...in other expenses-are-rising news...

[mckitterick]

I filled up my Aprilia scooter a couple of days ago. This little motorcycle gets around 70 miles per gallon, sweet in an era of $4/gallon gasoline. Its fuel tank holds an appropriate amount of gasoline for its size. Usually costs about $5 to fill it up every few months because of the aforementioned great-gas-mileage and because I mostly walk to the office. I don't usually run it down to reserve, though this time I did (forgot to reset the odometer last time).

Filling up my tiny gas tank cost just over $10. I know you SUV drivers out there are laughing with bitterness and considering murder, but this really brought home to me the rise in gas prices. Wow, it cost twice as much as usual.

Can't wait to fill up the Newport for the first time. *g* Thankfully, I don't expect to drive it much. *g*

Best,
Chris

Comments

[stuology.livejournal.com]

When I started driving to KC to work in 1999, gas was still hovering around $1.00/gallon, and my Toyota Corolla was getting 32 mpg.

Ah, those were the days.

[mckitterick.livejournal.com]

Gas used to be seriously underpriced. I think this higher price is a good thing, overall, as it'll help people put a proper value on energy. And bring about lots of thinking toward replacing oil with renewables before we completely run out. Which would suck for the human species.

So it hurts, but the alternative is worse. I just feel sorry for very poor folks who must buy pricey gas.

[roya-spirit.livejournal.com]

It doesn't take being a "very poor folk" to feel the bite of high gas prices.
It affects far more than simple mpg and tank filling.
It's a huge working class squeeze right now. The higher price of fuel to transport goods and consumables is driving (har) the cost of groceries up and up also. I imagine that when one has to feed a family, make it to work and pay the higher fuel costs for energy, it leaves little doubt in my mind as to why more families are no longer able to pay their mortgages.

We are so out of it, living where we can be so close to work.. and fortunate!

[mckitterick.livejournal.com]

All true. I feel lucky.

[jjschwabach.livejournal.com]

My tank holds just under ten gallons, and I get 60mpg.
But I agree. The TARDIS is getting admired in a way it hasn't since there were only four of them in the whole county. All those SUV drivers are saying things like, "Does it really?"
"Yes"
"How often to you have to plug it in?"
"Never."
"But you can't take it on the highway, right, I mean, it can't go 65."
"Yes, it can. But 62 is the optimal fuel-consumption-to-annoying-other-drivers point."
"I heard the batteries are really expensive. How often do you have to replace them?"
"Never."
"But when do you plug it in?"
"You don.... never mind."

[mckitterick.livejournal.com]

Wow, you know just how to drive it for optimal mpg!

Really, you never need to replace the batteries? Or do you mean, "Not until it's time to get a new car"?

[jjschwabach.livejournal.com]

Technically, I suppose I *could* put the battery in a new one, but then whoever got this one wouldn't be able to drive it....

[mckitterick.livejournal.com]

Well, what I mean is, "How long are the batteries rated to last?" All batteries wear out at some point. Entropy always wins.

[fortyozspartan.livejournal.com]

I've actually been thinking about getting a motorcycle license just to double my gas mileage. But it would take years for the price of a motorcycle to payoff in gas and I'm mildly skeptical combustion engines will be a factor in five years (or maybe there will just be something better out?).

My car already gets excellent gas mileage and I only drive about 7 miles to work anyways. I've thought about riding a bike on the nice days but those also happen to be the days when my allergies are the worst and staying inside (a car) is better.

Even when/if gas hits $4 it's only increasing my yearly fuel costs about $200... Far as I can tell.

[fortyozspartan.livejournal.com]

On another note, I remember when filling up my Corolla cost $12 and now it costs me $39. It shouldn't cost you $40 to fill up a Corolla...

[siro-gravity.livejournal.com]

is the picture in your icon the "aprilia" you speak of? it looks more like a motorcycle, but what do i know about motor bikes/scooters? not so much.

but i DO know i've wanted one of these for the longest time:


IS THAT THE CUTEST THING YOU'VE EVER SEEN????
plz! you know it is!
:D

[mckitterick.livejournal.com]

Yup, that's it! Technically (er, legally), it's a scooter because of its 50cc engine. But the frame & suspension are all motorcycle, though at about 9/10 scale. Weighs less than 200 pounds, yay!

My other scooter would put up a good fight for who's the cutest:


Chris

[siro-gravity.livejournal.com]

OMGGGGG!!! that is fabulous!!!

and such a sassy color!!!! if i had a cute little scooter like that, you'd have to pry me off with a ...___________________(something much bigger than a crowbar)!!

smith (my first name, in case you didn't know it)

[mckitterick.livejournal.com]

Isn't it, though? Completely rebuilt and imported a year ago. I haven't been riding it, however, because the restorers did something wrong with the fuel supply. But it took me months to get it registered (don't import a vehicle), and after that it was rainy and wintery, and I haven't wanted to expose it to such weather. So it'll be on the road soon!

Chris (my first name *g*)

[jjschwabach.livejournal.com]

It's delightful!

Of course, not practical here, where the first snow is sometimes in September, and the last, quite often in May.

I bet you can't wait to get out on it.

And yes, it does get better mileage than the TARDIS, but you can't carry as much ;-P.