When gas hit $5, what will you do?

[DaisyD]

You know what really gets to me in threads like this? And it's not that I've seen it here, but it's inevitable in the SUV and/or gas threads. You always have someone coming on gloating -- and maybe they don't mean to gloat, or maybe they don't realize they're coming off that way -- but they display the attitude that everything's just fine and dandy because they can afford that Hummer and it's all just peachy keen with them; hey just let those gas prices SOAR!!! It's all good!

This is serious for some people. Where I live, people aren't going to be able to go to work when they're making minimum wage and driving whatever old car they can get their hands on. I'm willing to bet we have some people on the DIS who are seriously worried about gas prices, and no, not everyone here is planning trip after trip to WDW, but are very overburdened right now.

It reminds me of the "let them eat cake" attitude.

It's not that anyone should be ashamed to have money, but really. If you're going to be so blatant about it, why don't you just come right out and tell us what your salary is. Either way, it's just tacky.

No one is gloating about anything. If these threads bother you then don't open them. What others can afford doesn't effect me in the least. Many on this board talk about all their trips to WDW staying in concierge. Does that bother you too if for some reason you can't afford it? I don't stay concierge because I don't think it is a good value. I DO drive an SUV because I think it IS a good value. My MDX is no Hummer but I love it no matter how much gas it takes. Geez!

 

[Marseeya]

Yikes! If you're talking about me (although I hope you aren't), I'm sorry if I offended anyone by my gloating about driving a diesel, just wanted to put it out there as an alternate for paying outrageous unleaded prices.

No, it wasn't you at all. I don't think anyone has really done it in this thread.

And I'm not naming any names, because I honestly don't know who has or hasn't done it, but it's definitely something I've seen in these kinds of threads.

 

[Marseeya]

No one is gloating about anything. If these threads bother you then don't open them. What others can afford doesn't effect me in the least. Many on this board talk about all their trips to WDW staying in concierge. Does that bother you too if for some reason you can't afford it? I don't stay concierge because I don't think it is a good value. I DO drive an SUVE because I think it IS a good value. My MDX is no Hummer but I love it no matter how much gas it takes. Geez!

Can you not see the difference between a frivolous vacation/someone staying concierge and FUEL, which is necessary to our lives???

And FTR, I can afford gas. But I'm not about to go around dancing in the streets BRAGGING about it.

 

[ducklite]

I hate to gloat, but I'm glad I bought the VW Jetta Wagon Turbo Diesel!! 45 miles/gallon and diesel fuel prices seem to stay constant, unlike soaring unleaded prices!!!

I hope you don't ever need a repair. I had a 1998 Jetta that I traded in when it was one year old, because it needed a repair after an accident and after waiting for the part for 40 days, I had enough and bought another Saturn.

ETA I'm not in any way bashing you for your choice, just giving you a heads up that VW is notorious for taking a long time to source parts. I loved my Jetta otherwise!

Anne

 

[jocon]

I have a GMC Yukon and can't wait to buy the new model. My wife uses the SUV and I drive the Grand Prix GT. With the way people drive, I prefer that my wife and daughter be in the larger vehicle. My wife works 5 minutes from the house anyway. We use whatever vehicle is practical on the weekends.
Even if gas prices hit $5/gallon, Chilis, TGIF, and Applebees will still have a 30 minute wait on any weeknight.

 

[DaisyD]

I have a GMC Yukon and can't wait to buy the new model. My wife uses the SUV and I drive the Grand Prix GT. With the way people drive, I prefer that my wife and daughter be in the larger vehicle. My wife works 5 minutes from the house anyway. We use whatever vehicle is practical on the weekends.
Even if gas prices hit $5/gallon, Chilis, TGIF, and Applebees will still have a 30 minute wait on any weeknight.

Careful. You might be accused of gloating! These threads always seem to start out innocent enough but end upo bashing SUV owners.

 

[Viking]

I hate to gloat, but I'm glad I bought the VW Jetta Wagon Turbo Diesel!! 45 miles/gallon and diesel fuel prices seem to stay constant, unlike soaring unleaded prices!!!

Over here Diesel fuel is about 15% cheaper than regular, but with the higher base price for the car (+$2,500) and the higher annual tax, which has to be paid for the diesel car, the break-even point for preferring a diesel over a regular car is in the range of 10,000 to 15,000 miles per year. I considered a diesel when I bought my convertible, but as I'm exactly at that point with 10,000 to 12,000 miles per year I decided to get a regular engine - especially as in a convertible the engine's sound plays a role as well
But as soon as a hybrid convertible is available I will trade mine in a flash.

 

[DaisyD]

Can you not see the difference between a frivolous vacation/someone staying concierge and FUEL, which is necessary to our lives???

And FTR, I can afford gas. But I'm not about to go around dancing in the streets BRAGGING about it.

I've seen no one bragging about anything. Well, except the one that said she was gloating but you came back to say she wasn't! The only ones I've seen are ones that aren't going to run out and buy an economy car because gas prices are rising. I used to live in another country for a few years and paid very high fuel prices. These prices here are nothing compared to them!

 

[AllyandJack]

I don't think it's gloating. Some people just aren't going to change anything. I'm not - except for my payment methods because I might as well get something out of it along the way. The thread asked what you were going to do. Some people aren't going to do anything different - whether they simply can't or whether they refuse to change.

There is a nice thread about tips on how to save energy and gas. Lots of good info there.

I don't think anyone is gloating.....some people can't or won't change anything. Nothing wrong with that.

 

[Marseeya]

I've seen no one bragging about anything. Well, except the one that said she was gloating but you came back to say she wasn't! The only ones I've seen are ones that aren't going to run out and buy an economy car because gas prices are rising. I used to live in another country for a few years and paid very high fuel prices. These prices here are nothing compared to them!

I see something hit a nerve. Was it my use of the word "Hummer"?

I also said that I didn't see it in this thread and was just venting in general.

Regarding the gas prices in other countries, from what I understand, they have much better public transportation than we do here in the states.

 

[DaisyD]

I see something hit a nerve. Was it my use of the word "Hummer"?

I also said that I didn't see it in this thread and was just venting in general.

Regarding the gas prices in other countries, from what I understand, they have much better public transportation than we do here in the states.

LOL! I don't have a Hummer! My DH did but that was years ago. Gas prices were way low back then and it wasn't even a consideration. So no, Hummer didn't hit a nerve. I never liked them anyway as they are pretty ugly. My MDX is beautiful though! LOL!

Edited to add that I lived in Italy. They had terrible to non existent public transportation where I lived. We also lived in a very poor city and folks still managed to pay very high prices for fuel and didn't blink an eye.

 

[Crankyshank]

OK, maybe just 50% then? Transportation and energy costs are usually major components of a product's cost. Even a measly 25% across the board price hike for goods could really hit many people hard.

ITA
and it's not just one item increasing in price. I can handle a couple of items increasing but pretty much everything I purchase has increased in price because of increase in gas prices and my local grocery store isn't offering as many sales as they used to. As a result I would say my grocery bill has increased about 30% over the past month or two just buying the same things (many of it store brand) that I always have.

I know I'm feeling the pinch and it's caused me to have problems affording the healthier items in order to eat better and lose weight. I can only imagine how much it's affecting people with smaller incomes. The gas prices affect a lot more than people realize.

 

[Buckalew11]

If gas goes up that high, I will probably let DH drive my car to work since he has a long commute. I work at home, so I walk out into the garage.

Soon school will be out and that will cut back on my driving (we have no bus service to her school). We will just try to cut back on how much we drive and combine as many trips as possible. DD plans on camp this summer and one is close enough for us to walk.

Where gas prices will hurt me is my trips to WDW. Costs of flying out of Knoxville are high right now because Independence Air left so there is no competition & flight costs are high. And driving to WDW would cost that much more so I'd probably opt out of the trip. We were seriously thinking of buying DVC but if it is hard to get down there, I'm probably better off not to. We'll see.

 

[mickeyfan2]

Definetly trading in the Sentra for a Prius. I'm banging my head against the wall for not going with the Prius last year when I got the Corolla. 60 mpg sure is better than 40 mpg when DH commutes 100 miles to work for the freaking ARMY 7 days a week.

Check on that Prius before buying it. They get their best gas mileage in stop and go traffic and only about 40 MPG on the highway. Also the battery will need to be replace in about 5 years (a big expense) and the disposal is not very environmentally friendly.

 

[Planogirl]

I personally don't have anything against SUV drivers and more power to those who can afford to drive the big SUV's. I believe that a few prior posters were reacting to those who said that they didn't care how high gas prices go because they can afford to pay no matter what. I personally do care and not only about the strain on my own wallet but about those who are just getting by as it is. Transportation costs and the costs of goods are possibly going to make life quite difficult for many people and that's a horrible thought IMO.

People often say that Europeans pay a lot more. They certainly do but my relatives in a certain northern European country rarely drive because they can get around so easily on public transportation. Many people also rides bikes or mopeds or simply walk too. I would be willing to bet that the shipping of goods is more efficient too. It's a totally different lifestyle in many of these areas.

 

[ead79]

There is not a lot I can do to reduce my gas consumption. I have a 14 mile one-way commute, which isn’t terrible but does drain gas since it’s in stop and go traffic. There is not any public transportation in my area that can get me to work efficiently. I do live close to the grocery store and don’t tend to drive much on the weekends, so that’s helpful. I suppose we could drive DH’s car for errands since it gets a little bit better gas mileage. I’ll just have to pay for gas, whatever it costs. I am thankful that both our vehicles (car - Honda Accord Coupe - and compact SUV - Honda CRV) get good gas mileage. DH used to have an Explorer, and I’m actually glad it broke so we had to get rid of it now that gas prices are what they are.

 

[mickeyfan2]

everyone start thinking....ethonol

Yes, but ethonol will still be close to $3/gallon. We should do this to reduce our imports and use domestic created fuel. I believe that ethonol needs 10% crude oil. BTW Brazil went 100% ethonol this year. They had it in the works for about 20 years.

 

[ducklite]

Check on that Prius before buying it. They get their best gas mileage in stop and go traffic and only about 40 MPG on the highway. Also the battery will need to be replace in about 5 years (a big expense) and the disposal is not very environmentally friendly.

Actually they get about 46 highway--my husband drives back and forth between NJ and FL every month down 95 and that's his average milage on those trips. He's got friends who have them who drive in mostly "city" traffic and they are getting 48-50 mpg. They have a running competition to see who can get the best milage and are always trying to figure out new driving techniques for better milage... (See the "My husband is a geek" thread to learn more about this type of man... )

The batteries are warranteed to 100,000 miles. So for the average driver, they will last longer than five years. Realistic expectations are that they will be good to about 120,000 miles.

Anne

 

[C.Ann]

There's not an awful lot I'll be changing - since once I get here to the lake for the season I don't go much of anywhere anyhow..

Right now I'm still in the process of bringing things up from home - and then I'm going to have to make some trips back and forth during the move to the new house - but those are things that "have" to be done, so I'll just pay what I have to pay..

After things settle down (and everyone is settled in), I'll do one major shopping trip as needed.. Could be once a month - could be once every 6 weeks - could be once every two months.. Bread, milk, and eggs can be purchased close by (close as compared to where the major grocery stores are) so that's not a concern..

I'll still do the "village-wide"/"town-wide" garage sales because what I save in purchases of items that would have to be purchased "new" (not to mention maybe a few things I could sell on eBay ) will be worth the money spent in gas..

The one thing I won't do - if the gas prices remain high or spike again in January - is drive to Florida as planned.. I'll have to fly - and ask my doctor to give me a VERY big bottle of Valium if I'm going to have to ride around with my sister while I'm down there..

And speaking of my sister - she called Sunday and thinks she'll be coming up around the end of June for 6 weeks or so.. Due to the gas prices she may just have to try to find someone VERY trustworthy and "pet-friendly" to care for her two ferrets while she's gone and fly up here rather than driving..

My DD and her DH are really going to feel the pinch with their summer toys - the boat and jet skiis - and they are obviously going to have to make cuts in other areas if they want to enjoy those toys and STOP subsidizing their friends use of the toys and politely ask them to chip in for the gas if they plan on using them as much as they did last year..

DD's in-laws just bought a huge motorhome the year before last and I don't think they'll be traveling all over the place with it this year.. From what I understand, they have a trip to Maine planned for sometime in May and they will be driving their SUV and staying in a motel - which will still be cheaper than bringing the motorhome..

My concern is for the people who can barely make it now and have to travel long distances to get to work.. Many, many areas that used to provide public transportation no longer do so and to tell these people to just "move" is totally unrealistic..

For some it is going to be an "inconvenience" - for some it really won't matter - and for others, it could be a financial disaster in the making...

I don't know what - if anything - can be done about it.. All I know is that I will plan my life (and the use of my van) in the manner that works best for me.. What else can I do?

 

[Kitka]

Originally Posted by golfgal
Sorry, but this just burns me. We know a lot of people that have WAY more car then they need. One couple we know has not one but TWO Suburbans for their family of 3. The parents work at the SAME office and BOTH drive their cars in every day. It is just a shame and a waste of resources for the entire world. Your gas hog car effects EVERYONE in the world.

Yes, this bothers me too.

This is one area where I freely admit to being judgmental.

I don't think it's bragging when someone says they don't care how much gas costs or SUVs costs to operate. It's not about money.

It's about sucking up the resources on our planet without remorse.

As for the original question - maybe higher prices will cause people in the US to demand better public transportation... something we've been lacking for a long time.