something i've noticed because of gas prices

[DankNuggets]

but yeah, i think SUV's are pretty useless once you leave the south.

as far as being an obstruction... i don't think they are, really, unless you're in a lowered car like panda (which is even dumber than driving an SUV because at least most SUV's could actually go offroad, whereas most lowered cars would never fare well on a racetrack - but this is my opinion, southerners aren't too hot on rice rockets). dealing with an SUV on the road is as easy as paying attention to the traffic. don't ride 3 feet behind an SUV and you'll be able to see around them.

well they're pretty useless once you leave bumfuck, ie no paved roads
unless you're from mexico, you usually don't take more than 3 ppl in a compact truck.

and yeah, driving too close is a problem, but waiting at an intersection can't be avoided. Also parking is a bitch around them too.

we drive an Excursion as our state vehicle - i'm not sure how much gas it holds, but i can drive to the coast and back (~300 miles) and not even use half a tank. I remember driving from 8 am to 7 pm w/o refueling (plus you don't even have to play at the state pumps, so i'm not sure how expensive it would be, $200?). My main beef with it is that they bought a 1.5 ton suspension instead of a 1ton and it handles like shit (we don't tow anything). Also, trying to park that thing in a garage is damn near impossible. It doesn make jumping curbs really fun, though.

[Kolar]

Is anyone else using non-automotive means to get around?

Since gas prices have spiked so high I decided to break out my skateboard for the first time in a couple of years. I'm addicted again. Not only do I save money, but it's good excercise, it makes me tired and helps me fall asleep at night, and I've fallen back in love with the feeling of having the wind go through my hair (or lack thereof these days).

I'm always super tired because I skate to work and school everyday, but it's worth it.

http://timestranscript.canadaeast.co...article/296880

[Pandagirl!]

and no, i wouldn't drive 15 miles to drop off any chick and all that way back unless I'm getting laid when I get to her place, or she's coughing up alot for gas. Even with either (preferably both) of those options, I still wouldn't do it daily.

It wasn't daily - it was maybe 3 or 4 times a year when I really needed a ride home for a valid reason (like I had a meeting after school, but since I didn't have a car/license I had no way of getting home). I could understand paying for it if it was every day, but I don't think giving your girlfriend a ride home 3 times a year is that big of a deal.

He also made me pay for gas when we went on dates. I would pay for the gas for him to pick me up and the gas to drop me off, but he would pay for everything in transit when we were together on the way to the movies or whatever.

as far as being an obstruction... i don't think they are, really, unless you're in a lowered car like panda (which is even dumber than driving an SUV because at least most SUV's could actually go offroad, whereas most lowered cars would never fare well on a racetrack - but this is my opinion, southerners aren't too hot on rice rockets). dealing with an SUV on the road is as easy as paying attention to the traffic. don't ride 3 feet behind an SUV and you'll be able to see around them.

I hate that my car is lowered. The suspension is so rough that it's basically shattered two exhausts. Something is always getting knocked loose and the front lip is all messed up (mostly from the guy I bought it from). But I can't raise it because I don't have the original suspension and my tires are for low profile cars.

[Galleleo]

I don't really like driving behind trucks or vans or whatever on the highway because I cant really see what is happening in front of them. But as far as intersections or whatever go, I have no problem with trucks.

And how can you feel that parking is a bitch around trucks? In the US/Canada you already have way bigger parking spaces than we do around here, and I have never really had a problem parking around trucks or suvs.

[Jerome Scuggs]

I hate that my car is lowered. The suspension is so rough that it's basically shattered two exhausts. Something is always getting knocked loose and the front lip is all messed up (mostly from the guy I bought it from). But I can't raise it because I don't have the original suspension and my tires are for low profile cars.

what kind of suspension do you have? (or failing that what do you drive?)

there are small things you can do to give you two or three inches - adjusting the torsion keys, shacking leaf springs, blocking springs, etc.

[DankNuggets]

I don't really like driving behind trucks or vans or whatever on the highway because I cant really see what is happening in front of them. But as far as intersections or whatever go, I have no problem with trucks.

And how can you feel that parking is a bitch around trucks? In the US/Canada you already have way bigger parking spaces than we do around here, and I have never really had a problem parking around trucks or suvs.

it's reallly hard to see over/around the SUV to see if its safe to turn (especially on roads with speed limits >35 mph



the parking issue is that you can't safely back into traffic because the SUV's back is higher than a car and you can't see through the windows.

although, i'd consider diagonal street parking risky anyway, especially on a busy street

[genocidal]

good

ty 4 pics....

[Displaced]

yesterday i payed 1.71€ for a litre of gas, thats what? (6,47€ per gallon) 9.83$ a gallon. Full tank was just over 80€.

woot, after driving to work, back home, and then back to work, my tank is now half empty. YES!!111 40€ (60$) a day on gas :wub:

[DankNuggets]

geez at that price i might be able to turn a profit illegally mailing you drums of gasoline :greedy:

[Galleleo]

what kind of disp? If that was for euro 95 unleaded we might finally not be the most expensive country when it comes to gas anymore! (though I saw 1.639 yesterday which is not far off).

[Jerome Scuggs]

yesterday i payed 1.71€ for a litre of gas, thats what? (6,47€ per gallon) 9.83$ a gallon. Full tank was just over 80€.

woot, after driving to work, back home, and then back to work, my tank is now half empty. YES!!111 40€ (60$) a day on gas :wub:

i pay 40 bucks a week for gas. unless you drive like 200 miles a day, wtf? what do you drive?

[Displaced]

Galle, it was for 98 Octane gasoline, although 95 was still 1.6ish.

Jerome, i normaly drive just over 60miles a day (to and from work), today ive done about 90miles so far, after i get back from work ill have done about 120miles today. Was in a bit of a hurry so I was doing about 140km/h the whole way, at that speed i get about 15MPG, so roughly i shouldve used up about 6.2 gallons so far, thats about half of my 13 gallon tank

As for what i drive, its a 07 Subaru Impreza WRX STI

[Jerome Scuggs]

hahaha

that's another thing about SUV's - they actually have a relatively aerodynamic shape, and at highway speeds, V8's pretty much idle.

[Displaced]

thats really down to the gear ratios more than anything.

the STI has very short ratios, so at highway speeds its always above 3k RPM even in top gear.

if it had a longer gearing itd run at like 1k RPM.

[Pandagirl!]

Same, my RPMs are usually at about 3300 when I'm going 70mph down the highway. I still get about 33mpg though, so I don't mind.