General Car Conversation 2024 - part 2
09-19-24, 10:21 PM
#1666
Lexus Champion
I’m already salivating for this drive. Down 5 to Salem, then off interstates and over to Bend, then south to Reno before S. Lake Tahoe. I LOVE driving around the west - I grew up in the upper South, early adult life on the east coast. I did live several years along VT Route 100 with a powerful Audi; good times were had by all. I love sailing boats on the ocean, or getting a good car out into the western desert and/or mountains. It’s like injecting freedom and beauty into your veins.
https://www.territorysupply.com/sout...-scenic-drives
09-19-24, 10:37 PM
#1667
Pole Position
Try some of the roads in SoCal, amazing if you love winding scenic roads
https://www.territorysupply.com/sout...-scenic-drives
https://www.territorysupply.com/sout...-scenic-drives
I want to slash through very Southern Oregon desert, around Crater Lake (long term goal I have not hit). Eastern Oregon desert driving is VERY underrated. I was there in 2020 on a BIG trip, driving a brand new 2.5 Camry, CVT. Incredibly responsive, same engine/drivetrain as current es300h, less traction motors. I could run 80 mph all day, get 38 mpg, loaded. I could not, though, keep up with traffic in eastern OR. It ran about 120mph on average and I struggled to do that with the Camry, loaded. LoL. But I tried.
That is saying a lot, in favor of the Toyota/Lexus drivetrain - not a put-down.
09-20-24, 06:15 AM
#1668
Lexus Fanatic
iTrader: (20)
US retail gas price
As of September 16, 2024, the US retail gas price is $3.307, which is a 1.58% decrease from the previous week and a 16.09% decrease from the same time last year.
As of September 16, 2024, the US retail gas price is $3.307, which is a 1.58% decrease from the previous week and a 16.09% decrease from the same time last year.
09-20-24, 06:18 AM
#1669
Lexus Fanatic
I'm not "obsessed with gas prices" its just an interesting conversation and the prices are there glowing at you per gallon as you drive down the street. My life is going to go on the same if gas is $3 or $7. A lot of people though aren't that fortunate. What I find interesting is the politicization of gas prices. They aren't as controllable as people think they are, they're driven by many market factors.
Whats wrong with talking about the weather? Its an interesting thing to talk about
Whats wrong with talking about the weather? Its an interesting thing to talk about
09-20-24, 06:53 AM
#1671
Lexus Fanatic
iTrader: (20)
09-20-24, 07:04 AM
#1673
Lexus Fanatic
09-20-24, 08:14 AM
#1674
Lexus Champion
They haven't seemed to have gotten the memo here. $5 a gallon 100 percent has an impact, including higher prices on food and goods
09-20-24, 08:17 AM
#1676
Lexus Champion
. I haven't bought gas here in about 3 or 4 months, so doesn't really affect me except when I buy stuff at the grocery store
09-20-24, 09:20 AM
#1677
Lead Lap
Trust me, he knows it now. Even worse than the complete failure of the engine is probably the grief he’s getting from family for putting E85 in the car in the first place.
09-20-24, 09:31 AM
#1678
Lexus Fanatic
Price of fuel affects all goods that are shipped maybe that's why people talk about it? Gas prices are a leading indicator of overall cost of living.
09-20-24, 09:33 AM
#1679
Lexus Fanatic
iTrader: (20)
so some math...
if someone drives 2000 miles a month (twice the avg), and gets 20mpg, that's 100 gallons a month.
if gas goes from $4 to $5 a gallon they're now paying $100 extra a month for gas.
if someone drives that much, they like do 'ok' or are retired and can easily afford that increment.
it's only an 'issue' to the struggling or a ridiculous 'obsession' to the well off. i think it comes from when most people didn't have much, like their first car in college, and gas prices mattered. for most here? likely materially makes zero difference. waiting in lines at costco or only getting gas on tuesdays to save half the price of a cup of coffee at starbucks seems a little silly to me.
but certainly harmless. 
i didn't know anything about e85. looked up this and apparently it's for flex fuel vehicles only... why on earth would he put it in his tuned s4? he thought he might get .1 seconds off his 0-60? 
https://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/flextech.shtml
and while we're talking about fuel economy, i note that e85 is worse than gas.
if someone drives 2000 miles a month (twice the avg), and gets 20mpg, that's 100 gallons a month.
if gas goes from $4 to $5 a gallon they're now paying $100 extra a month for gas.
if someone drives that much, they like do 'ok' or are retired and can easily afford that increment.
it's only an 'issue' to the struggling or a ridiculous 'obsession' to the well off. i think it comes from when most people didn't have much, like their first car in college, and gas prices mattered. for most here? likely materially makes zero difference. waiting in lines at costco or only getting gas on tuesdays to save half the price of a cup of coffee at starbucks seems a little silly to me.
but certainly harmless. https://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/flextech.shtml
and while we're talking about fuel economy, i note that e85 is worse than gas.
09-20-24, 10:14 AM
#1680
Lexus Test Driver
E85 is worse for fuel economy. To make economic sense, it needs to cost less than 2/3 of the price of regular unleaded to save money.
Where E85 does shine, however, is in performance. With the right tune you can get a lot more power out of E85 than 93 octane.
Where E85 does shine, however, is in performance. With the right tune you can get a lot more power out of E85 than 93 octane.