$2.69/gallon!

[glock35ipsc]

I won't be at all surprised to see SUV sales pick up now that gas prices have dropped back to last year's level. Americans have very short memories.

Haha, I just bought a 2004 TrailBlazer today! Been waiting through these wacky times to find the right one at the right price. Found it last night. However, I wasn't waiting for gas prices to come down. I was waiting for the SUV supply to build and the price to come down.

[disneysteve]

I wasn't waiting for gas prices to come down. I was waiting for the SUV supply to build and the price to come down.

My point exactly. How fuel-efficient the vehicle is or isn't wasn't your concern. Your concern was cost.

I think that is a very typical American attitude. I don't think the average person really cares about energy efficiency except to the extent that it costs them money.

[jIM_Ohio]

My point exactly. How fuel-efficient the vehicle is or isn't wasn't your concern. Your concern was cost.

I think that is a very typical American attitude. I don't think the average person really cares about energy efficiency except to the extent that it costs them money.

There is similar logic in the grocery store.

I feel ripped off when I have to pay more than $2 for a large box of cereal. My wife comes home sometimes with a $2 box (within the price range) then I point out how big my other boxes are.

Same with many other things. I have read articles on this recently. A few points:

1) often the largest bag is not the best deal (per unit weight)- people buying in bulk many times need the quantity and are not looking for a price break (or assume the largest quantity is the best deal)

2) The goal of consumer sales is to find the highest least offensive price point (see my cereal box analagy). They can modify the weight to keep same price point to improve profit. But moving the weight too much can have negative effects.

3) Some items (like flour and sugar and soup cans) need to be sold in a given size (like 1 lb bags) because the people buying those depend on the whole container being a specific size for cooking needed. That is why the price of these supplies might appear to me more volatile than the box of cereal.

[disneysteve]

1) often the largest bag is not the best deal (per unit weight)- people buying in bulk many times need the quantity and are not looking for a price break (or assume the largest quantity is the best deal)

2) The goal of consumer sales is to find the highest least offensive price point (see my cereal box analagy). They can modify the weight to keep same price point to improve profit. But moving the weight too much can have negative effects.

3) Some items (like flour and sugar and soup cans) need to be sold in a given size (like 1 lb bags) because the people buying those depend on the whole container being a specific size for cooking needed. That is why the price of these supplies might appear to me more volatile than the box of cereal.

I've seen that happening and read about it as well. You're right that people often assume the biggest package is the best value and that often isn't true, especially when a smaller size is on sale and the larger size is not.

As for your third point, even that isn't so true anymore. Coffee used to come in a 1 lb can. Now it is usually 12 or 13 oz. Flour used to come in a 5 lb bag. Now, they still sell those, but also sell a 4 lb bag to make the price more palatable. And I know we used to buy soup stock in 16 oz cans. Now it is something like 14.25 oz. It does screw up recipes which generally call for some multiple of cups of stock. I end up opening more cans than I used to need, measuring off the right amount and freezing the rest.

[glock35ipsc]

Harlingen, Texas - $1.98

Oklahoma City - $2.08

[disneysteve]

I filled up last night for $2.57. That's down $.12 since I started this thread and $.30 since my last fill up.

$2.47 today at the same station, just 2 days later.

[kork13]

It's around $2.55 here in the panhandle today.

Just curious, where do you all think prices will stabilize, once they do so? OPEC is getting antsy, and will likely take potentially dramatic steps to get prices back up. I personally see it ending up around $2.80-$2.90 or so. Everyone's thoughts?

[glock35ipsc]

It's around $2.55 here in the panhandle today.

Just curious, where do you all think prices will stabilize, once they do so? OPEC is getting antsy, and will likely take potentially dramatic steps to get prices back up. I personally see it ending up around $2.80-$2.90 or so. Everyone's thoughts?

I personally think OPEC's cut at tomorrows meeting is already factored in to the market. They have been babbling about cutting production by 2.5 million barrels for over a week now, so it's a surprise to no one.

[glock35ipsc]

My point exactly. How fuel-efficient the vehicle is or isn't wasn't your concern. Your concern was cost.

I think that is a very typical American attitude. I don't think the average person really cares about energy efficiency except to the extent that it costs them money.

I did pick the I-6 over the V-8 if that's any consolation......

[kork13]

I did pick the I-6 over the V-8 if that's any consolation......

What I would actually like to see more of are those cars that can turn off a couple valves for highway driving.... Like you have a 4-cylinder that becomes a 2-cylinder, or a 6-cylinder that becomes a 3-cylinder. Once you're at highway speeds, you don't normally have much need for the extra power, so that would improve at least the highway mileage for alot of cars.

[glock35ipsc]

I'd like to know actual real world mileage on those. A V-8 that stops firing on 2 or 4 cylinders is still throwing around 8 pistons and connecting rods (mass), camshaft(s) opening and closing intake and exhaust valves (mass and friction), cam to lifter friction, not to mention the friction of the rings and piston skirts to the cylinder walls of the unfired cylinders. Almost seems counterproductive to me.

[kork13]

I'd like to know actual real world mileage on those. A V-8 that stops firing on 2 or 4 cylinders is still throwing around 8 pistons and connecting rods (mass), camshaft(s) opening and closing intake and exhaust valves (mass and friction), cam to lifter friction, not to mention the friction of the rings and piston skirts to the cylinder walls of the unfired cylinders. Almost seems counterproductive to me.

Very well could be, I really don't know. I'm not extremely familiar with automotive topics, but I've seen this idea thrown around many times.... I just think if it really works as advertised it would be a way to increase fuel economy without necessarily losing all of your power (which is frequently the argument against hybrids and electric cars, and the use of smaller engines in generally more powerful cars).

[glock35ipsc]

I'm not doubting the technology, I've just never seen or heard any real world numbers from one of them. I've been building hot rods for over 2 decades and am very familiar with auto engines, so it just seems odd to me. I know that the fuel injectors for each "dead" cylinder can be shut off, but there is still the friction and mass issues.

I'd also like to ride in one just to get the feel of them shutting down, power loss, etc....

Don't get me wrong, I'm all for finding better and more efficient ways. This one just has me wondering......

[simpletron]

OPEC doesn't have enough power to push prices up yet. two major reasons why oil prices sky rocketed was 1) the belief that supply was tight and there wasn't much extra capacity and 2) the increasing demand from developing countries(china and india) wouldn't slow down. neither of these is true now. there is between 2 and 3 million barrel/day extra produced and china just posted its first non-double digit GDP growth in 10 quarters. all opec can do is slow and maybe stop the decline until things turn around.

just for everyone reference on how low gas prices can go. wholesale unleaded gasoline was trading for over 3.40/gal at its peak and is now trading below 1.60/gal. that is the price before taxes, delivery, markups, and without additives and ethanol.

[Pitman]

I'm pleased that the prices are going down steadily, but I'll be in bliss when I only have to put $20 in my tank to fill it up.