As the Price of Gasoline Goes Up...

Not really, as the car does 55mpg when driven gently as it is. The thing that does change is the economic need to drive it: as the economy weakens, jobs dry-up and the need to travel to them is reduced.

No.

Even drove in a 200 mile road rally last weekend.

Was it like in the movie Cannon Ball Run. If so cool

No. It was not a good rally. First, it was a search for clues. Actually, there were about 150 clues to look for. They give you a phrase and you had to figure out what it represented on the route. Most were house numbers.

The route took about 55 cars through congested cities (more like towns) and their immediate suburbs. Since you were visually searching for artifacts you ended up going slower than the speed limit.

Imagine releasing 55 high performance sports cars on a 200 mile trek, all spaced about 1 minute apart going below the speed limit - all clueless. It made a lot of other motorists very mad.

Then at the end of the run everyone got lost because a week before the rally one of the road names was changed and no one knew it (except the city that changed the signs.

There were other problems, but in the end it was not nearly as much fun as previous years because the guy that laid out the rally was a newbie and tripled the number of questions that were required last time.

Also, the last rally took us only through the countryside, so the whole ride was much more enjoyable and scenic. The idea is to have fun with a little stress thrown in for good measure, but this year's event was not a good representation of the sport (in my mind and many others agreed).

Nevertheless, it was the first time this guy did this and I hope he learned some things to make him a better architect next time.

Never thought to do something like this by car before, but the wife and I were involved in a youth scavenger hunt at a forest preserve last fall, where we broke up into five groups each with a list of 20 items we had to find or see(that a picture of). It was a lot of fun. My only problem was I was so into it I had to refrain myself from taking over their challenge.

It lasted about 2 hours, than we went to my house for a cook out and bonfire afterwards.

Oh, used gasoline from my lawn equipment to start the bonfire, had a hell of a time getting it started.

Leaving the truck at home more and driving the Ford Focus instead.

Keeping the speed under 70 MPH to squeeze out every bit of the advertised 34 MPG.

As far as driving more or less, my commute is what it is so no difference in time behind the wheel.

Same with driving around home/town, still the same.

Really miss driving the truck though

As long as it isn't an economic hardship, people aren't going to mend their wasteful ways.

- back in the late 70's fuel went so high people were opting out of their so called gas guzzlers at ridiculous prices. I didn't have either the money or space to take advantage and missed out on a couple of bargains. Cruel but fair I know. Soooo I'm hoping now that I 've got the money and space similar oppotunities will arise.

As for changing my driving habits nope- just enjoy the ride.

Yes I am, I only drive when I have to. In 1974 I had a 1972 GMC Van 302, 8 MPG... I remember the gas lines, From $.26 to $1.46 overnight shocked everyone. If you had more than 1/4 tank you were refused any gas. I used 1/4 tank to get home.

In 1969 had a 69 Mach 1, 351, 4brl, 158MPH, 4MPG racing, 12GPM normal driving. Had Mitsubishi 4cyl, 16V Dbl OHC, 55MPG 215,000 miles, had to retire it. Now Silverado 18.75MPG and drive only when have to, to get to work and back. Last fillup was $75.00, 18 gallons. Next 300 ile fill up??? FT cap 39.5G. Ext gas cap. Don't even want to think about that cost. Looking to build electric Veh. or back to motor cycle. I was a nut case way back when I had a bike under me... But now at my age, maybe no more 20 mile wheelies, jumps off anything resembling a ramp or any other twister things. Straight lines, be nice, stay on track. I think I'd need a 172 step program if I get on 2 wheels again at any age! Chopper here I come, and away I go!! Oh my...

So what do you guys call expensive?

$2.25 a litre in the UK

Yes

Not around here. Everyone still driving 10-20 over the speed limit. Vacation traveling is up. Roads are still congested. Maybe if it hits $5.00+ a gallon there might be a change. Until then it's not going to effect the North East.

I have not changed my driving habits at all.... but that's because last May I started using local bus ALMOST exclusively to get around. I doubt I've spent over $40 this year for gasoline, and I really should have been using the bus for years. Yes, it requires a little planning - even more since the route near my home was discontinued 2 weeks ago requiring a mile walk to a bus - but the weather is getting nicer.

Like bakerjohn wrote though- here in the Albany NY area everyone is still going way over the speed limit, rapid starts, fast-braking stops, and congested roads.

I've managed to squeeze 15.5 mpg out of my 1987 Ford E-150 conversion van.

I'm one of those people who has probably aggravated you on the interstate. I drive 60 mph all the time. I'm easy on the pedal n town, and if I'm hard on the brake, you're probably about to get hit.

I'm on my bike as much as weather will allow now. The economy has been a bit hard on the wallet, even staying employed.

I was talking to a coworker this morn about fuel costs. Three years ago my fuel cost for the work commute was 6.4% of my take home. It is now 13.9% after improving my fuel efficiency.

I actually find myself planning a simple outing to combine errands.

...if it hits $5 a gallon?....so less than 75p a litre......oh you guys, it must be really tough.

Sorry most of us in the US don't live in a county the size of Rhode Island, where you cross the street and you're already on the other side of the pond.

You'll find you're all already on the other side of the pond It's true, 'Sea to shining sea' isn't that far- about 80 miles west or east from my home.

How many miles/kilometers do you average each year?

I do about 5000 miles a year, average in this country is 12 - 14,000

Its about 3000+ miles to the west. 300 miles to the east. and around 2000 miles to the south before I hit one of the big ponds. I average about 200 miles a day in travel for work alone. I don't have easy access to any form of mass transportation.

I try to do a number of things at the same time in the same direction, so I do one moderate trip rather than a series of small trips over the same territory. I don't accelerate as fast as I used to, but that means I sometimes have someone only one car's length away from me (impatient driver?).

No.