Pricey gasoline hits U.S. consumers - Polidicks

You shouldn't be whining if you're driving a gas guzzling V8 SUV/truck as a commuter car. [QUOTE=patq911;37846775]Hurry up Hydrogen, we need you.[/QUOTE] Too inefficient, and a container with compressed hydrogen is dangerous in a vehicle that CAN be implicated in a serious crash. And all-electric cars are suffering from mediocre capacity batteries with long recharge time, relatively high weight compared to energy capacity [B]AND[/B] expensive to make and recycle. Best bet currently are a economic turbodiesel car.

[QUOTE=Van-man;37847779]You shouldn't be whining if you're driving a gas guzzling V8 SUV/truck as a commuter car. Too inefficient, and a container with compressed hydrogen is dangerous in a vehicle that CAN be implicated in a serious crash. And all-electric cars are suffering from mediocre capacity batteries with long recharge time, relatively high weight compared to energy capacity [B]AND[/B] expensive to make and recycle. Best bet currently are a economic turbodiesel car.[/QUOTE] [url=http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0360319909000603]And solid chemical storage of hydrogen, after a decade of research, was deemed unsuitable for automobile use by the US Department of Energy. At least, as of the state of the art of 2008.[/url]

This is why I surprisingly haven't been looking forward to learning how to drive a car at all, shit is just way too expensive these days. I put off driver's ed for about a year because I was close enough to ride my bike, only about a 10 minutes or less ride, so on top of my parents being busy all the time I didn't take it. Now I'm a junior and I start driver's ed this Monday along with my older brother, but DE is $600, then a lot more money to get the permit, where I can only drive with my parents (parents are always busy, 40 hour required driving time with them is going to take a very long time, also since my brother needs his own 40 hours too). Don't forget gas prices and insurance on top of all that, and so close to graduating high school where we'll move on to college. I'd really prefer to just go for a motorcycle permit, only $30 and a short exam in one visit and you can ride by yourself during the daytime only, and that would be with a $4k motorcycle that gets $60+mpg, instead of an even more expensive car that would get 20mpg, batshit insane insurance prices, and ripoff for maintenance and repairs.

[QUOTE=Chernarus;37842043]Try living in Canada. We have to drive further then you aswell. Consider yourselves lucky. [IMG]http://i.imgur.com/i8DTG.png[/IMG][/QUOTE] You have healthcare that you pay virtually nothing for, here you easily pay a few hundred dollars for decent healthcare. That has nothing to do with gasoline, but it more than makes up for how stupidly expensive it is and how it affects what most Americans can spend their money on.

[QUOTE=codemaster85;37846941]If you go to VW's website you cant buy the european version of the passat that has 70mpg on highway due to regulations on emmissions in the us. Apparently they said it was because of poor sales here for being a little smaller. I think any car that gets 70mpg with current gas prices would sell like hot cakes.[/QUOTE]That might have more to do with the fact that Europe calculates miles differently then the US. [url=http://www.ultimatecarpage.com/forum/showpost.php?p=458037&postcount=2]This forum post explains it:[/url] [quote]1) - UK gallons are bigger than silly little US gallons: 1 UK Imperial Gallon = 4.55 litres 1 US Liquid Gallon = 3.79 litres 2) - UK mpg figures will be calculated using the EU's methods, the US mpg figures will be calculated using the EPS's methods. They are different, and the different cycles (Urban, Extra-Urban and Combined for the EU, City and Highway for the EPA) don't directly compare. Neither sets of figures actually replicate real-world driving, so they are best used as a guideline to compare against other vehicles, rather than used as an actual indicator of fuel efficiency. The lack of accuracy in the mpg figures is compounded by other factors such as; driving with aircon on, roof/windows up/down, different tyres, ambient temperature, road surface - things which affect the rolling resistance and drag of the car, and the work load on the engine. Fuel in the USA and UK is also different, and not only that, but different fuels give different efficiencies. Comparative consuptions for the Elise 111R: (mpl = miles per litre) EU Urban Cycle: 23.3mpg* = 5.1 mpl EU Extra Urban Cycle: 41.4mpg* = 9.1 mpl EU Combined Cycle: 32.1mpg* = 7.1 mpl US City cycle: 23mpg** = 6.1 mpl US Highway cycle: 27mpg** = 7.1 mpl * - UK mpg ** - US mpg[/quote] And if you are still confused have a handy calculator: [url]http://www.markporthouse.net/rangie/fuelconsumptionconversion.htm[/url]

[QUOTE=Mr. Someguy;37846948]Why don't you go live in the Congo and get back to us?[/QUOTE] what I'm trying to say people complain too fucking much with what they have when 3rd world nations in Africa, Asia can't even improve due to people wanting to rule some shit land.

[QUOTE=Killuah;37840952]I've been to the US and the fuel wasting was incredible. The cars were super huge, air conditioning always running even when opening a windows would've done. But the most incredible thing was the seize of the cars. As soon as we came out of the city almost everyone drove a huge frigging pickup and don't tell me people need them because in 9 of 10 cases the back was empty and only 1 or 2 persons in the car.[/QUOTE] That always bugged me too. Dipshits buy trucks/SUVs because they want the power and utility they provide, and then never use it. It's an absolute waste to buy a 2008 Chevy 2500HD 4x4 off-road truck just to drive little Timmy and his crotch-spawn friends to soccer practice. Granted, there's alot of cause to buy a truck/SUV here in New Mexico. Alot of roads are still dirt, and are so poorly maintained that they would rattle a normal car to pieces if they didn't scrape the fuck out of the bottoms of their vehicles first. Lots of farmers out here who DO use their trucks for work, too, but it pains me when I see some tiny little soccer mom driving that big damned truck with not a single speck of dirt/mud on it. And THEN, you have the automotive manufacturers that, for whatever reason, are making SUVs that were never intended for off-road use or towing. Look at the Jeep Commander! When it was first released it wasn't even trail-rated. Why the FUCK would you buy a Jeep if it wasn't trail-rated? What's the point? It's like a Big Mac with no patties in it, it's fucking stupid. And Escalades? Really? You never see a speck of dirt on those either, just over-sized rims and speaker systems in the back rattling YOUR windows at every red-light. [editline]29th September 2012[/editline] [QUOTE=T.F.W.O.;37840961]What the environmental costs to manufacture electric cars? An electric car is just a box with wheels filled with nasty acids, and rare metals. Those metals need to be mined. You also need to charge them, so they're not 100% off the grid. Nuclear energy is just as dirty as fossil fuel plants. What's going to power the water-coolant pumps? It sure isn't going to be another nuclear power plant. What are you going to do with all the spent nuclear rods? Bury them? Where? There seems to be no technological fix to our problems.[/QUOTE] Thorium reactors, dude. Look 'em up.

i'm currently paying 138.9c / l in Canada (i think it's like 5.25 a gallon or something) and i have to drive about 4 hours a day to and from work and then another hour a day to and from university, 5 days a week. my truck gets like 15mpg or 16~l/100km. not too sure why americans find the prices so ridiculous [editline]29th September 2012[/editline] pretty much half my paycheck goes towards gas just to get to work and back home

[QUOTE=Pandamox;37850064]i'm currently paying 138.9c / l in Canada (i think it's like 5.25 a gallon or something) and i have to drive about 4 hours a day to and from work and then another hour a day to and from university, 5 days a week. my truck gets like 15mpg or 16~l/100km. not too sure why americans find the prices so ridiculous [editline]29th September 2012[/editline] pretty much half my paycheck goes towards gas just to get to work and back home[/QUOTE] Why are you driving a fucking truck then?! What's wrong with you people? You complain that HALF your money goes for fuel and then you drive THE MOST UNECONOMICAL CARS.

[QUOTE=Stopper;37850088]Why are you driving a fucking truck then?! What's wrong with you people? You complain that HALF your money goes for fuel and then you drive THE MOST UNECONOMICAL CARS.[/QUOTE] because i work in construction and i kind of need my truck to haul shit around at work you tard

[QUOTE=Pandamox;37850097]because i work in construction and i kind of need my truck to haul shit around at work you tard[/QUOTE] There are pickups that are easily twice as economical you spanner.

[QUOTE=Stopper;37850126]There are pickups that are easily twice as economical you spanner.[/QUOTE] and they also cost 3x as much and can haul half as much? what is your point, i wasn't complaining about having to pay half of my paycheck for gas i was pointing out i'm paying more than most americans in this thread who ARE complaining

This gotta be the first fucking time in my life I see people competing over who is the poorest person.

if the united states suddenly ran out of oil tomorrow they would cease to exist as a sovereign state

[QUOTE=Sobotnik;37850385]if the united states suddenly ran out of oil tomorrow they would cease to exist as a sovereign state[/QUOTE] Which is why we have a reserve

[QUOTE=kimr120;37850234]This gotta be the first fucking time in my life I see people competing over who is the poorest person.[/QUOTE] I'm guessing you haven't heard a rap battle before.

[QUOTE=DarkMonkey;37850416]Which is why we have a reserve[/QUOTE]It would only last a "massive" 36 days of oil at current daily US consumption levels of 19.5 million barrels per day. [url]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strategic_Petroleum_Reserve_(United_States)[/url]

[QUOTE=Political Gamer;37850456]It would only last a "massive" 36 days of oil at current daily US consumption levels of 19.5 million barrels per day. [url]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strategic_Petroleum_Reserve_(United_States)[/url][/QUOTE] That is enough time to convert my little ranger to wood gas.

Is everyone in this thread seriously just ignoring the fact that gas companies will adjust the prices however the fuck they want, and maybe they just want to gouge everyone out on Summer and near holidays? 400 Billion in profits for gas companies suggest to me that they could sell the shit for $2 a gallon if they wanted to

Lucky here in rural eastern VA it's remained at prices that aren't horrific. I think it's still running between $3.40 and $3.60

Oh, I've also noticed, your gas is shit quality. It goes from like, 87 to 95 or so octane. Around here, it goes from 93-99 octane. Might explain shittier milage, I don't know. Just an observation when going to gas stations here.

That could also help account for the difference in prices.

[QUOTE=Riller;37850706]Oh, I've also noticed, your gas is shit quality. It goes from like, 87 to 95 or so octane. Around here, it goes from 93-99 octane. Might explain shittier milage, I don't know. Just an observation when going to gas stations here.[/QUOTE] Octane has very little effect on mileage. This is probably the main cuprit. [QUOTE=Political Gamer;37848394]That might have more to do with the fact that Europe calculates miles differently then the US. [url=http://www.ultimatecarpage.com/forum/showpost.php?p=458037&postcount=2]This forum post explains it:[/url] And if you are still confused have a handy calculator: [url]http://www.markporthouse.net/rangie/fuelconsumptionconversion.htm[/url][/QUOTE]

Its 4.23 here in Cali. We should all just ride fucking bicycles.

[QUOTE=Pierrewithahat;37840588]No you're right, I just realised we don't drive everywhere in the UK. Question? Do you drive all across America? If not then that point is null and void.[/QUOTE] Do you stupid? Some parts of America, the closest hospital is 200 miles away. In my parent's house up in the mountains, the nearest hospital is in the next fucking state. If you aren't in a major metropolitan city, you're in the middle of bum-fuck nowhere.

fighting over pointless differences: the thread

[QUOTE=don818;37852919]Do you stupid? Some parts of America, the closest hospital is 200 miles away. In my parent's house up in the mountains, the nearest hospital is in the next fucking state. If you aren't in a major metropolitan city, you're in the middle of bum-fuck nowhere.[/QUOTE] And that's another thing our European comrades fail to understand: We in the States number roughly 350 million people, and most of those people aren't living in the bustling urban centers like New York or LA, but rather in the little podunk towns that are scattered across the nation. Here in New Mexico, we have roughly 2 million people in the entire state, and half of those people live in Albuquerque/Santa Fe. The rest? In small towns like mine, or even smaller (towns of < 2,000 are not uncommon here)

I really hate all those tiny towns your country is plastered in. If I lived in one of them I would have stabbed my eyes out by now. [QUOTE=DarkMonkey;37850416]Which is why we have a reserve[/QUOTE] That would barely cover essential services, railways and trucks that move food and medical supplies around. As soon as the railway locomotives stopped moving, America would have no electricity, no food and no medical supplies.

[QUOTE=Daniel M;37840579]You guys, Europe is a bit different because public transport is everywhere. Try living in Phoenix where it's 115 degrees and walking/riding a bike/walking 2-3 miles to the nearest bus pick up area.[/QUOTE] Well I live in Finland and there's no local public transport in small towns (mine has ~20 000 people and no local bus). And if you want to go to other towns, it's still often cheaper to drive there yourself alone than to go there by bus despite 98E costs an avg of 8.5$ per gallon here. I've gotten my both flights to spain (3250km) and back for cheaper than it was to travel 800 km and back in finland using a train.

[QUOTE=don818;37852919]Do you stupid? Some parts of America, the closest hospital is 200 miles away. In my parent's house up in the mountains, the nearest hospital is in the next fucking state. If you aren't in a major metropolitan city, you're in the middle of bum-fuck nowhere.[/QUOTE] 82.3 % of the US live in cities as of 2010 [editline]30th September 2012[/editline] [QUOTE=JeanLuc761;37846051]I usually drive ~250-300 miles per week for my commute between work, school, and errands. That's quite a bit.[/QUOTE] Then maybe higher prices are a good incentive for people to drive less. Obviously I am not talking people not taking jobs halfway across a damn continent only but also employers not taking it for granted that people blow a tank of gasoline to get to work. [editline]30th September 2012[/editline] [QUOTE=Zero-Point;37854885]And that's another thing our European comrades fail to understand: We in the States number roughly 350 million people, and most of those people aren't living in the bustling urban centers like New York or LA, but rather in the little podunk towns that are scattered across the nation. Here in New Mexico, we have roughly 2 million people in the entire state, and half of those people live in Albuquerque/Santa Fe. The rest? In small towns like mine, or even smaller (towns of < 2,000 are not uncommon here)[/QUOTE] The development of that was only possible because of the historical growth of the country and, more importantly, dirt cheap individual transportation for 40 years. Look at the suburbs of the last 20 years, centralized stores(malls), huge schools, next to now buisness areas in areas where people actually live. That's only possible when everyone drives a car. You don't build suburbs consisting of houses only when there is no way to drive.