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Gas Prices are down, and people are SPEEDING again. Let them!!!

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Fuel Economy' started by Rybold, Nov 18, 2008.

  1. Rybold

    Rybold globally warmed member

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    Gas Prices are down, and people are accelerating quickly and speeding again. Let them!!! Why? Because as soon as the government figures come out on gasoline and oil inventories, it will show a large increase in American consumption of oil and gasoline again, and then oil prices will increase again. Why is that a good thing? Because it will keep auto manufacturers and consumers focused on vehicles with good mpg, such as the Prius, and it will help seal the death fate of the large SUVs.

    So if they want to jam their foot on the gas and fly by you (so they can get to the red light before you and then try and accelerate again so you don't pass them when it turns green), let them! And be happy, knowing they they are ultimately contributing to your cause (more hybrids on the road). :D
     
  2. sdtundra

    sdtundra Senior Member

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    Hey, I hear ya man. I had someone ask me when i was filling up my car how I felt now that gas was back to around $2.20 out here.

    I just finished filling up for $10. Still comin out on top
     
  3. taggart

    taggart Member

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    But if gas gets too expensive, even us Prius owners won't be able to afford it. That will be a major lifestyle change for most of us.

    It's true that these people will never get it until they are forced to do so, but I'd like to think we can persuade them before it's too late.

    Pipe dream.
     
  4. Rybold

    Rybold globally warmed member

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    I always just buy $20 worth of gas (cash, $20 bill). When it was at $4.5/gal, I had to fill up once or twice a week. Now, it's once every one or two weeks. If feels great when I go two weeks without having to pay for gas. :D Just yesterday, I filled up for $2.19 and received 9.1 gallons for my $20. :)

    I enjoyed it more though when there was pressure on people to not buy SUVs and want small cars instead though. I wouldn't mind seeing $4.00 gasoline again ... if it get's the automakers to shift production towards smaller and more fuel-efficient vehicles.
     
  5. lovemygreys

    lovemygreys New Member

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    I've gotten the same thing here. It never occurs to people that we bought the car for reasons other than gas prices. Since we work from home and don't drive a ton, any gas savings are just a bonus.

    I've noticed the lead foots have seemed to come out more now that gas is down to 1.77 here. I can't save the world, I can only drive my Prius so it sips as little gas as possible. I think the price of gas will go back up soon enough.
     
  6. hobbit

    hobbit Senior Member

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    The only way you'd convince some people is to give them 20 HP engines
    and say "that's all you get, use it wisely". That'll never happen
    until there's no infrastructure left to support the overprivileged,
    lazy, me-me-me lifestyle this country has adopted.
    .
    _H*
     
  7. nerfer

    nerfer A young senior member

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    I haven't noticed much difference in speeding around here, but people did driver fewer miles when gas was twice what it is now. Cheaper prices in winter work well for me, since I can't ride my bike as much in the winter, so I do put more miles on the car.

    My next car is going to be a velomobile.
     
  8. bedrock8x

    bedrock8x Senior Member

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    Sad to see that most of the vehicles speeding are big trucks, SUVs and Hummers.
    They passed by me at 85+.
    They are thinking gas is costing half the price before and they can afford to drive twice as fast now.
     
  9. sdtundra

    sdtundra Senior Member

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    Unfortunately, everyone is speeding. Even now that gas is cheaper, when i drive the G35 Coupe, I usually drive 65-68mph on the freeway and with the help of the 5 speed auto I can get 27mpg out of a 275hp 3.5V6 running Premium.

    I tried teaching my friend about cruise control and now on his lifted 2004 Jeep Liberty running 265/75/16, roof rack, lights, etc... can get 22mpg highway up from 17. Best thing is he's actually following through cause cheaper gas+efficient driving=more money in your pocket than before. It's a simple concept.

    In my economics class we've been talking a lot about the Big 3 and the price of oil on the market. My teacher probably said it the best, "Not many people NEED and Escalade, its the ones with the small peepees that WANT it to satisfy their ego."

    And yes, its usually the big SUVs and trucks and especially those lifted to high heaven with 4 chrome shocks up front and tires the height of my car.
     
  10. realale

    realale Junior Member

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    I've noticed this too. We're down to $1.69 at my local station here in St. Louis (though some are in the $1.5X now) and the increase in idiotic driving is stunning. People zipping around to get ahead of me to wait at the red light, racing from light to light, etc.

    I've also noticed a corresponding decrease in civility. I walk 2.5 miles to and from work twice a week, and people's patience with pedestrians (and I cross with the lights!) is greatly diminished. I've had more close calls in the past month than in the previous 2+ years I've been walking.
     
  11. jpadc

    jpadc Type before I think too often

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  12. toxicity

    toxicity A/C Hog

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    I've seen a lot of all the lower fuel economy vehicles on the roads lately, but over the past week I have been seeing a TON of minivans! Whats going on?? Most of them are Toyota Siennas, and damn near every driver in them drives them like they are corvettes. Was there a big promotion on Siennas lately?
     
  13. liverbomb88

    liverbomb88 Push the Button!

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    I don't mind others speeding. In fact, I don't think there should be any speed limits on most parts of our freeways.

    What I think should be done though is to quadruple (or more) gasoline taxes. Those who use more carbon should have to pay more. Any car with a combined average fuel economy below 20mpg should have its vehicle license fees quadrupled (or more).
     
  14. Ninja

    Ninja New Member

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    Ya I agree with you.
     
  15. Genoz World

    Genoz World ZEN-style living

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    LIVERBOMB88 - hmmmmm interesting comment. maybe we should make a proposition out of it??!!! i'd vote for it because these people driving these vehicles WOT must have the extra money..........charge them for it!

    for the rest of us right now that are filling up for pennies..................we're almost driving for free right now. someone before me had made that comment and i couldn't agree MORE! at one/two pips under half, i can now fill up for UNDER $15. how cool is that?

    however, i do have a question.............how come i'm not getting the FE that i once had? are they putting additives in the present fuel to burn FASTER???
     
  16. lovemygreys

    lovemygreys New Member

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    We bought a new Sienna a couple weeks ago...some of us really DO need a minivan (12 dogs!). Though, our mini-van is only driven to chauffer dogs places they need to go (the Prius is a dog-free zone) and our our bi-weekly Costco Trip, which includes our groceries plus about 250 lbs of dog food and kitty supplies.

    I do tend to drive it harder than the Prius, but a corvette it is not!
     
  17. xsmatt81

    xsmatt81 non-AARP Member

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    yeah alot of drag races from dead stops around these parts, mostly teens in their trucks or ricer burners.

    it's not a huge change though, I saw the same stuff when gas was much higher. I think people where just pissed at that time, and hauling it to let of some steam
     
  18. xsmatt81

    xsmatt81 non-AARP Member

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  19. tlaine

    tlaine New Member

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    People drive like idiots no matter what the gas price is here nowdays.

    Too bad I have to drive 120 miles a day with them all around me. :(
     
  20. steevr

    steevr New Member

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    I'm with ya.....I have a classic Corvette (pretty much goes to car shows only) and a newer Mustang GT Convertible (weekend car). I use the Prius during the week for work. Love my Prius.