conversations and opinions on the rising cost of fuel - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

roundout · #1 02-24-2011, 08:03 AM

If people would stop talking about prices going up and the news media would stop blathering about prices going up, speculators would stop driving prices up. The more people fear rising prices, the more prices rise. There's no doubt that there's some uncertainty coming out of the Middle East, but most of the increase in price of oil futures falls squarely on the shoulders of speculators trying to make a buck. You'd think they'd have learned their lesson after 2008.

I remember wanting to go buy a couple 50 gallon drums and fill them with B100 at $5/gal and my dad told me not to waste my time. Everybody was convinced we were screwed and fuel was going to go $10/gal, European style. Maybe we'd hit peak oil. Blah blah blah. Couple months later fuel was under $3/gal.

DieselPaul · #2 02-24-2011, 10:57 AM

Alarmism is laughable.

If you want to drive a car, pay for it.

Go reread threads from 3 years ago, it all says exactly the same thing, I'm done driving, I'm moving to wherever, I'm pissed at the government, Here is my theory as to how to fix it, etc. Well we all still have cars, so we did a crappy job stopping driving.

oldsinner111 · #3 02-24-2011, 10:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 10fords

$4.29 gal in Carmel, California last nite on my way home. It will probably be more on my way home tonite.

Thats other thing that burns my butt.Oil Companies charge more for their fuels towards demographics.
You should be penalized for living in a higher income area.
Even though I'm poor ,I don't feel that is right.Or does Beverly Hills Wal Mart have higher prices.

dagObx · #4 02-24-2011, 02:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by roundout

If people would stop talking about prices going up and the news media would stop blathering about prices going up, speculators would stop driving prices up. The more people fear rising prices, the more prices rise. There's no doubt that there's some uncertainty coming out of the Middle East, but most of the increase in price of oil futures falls squarely on the shoulders of speculators trying to make a buck. You'd think they'd have learned their lesson after 2008.

I remember wanting to go buy a couple 50 gallon drums and fill them with B100 at $5/gal and my dad told me not to waste my time. Everybody was convinced we were screwed and fuel was going to go $10/gal, European style. Maybe we'd hit peak oil. Blah blah blah. Couple months later fuel was under $3/gal.

Roundout- you hit the nail right on the head!! According to many sources, there's plenty of oil available & no one has said anything about reducing supplies (other than that idiot in Libya). This price spike is driven solely by the cursed speculators.

pawoSD · #5 02-25-2011, 08:04 AM

I just wonder how high it will really need to get before the "average masses" think wiser of spending $450-500 a month to fuel their pointless truck/suv. There will always be people that drive v12's daily even if fuel is $7......but their numbers are pretty small. IMHO, most people out there driving 45k SUV's/trucks probably cannot legitimately afford them, the higher fuel cost only makes that even more insane. Makes you wonder what percent of their income they are wasting on the fuel/upkeep of such a vehicle.

If I was to be driving something with a big engine, I'd want it to at least be fast!

10fords · #6 02-25-2011, 10:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oldsinner111

Thats other thing that burns my butt.Oil Companies charge more for their fuels towards demographics.
You should be penalized for living in a higher income area.
Even though I'm poor ,I don't feel that is right.Or does Beverly Hills Wal Mart have higher prices.

Yeah- I always hear about the average price for gas and I wonder where it is selling for that price! It is usually $1 more a gallon here

Contrary to popular belief everyone here is not rich.

dieseldan44 · #7 02-25-2011, 11:07 AM

This is a nice time to have my WVO powered vehicle. But I pay for it with my time and effort, it's not free fuel.

I cringed filling my diesel main tank yesterday.

And now everyone who thinks it is 'free fuel' will try to start stealing my oil supplies. Building up my reserves to prepare for the crazyness like '08.

engatwork · #8 02-25-2011, 11:09 AM

One of the benefits

of being unemployed is that I don't have to purchase fuel very much at all. I think I am spending about $20/every two weeks for fuel.

oldsinner111 · #9 02-25-2011, 11:11 AM

I run wvo summer and fall.I'll miss the power of real diesel fuel though.

curbill · #10 02-25-2011, 02:20 PM

Last time one of the companies that was gambling on futures of oil was Chase bank. To the tune of 100's of million dollars.

EDBSO · #11 02-25-2011, 04:44 PM

Holy crap!!!! You think Diesel is going up fast, it has barely moved.

My Corn Flakes have gone from $1.50 and now just broken the $5 a box and my Corn Syrup for my toast was $1.75 is going through $7.00 WTF?

Is ethanol doing all this? HURRAY for cheap gasoline!

paddo · #12 02-25-2011, 06:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by connerm

I'm a selfish cheap bastard who drives 75 miles every week day in DC traffic. When fuel prices are high, traffic is manageable. When fuel prices are outrageous, traffic is downright easy. Happens once in a while and I'm grateful. I don't like paying $4-5 per gallon for anything, but I do like getting to work and home 20 minutes earlier than normal. Driving a MB diesel used to get you Economy AND Reliability AND Cheap fuel. Two out of three still ain't bad.

So it really works! Surprising that a sig no of people would find alt transportation when prices go up - maybe they are mainly car-pooling.
In Philly, kerosene is cheaper than diesel so I filled up on half and half kero/disel since kero is sposed to be cleaner.Actaully I ran on pure kero for a little while jsut to see how it went - no black smoke, but exhaust stinks worse.
As some have said, WVO is getting more enjoyable - I figured out I spend a total of about 1/2 hour per 10 gall of oil for collecting, filtering, cleaning, mishaps etc. so taht is pretty good. A lot of people will never do it because it's too messy and they are true consumers, don't like DIY and like everything in a shiny pack.

buffa98 · #13 02-25-2011, 06:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pawoSD

I just wonder how high it will really need to get before the "average masses" think wiser of spending $450-500 a month to fuel their pointless truck/suv. There will always be people that drive v12's daily even if fuel is $7......but their numbers are pretty small. IMHO, most people out there driving 45k SUV's/trucks probably cannot legitimately afford them, the higher fuel cost only makes that even more insane. Makes you wonder what percent of their income they are wasting on the fuel/upkeep of such a vehicle.

If I was to be driving something with a big engine, I'd want it to at least be fast!

You are correct, however I am one of the few that "needs" the suv. 4 kids wife and dog dont fit in a mini van(with luggage). Adn the mini van cant tow a camper worth a crap!

Zeppo2K2 · #14 02-26-2011, 12:48 AM

Folks, please have a look at:

http://www.oilposter.org/

This shows world oil production in pretty clear terms. Expand it so you can get the detail. The lower curve, blue, shows the US production which peaked in the early '70's. We are starting to follow that top curve down, and no one knows what the ride is going to be like, but it will probably be painful for all.

Also note the discovery peak, passed in the '60's.

Our world is changing, and soon. Hang on to those diesels, they still will be classy cars, and worth keeping on the road long after the gas hogs are retired.

Ron

MBZ123 · #15 02-26-2011, 01:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by glenlloyd

Prices here today range from 3.54 - 3.65 / gallon.

This is what happens when your central bank creates money / credit with nothing backing it, more dollars chasing the same amount of resources, creates rising prices. Prices are merely a indicator of currency value.

You forgot to add the part explaining the extreme transfer of wealth that goes hand in hand with this scenario and just occurred with the blind masses none the wiser. Good point just the same glen. Comforting to know at least someone else gets it. What were those idiots calling it? The "Amero" ? I sure don't hope so!

And another thing. People of our culture BLOW ME AWAY! The sense of entitlement today is downright disgusting. Really, you "need" that energy guzzling monstrosity? Well, did you "need" FOUR kids? Do you "need" the dog? Do you "need" to vacation? Maybe what was "needed" was some planning. Could've avoided the "wants", oops, I meant the "needs" altogether. Nothing personal, just pointing out root cause. Way too pervasive these days. With any luck one more may become enlightened and contribute to the solution.

FNHB