Have you personally changed your driving habits due to the price of gas? - Page 1

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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Have you personally changed your driving habits due to the price of gas? (Page 1 of 3)

Posted: 4/15/2008 7:44:43 PM EDT

We only have one vehicle, it is a Nissan armada, it only gets 15 MPG around town, a little better on the freeway. We have the large SUV because we have 4 kids and all the crap that goes with four kids to haul around. For the most part, we have not changed our driving habits too much, other than being more careful about planning better when we go somewhere so we don't end up having to go back to the same place the next day. Overall, I would say that so far the price of gas really hasn't changed our driving habits, other than the fact that when we go somewhere further I think to myself "wow it is costing me x amount to go up there."

Anyway, have you or your family changed driving habits?

MDI

Posted: 4/15/2008 7:46:06 PM EDT

[#1]

Yes. I drive about 50% less. Much of my fuel costs are covered by my employer anyway.

Posted: 4/15/2008 7:46:27 PM EDT

[#2]

We do take the more fuel efficient vehicle more often but I am not cancelling long trips or anything.

Posted: 4/15/2008 7:47:22 PM EDT

[#3]

Yes.

It's impossible not to when $80 won't fill even fill up my tank anymore

Posted: 4/15/2008 7:47:40 PM EDT

[#4]

I try to plan a little better to cut down on extraneous driving.

I still have to get to work and back. Errands get consolidated into one trip. I don't even consider the cost of gas when I make the decision to do stuff like driving to see the girlfriend or family.

That said, 3.50 a gallon has made an impact in my wallet.

Posted: 4/15/2008 7:47:48 PM EDT

[#5]

I watch the tachno more and have slowed down some too.

Posted: 4/15/2008 7:48:12 PM EDT

[#6]

I ride my bike to work 3 times a week. I go riding in the hills the other two days so I need my truck.

Posted: 4/15/2008 7:48:50 PM EDT

[#7]

No, and I don't plan to.

Posted: 4/15/2008 7:48:51 PM EDT

[#8]

No not really. Well I still redline my car at least once a day but dont drive over 60mph with my truck.

Posted: 4/15/2008 7:49:26 PM EDT

[#9]

I don't drive my big assed truck to work as much...

I take my Focus

Posted: 4/15/2008 7:49:45 PM EDT

[#10]

i ride my motorcycle whenever possible to offset gas prices. I didnt get the bike for that reason, but as it happens it gets like 45 mpg city.

while this isnt really habit changing per say, but i am considering trading in a chevy 2500 HD gas guzzler for a civic or something.

Posted: 4/15/2008 7:52:27 PM EDT

[#11]

I ride the bus about 350 miles a month.

It saves me a tank of gas.

I would still do it cause the bus stop is across the street form my apartment.

I just think of it as a great opportunity cost

Posted: 4/15/2008 7:53:22 PM EDT

[#12]

I've cut back a lot. Gone are the days that we spent hours at night just riding around in the boonies. And I haven't seen my family in Maine for a few years now thanks to gas prices too.

Posted: 4/15/2008 7:53:33 PM EDT

[#13]

Quoted:
i ride my motorcycle whenever possible to offset gas prices. I didnt get the bike for that reason, but as it happens it gets like 45 mpg city.

while this isnt really habit changing per say, but i am considering trading in a chevy 2500 HD gas guzzler for a civic or something.

Along the lines of trading vehicles, I suppose I would consider it but like I said we do need a larger vehicle. About all I could do would be to get a minivan or something similar with a V-6 that would maybe get around 20 MPG. If we didn't have all the kids I would have a regular sized car.

MDI

Posted: 4/15/2008 7:54:22 PM EDT

[#14]

Yeah, I sold the gas miser and bought a NICE Suburban because people don't want them anymore. I'm retired so I don't drive much!!!!

I also own a Z71 Tahoe and 3 Classic Camaros that get driven regularly.

-------------134thSIGNAL

Posted: 4/15/2008 7:54:52 PM EDT

[#15]

Quoted:
I ride the bus about 350 miles a month.

It saves me a tank of gas.

I would still do it cause the bus stop is across the street form my apartment.

I just think of it as a great opportunity cost

Just curious, how much does it cost you to ride the bus?

MDI

Posted: 4/15/2008 7:56:56 PM EDT

[#16]

Quoted:

Quoted:
I ride the bus about 350 miles a month.

It saves me a tank of gas.

I would still do it cause the bus stop is across the street form my apartment.

I just think of it as a great opportunity cost

Just curious, how much does it cost you to ride the bus?

MDI

45 dollars a semester

eta: Included in student fees. I pay weather I use it or not

Posted: 4/15/2008 7:59:12 PM EDT

[#17]

I stopped cruising the streets looking for male tricks. Just costs too much.

Posted: 4/15/2008 8:00:44 PM EDT

[#18]

Yes, I never back over a body the second time.

Posted: 4/15/2008 8:01:41 PM EDT

[#19]

Nope.... even with diesel prices being

Posted: 4/15/2008 8:04:01 PM EDT

[#20]

Nope, still driving around, in my 15 mpg F150, with full throttle starts whenever possible.

Posted: 4/15/2008 8:04:15 PM EDT

[#21]

... a serendipitous product of higher gas prices is less traffic - w00t! Always trying to find the silver lining

For me? I try to generally run my errands together in one or two trips a week, but no radical departure from previous driving behaviors

Posted: 4/15/2008 8:12:12 PM EDT

[#22]

The cheapest gas I found in El Monte, Temple City are of the San Gabriel Valley area is around 3.70/gal reg.

Personally, I try to group all of my driving together, ie go to Target, Wall-Mart, pay bills, take kids to school etc.

Posted: 4/15/2008 8:14:16 PM EDT

[#23]

I haven't changed mine nor has my wife. We go to work and the store, and occasionally out to do other business.

Posted: 4/15/2008 8:20:25 PM EDT

[#24]

Nope, we still walk or ride the city bus everywhere we need to go. Free to walk and only $50 a month to ride the bus. The only time we have to drive is if we have to go somewhere the buses don't go.

Posted: 4/15/2008 8:20:50 PM EDT

[#25]

Quoted:
Yes.

It's impossible not to when $80 won't fill even fill up my tank anymore

+1

Posted: 4/15/2008 8:20:52 PM EDT

[#26]

I now only drive 5MPH over the speed limit.

Posted: 4/15/2008 8:21:04 PM EDT

[#27]

no

Posted: 4/15/2008 8:22:04 PM EDT

[#28]

Yeah, when I actually take a day off, I don't go outside.

Then again, on the job I drive a work van on and off all day, so I get more than my fill.

8 mi/gal on the company gas card, wahoo...

Posted: 4/15/2008 8:25:28 PM EDT

[#29]

I'm dropping the hammer....

Posted: 4/15/2008 8:31:59 PM EDT

[#30]

Well I drive the same 92 miles a day, in my alero to work and back, cost me about 25 bucks every 2 days. My wife or I will run errands in town, just as before. We never really took long road trips or cruise. So I guess no change. Its worth it for me to drive that distance because of the money I make at the job cant be made in a closer location. And I will NOT move, I like my house and friends and community. My 96 chevy full size 4x4 does not get driven to work, but I never did drive it much to work because its not stable at 80mph or more. Alero is real stable at any speed I have taken it, and gets around 30mpg.

Posted: 4/15/2008 8:37:41 PM EDT

[#31]

Yep.

I used to cruise on a nice evening through the Plaza or Westport, maybe go walk the mall with my wife or something.

If I get invited to go somewhere, I may turn it down based on the distance.

Now if I don't need to be there, I don't go.

Shits just fucking ridiculous anymore.

Posted: 4/15/2008 8:43:39 PM EDT

[#32]

Not yet, but, it won't take much more.

Posted: 4/15/2008 8:43:51 PM EDT

[#33]

Id ride the bus for 50 a month if it came around here, lol. I spend 50-75 bucks a week to drive to work.

Posted: 4/15/2008 8:51:20 PM EDT

[#34]

Nope.

I commute 113 miles per day, so my weekend gas use pales in comparison anyway. Wife's urban assault SUV gets 15MPG but hey we want one SUV so we deal.

I am getting rid of my current car, which gets 31MPG and moving to a 25MPG car despite my commute. The comfort and luxury of a nicer and larger car is worth the few bucks a week, especially given the time I spend in the damn thing.

Let's say gas was 2.97 per gallon, and now is $3.34 per gallon (as it was today).

37 cents per gallon increase.

565 miles per week / 31 MPG = 18.23 gallons of gas per week

18.23 times 37 cents per gallon is a whopping $6.75 per week increase in fuel burn with higher fuel costs.

(My spend at that price becomes about 61 bucks a week.)

Even with the new car at 25MPG, my fuel cost hike is $8.36 per week.

That's like 35 bucks per month. Not a big deal.

Total monthly fuel spend is going to be around $270. My grocery bill is right about twice my fuel bill.

If I'm going to bitch about prices, it's grocery prices.

Posted: 4/15/2008 8:57:58 PM EDT

[#35]

Yeah, driving way less now.

Posted: 4/15/2008 8:58:37 PM EDT

[#36]

Yes, we used to think nothing about driving 300 miles for a weekend camping trip. Now we haven't gone on one for a long time. My 4WD truck and Jeep sit in the driveway most of the time. We use my wifes Pontiac Sunfire that get 32mpg a lot more now, and limit our trips to town.

Posted: 4/15/2008 10:07:13 PM EDT

[#37]

It's tough when the guy in front wants to go 95 and someone behind is willing to keep up and I'm like, "Sweet! 95 and I'm covered!" Just happened today but 95-100 for a sustained cruise sure sucks the gas. But I love the engine sound so much I turn off the tunes and just listen to the BMW tune...

Posted: 4/15/2008 10:16:38 PM EDT

[#38]

I have done the following:

1. Quit going to the office. I can do everything I did there from home anyway - saves probably 90 miles per week (my Cadillac SRX gets 13MPG in town.)

2. Rent a small car for road trips - when I go to a match more then 500 miles away, I rent a car. It not only saves wear and tear on the $60k+ Caddy, but saves money even after the rental car fees are included. Also, my fly/drive calculus has changed. If the flight is even sort of affordable, I fly instead of drive.

3. Bike when possible - either pedaling or motorcycle.

4. Take a limo to parties, events, games and heavy nights drinking. A 110" stretched Lincoln gets 19MPG, and only one car goes out instead of 4 (assuming 4 couples in the car.) We also make it home safe - no taxi or DUI hassle.

Posted: 4/15/2008 10:18:08 PM EDT

[#39]

I have started running my tires at higher pressure. If the sidewall states "44psi" maximum, I run them at 42psi. The car will roll much easier and use less fuel, getting up to speed. But of course, YMMV...

Posted: 4/15/2008 10:19:33 PM EDT

[#40]

I bought a bike and now bike to work and pretty much everywhere else I go. I save the car for trips on the weekend.

Posted: 4/15/2008 10:26:26 PM EDT

[#41]

I purchased a $300 Toyota that gets 38mpg to drive to work. My F-250 stays hooked to the boat and is only used to take the boat to the ramp on the weekends. Diesel is outrageous!

Posted: 4/15/2008 11:30:18 PM EDT

[#42]

I have a 94 Firebird that gets 27mpg on the highway between 70-80. It gets 25mpg around town. It doesnt take but a little combo driving to get the 25mpg. If I drive it easy or hard it gets 25mpg. I'm going to drive this until it gets 250,000 on it which should be around the fall. Then i'm going to sell it or turn it into a drag car if I cant find something I like better. Id really like a 69 Fairlane. Company I work for pays milage and I drove 47,000 for them last year.

I have a Neon R/T with a DOHC motor. Its a blast to drive. It gets 33MPG no matter how I drive it. I think if I tried it would get another 3-4 mpg but whats the fun in that. The above car replaced this as a dail driver when I crunched the fender hood and radiator. Truck was droping oil on highway and I slid into the back of a van. I have everything but the hood. It was considered total but it was no that bad. Air bags didn't deploy. hood has that hump regulat Neons dont. I found the other stuff in perfect shape in the junkyard in the same color. It doesnt even look like it was wrecked.

bought a Chrysler off my BIL and sister when the trans went out in the van. I cant even remember what it is. We miss the van so where going to get it fixed. They get the same mpg 20mpg intown and 22-23 highway.

55 Chevy Pro Street and the AC Cobra Factory Five I'm building who cares. Both can run on E85 or will when done

My trucks for my construction company dont care.

Posted: 4/15/2008 11:32:24 PM EDT

[#43]

Quoted:
Yep.

I used to cruise on a nice evening through the Plaza or Westport, maybe go walk the mall with my wife or something.

If I get invited to go somewhere, I may turn it down based on the distance.

Now if I don't need to be there, I don't go.

Shits just fucking ridiculous anymore.

Go thru there all the time.

Posted: 4/15/2008 11:33:47 PM EDT

[#44]

I changed my driving habits in the 1970's during the first oil embargo. Since then I have made a conscious effort to send as LITTLE of my money to the middle east and to Venezuela as possible. I have always felt this to be a VERY high priority for me and for us, as a nation.

Posted: 4/16/2008 12:28:20 AM EDT

[#45]

This week I've had to fill all 3 of our vehicles so its been expensive something over 200 bucks.Most of the time we only use 1 car. Got rid of my F250 awhile ago so my biggest gas eater is gone. Our car and 2 vans average about 20mpg. I still drive the same speed maybe a little slower.

Posted: 4/16/2008 12:48:07 AM EDT

[#46]

Not really but I can see slower driving on thehighway in my near future.

Posted: 4/16/2008 12:56:19 AM EDT

[#47]

Not really, but there's so little to do to make a Jeep Wrangler sip gas.

Posted: 4/16/2008 1:02:06 AM EDT

[#48]

Class will be ending in three or four more weeks so that will help cut down on driving a lot. Unfortunately, I'll probably be working more hours so there will be no savings.

I guess I won't be able to do my random night time drives. I may put a temporary freeze on all unnecessary purchases (ammo

) until things start to turn back around.