Scenario: Oil at $262/barrel, What Price Diesel? - Page 3 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

pawoSD · #31 01-28-2006, 11:18 PM

Once fuel is steady at $4-5 a gallon people will start buying the far more efficient cars, and driving more gently and combining trips etc....for now they still see fuel as a very expendible commodity. These are the people that heat their huge houses to 78 degrees and have 4 V8 SUV's in the driveway....

MB is supposed to release a diesel C class into the USA in the fall of this year I have heard, with the 320cdi I think, thats going to be one efficient car. I'll just drive mine till I can get one of those or an E class cdi used, then I'll retire my SD to occassional driving.....this is a ways in the future, as I currently have no money. Here's to hoping I eventually do!

I wish they'd release a diesel c-class with the 200 and 220cdi engines, those are AWESOME. VERY powerful, and yet deliver about 38 in the city and 50+ freeway when driven normally, those are the numbers we got with a 220cdi wagon in germany filled with people and luggage. Hwy went as low as 25mpg when cruising above 130mph the majority of the time though....yet, still very impressive!!

#32 01-28-2006, 11:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pawoSD

Once fuel is steady at $4-5 a gallon people will start buying the far more efficient cars, and driving more gently and combining trips etc....for now they still see fuel as a very expendible commodity.

I seem to remember people saying that about fuel reaching $1 per gallon, in about 1976. I don't think anyone really knows at what price point people will actually change their behavior. The truth is that the cost of fuel is a fairly small percentage of the budget for many people.

DieselAddict · #33 01-29-2006, 01:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Craig

I seem to remember people saying that about fuel reaching $1 per gallon, in about 1976. I don't think anyone really knows at what price point people will actually change their behavior. The truth is that the cost of fuel is a fairly small percentage of the budget for many people.

That may be true, but a lot of people certainly don't act that way. Look at all the disgruntled motorists the TV news networks interview at the pumps who always complain whenever gas prices go up just a tiny bit. The truth is last year's $3/gal prices did in fact start altering people's habits. Truck & SUV sales went down and small car sales, especially of hybrids and diesels went up. But some "experts" were also warning us about the negative impact of high gas prices on the economy, yet the christmas retail season was really good, and the restaurants and ski resorts over here are more packed than ever. People adjust when they have to, they just complain too much while doing it.

aklim · #34 01-29-2006, 02:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DieselAddict

That may be true, but a lot of people certainly don't act that way. Look at all the disgruntled motorists the TV news networks interview at the pumps who always complain whenever gas prices go up just a tiny bit.

The truth is last year's $3/gal prices did in fact start altering people's habits. Truck & SUV sales went down and small car sales, especially of hybrids and diesels went up.

But some "experts" were also warning us about the negative impact of high gas prices on the economy, yet the christmas retail season was really good, and the restaurants and ski resorts over here are more packed than ever. People adjust when they have to, they just complain too much while doing it.

Forgetting the effects of Katrina, everybody wants $10 of product for $0.50. Everyone is always comparing it to the past. "Well, when I was young, I could get a bottle of soda for $0.10. Today it is way past $1.20. WTF???" However, have you given any thought to the gas prices? In WI, $0.50+ is taken for taxes. I for one, have no problem with paying for road tax since I am wearing out the roads. However, when I see that I am paying for $0.25 of road, I tend to feel that I got raped. Further to that, when I see that the state of WI has dipped into the road tax to finance other crap, I get mad. That means they have told me that I need to pay more for a product that didn't come out costing as much and they are spending the money on something else. So, either pay me back or use the road tax fund the way it should be used. I think people tend to gripe because they see they money they are paying and not getting value for it.

Yes but for how long? Back in the 70s people started going to small cars. However, when the gas crunch went off, here we go again. There will always be people that panic at the first sign of trouble. A temporary change is worthless tho. It is the changes that endure that matter.

It's too soon to tell. For instance, my dad cancelled one of his vacations because of the gas prices. When it simmers down this year, things may or may not change. However, if it does keep up at rediculous prices, you WILL see a change that will not be for the better. Katrina was an anomaly and so people may think that things will get better. However, if they don't, watch out.