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Toyota is basing its production plans on projections that US gas prices could rise as high as $5.00 a gallon as soon as 2015. The Japanese automaker also believes the full-size truck market will experience a significant recovery in the near future. Despite demand for its fuel-efficient Prius hybrid reaching an all-time high, it is unable to increase production of the vehicle until the 2011 model year. But gas hit $4.00 a gallon earlier this year: It seems unlikely that it'll take seven years for it to rise another dollar, so is Toyota being too optimistic with its projections? Bob Carter, general manager for Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A., made the projections in remarks to reporters at and industry conference yesterday. Going on to say that while he expects total full-size truck sales to drop to 1.45 million in 2008, from 2.14 million in 2007, he expects those sales to rebound. "We are absolutely confident that the recovery will take place, it's just arguable when," Carter...
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var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/autos/5_Reasons_Why_High_Gas_Prices_are_Good_for_Real_Drivers'; While people who drive out of necessity are understandably upset about high gas prices , the real enthusiast driver recognizes the positives. Artificially low fuel prices have subsidized an American automotive lifestyle out-of-sync with the needs and desires of serious drivers. And although we're not happy to be forking over the dimes for premium fuel, we've got five reasons the enthusiast is happy the era of cheap gas is over. 5. Less Congestion Higher gas prices mean fewer people driving and more people taking public transit or telecommuting. The most obvious benefit for the real driver is that it opens up the road to those who travel for fun by removing those who merely commute out of necessity. This results in less traffic and, not surprisingly, fewer traffic fatalities , thanks in part to people keeping their Suburbans in the garage. Safer, emptier roads are something all...
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With gas prices continuing their climb, owners are fearfully turning to alternative uses for their devalued SUVs. Whether you have a Suburban , an Excursion or a Sequoia , alternative uses from that sport utility vehicle now that you can't afford to actually drive it are sounding pretty good right now. Here's ten alternative uses for your gas guzzler that won't require you to fill it up first. 10. Public Art Now that Democrats have taken over Congress and Jesse Helms is dead, nothing stands in the way of getting some sweet, sweet National Endowment of the Arts grant money. When putting together your application, make sure to mention how you'll be involving the desecration of some sort of religious artifact or symbol; the grant people at the NEA love that. 9. Holder Of Contraband Doesn't it suck when the ATF, DEA or other governmental agency impinges on your right to stock ammo in preparation for the imminent Canadian invasion? It's not safe to keep automatic weapons...
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As much as it may hurt to have to fill up your car every month (or week), the price of gas still isn't high enough to make trading in for a hybrid a reasonable solution for most, a reality punctuated by the Gas-Mileage Savings Calculator from Edmunds . The calculator takes the value of a trade-in compared to the cost of a more-efficient vehicle and, based on driving distances and the cost of gas, determines how long it would take to break even. For example, we took a 2006 Explorer XLT V8 and compared it to a new Jetta SportWagen TDI at $4.25 a gallon and 1,200 miles a month. At that rate it would take four years to make up the difference. The price of gas would have to rise to a ridiculous $16.50 a gallon to break even within a year — and we don't expect those prices until 2010 or so. Press release below the jump. Gas-Guzzler Trade-In Calculator Introduced by Edmunds.com SANTA MONICA, Calif. — June 30, 2008 — Should you dump the SUV for a gas-sipper? That's...
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GM's two-mode hybrids , the Tahoe and Yukon, along with Chrysler's versions , the Durango and Aspen, have come to an ironic intersection in the tax code: These vehicles are eligible for a hybrid tax credit, yet theoretically should also be hit with the gas-guzzler tax. Does that sound like the world's loopiest loophole to you? We certainly think so. A little history first. Back in '78, when the guzzler tax came into existence, it penalized vehicles that got fewer than a combined 22.5 MPG; however, trucks, vans and SUVs weren't included because they made up such as small percentage of personal vehicles. Fast forward 30 years, there's a Grand Cherokee in every garage and some folks say it's high time to revisit the gas-guzzler tax...and perhaps the hybrid tax credit. Let's just say we can see both sides of the argument. It's probably evidence of how far we haven't come that 22.5 combined MPG doesn't seem all that low to us. Regardless, if we're...
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Not surprisingly, the implosion of the new pickup/SUV market now means that your '06 Silverado doubles in value every time you fill the tank. Large retail groups such as CarMax are reporting wholesale prices for big pickups have plunged 25% in the last three months alone. With trade-in values making up a significant factor in many new car transactions, dealers are finding themselves squeezed by more truck owners "upside-down" in their loans. With dealers unable to finance new purchases, they've resorted to desperate tactics — like leaving truck owners sitting their with their manhood replacements hanging out, unable to trade it in. In a remarkably candid statement revealing where dealerships actually make their money, Poncho Redfern, president of San Francisco-based Thomason Auto Group, said "...you can't outrun it in F&I. There's only so much you can honestly earn in that department. This wreaks havoc on the bottom line. We see people with $10,000...
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As fuel prices rise, gas is rapidly becoming an extremely valuable commodity. And after sharing the five best ways to steal gas last week, we figure it's prudent to do the right thing by providing six of the best ways to protect your gas investment from the shady characters out there wishing to make it their own. 6. Fit A Locking Gas Cap Instructions: Drive an older vehicle with a gas cap and fuel door that don't lock? Aftermarket replacements that do lock are available from most car part stores. Make sure you select one that's designed for your vehicle; this is crucial for safety, security and emissions. Can't find one? Rivet a hasp and padlock onto the fuel door. Pros: Cheap, simple and effective at making lazy gas thieves think twice about choosing your vehicle for fuel pilfering. Cons: Doesn't protect you from a thief who isn't lazy and happens to be handy with a lock pick. 5. Swap Diesel And Gas Badges Instructions: Drive a gasoline-powered car? Swap out all...
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According to an article in the New York Times , some drivers of cars that are supposed to be fueled with premium-grade gasoline are switching to regular gas in an attempt to soothe their wallets. It's all about appearances, after all. Those big illuminated numbers that stare you down every time you fill up at the pump are getting bigger and scarier. But who wants to give up their premium car? Why not just give up the premium gas? We're sure there's plenty of us that have pulled the "octane diet" routine before. But while we may have guiltily pumped mid-grade in our octane-craving machines once or twice when we were in a pinch for cash, these drivers seem to be making the step down from high-octane for good — and without fear of consequences. While it's hard to say how much any potential mechanical damage would actually cost you in the future, why bother taking the risk? Mercedes driver Steve Altman says, "The only thing I've noticed is more money...
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Today brought us news of a purported new solution to high gas prices : SwiftFuel. Currently intended as a replacement for leaded 100-octane aviation fuel, SwiftFuel claims to be ethanol-based, but somehow free from ethanol's negatives such as its lower energy density, incompatibility with gasoline, and propensity to destroy rubber components. How do we know all this? The company's MySpace page told us so. But since we realize social networking sites sometimes contain minor misrepresentations, we decided to dig deeper. What we've discovered, and more importantly, what we still don't know, after the jump. Ordinarily, we wouldn't have given SwiftFuel a second glance due to the snake-oil style claims it makes. But in this case, the information came with a whiff of credibility thanks to a writeup by columnist Robert X. Cringely at PBS.org, including an interview with Mary Russek, half of the husband and wife team behind the company. Factor in the company's web site and...
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With everyone worried about gas prices and thieves drilling into gas tanks , we started thinking about the most fuel-efficient used cars on the market (after we determined that building a Nukchero meant risking ball cancer). After all, who wants to spend their hard-earned dollars on a new car when a quality used one can be yours with little to no effort and very little cash from your pocket. Because mileage estimates differ, we used FuelEconomy.org for cars built after 1985 and MPGomatic for older cars. And to prove this isn't just a philosophical discussion, we've actually gone ahead and done the hard work, finding examples of each of these cars for sale. Right now. Check them out below, then go ahead and make a bid! If your favorite is already sold, help your fellow car-loving brethren out by searching for another and providing the results in the comments below. 10. 1985 Mercedes-Benz 190 Diesel Who says you can't ride in a luxury sedan and still look out for the environment...
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var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/autos/Top_7_Non_US_Fuel_Efficient_Summer_Road_Trip_Cars'; We here at Jalopnik know you want to get out on the open road this summer to make some memories, so we've chosen our favorite fuel-sipping road trip vehicles for those of us who may be hit by a little thing called "the skyrocketing price of gas." Yes, unlike the other "road trip lists" we've seen lately, these are for you, the cost-conscious consumer. And, since we're living in an increasingly globalized economy, we decided to go the extra mile and take a look at what the entire world has to offer. We're new to this whole "dealing with expensive gas" thing in America, but most everyone else got used to it years ago. But, we couldn't just pick any old hypermilling-for-the-masses vehicles; they also had to embody some of that adventurous road trip spirit as well — with a little bit of Jalopnik rolled in for good measure. The rules and the...
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With gas prices approaching the pre-apocalyptic price of $5.00 gallon, it isn't just an issue that impacts the budgets of the working poor. Unless you're a Shell executive, the average Jalopnik might start feeling the pinch soon. Even if you take advantage of our seven ways to save gas , the cost of a fill-up for those having to commute long distances to work is moving towards a sex-in-the-back-of-a-VW level of discomfort. This begs the question: Are current gas prices starting to seriously alter your driving habits? Worse, is fuel starting to cut into your regular income in a way that means balancing the checkbook now requires a graphing calculator, grad student and Ouija Board?
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newVideoPlayer("KC-Fire.flv", 494, 371,""); It looks like the Magellan Oil Refinery's just what the gas price doctor ordered to make sure those high Memorial Day prices stay around the same price as the per-pound-sticker on a Kansas City strip steak. OK, maybe that's just what "Big Oil's" doctor may have ordered. We're not so much happy about what just happened in Kansas City when a storm moved through the area yesterday and set Magellan's huge 1.2 million gallon vat of unleaded ablaze, clouding the landscape with acrid black smoke. At first when we heard the reports of the thick smoke, we thought maybe Kansas City had oversized its jets or needed to drop the needles a bit, as it seemed to be running on the rich side. Alas, this was not the case. ( Hat tip to Johnny! ) [ Fox4News ]
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Filing up your E85 vehicle might initially feel better due to prices that are, on average, about 20% cheaper than regular octane, but the joke is on you. Because gas engines burn the typically corn-based fuel less efficiently, the adjusted cost of E85 is $4.321 per gallon compared to gas that averaged about $3.962 on Friday. Even in states that subsidize the cost of the fuel, like New York and Iowa, the difference still results in prices that are equal to or worse than the price of regular gasoline. Though this still means you are using less dino juice, we feel that this is offset by the disruption of food crops and the fertilizer runoff that is impacting the Gulf of Mexico. Maybe you should look into Algae power . [ Kicking Tires ]
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With our MSPaint-level cartographic skills and a batch of gas data from the always instructive GasBuddy.com we present to you the average gas prices by state. The cheapest gas by average is found in Wyoming ($3.646 per gallon), where no one lives, while the most expensive gas is in Connecticut and Hawaii ($4.171), where people take helicopters and boats to work. The least expensive city to buy gas in is Tucson, Arizona at $3.564 for regular. The three most expensive cities are Milwaukee ($4.154), Chicago ($4.186) and Bridgeport ($4.194), which is nice because guess who is taking a road trip from Chicago to Milwaukee and back this weekend? Awesome. [Source: GasBuddy.com ]
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