I've been noticing something when I go to Costco, the grocery store and other places. People are pulling like old Honda Trail 90s and other motorcycles out of the garage and are using them for transportation. I'm seeing more scooters and bicycles, more than last year at this time.

My 10 year old daughter asked me why people are driving big SUVs and big diesel pick-up trucks. I said; "Well if they are towing a boat or trailer, doing construction, or hauling large loads then it makes sense". I said that people that drive them to just get around town are dummies.

My old Toyota gets 31 mpg around town. I'm looking forward to getting a plug-in hybrid or pure electric car as soon as possible. I do have a pick-up but it is only used part of the year when I have "pick-up truck chores" to do.

Before being Bushwhacked, I would drive off to Utah for two weeks, dine at restaurants, after a few days of camping I would get a nice room. I bought books, Native American jewelry and other things.

Between having my job of 19 years contracted out and gas prices those are just memories.

CONVOY

While gas prices are higher, taxes still encourage people to drive big trucks. I bought a scooter two years ago and figured it would that 4,000 of driving to pay for that over my Expedition. I need a big car when I drive my family of eight around. But the taxes and insurance on the scooter moved the number of miles to break even to 7,000. If we would eliminate taxes on a second vehicle that gets over 50 miles per gallon more people who need a large vehicle would be able to afford a second vehicle that got better gas mileage. I'm up to 2,700 miles on my scooter and each year of taxes pushes that break even point out further.

It's stil going strong and the fact that it's paid off helps defer the cost of gas. I can't imagine a huge car payment and paying $80.000 everytime you fill up. I think I'll just keep this baby till it fall's apart it get's 30 mpg on the highway.
I will never buy a full gas vehicle again. Ford, Gm etc are 20 years behind the times.

All,
I have a 97 Hyundai Accent. It has 125000 miles on it. Recently I invested 2000 dollars on the car. I did 2 things: Put a cold air intake on the car. Upgraded the exhaust. I also started using the Mobil 1 Advanced Synthetic Oil, (the 15000 mile stuff.) I drive the speed limit, 65, and out of my 10 gallon take I got 550 miles!!! Compared to 300 miles. I have more power and torque now as well. So the question that I have is why are the car manufactures not doing these cost effective upgrades to all new vehicles? The only down side is that the car is a little louder. (you remove the air silencer to install the cold air intake.) These upgrades wouldn’t really change the cost of a new car and it would upgrade the fuel mileage about 50%. We also could start to implement these changes tomorrow.

I'm one of those who drives a SUV. I bought it well before all of the gas pricing went wild. I needed it because of the safety factor and my family. It doesn't get BAD mileage, around 17 - 21. If you're one of those who can afford to go out and buy a newer vehicle for the mileage, gas savings, great, but I'm not in that group. I've cut down on my trips, try to combine several errands, etc. to cut down on driving, but to be called a dummy who is driving a SUV just to get around town, well that's just not very nice.

So "Mo", I'm so happy that you still have your old Toyota that gets 31 mpg, and that you're so excited about being able to buy a hybrid or electric as soon as possible. But you're a nasty person, and you're teaching your 10 year old to be the same way.

Just some thoughts from the SUV dummy who isn't in the same boat as you and can't afford to go out and buy a more economical vehicle. There's a lot of us in that same boat, or should I say SUV.

No need to bash people for driving SUVs or other large vehicles. Maybe they do other things that aren't as visible to conserve and/or offset their SUV gas usage. Maybe they use a reel lawnmower that doesn't use any gas at all- just manpower.

I guess that's what energy conservation is all about- we all should do something in some way to conserve. Do a little here, do a little there. It all adds up and makes a large difference collectively. No need to get preachy or condescending about it.

James, a cold air intake and exhaust are not giving you 25 more miles to the gallon. That's absurd. An exhaust alone is actually slowing down your car contrary to what many think. Why aren't car makers doing this two things? Just like you said, your car is loud, it looks riduculous (exhaust on a hyundai, please!), and the mileage gains are EXTREMELY minimal, if any. Power gains, nominal.

Apparently, some of you are so touchy fom paying 100 bucks to fill your tank, that you only read the parts of my post that made you mad.

BTW It isn't expensive to buy an old economy car, less than 1500 bucks.

Well, remember Murder cycles or Donor cycles can cost you a lot more when you go down. My neighbor has an electric/gas car and he expects at 80,000 miles to have to replace the batteries at a cost of $8,000. Where's the savings???