Yay for Chicago... highest gas prices in the nation! (transporting, lease)

[aragx6]

Originally Posted by Attrill

The real question is why do Americans put up with being gouged by the oil companies - and then give them tax credits on top of that.

Good freakin' question.

[Alacran]

1997 car isn't old as hell

[aragx6]

^A 15-year-old car is pretty old. My brother drives a 1998 Camry and it has 180,000 miles on it -- which is well less than 15k a year put on it and it's starting to nickle and dime him to death.

[chikid]

Originally Posted by Alacran

1997 car isn't old as hell

Well it sure as hell is not close to being 'newer'. The cars what abut 15 years old now (assuming it was rolled out in 1996)? Which means I was like 10 when that car was bought so for me that is old.

[chikid]

Originally Posted by Attrill

Gasoline taxes in Illinois and Chicago are exactly what they were a year ago - and gas costs more than a dollar/gallon than it did a year ago. The real question is why do Americans put up with being gouged by the oil companies - and then give them tax credits on top of that.

Exactly. That's why I am happy that I am not supporting the oil companies by having a car. I am in little ways when I ride the bus, take a cab, etc, but overall, I don't give them as much as other people do.

I don't plan getting a car until I absolutely have to. I had a 2000 Camry from 2004-2008. Best thing I did was sell it. Between gas, insurance, repair (not that it needed much), city stickers, tickets, parking, etc., it really was not worth having it as living by DePaul it was more inconvenient and costly to have it.

Also things like zipcars and I-Go are amazing, that whole concept is really smart.

[Jandur]

Originally Posted by chikid

However, I also think high gas prices are a good thing. Americans are too unsustainable, fat and lazy (of course not all of us). So of you complain about long commutes like Logan Square to Englewood. Why is that commute so long? Lack of public transportation or effiecient public transportation and because of the creation of cars back in the day cities were built more spread out to accommadate automobile life. There is a reason why in Europe and place like NYC and Boston that gas prices don't have such a huge effect on commuters as they do in Chicago.

I won't get too munch into this, but you are very much correct. The people live now and the way cities are set up is really based on the automobile, and the only way we will correct this is when gas because too expensive for every day use. This type of auto-centric lifestyle isn't sustainable for another 50-100 years. Our entire lifestyle right now is based upon energy that is basically free.

[chikid]

Originally Posted by Jandur

I won't get too munch into this, but you are very much correct. The people live now and the way cities are set up is really based on the automobile, and the only way we will correct this is when gas because too expensive for every day use. This type of auto-centric lifestyle isn't sustainable for another 50-100 years. Our entire lifestyle right now is based upon energy that is basically free.

That's was more or less the point I was trying to make. It seems like everyone just wants cheaper gas prices, just like how people want to have green lawns in phoenix and just like how Las Vegas uses water like it has an abundant source of it.

Gas is probably never going to be super cheap. Yet I see people still buying SUV's, deciding to live in neighborhoods that are not pedestrian friendly. I think the American Dream worked pretty well maybe 20 years ago, but now it's time to adapt.

Correct me if I am wrong, isn't gas like $20/gallon in Europe (I know they use liters)? If they have found a way to manage, a country as resourceful and rich as the U.S. certainly can as well. It's all in the people's attitude.

[Vlajos]

Someday in the not so distant future, towns like Huntley and Oswego will be ghost towns.

[Irishtom29]

Originally Posted by Vlajos

Someday in the not so distant future, towns like Huntley and Oswego will be ghost towns.

Nah, they'll probably just go back to being the small rural towns they used to be. Although there ARE less farmers for these towns to serve than before sprawl hit them so maybe not.

When I was a teen going out to the drag strip in Oswego was like going to Wisconsin or Iowa something, I mean it was WAY the Hell out there. Hell, I thought Bellwood was way the Hell out there; that was where the West Town bus that went west from Madison and Austin turned around and headed back in.

[Jesse69]

I avoid high city gas prices by never buying gas within the city. I drive out to Melrose Park and fill up there, then I eat at Culvers and shop around there. I also drive a fuel efficient Honda Civic HX which got me 51.2 mpg driving from Chicago to Memphis at 70 mph.