Dealerships. Exasperating. A friend hired a professional negotiator for a fee. Introduced him as a relative. The guy coached my friend at each step. He was an ex-salesman and was going to college to get a degree.
Most of the morons whining about it drive those big SUV’s and pickup trucks that get maybe 20 mpg. Since only about 30% of pickups are actually used for work purposes while the other 70% are simply used for transportation that could be accomplished by a car, I feel no sympathy. If they want to reduce costs, get a regular car. Or a hybrid. I got mine five years ago for no more than a regular sedan (and much less than a big pickup) and still get more than 50 mpg. For people who talk about personal responsibility, they sure don’t engage in it.
You do not control what Exxon / Mobile and Big Oil choose to charge for gasoline.
However, you can control what you pay for gasoline by what you drive and how you drive it.
The most fuel efficient trip you will ever take is the one you don’t make. Planning is the biggest part of fuel efficiency. My wife and I have metric: EPT or errands per trip. These are usually planned along the main strip: out and back and with minimal left turns.
Also remember your high school physics: F= Ma. Force (which is related to how much gas you have to burn) is equal to mass (how big is your vehicle) times acceleration. Put Sir Isaac Newton in the driver’s seat. I’ve had people pull out from behind me, stomp on their accelerators and then wear down their brakes: all to get to the red light sooner than me.
I drive like I have a raw egg taped to both the accelerator and brake. Years of flying in formation has taught me how to calculate rates of closure and how the use the throttle to “glide into position.” I do a good two and a half second trail formation. I add the extra half second because of advanced age.
Also be glad that outside of places like Kuwait, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Venezuela and Russia, the U. S. has the cheapest gas prices.
Turn that around: Try to imagine a car in which we can afford to live within the world, in which all adults have and drive one. Back to the Flintstones!
SHIVA over 1 year ago
It’ll be just a dream soon!!!
Ubintold over 1 year ago
Back before inflation?
Zykoic over 1 year ago
Dealerships. Exasperating. A friend hired a professional negotiator for a fee. Introduced him as a relative. The guy coached my friend at each step. He was an ex-salesman and was going to college to get a degree.
cdward over 1 year ago
Most of the morons whining about it drive those big SUV’s and pickup trucks that get maybe 20 mpg. Since only about 30% of pickups are actually used for work purposes while the other 70% are simply used for transportation that could be accomplished by a car, I feel no sympathy. If they want to reduce costs, get a regular car. Or a hybrid. I got mine five years ago for no more than a regular sedan (and much less than a big pickup) and still get more than 50 mpg. For people who talk about personal responsibility, they sure don’t engage in it.
dflak over 1 year ago
You do not control what Exxon / Mobile and Big Oil choose to charge for gasoline.
However, you can control what you pay for gasoline by what you drive and how you drive it.
The most fuel efficient trip you will ever take is the one you don’t make. Planning is the biggest part of fuel efficiency. My wife and I have metric: EPT or errands per trip. These are usually planned along the main strip: out and back and with minimal left turns.
Also remember your high school physics: F= Ma. Force (which is related to how much gas you have to burn) is equal to mass (how big is your vehicle) times acceleration. Put Sir Isaac Newton in the driver’s seat. I’ve had people pull out from behind me, stomp on their accelerators and then wear down their brakes: all to get to the red light sooner than me.
I drive like I have a raw egg taped to both the accelerator and brake. Years of flying in formation has taught me how to calculate rates of closure and how the use the throttle to “glide into position.” I do a good two and a half second trail formation. I add the extra half second because of advanced age.
Also be glad that outside of places like Kuwait, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Venezuela and Russia, the U. S. has the cheapest gas prices.
flemmingo over 1 year ago
President wants everyone to have electric vehicles so run gas prices up so people will think electric.
PraiseofFolly over 1 year ago
Turn that around: Try to imagine a car in which we can afford to live within the world, in which all adults have and drive one. Back to the Flintstones!
Alberta Oil Premium Member over 1 year ago
That shouldn’t be hard, two or three years tops.
The Brooklyn Accent Premium Member over 1 year ago
…and in which you can somehow contort your bodies to get into a three-foot-high car without permanent spinal damage?
Frank Burns Eats Worms over 1 year ago
What do I have to do, to get you to imagine, buying a car from me, today?
PoodleGroomer over 1 year ago
If you want oil, you are going to drill for your own.
eddi-TBH over 1 year ago
“Can I at least sniff the upholstery?”