Now.

4/22/2008 8:14:21 AM

filled it up a couple of days ago right before they upped the price to $3.49. i've not yet paid $30+ for a tank but i supposed that'll be happening soon since it was $29something the other day.

4/22/2008 8:17:31 AM

Got it full when the prices jumped to 3.45, but sams was still 3.35. Did I win?

4/22/2008 8:17:57 AM

friday when i put $76 bucks in it to top it off before i drove to Charleston.

4/22/2008 8:21:34 AM

Filled up before I left SC courtesy of the company credit card

4/22/2008 8:24:46 AM

sometimes I hate driving a girl car

sometimes i like it

(acura rsx)

wtih living in the city, and only going ~ 5 miles a day to and from work, and being able to walk anywhere else that i'd need to go, within 3 blocks (groceries, liquor, chinese, pizza, pubs)

i can make an 11 gallon fill up last over a month.

just depends on if i go up to philadelphia often or not

4/22/2008 8:39:03 AM

Friday, when I topped it off at $3.27 outside of Knoxville on the way up to my mountain house in western NC. Up there, gas was averaging $3.75, so I wanted to make sure I didn't have to fill up while I was up there.

I'm back in TN, and the price went up to $3.35. I'll have to fill up today because my Jeep is running on fumes.

4/22/2008 8:44:38 AM

I filled up for $3.49/gal in Charlotte yesterday morning 18 gallons.

4/22/2008 8:50:28 AM

wow, an arm for regular!? they having a sale or something?

4/22/2008 8:51:39 AM

when a gas pump at some gas station WOULD NOT STOP
and i had to pay like $40. but i didn't have to buy gas for a hwhile after that.

was still pissed though.

4/22/2008 8:52:32 AM

somewhat related story

i was about to return a rental car in houston last week, and filling up at the station near hobby airport, on the south side

as im filling up, gas is literrally running out of the handle

i realize im standing in a puddle of gas, and that the nozzle has a pretty hellacious leak

i stop filling, return the nozzle, and wonder if i should start up the car

i went in to tell the attendant and got a "yeah that happens all the time, i'll go put a bag over it"

wut


anyways, i moved the car and didnt blow up

4/22/2008 8:57:00 AM

It's full after every trip to the gas station for me.

4/22/2008 8:58:55 AM

why do gas stations put a $$ limit on how much you can put in at once? sometimes $75.00 isn't enough for me.

4/22/2008 9:12:45 AM

right now. i fill up once every two weeks or so, and my car gets good mpg, so im not really impacted very much by the gas prices.

4/22/2008 9:15:25 AM

i fill up a minimum of once a week. suv<3

this weekend ill probably do 3-4 times.

4/22/2008 9:16:53 AM

in fact, i hope prices continue to rise so that less people will drive and alternative fuel sources are looked at more seriously.

4/22/2008 9:18:08 AM

Quote :

"i can't remember the last time i didn't fill up when i had to get gas. i guess i just realized that i'm going to spend x amount of dollars in gas no matter how often i fill up, might as well stop less often."

With very occasional exceptions that's my plan. $61.00 when I filled up on Friday, $3.65 for premium at the BP/Amoco at Hillsborough & Gorman. Probably a good thing, since I noticed when I was in Chapel Hill on Saturday they were charging $3.65 for mid-grade.

Quote :

"why do gas stations put a $$ limit on how much you can put in at once? sometimes $75.00 isn't enough for me. "

75? Hell, I hit limiters at 50 every so often. I haven't been able to fill up for under $50 since gas was around $2.75/gallon.

4/22/2008 9:32:04 AM

Quote :

"right now. i fill up once every two weeks or so, and my car gets good mpg, so im not really impacted very much by the gas prices."

4/22/2008 9:32:43 AM

this thread is destined to be at least 9 pages.

4/22/2008 9:43:32 AM

i'm staying home today. i may relax on the beach all day.

4/22/2008 9:44:25 AM

I never drive much anymore - so I can afford to keep it full

I am getting rid of my car in a month anyway - don't need it in this city

4/22/2008 9:52:13 AM

Quote :

"i'm not sure how you're thinking its cheaper to get just a little at time"

I don't think anyone was saying that (I wasn't) -- I was just saying that it's neither cheaper nor costlier

Quote :

"i figure the price is only going to go up, so its probably cheapest to fill up every time"

Quote :

"no reason not to, it's more expensive every time"

Quote :

"filled it up a couple of days ago right before they upped the price to $3.49"

Quote :

"Got it full when the prices jumped to 3.45, but sams was still 3.35. Did I win?"

like I said before, the math you seem to be basing this on is not correct

let's look at this analysis:

Quote :

" assuming you have a 20 gallon tank, are starting with an empty tank, the price increases every time you purchase gas, and it takes the same amount time to use a complete tank of gas: itererative fillup bulk fillup gallons price/gallon total cost gallons price/gallon total cost 5 3 15 20 3.00 60 5 3.15 15.75 5 3.25 16.25 5 3.35 16.75 63.75 5 3.45 17.25 20 3.45 69 5 3.55 17.75 5 3.65 18.25 5 3.75 18.75 72.00 by filling up all at once you save 3.75 on the first tank and 3.00 on the second tank. of course these are diminishing returns as the price goes up, unless the price jumps become more significant."

do you really save? think about it

to make things even, you must assume that both scenarios are doing the same thing (tank size, price, rate of use, etc.)

but you can't assume the timing of the two scenarios

for example:

iterative fill-up				bulk fill-up
gallons	price/gallon	total cost		gallons	price/gallon	total cost
5	3		15	
5	3.15		15.75			20	3.15		63
5	3.25		16.25
5	3.35		16.75
			63.75

5	3.45		17.25
5	3.55		17.75			20	3.55		71
5	3.65		18.25
5	3.75		18.75
			72.00

iterative fill-up				bulk fill-up
gallons	price/gallon	total cost		gallons	price/gallon	total cost
5	3		15	
5	3.15		15.75
5	3.25		16.25
5	3.35		16.75			20	3.35		67
			63.75

5	3.45		17.25
5	3.55		17.75
5	3.65		18.25
5	3.75		18.75			20	3.75		75
			72.00

4/22/2008 9:56:37 AM

Quote :

"in fact, i hope prices continue to rise so that less people will drive and alternative fuel sources are looked at more seriously."

I think you'll get your wish, though I think it will end up as a negative overall. I'm as much for alternative fuel sources as the next guy, I'd like to think, but the increased gas prices right now--especially the astronomical prices for diesel--are hurting every consumer because they're causing the price of consumer goods, especially food, to increase as transportation and production costs go up. I'm ok with increased gas prices being a "driver tax" for those who choose to drive themselves, but not particuarly happy with increased food prices affecting those who don't even have cars.

4/22/2008 10:26:41 AM

4/22/2008 10:45:59 AM

always.

i like to get gas because the process makes me feel like im being productive.

Quote :

"in fact, i hope prices continue to rise so that less people will drive and alternative fuel sources are looked at more seriously"

why? we have a fantastic fuel source, one that the rest of the world is going to be using for a loooong time.

what we need to do is stop listening to these dumb ass hippy tree hugging liberals and open up off shore drilling.

[Edited on April 22, 2008 at 12:04 PM. Reason : .]

4/22/2008 12:00:29 PM

ummm last time I bought gas

2 weeks ago

4/22/2008 12:24:08 PM

i don't know since the pump stops at $75

I got half a tank yesterday...

I may fill it up today if i go through garner where gas is cheaper

4/22/2008 12:40:13 PM

aaron, we've got to hang out soon. i've somewhat missed your cynical "burn-the-hippies" attitude.

4/22/2008 12:44:49 PM

ha. March 23- $62 bucks for 19 gal @$3.24

4/22/2008 12:53:13 PM

just filled up for $3.49 a gallon...thank God my Saturn gets 39 mpg...

4/22/2008 12:53:54 PM

i filled up for around ~75 on friday, and I'm gonna have to do it again today or tomorrow

4/22/2008 12:56:59 PM

Quote :

"why do gas stations put a $$ limit on how much you can put in at once? sometimes $75.00 isn't enough for me."

so they can limit their liability if someone decides to drive off or use a stolen card, etc...

of course stations now are cash deposit or credit card only so the limit shouldn't really apply.

4/22/2008 1:34:21 PM

Quote :

"in fact, i hope prices continue to rise so that less people will drive and alternative fuel sources are looked at more seriously."

I juggle between two cars but the one I drive most i fill up every ~1.5 weeks.

1.5L for the win

4/22/2008 1:36:57 PM

5.2L V8 ftl. Now I know why it's called a dodge. Dodges everything but a fucking gas station.

4/22/2008 1:38:39 PM

Yesterday when I filled it up for $43.

Tim, I really don't understand why you don't fill up all at once. You're saving money by doing that (since prices keep going up up up!)

If you want to save a tiny bit, fill your tank up in the morning when its coolest/coldest outside. That way the fuel is as dense as possible when you're filling up.

[Edited on April 22, 2008 at 1:55 PM. Reason : ]

4/22/2008 1:54:49 PM

i hate filling the gas tank

4/22/2008 2:02:23 PM

sunday

4/22/2008 2:06:54 PM

that whole analysis up above is based off the price rising

it falls a lot too. but still. i fill up all at once unless i honestly don't have the money

4/22/2008 2:12:23 PM

Filled it up yesterday. A whole $50. Not cool.

4/22/2008 2:13:24 PM

Quote :

"why? we have a fantastic fuel source, one that the rest of the world is going to be using for a loooong time. "

no matter how good it maybe, it will run out one day.

plus, the sooner we investigate alternatives, the sooner their will be fuel competition which will drive down price. its not hippy speak, its economics. it won't happen until big businesses feel the crunch though, which will eventually happen more and more if price continues to increase at the rate it is.

4/22/2008 2:27:16 PM

I don't understand why people don't think developing renewable resources is a worthwhile pursuit. Do you think the apocalypse will come sooner if we strip the earth bare?

4/22/2008 2:30:00 PM

it sucks that we're using food to power cars when there are so many hungry people in the world

4/22/2008 2:34:13 PM

september 07

before i sold my car

4/22/2008 2:35:04 PM

they need to make donut powered cars, what with the obesity epidemic.

4/22/2008 2:35:53 PM

the earth is still making oil.


If you want to bring economics into it fine:

does it make sense to raise the cost of basically everything we consume in order to get a product that barely produces more energy than it takes to create?

if there is an alternative product worth a damn then somebody will make it and bring it to market. if it works the market will drive it.

the government shouldnt play a role in it.

[Edited on April 22, 2008 at 2:44 PM. Reason : .]

4/22/2008 2:43:33 PM

Quote :

"does it make sense to raise the cost of basically everything we consume in order to get a product that barely produces more energy than it takes to create?"

No, but you have to do a little research to find the one that IS worth it. You can't rely on companies that are making record profits doing what they have always done to change the status quo.

4/22/2008 2:46:51 PM

who said anything about the government stepping in? not me.

Quote :

"if there is an alternative product worth a damn then somebody will make it and bring it to market. "

not if its easier and cheaper to go with the status quo.

having a good idea and bringing it to market isnt as simple as you make it out to be. in the energy market, there are huge barriers of entry that are preventing people from getting in the game (mainly upfront capital costs and distribution channels). if oil becomes too expensive, it will drive down the ratio of barrier to current cost encouraging more to be spent on R&D and new technologies. despite large upfront costs, alternative fuels could be cheaper to produce then buying oil...which will in turn cause opec to become more competitive with prices as well as reduce the demand. read up on porter's five forces.

i agree that the earth is still making oil, but we are using it up much faster then it is being made.



[Edited on April 22, 2008 at 2:54 PM. Reason : g]

[Edited on April 22, 2008 at 2:55 PM. Reason : d]

4/22/2008 2:52:37 PM

DONT YOU DURRRR CHALLENGE MR GRACE'S 680AM WORLDVIEW AND UNDERSTANDING OF BASIC ECONOMICS!!!11

4/22/2008 2:53:55 PM

what about the infrastructure?


lot of pipes, stations, tanks, etc. to replace.

[Edited on April 22, 2008 at 2:56 PM. Reason : ^is this another chance alias? what a homo]

4/22/2008 2:55:57 PM

what about it? thats one of those barriers of entries i mentioned in my post (distribution channels).

thats why oil prices need to increase before companies find it worthwhile to look at alternatives. right now its not economical for them to look elsewhere. i hope it is eventually.





[Edited on April 22, 2008 at 3:03 PM. Reason : blah]

4/22/2008 3:01:27 PM