[JayCT]

Originally Posted by Cruikshl

The majority of people on I84 do not use their cruise, it really rubs me the wrong way. People are doing 20 different speeds. Cruise saves gas.

It is hard to use cruise control when there is a lot of traffic. Beside even if they did use it, they would still be traveling at differnet speeds. Jay

[mels]

Cruise control uses more gas when in hilly terrain since it guns it to maintain speed. I drive Rt 2 daily and the hills through South Glastonbury and Marlborough suck gas. I rarely use CC in CT because not many highways I drive are flat and more importantly, not traffic laden.

[ambarstone]

Originally Posted by kidyankee764

Are you doing anything to conserve fuel? e.g. driving slower, trading in that SUV or taking mass transit? I just bought a hybrid.

_________
Have driving a compact that gives 36 miles a gallon for the past six years. I also take the train to work and walk when possible. If I just knew how to ride a bike ...

[kidyankee764]

Originally Posted by JayCT

Beside even if they did use it, they would still be traveling at differnet speeds. Jay

Yes but they would be traveling at constant speeds which makes the roads safer and easier to navigate. People wouldn't be going between 55-70 and 70 and 85 - which is how many who don't use cruise control drive.

[kidyankee764]

Originally Posted by JViello

1. If you drive mostly on the highway, a hybrid will do you no better than a regular car that is very efficient...in fact carrying around the extra weight of the hybrid would actually work against good mileage in that environment.

This is true if when you drive on the highway it's smooth sailing. Usually when the majority of people are on the highway (in FF or NH Counties at least, and I'd assume the Hartford area) is during rush hour and it's stop and go. I know when I travel, I take back roads into Stamford so I'm not in bumper to bumper - I'm sure you know how much gas traffic wastes. Stop, gas, stop, gas, gas more, stop. You get the picture. I fill up less than 1/2 the time I did when I had my Subaru. And about a hybrid actually being worse in gas due to "extra weight," well I can tell you firsthand that it's not true. Even when I drive the Merritt up to the Valley when there's no traffic, I barely use any gas.

Originally Posted by JViello

2. If you own a hybrid and still drive like an @ss you will get lousy gas mileage. SLOW DOWN and stop driving like John Force (John Force - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia) from light to light. I really laugh when I'm going down the highway at 60mph in my truck and a hybrid FLYS by me about 90mph. I'm probably getting better mileage in my full size pickup than he is! LOL

I agree, but even going 80 in a hybrid uses much less gas than going 80 in a mid-sized car.

Originally Posted by JViello

Does your desire for "style" outweigh your desire to conserve and not pollute?

It really has nothing to do with "style" or hopping on the bandwagon. I personally find many hybrids to be very ugly (Prius, Civic Hybrid, etc) so I waited until the Altima came out in a hybrid. I'm not a fan of the granola liberals driving their Prius' with "Plant a Tree," "Obama" and "Not all who wander are lost" stickers on the back. Those folks, IMO, only bought their hybrid to make a statement. For me, it has everything to do with my need to save money in the short term while gas prices are as high as they are.

[LaMadden]

Originally Posted by kidyankee764

Yes but they would be traveling at constant speeds which makes the roads safer and easier to navigate. People wouldn't be going between 55-70 and 70 and 85 - which is how many who don't use cruise control drive.

Thank you Kidyankee my point exactly.

[mr2448]

This explains why many Connecticut residents fill up in Rhode Island. As of today you can find a range of 3.68-3.83

[kidyankee764]

Originally Posted by mr2448

This explains why many Connecticut residents fill up in Rhode Island. As of today you can find a range of 3.68-3.83

Friends of mine in Brewster, NY say the same thing. It's about 20 cents cheaper over the border. Funny how there are 2 gas stations, one in Danbury and one in Brewster, about 2 miles apart. The one in Danbury is $4.10 and in Brewster is $3.89.

[Lincolnian]

The price will continue to rise. Growing world-wide demand, a price controlling cartel, restricted output of refineries, and a oil-dependent infrastructure in the US will all continue to contribute to a long-term trend of continued price appreciation unless realistic substitute products become available.

Connecticut state average is now $4. Other parts of the country, especially the rural plains states, must be hurting very badly. Many of the jobs in those areas are located a considerable distance from where one lives and residents are low paying and very auto dependent. It is conceivable that long-term if one's wages are not adjusted to compensate for rising energy costs that some people will not be able to afford the gas to get to their $7 to $10 per hour job.

A national initiative is needed. This is not fear-based it is opportunity-based. We as a country have the opportunity to continue our leadership position if we commit ourselves to researching and developing the next generation energy sources.

[Rich Lee]

Originally Posted by kidyankee764

Friends of mine in Brewster, NY, say the same thing. It's about 20 cents cheaper over the border. Funny how there are 2 gas stations, one in Danbury and one in Brewster, about 2 miles apart. The one in Danbury is $4.10 and in Brewster is $3.89.

Connecticut is now ranked #3 (most expensive) behind Alaska and Hawaii.