US Gas Prices Take Big Dive

Discussion in 'Prius, Hybrid, EV and Alt-Fuel News' started by bwilson4web, Jul 30, 2014.

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  1. bwilson4web

    bwilson4web BMW i3 and Model 3

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    Original title: "US Gas Prices Take Big Dive Last Month"

    US Gas Prices Take Big Dive Last Month | TheDetroitBureau.com

    Locally, I'm seeing retail prices of $3.15/gal but it has been part of a trend that started in the Spring. Although there was a seasonal gas price increase, it did not jump as much as I would have expected. But to see prices soften in the summer is unusual. The problem is what will it do to fuel-efficient vehicle sales?

    In about a week, we'll see the initial numbers for July but August will be the real tell. In September 2013, there was a distinct drop off in hybrid sales. So once again, we have a perfect lab setup to see the correlation of gasoline prices and Prius sales.

    Bob Wilson
     
    #1 bwilson4web, Jul 30, 2014
    Last edited: Jul 30, 2014
  2. alekska

    alekska Active Member

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    I would not call a drop of 1 .5% of ANYTHING significant or "big".
    Just my opinion.
    Alex
     
    #2 alekska, Jul 30, 2014
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  3. GrumpyCabbie

    GrumpyCabbie Senior Member

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    Petrol prices dropping? In summer? Oh no, time for another war then. :(
     
    #3 GrumpyCabbie, Jul 30, 2014
  4. -1-

    -1- Don

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    :)Always glad to see lower gas (oil) prices, even though I (me Prii) consume very little. All those with gas guzzlers can experience a little Prius euphoria.
     
    #4 -1-, Jul 30, 2014
  5. mrbigh

    mrbigh Prius Absolutum Dominium

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    #5 mrbigh, Jul 30, 2014
  6. bwilson4web

    bwilson4web BMW i3 and Model 3

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    Perception can outweigh a hard reality(*). Seeing a few pennies off the posted gas prices can give the illusion that the days of 'cheap gas' have returned. Yet I'm old enough to remember the hybrid skeptic tales that $3/gal was the threshold to justify the hybrid premium. Still, it might yet turn out to be useful.

    There are folks who have what looks to be 'buyers remorse' over their Prius. Rather than just selling the car and getting one that matches their expectations, they complain bitterly in PriusChat that Toyota or the Prius is at fault for any one of a series of claimed faults. There is no reasoning with them as they remain immune to requests for diagnostic testing which identifies them. The second signature is a subtle reference to getting another car. Now we can point to the lowered gas prices and suggest 'they need to unload that dang Prius soon before prices go up on the car of their dreams.'

    The Prius is not perfect and there are reasons to complain about real faults and failures. But some of us simply roll up our sleeves, gather facts and data, and resolve the problem(s). For example, our 2003 Prius has a 1 kW inverter, oversized overdrive front tires to improve straight line stability, a tow receiver, a backup camera/GPS/bluetooth rearview mirror, upgraded traction battery to 2004-09 modules, and a beeping backup LED. I can and still complain these are not stock or options on all Prius but I don't just 'curse the darkness.' Still gas price reductions have in the past been associated with a fall-off in fuel efficient vehicle sales.

    Bob Wilson

    * - The classic case is when a cold snap or winter snow storm is used to claim there is no global warming.
     
    #6 bwilson4web, Jul 30, 2014
    Last edited: Jul 30, 2014
  7. robertmaria

    robertmaria Member

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    the prices drop so they can bounce back up higher & higher. ,,, my $.02
     
    #7 robertmaria, Jul 30, 2014
  8. wjtracy

    wjtracy Senior Member

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    I think we have about ~$3.10 in rural Virginia but we are about $3.50-3.60 in north Virginia,

    Those of us with reformulated gasoline RFG looks like that is adding 20-30 cents more right now.
     
    #8 wjtracy, Jul 30, 2014
  9. Troy Heagy

    Troy Heagy Member

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    Equally as bad is when News reporters say, "We've had almost no snow this year..... that proves global warming." Or..... "the temperature is 101 degrees.... it is the global warming." (Even though there have been previous record-setting years in the 1960s or 70s with no snow & much higher summer temps.)
     
    #9 Troy Heagy, Jul 30, 2014
  10. El Dobro

    El Dobro A Member

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    Don't worry, when I take a drive down to my brother's place in VA, it'll go back up again. ;)
     
    #10 El Dobro, Aug 2, 2014
  11. Beachnut

    Beachnut Member

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    I just checked "Gas Buddy" for my area, (Pismo Beach CA), regular gas prices range from the lowest of $3.95 a gallon, to $4.35 a gallon! Man o Man would I like to see $3.15 or $3.10 per gallon gasoline!:cry: The down side of living in Pismo-dise - Paradise!:rolleyes:

    The Soviet Republic of Kalifornia is going to ADD more gasoline tax in 2015 too! As if we do not pay enough already....:mad:
     
    #11 Beachnut, Aug 2, 2014
  12. hill

    hill High Fiber Member

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    Hmmmm, funny you should mention global warming Bob. An associate just reminded me that the National Academy of Sciences has been warning of Global Warming for multiple decades. Yes! Notice the plural - decades. Not to worry though - zero emission vehicles (ZEV) - those hydrogen cars will mean our salvation to increased global warming brought on via fossil fuels . . . hydrogen - the silver bullet we've all been waiting for - our gasoline / carbon fuel price will tumble due to switching to hydrogen and we'll no longer be slaves to the oil companies. Yes, hydrogen comes from natural gas . . . pay no attention to the man behind the curtain!
    :rolleyes:
    .
     
    #12 hill, Aug 2, 2014
    Last edited: Aug 2, 2014
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  13. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

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    Between Crimea, Ukraine, MH17, Gaza, ISIS in Syria-Iraq, and Boko Haram in Nigeria, I thought that angle was already very well covered.
     
    #13 fuzzy1, Aug 2, 2014
  14. wjtracy

    wjtracy Senior Member

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    ...CA prices makes sense when you consider the $3.10 in rural Va. is 11 cents Va. state tax vs. about 54 cents in CA. Add say 25-30 cents for Ca. RFG and you're in the ball park. Also rural Va. is mostly cheaper off-brands, in general add 10 cents for major brand ("Top Tier").
     
    #14 wjtracy, Aug 2, 2014
  15. Okinawa

    Okinawa Senior Member

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    That has certainly been the trend and I think higher is the norm. When has anything gone down? Just up.
     
    #15 Okinawa, Aug 2, 2014
  16. John Bergendahl

    John Bergendahl Member

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    Let it drop ,id love to fill up for $25 bucks !!
     
    #16 John Bergendahl, Aug 2, 2014
  17. Okinawa

    Okinawa Senior Member

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    I live in a suburb of Chicago. I can not even remember when I saw gas prices at $3.15 or $3.10. About $3.75 at the moment around here.
     
    #17 Okinawa, Aug 2, 2014
  18. Southbound

    Southbound Member

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    I just paid $3.74 today in south suburbs of Chicago.. I also got 52.4 mpgs for this tank. Last fill up on 7/13/14 cost me $3.34/gallon.
     
    #18 Southbound, Aug 2, 2014
  19. Okinawa

    Okinawa Senior Member

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    I live in Oak Lawn. You and I will never see cheap prices here.
     
    #19 Okinawa, Aug 2, 2014
  20. Southbound

    Southbound Member

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    Howdy neighbor- at least we drive Prii's! ;)
     
    #20 Southbound, Aug 3, 2014
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