The MPG Illusion

[Art FJR]

As best I can tell, the issue is supply and demand. The demand is at the level of the supply. I heard recently that the current gas consumption is at a 5 year low. Obviously, gas prices are making a difference in our travels.

I have listened to alot of crap on the radio/TV about our situation, but I have yet to hear what the Fleet mpg of the total of all American cars on the road today. What is the average mpg of the cars on the roads today?

We need to decrease our consumption of gas. If the demand outstrips the supply, the cost can go to the moon. So we all have to do our part to use a little less. And if we can use a little less, not only does our useage drop, but the price per gallon can drop also.

Properly inflated tires, fresh oil and clean air filters at a minumum. If you ain't in a hurry, slow down and move to the right a little. If you are really, truely in a hurry, go faster and pay the extra cost. I am Ok with that. If you are not in a hurry, allow those that are to get around you easily. If you are saving gas and you are causing someone else to waste even more gas getting around your ass, it is a wash and no one really saves as much as we can.

If I drive as fast as I can, I get 22 mpg, if I drive fast but take it easy I can get 25 mpg, if I really take it easy I can get 30 mpg. But if the roads are open, I let everyone that is in a hurry go buy. If the roads are jammed, I am trying to save gas and I accelerate slowly and smoothly and I try not to brake. Ain't nobody making any time regardless of how hard they try.

While I like to see a motorcycle riding down the road (especially the 07 FJR AE (the fast one)), I really appreciate the fact that they are taking more risks then I am in the cage and they are using at least less then 1/2 the gas that I am. I appreciate their efforts and committment. Without them and us, our gas prices would be even higher. I am always trying to ride the FJR more, and not just for fun.

If we would all ride the bikes more, and drive our cars more sanely, and when it comes time to purchase a new car (I heard that the life of a car is 16 years - not all owned by you) you make the best choice for your situation, we could do alot better. If we could reduce gas consumption by 10%, we could get back to less then $4 per gallon. It will take years to replace and upgrade America's fleet of vehicles. But we can make a big difference now with what we got.

If the supply can be lower then the demand, then the price comes down. And as best I have heard, you can't eat oil.

I have been seeing stuff on the TV about T Boone Pickens and his energy farms. He is really concerned about the price of oil. I think I heard that the increase in oil prices over the last year has resulted in an ADDITIONAL BILLION DOLLARS A DAY being shipped overseas. This is the largest transfer of wealth in the history of man. To countries that ain't worth a shit in my opinion.

I am done.

Art

 

[mdisher]

I go through this exercise every year when we think about replacing Excursion.
i.e. gets 11mpg and is paid for vs... Something compatible for comfort, safety, size for hauling people kids, and all there shit and able to tow what ever it is I need to tow.

The cost of that replacement vehicle $25-$45k) vs. the 15-18mpg I *might* get never computes.

On the flip side my son had been driving our old Econoline van (which is somewhat an oxymoron), which ran a nice 15MPG. It too is paid for. But when we had the opportunity to provide him with a clean and sporty Ford Escort ZX2 that got 30mpg, we jumped. Of course we only paid $1500 for that. At the rate he's putting on miles it will be paid for in 3-5 months or 10k miles. All things considered that made sense.

We can't replace our Excursion, for what we use it for, with an econo-box, that's simply not an option.

Here's another way to look at things:

The GREET Theory

The eye opener based on 160,000 mile vehicle life span:

* Hummer H2: 13,913 gallons ($44,800 at today's prices!), 1579.13 mmBTU* Toyota Prius: 2,883 gallons, 327.207 mmBTU

* Toyota Highlander: 6,400, 726.4 mmBTU

* Toyota Highlander Hybrid: 5,424, 615.593 mmBTU

Note that those are July 2007 gas prices. Figuring today's $4.50/gal fill-up, that H2 number turns out to be $62,600.00! mg:

Considering I traditionally accumulate between 30,000 and 40,000 miles on my vehicles, at an average of 35 MPG, over the 160,000 miles quoted above for each of my 3 vehicles and based on today's gas prices... $61,715.00 or $20,570/vehicle. That's $4,571/year/vehicle life vs. $13,714 for the H2.

Yikes.

Agreed...

And when either of these:

* Toyota Prius: 2,883 gallons, 327.207 mmBTU

* Toyota Highlander: 6,400, 726.4 mmBTU

* Toyota Highlander Hybrid: 5,424, 615.593 mmBTUCan seat 8 People comfortably with their crap (My family size is (7) with one in a car seat).

Can pull a horse trailer and/or Motorcycle trailer (dirtbikes), or a landscaping trailer with a bunch of shit on it.

Then I'll be all over that solution. Until then I don't have much choice other than to drive less, which is what we do. Our other vehicles are fairly routine 25-35MPG cars if we don't need the big Excrusion we don't take it. (We're not stupid)

I guess we could drop 2 x $38,000 ($76k) for the base model Toyota Highlander Hybrids @ 615.593 mmBTU x2 = 1231 mmBTU and I still couldn't get the horses there. :glare:

 

[big ears]

I ride my fjr to work every day I can. A 70 mile round trip. I'm doing my part to save gas. We also combine trips to town as much as possible.

 

[twowheelnut]

and I still couldn't get the horses there. :glare:

Aren't you supposed to ride horses? :dntknw:

:lol:

If the supply can be lower then the demand, then the price comes down. And as best I have heard, you can't eat oil.

Less gas sold = less *** revenue... Creating other problems altogether that will have to be discussed elsewhere. But, here's an interesting read from AutoWeek's Dutch Mandel: AutoWeek Editorial (Note: you prolly don't want to discuss the, um, details of the editorial here. )

 

[fretbender]

And when either of these:* Toyota Prius: 2,883 gallons, 327.207 mmBTU

* Toyota Highlander: 6,400, 726.4 mmBTU

* Toyota Highlander Hybrid: 5,424, 615.593 mmBTUCan seat 8 People comfortably with their crap (My family size is (7) with one in a car seat).

Can pull a horse trailer and/or Motorcycle trailer (dirtbikes), or a landscaping trailer with a bunch of shit on it.

Then I'll be all over that solution. Until then I don't have much choice other than to drive less, which is what we do. Our other vehicles are fairly routine 25-35MPG cars if we don't need the big Excrusion we don't take it. (We're not stupid)

I guess we could drop 2 x $38,000 ($76k) for the base model Toyota Highlander Hybrids @ 615.593 mmBTU x2 = 1231 mmBTU and I still couldn't get the horses there. :glare:

Yesterday I met a guy driving an F550 with his wife, granddaughter and granddaughter's friend inside and pulling a horse trailer with 4 horses in it. He was taking them all on vacation for some horseback riding in the wilderness area of N. Idaho. I looked at all of that stuff and the fuel bill he was racking up just in order to go on vacation and I thought to myself, now why couldn't he have been MY grandpa? . . .what was the question again?