$@$#%@ $3.46/Gallon at the pump this morning.

[cardinalkarp]

Some quick math.

If you were going to run out and buy a Prius for, say, $22k over your current car valued at, say, $17k--that would be a $5k difference.

Let's say the Prius gets 30 mpg better than your car now. You would have to drive 37,500 miles at $4/gallon to make your money back.

And you aren't even factoring in the $5000 replacement battery at the 4-5 year mark.

But fuel in the Chicago suburbs is $3.50 a gallon right now. Slightly higher in the city, and in Hawaii last week, it was $3.89-3.91 per gallon.

That alone is enough to tell me I don't want one or any other hybrid. Its hard enough to come up w/ $$$ for car repairs but 5 g's at once, no thanks!

[ThatGuy]

That alone is enough to tell me I don't want one or any other hybrid. Its hard enough to come up w/ $$$ for car repairs but 5 g's at once, no thanks!

Yeah, the batteries are really expensive to replace. I don't think I'd even consider buying a hybrid until the battery technology has progressed more.

[lukethedrifter]

I would actually approve the higher cost of fuel if it was going toward actual costs and not toward sharehold profits and executive compensation. And if it persuaded people to consider how much fuel they were using on a daily basis.

[Popeye_Card]

Fuel costs for individual consumers is a bit overblown, IMO. Even at $4/gallon, if you drove 15k miles per year on average, in a 25 mpg car, your total gas bill would be $2400 a year. Is it that much to pay per year for the convenience of being able to drive 15k miles instead of finding other modes of transportation? Compare that to how much you pay in rent, or in mortgage payments (just the interest portion).

Where it's really felt is transportation costs raising the price of everything you buy. That's a decent impact.

[TheoSqua]

I actually think higher gas prices is a good thing for private transportation, and absolutely horrible for the rest of the economy.

$4/gallon gas forces people to be more concious about how much gas they use. There's absolutely no reason for some people to be driving around in 10mpg Hummers who have absolutely no need for the size of the vehicle and only drive it because it looks cool.

Even on a less extreme scale, I think it's causing people to think more conservatively about the vehicles they're getting. For instance, I changed my focus when looking for a new vehicle from a 6 cylinder to a 4 cylinder primarily because of the gas mileage difference. If the average MPG of vehicles purchased goes up by 5 in the next half decade, then the increase in gas is in the private transporation market is essentially offset.

[AJ]

I traded in the sportscar for a Civic right after Katrina assuming the era of cheap oil was over..... guess I'm right so far.

I debated getting a Hybrid, but most of the miles I drive are on the open road without much stop and go. In those circumstances, the benefit of increased miles per gallon didnt come close to paying more for the Hybrid and a lower resale value. If I did a lot of city driving I would have went with the Hybrid.

I think the max speed limit should be 55...... and enforce the hell out of it (though revenue from tickets should go towards renewable energy, not in the municipalities coffers)

A lot of people can start offsetting higher gasoline prices by changing their driving habits, not gunning it, driving the speed limit, keeping your tires inflated to the right level. If your not doing it already, try it on your next tank of gas, you will see a noticable difference.

[Popeye_Card]

I would actually approve the higher cost of fuel if it was going toward actual costs and not toward sharehold profits and executive compensation. And if it persuaded people to consider how much fuel they were using on a daily basis.

There are plenty of "actual costs" in the petroleum industry. Oil rigs, pipelines, refinery expansions--these things all cost a LOT of money.

Do they make a profit, and are their CEO's paid well? Sure, but outside of a couple of companies having great years last year, over the long haul they aren't much different than any other huge corporation. It might actually be worse.

The real people making money right now is OPEC. Hence all of those huge buildings going up in Dubai.

[Socnorb11]

I actually think higher gas prices is a good thing for private transportation, and absolutely horrible for the rest of the economy.

$4/gallon gas forces people to be more concious about how much gas they use. There's absolutely no reason for some people to be driving around in 10mpg Hummers who have absolutely no need for the size of the vehicle and only drive it because it looks cool.

The problem is that people who can afford to drive hummers for no apparent reason can probably also afford to keep gas in them.

Even on a less extreme scale, I think it's causing people to think more conservatively about the vehicles they're getting. For instance, I changed my focus when looking for a new vehicle from a 6 cylinder to a 4 cylinder primarily because of the gas mileage difference. If the average MPG of vehicles purchased goes up by 5 in the next half decade, then the increase in gas is in the private transporation market is essentially offset.

I'm not sure the oil companies will let the auto industry make more efficient cars to a degree that will make much difference, but I hope you're right.

[Popeye_Card]

I'm not sure the oil companies will let the auto industry make more efficient cars to a degree that will make much difference, but I hope you're right.

IMO, conspiracy theories about this are way off base.

[Arthur Dent]

And you aren't even factoring in the $5000 replacement battery at the 4-5 year mark.

You do not need to replace the batteries. I drive a 7 year-old Prius with the original batteries. It still gets the same mileage as when it was new (45 mpg).