Gas Tops $4 A Gallon

[ziggy29]

Originally Posted by TromboneAl

Agreed. But they had to occasionally look 10 years down the road, since it takes so long to retool, etc. Unless they totally discounted Peak Oil, somebody had to warn that oil prices could skyrocket. Maybe they figured that with slow, steady increases, people would still buy low MPG cars.

Many companies -- particularly public companies -- can't look far beyond the current quarter, let alone 10 years down the road.

[Wags]

Fox News - Saudi King: Get Used to High Oil Prices

FOXNews.com - Saudi King: Get Used to High Oil Prices - International News | News of the World | Middle East News | Europe News

I guess that the 2 to 3 trips to Saudi, the kisses, the hugs and the holding hands that Mr. Bush did with the King did not help as much as he hoped they would.

Again, maybe Mr. Bush should go to Venezuela to hug, kiss and hold hands with Hugo to see if he can give us some of that $0.15 a gallon gas.

God Bless Us All

[Wags]

An interesting way of paying for services.

Smoking Gun - Sex For Gas

Sex For Gas - July 2, 2008

Only in America.

God Bless Us All

[CitricAcid]

Originally Posted by Wags

Fox News - Saudi King: Get Used to High Oil Prices

FOXNews.com - Saudi King: Get Used to High Oil Prices - International News | News of the World | Middle East News | Europe News

I guess that the 2 to 3 trips to Saudi, the kisses, the hugs and the holding hands that Mr. Bush did with the King did not help as much as he hoped they would.

Again, maybe Mr. Bush should go to Venezuela to hug, kiss and hold hands with Hugo to see if he can give us some of that $0.15 a gallon gas.

God Bless Us All

I doubt how much extra production capacity Saudi Arabia has anyway, so the little leverage they actually have may be priced into the market already, and far less important than the incredible growing demand in Southeast Asia.

[Zathras]

Originally Posted by ERD50

Agree It's tough for a company that big to be nimble, but that is what they needed. They failed.

It is exactly because it is tough for large companies to be nimble that they must PLAN.
GM failed to plan, so they are caught trying to play catch-up.

Originally Posted by Texas Proud

I would bet that even a year ago NOBODY was predicting $140 per barrel oil....

You would loose that bet. However, the few people that were predicting that were generally labeled crackpots

Originally Posted by Texas Proud

They have been putting out better gas mileage cars, but for some reason they are not as wanted as the Japanese cars... (I don't want them... and I know why)....

Better but still not the best. Once a company looses a 'first place' trophy, that company needs to take first place, not third, to take back that image.
Add to that the bad PR GM got for crushing their EV1s (and yes, other companies should have shared more in that PR, but right or wrong, GM took the brunt of it) and GM needs a winner, not a middle of the pack economy car.

Originally Posted by Texas Proud

and take a look at Honda and Toyota.... Both of them have come out with big pickups and SUVs in the last few years.... Heck, Toyota has their big V8 truck with 317 HP etc... so even THEY were trying to break into the 'domestic' stronghold... so THEY did not see it either....

Nonsense. Diversification is important for any large company. Just as it was important for GM and Ford to have a really good economy car it is important for Toyota and any other car company to carry needed trucks.
In this enviornment it is not 'who makes the worst mpg vehicle' the question is 'who makes the most fuel efficient car'. GM and Ford have lost that title and are working (we hope) to regain it.

Originally Posted by Texas Proud

I can fault Ford and GM for a lot... but predicting $140 plus oil is one that I will give them a pass they did not get this one right.....

It isn't the specific dollar amount, it is the general trend. Many people have seen more expensive gas coming for quite some time. The speed of the increase caught all the automakers by surprise. But Toyota and Honda were well situated with a small percentage of their production (the hybrids) to take advantage of it. GM and Ford had an even smaller percentage of their production (zero) ready, so they are feeling the pain.

[HFWR]

Originally Posted by Wags

An interesting way of paying for services.

Smoking Gun - Sex For Gas

Sex For Gas - July 2, 2008

Only in America.

God Bless Us All

A$$, gas, or grass: nobody rides for free...

[Razor]

12 proven ways to improve your gas mileage

1. Keep your engine tuned up. Incorrect fuel ratio, bad spark plugs and incorrect spark timing can have a big effect on gas mileage.
2. Don't use your air conditioner (A/C) unless you really need it. The A/C compressor puts an extra strain on the engine.
3. Make sure your tires are properly inflated. Under inflated tires cause more resistance to travel.
4. Avoid stop and go traffic by taking alternative routes or less congested travel times.
5. Ask other people with the same type of car what kind of gas mileage they get, it may alert you to a problem with your car.
6. Use a good engine oil, preferably a synthetic or standard oil treated with a friction reducing oil additive. These have been known to improve fuel economy by as much as 12%.
7. Reduce the weight in your vehicle as much as possible. (Good excuse to get the mother-in-law out of the car....)
8. Use your cruise control whenever possible.
9. Keeping your highway speed at 55 mph can improve you gas mileage by as much as 25%, compared to 75 mph. (Yeah, I know--this one's tough for us too)
10. Avoid trying to increase speed while climbing a hill, your engine is already working hard trying to overcome gravity.
11. Keep your windows closed when possible. Open windows actually reduce gas mileage compared to using the A/C.
12. Remove accessories, such as luggage rack, etc. that lower the aerodynamics of your vehicle.

[CitricAcid]

Originally Posted by Razor

12 proven ways to improve your gas mileage

1. Keep your engine tuned up. Incorrect fuel ratio, bad spark plugs and incorrect spark timing can have a big effect on gas mileage.
2. Don't use your air conditioner (A/C) unless you really need it. The A/C compressor puts an extra strain on the engine.
3. Make sure your tires are properly inflated. Under inflated tires cause more resistance to travel.
4. Avoid stop and go traffic by taking alternative routes or less congested travel times.
5. Ask other people with the same type of car what kind of gas mileage they get, it may alert you to a problem with your car.
6. Use a good engine oil, preferably a synthetic or standard oil treated with a friction reducing oil additive. These have been known to improve fuel economy by as much as 12%.
7. Reduce the weight in your vehicle as much as possible. (Good excuse to get the mother-in-law out of the car....)
8. Use your cruise control whenever possible.
9. Keeping your highway speed at 55 mph can improve you gas mileage by as much as 25%, compared to 75 mph. (Yeah, I know--this one's tough for us too)
10. Avoid trying to increase speed while climbing a hill, your engine is already working hard trying to overcome gravity.
11. Keep your windows closed when possible. Open windows actually reduce gas mileage compared to using the A/C.
12. Remove accessories, such as luggage rack, etc. that lower the aerodynamics of your vehicle.

13. Tail an 18-wheeler.

[RetiredGypsy]

$4.53 here just down the street. It's dropped $0.06 and seems to be holding steady over the last few days. Traffic is still down considerably. Interstate and highway speeds are back up to 75-85 MPH, so the sticker shock of the price of gas seems to have worn off.

[Notmuchlonger]

Hey Premium folks are paying 5.00 near me does this count? Can I start a new thread about 5 a gallon?

[chinaco]

There is a oil (commodity) bubble. Multiple reasons for it... weak USD (low rates), increased demand... both driving speculation.

For automobiles, we solve several commodity (supply/demand) problems if we reduce the size vehicles... less fuel, steel, etc.

We need to conserve and seek alternatives.

Right now both parties are doing little... just paying lip service. Both are hoping it will correct itself and somehow they can take credit for the fix.

American automobile manufactures are likely to go out of business. GM may need (or ask for) a Chrysler style bailout before it is over with. American auto manufactures really messed up.

During the subprime gorging... many home builders were flying high... now many are loaded with inventory and huge loans on land that is waiting to be built upon and spec houses that cannot be sold. Many are going out of business.

The general American consumer really messed (too much debt) and using that debt to buy things that they cannot sustain. Homes that are too large and vehicles that are too large (fuel inefficient)... not to mention that parents are buying their kids automobiles. It is not uncommon for a family to own 4 or 5 automobiles for teenage kids and to continue paying for those vesicles upkeep until kids graduate form college (which the parent funds).

We have gone far into excess.

[FinanceDude]

Originally Posted by chinaco

There is a oil (commodity) bubble. Multiple reasons for it... weak USD (low rates), increased demand... both driving speculation.

Couldn't agree more, $20 a barrel or more higher because of a weak dollar, speculation pressure is at least that or more.......

Right now both parties are doing little... just paying lip service. Both are hoping it will correct itself and somehow they can take credit for the fix.

Not really.......the real reason is it is an ELECTION year, and the Congress isn't going to take any action until they know they are reelected and which presidential candidate will be elected.

American automobile manufactures are likely to go out of business. GM may need (or ask for) a Chrysler style bailout before it is over with. American auto manufactures really messed up.

I don't think the govt will do that, they're going to watch for now........

During the subprime gorging... many home builders were flying high... now many are loaded with inventory and huge loans on land that is waiting to be built upon and spec houses that cannot be sold. Many are going out of business.

The general American consumer really messed (too much debt) and using that debt to buy things that they cannot sustain. Homes that are too large and vehicles that are too large (fuel inefficient)... not to mention that parents are buying their kids automobiles. It is not uncommon for a family to own 4 or 5 automobiles for teenage kids and to continue paying for those vesicles upkeep until kids graduate form college (which the parent funds).

That is as true a statement as I have read in quite awhile...........

We have gone far into excess.[/quote]