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How does $2/gal-plus gas affect your driving habits? (or does it?) - Click HERE for Original Thread
Ziploc
For most of us, looks like gas prices will be staying above the $2 per gallon level for some time.

I'm just wondering how many of us expect to significantly change our driving habits as a result--whether it be by driving less, driving more slowly, carpooling, using our most fuel-efficient vehicle more often (for those with a choice), or whatever.

I'm also sure they'll be plenty of folks who'll continue with "business as usual" no matter what the cost. I've not heard anything about any shortages of gas in the foreseeable future, so I guess unlimited supply will continue to be available to those willing to pay for it.
kemosabe
Bizness as usual -- still have to do that 2-hour round trip commute... :8:
Stevie B
Luckily, we live close to our respective workplaces. I did think twice about road tripping this weekend, but driving is just a necessary evil. We waste enough money on other things, so a few bucks more on gas isn't going to kill us.....yet.
osteome
Just got back from a 600 mile road trip, give or take, would still rather travel in the Pilot on this typw of trip than in any other vehicle (okay 500SL would be OK...but staying within reason here). Hit just over 20 MPG on a couple of tanks.
N_Jay
quote:
Originally posted by kemosabe
Bizness as usual -- still have to do that 2-hour round trip commute... :8:


As I have said before, gas is still cheap.

Demand is basicly in-elastic, even with the changes in price we have had.

Unfourtunetly supply is also in-elastic creating a system susceptable to "wild swings".
jay
My company has had a push lately to reduce real estate costs, and over the next two weeks, the building I work in is going through a massive change. Many employees have started a telecommuting program, and others are losing their permanent space in favor of a "flexible office" concept. Those employees can reserve space as their work needs dictate.

My workgroup was preparing to go to a flexible office concept, and I've started working at home one to two days a week. The powers that be decided our jobs were such that we needed permanent space, so we get to keep our cubicles, but I'm still working from home one to two days a week.

I have cable modem service, call forward my office number, and use my work-provided laptop at home just like I do at work, so it works out well. I get to sleep an extra hour those days I work at home, and am still at work by 7am.:p
sungchang
I am aware of the increase in price, but I can't do much about my commute to work. Once I fix my Toyota pickup (4cyl), I might drive that to work than my Acura TL (6cyl).
Titans Fan
quote:
Originally posted by jay
... I have cable modem service, call forward my office number, and use my work-provided laptop at home just like I do at work, so it works out well. I get to sleep an extra hour those days I work at home, and am still at work by 7am.:p
And don't forget... you can go to work in your underwear! :runaway:
jay
quote:
Originally posted by Titans Fan
And don't forget... you can go to work in your underwear! :runaway:
Who needs that?;)
Ziploc
quote:
Originally posted by N_Jay


As I have said before, gas is still cheap.




All things considered, I have to agree. I recall seeing data that, as a percentage of income, gas costs remain in line with what people have been paying for decades.

Plus, anybody in Europe (and many other locales) would be quick to tell you that, even at more than $2/gal, we can consider ourselves lucky. But, since Americans by and large are more car-oriented and dependent than are Europeans, I think we feel a pinch disproportionate to reality when we are confronted by significant gas price hikes.
jay
quote:
Originally posted by Ziploc


All things considered, I have to agree. I recall seeing data that, as a percentage of income, gas costs remain in line with what people have been paying for decades.

...snip

As I mentioned in the Gas Price thread, if gas prices had kept pace with my raises since I entered the permanent workforce, I should be paying $5 a gallon, versus less than 80 cents then. I remember paying 89 cents a gallon about 4 years ago, for a short time.

My attitude now, for every 20% increase in gas prices, I'll work at home another day a week.:p

Besides, the 25% increase in the tax assessment on my house from last year to this year has impacted my cash flow more than gas prices. That's a good thing/bad thing.:cool:
kemosabe
quote:
Originally posted by Titans Fan
And don't forget... you can go to work in your underwear! :runaway:


This is jay telecommuting last Friday... :D :D :D
Ziploc
quote:
Originally posted by jay
My company has had a push lately to reduce real estate costs, and over the next two weeks, the building I work in is going through a massive change. Many employees have started a telecommuting program, and others are losing their permanent space in favor of a "flexible office" concept. Those employees can reserve space as their work needs dictate.

My workgroup was preparing to go to a flexible office concept, and I've started working at home one to two days a week. The powers that be decided our jobs were such that we needed permanent space, so we get to keep our cubicles, but I'm still working from home one to two days a week.

I have cable modem service, call forward my office number, and use my work-provided laptop at home just like I do at work, so it works out well. I get to sleep an extra hour those days I work at home, and am still at work by 7am.:p



jay, can't help but be envious. While my employer is not known for flexibility, I'm a little surprised that more companies in the DC region (and elsewhere, for that matter) haven't gotten into the flexible office concept. Well, at least PRIVATE industry...don't know about the federals.

Just imagine if even 20 percent of the larger companies set up some sort of telecommuting program.....enough cars should be taken off the road to noticeably improve many commutes. And, if the feds ever got into this in a big way, well, that's too much to hope for, I guess.
john802
quote:
Originally posted by kemosabe


This is jay telecommuting last Friday... :D :D :D



Hey kemo, the image would have been more fitting to jay's situation if the pc is a laptop or the pc monitor is a flat screen panel.:D :D :D

-john
jay
quote:
Originally posted by john802


Hey kemo, the image would have been more fitting to jay's situation if the pc is a laptop or the pc monitor is a flat screen panel.:D :D :D

-john

Also, I wear white socks on casual Friday, and blue the rest of the week.:D
tracy
I heard some interesting comments on NPR the other day... seems People Who Know believe gas is about as pricey as it's going to get. If it gets any higher, and stays high, Americans will start buying economy cars again, and People Who Sell Oil don't want that to happen, so they'll be increasing the oil supply soon. Will be interesting to see how this pans out.
sblvro
:D it's a good thing school is done for the kids(summer vacation) so that basically cuts the gas mileage into half.:4:
N_Jay
quote:
Originally posted by tracy
I heard some interesting comments on NPR the other day... seems People Who Know believe gas is about as pricey as it's going to get. If it gets any higher, and stays high, Americans will start buying economy cars again, and People Who Sell Oil don't want that to happen, so they'll be increasing the oil supply soon. Will be interesting to see how this pans out.


Please study economics somewhere other than NPR-U!:3:
tracy
quote:
Originally posted by N_Jay
Please study economics somewhere other than NPR-U!:3:

Hey, I said it's interesting, I didn't say it's true! :D
Ziploc
quote:
Originally posted by N_Jay


Please study economics somewhere other than NPR-U!:3:



How did you come by your knowledge of economics, N_Jay?
N_Jay
quote:
Originally posted by Ziploc


How did you come by your knowledge of economics, N_Jay?



Engineering logic applied to MBA classes!:4:

But the comment was more Anti-NPR:3: than anything else.
N_Jay
quote:
Originally posted by tracy

Hey, I said it's interesting, I didn't say it's true! :D



Sorry, guess I run into too many NPR listeners who believe interesting=true!
Ziploc
quote:
Originally posted by N_Jay


Sorry, guess I run into too many NPR listeners who believe interesting=true!



Actually, I guess the challenge for many of us, whether NPR listeners or not, is to reach an awareness of what is:

Interesting, but not true
True, but not interesting
Interesting AND true :15:
tracy
quote:
Originally posted by N_Jay
Sorry, guess I run into too many NPR listeners who believe interesting=true!

Same goes for people who watch FOX News. People from all ends of any political, financial, religious, or any other spectrum are just as likely to say to "I heard it on X (or, God forbid, "read it on the internet"), so it must be true." No need to single out NPR listeners.
N_Jay
quote:
Originally posted by tracy

Same goes for people who watch FOX News. . . . No need to single out NPR listeners.



Hey, I watch FOX News!:eek:

OK, I won't single out NPR listeners, but I do single out NPR as a particularly biased source!:4:
jay
quote:
Originally posted by N_Jay


Hey, I watch FOX News!:eek:

OK, I won't single out NPR listeners, but I do single out NPR as a particularly biased source!:4:

And we all know you only get your news from fair and balanced sources. :creeplook Now where did I leave that pot and kettle?;)
tracy
quote:
Originally posted by jay
And we all know you only get your news from fair and balanced sources. :creeplook Now where did I leave that pot and kettle?;)

:D
N_Jay
quote:
Originally posted by jay
And we all know you only get your news from fair and balanced sources. :creeplook Now where did I leave that pot and kettle?;)


I didn't say I ONLY watch FOX!

You have to check out a few sources.

But I would put FOX closer to the center than most. (yes right of center, but willing to bash either side)

Their style tends to exagerate the extreams, both right and left, but I guess that is what gets them ratings.

NPR does not need ratings. They just take donations (tax free of course) and then some of our tax dollars (grants and such), then whine about being poor (like PBS), all the while spending $$ like its going out of style.
btk467
You pay $2. :D

We pay about $3/gal here in Canada.
I am considering to buy VW Golf or Honda Civic for city driving.
N_Jay
quote:
Originally posted by btk467
You pay $2. :D

We pay about $3/gal here in Canada.
I am considering to buy VW Golf or Honda Civic for city driving.



But isn't that about $1.37 American?:runaway:
kemosabe
quote:
Originally posted by N_Jay


But isn't that about $1.37 American?:runaway:



Not really... :headslap:
N_Jay
quote:
Originally posted by kemosabe


Not really... :headslap:



Its a joke, Boy!
kemosabe
quote:
Originally posted by N_Jay


Its a joke, Boy!



No $hit, Sherlock... :twak:

:2:
charles0176
Honestly, these gas prices don't really phase me. I think us in the US are spoiled with cheap gas. I've lived in Japan for the last 6 years where I was paying the equivilent of $4 per gal and I've seen the prices in Germany and most of Europe to be more than that.
coopers
What I did on my Chevy S-10 was use some Zip ties to attach a Bosch 30 amp relay to the bottom of the gas pedal to prevent the gas pedal from going all the way down.

I know this sounds wierd, but If I really need to go fast I can still bury it into the carpet and still take off quickly if I need to. What it does though is makes it harder to press the gas so easily. I have one of those overhead consoles that calculates average MPG. Since I have put that realy under there, the computer had shown an increase of 3 MPG average.

The other thing I have been doing is to use my cruise control when on the highway I also have been driving a bit slower on the highway. I am usually that guy thats passing everybody, now im that guy thats getting passed.

The funny thing that I have realized is that driving a bit slower is actually a lot more relaxing. When Im driving fast and passing people, I tend to get ticked when someone is going slow in the inner lane. Now I just hang out in the outer lane and laugh at the other people slamming on their brakes because someone slower changed lanes in front of them.
raleighpilot
Saw an article in the Sunday paper here a couple of weeks ago. AAA Credit Card will provide a 5% rebate on all gas purchases if you swipe the card at the pump instead of going inside. On $2 gas that's a saving of $ .10 cents a gallon!! :4:

Made a believer out of me. I called the next day and added a credit card to my wallet. Website is here: .http://www.ouraaa.com/memberserv/online/handbook/financial.html if anyone is interested.

JJ
shiretsu
$2 a gallon ain't enough to take the fun out of driving.
kettlinton
i don't worry about the gas prices. we have to pay what ever it is anyway and for all of us with SUV and Trucks, we all knew going in that the gas mileage was not that great:2:
Ziploc
I cried "Uncle" once the price neared $2/gal by trading vehicles with my other half. I'm now driving the 35 mpg Civic on my 20-mi. commute to work, leaving him with the Pilot for his shorter drive to the subway station. Filling up the bigger vehicle twice a week at thirty-plus dollars a pop was getting a bit much.
kettlinton
go civic:2:

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