gas prices could reach $4 here...

[PolynesianPixie]

Yes that's diesel. The days of using diesel because of extra mileage and lasting longer are over. I know many people who have gas motors that are just as efficient as mine and have tons of miles on em. I think, (BDD) would know better, but my diesel/allison trans was about a $6k option in 2004 when I got this truck.

My van is pretty good. It was better when it was new in 2001, getting like 26 miles to the gallon interstate. Now I average about 17. Most of it is running around town to gymnastics and karate, etc etc. My van is officially a "grocery getter." I cried when I got it because a mini-van is so un-sexy. But it is paid for.

 

[PolynesianPixie]

I think I saw that regular unleaded was about that here.. I of course was to busy getting mad at what I had to pay to feel joy about how much less it cost to fill up DW's car.. I am lucky enought to work close enough to home that I only have to fill up about every 3 weeks ( I know, you feel a little less sorry for me now ).. If only I could hook the 5er to the Harley ...

Ha! My DH argued with me about his darn motorcylce! "It would be so much better on gas!" he said! It is worse than my van!!!!!!! AHHHHH!


sorry. had to vent.

 

[bigdisneydaddy]

Gas was only $3.03 at the same station that had the $3.999 diesel.
The break even point on a diesel is so far out now that a guy like me will never realize any savings, the diesel actually cost much more at this point.
Donnie is right about the $6k option. Hard to beat the power though, mine walks a 9000# trailer up a mountain like no ones business, tons of power on the street, its just turning out to be a luxury at this point.

 

[disney4dan]

I just paid $3.599 for ULSD diesel here. If it goes up to $4, that's only going to add $80 in fuel cost to my 2000 mile round trip pulling my 5er... I can probably afford an extra $80 or I shouldn't be going to WDW.

j

I agree with the last statement, we just did the math and the difference in price for us between $3/gal and $4/gal works out to $300 over the approx 3,000 miles round trip. Not chump change by any stretch, but still cheaper than flying the 5 of us to WDW, and we will be saving big $$ by only spending about $46/night in August and making a lot of our meals instead of eating out. Basically, if the extra $300 meant that much to us, then we are probably stretching the budget too thin by even going this year. As a close friend of ours once said, it just means a few more PB&J sandwiches for some of us. However, I do understand very well that this increase in price for fuel can be devastating. We live in a cold area of the country where cost of heating has literally turned deadly for some on fixed incomes. Attempts to heat homes with electric heat (in some states it is against the law for the electric and gas utilities to disconnect your supply in cold weather) or use an old gas stove to heat the home.

For those who are old enough to have lived through the early 1970s and remember the rationing and the Arab Oil Embargo - check out the reference on Wikipedia about the effects at that time. We were on a cross country trip for 3 months and I clearly remember the chaos it caused. Having my father threatened at gas stations while trying to fill up because he had out of state plates, hearing about truck drivers shooting each other in defense of the fuel in thier tanks . We had to rig two Jerry cans to the back of the truck for an additional 10 gallons of gas because many places would not sell to us with out of state plates. The remote National Parks were not crowded that summer, almost empty at Yellowstone.

 

[ntsammy5]

I just saw diesel for $4.10 and gas is 3.31 and going up. That was last night so who knows what it is now

 

[lovetomow]

I did the cost analysis and that is why I pull my TT with a gasser (Dodge 2500 Hemi). I put 6000 miles on it last year, (4500 towing) as I have an old beater 4-cyl truck I commute to work in. The price difference of the diesel would have taken me about 10 years to recoup with the miles I drive so I just bought the Hemi and go up the mountains slower than I would have with the Diesel!

 

[nascar-j]

I pull my TT with a gasser (Dodge 2500 Hemi). I put 6000 miles on it last year, (4500 towing)

That's great logic. I put about 30,000 miles a year with 10-12,000 towing on my truck so the diesel makes a little more sense. I also keep my trucks until they die.

Unfortunately, the new 08 trucks with the emissions on them are taking a big hit on mileage. I lost about 2 mpg compared to my old 02.

j

 

[4mickey2]

let's talk scooters here...

i want one. i have wanted one for years now. i have gotten dh to look at them with me. but, then he goes into the ones that need cycle licenses and cost much more.

if you have a scooter, what do you have and do you wish you had a bigger one??

 

[loveDmouse]

let's talk scooters here...

i want one. i have wanted one for years now. i have gotten dh to look at them with me. but, then he goes into the ones that need cycle licenses and cost much more.

if you have a scooter, what do you have and do you wish you had a bigger one??

I have a 05 Honda Metropolitan. I love it. Don't need anything bigger for around here. It is under the 49cc limit for having tags(in VA). You do not have to wear a helmet but I do. Personally I don't know why it isn't a law. You have to on a motorcycle. I am not sure about a special license. I know you would need one if you went to a motorcycle. Not sure how they would classify the bigger scooters.
We live on an island and the speed limit here is 25. My scooter will go 40. I don't need anything more then that. I would never take it off of the island on the highway. It works great for me. Use it for work and running errands.
Good luck.

 

[4mickey2]

i like your quote at the bottom. not disposable, oh, how i wish everyone felt that way..

thanks for the input on the scooter. i believe if it is more than 49cc here, you have to have a cycle lisence. there is no law here that says a person on a cycle has to wear a helmet. but, boy, you better have that seat belt on in the car . think of all those kids on school busses too. yeah, whatever, a whole nother topic.

thanks again for the info.

 

[ftwildernessguy]

let's talk scooters here...

i want one. i have wanted one for years now. i have gotten dh to look at them with me. but, then he goes into the ones that need cycle licenses and cost much more.

if you have a scooter, what do you have and do you wish you had a bigger one??

Sort of depends on what you want to do with it. If you want something to run errands around town on, then 49cc will be fine. If you want to do some open highway driving, then you better start looking at the maxi scooters.

I have a Vino Classic 49cc. I use it around town - go to the store, the mall, the post office, the bank, etc. It works great and has plenty of power for this. I max out at 40mph on the flat and get 100mpg. In PA, you don't need a motorcycle endorsement for under 50cc. Helmets are a must whether your state requires it or not. I don't care what you're riding, if you hit the curb with your head, it's gonna do some damage.

Many good quality scooters are available in the 49cc range. Honda and Yamaha are good and have a great dealer system for support. Genuine has a 49cc Buddy scooter which is good if you have a dealer in your area. Vespa makes a 49cc but is kind of pricey and dealers are sometimes hard to find. Stay AWAY from the scooters sold at places like Pep Boys or other auto parts places or discount stores. These are cheaply made, usually not repairable, always unreliable and sometimes cannot even be licensed. Also stay away from online scooters for the same reason. MSF now has a scooter class available in some states and I would recommend either taking it or at least downloading their manual and reading it. Oh yeah, another halfway decent scooter is by TnG - the Venice is a classic looking scoot at 49cc and a little less money than a Honda or Yamaha. For the little extra money, I don't think you could go wrong with either the Metropolitan or the Vino - both Honda and Yamaha make good, solid, reliable bikes and stand behind their products with great dealer support.

 

[ntsammy5]

I don't care what you're riding, if you hit the curb with your head, it's gonna do some damage.

Yeah, I've broken a lot of curbs that way!

 

[BigDaddyRog]

lol


I had a cushman years ago......It was over 20yrs old when I got it...I had big plans to restore it and hot-rod it up some...never did get around to that...but that little thing ran REALLY strong and the motor on it was solid even at +20yrs.

 

[ColleenFL]

Just drove back today from Orlando visiting my daughter for the day at UCF and noticed that the gas prices in Orlando are around $3.15 for regular and around $3.79 for diesel. 3-1-08

 

[ftwildernessguy]

Yeah, I've broken a lot of curbs that way!

PENNDOT has required me to wear a helmet due to the damage I did to roads and curbs.

 

[ftwildernessguy]

lol


I had a cushman years ago......It was over 20yrs old when I got it...I had big plans to restore it and hot-rod it up some...never did get around to that...but that little thing ran REALLY strong and the motor on it was solid even at +20yrs.

Rog - please tell me you still have the Cushman covered up in the back of your garage.

 

[stacktester]

I have a 49cc Baccio. Got it from a friend for $300. It runs great and is fun to ride around here.He bought it for his wife and she wouldn't ride it on the road. I may take it to the fort this summer. I've been told I look pretty dumb riding it since I'm 6' 2" and 250 lbs. lol, but if I leave the big diesel parked and use the scooter some I'll save about $20 per tank on the scooter, maybe more. I may get the 150cc model soon as I could ride it more around town. If more people get them it'll save some money. They're really fun to ride around campgrounds and cruising around Jacksonville Beach.

 

[Gatordad]

if you get the bigger one, and sell the smaller one, let me know.

 

[MomofPirate&Mickey]

In case you missed it, for all you complaining about the cost of gas/diesel & trucks..... GMAC displayed models of a Denali crossover & another pick-up truck (forget which one) at the Chicago car show a couple of weeks ago that will be hybrids. They are set to come out in 4th qtr 2008 as part of the 2009 line. I'm sure you can google them for specs.

Just some thoughts.....

PS... We're not happy about the gas here either. Pd 3.08 for regular unleaded at BJs this w/e. The regular racetrac that we normally fill up at was 3.15/gallon. It's costing about $40.00 to fill up my 03 Saturn Vue now. Good thing I only need to fill it about once a week or so. But it's the kid hauler, so have to keep it going....

 

[nascar-j]

In case you missed it, for all you complaining about the cost of gas/diesel & trucks..... GMAC displayed models of a Denali crossover & another pick-up truck that will be hybrids. ...

If I didn't need a truck that could pull a 10,000 lb 5er, I'd be driving a Mini Cooper and getting 30 mpg. They have been advertising the SUV hybrids here for a few months. My old Explorer had a higher tow rating.

j