Diesel $3.30/ Gallon Time for a Bicycle!!! - Page 3 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

sarthur9 · #31 05-02-2007, 06:48 PM

High fuel prices......can you say BUSH!!!!!!

aklim · #32 05-02-2007, 08:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Craig

If the U.S. has any influence left in the world, they should be using it it to encourage "green" development in that part of the world. There is a fairly short time window available to influence the direction of their development.

The only influence we or anybody has is when you can sell a product the other party has to have.

#33 05-02-2007, 08:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aklim

The only influence we or anybody has is when you can sell a product the other party has to have.

Yup, I happen to know some folks who are in the process of selling four nuclear power stations to china, about 4GW of generation.

cbjukraine · #34 05-02-2007, 09:39 PM

The problem here is not George Bush, the war in Iraq, the oil companies, or any other boogeymen you want to blame. Crude oil is a commodity, meaning it's price is inversely related to the value of the currency used to purchase it. The problem is the falling value of the dollar. What controls the value of the dollar? Monetary Policy. Who controls monetary policy? The Federal Reserve. The correct place to lay your blame is the Federal Reserve, more specifically the FED governors that sit on the FOMC. They're not boogeymen out to get us, they just don't understand classical economics and the fact that a stable-valued currency is the most important thing in an economy.

Hatterasguy · #35 05-02-2007, 09:53 PM

I drive about 15k miles a year, I figure my cars probably average 23mpg. Thats a bit low but lets use it for this example.

That means I burn about 652.17 gallons of fuel per year, at $2 a gallon thats $1,304.35 per year. At $3 per gallon $1,956.51, etc etc. In other words not an earth shartering increase in expense. Noticable certainly, OMG I am riding a bike insted, most certainly not.

For perspective I pay $1,800 a year for car insurance, down from $2,400 a year.

Now I can write my fuel off so it reduces the real cost further, but really fuel costs are a small expense. Unless you drive a lot.

bill murrow · #36 05-02-2007, 09:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cbjukraine

The problem here is not George Bush, the war in Iraq, the oil companies, or any other boogeymen you want to blame. Crude oil is a commodity, meaning it's price is inversely related to the value of the currency used to purchase it. The problem is the falling value of the dollar. What controls the value of the dollar? Monetary Policy. Who controls monetary policy? The Federal Reserve. The correct place to lay your blame is the Federal Reserve, more specifically the FED governors that sit on the FOMC. They're not boogeymen out to get us, they just don't understand classical economics and the fact that a stable-valued currency is the most important thing in an economy.

Thank you. Finally someone comes through with a sensible answer.

This same principal can be applied to the housing market. Prices went up not because the property value increased or because sellers realized the public would pay whatever the seller asked. They went up because the value of the dollar decreased which means it takes more dollars to make a purchase.

Same with oil.

WVO is still free guys. Do something if it bothers you that much.

Cheers,

Bill

Hatterasguy · #37 05-02-2007, 09:58 PM

Expensive fuel is the new reality. Its going to $4-$5 a gallon, thats just the way it is. So now is a good time to buy cars and develope habits accordingly.

Personaly I am really hoping MB imports a diesel C class into this country. According to the dealer we might see one in 2009, as soon as they can make them 50 state legal. 40+ mpg out of what is essentialy a mid sized car looks pretty good.

networkboy · #38 05-02-2007, 10:15 PM

FWIW the fuel prices have tipped me over to burning oil (not making BD, just burning SVO). I realize that the fuel is unproven, but lets face it, I'm broke and the car cost me a buck. I did the CBA on the conversion and I come back with a greasecar kit paying for its self in about 6 months (assuming diesel stays at $3.05 a gallon, it's already up to 3.14 in my area).
-nB

babymog · #39 05-02-2007, 10:51 PM

Curtis is correct, one of the factors in fuel pricing is the price of crude. The price of crude is affected by many things, one of them being the value of the dollar in the world market and how much it will buy. As the dollar becomes worth less, it takes more of them to buy things like crude oil (including new German cars and parts).

Another factor is supply & demand, as the supply becomes a constant and demand increases, the price will escalate.

Next is the traders, the guys on Wall Street who buy and sell oil futures, they speculate and drive the prices up or down.

Finally is the Bush factor. This is an important one, so listen carefully. The war in Iraq is about freedom and the American way, it is about oil and the trade deficit. If the oil producing nations are all happy with each other, OPEC becomes stronger and has more clout in raising oil prices or lowering supply. Remember the '80s? This increases prices AND creates a bit of a security problem if we are cut off from the middle-eastern oil supply. Again, remember the oil embargo? Our presence over there is among other things intended to keep the US in a friendly light for some of the OPEC members, albiet also creating enemies with others. As long as we have friends in OPEC, and not all of the middle-east is on speaking terms with other members, the strength of OPEC is dilluted. THAT is what much of the western world is doing spending billions of dollars etc. over in the middle-east. It pays back also, if the price of oil doubles, think of what that does to our trade deficit.
If the anti-Bush "he's on the side of big oil" Democratic war-cry were correct, don't you think that the best thing for his "friends in oil" would be to let OPEC get stronger and friendlier, let the oil prices climb out of sight, and make the US oil worth more money? Haven't you noticed that as soon as the oil prices went so high, so did the oil companies' profits? Many of their profits are based on PERCENTAGES, they keep their margins as a percentage of the fuel prices, so if the fuel goes up so does their cut!

Last in the price if fuel is the refined fuel price adders, such as the many corporate expenses and profits, and FUEL TAXES!! I paid $2.47 in IL Saturday morning, crossed the line into MI and spent $2.89. Same morning, .42 more in fuel prices, mostly taxes. I don't know how much of my $2.89 is tax, but enough to make a dent in my wallet.

I drive a diesel benz because I always wanted one when I was driving gas benzes, but very much enjoy the fuel mileage. I refuse to drive anything that gets poor fuel mileage however, because I don't like sending that much of my money to the middle-east. I'm not yet willing to go the WVO route, a matter of convenience and engine-longevity at this point, when the many lemmings driving around in their 10-14mpg SUVs get closer to my mid-30s fuel mileage then I'll consider myself part of the problem and take the next step.

Knightrider966 · #40 05-02-2007, 11:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mamali

This is getting ridiculous. Diesel/ Gas prices are way way too high for no reason. There have been no hurricanes, no new wars what is happening? Have to find a cheaper method of transportation!!!! May be a Moped?

Switch to biodiesel. It's cheaper than fossil fuels right now.

#41 05-02-2007, 11:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bill murrow

Thank you. Finally someone comes through with a sensible answer.

This same principal can be applied to the housing market. Prices went up not because the property value increased or because sellers realized the public would pay whatever the seller asked. They went up because the value of the dollar decreased which means it takes more dollars to make a purchase.

Same with oil.

I wouldn't "blame" the fed either (another boogeyman, IMHO), but I do agree that the weak dollar does drive up the cost of oil in the U.S. The reasons for the weak dollar is a whole other debate.

However, I think the reality is that no one (except the final consumer) has much interest in lowering energy costs. The oil producers, distributors, retailers, etc. are not interested in lower prices. The federal and state governments see more tax revenue at a higher price point, folks interested in the U.S. balance of trade, as well as environmentalists, want to see lower energy consumption. The occasional politician pays lip service to lowering energy costs, and there is a legitimate concern that increasing energy costs too rapidly would be inflationary, but it's difficult to find anyone with any influence in the energy sector who actually wants lower prices.

2.5Turbo · #42 05-03-2007, 02:41 AM

According to gasbuddy.com, the low price for diesel back home in Tacoma, WA is 2.89, while the low price for regular gas is 3.19. Can't wait to get back home on the 12th and try to convince my dad to buy a diesel C class when it comes out, and my mom to buy a diesel Odyssey for the doggiewagon when Honda finally brings their diesel to the US...the 5-speed in the Volvo is starting to show signs of crapping out, and the oil consumption is going up

Shorebilly · #43 05-03-2007, 05:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mamali

There is another point I can not figure out. Ever since I could remember Diesel was cheaper than Gas by a huge margin. That was true in Europe, Middle East etc!!! What happened here? Gas is $2.85, DIisel $3.30/ Gallon?

I purchased a tankfull of Diesel at Fairview Exxon, Smithburg, WV (my usual spot) for $2.89.....and Regular Gasoline was $3.05, Mid Grade was $3.15 and Ethyl/Hi Test/Premium was $3.25.......I was surprised and quite pleased that Diesel is selling below the price of Regular Gasoline......

SB

I saw on Fox News that Hugo Chavez (Venezuela's El Supremo) is beginning to whine that if the USA starts going "Green" it will increase the price of food for the world's poor.......at least someone is getting worried that the price of oil is out of line.....I wonder if he is funding research into creating foodstuff from Petrolium?? I still drive over 100 miles each way to purchase a couple of 55's of B-100 every couple of months.....screw OPEC.....

Shorebilly · #44 05-03-2007, 05:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aklim

The only influence we or anybody has is when you can sell a product the other party has to have.

Hey Dude,
Have you put in a Bio-Diesel pump yet??? There are getting to be more and more of us "Fringe Fuel Fanatics".......

SB

WINGAS · #45 05-03-2007, 07:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sarthur9

High fuel prices......can you say BUSH!!!!!!

Naw. Com'on. That's WAY too simplistic in this multivariate stocastic world we share consciousness in.

Read the other day that PRC ( thats old skool for commie China) consumes 1 bbl/person/yr of petro. US consumes 24. Now, loookign at the numbers, PRC has, what 4X, the population we do, so an increase to 2bbl ( which I believe the CIA would agree is a given), would be akin to use going from 24-28bbl here. Huge. thats $5/gal at the pump.

What I can't reckon is technology. Clearly as the price of oil/bbl continues to escalate ( and it most assuredly will long run and remember, oil inflation has historically LAGGED other inflation - so a reversion to the mean is, well, likely). But, as I'm sure my investment clients must think I'm being alarmist, to reckon up $5-$10 at the pump is statistically valid. ( they're all hedged against increased enregy costs btw).

Diesel can be made from renewables. We're ALL in the right direction, regarless if its a 95E300 sippin' up 33 mpg combined, or a TBI eating at the rate of 43.

Dont want to be reliant on MidEast oil. Lost too many buds in 5th Grp, Herclules Inc., Blackwater, etc. to that region. Made too many friends amongst the indigenous population, who were/are great souls. SCREW OsamaBin and that we should pay more for their oil.

I DONT WANT IT ANYMORE ( close ur eyes kids, nco-speak here)MOTHERF^^^R.

So, then, I suppose my desire to buy, rebuild and run a diesel , was not , is not, and will not be, a financial decision. Its about FREEDOM, independence, and self reliance. I.e, my AMERICANISM coming to the surface.
Ironic that I had to buy a German enigineered car! But it keeps that very, very tiny part of my gene pool, the aryan one, very, very happy.

American Mutt that I am.

Peace y'all. out.