[DADoser]

I was putting gas in my Subaru Outback last weekend. As the total came up to $48 - I had a thought. I pretty much just pumped a HM Showtime 100 into the tank of my wagon.

Somehow, as the price of gas has risen - it makes the cost of my diecast hobby seem smaller. I used to drop by my local diecast shop, pick up a plane or 2 and ask myself - "How many tanks of gas did I just spend on a non-necessary hobby?" Now I can think - "I just spent $50 on a diecast plane - no big deal - its ONLY a tank of gas."

Now I have totally shifted in my paradigm, and see how "cheap" this hobby really is.

[But then again there is that "fixed income" issue, and the rising cost of food, and..... ]

[Kaptin_Kirk]

DADoser,

That has come to my attention as well. My truck fills up with $85 a week and my wife's SUV with $65 a week. OUCH!

It comes down to this:
$150 a week

$600 a month

$7200 A YEAR ON GAS!!!!!!

Thats college money, a family Vacation, or Tons of diecast!

I am thinking of trading in for a Toyota that gets me 30mpg.

[Raven]

Be careful when considering trading in your truck or SUV, especially if you still owe on it. Wholesale (trade-in) values have dropped significantly in the last few months. If you are making payments on a late model truck/SUV, you are likely upside down (you owe more on it than the dealer will give you on a trade in) .

You may save a few hundred dollars a month in gas but you may lose several thousand dollars on a trade in - the payback period may not be worth it and you may be better off just keeping the truck.

Also, hybrids are only at their best in city, stop and go driving (like New York City). If you live in the country or suburbs, a simple small car will do just as well fuel economy wise at a lot less money than a hybrid.

[roowalker]

Sure is getting real different,real fast! Complete cultural shift for us in the U.S. It is the beginning of the end of our cultural dispersion, home,shopping,work,and play, I believe,are going to come together much more closely,geographically.It looks like a good thing,but its hard to realize that its now much cheaper for me to order a plane via Fed.Ex. than to drive an hour each way to my hobby shop,and thats at 34mpg!!! Raven,you are very correct about larger vehicles today,keep the big boys and limit the usage is the best option,right now.Maybe a Hydrogen conversion in a few years? Right now,you could take an Excursion or a Ram 2500,leave the truck on the side of the road,keys in the ignition,tie a big pork chop on the grille,and it will still be there in a couple of weeks. Dealers up in the D.C. area will not take them on trade,period. Maybe park 'em bumper to bumper on the southwest border as a portable fence?? I LOVE big machinery (former USMC Tanker) but I think the times,they are a changin'..............

[mikeb1958]

I bought a 2005 Honda Civil Hybrid back in 2005. Averaging 40-45 mph with the A/C on, I have more to spend on diecasts instead of helping the Big Oil Company CEO's get another weekly $10 million bonus check....

[KG_Jag]

About 2 1/2 years ago my wife and I concluded that gas prices would be a recurring and serious problem. Using a GM discount available to us through my sister-in-law, we bought a Pontiac Vibe (same as the Toyota Matrix). We get 32-35 mpg on the road and with the manual transmission, still have very good power for a 4 banger. Since we bought ours, they have redesigned the joint venture twins and I hope that they are still as good as our model.

It also helps that both of us are retired and the commute miles are gone for good.

Even on a fixed income, I can still buy the odd die cast offering.

[MoMo]

I warned all you guys..............the days of gas-guzzlers is over. There is lots of oil in the ground, but the big producers in OPEC aren't getting out of bed until the price steadies at a crazy price; way over what you pay now. Then they'll start pumping more. Fight back! Get a bike!

[Hornchurch]

Originally Posted by MoMo

I warned all you guys..............the days of gas-guzzlers is over. There is lots of oil in the ground, but the big producers in OPEC aren't getting out of bed until the price steadies at a crazy price; way over what you pay now. Then they'll start pumping more. Fight back! Get a bike!

Hmmn, I've got x 3 (GS.1000-E; CB.900-F; & GPz.900-R)....... pedals ? wassat then, for kids ?

(Oh, & TWO (yawn) pushbikes (BIG-yawn)


It DON'T make filling up my V.6 any easier (or cheaper).


If I do LESS than an "H.M 'Showtime-100" per fill-up !; I'm having a cheap-day (or staying at home !)

[dilligafocau]

Petrol tipped to hit $8 a litre by 2018

This news item did not warm the cockles of my heart this morning

Petrol tipped to hit $8 a litre by 2018 - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

[MoMo]

Or...............keep filling up those Stutz Bearcats, Fellows, and make sure that you spend plenty of time in traffic foul-ups ( but keep her ticking over ).

Smithers, telephone my stockbrokers, Suckit and Grinne, and tell them to puchase more Oklahoma crude. Then telephone my lawyers, De Lay, Worrie and Expensse, and tell them to evict more orphans from the Orphanage ! We'll see who cracks first !

Ha, ha, ha, ha ha ! I almost feel happy.