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How are you coping with four bucks a gallon and more for gas?
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
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The price of gasoline blew through the $4 per gallon barrier a while back.

Now it is threatening to top the $5 mark.
Is this making you drive less, maybe take the bus every now and then?

Or maybe you are in a position to just have to suck it up and take it in the wallet?
What are you doing?
35 comment(s)

Native74 wrote on Jun 12, 2008 4:27 PM:

" I bought a new battery for my motorcycle and some Hog Spit to clean it up (that's a cleaner I just learned about!)

Oh and carpooling more on the weekends with family and friends (not that I didn't do that anyway, but...) "

John Richards wrote on Jun 12, 2008 10:42 PM:

" I am driving less through less frequent shopping trips, and not shopping out-of-town. I am skipping vacation trips this year, which often involve a lot of driving. Also, we are eating out less frequently. "

chunk wrote on Jun 12, 2008 10:53 PM:

" Drive like a hypermiler. Go slow off the ight. Rarely hit the brakes. Keep my distance. Shut the car off at lights that I know are going to be long. . "

bornin74 wrote on Jun 13, 2008 11:50 AM:

" I just keep driving...... hopefully more people won't be able to afford the high gas prices, and then there will be less traffic for me to have to deal with!!!

Open roads here I come at about 70 MPH.......

Oh, I don't pay for my gas anyway, the company I work for does....... "

rocco_de_luc wrote on Jun 13, 2008 12:53 PM:

" The slight changes being observed statewide and nationally, i.e. selecting more fuel-efficient cars, consolidating shopping runs, using bikes, mass transit instead are all behaviors many people would not rise to simply for their virtues alone. But finally they are being followed more thanks to higher gas prices. So while it may sting to pay so much more than before, I say bring on $10/gal gas, if it can push us as a society to make the changes necessary for a better environment, safer roads, less dependence on foreign oil, etc. "

sammy wrote on Jun 13, 2008 6:02 PM:

" less trips out, consildating all my errands, I have a SUV full of children so I cannot drive a smaller vehicle. We are not taking vacations this year either. We are cutting down all area's, groceries are just as crazy expensive as well. We never did eat out much so that's nothing that we are changing. I'm a stay at home Mom who "works" on building a healthy family. We'll camp in the back yard,..... have many activities together as usual... swimming at the community pool, etc. "

yamamama wrote on Jun 14, 2008 1:02 AM:

" My husband and I both bought smaller cars as soon as Texas oilmen were elected to office. More recently, we have reduced the amount of driving we do. We take fewer trips to the mall and our teenagers use public transportation rather than being driven everywhere. "

skippert wrote on Jun 14, 2008 7:44 AM:

" Lets see, our yearly trip to Hawaii cancelled airline went bankrupt, our landlord came to us and has asked us to move so her parents can move in, we are spending $120.00+ a week on gas and our clients are not willing to pay an increase. What gives. How do we keep our heads up, not to mention keep our kids thinking positive. HELP!!! Lifetime local. "

shareathought wrote on Jun 14, 2008 4:35 PM:

" I walk more.

My belief that Napa has very inadequate public transportation has been reinforced as, has my disappointment with those who have decision making powers.
One would think that they never get out of their cars. They seem to believe, that taxing the general population to widen the roads, is more important then providing adequate transportation for the majority. The majority of the local population, live well beneath the bay area's average income. Yet, those that decide what is best for the rest may be inconvenienced with traffic and might prefer to have their needs met rather then the masses. "

vocal-de-local wrote on Jun 14, 2008 4:44 PM:

" skippert, your post is heartbreaking. Wish there was something we could do to make it better. Maybe the first step is asking anyone if they have a house they want to rent out? "

misfit wrote on Jun 14, 2008 5:50 PM:

" Today I saw a Hummer in St.Helena that appeared to be as large as the home who's driveway it was parked. I am not kidding! It was hilarious in a weird sort of way.
Anyway, I bought a Hybrid for commuting and am trading in a mini van for a scooter for around town. Plan to walk to downtown whenever necessary. Praying that the oil companies get theirs someday for having us over a barrel, (NO PUN intended)! Thinking of buying some land somewhere and forming a commune with family and friends. Everyone grows food and contributes. That's what we're faced with folks. "

sammy wrote on Jun 14, 2008 8:57 PM:

" I'm with you Misfit..... it's always been a dream of mine to live on a piece of land with other like minded souls.....and support one another in our families etc. by working together to enrich our families. "

kevin wrote on Jun 15, 2008 12:44 PM:

" I'm trading in my 17 mpg van for a 12 mpg 4 wheel drive pick up. Go figure. Timing is everything... "

Dwayne wrote on Jun 15, 2008 8:22 PM:

" Right on kevin, now's the time to get a great deal on an SUV. "

plasticpinkflamingo wrote on Jun 15, 2008 9:59 PM:

" I'm getting a length of hose and a suction pump. Please advise addresses where your cars and SUVs are parked at night. "

MarshaMarsha wrote on Jun 16, 2008 2:25 AM:

" Some people buy crack, I buy gasoline...

I am developing an engine that runs on wine, using my spouses mouth as a model. This way, I'll be prepared when gas reaches $10 a gallon. I can buy cases of Charles Shaw "Two Buck Chuck" for $25 a case and use it for fuel! "

plasticpinkflamingo wrote on Jun 16, 2008 4:36 PM:

" MarshaMarsha:
Grape biofuel! Just think it might drive up the price of wine and two-buck chuck would double in price. Somehow four buck chuck doesn't sound as cool.

However, I am interested in how you are modeling your engine on your spouse's mouth? Ummm, better keep it clean, there may be children reading this newspaper . . .

Meanwhile, please send address of where your stash of two buck chuck is located, just in case I figure out how to modify my car to burn wine. "

plasticpinkflamingo wrote on Jun 16, 2008 5:04 PM:

" MarshaMarsha: I just calculated and two buck chuck sells for about $10.09/gal. Still cheaper to buy gas, but who knows how long that will last?

750ml per bottle X 12 (in a case) = 9 liters. 9 liters is 2.3775484590000002 gallons, divide by $24 for 12 bottles of chuck = $10.09/gal.

I'm starting to store up some chuck. "

MarshaMarsha wrote on Jun 17, 2008 1:45 AM:

" pink flamingo: My spouse's mouth makes an ideal model for a grape biofuel engine as it only takes 2 glasses of vino for it to run on and on and on... Unlimited lies to the gallon!!!

I store my two-buck-chuck under the sink with the other poisons and cleaning supplies, also in the laundry room in case I run out of bleach.

Yes, the math works out so that when gas and two-buck are both $10 a gallon my car will have a reason to stay drunk all the time. "

plasticpinkflamingo wrote on Jun 17, 2008 10:08 AM:

" Very cool, MM!

Could be a whole new marketing idea for both winemakers and auto makers.

Wine:
Central Valley unleaded regular
Sierra foothills medium octane
Sonoma Valley high octane
Napa Valley racing wine!

Autos:
Honda Inebriated
Ford DUI
Prius Smashed (heheheheh)
Porsche High

(MarshaMarsha and plasticpinkflamingo anxiously await the generous royalty contracts from the wine and auto industries for their fabulous idea). "

Dwayne wrote on Jun 17, 2008 10:36 AM:

" Y'all are a riot... Thanks for cracking me up... "

Jenn wrote on Jun 17, 2008 3:11 PM:

" I let my boyfriend take my car to his job in Vallejo and I use his truck for my running around if I have to do major shopping, otherwise I walk. Gas prices are still an outrage (it takes about $80 to fill the truck and $40 for the car), but when you cant afford to go out and buy a new car, this works. He was going thru a tank of gas a week in the truck, and now only about 1/2 a tank a week in my car! Thats about $60 a week savings! I do miss my car though :( "

Ruff Limblog wrote on Jun 17, 2008 5:49 PM:

" Breezing through the gas 'crisis' actually... 2 Priuses at 45MPG. The 2008 was $3,000 cheaper than the 2006 model in spite of all the dire predictions from my many dear friends here on the NVR.

Oh, how fondly I remember all the NVR economic, technological, and engineering advice telling me what a bad move getting those Priuses was! But... he who laughs last -- laughs best.

I save 1/2 of the payment in gas already and even more when gas hits $5 a gallon, making these luxurious cars cheaper to own and operate than almost any other car on the road.

In 2010, I'd like to be buying a Chevy Volt and seeing one of my friends get the 2006 Prius. She's tired of the $80 to $100 fillups in her SUV.

I am always amazed at the thinking of people who 'can't afford' to save money.

Maybe that 'showroom refundable' tax credit to buy cars that get 45MPG and a tax credit to help convert US auto plants to making hybrids and plug-in hybrids sounds a little smarter now.

I sure hope that the good folks here in the Napa Valley are catching on to the petro-pig scam.

~Ruff "

plasticpinkflamingo wrote on Jun 17, 2008 8:49 PM:

" Supply and demand, Ruff. Why do you think the 2008 is $3000 cheaper than the 2006? Dealers do not give away hot merchandise. If they can charge big prices, you can be sure they will do so. I speak from long time insider experience.

Your Prius is not the ecological silver bullet you think it is. While you are saving a few pennies in gas, you are running down the hours towards the ecological disaster that the Prius batteries will be when they expire. Those who use a bridge technology that in less than 10 years will be dead and the acid from the batteries seeping into the water table have no business being smug about it.

I point you to a website called autobloggreen with a dot and a com. It is not a Hummer fansite.

Here's their headline from June 4, 2008:
"Even as gas prices topped $4/gallon in much of the country, sales of the Prius dropped nearly 40 percent from 24,009 last May to only 15,011 this May."

The Toyota spokesman of course talked battery supply problems - supply problems are excuse #4 on the auto manufacturer list of how to explain a sales drop.

Proof is Toyota predicts the battery shortage will miraculously end next year when the new Prius is introduced. Yeah. What happened to all that battery production they had last year? Why will it be back next year? Brewing up some new toxic acid, I presume. I guarantee you, the "supply" is down because the "demand" is dropping faster than a dead battery in the middle of Lake Tahoe. "

plasticpinkflamingo wrote on Jun 17, 2008 10:35 PM:

" Almost forgot - basic economics - if there were really fewer Priuses because of battery shortages, and people still wanted them, uh, what do you think happens to prices of Priuses? Yes, dealerships feel sorry for customers and sell Priuses for less money!!! (slowly) I don't think so!

Fact is, people are starting to see the Prius for what it is - a product of the Toyota marketing machine. "

cathyodom wrote on Jun 18, 2008 7:52 AM:

" I've parked my SUV (at 14 MPG) in the driveway. Bought a 2 seater roadster that gets 30 MPG. Eating out less, not buying sodas/bottled water. If I take kids to movies, go to 7-11 first for cheaper candy. Making less trips. Drive at 60 MPH instead of 70. Walking more. Taking a STAYCATION: A vacation at home (I'll save money not driving to work). Walking to the park, walking to Alston. Gas is $4.52 today! Still takes a big dent in the pocketbook. I'm basically making less money everyday, as gas goes up, and milk and cereal go up. I don't know how everyone else affords it! "

Dirty Napkin wrote on Jun 18, 2008 9:16 AM:

" We garage sale on Sat.. And we have 5 seats full, of a 5 seat car. It works out well. And we all pitch for gas! So its a win win all the way around! "

coigue wrote on Jun 18, 2008 9:46 AM:

" consolidating errands, carpooling, waiting for the plug-in hybrid. "

WiestATV wrote on Jun 22, 2008 9:07 AM:

" I'm not really doing any less driving. I have a BMW (V8 3.0L) and that burns up gas but I need my car to get from one place to another and the thing that makes it worse is that I live in Circle Oaks (half way to Lake Berryessa). My car was broking down for a month (Big Money Waster...hence the capital B.M.W) So, I ended up driving my dads Ford F-250 (Power Stoke Turbo Diesel 7.3L) And woooooh it cost me $200 just for a full tank (30 Gallon Tank). This gas price raising is getting ridiculous...I remember when I was a little kid and gas pricing was like $2... "

plasticpinkflamingo wrote on Jun 22, 2008 11:52 AM:

" Two dollars!??? I remember when gas was about a quarter a gallon and there were attendants to fill the tank for you, wash the windshield and check the tires. OK so I'm a more mature flamingo.

I remember riding around with my friends and we all scraped together the change in our pockets and raised $1 to go to a gas station that had hired some pretty female attendants as a way of getting attention. Worked for us guys!

Gas in the UK is now around $10/gallon and people are seriously cutting back. That's where we will be soon enough. "

nan03 wrote on Jun 22, 2008 6:35 PM:

" bornin74
I hope you were just trying to be funny. If so try again because it wasn't funny. "

PosoleMomma wrote on Jun 22, 2008 11:01 PM:

" Family of 6 here, with 1 mini van and a small truck.
truck is parked most of time now.
Hubby is on a bike and actually loving it...he got a good one.
I consolidate all our outings for 2 days and do more around house with kids during the day. We look for "FREE" outings and those are on the way to or from someplace else!

Vacation is a trip to Bodega for the day.

The family is having more in home family time, games and such.
We tighten the belt everywhere, A/C and food, but the times together is good. "

DinoSilver wrote on Jun 25, 2008 12:11 AM:

" Instead of going out, we invite friends over for dinner/BBQ more. Netflix has replaced going to the movies. In other words, we are spending much less on entertainment since the cost of gas and food has gone up so much. We are also not spending as much on the vino as we use to - tough when you live here in Napa. Haven't done the hybrid thing yet since all our cars are still in good condition. Will probably wait a year or two until more options are available. "

Ruff Limblog wrote on Jul 16, 2008 9:28 PM:

" ppf-"plasticpinkflamingo" -- It's time you checked your battery premises... these are the same batteries in electric shavers, remote-controlled toys and other cordless products. Toyota and all the other manufacturers of hybrid cars are evaluating lithium ion batteries which are much easier to recycle than NI-CADs which are recyclable. Toyota is not throwing these batteries in the landfill. The effect of your peddling nonsense about hybrid car batteries is to make the petroleum pigs even richer. I'll buy my bridge technology and save $100s of dollars per month while the bashers talk nonsense about "filling up in the early morning when the gas is colder" to squeeze an extra $0.03 cents out of a $4.39.9 gallon of regular.

Why is it that the 'conservatives' hate conservation so much? Must be something about giving your grandchildren a third world country as a legacy instead of the most advanced nation on earth. ~Ruff "

Webster9 wrote on Aug 4, 2008 9:40 PM:

" Luckily, I don't have a job !
So, "Old Betsy" sits in the garage almost all the time. "

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