Will High Gas Prices Mean Less Horsepower?

[thebigjimsho]

Originally Posted by davesdeville

I'm beginning to hope it will mean less HP. Gives me a better chance...

wussbag...

[CTSV_510]

TBJS, king of resurrection.

[Civardi]

I can only hope for a repeat of the 70s and people will dump their low MPG cars for cheap. I just read on CNN that some guy paid $7,300 for a used Geo Metro.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/wayof...ref=newssearch

[Luna.]

Originally Posted by Civardi

I can only hope for a repeat of the 70s and people will dump their low MPG cars for cheap. I just read on CNN that some guy paid $7,300 for a used Geo Metro.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/wayof...ref=newssearch

Where do these people come from?

[DRKSIDE]

Sell my car, hell no. Buy a beater that gets 10mpg more? Maybe if we get above $6/gal.

Driving 25000 miles/yr at 18 mpg (no fun) and $3.999 per gallon (current price for 93 octane in my area) costs aprox. $5554.17 per yr or $462.85 per month. If I were getting 28 mpg that would be $297.54 per month. A savings of $165.31 if I flat QUIT driving the V and only drive the more fuel efficient car.

A one $1/gallon increase in fuel cost makes a difference of $115.74 per month.

A two $2/gallon increase in fuel cost makes a difference of $231.48 per month.

So if the price of premium fuel goes to $5.999 per gallon, as it already is in most countries, then I am looking at about $450 per month extra fuel costs with my two gas hogs.

Buying a used fuel friendly car starts to make sense when you get over a certain amount. Different for everyone's budget of course.

I am not about to do anything drastic but...They had me at "$hell.000"!

[DRKSIDE]

Real question is probably "How long will I have to drive a more fuel efficient car to make it pay for itself?"

Using the above example of a car that averages 28 mpg as opposed to my 18 mpg average, an $8000 car would take me 4.03 years just to break even!

Again, only holds true if I don't drive the V for that same period and only applies if I paid cash for the car and didn't have any finance charges. With me driving both cars equally the payoff might as well never happen!

I have never owned ANY car more than 7 years!

[Civardi]

Originally Posted by DRKSIDE

Real question is probably "How long will I have to drive a more fuel efficient car to make it pay for itself?"

Using the above example of a car that averages 28 mpg as opposed to my 18 mpg average, an $8000 car would take me 4.03 years just to break even!

http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/liv....suv.sales.cnn

Cheap SUVs are already happening. But KBB rep proves your point.

[JimmyH]

70 mpg, low 15s 1/4mi

[tdyguy2k]

Smart car...nuff said!

[JimmyH]

2 seater+40mpg+no room+questionable credibility=smartfor2

4 seater+36mpg+real trunk+proven record=Civic DX for just $3k more (dealer markup notwithstanding)

[SuperV_Rob]

Originally Posted by JimmyH

2 seater+40mpg+no room+questionable credibility=smartfor2

4 seater+36mpg+real trunk+proven record=Civic DX for just $3k more (dealer markup notwithstanding)

My Smartfor2 will be here in November, I don't have room in my garage for a Civic DX

[12race]

My overall average city/hwy currently 15.9, on a relatively flat hwy I get 26 mpg. Not bad for a car putting 400hp/400tq to the wheels.

Gas prices suck, but WTF...... my other vehicle (Excursion w/powerstroke diesel) is feeling it more than the V.

today pulled up to the pump to top off Excursion (40 gals @ 4.64/gl) pulling my boat that took 60 gals of prem at 4.19/gl.

Makes the V look real good.

[DRKSIDE]

Originally Posted by 12race

My overall average city/hwy currently 15.9, on a relatively flat hwy I get 26 mpg. Not bad for a car putting 400hp/400tq to the wheels.

Gas prices suck, but WTF...... my other vehicle (Excursion w/powerstroke diesel) is feeling it more than the V.

today pulled up to the pump to top off Excursion (40 gals @ 4.64/gl) pulling my boat that took 60 gals of prem at 4.19/gl.

Makes the V look real good.

It is like shooting yourself in the leg to make yourself forget about a broken arm!

[JimmyMack]

Muscle cars like our V's are in their last days. This fuel crisis is not like the one in the 70's. This one is worldwide and is here to stay. Supply and capacity is growing much slower than world demand. It's not about just price anymore. Eventually driving a gas guzzler will be socially unacceptable (like smoking) and environmentally irresponsible. We are witnessing the end of the petrol age. Really. The next muscle cars will be electric, or solar, or some other undiscovered tech, but it won't be gas powered V8's. Detroit is having enough problems building vehicles that people want to buy without trying to overcome a mpg deficit that building these cars produce. Next stop for our cars are the museum.

[Jon]