Compare gas prices

[CTVdude]

Originally Posted by Nuje

The TDI has to use a very specific grade of synthetic motor oil, and it goes for almost $9 a litre; only has to be changed every 16K km, but it's still a lot more than the $20 (4L of oil plus filter) I was used to paying before.

how do you figuer?
you pay $20 every 5k's right? that's $80 for 15k's

Change it at 0km = $20
Change it at 5000km = $40
Change is at 1000km = $60
Change is at 1500km = $80

the TDI needs 4X$9= $37 + filter for per change

Change it at 0km = $37+filter
Change is at 1600km = $74+filter

that looks about the same to me. It might be a little more.. but it's not "a lot more than the $20 I was used to paying before"

[wetlabk]

Originally Posted by 57

The other day during my run, I noticed prices in Toronto at 79.9. Today, during my cycle, it was 95.5.well that is because the rest of Canada subsides the GTA gas prices..hasnt been lower that 88 here in a few years..and is 98 now

If you notice, I was running and cycling, when I saw those prices and I would not mind prices at a bit over $1, as it may help stop:

- people idling needlessly-In Summer I would agree Winter when it is -30 Cn no way
- driving needlessly- we all dont have a well run transit system
- purchasing vehicles that are larger and heavier than they really need (yes, some people need trucks, but most don't).-where I live a truck is used as a truck not as a status synbol..SUV are a waste

Want to see high prices? - go to Europe.

yes they pay more but thay also import oil we do not

[Chris Auld]

Originally Posted by wetlabk

yes they pay more but thay also import oil we do not

Actually, for every two units of oil Canada exports, we import about one. Moreover, even if we imported no oil, that doesn't imply domestic prices ought to be anything other than trivially lower than prices in foreign oil-importing nations.

[HammerJoe]

I think most people forget that not everybody lives in cities with a transportation system.

I know where I live I dont have one and I have to drive 80Kms to go to work.
Who are these increases affecting the most? Me, because I dont have an alternative.

[os]

Originally Posted by Chris Auld

The difference in gas prices across the U.S. and Canada is almost entirely attributable to differences in taxation. I will make myself popular by noting that the tax rate on gasoline in Canada is far too *low*. Consumption of gasoline causes many harmful social effects including pollution, congestion, and accidents (not to mention the 300,000 enormous ugly SUVs and trucks clogging Calgary's roads!). Taxing activities which have harmful effects both reduces those effects and provides a source of tax revenue, meaning that all else equal other taxes can be reduced --- this double benefit implies that commodities such as gasoline should be highly taxed.

A number of econometric studies suggest the optimal tax rate on gasoline is about twice what we in Canada are currently paying.

I agree with this if combined with simultaneous tax reductions in other areas (GST, income tax). Also the government needs to support new personal car technologies (like hybrids - right now, it's way more expensive to buy an hybrid than a regular model even if you consider the price of gas).
Also it needs to encourage work from home whenever possible. I think the biggest waste in today's world is people moving needlessly from home to office. If we have this great communication technology, why not use it?

[biglyle]

94.9 in Sarnia, Ontario today

[57]

Originally Posted by HammerJoe

I know where I live I dont have one and I have to drive 80Kms to go to work.

These comments are general in nature, not directed at anyone specifically.

Someone makes the decision to purchase (or stay) in a home 80 km from work.

People move to Barrie for low housing prices, then complain about the commute and the price of gas. Give me a break.

Sure, some people don't have much choice about where they can live, but many do. (you just need to change your expectations). (Yes I'm aware some families have two or more workers and that may contribute to some more commuting).


The US imports a lot of it's oil, but prices are still relatively low (compared to world prices). The prices are set by the governments, not by how much oil is imported. The government needs to set priorities as to what is important, etc. Additional fuel taxes could go to reduce other taxes which go to fund health care, education, etc., while reducing dependence on imported oil and the "environmental footprint".

[Nuje]

Originally Posted by CTVdude

Change is at 1600km = $74+filter
that looks about the same to me. It might be a little more.. but it's not "a lot more than the $20 I was used to paying before"

All I was saying was that the first time I did an oil change, it's a lot more $$ than I'm used to paying; I know/realize that every 30,000km or so costs the same in terms of oil change cost.....it's just a bit of a shock when your brain "thinks" an oil change is $20, and it comes in closer to $50.

Just FYI (answering a few other concerns), emissions are much improved with the TDI, they're barely noisier than the gas engine (you can hear it a bit at idle, but on the highway, next to nothing different compared to the gas engine); and I really don't notice the diesel smell, apart from the little puff of smoke when first starting in the morning.

And for the record, drove home from Prince George over the past 24 hours - total of 955km, average speed (instrument cluster also keeps track of avg. speed) was 96km/h (this includes driving slowly looking for hotel last night, as well as slowing to go through towns.....so average speed while out on the highway was probably 115-120) - 44.3L of fuel (filled up for $38.50 upon getting home - still had about 1/4 of a tank left).

That works out to 4.6L/100km or 63mpg .....gotta love that!!!

[HammerJoe]

Originally Posted by 57

These comments are general in nature, not directed at anyone specifically.

Someone makes the decision to purchase (or stay) in a home 80 km from work.

People move to Barrie for low housing prices, then complain about the commute and the price of gas. Give me a break.

So what else do you want people to do?
To walk 80kms to go to work?
To buy/rent appartments on top of their work office?
To take their groceries on the back of their bike?
To take the pet to the vet in the bus?

To simply stay home and the bills will automatically disapear?
Why this obsession about asking for people to drive less their
vehicles?
Do you really think that people drive vehicles because they want to?
I would like to be able to take the bus to go to work.
But when the bus takes one hour while driving there takes 15minutes and
having to stay up all the way because of limited seats in the bus,
people have better things to do with their lives.

Why isn't governement funneling some of the gas taxes into research for
alternative energy?
Why aren't the car manufacturers researching alternative energy?

Where are the hybrids? Where are the efficient cars?
Those are the questions everybody should be asking.
Not kickicking those that drive their car in the butt all the time.

[HeaTransfer]

So what else do you want people to do?
(rest deleted)

I believe 57's point is this: you made a CHOICE to buy a house 80 km away from work. A CHOICE.

Presumably you (collectively, not you specifically HJ) wanted a detached house, a backyard (an acreage?!), etc etc etc. You made a CHOICE where you gained those things and traded it for a longer, car-based commute.

If one chooses to live in a townhouse - maybe you (again, collectively) can actually walk to get a loaf of bread or a stick of deodorant instead of jumping in a car and driving 10 minutes. Maybe you can actually take a bus.

From my experience, one of the worst things about working isn't working - it's the commute, especially when one is powerless to do anything but sit like an idjit behind the wheel, moving more slowly than the guy on the bike on your right...

IMO the questions that people should be asking is this:
- do I really NEED a detached house?
- do I NEED to conform to the detached-house paradigm?
- am I willing to sit in traffic for 90 minutes each day, each way, just so I can get that house?
- am I willing to pay the costs of my decision, both monetary and non-monetary?

[sharkman]

I've been watching this discussion, and I would like to interject with something. Where I live, the real estate prices are roughly half of Vancouver's prices, which is about an hour commute. The closer you live to Van. the higher it gets. Also, it's such a seller's market there it's common to get several thousand more than what you were asking.

In this situation, many people would not be able to buy anywhere near Vancouver, but have a highly paid job there with good career advancement. To rent would be just throwing money away when one could invest in a home, which builds up equity. Most people in this situation come to the same conclusion; buy where you can afford and commute. It's a result of living in the lower mainland, where most of the population of B.C. resides. This choice isn't forced on them, but the alternative, to throw away money renting since they can't afford a $600000 mortgage, just doesn't make sense, even if they are faced with a long commute. I say it's the wildly high prices that are having an effect on the amount of driving a person has to do, more than being just a choice.

In this market (Van) my friend bought a condo, about 650 sq.ft., which is quite small. the cost was $240,000 and now one year later it's close to $300,000. Townhouses are more.

[ilovemusic]

>>>Also, it's such a seller's market there it's common to get several thousand more than what you were asking.<<<

Same thing is going on here in Peterborough, Ontario, people are bidding on houses, getting alot more than asking price, and it is as you say, cheaper for people to comute here from Peterborough, pay lower property tax, than to live close to where they work...

Also I belive the movie White Noise was filmed in Van, looks like a gorgious place

[Chris Auld]

Of course prices affect which choices people make. I don't understand the point.

[unclepercy]

About 6 years ago, my husband and I were in Vancouver, and we rented
a car at the airport. They gave us instructions to the hotel, and we saw the Dallas Stars pay a hockey game. We know nothing about hockey, but we wanted to see Vancouver.

He was driving along a fairly major street, when his head whipped around, and he said, "Look at that! They get gas for 52 cents a gallon!" He was utterly amazed, because at the time, our gas was about $1.25 per gallon.

I had to click-click my brain in gear, and I explained to him that it was per liter. He asked me how many liters were in a gallon. Well, I didn't know exactly right off the top of my head - it never came up before, but I was mentally comparing the Pepsi bottle to the 1 gallon milk carton. So, I answered, "A little more than 2 times as much."

"Oh..." he said, "that makes more sense." I am seeing gas in Texas at $2.29 per gallon for regular. How that compares - gosh - you tell me.

Uncle

[Richard Travale]

Originally Posted by unclepercy

About 6 years ago, my husband and I were in Vancouver, and we rented
a car at the airport. They gave us instructions to the hotel, and we saw the Dallas Stars pay a hockey game. We know nothing about hockey, but we wanted to see Vancouver.

He was driving along a fairly major street, when his head whipped around, and he said, "Look at that! They get gas for 52 cents a gallon!" He was utterly amazed, because at the time, our gas was about $1.25 per gallon.

I had to click-click my brain in gear, and I explained to him that it was per liter. He asked me how many liters were in a gallon. Well, I didn't know exactly right off the top of my head - it never came up before, but I was mentally comparing the Pepsi bottle to the 1 gallon milk carton. So, I answered, "A little more than 2 times as much."

"Oh..." he said, "that makes more sense." I am seeing gas in Texas at $2.29 per gallon for regular. How that compares - gosh - you tell me.

Uncle

Actually it's closer to 4 times.

1 gallon [US, liquid] = 3.7854118 liter