oil...up another 5 bucksnow 147/barrel

[Grapenuts]

[QUOTE=Crafty Angler;604193]Yeah, only if we're really lucky





So get used to using a bicycle. I do - I bought a new mountain bike at the beginning of the summer and use it to go to work, shop, run errands, etc and feel better than I have in a long time. What's the problem?

For those of you - like me - that have SUV's, dump 'em and get something more fuel efficient unless you have the means to pay $100+ for a fill up in the very near future. Or walk, it's real cheap.





this maybe all fine and well for those who sit at their work place and need nothing but a puter and a pencil...but I'd like to see you carry 2 tons of tools back and forth to work on your bike.It also requires a gas hog to tote those tools to each job...plus there isn't any fuel efficient car big enough to do the job of hauling a trailer full of said tools......now what do you do?

[Hooper]

[QUOTE]For those of you - like me - that have SUV's, dump 'em and get something more fuel efficient unless you have the means to pay $100+ for a fill up in the very near future. Or walk, it's real cheap.[QUOTE]


Yeah, I tend to agree but consider this.... I have a Chevy 1500 pickup that is 9 years old. It's paid for. It has just over 100K on it. Everything in that truck is either broken, or on it's way out, A/C is dead, dash lights are half gone, the rear view mirrors have stopped working, etc, etc, IMHO, it's a POS....

BUT the engine starts each day no matter what.

So, what would be gained to buy a Honda Accord that will cost me $400/month and gas will still cost me $4.27 a gallon? Financially, the dollars and cents don't compute.

When this truck dies, in another ten years I hope, then I will mostly likely buy smaller.

[striperman36]

What can tow a 4500 lb boat and get better than 18 mpg not towing

[RIJIMMY]

Originally Posted by striperman36

What can tow a 4500 lb boat and get better than 18 mpg not towing

Nisaan Pathfinder 18-22 highway
tows 6000lb max

[Crafty Angler]

[QUOTE]
Yeah, I tend to agree but consider this.... I have a Chevy 1500 pickup that is 9 years old. It's paid for. It has just over 100K on it. Everything in that truck is either broken, or on it's way out, A/C is dead, dash lights are half gone, the rear view mirrors have stopped working, etc, etc, IMHO, it's a POS....[QUOTE]

Hey, Hooper - I hear ya. I've got a Jeep that's 14 years old with over 100K and that's my only vehicle. And it needs a bunch of repairs too - I'll keep my fingers crossed and do 'em when I can, that's all you can do.

A friend recently got a lightly used 2007 Toyota Matrix and the nut on a car like that is probably $275 a month or so. It gets 33 MPG. I'll probably look for something like that for the Mrs.when the time comes, she'd love it. I'll keep the Jeep as my fish wagon but it takes me literally about 5 minutes from my front door to having my feet on the rocks so the 20 MPG won't kill me.

As in all things, YMMV - this is what works for me in my situation, everyone needs to find their own solution bit by bit and it's not easy for anyone unless you're a trust fund kid..

[Mr. Sandman]

It all depends on how much you drive your vehicle each year and how much fiscal pain you can afford. Everyone has a different threshold I guess... I paid 4.85 to fill up an 02 Yukon XL the other day (that has 50K on it, runs perfect, everything works and cost me nothing other than gas and insurance). It was over a $100 to fill it up. But I drive less than 6500 miles per year .Which is about 2K in annual fuel costs, now this vehicle can hold 9 people and take them all over sand to a nice day on a remote beach, can tow a boat up to 10000#, run in deep snow on a mid winter skis trip and provide me and my family more safety than ANY car on the road no question and gets 20 mpg on the highway and 15 local. A econ-o-box only gets 30 mpg and does NONE of the above and is a death trap if you get in an accident. So I am going to risk my life and change my lifestyle for 10 mpg? yeah right.
Now the boat....is another story. I could spend 2K/month in fuel very easily. I went to the gas dock yesterday (4.79...it is cheaper at the dock here!)and stopped at $500 and it still wasn't full. I hope to get two weeks on that if I stretch it and do go anyplace too far. I am cutting back on boat travel this year.

[Hooper]

Originally Posted by Mr. Sandman

Now the boat....is another story. I could spend 2K/month in fuel very easily. I went to the gas dock yesterday (4.79...it is cheaper at the dock here!)and stopped at $500 and it still wasn't full. I hope to get two weeks on that if I stretch it and do go anyplace too far. I am cutting back on boat travel this year.

Takes a lot of the fun out of it doesn't it?!

[Fish On]

I haven't even taken the shrink wrap off my boat this year. Anyone interested in a 2150 Hydrasports?

IMHO oil has gone up because of 1) increase in world demand and 2) decrease in the dollar. Speculation has had little affect.

This country has been living the good life for too long and on credit no less. Things are on track to change. Big bank failures are next on the horizon with John Q Taxpayer footing the bill. The government needs to let the investors take the fall there (Fannie and Freddie in particular). That includes individual home owners (investors?) that bought homes they coulnd't afford and didn't read the fine print on the rediculous mortgage contracts they were signing.

Make sure your savings is safe. I just got a call that one of my CD's was going to be paid by the FDIC with the Indymac failure. That is just the beginning.

Good luck to us all.

[spence]

Remember the S and L bailout? Didn't like 1000+ banks go under in the 1980's?

Granted the banks are bigger this time, but we've been through this before.

-spence