Patrick

I too have to question some of the comments about people who have big cars, SUV's, or comments about the "waste" of fuel. Many of these people drive fuel economy cars -- but they live miles and miles from work and/or stores and drive and drive. If they really cared about our resources, they'd live NEAR work and take public transportation.

I may have an SUV, but I've put less than 10,000 miles on it in the last three years. Compare my mileage to someone with a fuel economy car who puts more mileage than that per year. Who's really using the gas?

The problem is not nearly so much what kind of car we drive, but rather how much and how far we drive.

BTilke

Well, Patrick, I think oversized SUVs for people don't really need them are a waste of fuel (among their other drawbacks) and I DO take public transportation or walk to most places. Any other requirements I have to meet?

Vittrad

yes, you are not longer allowed to heat your home in the winter

Personally, while I truly, truly, feel for those who require gasoline and cars for their livelyhood, and acknowledge that these high prices harms the poorest amongst us, those wealthy enough to own a Hummer can most likely pay up at the pump, I do think that perhaps the silver lining of gas prices such as the current prices would be that the US might rethink the role and extent of public transportation in its larger cities.... and perhaps one day my dream of streetcars returning to chicago will become a reality

Kal

About 5 yrs ago, I lobbied my Bosses hot and heavy to set up an office in my house since my 15 mile 1-way commute had about 45 stop lights between me and the office's front door. Can you say blood pressure?

Now my commute is only 15 ft.

There are still hazards, tho.
I ran into a major laundry pile up coming out of the bedroom, lost all control and rear-ended Mrs Kal in the hallway.

Over the past years I've averaged about 6,000 a year as opposed to the old days of about 15,000/yr. since Bakersfield, Fresburg and Mo-town were in my territory. Now my Co. car is So'west Airlines.

Mrs Kal's commute is about 8 miles, RT and we both have vehicles that get a min 20 MPG.

I'm debating on whether or not it soon may be cheaper to rent a car that gets 30 mpg+ to go on a "car vacation".

It may pay for itself after 2-3 days on the road.

I thought the gas/fuel prices weren't going to get any lower this year so we bit the bullet and bought our airline tics for Kauai and Chicago about a month ago. $)$)

Poohgirl

I don't usually have to drive long distances for work or recreation, so I'm able to absorb the higher gas prices without too much trouble. One thing, though. For the past year or two I've had a thought in the back of my mind that perhaps I should take the bus to work one day a week. Over the last two or three weeks, that thought has been moving closer to the front of my mind.

Little_Man

I am definitely being more careful, making sure I don't run out in the car for just one thing, but bundling my errands up in one trip.
I don't know why anyone would still be purchasing an SUV. A friend just bought an Escalade last month, and it was all I could do not to ask "why on earth?"!
With all this NO stuff, my appetite for travel has really waned. It just feels so frivolous...

MzPossum

What with gas prices up and gas shortages now because of the hurricane, maybe it's time for all of us to think conservation!

inthechips2

I agree, Frankie. I have two major trips coming up that I was in the midst of finalizing plans for when this all hit. Very difficult to think of our needs when others are suffering so much.

Conservation has always been the key but hard for the American public to grasp. Carpooling, public transportation, all considered too much of a hassle by some but looking better all the time. Other sources of fuel should be explored as well. We are far too dependent on oil.

Patrick

BTilke, obviously I wasn't referring to YOU. but you seem to be offended. Pray tell why? My comments were much less brutal than the usual "anyone who drives an SUV is idiot".

And yes, it is very hard to transport a wheel chair in many other cars, as well as furniture which I often need to transport for my business. But people who rant and carry on about SUVs don't even think of that. Their generalizations are far worse than any I may have made.

I have one "friend" here who rants and carries on about all SUV's, yet they just moved over 30 miles out from both their jobs. Add up their hundreds of miles and gallons of gas the two of them spend in their two "economy cars" and compare to what fuel I burn. Big difference. Yet they won't even give up the "inconvenience" of the two of them sharing a ride to work and back every day, since their schedules are about a half hour off. Duh? That's the type of person I was speaking about. Unless that describes you, I have no idea why you would be offended by my comments.

Little_Man

good point, Patrick. Many of us don't consider that there are needs that an SUV does fit, such as a wheelchair.
Also, there are many suburban moms who carpool and can really use the room.

inthechips2

Patrick, that's what makes me crazy - when I hear that somebody thinks a half hour out of their day is going to inconvenience them that much, when you consider the savings it could provide. It's a half hour! I live 10 miles from my town - I know some in my area that go back and forth three times a day because they want to come home for 20 minutes in between and I just think that's wasteful, not to mention stressful. Grab a coffee and hang out at the park for 20 minutes.

jorr

What I did different this year was fill up my 300 gallon heating fuel tank last Friday knowing that Katrina would wipe out part of the oil flow from the rigs and refineries. I saved about $150 had I waited another month like I usually do.

dcespedes

Well said, Patrick.

I'm curious to know why people single out SUV's. We have a '79 Mercedes in the garage that gets terrible gas mileage and by terrible I mean 10-12 miles to the gallon. It is not the only car (or truck) on the planet that gets bad gas mileage. SUV's are not the sole contributor to the situation.

Emucom

Prices here in Ohio are above $3 a gallon, and up to now the only thing that I have done to save gas is not use my air conditioning in the car.

Shane

Vittrad, your question is a fair one and not at all insulting. Why did my wife and I move to exurban DC-Baltimore to raise our kids? 1) Home prices are lower in our exurban Eatern Shore home area, and this was especially so when we moved out here in 1991. 2) Space. We live on two acres and enjoy the spatial privacy as do my kids. Plenty of room to roam and play. 3) The Quiet, in comparison with suburbia and the city. 4) Closeness to nature. On the Shore, one usually has Canadian Geese to listen to and watch from Halloween to St. Patrick's Day. Foxes and deer are often sighted. 5) As I enjoy fishing, many Eastern Shore waterways are nearby to enjoy. 6) Crime is almost non-existent. 7) Slower pace of life. 8) Room for a fairly large garden. 9) Low taxes.

Little_Man

well, one reason people single out SUVs is that they're just so darn big, they're just always in our sight, and they make it so hard to pull out of a parking space !
Seriously, SUVs do pollute the air much more than the average(not every) passenger car.

cmcfong

Wondering if any of the NASCAR races will get cancelled....

inthechips2

Dscepedes sure made a good point - it isn't just the SUVs, the older gas guzzlers are just as bad. I sure don't criticize anyone for buying and driving a large vehicle (my husband has a huge 4WD pickup he drives for our business, not mention the larger Kenworth and Peterbilt that get about 5 mph), but I wouldn't want to be paying $50 (or more?) to fill my tank right now (although pretty soon it's going to cost that to fill my Camry!)

I though have noticed the last several months that cars on the road are getting smaller and smaller - does anyone think the same?

Little_Man

lots more Prius's, mini coopers and toyota corollas in my neck of the woods!

SB_Travlr

We're already pretty frugal in use of natural resources. I commute 12 miles RT in a 10-year-old Honda that gets good mileage. DH works out of the house, and uses his Golf TDI for site trips all over the state.

I would use public transportation if there was any -- in the UK, gas may be around $6 a gallon, but at least in most places there are other modes of transportation you can use. How short-sighted are we here? I'm sure someone must have done the math on the cost per head of moving someone from A to B by air vs. train...

I'm planning to work from home more often, or commute with a neighbor. I was talking to a friend today who is a waterskier, hauls a boat around. It's her passion, and she won't give it up willingly -- but she will spend less on other things like new clothes or Christmas. I could see that kind of effect roiling the economy big-time --one more squeeze on everyone's budget.