the price of fuel

[shep]

Gday i was listening to the radio yesterday there was a fool saying that the incresed fuel price is good becouse it will get 4wd's of the road. are people that live in citys really that stupid that they think everyone has access to public transport let alone bitchumen roads.

my wife drives 90ks to and from work and even on a techers pay, after fuel and the morgage there is bugger all left over.

filled the car yesterday 135ltr fuel = $187

bit of a rant i know it just seems harder then ever to pay the bills.

shep

[bitingmidge]

So why do you need a 4wd because there's no public transport?

And if you have a 4wd why do you need a big sucker anyway? I don't think that they are bad, just inappropriate for 80% of what they are used for.

I often drive in excess of 90 km for work, but do that in a car that travels safely at the speed limit while consuming less than 8 litres per 100km.

The Peugeot and Citroen diesels are capable of achieving round 4l/100km at 110km/h.

Perhaps it's time we all realised that fuel is a finite resource, not something we can replace. As far as I am concerned if you want to drive one of those "see-how-big-my-dick-is cars" that's your perogative, but don't whinge about paying for the unnecessary fuel it uses!

If the government was to put a further 100% conservation levy on fuel, maybe we'd all start using less and our kids/grandkids may have enough left for them as well.

Cheers,

P (who drives a 4wd on the beach, and in the mountains, but it isn't a useless big one designed for towing boats and horses)

[Daddles]

In the last six months, my food bill has gone up 30% (yes, I keep records) and my petrol bill has gone up 20% - even more if you just consider the current spike. You can bet that this will not be reflected in the CPI because although these are things I can not avoid paying for and which eat up most of my income, there will other things that go down like the price of shares and Foxtel and the latest CD players and computers and other 'essentials' so the the bastards in their ivory tower in Canberra can claim to be doing a good job. It's no wonder little johnny (deliberate lower case) wants to turn us into a police state - he's not following the bush edict, he's scared we'll turn on him.

Richard

no, rant mode is not flamin' off :mad:

I heard the other day that little johnny's latest nickname is 'bonsai' - because he's a little bush

[zathras]

OK, I'll bite.

I agree it is becoming more difficult to make ends meet.

4WD's are notorious for poor fuel consumption, and the incidence of these things on the roads in the cities is reaching plague proportions. Since most of our population does live in cities there really is no need for these lumbering, intimidating machines for the daily grind through the suburbs.

There seems to be a perception amongst many owners of these behemoths that because of their elevated position, they feel safer, and I suspect feel more powerful by looking down onto others.

These things on petrol usually suck twice as much fuel as a Falcodore, and probably 3 times as much as a small car. If the fuel price does reduce the number of these things on city roads then it is not entirely a bad thing.

For people in the country that have a need, as you seem to be saying, then the price is unfortunate, but it won't go away.

I suspect we can all say goodbye to sub $1 fuel prices, and more get used to $2 prices. Last time I was in Germany it was 1.30 euro for a litre, that is over $2AUD. The fuel is not replaceable, as supply becomes more difficult, the price will rise.

I live in a regional area outside of Melbourne, and have been splitting the journey by driving half way and using, shock horror, a pushbike for the other half (40km+ each day). Never felt fitter. I also do this as my public transport choices also are few and far between, especially if you manage to miss the last train at 6:30 pm :eek:

[Dion N]

The price of fuel will have a big impact on the cost of owning a 4WD, BUT... most people who need to own one (ie farmers, tradesmen etc) can claim the fuel on tax. I suspect that the amount of people who absolutely must have a 4WD just to access their residence and cannot claim some sort of tax rebate is very small.

As for those who need one to display their wealth or who think it provides them with additional safety or who like to go offroad on the weekend or use it to tow the boat/horse float, then their 4WD is really a choice/hobby and hobbies (generally speaking) tend to be expensive, as most of us on the forum know

[DavidG]

I have a 4wd used almost exclusively for pulling a large trailer with a backhoe on it.
I have car for running round town.
Have just bought a motor bike (200cc) for running to and from the block and round town trips were possible.

We need multiple vehicles to manage the different jobs. How about a multi vehicle registration that recognizes I can only be driving one at a time.

[Iain]

I have a Landcruiser which is used used for pulling two bloody big horses as we compete at State level in showjumping and some other events.
Hobby? yes, but really no different to any other sport and we do take it very seriously.
I hate the crap that we have horse for status, we don't, we finance the whole thing apart from a couple of sponsors but that is not that much.
My wife drives a Toyota Starlet, and car pools.
On the day she doesn't drive I take the Starlet.
Other days I have nop choice or do I buy another car, more rego, insurance maintainance etc.
I get really ****** off when people point the finger at my 'Big" car and assume that I don't really need it.
We are after all putting the State on the map and receive no thanks from the State and when we do have a win, it's a damned expensive trophy.

[DanP]

Quite simply, petrol costs about 70c in each dollar more than it should. Both state and fed govt's make a lot more than the oil co's.

I also own a 4X4 to cart around a couple of kids and all the associated crud that goes with them (bit overkill for two kids I know but we plan on more).

A couple of things stated in previous threads that I disagree with.

1. It is a fact that 4x4's are safer than sedans. Even if you only take into consideration the improved vision from the higher seating position.

2. If you really wanted to display your wealth, surely you would purchase a prestige vehicle, not a four wheel drive?

3. If government's really wanted to get 4X4's off the road then why is my 4by rego cheaper than my Station Wagon.

At the end of the day 4X4's are a commercially available vehicle. If I choose to own one then I bluddy well will.

Dan

[Iain]

3. If government's really wanted to get 4X4's off the road then why is my 4by rego cheaper than my Station Wagon.

Dan

I thought they were the same!!!!

[DanP]

Nope, The 4by is $17.60 cheaper.

Dan

[Grunt]

1. It is a fact that 4x4's are safer than sedans. Even if you only take into consideration the improved vision from the higher seating position.

Yes. 4WDs don't have crumple zones. They use the crumple zone of the car they smack into and run over the top of. In a two car crash the bigger one wins.

[PuppyPaw]

if you plan on having kids and lots of the little buggers then a van would be a better option.

I had a friend that was in an accident with a 4x4 (land cruiser to be exact) it was head on doing 60k 4x4 moved from there lane into oncoming traffic. My mate was in a honda accord 94 model.
The 4x4 ran into the front of the car, right through the crumple zone bumper when through the windscreen.
Friend was in a coma for 3 weeks before he passed on, driver of the 4x4 barely got scrathed.

Had the 4x4 been in a car and not a 4x4 my friend what has survived with minimum damage to him.

So it may be safer for those in the driver in the 4x4 but there is more people in this world then 4x4 drivers and they need to be thought about also!

[Dion N]

A couple of things stated in previous threads that I disagree with.

2. If you really wanted to display your wealth, surely you would purchase a prestige vehicle, not a four wheel drive?

3. If government's really wanted to get 4X4's off the road then why is my 4by rego cheaper than my Station Wagon.


Dan

2. A Hilux is not a prestige vehicle. I think a $50000+ 4WD is (eg Range Rover Prado etc)

3. They don't want 4WD off the roads.. more 4WD = more fuel = more tax dollars

[Groggy]

1. It is a fact that 4x4's are safer than sedans. Even if you only take into consideration the improved vision from the higher seating position.

Dan, first let me state that I do not like 4wds that are not necessary (Toorak tractors). Having stated that up front, let me now say that 4x4s are safer than sedans - yes, they are, no argument.

But the argument is fallacious, in the same way a M-60 Main Battle Tank or a truck is safer than a 4x4. If you hit one, you lose the argument.

I did write a bunch of other stuff but snipped it as it would probably cause a protracted argument. Suffice to say the 4x4s are safer for the occupants only, anyone else around is going to get hurt, and pedestrians haven't got much chance either.

[kiwigeo]

My $1.50's worth..

If you think petrol is expensive now wait until the oil starts running out.