how have gas prices effected you?

Matthew Fortner · **Joined:** Sun Mar 21, 2004 12:21 am **Posts:** 384

I'm looking for folks who have made some changes due to gas prices for a story that will appear in the N&O. I am a photo editor there.

It might be that you have cut back on track events or recently bought a fuel sipper. Maybe you've made cuts to accommodate or looking to make tough decisions? Started car pooling? Really whatever goes.

I know I've altered how I run errands now. As much as I like taking care of things immediately, I know wait a bit and combine tasks where I can to reduce travel.

Stephen Westerfield · **Posted:** Thu Apr 24, 2008 11:31 am

We sold our G35.....two years ago when prices started getting rediculous. I really miss that car. The Honda Fit, while completely different, has been a great car. Going from a car that averaged 22ish mpg to one that averages 35 mpg has definitely made a difference. Insurance is cheaper too!

Matthew Fortner · **Joined:** Sun Mar 21, 2004 12:21 am **Posts:** 384

I went against the grain and bought a thirsty RX-8. I'm betting the G35 trumps the Mazda slightly on MPG.

Aaron Buckley · **Posted:** Thu Apr 24, 2008 12:09 pm

Matthew Fortner wrote:

I went against the grain and bought a thirsty RX-8. I'm betting the G35 trumps the Mazda slightly on MPG.

Slightly? The RX-8 around town gets around, what, 16 mpg? The best Bryan and I ever did going to an event with a complete full tank highway run was 23 mpg. I love the RX-8, but not with today's fuel prices. - AB

Matthew Fortner · **Joined:** Sun Mar 21, 2004 12:21 am **Posts:** 384

Yeah I gravitate more to our Jetta now for errands. Luckily I do not drive very far to work.

Aaron Buckley · **Posted:** Thu Apr 24, 2008 12:35 pm

Matthew Fortner wrote:

Yeah I gravitate more to our Jetta now for errands. Luckily I do not drive very far to work.

Don't get me wrong, I loved the RX-8, and if the gas prices were to come down, I might pick one up. - AB

MikeWhitney · **Joined:** Wed Aug 20, 2003 9:15 pm **Posts:** 4724

I've started drafting people on Hwy55. Get close enough and you can just put the car in neutral. The soccer moms don't seem to like that though.

Todd Breakey · **Posted:** Thu Apr 24, 2008 12:47 pm

I am getting ready to put my Mustang GT and the Subaru on the market. Neither car gets better than 24 mpg and when you have a 30 minute commute every day, that starts to hurt.

As soon as the Mustang sells, I'll be on the look out for a Jetta TDI.

Carl Fisher · **Posted:** Thu Apr 24, 2008 1:23 pm

Todd Breakey wrote:

As soon as the Mustang sells, I'll be on the look out for a Jetta TDI.

Unless you have other factors influencing your decision (desire to run biodiesel, for example), the increased fuel economy of diesel is now fully offset by the premium in diesel fuel price. And with demand for diesel worldwide (and domestically) growing much faster than demand for gasoline, that equation is not going to be looking better anytime soon.

Plus the TDI folks know their cars are hot now, and 7-year-old ones with 160k are going for $10,000+ anywhere you look.

Back on the topic at hand, I got rid of that gas-hungry Sentra SE-R (26mpg) and brought the Neon (34mpg) out of retirement! Thanks Eric A! :-)

Scott Johnson · **Posted:** Thu Apr 24, 2008 1:24 pm

basically no changes here. Maybe we are trying a little harder to drive the Celica on errands around town rather than the Tundra.

Chris Landi · **Joined:** Mon Mar 08, 2004 6:31 pm **Posts:** 579

"My jack rabbit starts used to be in the 19psi range. I've since backed off considerably and now only hit 18psi of boost."

That's a pretty good quote to use

Stephen Westerfield · **Posted:** Thu Apr 24, 2008 1:31 pm

Carl Fisher wrote:

Todd Breakey wrote:

As soon as the Mustang sells, I'll be on the look out for a Jetta TDI.

Unless you have other factors influencing your decision (desire to run biodiesel, for example), the increased fuel economy of diesel is now fully offset by the premium in diesel fuel price. And with demand for diesel worldwide (and domestically) growing much faster than demand for gasoline, that equation is not going to be looking better anytime soon.

Couple that with the fact that....well, it's a VW. I'd much rather walk out in the morning to find my car on empty than wondering whether or not it is even going to start.

jimpastorius · **Posted:** Thu Apr 24, 2008 1:38 pm

With a 52 mile round trip to work, I now work a day a week from home and picked up a Honda Accord (26 mpg daily driving) for the daily commute as opposed to the Silverado 2500HD (12mpg daily driving). With that, I cut my gas bill by over half. Toss in the riding the BMW at 45mpg a couple times a week, my weekly gas bill is approaching that of two to three years ago.

So I can continue to travel for track events :-)

Oh, it is a 1995 Accord in nice shape with the 2.2 for a whopping $2500.

But it has impacted doing autocross events. To go to Laurinburg or Danville, is out of the question cost wise. I figure with entry fee and gas alone, it is $100 for 4 minutes of driving. That does not factor in tires, food, etc.

Todd Breakey · **Posted:** Thu Apr 24, 2008 1:57 pm

Carl Fisher wrote:

Todd Breakey wrote:

As soon as the Mustang sells, I'll be on the look out for a Jetta TDI.

Unless you have other factors influencing your decision (desire to run biodiesel, for example), the increased fuel economy of diesel is now fully offset by the premium in diesel fuel price. And with demand for diesel worldwide (and domestically) growing much faster than demand for gasoline, that equation is not going to be looking better anytime soon.

Plus the TDI folks know their cars are hot now, and 7-year-old ones with 160k are going for $10,000+ anywhere you look.

Back on the topic at hand, I got rid of that gas-hungry Sentra SE-R (26mpg) and brought the Neon (34mpg) out of retirement! Thanks Eric A! :-)

All true facts, however, with my cars currently getting no better than 24 mpg (the Subaru when driven very gently) and the typical TDI returning 45 - 50 mpg, the price of diesel would have to be twice as much as 87 octane for the two to equal. Also, I've been looking at some very well maintained '03 - '04 Jettas and Golfs that are asking anywhere from $7000 - $8000.

Believe me when I say that I've done my home work and as of right now, TDI is by far the best deal I can find for both initial purchase price and fuel mileage. I would love to by a Prius, but they are way too expensive, and would buy a diesel Accord but they aren't available in the US yet.

Until the manufacturers start realizing that the US NEEDS more fuel efficient vehicles here, our selections will be very limited.

Todd Breakey · **Posted:** Thu Apr 24, 2008 2:01 pm

Stephen Westerfield wrote:

Carl Fisher wrote:

Todd Breakey wrote:

As soon as the Mustang sells, I'll be on the look out for a Jetta TDI.

Unless you have other factors influencing your decision (desire to run biodiesel, for example), the increased fuel economy of diesel is now fully offset by the premium in diesel fuel price. And with demand for diesel worldwide (and domestically) growing much faster than demand for gasoline, that equation is not going to be looking better anytime soon.

Couple that with the fact that....well, it's a VW. I'd much rather walk out in the morning to find my car on empty than wondering whether or not it is even going to start.

As I said in my last post, unfortunately Honda doesn't import their diesel Accord to the US. If they did, I would be looking for one of them. Until they do, your only diesel car selections are VW and Mercedes. And the Mercs are not even a consideration.

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