I don't see what the problem is. I mean, the gas stations are raising the price of gas in advance of an actual increased cost to them. But using that same logic, I'm sure they'll be dropping the price ahead of the price of gas dropping for them. Right?

BWAH HA HA HA

Sorry, I couldn't do that with a straight face. And, yeah, I'm with everyone else: it's the housing bubble that's going to kill us before the gas bubble. It's doubly true for those who have those insane mortgages that allow them to pay interest only or less.

-Augie

 

Lars-ss:
One of my wife's best friend bought a new Expedition last summer.
OH! How she says she regrets that.

GM is going to have to re-think its huge, poor FE car strategy.
Wonder if we'll see any 2 for 1 Yukon deals in our future?

 

Well we're over $3/gallon pretty much everywhere here in Phoenix. I guess this was the threshold point for discussion. Although literally I never heard gasoline get mentioned as a factor in any automotive discussions around the office in the past, it seems like almost everyone is at least keenly aware of prices now that we're at $3/gallon. No one has said a thing about changing their driving habits, going to the lake, taking the dune buggies out, etc however. I think we'd need to see $4/gallon to actually shake any of the middle to upper income folks.

In the mean time, I'll continue to be very satisfied with using less than 1 gallon for my commute to and from work every day. 40 miles, 44+ mpg, and of course on 87 octane. I may not be a very good investor in the stock market (I've almost always underperformed the S&P 500) and I totally missed out on the real estate explosion here over the last two years, but at least I know how to keep my expenses under control and remain out of debt. Maybe more people will at least look at their finances closer now as gasoline charges make up a larger percentage of their Visa bill each month?

 

Price Station Area Time Thanks 2.61 Costco Phoenix - West Thu
8:41 AM thedriver
99th & McDowell 2.61 Sams Club Phoenix - West Thu
8:34 AM Visitor
83rd Ave & McDowell 2.61 Costco Avondale Wed
3:56 PM Visitor
99th & McDowell 2.61 Am Pm Mesa Wed
3:39 PM Jo120

 

AZCivic,
I commend you, you're alot wiser in this regard compared to 99% of others.

My wife said she mentioned my FE where she works and people just flat out didn't believe her.

Because of the gas frenzy here I had alot of questions about my car at work.

I tried best I could to convince them how much fuel/money they could save regardless of what they drive and some wanted more information, others just poo-pooed it as driving boring- grandma slow.

Of course, I tried to steer them to GH for more specific information on driving tips!

 

around here, I feel like I am hated because I drive a hybrid. I actually got told..."oh shut up hybrid-boy". That was after interrupting a conversation about how much it was going to cost to drive to the nebraska football game this weekend by coughing and saying "50 miles-per-gallon" under my breath...

but seriously, I feel like people are angry that I drive a hybrid. No one wants to know more about the technology and when I said I get 50mpg, my boss said "sure, at 10mph with the ac off".

I wish people would understand.

 

I went to get gas today (I need to post it) and I really didn't need it but was going to the store and it's shot up here too so might as well top off.. I did notice as my wife has told me too that it seems people here have slowed down a little. She also noted that it doesn't seem like as many cars are on the road.Kevin

 

It looks like the $2.50 gas prices had an effect on people last month. In July personal savings rates fell to 0%. And now they've gone negative while spending rises. It's come close to doing that in the past couple years but didn't happen until now.

http://www.businessweek.com/ap/fina...me_down&chan=db

 

Ryan,
It helps if you give them a way of relief.
Self inflicted or not, they feel trapped.

Ears on all corners grow wide when I mention they can increase their FE by as much as 50% (No matter what they drive) simply by changing habits.
They ask how and suddenly I'm their new best friend

 

A similar hoax made the rounds in the Greenwood, SC, area, this one that all gas stations would close at 5PM on Wed and not reopen again until Mon morning. Among the long waiting lines and in the chaos that ensued I heard that there was at least one fist fight.