Gas Prices

[Shrek]

Why are gas prices so high? What factors affect the price of oil? Do high gas prices change your driving habits? What do you think should be done to lower gas prices at the pump? Click here (http://money.howstuffworks.com/gas-price.htm) to find out more and be sure to post your comments. :)

[King Cobra]

>Why are gas prices so high?

People just go apes**t because of the high level of terror.

>What affects the price of oil?

Plain and simple, the less of it available, the more the price has to rise. Or, if holiday seasons roll around, people change the prices to maximuze profit. Another thing, during the season in which people use the most of the fuel, the prices go up to maximize profit.
"The bottom line is money. Nobody gives a ******." System Of A Down

>Do high gas prices change your driving habits?

I don't drive right now.

>What do you think should be done to lower gas prices at the pump?

I think a better question would be to ask "What should people do to maximize fuel effeciency?" (miles per gallon) Read your driver's manual and take notice of the section regarding maximum fuel life for your vehicle. Use a vehicle with a high m.p.g, such as an electric car, if you have one, try and coast instead of constantly using the accel. and brakes, and have your vehicle checked.

[guitargeek]

Yeah, prices have taken a jump in the last week or so. It doesn't change how I drive at all, though, since I already drive rather efficiently.

The single best thing you can do is watch your RPM's. Keep them as low as possible, and you'll get good mileage.

Of course, if your car needs a tune up as well, replace the plugs, wire, and O2 sensor as well.

I also only use super in my car, which helps keep the fuel system cleaner, which means fuel burns cleaner, which means you get better mileage.

If you haven't run any fuel injector cleaner in your car recently, go to your local auto store and buy a bottle. It can make a big difference as well.

[rainman::|:|]

i got this emailed to me a while ago, by some guy we bought from on ebay. i was furious. a good read for people who are obsessed with oil money--

http://www.snopes.com/inboxer/outrage/nogas.htm

IMHO, a lot of the reason gas prices go up so much is that everyone's convinced that we'll run out of the stuff eventually.

they're right, too.

if people actually pushed, we would have alternative energy cars on the market... i wish people would look into hybrid cars more, they really save you money in the long run, along with a slew of other benefits. and a tax credit, often.

pnw

[guitargeek]

i wish people would look into hybrid cars more, they really save you money in the long run, along with a slew of other benefits. and a tax credit, often.

If they were of a decent size, drove well, and were safe enough, I might consider it.

The Insight I test drove was pretty sluggish and cramped. Hopefully someone can come out with a hybrid that is of a respectible size.

[Shrek]

Originally posted by guitargeek
Hopefully someone can come out with a hybrid that is of a respectible size.

The bigger the car, the bigger the trouble.

[rainman::|:|]

Originally posted by guitargeek
If they were of a decent size, drove well, and were safe enough, I might consider it.

The Insight I test drove was pretty sluggish and cramped. Hopefully someone can come out with a hybrid that is of a respectible size.

I agree. they did such a good job of compressing the batteries for japan's compact cars, and they kept it small over here. i think the problem is that a lot of design goes into the cars to make them small, and no one wants to redesign them for another market until they're satisfied that it'll turn a profit.

i've been very impressed by the energy-capture abilities tho, they've really made them work well. mixture of speed, ease of use, and mileage really pay off.

the insights are the smallest of the cars, i would avoid them as well.

pnw

[sinclairZX81]

forgive me but I find it hilarious that people in the US think they pay high prices for gas. you have no idea. I've lived in the US for 5 years and I still cannot believe how CHEAP gas is here.

[MacAztec]

We need Hydrogen Fuel Cell cars. I just read an AWESOME article in Scientific American. It talks about a plan for 5 years, then 10 years, then about 15 years, and what would happen during each.

Around the 10 year mark, we would have hydrogen pumps at stations (lowering the cost a LOT), we would have cars with hydrogen fuel cells, and everything would be converted.

It is such a great article, I will try to find it online.

[MacAztec]

My bad, that link was crap. This is the whole article, someone got it in PDF form.

PLEASE read this, its a great great article.

[Shrek]

Originally posted by MacAztec
We need Hydrogen Fuel Cell cars. I just read an AWESOME article in Scientific American. It talks about a plan for 5 years, then 10 years, then about 15 years, and what would happen during each.

Around the 10 year mark, we would have hydrogen pumps at stations (lowering the cost a LOT), we would have cars with hydrogen fuel cells, and everything would be converted.

It is such a great article, I will try to find it online.

I read a similiar article in Wired Magazine. ;)

[MacAztec]

Go here, the file is too big to upload, so this is a download link....

HERE (http://www.hydrogenthermochem.com/images/1487727.pdf)

[Shrek]

Here (http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/10.08/fuelcellcars.html?pg=1&topic=&topic_set=) is a link to the Wired Magazine article. ;)

[King Cobra]

The article mentions the marketing $$$ at about one billion and reasonably so. As time progresses, availability increases and price decreases.

For right now, we are going to have to wait until this becomes a reality. Unless, of course, if you are willing to spend you money to explore the Moon and spend it on the car now. :cool:

[cubist]

In about 3 weeks gas went from $1.45 to $1.71 (per gallon, regular unleaded) here in the DC area.

While this is a significant jump, it's not likely to influence my behavior any. I have a 3.5 mile commute. Besides, I don't have any 8-cylinder vehicles.

I think a useful conjecture for individuals is to consider what you might do when the price of gasoline hits various levels:

(a) At $3.00 per gallon.
(b) At $5.00 per gallon.
(c) At $7.00 per gallon.

The $3.00 level is likely to be reached, if not this year, certainly by next year.

[guitargeek]

The bigger the car, the bigger the trouble.

Actually, from my experience it's been just the opposite. Our 77 Caprice ran well over 200,000 miles, and so did our Oldmobile 88. And our Astro van (which isn't really a big car, but big enough). Meanwhile, every other person who comes into my work is looking for parts for a tercel, Saturn, civic, etc. The people who own the bigger cars just come in for maitenance parts, like brakes or spark plugs.

I'm driving my first small car right now (98 Grand Prix), and I feel a little uncomfortable about it... although it does handle a bit better than my 89 Caprice station wagon :p

[yosoyjay]

A grand prix is hardly a small car.

I don't mind paying much for gas. I think it is too damn cheap as it is. I wouldn't mind having to pay double.

[guitargeek]

Well, after driving a Caddy Deville and the aforementioned caprice, it's pretty small :)

It would croak me if I had to pay double, though.

[Rajj]

Whan whan whan whan, people in other regions like Japan and Europe, pay like $3~$5 a gallon, so stop bitching and crying about gas prices!!;) :p

[748s]

Originally posted by cubist
In about 3 weeks gas went from $1.45 to $1.71 (per gallon, regular unleaded) here in the DC area.
.

'round my way it costs $1.10 a litre. that's approx $4.40 a gallon. you don't know how good you got it.

[eyelikeart]

well prices here are higher than they've been in a long while...

I'm used to paying anywhere from $1.55-$1.65 per gallon...

I'm faced with $1.82-$1.90 this week... :(

while this is lower than most of u I'm sure...it's damned high here...

[mc68k]

when my car broke down on 12-14-02 gas was $1.46.9 i started driving again recently and now gas prices are $1.81.9

and theres nothing you can do about it. :(

[dreamlance]

Originally posted by 748s
'round my way it costs $1.10 a litre. that's approx $4.40 a gallon. you don't know how good you got it.

Man, and I thought paying $21 for a full tank was bad!

[King Cobra]

Click me (http://www.gaspricewatch.com/USGas_ZipSearchResults.asp?zip=96150-8908&radius=0)

[LethalWolfe]

If you adjust for inflation gas prices in the US are lower overall than they were 15-20 years ago.

And current gas prices don't effect my driving habits 'cause I basically only drive to work or to the grocery store.


Lethal

[MacFan25]

Where I live gas is about $1.70 - $1.80 a gallon.

[Vector]

The main reasons that gas prices are high is because OPEC controls a good deal of the oil trade and people have a kneejerk reaction to the thought of war with Iraq. OPEC acts as a sudo monopoly that sets whatever price they want for all of the oil exports of the member countries. Since the member countries control such a large percentage of the worlds oil when they decide to raise prices it affects the market price of oil a great deal; however, this is somewhat tempered by Saudi Arabia's control of OPEC since they have a somewhat amiable relationship with the US. If the relationship between the US and Saudi Arabia were worse the oil prices could easily soar much higher. The high gas prices are also due to fear amongst traders in the oil market that war with Iraq is emminent. Iraq is the second largest oil producer in the Middle east behind Saudi Arabia, producing around 89 billion barrels (I think Saudi Arabia's output is around 290 bil. barrels, which explains their leadership role in OPEC). Traders in the commodities market are just as easily scared as those in the stock market and the possible, if not ineveitable war with Iraq has worried many of them, causing higher volumes of trading, and thus higher prices per barrel.

Personally I do not really care what happens to gas prices as long as I still can get gas. I know I am in the minority, but gas prices have never really bothered my to much. I drive a Tahoe (because I need it for my job, not because I like SUVs), and I use premium gas which normally means that it costs around $40 every time I fill up.

[SPG]

If the people in the US really want to see lower prices then we need to start driving more fuel effecient cars and drive less. Lowering the demand will increase the supply and then lower the price.
The US doesn't get as much gas from the middle east as most people think. Venezuela is a bigger supplier and the strikes there recently is a key factor in the price increase. The nervousness over the pending war is affecting it too, as the overall supply will go down if transportation in the middle east becomes dangerous.

[Vector]

Originally posted by SPG
If the people in the US really want to see lower prices then we need to start driving more fuel effecient cars and drive less. Lowering the demand will increase the supply and then lower the price.
The US doesn't get as much gas from the middle east as most people think. Venezuela is a bigger supplier and the strikes there recently is a key factor in the price increase. The nervousness over the pending war is affecting it too, as the overall supply will go down if transportation in the middle east becomes dangerous.

You are not completely right. Venezuela is a member of OPEC. The US imported 471,243 billion barrels in 2001 from Venezuela and 588,075 billion barrels from Saudi Arabia. The total amount that the US imported from the Arab members of OPEC was 976,445 billion barrels in 2001. 289,998 billion barrels came from Iraq. The total amount coming from OPEC member countries was 1,769,620 billion barrels which accounts for about 51% of total US imports. The US imports more oil from both Canada and Mexico than it does from Venezuela, 494,796 billion barrels and 508,715 billion barrels respictively. The problems in Venezuela have caused part of the price increase of oil since the amount of oil imported from Venezuela has increased in comparison to the amount imported from the Arab OPEC members. The increase on Venezuelan oil has increased in the past months to help provide a constant flow of oil in case a war with Iraq does occur and temporarily cut off oil supplies currently coming from Iraq. This increased demand and the instability in Venezuela have increased the price of oil on the open market; however, the current increases are due more to worries among traders about the almost immenent war with Iraq that currently seems to threaten US and world oil interests to a greater degree than the upheaval in Venezuela