Gas Prices

[Joshua Szulecki]

Just curious. And for explanation, by "away from home" I mean any appreciable distance from your home base. Personally, I'm pushing the limits of where my weekend hiking expeditions planned for April may have to be pruned a bit if prices keep heading the way they are. I'm already about 75% sure I'm going to axe my GSMNP Dogwoods plans.

[Note: I debated moving this to Ecology and Environment, but I feel it is more appropriate here, because it doesn't specifically address conservation or other more "environmental" topics.]

[Joshua Szulecki]

Jaybird,

Not to mark myself out as a yankee or anything, but I think I could probably get away without heat here in Birmingham if I didn't have the dog to worry about. Then again, the one good thing about apartments is that you get ambient heat from other units. In the high-rise I was in for a year in Beltsville, MD, I don't think I ran the heat once! Of course, I don't mind living in 50-degree indoor weather, most people (and my dog) can't stand that. I wouldn't recommend it in a single-dwelling structure, what with the pipe-freezing and all, but in apartments...

[lawnmowwer]

 I just up graded to a Toyota FJ last week from a jeep wangler limicon (the first and last mopar I will ever own). Right now I am getting almost twice the MPG's so the trips aren't to bad at the moment. The jeep got 11. I had almost quit driving it at all. Diesel for My work truck is killing me though.

 A car was just not practical for Me doing the Scout thing. I just can't get enough people and gear in a car. One small SUV (with everything) getting 20 is better than a car (with people) getting 25 and and car or truck (with gear) getting 25. 

[Suz]

I had an old Toyota Camry that got 26 to 22 mpg.  Researched everything and decided on a Corolla, as my family size is dwindling...  They are supposed to get 40-42 on the highway with manual transmission.  I found one that was an automatic, but the best I've ever gotten is 35.  It usually hovers around 31-33.  I've been reading about hypermilers and trying to adopt some of their driving techniques.  I already do most of them and can't bring myself to rolling stop signs or drafting trucks.  So I'm going to start screaming to the leadership for mass transit or safe cycling commuting lanes.  May even look for a job that is close enough to ride to.  With the housing market, lord knows we can't sell.  Our cities aren't designed for us to bike to work.  Not many people live close enough to walk or ride to work.

[Joshua Szulecki]

My old car basically got the sticker miles, about 20/28 habitually (19/27ish with E10), but my new car is totally erratic. The sticker mileage was 20/29, although with the new calulations it is slightly lower. With a full tank, I can get over 500 miles at highway speeds, averaging around 27-29mpg, but my city mileage is BRUTAL in this car. It weighs nearly a thousand pounds more than my old Taurus, and has a larger engine, so in traffic it sucks fuel horribly just to move a little. A tank spent in traffic lasts maybe 200-250 miles total, with half being weekend highway driving! But at highway speeds, in beats the pants off of the lighter Taurus due to better gearing and a substantially better aerodynamic profile.

[lawnmowwer]

 With the first tank out of the way the FJ got 19. I should say that every one of my friends drove the FJ and the first thing they did is stomp it to the floor and say wow this thing has plenty of power. As this is not my driving style I expect better milage on the next tank. If you see a dark cherry pearl FJ in the slow lane running 68 its probably me. I am working down to 65 from 75 to 80.

 I read an article somewhere recently that said it takes twice the horse power to pull a trailer 75 as it does 65. So I figure that it is less not towing but the principals still applies

[Lostsheep]

The gas is starting to tax me pretty good. I'm having to limit my trips to the good places and stick close to home b/c of it.

I drive a '04 Chevy Silverado (needed the towing capacity) and currently I'm pulling 18.5mpg consistently. On occassion it goes towards 19.5mpg and down to 16.5mpg. Lawnmower, I run right around 70-75 and I don't see too much of a difference. It really matters when I sit still. I definitely keep it under 75, b/c after that, it drinks fuel.

At 25gallons and prices around $3.15, it's costing me nearly $80. That's an expensive trip when I can run to Oak Mtn, Moss Rock, or others and get in some trail time for cheaper.

[Magic City Matt]

Well we just got back from a tour of the Nantahala, Pisgah, Chattahoochee area did a lot of hiking and a lot of crossing some very cold snow melt but the biggest pain was in the wallet when we first filled up at 3.30 a gallon. Really this is getting ridiculous. I doubt it will slow us down but OUCH.

[Lostsheep]

The fact that it's not slowing down is more of a reason for me to get a bicycle and begin riding it to work. The only problem is that it's 18miles one way. At least that's 2 gallons of gas!

[lawnmowwer]

 Good idea Lostsheep. I know that Chaco shoes pays employees to ride a bicycle to work. As soon as a bicycle comes along that will tow 4 to 5000 pounds I will be in the market.

[Joshua Szulecki]

Ain't no way I'm riding a bike down 280. 

When I look for my next apartment (in MD), hopefully something on a less traffic-ridden route will be availible. When I moved here I had spent a sum total of about 72 hours in Birmingham, and needed an apartment fast. Little did I know it was located right off Corridor-Slug. Most places, a road like 280 wouldn't have nearly as many lights, or they'd be timed a whole heck of a lot better. It takes me 45 minutes to go 9 miles, and the record here in 1.5 hours to go 9 miles. That is, of course, pale in comparison to my all-time record of 3 hours for 5 miles, set back in 2005 between the University of Maryland and my apartment. That was the back way. The main roads were so backed up it would have been 4 or 5 that way.

[Lostsheep]

Yea Joshua, the 18mi is avoiding Hwy 280 at all costs. There's no way I'd ride on that. I'd pretty much be asking someone to run me down there.

It seems like several of the people around here are around 280 at some point throughout the day. I actually spend most of my days at the office which is just off of Hwy 280 and I-459. Seems like several are close to there.

[toph]

I just up graded to a Toyota FJ last week from a jeep wangler limicon (the first and last mopar I will ever own). Right now I am getting almost twice the MPG's so the trips aren't to bad at the moment. The jeep got 11. I had almost quit driving it at all. Diesel for My work truck is killing me though.

Don't the FJs only take premium gas?

[MoBill122]

 I drive a Ford F-350 diesel....     gawd....  15 mpg

 Diesel here in Woodstock/Atlanta area is  $ 4.02 today !

[lawnmowwer]

Don't the FJs only take premium gas?
[/quote]

This is true but last weekend I went to Sipsey on a Scout trip. I haven't filled up yet, but It looks like 22 mpg. So I pay a little extra for gas for double the mileage. Not to mention that four scout climbed in Sunday with muddy feet and I didn't have to worry about carpet or the seats. O yea, Everthing works like it is supposed to and nothing is falling off.

[lawnmowwer]

 Got 21.86 MPG on the FJ today.

[Magic City Matt]

I drive a Ford F-350 diesel....     gawd....  15 mpg

 Diesel here in Woodstock/Atlanta area is  $ 4.02 today !

I drive a 4 cylinder 2001 Tacoma that only gets 17 MPG. That really suck especially considering it is the smallest engine available at the time.

[lawnmowwer]

 I think Toyota will do better, but Chevy did a hybrid truck and it got 2 mpg better than a regular truck for 5k more. Needless to say it was a flop. Ford and Chevy are working on a diesel half ton. The Ford is supposed to get 35 mpg with a 4.5 liter V6 diesel. I know it is in the factory scan tools for 2008. The motor is already in the LCF medium duty trucks as of 2006. When will they introduce them? Your guess is as good as mine.

[SteveO]

My 2005 Mazda Tribute gets around 21MPG, the 2002 Mazda Protege gets around 28MPG, my Mazda RX7 gets around 12.

I drive 45 miles one way to work, mostly driving the Protege. Takes me about $7 a day or so. My fiance drives the Tribute, which gets less mileage, but thankfully she works closer to home than I do.

When we went to the Smokies last week we drove it. Paid alot less for gas up there ($3.03 etc..nothing over $3.15)
Come back here and seeing $3.20+

Id like to say it hasnt affected my trips, but it really has. A trip to Sipsey is 100 miles one way. Thats alot of gas. Oak Mountain, Ruffner, Tannehill, etc etc are all alot closer. (while not near as much fun)

[Lostsheep]

Don't feel bad SteveO. I'm not making the same number of trips to the Sipsey for the exact reason. 100 miles is alot in gas money when I can drive 15 to Oak Mtn and get the same exercise in. Too bad it's just not as pretty (to me at least).

Oh well.

[MoBill122]

 Noticed diesel was $ 4.29 on the way to WalMart yesterday. 

 I'm certainly glad I don't have a truck payment to go with the monthly fuel bill !

[Lostsheep]

Yea the diesel is melting a hole in my farm truck. We've pretty much parked it except when having to haul the big toys. I'd rather use my regular truck for as much as possible to save that fuel. When that thing only gets 10-15mpg, it's PAINFUL!!