$3 gallon for gas is on the way! $4 gallon may be here before the end of 2008! (buy, biggest)

[BudinAk]

If you want to jack up your mpg IMMEDIATELY, there is one thing that works: increase tire pressures about 10%. IE: if you normally run them at 32psi, fill them to 36-37psi. It isn't going to "kill" the tires, and your mileage WILL go up a few mpg. My vehicle went from 23.7 average mpg to 26.25 average...not bad. It works because the rolling resistance is reduced. Some hard-core types even run at 40, or more, psi. (but I wouldn't...) That's the pro....
Now the con: this reduces tire contact with the road a little, so there is less traction (and longer braking). Also: depending on the weight of your vehicle, the load, and tire construction....the tires MAY wear more in the center. (or they may not) This you won't know until you run them a few thousand miles and see for yourself...
NOW, (of course), the usual disclaimer: the above concept is presented only for "educational" purposes. Actual implimentation as suggested above may cause harm to yourself and/or your vehicle. The vehicle MAY handle differently...it may VOID any warranties...AND...it may be illegal in your area, check local laws.
(IE: just because I did it, doesn't mean you should, or that it is safe...or that it is a good idea....)

Bud

[yo vanilla]

what bud says is true, and to further the information keep in mind there is still a point of diminishing return. most cars running tire pressures in the mid 30's (remember always fill your tires cold) aren't going to destroy their tires, and you *should* still have enough contact patch to keep safe handling/braking characteristics. get past that point of diminishing return, that's when you get too far from your ideal contact patch and you don't want that.

it'll vary between cars, and the 10% margin noted above is a good start point for most medium-weight cars. For instance both my cars weigh around 3200-3300lbls, both list 33/32lbls iirc as rec'd tire pressure, and i run both at 36/35lbls cold pressure

[tigerclaws]

Originally Posted by Alanboy395

it's a dc area thing plus those gas estimates are hardly accurate.

My Accord gives me an average of around 30-32. If you are getting 21 then there is definitely something wrong with you 'Cord.

[dynimagelv]

Originally Posted by Tryingtofigureitout

We should as a country stand up and make it illegal to own a vehicle that gets less than 20 mpg; with the exception of heavy duty trucks-for now.

You're NOT serious.........ARE YOU???????

[dynimagelv]

I can barely remember the time when gas WASN't $3 per gallon.....

In 1965 I lived in France as an American GI....we could by a rationed amount of gas on base for something like 19c a gallon....if you used more then your allotment and had to buy on the French Economy, you paid what the French people did....Equivalent of $2.25 usd per gallon.

Gas ain't high in the US...WE are spoiled.

[Drover]

Originally Posted by tigerclaws

My Accord gives me an average of around 30-32. If you are getting 21 then there is definitely something wrong with you 'Cord.

Or it could be that you have very different driving habits and/or drive in very different conditions, and I'm also willing to guess that you have a 4-cylinder while he has a V6.

[TheDragonslayer]

The price of gas here went up another 10 cents overnight to $3.40 for regular and $3.60 for super. Being a gardener, this is my slow time of the year and my miles will rarely exceed 30 miles a week and if it rains I may drive even less. I am also fortunate that my accountant used two of her free gas vouchers from the casino and filled both my trucks tank and another 24 gallons in my gas cans with premium. At a city average of 15 for my truck, that should take me along for 12 weeks, not including the 22 gallons in the tank of my truck.I am afraid that the price will probably reach $4 by then.

[LINCOLNSHIRE]

Originally Posted by dynimagelv

I can barely remember the time when gas WASN't $3 per gallon.....

In 1965 I lived in France as an American GI....we could by a rationed amount of gas on base for something like 19c a gallon....if you used more then your allotment and had to buy on the French Economy, you paid what the French people did....Equivalent of $2.25 usd per gallon.

Gas ain't high in the US...WE are spoiled.

The man`s right. At the moment in the U.K. we`re paying around $8.50 a gallon..

[Tryingtofigureitout]

Get out of those low mpg vehicles now! Gas prices are going up and they will not come back down.

[Nashcash23]

Originally Posted by Tryingtofigureitout

That is a rediculously large vehicle that your leasing.
We were a family of 4 when I was younger and we all rode in a coupe.
I now have a family of 4 and we use a van, with room to seat 7. Our van gets about 22 mpg. This mpg is unacceptable and we will be trading soon to up our mpg.
'08 Escape gets 34 mpg and is a very nice vehicle. However, the cost is around $30K. They are asking way too much for a vehicle with two extra batteries.

Well, I need a large vehicle for when I take trips out of town. I usually take my brothers family with me and including me and my girlfreind, thats 6-7 people. Also, I often have to put large objects and boxes in my vehicles.Also, in the mornings, I drive my sisters kids to school because she has to go to work early in the morning. She does not want her kids riding the bus, so I volunteer to drive them. I simply could not do all this in a Kia Rio or Hyundai Accent.