2012 Gas Price surge is likely over

If only some people would realize lower demand can lead to lower prices. I have no problem putting $2 gas into a Prius. Just because gas is $2 doesn't mean I'm going to run out and go yippeeee! ... now I can buy a full size pickup for going to the grocery store.

Far as Prius price ... it's a little painful to see every Friday's paper with Prius Two priced from $2 to $3k over a Camry L and $7k over a Corolla.

 

That's why I alway buy used cars.

 

Unfortunately, when gas gets "cheap" (say is $3.xx/gallon), some folks decide it's a "good" time to go buy a monstrosity class (full-sized) SUVs so they can drive only themselves or a small child or two around...

Gas has definitely been heading down. Two stations that peaked at $4.33/gal for regular that I frequently pass have been headed down lately. They're now down to $4.17 or $4.19/gal. It's interesting to finally see some <$4/gal entries at http://www.sanjosegasprices.com/ but all those are way far away from me and not even close to being worth the trip there to get gas.

 

I wouldn't count on that, it will go up again...

 

i think Camry Hybrid is perfect example on how hybrids pay off easily.

Prius on the other hand cant be compared to Corolla... my wife had Auris for 3 years and G2 as well for 3 years and Prius is much bigger car, and overall higher class car.

Compared to Camry L, it also has a lot more equipment.

 

History suggests otherwise. Summer is typically a time of higher demand and oil companies usually respond with higher prices due to "maintentance on refineries".

If you look at the dip due to recession and follow the trend before and after, up and to highest levels ever seem most likely. US. US is still in recession oil use numbers, so as economy improves, US oil use would rebound by 20% likely driving prices higher as US and world demand increase with economic activity.

A good time for US to raise gas tax by $0.50 dedicated to paying off the $14T in debt due mostly to 30 year arms buildup and 20 years of oil wars.



InflationData: Gasoline Inflation

 

While we may not compare the Prius to a Corolla, that doesn't stop all the naysayers from doing so.

 

This^^^

I'll reserve judgment 'til after July 4th.

 

Gas prices are on a yearly cycle. They go up higher that the previous year, people get upset, the prices drop down, but not quite to their previous low, and the cycle repeats.

 

Works out to seven years for average driver, 12,000 miles a year. Hybrids a pretty much a break even as far as fuel cost savings.

People usually compare what they were driving to new hybrid when the real comparison is cost and mileage differentials between hybrid and non-hybrid model of same car. Camry works out to about $4K and current 7 year payback for 12,000 miles a year avg.

 

especially not some cheap barebones Corolla with manual . Well equipped Corolla (still less than base Prius, still smaller, with 4 speed AT), is $4k cheaper.

Might as well use $11k Nissan Versa to compare.

 

tell me whats the payout for Camry V6 vs base L.

 

p.s. when we equalize the equipment, it is around $2.5k to $3k in difference in price, plus you get to drive faster car, and hybrid.

and it gets better resale value, lower maintenance cost.

without counting in the resale value, nobody in europe would drive diesels and they would never have 45% of the market. Price difference is about the same $3k per car.

 

Price difference per Toyota is $4K.
Camry's, hybrid and non, both hold resale value.
Hybrid higher scheduled maintenance costs but not significant.
Break even period on fuel savings 7 years for avg. driver, 12K miles.

European car buying is driven by gasoline taxes which make cost of gallon in UK about $10 vs. US $3.

We should have the same in US. Pay off deficit, cut oil use, build sustainable economy.

 

too bad. I was hoping that the trade-in value of my 2008 would top $20k

 

Kelly Blue Book says that's possible for 48,000 miles touring in good shape in a private sale.

Dealer might give it to you by playing with discounts on new vehicle.

I was happy to get $20K from dealer on my 2009 Escape Hybrid AWD with 42K.

 

Gas in my area went up 11 cents!

 

You have to check Galves nowadays to see what dealers are paying. They're not using KBB, NADA or Edmunds anymore.

 

This in mainly in the Jersey area. Other regions use other 'books'. Almost none use Edmunds, kbb or NADA for trade value because all are too high. They'd be paying too much.

In the Mid Atl states they use the weekly 'black books' which list all the recent auctions for every make and model. Some dealers, if they subscribe, can actually go on the auction websites and view the auctions in real time then review the summary of each and every one later. The auction value is the 'true' purchase value because it represents the true market price that a dealer can expect to pay if he went to one of these auctions to buy a vehicle similar to yours. Or alternatively it's the price that a dealer could expect to receive if he wanted to turn a used vehicle into cash instantly, like next Tuesday.

This price is typically $2000 to $4000 lower than a 'retail' value; i.e. what you or the dealer would like to receive after cleaning up the used vehicle and presenting it for sale.