Haymer Drive » Car Expenses

Who is REALLY to Blame for the Gas Crisis

kathryn — Wed, 07 May 2008 19:27:12 +0000

Gas prices seem to rise at the blink of an eye. Consumers are feeling the increase in every aspect of their lives. Groceries cost more, commuting costs more and disposable income seems to have vanished completely.

The only thing that is consistent during this time of gasoline crisis is that everyone is pointing a finger. The problem is that they are all pointing in a different direction. The government, the oil companies, the consumers – who is really to blame for the position that our economy is in today?

The real truth is that everyone has a part in the problem. Speculating investors (who only have to put up a small amount of money to do trading) are driving the price of oil up with margin purchases. The government officials and politicians are allowing the speculators to drive prices up and are happy to take their piece of the treasure (through gasoline taxes) and the oil companies are happy to increase the profits for themselves and their investors. The consumers are blindly filling the tank and trying to make it work as best as they possibly can.

As long as the majority is content to live with the situation, nothing will change. If supplies continue to flow then consumers will continue to pay and the cycle will not find an end.

If everyone was willing to compromise a little and take some responsibility then the crisis could be reversed for all the people out there who are hoping for an end to come soon.

Fuel Efficiency Verses Safety

kathryn — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 02:21:01 +0000

Driving a fuel efficient car is important to our family, but safety tops being green even if it costs more. Gas alone is a large chunk of our budget because of long commutes. Even with the money on my mind, I still think that a nice, LARGE, SUV is a better choice for highway travel. I couldn’t even begin to comprehend traveling on roads with tractor trailers in some of the hybrid cars that look more like fancy dune buggies than actually vehicles.

Just last week, I had to take a trip in the Chevy Metro. It’s large enough that it will seat four people, but it doesn’t feel very large when you are face to face with the rim of a truck tire going 75 mph. It feels very small. Suddenly, gas mileage doesn’t seem all that important.

I read recently that the automotive industry is working hard to make the energy efficient choices crash test worthy. The guy that I saw being interviewed made this statement: “When a little car collides with a big truck then the odds are the truck will win.” His basic point is that no matter how safe the smaller, more fuel efficient cars might become, they will probably never be as safe as the larger, fuel gobblers.

The automotive industry needs to find a way to combine the safety of the SUV with the fuel efficiency of the hybrids. The outcome may not be 200 mpg, but if you aren’t around to drive the car does it really matter how far it can go on a gallon of gas?

Cut Car Expenses

kathryn — Wed, 22 Aug 2007 00:30:52 +0000

Cars are expensive. They can be even more expensive if you have a large family or a long commute. In our home, the budget for car expenses is second only to the mortgage. It costs a lot to get us all where we need to be.

Any tips or suggestions for lowering costs are a great benefit. We tried going with our air conditioning, but only because it was broken. We live in the southern United States, and no matter what it does to the gas mileage, air conditioning is a must.

I’ve tried to teach my husband that keeping the tank no less than half empty will increase the gas mileage. He says that would mean stopping for gas every day and he isn’t going to do it. He won’t take that little hint, so I’m not touching the way he drives.

The one thing I do consistently is not idle the car for long periods. Not only does is suck up the gas, but it’s really not good for the car. If I’m going to be awhile, I suggest my husband take the kids for a scenic drive, or else I break down and take everyone inside for the errand.

It is possible to save money on your car expenses by doing small things. It’s amazing how quick the savings will add up. If you put the money back, you might be ready to pay cash when it comes time to buy the next car.