Fuel Prices

[Captain Dave Wittenborn]

Diesel- $4 a gallon and still rising
Mercury News
Article Launched: 03/10/2008 06:13:26 AM PDT
 

Diesel: $4 a gallon and rising
A gallon of diesel fuel hit $4.01 a gallon on average Sunday, the first time any local fuel prices have topped $4. Some local fueling stations were selling diesel for as much as $4.25 a gallon after raising prices by nearly 20 cents this weekend.


Location   Sunday   Year ago   Difference
New York City   $4.12   $3.02   +$1.10
San Luis Obispo   $4.10   $3.12   +98 cents
San Francisco   $4.08   $3.17   +91 cents
Oakland   $4.07   $3.09   +98 cents
San Diego   $4.06   $3.04   +$1.02
Los Angeles   $4.05   $3.05   +$1
San Jose   $4.01   $3.10   +91 cents
Santa Cruz   $3.96   $3.07   +89 cents

[Luna Sea 5]

no matter what, we are screwed.  I actually parked my F350 diesel for that reason, and my Excursion...  They sit in the driveway for "as needed use".  I picked up a used Focus that gets over 30 mpg.  I'm still not happy, but the pain is a slight bit less.

[ped579]

We are still looking.  I can't fit into a subcompact because of my hips, they don't bend as good as the real things so I need the extra room to get in.   If they only made the doors wider.

[TurboDan]

We are still looking.  I can't fit into a subcompact because of my hips, they don't bend as good as the real things so I need the extra room to get in.   If they only made the doors wider.

There are some happy mediums.  How about a Volkswagen Passat TDI - yes, it's diesel, but it gets like 48MPG.  I have a gas Passat and love it.  If you want to go SUV, the Ford Escape hybrid is a very nice choice.

I toyed with getting a larger SUV last year when I bought the Passat, but I figured that I would only use an SUV's capabilities twice per year - the day the boat goes in the water and the day it goes out.  Between fuel prices, hassles getting into parking spaces, and the inability of SUVs to handle like regular cars, the choice was pretty clear.  The mechanic down at my marina tows it the three blocks down to the ramp for me, anyway, since I gave him some publicity in the newspaper last year. 

On a more sour note, it's gonna be a pain this summer.  But that's why it's good to save during the winter.  The fact that I have a 90HP engine that isn't too bad on fuel is good, too.  It's a 2001 Johnson 2-stroke.  I couldn't imagine the economy I would get if I had an E-tec, Opti or 4-stroke.  I'd rather stick to 2-strokes, though, for the weight consideration. 

[ped579]

Now you did it here comes the controversy of weight of a 2 stroke VS the economy of a 4 stroke.

I love my Expedition.  I live so close to the beach so it helps plus I try to get out at least 3 - 4 time a week which makes it comfortable and convenient.

If I had to down size it would probably be to a Jeep.  I need the room and the beachability.

[IrishAyes]

Now matter how you look at it, we are screwed with the fuel prices, both on land and on the water.   

[catfish hunter]

I dont drive my truck anymore ,it has been so long since I started it that I went to hoo up the boat the other day and it had a dead battery ,I have a little ford contour and it sucks it is like riding in a roller skate.I can't afford to pay for gas in my truck at 10 mpg so I use it to tow the boat and haul the hounds ,I found myself going deer hunting in it this year I had to put a doe in the trunk once

[TurboDan]

Now you did it here comes the controversy of weight of a 2 stroke VS the economy of a 4 stroke.

I love my Expedition.  I live so close to the beach so it helps plus I try to get out at least 3 - 4 time a week which makes it comfortable and convenient.

If I had to down size it would probably be to a Jeep.  I need the room and the beachability.

I hear ya on the beach-ability.  Lots of times I wish I could ride on the sand.  I saw someone parked on Main Street in Manasquan today in a brand new smaller Land Rover.  The thing intrigued me.  Looked slightly larger than an Escape but a hell of a lot more capable.  As weird as it must be to drive a British SUV, it looked strangely perfect for what I'd want it for.

Jeeps are cool, though the Commander can't get good MPGs at all.  The new Liberty model is a bit manlier than the old one, so that could be an option.