saw gas for $3.179

[Ecky]

I filled up on Louisiana yesterday for $3.159. Doubt I'll see it cheaper on my trip (driving to California) but lots of places west of the Rockies have it under $3.40.

[freebeard]

redpoint5 -- Not serious, what's the fun in that. But it's totally true. Clear premium at $5.29/gal.

92octane, ethanol free is what was pumped as Regular when my car was new, in 1971. Pre-OPEC.

Beyond that I split my needs between the bus, where I ride for free; my bike (ride to live...if you don't die); and what I call my weekly driver (~2K miles/year).

[user removed]

$3.059 today when the wife filled her Sorento at Wal Mart.

regards
Mech

[mcrews]

PAid 2.99 at wallyworld in San Antonio

[XYZ]

It seems there are two schools of thought present in this forum. There are those who want to see the price of fuel lowered, so they can benefit from paying less. Then there are those who want to see the price go higher so that everyone will be forced into consuming less. There is also the recent frank admission by the administration of this list that seeing lower gas prices is not beneficial to their enterprise.

It's seeing people being forced or coerced that is troubling. It smacks of schadenfreude - not to mention authoritarianism.

[Frank Lee]

Ain't it great? :P

[user removed]

Pay less per gallon?
Works for me.
Drive fewer miles in more efficient vehicles?
Works for me as well.
Pay more per gallon and drive less?
That's OK, but I guess I have enough self control to conserve regardless of the price.

regards
Mech

[serialk11r]

Originally Posted by Baltothewolf

Wow and here I am paying 3.99 just for 89 here in cali :P. Arco is 3.83 but the civic idles rough on Arco gas, no idea why. I know this car wasn't taken care of whatsoever for its entire life (went 30k without an oil change, and had 199k miles on original spark plugs).

The heck, where in Cali are you? I haven't seen <3.92 for 87 this entire summer. I filled my last tank at 3.95, Arco was charging 3.93.

[nemo]

Originally Posted by XYZ

It seems there are two schools of thought present in this forum. There are those who want to see the price of fuel lowered, so they can benefit from paying less. Then there are those who want to see the price go higher so that everyone will be forced into consuming less. There is also the recent frank admission by the administration of this list that seeing lower gas prices is not beneficial to their enterprise.

It's seeing people being forced or coerced that is troubling. It smacks of schadenfreude - not to mention authoritarianism.

I would like to see the price of fuel go down because less is being used. As the past has shown low prices result in higher consumption.

[XYZ]

Originally Posted by nemo

I would like to see the price of fuel go down because less is being used. As the past has shown low prices result in higher consumption.

I too would like to see the price go down. I wouldn't drive any more or any less than I do because of it.

The higher consumption that occurs when prices decline is entirely rational, however. If you can't afford the cost of a vacation trip when prices are high, it makes sense to wait until the price declines.

As for supporting and mandating higher prices (usually through the addition of hidden taxes on gasoline) to reduce consumption, it amounts to imposing a starvation diet as a cure for famine - then claiming that the "cure" was effective. Effective perhaps, but not beneficial to those subjected to it.