gasoline ???

I heard a discussion on the radio today about rising fuel costs in the US and at some point it was noted that in Britain the average cost these days is equal to $8.50 USD for a gallon of petrol. Now I ask you, how in the world can a mobile society function with fuel costs that high? Beyond that, WHY is it that high? I though that the Brits had their very own oil fields out in the north Atlantic. I hope that someone on that side of the pond chimes in here. Jack

Excellent public transportation systems compared to the US.

About $4.50+ for regular (Shell) in San Francisco. Of course, Shell is higher than anybody else around here by 30-40 cents. But in SF I'd say by only a dime or so. Of course there are only a 1-2 stations that folks headed home over the Oakland Bay Bridge can stop at and a little profiteering on the part of the station operators (I think its company owned) is to be expected.

Costco here is 3.179 reg and 3.379 premium

I use premium in the 93 SAAB cuz the lump advances itself enough to pick up about 3mpg or 12-15% over regular whereas the cost for the gas is only 7-8% (without calculating it). I'm trying it in my 82 Olds but I don't think it will have the same effect. I know it's a waste in the B.

mac townsend Wrote:

twigworker Wrote:

twigworker Wrote:

Also keep in mind that Europe uses mainly diesel fuel rather than gasoline. As others have said, mass transit is much better, and European geography is such that there are more city centers where people spend their time, rather than driving in from teh suburbs as we do in the US.

I didn't see $4.50 in San Fran, but it's still not cheap:
http://www.sanfrangasprices.com/San%20Francisco/index.aspx?

sreams Wrote:

I took this a couple weekends ago - posted it on OT, but it's worth the rerun. Sort of....





After I snapped the pic, a guy on a motorcycle laughed and shook his head and said, "Welcome to California."

R.

fast-tl Wrote:

I wish those numbers surprised me.

I don't even wince at $3.75 anymore.

It isn't that petrol is expensive because there is a good public transit system, it is that expensive petrol made a public transportation system justifiable. As long as gasoline is cheap there is no demand for public transit. Politicians aren't going to spend tax dollars on something nobody uses - the outcry would be tremendous.

Of course the Europeans have advantages in population density that makes transit a lot easier. But still.

I think that we are all going to have to get used to burning less fossil fuels. The most effective way to change our habits is through pricing.

Brits just don't drive the way we do.

100 mile commutes? Few and far between.

Many of my relatives in England and Scotland do not own cars and get about fine. Train or bus gets many people where they need to go.

It just isn't car culture.

How many Brits own 3 or more cars compared to Americans?

On visit to the states, My grandma could not believe that you could spend 6 hours in a car and still be in California.

My British friends used to freak out at the though of driving 350 miles in a day. That was a two day run for them.

A bit of time spent in the states and we got them sorted out. They learned to love big engines, 4 wheel drives, and huge vehicles. Prior to that, some gas sipping econo box was the only vehicle thay had experienced.

Ok, I think I am the first European resident to post here so first things first!

Europeans do not mainly use Diesel, Petrol (Gasoline) is by far the most common. Diesel is used mostly by busses and trucks. Some cars use diesel, but I would guess only about 15-20%.

The price in the UK at the moment is average £1 per litre, which is £3.80 per gallon.

At today's conversion rate that comes to US$7.62 per gallon.

In Europe the price varies depending on the tax regime of that country. Ireland for example has cheaper petrol then the UK (about 15-20%). France and Germany have gas at about the same price as the UK.
The reasons for it are varied, in my opinion the reasons are below.
1) The price stems demand. - Oil is running out folks!
2) Discourage people from buying 'gas guzzlers'
3) Nice source of revenue for the tax man
4) In europe the price of real estate has gone up a lot in the last few years...so many urban garage owners have sold up so their valuable land can be 'developed'....so the balance between demand and supply is altered resulting in higher prices.
5) The price encourages people to look for an alternative source of transport...and public transport in Europe is better then in the US.

Just my two'pence worth!

Holy crap, we're a good dollar under those California prices!!!!! Oh but don't move here, we all still live in in trailers with the wheels still on them, don't have any of our teeth and marry our cousins, Florida is the place you all want to move to :)

Amen, Hap. Don't move here. We'll make you squeal like a pig if you look funny, and everyone from off looks funny to us. We can take one look and tell you're not from around here.

Florida is the place you want to be.

I agree with what Michael has said.
Our public transport systems are MUCH better than the USA, although here in Newcastle its quite expensive.
I just returned form a week in States, I was working at my company HQ about 25 miles west of Boston and during my stay I didn't see any form of public transportation! (apart from school buses)




MSlowey Wrote:

Speedracer Wrote:

I talked to my cousin yesterday, she was going to the dentist to get her tooth cleaned :)

Hap....you forgot to tell them you hear banjos playing in the background....just like in the "Deliverence" movie!

I hope her tooth cleaned up nicely. Tough to get the snuff stains off every 5 years!

Do keep in mind you can drive from one end of the UK to the other in a day.

rasputin Wrote:

Kieth from Newcastle pointed out - don't forget the exchange rate plays into that amount of 8.50. Dollar is worth half the pound so relatively speaking, gas in UK would be about 4.40 gallon or so if pound and dollar were equal.

Hey everyone in the US and Europe. Want to do something about fuel prices?

Regular gasoline in California should be selling for under $2.00 a gallon. Why is it selling for alot more? Because we are a bunch of wuzzies laying it down to the man. We have become use to the high prices and the conditioning of the masses by the oil companies.

Try this one on for size. Why not boycott one oil company for the rest of the year 2007? If everyone boycotts one oil company, they would most likely have to lower their profit magins to compete with everyone else out there selling gasoline. It's called supply and demand. You get to buy gas from everyone who is selling it with the exception of one oil company. No fuss, no worries.

This boycotting of one oil company is not a new idea. It just needs to be done to make a difference.

Here in the U.S. everyone needs to boycott EXXON/MOBILE for the rest of 2007. In Europe, you need to organize and pick a company that deserves to be boycotted. Who had the biggest profit margin for the last year?

And don't forget everyone who has their hand in the till. Federal, State, and Local taxes that need to be brought down off the cost of a gallon of gas. Make your politicians (Senators and Congressmen) know that your vote will reflect their willingness to do something about this consumer ripoff.

I think, too, the average Brit would drive less than the average American even if the gas prices were equal. Much smaller country, more urbanization, far less sprawl than in NA. And as said above, better public transportation than in most of the US and Canada.

Tom has a valid point. I fear that I am but one of the "conditioned mass." I put $20 into the MG and drive it until it needs another $20.

Yes on the driving less thing.

Every time I fire up a vehicle I have to drive AT LEAST 12 miles, and that would be just running into Blowing Rock, stopping at the traffic light and turning around for the run home. A trip to Boone, which must be made almost every day is a 30 mile round trip to the Wendy's intersection and straight back home. Add to that ANY errands and the thing easily turns into a 50 mile jaunt. If Kathleen and I want to run to Boone in the truck to get a salad or heaven forbid a bar-be-que sandwich the gasoline costs are more than one of our meals. As noted above, it seems that the American quest for elbow room has a very high price. When I have run out to Denver the trip across Kansas and eastern Colorado always brought to mind the same thing. Need a loaf of bread? The bread costs $2, but the gas to get it costs $8.

Without the mobility though our economic system would grind to a stop in very short order. Take away my ability to get to my lumber yard or to the UPS counter at a moment's notice and I would be dead in the water.

Jack

Speedracer Wrote: