Compare gas prices

[shawguy]

Gas is 97.5 in Winnipeg at the moment so 0.975 x 3.78 + $3.685 or $3.69, and I don't think they are paying close to that in the USA for Gas.

Shawguy

[Richard Travale]

Originally Posted by shawguy

Gas is 97.5 in Winnipeg at the moment so 0.975 x 3.78 + $3.685 or $3.69, and I don't think they are paying close to that in the USA for Gas.

Shawguy

Yeah, I'll watch the Seattle news and see them freaking out when it hits $2.50/gallon.
Here in Nanaimo we are paying $3.84/gallon.

Meh, it still costs less than $25 to fill my Geo so I'm not complaining too much.

[ken0042]

Make sure you factor in 20% for the exchange rate. Not that we aren't paying more, but let's make sure we are comparing apples to apples.

[unclepercy]

Originally Posted by Richard Travale

Actually it's closer to 4 times.

Now don't you tell my husband He believed me. Four times - a gallon is four times larger than a liter? I am sure you are right, but it doesn't compute when I look at the Pepsi bottle (2 ltrs) - and then at the milk jug (1 gal.).
I guess it's the different shape that is throwing me off.

You guys are really paying a lot for gas - it was $2.23 per gallon this morning when I went to the grocery store. The important ramifications for all of us is that GROCERIES and anything else that is delivered by truck (practically everything) - is going up up up - because as the butcher told me - "The higher cost of fuel is driving up grocery prices." I could tell - I mean, everything in the store had gone up at least 50 cents since 2 weeks ago.

Uncle

[ken0042]

unclepercy, when your hubby isn't looking take an empty Pepsi bottle and an empty milk jug. Fill the Pepsi bottle with water and pour it into the milk jug. You will see we aren't pulling your leg.

[Loosehead]

Exact Conversion is:

1 gal (US) = 3.785412 liters

[HammerJoe]

All this talk about planning where to live, so as to be closer to work and thus use bus/train or just walk, etc.

How one can plan five years ahead where to live?
Nowadays what are the chances that you will be working in the same place?

I am sorry but a car is not a luxury, it is a necessity and that is why the governement milks us drivers, because it knows that nowadays we cannot live without a vehicle and that is what makes me mad.

If you are a smoker you can quit, if you drink you can quit.
If you drive to work, how can you quit driving?

[johnp'in'bc]

I lived and worked for 25 years in the Atlantic Provinces, and not once did I own a vehicle to get to my workplace -- I walked. Yes, I had to choose to live where I did, to be able to do this, and that's exactly what I did -- I made a personal decision to do so. I'm not saying, or do I wish to imply that this would work for everyone, but it worked for me -- in Halifax, Corner Brook, Newcastle (now Miramichi), and Moncton.

I cannot agree that a car is a 'necessity' for all. Many car owners have just not tried, or even attempted to try any alternative. IMO, I believe they think/feel that public transit is somehow 'beneath' them, or they justify using their car because public transit in their opinion just "takes too long", etc.

Yes, some people do not have an option, but many people do have options, they just do not wish to try them.

[ken0042]

Last week I saw a guy hitch hiking in my quiet little neighbourhood. Turns out he just discovered that the buses only run during peak hours in my area. I went to drive him to the nearest bus stop that was running; and for the heck of it I called tele-ride. The voice told me it would be 54 minutes for the next bus.

I had one more stop to make, and then would be going to where the C-train was. He tagged along.

Calgary Transit has always maintained that they don't provide more service because ridership is low. However I believe ridership is low due to lack of service.

I still remember New Year's Eve a few years ago. I was trying to plan my route without having to drive. I called Calgary Transit and asked when the last train was due to leave Anderson Station that night. I was told 11:54pm. I asked them if they planned on having any additional service; being New Year's and all. The said only from downtown to the stations, but not the other way. The also suggested that maybe I should re-think my plans to fall within what service they were offering.

As for choice in where to live? My house in an established neighbourhood would have cost me $50K-$100K more for the same type of house. Or I could buy a condo and be subject to their rules (no air conditioners, no satellite dishes.)

For me, a car is needed.

[Loosehead]

I live in a small town with no Public Transit. I work 36kms West of my house, my wife works 34 kms East.

For me, two cars are needed.

[Leo]

Due to some personal circumstances i am now living in Toronto, i was an hour outside of the city before. And trust me when i say this, i like my 15 minute drive to work and not the hour to 1 1/2 hrs it sometime took me. I also like the fact my Jeep is not packing on the miles and the 15 bucks a day i was spending on gas. And o yea i just bought a house in Toronto, i plan on staying a long time

Cheers

Leo

[HornHonker]

Originally Posted by Monobloc

Two main reasons diesels have never picked up here. Gas is cheaper than Europe, so not much reason to put up with the soot, hard cold starting, smell, noise and rattling of diesels. Although they are getting better (at least in cars), the trouble nowadays is that they pollute the environment worse than gasoline engines do. Those high NOx are a big part in the creation of smog.

You can't even buy a new TDI in California, New York, Massachusetts, Maine or Vermont. They don't pass emissions requirements. With Ontario's ozone days and summer smog days, I wouldn't be surprised if they got rid of diesels some day too.

The TDI and Smart do not smoke much at all and starting next year will have particle filters pretty much reducing smoke to zero.

They do not rattle and make noise.

They are not hard to start in the cold.

The important greenhouse gas is CO2 not NO2. The NO2 breakes down but you are stuck with C02 until it is absorbed by oceans or plant life. Diesels are far better with CO2 than gasoline engines (notice GM is fighting CO2 regulations in Congress ? ) NO2 can be seen and is bad for politics, CO2 is invisible so who cares.

CO2 output is pretty much tied to milage and in the case of Kyoto signing countries is calculated gm/100km .

Here is GM's response:


"So, California bureaucrats decided on a clever strategy that forces CO2 reductions, knowing the only way it can be accomplished is by huge increases in fuel economy for SUVs and light trucks. At today's prices, saving fuel sounds great - until inherent draconian side effects are factored, such as much higher sticker prices, reduced consumer choice and, most important, many more highway deaths and injuries because of the resulting smaller vehicles.

The intent? Force SUVs and other light trucks to be drastically downsized to meet the CO2 reduction requirement. The result? Smaller engines; less utility and towing capacity; higher prices for consumers and as history has shown, diminished occupant safety as vehicle size shrinks. But since there are no motor vehicles made in California, there are no immediate political or economic ramifications and consumer backlash would not be faced for a decade or so - - after it's too late. "

[unclepercy]

Originally Posted by HornHonker

The intent? Force SUVs and other light trucks to be drastically downsized to meet the CO2 reduction requirement. The result? Smaller engines; less utility and towing capacity; higher prices for consumers and as history has shown, diminished occupant safety as vehicle size shrinks. But since there are no motor vehicles made in California, there are no immediate political or economic ramifications and consumer backlash would not be faced for a decade or so - - after it's too late. "

What is the ratio of cars to trucks in Canada? It is about 1 truck and one mini-van per household in Texas. Most the men drive BIG trucks. Women might drive a SUV - a BIG one. It is a matter of sizing. My husband cannot get into a car that is low to the ground, and it is uncomfortable for me too. I prefer a car where I can slide my butt over and plop down. And then, where I can alight without laying down and rolling out. It becomes more of an issue when you are very tall or older.

Uncle

[Nanuuk]

I was just on the Queen Elizabeth II highway to Edmonton yesterday in my 7 year old Saturn. This highway is known for rampant speeding (ya, me too!). But obviously the price of gas isn't high enough, because RV's, SUV's, Semi's, etc. were all doing 75 MPH or higher (except for the odd slowpoke!). When the price gets high enough this behaviour should decrease along with seeing fewer gas guzzlers on the road.

UnclePercy, you should also know that about 50% of the pump price in Canada is due to federal/provincial taxes. As I understand it, in the U.S. you don't see this level of taxation on a gallon of gas. If you equalize the taxation, I believe the Canadian pricing is marginally favourable compared to the U.S.

[mark]

Gas prices where I live here on Vancouver Island hit $1.089/litre yesterday and are currently $1.059. Pretty big jump from the $0.959/litre the other day. Glad I drive a 4-cylinder!