What will you drive when gas reaches $9.50 per gallon?

[DJ 83]

I'm looking forward to plug-in hybrids. I think that is the most feasible solution in the next few years. Where I live, electricity comes from hydro dams so it produces very little emissions if any at all.

In the mean time before that becomes the norm, I think more people are going to try to live closer to work and drive less that way. I know for myself I'm planning on moving closer to downtown already. But then again, housing costs are usually higher then on the outskirts or in the suburbs, and quality of life is worse. So the tradeoff isn't that great.

-D.J.

[Dubbedoutbimmer]

Originally Posted by DJ 83

I'm looking forward to plug-in hybrids. I think that is the most feasible solution in the next few years. Where I live, electricity comes from hydro dams so it produces very little emissions if any at all.

In the mean time before that becomes the norm, I think more people are going to try to live closer to work and drive less that way. I know for myself I'm planning on moving closer to downtown already. But then again, housing costs are usually higher then on the outskirts or in the suburbs, and quality of life is worse. So the tradeoff isn't that great.

-D.J.

I agree I work 6 miles from home and I want to move closer lol
but living in the downtown area is prime if you are younger

[attorneyscott]

Originally Posted by snowboarder

Europe is paying already more than $9.50 per gallon and they don't do sh$t...

Well, they do actually - they drive tiny little cars with 660cc engines, diesels, and mopeds. Also they actually use public transportation. You'll notice that cars like your 550 and my 335 are pretty rare over there - most 5-series and 3-series Bimmers in Europe have 2 point something liter engines.

What pisses me off the most about our current high gas prices is the reason(s) they are so high, which have NOTHING to do with any "shortage" of oil. Does anyone really think it's a coincidence that oil company profits have soared over the past few years? They cite "supply v. demand" but it's obvious that their margins have increased considerably in size. Of course, if you believe anything the oil companies tell us in their routine visits to Congress, then you are a complete sucker, kind of like the douche bag with the Suburban with the "W 04" sticker on the bumper. There are relatively few companies in the US that actually sell bulk gasoline to the end sellers (gas stations), which makes it really easy for them to keep prices artificially high. The $135 barrel of oil that is sold today won't show up in your gas tank for MONTHS - why does the price of your gasoline go up TODAY then?

Why do you suppose that we haven't pumped any massive amount of oil out of Iraq since the war there commenced? Anyone remember the Bush administration telling us that the oil pumped out of Iraq's fields would pay for the war? ANYONE? I do. And of course that has not happened, because the last thing the oil companies want is a massive influx of cheap oil into the marketplace.

It's all a load of crap - there is no oil shortage. The petroleum industry (from the Arabs to the Administration) is simply seeing how far they can push us - obviously they haven't pushed far enough, because we're still buying their BS as fast as they can pump it.

[calleballe]

Originally Posted by attorneyscott

Well, they do actually - they drive tiny little cars with 660cc engines, diesels, and mopeds. Also they actually use public transportation. You'll notice that cars like your 550 and my 335 are pretty rare over there - most 5-series and 3-series Bimmers in Europe have 2 point something liter engines.

It's all a load of crap - there is no oil shortage. The petroleum industry (from the Arabs to the Administration) is simply seeing how far they can push us - obviously they haven't pushed far enough, because we're still buying their BS as fast as they can pump it.

Perhaps check with the geo-institute at i.e. Stanford and MIT (and other irrelevant sources as you might put it) The oil peak (Hubbert-peak) is reached several decades back and there has been very few (less then 3) new substantial fields found in the past few decades despite cutting edge engineering. (or perhaps we should just go down the religious path, remain ignorant and hope for G to provide??)

As for myself, I wish for a 3 series bio-diesel plugin hybrid from BMW with ~150 Bph, tons of torque and 120< MPG (the coming Prius already hits 90 MPG). Problem is I want it NOW, not 8 years down the road.

[danimal]

Originally Posted by calleballe

Start do act now - Promote research for alternatives!!

+1

-Dan

[calleballe]

Originally Posted by sf_loft

I'll be driving a Tesla... I should put in my order soon. 100% electric 0-60 in under 4 seconds. Nuff Said.

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I'd take one too, if only i had $100k to spend on a car.

[J BONE]

Originally Posted by Crazy Bimmer

Who needs to eat anyways, i rather drive!

For sure. I will be driving an E92 still.

[BzsBimmer]

Originally Posted by Dubbedoutbimmer

I thought you were smart? you go to the local restraunts and get there cooking oil for FREEE and then convert it into a useable product known as bio diesel, which cost about 1 dollar per gallon! and for you info I clogg the toilet on the regular I have a gas powered plunger

It's easier said that done my friend.
There's more to bio-diesel than you think. Using fry oil and "other" types of oil can break down your seals and make maintenance a headache. Long term reliability using fry oil would be nil.

Bio's have not been completely ratified to an exact standard and there are too many variables to bio. There are several groups looking to standardize what Bio's are exactly so the correct components can be used to meet those standards.

Too much to cover in here and I'm not an expert on this but I do work for a multi million dollar diesel filtration company who also makes various fuel system components to a majority of OEM's and aftermarket companies.

[galahad05]

I'd keep my car, but drive it less. I'd bike (motor- or pedal-powered) to work instead.

[ALPINE6SPD]

My car because everyone will be paying the same price. 9.50 will not happen for decades so I dont think anyone here even knows what they will be driving. I bet very few cars will get any worse then 80 plus MPG

[AJayE92]

i'll still drive my car like i stole it... i'll start worrying when it surpases 11$ a Gallon

[calleballe]

Originally Posted by ALPINE6SPD

My car because everyone will be paying the same price. 9.50 will not happen for decades so I dont think anyone here even knows what they will be driving. I bet very few cars will get any worse then 80 plus MPG

This quote may well end up in the same category as they guy who said that the global market for computers will be around 2 and that no-one will ever demand a personal computer.

[StarrDlux]

535d dinan. or audi R8 TDI. since diesel will be the same price.

i thought it was $9/gallon in amsterdam already? was $8 when i went about 3 years ago.

8 bucks for 93 (no sulphur) or 8 bucks for diesel (no sulphur).

so peeps rocked diesels 99% of the time.

[TXSurfer]

We should drill more in the US we have plenty of untapped oil here. Its all this tree hugging propaganda thats making our prices high.

[StarrDlux]

so you think the government is inducing us into further recession by increasing gas prices on purpose?

I thought some of the price increases were due to refinery limitations and diesel prices were artificially inflated.

Some really slick isht going on here. Mobil greasing some politicians palms big time.

[Spool]

Airports are starting to charge 15 bucks per person for check in or something like that

[BMdblU]

Originally Posted by Spool

Airports are starting to charge 15 bucks per person for check in or something like that

They want $45 each way up here for a flight over 1000 miles

[ehhhwik]

Originally Posted by Spool

This is America, the greediest country in the world, when our supply runs too low, we'll just invade and steal from other countries like we always do...

The next biggest oil reserves in the world after the Middle East is in Canada, so time to invade your neigbour to the north!

[Spool]

Originally Posted by ehhhwik

The next biggest oil reserves in the world after the Middle East is in Canada, so time to invade your neigbour to the north!

should be fairly easy, do they even have a military?

[trick000]

I'm just hoping mileage reimbursement will also keep going up as I don't really pay for gas right now.

[calleballe]

Well, bottom line is, this is a REAL problem and perhaps consumer power will help make alternatives come to market quick. The one given thing, gas engines is probably at its best now and future generations will enjoy something else. (or take the bike or foot-taxi)

As for flying, this will be a real challenge to solve, only the ultra-rich will afford to fly unless aircrafts starts to find alternative energy sources.

Either way, when gas hits $10/gallon, the 335's and 328's etc will be worthless. (No one will want one since they will be relatively unaffordable to drive) - Same destiny that happened already to Suburbans, Hummers etc. Sales are down like 30% already on these.

[Bimmer335i]

Originally Posted by calleballe

Worlds oil reserves have peaked some 15 yrs back. The energy needed to produce oil starts to outweigh the energy gained. Crude oil is reaching all time high. Some 5 to 10 years from now, we will be where Europe is today (and Europe will be at new skyrocket levels, someone suggested $27/gallon yesterday)

What will we drive? Hybrids? Horse and wagon?

Problem is that i.e. Hydrogen infrastructure is estimated to take 30-50 yrs from now to make it a real alternative.

Bottom line is, enjoy our E90's 300 Hp, in the 20 yrs timeframe, 3 horsepower might be the new dream for auto-geeks.

Start to act now - Promote research for alternatives!!

Man, if it does get to this point, I think I'll get my own horse-carriage, back to the old west style Be awesome to see these bandwagons resurrected, all over the roads....lol