$4 Gas Possible In Chattanooga By End Of May

[CMF Newsman]

If current trends continue, Chattanoogans could be paying $4 for a gallon of regular gas by the end of May, some authorities believe.

“There’s no end in sight,” said Steve Ray, owner/operator of Midnite Oil Station in Ooltewah. “The price of gas is driven by speculators . . . It’ll go up to the point where people can’t afford it anymore.”

Already, he said, many of his customers are taking steps to cut back on the amount of gas they use.

For example, mothers who used to transport their children from place to place in an SUV have switched cars with their husbands, Mr. Ray said. Mom now taxis the youngsters around in the Honda that Dad used to drive to and from work; the large gas-guzzler is relegated to hauling Dad to his workplace, where it stays parked during the day.

www.chattanoogan.com/articles/article_125559.asp

[el Gusano]

What are gas prices there now? It's $3.85 in Homer, and $3.45 in Anchorage.

[radiodrama]

5 bucks by june, 6 by july so forth and so on.

[Warkitty]

I've been seeing a whole lot of mopeds in Atlanta on the surface streets lately. I've even seen a smartcar.


Tallcars (SUV's) are getting less common on the streets. I can't say I mind that.

[Jay]

I saw it at $3.26 this morning.

[blindsolitude]

It's $3.30 here in Nashville. Last weekend when I was in Chattanooga, it was around $3.15 there. I'm just trying not to drive around as much, which is difficult when all my family lives in Chattanooga.

I hope gas will lower, but it won't.

[Copperhead]

3.19 on Hixson Pike here. We're even considering coming in on the bus. We live close to a bus line & there's a bus stop right outside of my building.

[Warkitty]

I suspect mopeds, motorcycles and bikes will get much more popular as the year drags on and the gas prices rise.


I also suspect the auto industry is going to start raising hell because their cars are no longer competitive with hybrids and foreign economy cars. As the profit margins for gas guzzlers falls and those industries start to fail, what will they ask the government to do to bail them out of their lack of forsight in prepping up with more economical options?

[Dreamwebber]

You would think after the last oil crisis in the 70's and Americans were driving the big old tanks and gas guzzlers and the Japanese/Germans started putting out the compact cars that the American Automakers would not let the past repeat itself but, we know about the saying, "Those who can not remember the past are condemned to repeat it"

[snarkalicious]

Have you looked at the bus schedules, Joy? I've considered catching the bus at Northgate but I work at Hamilton Place, and it would take me almost 2 hours and 3 transfers to get here.

My daughter uses CARTA a lot-as a UTC student she rides for free. She rides out to Hamilton Place to meet me, shop, etc. It's convenient within the city but to get to the suburbs it's too much time/trouble.

My oldest son lives in San Francisco and rides BART everywhere-he take his bike along to navigate side streets. Wish we had a better public transportation system here....

[Copperhead]

Yes, I've looked at the schedules. The Northgate bus would bring us downtown & another bus would transport us down E 3rd. Total travel time is just under 45 minutes. The challenge will be to do this with a toddler in tow. We'll be giving it a test next week, due to some work schedule irregularities.

Not only to UTC students get to ride for free, but the employees do as well. I wish my employer offered this to us! I'm going to ask for it!

[Jay]

Apr 11, 2008 8:48:48 GMT -5 Dreamwebber said:

You would think after the last oil crisis in the 70's and Americans were driving the big old tanks and gas guzzlers and the Japanese/Germans started putting out the compact cars that the American Automakers would not let the past repeat itself but, we know about the saying, "Those who can not remember the past are condemned to repeat it"

Americans wanted SUVs so car companies made 'em... Now that Americans want smaller cars, they'll make more smaller cars..

[Homebrew Dave]

My girlfriend lives in Venice, FL. When I drive down to see her, it takes 7 tanks of gas for a round trip. At $3.26 a gallon and a 10 gallon tank, that translates to $228.20 for the trip. And really, it would be higher than that because gas prices in Florida run as much as 50 cents more a gallon than in Chattanooga. So figure 3 of those fill-ups will be at $3.76 a gallon giving a total of $243.20 in gas.

My next trip will be May the 2nd. I'm flying Allegiant Air from Chattanooga to St. Petersburg and renting a car for 2 days for the 140 mile trip from St. Pete to Venice and back. Price for my flight and the car rental included was $172. Even figuring I'll probably burn a tank of gas on the rental car and I have to pay for two days of parking at the Chattanooga airport, I still come out ahead doing it this way. Plus I won't be spending 20 hours out of my weekend behind the wheel of my car.

Dave

[Bob]

Just think a bottle of Lucid costs about the same as a tank of gas.. wonder which is more fun...

[Tookie]

the large gas-guzzler is relegated to hauling Dad to his workplace, where it stays parked during the day.

If Dad were smart and can't dump the SUV, he'd get a few of his buddies to CAR POOL with him back and forth to work to help pay for the gas it guzzles.

[elf]

Hawaii hit $4.56 a gallon today!!!!

[Justin Thyme]

Apr 11, 2008 14:33:56 GMT -5 Bob said:

Just think a bottle of Lucid costs about the same as a tank of gas.. wonder which is more fun...

Depends on where the tank of gas is taking you.

[tink]

Who is Steve Ray and why is this gas station owner always put out there as an expert on anything involving transportation?
tink's husband

[Ringleman#5]

Good question, tink's H.

[Deleted]

My impressions:

Steve Ray comes across as being on the side of consumers and motorists. He's done a call-in show on television and seems to be very wise when it comes to automobile repair and upkeep. He switched from selling a major name-brand gasoline to a lesser known brand in order to give customers a break on fuel price. As an insider, he speaks with more knowledgeable authority about car things than the run of the mill person. He's able to give a view of the industry that most people cannot otherwise have.


Why do I get the feeling I'm getting suckered into something with this answer? Tink, are you Steve Ray's wife or something?

[LimitedRecourse]

4 bucks buys a lot of gas at Krystals...

[gridbug]

Apr 11, 2008 14:33:56 GMT -5 Bob said:

Just think a bottle of Lucid costs about the same as a tank of gas.. wonder which is more fun...

I can still get two tanks of gas for the price of one bottle of Lucid, at least I can this week.

I can get most places I need to be on my feet or bike Guess why I'll be grinning when I get there