2.15, $2.25, and $2.35/gal for the past two or three weeks, but this morning I noticed that thpse prices are finally starting to go down!  :D Each grade is now four cents lower (per gallon), so they're now $2.11, $2.21, and $2.31, respectively. Now if they'd just go down some more.
End Quote

I was away last week (cuz' it was my time off), and during that time, the station that I pass by every day has gone down some more! The prices are now $1.99 for low-grade, $2.09 for mid-grade, and $2.19 for high-grade.  :)  ;)

Quoting:
It's down to $1.40 here now!  Maybe I won't have to get that horse afterall!  ;D
End Quote

LOL.  I just paid $1.44 this morning.

Quoting:


I was away last week (cuz' it was my time off), and during that time, the station that I pass by every day has gone down some more! The prices are now $1.99 for low-grade, $2.09 for mid-grade, and $2.19 for high-grade.  :)  ;)
End Quote

Just a little update... those prices have all fallen another four cents; I will let you know when they're all below $2.00, but that still remains 2 be seen. (I'm sure they will, but I don't know when that'll be)

Quoting:
Anybody notice the full serve prices in comparison to the self serve? Such a large difference!  :P For example, if you see $1.95/$2.05/$2.15 for self serve, you might see $2.49/$2.59/$2.69 for the respective full serve prices. What I don't know is, why do they have to charge so much more, per gallon, for full service?

I know that "full serve" used to meant that the attendant would do more than just fill your tank; he'd wash your windows, look under the hood, check your tire pressure, etc.... but no one does that anymore (at least that I've seen, in the past 10 years or so).

Maybe that's why many gas stations --- at least in California --- don't have full serve anymore...although it is still around.
End Quote

Ditto on the full serve, jaY. I agree that it's a complete rip-off.

Quoting:
hmm...there's only 1 station around here that I know of that still has full serve and it's only $.15.  The last time I went there, the attendant checked my oil and tires for me.  Maybe it's just a difference in areas. ???
End Quote

Yeah, it's most likely a difference in the areas. But $.15? Is that per gallon? That doesnt seem right.

Quoting:


Just a little update... those prices have all fallen another four cents; I will let you know when they're all below $2.00, but that still remains 2 be seen. (I'm sure they will, but I don't know when that'll be)
End Quote

Well, this morning the mid-grade price dropped below $2. ;) In other places I've seen it even lower (in the last few days).

Quoting:
It wasn't at a "Name Brand" gas station, but I saw it at $1.279 last weekend, I kid you not....  
End Quote

Where do you live?  I am moving there.  And think, I was thinking we were lucky for the recent drop to $1.479. :o

Quoting:
They got down to $1.59 in CA before creeping back up two cents today. (That is, the low grade, which is always the cheapest of the three.)
End Quote

Last week I got it for $1.38/gallon at Krogers, they are usually the cheapest here.

Whats crazy though, is there can be as much as a $.30 difference between gas on the south side of town and the north side of town.  So I usually go to the north side just for gas.

Quoting:

Whats crazy though, is there can be as much as a $.30 difference between gas on the south side of town and the north side of town.  So I usually go to the north side just for gas.
End Quote

And here I thought it was crazy for two stations across the street from each other to have a significant difference in price!. For example, if a Shell station has $1.58/$1.68/$1.78 and the Mobil station directly across has $1.67/$1.78/$1.87, that's crazy to me ;) but I guess that's a matter of competition.  :-X :-/

Quoting:Darn it, they went back up again this morning (actually, I noticed it yesterday on the way home) after going down considerably for the past couple months or so.

Oh well   :-/ ::) End Quote

They went back up four whole cents in the past 24 hours -- that is, in my neck of the woods. So they're a dime higher than they were 2 or 3 weeks ago.  :-[

I wonder if they're gonna go back up to two bucks a gallon again.  :-X

Quoting:
Yes, and the average person will spend a fortune at Starbucks, and then complain about gas. >:( ::)
End Quote

Exactly!  I forgot about that.

They pay $2 or more for a cup of coffee just because its in a cup with a Starbucks label on it ::), then become outraged when gas goes up a nickel.  

Quoting:
Yes, and the average person will spend a fortune at Starbucks, and then complain about gas. >:( ::)
End Quote

The average person doesn't drink as much coffee per week as my car drinks gas. So I might spend $10 per week on coffee, but that's nothing compared to the $35 I spend on gas.

Quoting:
The average person doesn't drink as much coffee per week as my car drinks gas. So I might spend $10 per week on coffee, but that's nothing compared to the $35 I spend on gas.
End Quote

so your spending $40/month just on coffee?  :o   Yikes.

Perhaps its time to do what I do and buy it in bulk, and make it at home.  Sure it doesn't come in a fancy cup that says Starbucks on it, but then again, it definitely doesn't cost anywhere near $40/month either.

Quoting:


so your spending $40/month just on coffee?  :o   Yikes.

Perhaps its time to do what I do and buy it in bulk, and make it at home.  Sure it doesn't come in a fancy cup that says Starbucks on it, but then again, it definitely doesn't cost anywhere near $40/month either.
End Quote

Naw I don't drink that much coffee. I drink green tea mostly. And usually it's with friends on the week-end at a local shop here in old Montreal. I normally make it myself at home but if i'm out with friends I would probably feel weird showing up with a thermus.

Quoting:


Naw I don't drink that much coffee. I drink green tea mostly. And usually it's with friends on the week-end at a local shop here in old Montreal. I normally make it myself at home but if i'm out with friends I would probably feel weird showing up with a thermus.
End Quote

Excuse me, but aren't you going off topic here? This topic is supposed to be about gas prices.  ::)

Quoting:


Excuse me, but aren't you going off topic here? This topic is supposed to be about gas prices.  ::)
End Quote

They were comparing gas prices to other commodities that people spend more-per-gallon on, such as coffee, milk, and bottled water :)

Quoting:


Excuse me, but aren't you going off topic here? This topic is supposed to be about gas prices.  ::)
End Quote

Excuse me, but if you want to be smart you should man up and log in. Instead of hiding behind an anonymous post ::)

Quoting:
I normally make it myself at home but if i'm out with friends I would probably feel weird showing up with a thermus.
End Quote

yea that would look a little wierd. :)

Quoting:
Excuse me, but aren't you going off topic here? This topic is supposed to be about gas prices.  ::)
End Quote

...and you are...?? ::)

try reading the whole thread before spouting off and you would see it is on topic. ::)

Quoting:


yea that would look a little weird. :)








...and you are...?? ::)

try reading the whole thread before spouting off and you would see it is on topic. ::)





End Quote

I did read the thread. It's just that replies #154 and #155 seemed to drift away from "gas prices." That's just how I interpreted it. It may have been a misunderstanding on my part. Sorry. :-[

Back on topic...the gas stations near my home have $1.69 for regular, $1.79 for plus, and $1.89 for premium.

;D

Quoting:
A really good web site to go to for gas prices:

http://www.gaspricewatch.com/usgas_index.asp

It shows you the highest, lowest, and average prices in the United States. You can also look up stations in your area by typing in your zip code.
End Quote

Oh yeah, I posted the gaspricewatch.com site like months ago :)  Thanks for hooking us up again.

Quoting:
Glad I don't drive
End Quote

I hear ya.  It's a 22km bike ride to work and i'm thankful I have electric assist.  I can do 40km/hr for about 1/2 hr before the battery starts to sag.  I just plug it in when I arrive at work and it's ready to go for the trip back.

I can't resist turning on the electric assist and pretending to pedal while folding my hands behind my head as I ride up a steep hill passing all the cars stalled in traffic.  It really messes with their heads, especially when I overtake them!  ;D

I actually have an old Datsun 240Z which requires high octane fuel.  I drive it only on weekends during the summer.  I pay the equivalent of about $4/gallon Canadian (about 93cents per litre).  :(  It's the price I pay to enjoy the ride.

Quoting:Still, I feel bad complaining, even at $2 a gallon, we in the US still have cheap gas compared to other countries...
End Quote

Thats how I feel about it.  I complain, but when it all comes down to it...we pay more on average for a gallon of milk than a gallon of gas.

Quoting:


Thats how I feel about it.  I complain, but when it all comes down to it...we pay more on average for a gallon of milk than a gallon of gas.


End Quote

In some places...  A gallon of milk at Wal-Mart or Aldi's will only run you about $1.50 where I live (over $3.00 @ Jewel or Dominick's-right across the street ::)) but gas was $1.63 when I got it yesterday. ;)

Quoting:
A gallon of milk...over $3.00 @ Jewel or Dominick's-right across the street End Quote

$3.00 for a gallon of milk?  Who in their right mind would pay that.

...probably the same ones that pay $2.00/bottle of Imported "premium" water. ::)

Quoting:


$3.00 for a gallon of milk?  Who in their right mind would pay that.

...probably the same ones that pay $2.00/bottle of Imported "premium" water. ::)
End Quote

:-[  I have to admit, I have on occasion (the milk, not the water, that's ridiculous).  When I'm at the store & I have all 3 kids, the weather is crappy, etc. it's just easier to pay the extra $$ than to drag all of them into WalMart for 1 thing.

Quoting:I've also read that there are 12 gas refineries in CA to supply gas for the state.
But as of the last 6-7 weeks SIX of them are off line and not producing due to regular maintenance, re-tooling for "summer blends" or some that just simply "broke-down". Two being out of service being the norm, but not SIX, or half of the production line!  ???
This is the "excuse" we are getting for the incredible nearly 35% rise in gas prices since early Jan.
End Quote

I've always thought the "summer/winter blend" thing is a joke.  I don't beleive for a second that the gas suppliers should have to "shut down" to change the blend.  If it is so important to change the blend, they should be able to do it without shutting down.  By that I mean, they should have a way to do it either gradually, or in a seperate facility so that it does not disrupt production.

But regarding the fact you are going to be paying nearly $3/gallon soon is simple...you live in California, The Tax-Capital of the world (besides Canada) :)

Quoting:
Can someone please explain to me how gas prices can jump in the middle of the day, when the gas you get at night is the same gas that you got in the morning?End Quote

Just like your coffee, it's a commodity product and the price swings with the market.   :(

I used to pump gas at an Esso station.  Next to us was a PayLess (now Shell) and a Chevron.  We'd get a call from head office telling us to move the price up (or sometimes down).  Because consumers will consume half a tank of fuel to drive out of their way to save one tenth of a cent on a litre of gas, we didn't want to be left without any business (actually, I could care less.. the fewer lazy-a$$ed ungratefull drivers I was verbally abused by, the better!  ;D)

We'd (usually me) run next door and ask the guys if they were going to raise their prices.  99% of the time they got the call at about the same time and were waiting to see if we would adjust our price.  It got so regular after a while that when we got the call from head office, we'd then call the competitors next door and let them know.  Then we'd simultaneously go out and change the pumps and the signs.  On occasion, our neigbouring competitors would call us about a price change.  We'd call head office, and they would confirm it.

I tell ya, I was disgusted by what I saw in that industry.  >:(

I'd drive an electric just for the principle! (we need a thumbing-nose icon!  ;))

Quoting:
I noticed they've been going down a little, but I heard they might be going back up again.   :o
End Quote

For some reason, that wouldn't surprise me any.  ::)

Quoting:
I haven't seen prices hit the $2.00 mark in Massachusetts yet, not even for premium.  However $1.89 for premium and $1.69 for regular is quite common.

Some may have pointed this out earlier in the thread, but prices are still low compared to the OPEC crises in the '70s.  I'm too young to remember it personally, but adjusted for inflation, prices then went as high $4.00 per gallon in today's money---and you might have sat in line for hours only to have the station run out of fuel before your turn.

Prices today suck, but it could be much worse!
End Quote

Well, I'm in southern California, in the Los Angeles area, and they've hit the $2 mark quite a few times in the last three years. About a year ago they were all above $2/gallon, dropped down over the summer, and within the past few months they shot right back up again. Last time they changed near my home, they went down, by only a couple of cents, but I'm not holding my breath.

Quoting:

Well, I'm in southern California, in the Los Angeles area, and they've hit the $2 mark quite a few times in the last three years. About a year ago they were all above $2/gallon, dropped down over the summer, and within the past few months they shot right back up again. Last time they changed near my home, they went down, by only a couple of cents, but I'm not holding my breath.
End Quote

The sad thing for those of you in So. Cali, especially Angelinos, is a lot of the time your car is burning that $2.00+ per gallon gas, it's just sitting in traffic jams and not moving!

Quoting:
The sad thing for those of you in So. Cali, especially Angelinos, is a lot of the time your car is burning that $2.00+ per gallon gas, it's just sitting in traffic jams and not moving!
End Quote

Tell me about it!  Those were 2 of the big reasons why I moved last year.

When I left LA in March of 2003, gas was over $2.50 a gallon, and my drive to work was about 30 miles (75-90 minutes each way).  As soon as I drove across the border to Arizona, gas dropped to $1.75 a gallon.  By the time I hit Texas, it had callen to $0.98 a gallon.

Even now, gas here is only $1.58 a gallon.  Of course, California also has an insane gas tax, and environmentalists making them play with the formula, so the gas there is specially made just for California.

I remember 10 years ago, when they insisted on placing MTBF in the gas, claiming it would make the air cleaner.  To bad the MTBF polluted the water table, causing billions in cleanup and possible cancer.  At least the air was cleaner, right?

Quoting:

The sad thing for those of you in So. Cali, especially Angelinos, is a lot of the time your car is burning that $2.00+ per gallon gas, it's just sitting in traffic jams and not moving!
End Quote

I know how that is. But I don't have to worry too much about that most of the time, since I commute on the train.

Quoting:


Tell me about it!  Those were 2 of the big reasons why I moved last year.

When I left LA in March of 2003, gas was over $2.50 a gallon, and my drive to work was about 30 miles (75-90 minutes each way).  As soon as I drove across the border to Arizona, gas dropped to $1.75 a gallon.  By the time I hit Texas, it had callen to $0.98 a gallon.

Even now, gas here is only $1.58 a gallon.  Of course, California also has an insane gas tax, and environmentalists making them play with the formula, so the gas there is specially made just for California.

I remember 10 years ago, when they insisted on placing MTBF in the gas, claiming it would make the air cleaner.  To bad the MTBF polluted the water table, causing billions in cleanup and possible cancer.  At least the air was cleaner, right?
End Quote

Every time the environmentalists push through more regulations, it's always Joe Sixpack who gets hit the hardest.  They can fiddle with formulas all they want, but burning petroleum is still burning petroleum, and that's the root of the problem.  Cough, cough.  The way to REALLY cut down on smog is to burn less petroleum, not different petroleum.  The problem is, American infrastructure is ever more dependent on the internal combustion engine.
It wasn't environmentalists who eradicated the light rail system in L.A.  It wasn't environmentalists who made Americans drive gas-guzzling SUVs instead of high-efficiency compacts.
Ironically, environmental regulations DO tie up public works projects such as light rail and subway construction in miles of red tape.  Paralysing regulations, urban build up, and property rights make it all but impossible for Los Angeles to have the gigantic subway rail system it needs.  
Still, the L.A. megalopolis would be much better served by light rail.
However, there's an American attitude problem that gets worse all the time.  The message from the right-wing (especially Libertarian types) is PUBLIC=BAD, PRIVATE=GOOD.  In conjunction with the other mantra, " I ME MINE, I ME MINE, I ME MINE," civic cooperation doesn't stand a chance.
The automobile doesn't just symbolize freedom to Americans, without viable mass transit, it IS freedom.  I've lived without a car, and life is much more complicated.  If you live in New York City or Boston and don't feel the need to leave the city, it's not so bad without a car.  However, such places are few and far between.
One problem with mass transit is that no matter how comprehensive it is, you are still at the mercy of a timetable and a restricted route.  Another, which Americans in particular hate, is that it's not your private space.  No one can get too close to you in the cabin of your car, and we like it that way.
Boston is one of the most unpleasant cities to drive in.  When I go, I park in the garage at the end of the Red Line and take the subway into town.  It's worth eight bucks for the garage and the tokens NOT to deal with the aggravation of Boston driving.  Parking in Boston can be absolute madness, and drivers often end up with big parking tickets.  In spite of all the problems, so many drivers think they are too high class for mass transit, or have a security blanket relationship with their cars.
Americans don't REALLY understand how high a price we pay for total dependence on the automobile, and I find it discouraging that Britain is now sacrificing its rail systems to the Internal Combusiong God.
>:(

Quoting:
Ack! :o They're going back up again!
This morning I passed by a station whose FULL SERVE prices were this close to three dollars a gallon! The high-octane price for full serve was, in fact, at that mark. (If it weren't for this fraction-of-a-cent nonsense, it would be.)
End Quote

I filled up the other day near Worcester, Mass., where the "super premium" was at $1.95 (highest I've seen here yet), and my regular was $1.75.   I still managed to fill it from empty to full for $20.00.  The pump is one place where it pays not to have an SUV.  Not that SUV drivers should care about gas prices.  Anyone willing to pay THAT much for a car in the first place hasn't got thrifty priorities.
They shouldn't charge more for FULL SERVICE.  A lot of the people who use full service are elderly or handicapped, and would have a hard time trying to pump it themselves, so it's not fair.

Quoting:
This thread is having the hanging-page error :P
End Quote

I noticed that too! It says on the topics list that it has 211 replies, yet the most recent one is #212 (in fact, there are 212 until I make my post). So when I post this one, it'll be reply #213, but the list will still say 212. What's causing this discrepancy?

Anyway, back on topic:

Quoting:They shouldn't charge more for FULL SERVICE.  A lot of the people who use full service are elderly or handicapped, and would have a hard time trying to pump it themselves, so it's not fair.End Quote

I agree with ya totally. It's complete ripoff, as at least two other people have said.  :-[ :(

Quoting:

They shouldn't charge more for FULL SERVICE.  A lot of the people who use full service are elderly or handicapped, and would have a hard time trying to pump it themselves, so it's not fair.
End Quote

Its not fair, but who do you want to pay for that gas attendant?  Most gas stations have only one person working there anymore, and they are watching the cash register inside.

You start charging the "same" for full service and then everyone (including myself) will want full service too.  And why not?  We'd be paying for it in increased gas prices.  Why pump yourself when somebody else will pump it for you for free?

Quoting:
Just out of curiosity, what are the gas prices where you live right now?

They made a big jump today.

Where I am, the average for Regular is $1.78, and $1.92 for Premium.


Just wondering...


End Quote

Just for kicks, I posted the original starting post for this thread.  

1 year and 2 months ago, the gas prices were higher here than they are now.  On Feb 11, 2003, it was $1.78 for regular in my town.  And today, over a year later, it is $1.71.

...and yet we are all still complaining...about lower prices. ;)

Quoting:


Its not fair, but who do you want to pay for that gas attendant?  Most gas stations have only one person working there anymore, and they are watching the cash register inside.

You start charging the "same" for full service and then everyone (including myself) will want full service too.  And why not?  We'd be paying for it in increased gas prices.  Why pump yourself when somebody else will pump it for you for free?
End Quote

Yeeeah, I see what you mean.  Good point.  Not everybody's like me.  I would avoid full service even it was the same price.  I prefer to pump it myself.  Anyway, it's not like I hadn't noticed, life's not fair, life's a b*tch!  Nice 'tude, huh?
;D
When I was little, self-serve was rare.  I remember my dad pulling into gas stations.  The attendant would come out, my dad would say, "Fill it up with regular."  Remember "regular" as opposed to "unleaded"?  The attendant would squeegee the windshield and check the oil as the gas was pumping.
Now the guy just wedges the gas cap under the handle, and walks off for a few drags from his cigarette!
BTW, the lead particles from all that leaded gasoline are with us 'till this very day!

Quoting:
out here in jersey, we dont have to worry about full service, because its mandatory :o. I havent stepped out of my car at a gas station in months. And we still say regular instead of unleaded. (P.S. Our prices are in the 1.70 range.)
End Quote

That's odd.  I wonder why it's mandatory.  Is NJ the only state where it's mandatory?

Quoting:

That's odd.  I wonder why it's mandatory.  Is NJ the only state where it's mandatory?
End Quote

I know the question wasn't directed to me, but I think "full-service" is mandatory in Oregon as well.  At least it was a few years ago.

Personally, I think it is idotic and makes no sense whatsoever.

Quoting:


I know the question wasn't directed to me, but I think "full-service" is mandatory in Oregon as well.  At least it was a few years ago.

Personally, I think it is idotic and makes no sense whatsoever.
End Quote

Maybe some state legislatures believe the citizens are too stupid to pump their own gas safely ("hey, they voted for US, didn't they?"), or maybe the d*mned gas station service workers' unions are behind it!
;D :D

Quoting:


I know the question wasn't directed to me, but I think "full-service" is mandatory in Oregon as well.  At least it was a few years ago.

Personally, I think it is idotic and makes no sense whatsoever.
End Quote

I like the "full service" because I don't want gas on my hands, on my clothes, or to smell like gas. I live in New Jersey by the way.

People who wine about gas prices are barking up the wrong tree. I have a car and it cost me 22-23.00 to fill it up and it fill it up unleaded plus. Whats out there out now? SUV's are all over the place. I can't even imagine whatr kind of gas prices I would be paying if I owned a Ford Explorer, Toyota 4 Runner or worse yet a Chevy Tahoe. If I had a family I would get one of those car based SUV's like a Mazda Tribute or a Fod Escape. The car based SUV's are more fuel efficient than big SUV"s.