Conserving Gas
Gas prices are driving me insane. I believe every business should be profitable, but a business that is attempting to criple this country with it's insane prices is nuts. They know we have to have gas and they know we'll pay whatever they say it's worth and no protesting or internet forwards are going to bring the price down. We're at their mercy...and we shouldn't have to be. So I'm coming up with ways to conserve that won't land me in a Honda (sorry Honda peoples, I'm strictly Mopar). I'm always kidding with my wife about conserving gas. Anytime I'm low I'll tell her that Borland and the guys in the shop said we could stretch it. For the Nascar fans, Matt Borland is Ryan Newmans crew cheif. Last season he won eight races on fuel mileage. It's okay, my wife doesn't think it's funny either. So today I started coming up with ideas on how to conserve fuel other than calling Borland and the guys. My best idea so far is a motorcycle. I think I like this one the best -
I think I'd look alright on this, don't you? Not only that, this baby can get 40 mpg's. When gas is $3 a gallon and will probably be $5 by Christmas, this sounds really good. So, I guess I'm doing a blogger pole. Do I get a British Motorcycle, a Harley, or stick with the 17 mpg's that the Jeep gets?
I think I'd look alright on this, don't you? Not only that, this baby can get 40 mpg's. When gas is $3 a gallon and will probably be $5 by Christmas, this sounds really good. So, I guess I'm doing a blogger pole. Do I get a British Motorcycle, a Harley, or stick with the 17 mpg's that the Jeep gets?
24 Comments:
It has been a long day.
Other suggestions. See if you can get a vespa scooter. I think the wife would go for that...and they get good gas mileage I believe. And for a scooter they are pretty fast!
Worse comes to worse get yourself that bike! :)
I had no idea you could do that. That is a great idea. I am surprised that more people do not know about that. Surly more people would know about that if there was a big savings there. I wonder if you can order a custom made car that runs on diesel?
I think in the end Hydrogen will win. It will just take a monster jump in gas prices to get us there. I am guessing $10 a gallon. I think that day will be sooner than we think.
In a hundred years or less cars, like our houses, will be solar powered. The power cells will be so advanced that they will be integrated into the paint and 100X more efficient than the weak solar panels of today. When parked in the garage the house will charge the car until it gets out onto the road.. or whatever replaces roads. :)
IB, I think you're right. I think by Christmas we'll see $5 as the norm on gas prices. We should have alternate fuels available even if it's only to drop down these insane gas prices. I can't believe if we see a gas price under $3 we think it's a good deal now. It's just sick. Hey, just curious IB - where is your wife?
Did you read about the EE guy in California that modded his Toyota Prius by putting batteries in the trunk? He's getting 250/gallon. Here's the link:
http://www.cnn.com/2005/TECH/08/15/hybrid.tinkerers.ap/
I think hybrids are the answer for the near future.
http://peswiki.com/index.php/Directory:Acetone_as_a_Fuel_Additive
I'm all for motorcycles. I'm driving a 2003 Ram, and am considering getting one myself.
Has the issues of storage and fueling been solved with the hydrogen vehicles? I know that BMW has had a fleet touring around Berlin since 1998.
The problem is those pesky collisions. Hydrogen vehicles just seem to explode! And figuring out a way for Bubba to fuel his hydrogen vehicle while smoking a cigarette was also a problem.
We're looking at a Hybrid. Im just concerned now with the cost to fix them. Apparently its a nightmare.
Im not putting Ella in a Hydrogen vehicle.... (remembering the Hindenburg--or however you spell it)
We shouldn't use Hydrogen because it is explosive, but we should continue to use gasoline? Gasoline is at least as explosive if not more than Hydrogen.
Hydrogen has a very high dispersion coefficient which means that it is almost impossible to cause a hydrogen explosion in an open area.
People just think it is more dangerous because of the Hindenburg.
Rob, there is a triumph dealer on Dayton Blvd in Red Bank. I've already picked out a matching jacket so you can't get the same one...that would just be weird. My Dad has an 03 Hemi Ram and he's not happy with the gas situation right now either. Just last week I almost had the wife convinced on a new SRT-10 Ram, then gas goes through the roof. Damn it.
Love ya Patrick!
LOL That is hillarious! :)
I have mixed feelings about cycles really - obviously prefer bicycles but that's hardly realistic for getting to work on time without road scum tossed up onto your clothes.
I do think motorcycles are more dangerous than cars, but then again, that's probably because people tend to focus on the negatives over the positives. The news certainly isn't going to report all the money people have saved by riding a motorcyle, or talk about the amount of fresh air one's consumed over the A/C'd air (given you're riding on non busy/non interstate-highway roads). They aren't going to report how many cyclists make it to their destination safely with all the proper safety gear on etc etc...because people give better ratings to hear about the disasters and crashes.
But, I guess because of all the horror stories I've heard - I wouldn't want my own husband riding one. Not so much for his own driving safety, but because people driving big cars and suvs (and my gawd some of the suvs out there are just far too big to even be on the road...totally unneeded) don't drive safely and might crunch him flat into a thin Swedish pancake leaving me widowed with two children.
In addition to the safety risks and the haunting news stories - you'd have to really make sure you live in a climate that supports riding a motorcycle. Riding a motorcycle in the rain would simply STINK. And if it was really raining, well you'd be in a situation of carpooling - hitching a ride to work bc you can't ride it in a downpour or when the roads are icy or snowy etc. Or, what's happened to several of my cyclist friends - being at work having ridden in on your bike and then while at work, it started raining and then they have to bum a ride home. Which then means they have to bum a ride back in to work the next morning, etc etc.
My sister-in-law and her husband seemed to have worked out a plan where they do a combo driving plan of sorts to save money since gas is so expensive.
They ride together in the morning to a public transportation station which cuts down on the long bus commute, and then each hop on to their respective bus route.
Other friends of ours take the public metra train.
And while it does seem to take a bit longer getting there, they leave a little earlier - do business in route since they don't have to watch the road, and/or enjoy coffee/listen to music/fiddle on their laptop/catch up on phone call returns.
I personally, would rather live in an area where I could walk and not have to drive. Since we've moved I am not lucky in that sense any more. I used to be able to walk to everything I needed to maintain the house and to fulfill all my entertainment needs. Now, driving (or catching the bus) is my only option.
Another friend of mine has a hybrid Ford suv. He adores it. Me, personally, would rather go broke with gas prices than to invest in another Ford. I've had a Mustang. I've had an Explorer. I won't ever own another Ford as long as I live. Ever.
Good luck!
Truly,
Insanity Infusion
Get the bike Patrick. Ignore all these candyasses and get it so we can go riding.
Mike