Time to rant, screw big oil and/or their retailers - Page 4

hardrockcamaro@mac.c · #46 (**permalink**) 10-25-09, 05:46 PM

Agreed.

I didn't mean to offend anyone, after all, I don't like paying $7 a gallon believe you me!
I only run a Caddy because I love cars and an economy car doesn't interest me. Cars are one of my hobby's / enjoyments in life, I don't hardly drink and I don't smoke, instead my money goes in the gas tank.

But if I changed my job to where I needed to drive more than say 40 miles round trip per day to work there is no way I could justify using the Caddy (or ay other high performance vehicle as even 4 cyl turbo cars can use a lot of gas). I'd have to have a 4 cyl diesel and just have my V8 for weekend fun which would be a real shame but I suspect that will be the way of the world one day (and sooner rather than later).

But even if we end up driving econo boxes that we recharge at home (or whatever) at least we can get around and that's all that really matters right?
Remember the first time you got your licence and drove your car, how free you felt? That's what it's all about when the chips are down. I'd rather drive an electric (or whatever) car than take public transport. But then I'd rather take public transport than be stuck within whatever radius I can cycle...

dkozloski · #47 (**permalink**) 10-25-09, 06:46 PM

Around here, diesel is an additional 50cents/gal over regular gas because the local refiney cannot handle the high sulphur Alaska crude and produce diesel from it. Low sulphur crude for diesel production is imported from Indonesia and hauled all the way to the refinery.

orconn · #48 (**permalink**) 10-25-09, 07:12 PM

I wouldn't think diesels would work for short haul errands and such in Alaska anyway due to the intense cold of the long winter months. With -35F and wind chill I don't think and even with heated garages that diesels would be very convenient for short trip driving.

hardrockcamaro@mac.c · #49 (**permalink**) 10-25-09, 08:21 PM

Diesel costs a little more than petrol (gas), about $7.35 per US gallon compared to $7.00 for petrol.
But a petrol Ford Focus would get about 32-34mpg (US gallon) on the highway @ 70mph, whereas the diesel version would return about 45-47mpg (again, US gallon) so getting about 40% more per gallon it is worth it. Except diesel engines cost more to make so you're looking at maybe $2,000 more to buy the car in the first place so it takes a good while to break even...

V-Eight · #50 (**permalink**) 10-25-09, 08:29 PM

But a diesel will also, in most cases, last longer than a gas engine

Stingroo · #51 (**permalink**) 10-25-09, 09:45 PM

^ Why is that?

ewill3rd · #52 (**permalink**) 10-26-09, 10:16 AM

Earlier someone mentioned "alternatives".

A. Hybrids are a joke. They turn one form of pollution into another. You still have a gasoline powered vehicle and the trade off for electric operation is painfully less than inefficient. Any amount of research would show that production costs and shipping make this a total waste of time and energy by anyone's standards.

B. Electric cars, this is the biggest myth towards "green" I have ever heard. Any good tree hugger will tell you that electricity is evil. Look at power generation in any form. Coal, natural gas, whatever, it's all the same and incredibily inefficient. Our electric infrastructure is taxed nationwide, for everyone to go out and buy any kind of plug in electric is pure insanity and would melt the lines right off the towers.

C. Solar? Please.... do I need to bother?

The solution? Utilize our fossil fuel resources and CONTINUE, that's right I said continue our alternative research and implement it as it becomes AFFORDABLE.
GM and other manufacturers are already doing massive amounts of research on alternative fuels. Our supplies are finite, yes. To abandon fossil fuels for alternatives that are many times higher in cost is just ignorant. It can be done gradually over time. Hybrids are a necessary step but not the answer. Maybe electrics can help but it's not a total solution either.
Are we going to have to get away from fossil fuels? Sure.
Do we need to do it next week? No.

A lot of good information in this thread so far.
Just tired of all this tree hugging knee jerk reactionary stupidity.

RightTurn · #53 (**permalink**) 10-26-09, 01:25 PM

Can I get an "Amen."

onebadcad · #54 (**permalink**) 10-26-09, 04:27 PM

I once hugged a tree, was pretty shiat-faced, hit it at like 8 mpg, hurt like hell, had to drink a little more that night to ease the pain, ain't doing it again,,,

RightTurn · #55 (**permalink**) 10-26-09, 05:00 PM

Note "Refining Cost & Profit" = 7%.

hardrockcamaro@mac.c · #56 (**permalink**) 10-26-09, 05:48 PM

The *approx* breakdown in the UK :

Crude oil and Refining cost - 32%
Fuel station costs + profit - 4%
Govt Fuel Tax - 50%
Sales tax - 14%

Basically the entire difference in cost between the USA and the UK re fuel cost is due to government taxes.

Caddyshack100 · #57 (**permalink**) 10-26-09, 06:20 PM

The strange thing about Europe is, more and more people are driving cars, despite having probably one of the best public transit systems in place in most of the EU countries. Most European countries are small, and distances between centers are reasonable for Public Transit, they do have the Infastructure in place. Most English, Irish, etc accept living in crowded conditions that make public transit more financially viable. The Average North American will have nothing to do with that, 100 foot lawn and detached house is the holy grail. My commute is 90 miles one way. I do this in order to live in a House that is both affordable and comes with what I value, Space, but in order to get that I have to live a good distance away, if I moved closer then the cost would also go up dramatically, any savings in fuel would be more than wiped out. All this to say, Does this make me Selfish because I want to live a certain way?

orconn · #58 (**permalink**) 10-26-09, 06:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Caddyshack100

The strange thing about Europe is, more and more people are driving cars, despite having probably one of the best public transit systems in place in most of the EU countries. Most European countries are small, and distances between centers are reasonable for Public Transit, they do have the Infastructure in place. Most English, Irish, etc accept living in crowded conditions that make public transit more financially viable. The Average North American will have nothing to do with that, 100 foot lawn and detached house is the holy grail. My commute is 90 miles one way. I do this in order to live in a House that is both affordable and comes with what I value, Space, but in order to get that I have to live a good distance away, if I moved closer then the cost would also go up dramatically, any savings in fuel would be more than wiped out. All this to say, Does this make me Selfish because I want to live a certain way?

No, but in the future you may find this lifestyle unaffordable. As taxation becomes a primary means of government enforcing its' will on the people
(state cigarette taxes being a prime current example) gas taxes and other excise taxes seem sure to impact lifestyle choices in the future. Higher cost of all forms of energy will certainly affect housing decisions and choices of transportation.

dkozloski · #59 (**permalink**) 10-26-09, 06:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by orconn

I wouldn't think diesels would work for short haul errands and such in Alaska anyway due to the intense cold of the long winter months. With -35F and wind chill I don't think and even with heated garages that diesels would be very convenient for short trip driving.

There are a lot of them. When the weather gets extreme they are left running 24/7.