Fuel Prices How bad is it affecting the average Aussie?

[DirtyDawg]

Just a curiosity question after I read that Rangie5lt can only afford a once a month 4wd outing and the fact my local fuel station has had a 400% increase in drive offs this month.
As for me personally its a tax deduction so I really don't care what it the price is but there must be a lot of people hurting as even their hobbies/interests are being shut down due to family budget constraints..
For example My Apprentice gets a $10 per day fuel allowance, last year got him 10lts a day which was more than ample to work and play now it nets him 7lts which just makes the work run if it increases to the $2 per /lt as expected by Xmas he will have to fund extra from his meager $250 per week salary. How many others will suffer I wonder..?

[hiline]

i'm in the same boat as you ............tax deduction style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif

so it really doesn't effect me much either

and if it did i would just charge people more for their jobs :wink: :wink:

so they would suffer not me 8O style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif :wink:

[RR5L]

Whilst you run your own Business or are a contractor and can write your fuel of legitamately thats great. Those who work for wages would be feeling it. Time will come where three options could be exersiced hit the boss for a payrise find work closer to home or catch public transport.

I know I would love to find work closer to home, it annoys me losing any where from 1-2 hours a day just travling to work depending on traffic.

I guess that where i like owning a rice burner for the daily driver and the Rangie for weekends. Even on Gas it still has a healthy appitite :wink:

[matbor]

Will this be australia soon....

http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~malin/pictures/geneva2004/geneva/scooters%20galore.JPG

I know that I don't notice the $90 odd a week that goes missing into the fuel tank, the thing is when u average the fuel cost out over a year it isn't that bad !!! Also if i wasn't spending it on the disco I would spend it on something stupid anyway !!!

Anyhow my girlfriend has just got a job near me so i think we will be taking her car to work from now on, she was a nice new mazda3 style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif

Matt.

[UncleHo]

G'day Folks.
I can only dream of being able to have it as a tax deduction :roll: but being one of those "well off" pensioners that Little Johnny boasts of, I am realy hurting style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/sad.gif seeing that the last pension increase was about 2years ago $3.20 per fortnight, and I was paying 84 cents a litre then :roll: And my closest shop is a 6klm retrurn trip, if I could ride a bicycle that would be my current ride style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif

[maggsie]

The fuel prices are creating a myriad problems. Already people are turning to welfare agencies for help just to fund their fuel costs. Escalating transport costs will impact severely on regional areas creating a vicious circle for the people and businesses that are transport dependant. Also spare a thought for the "Grey Set" who are driving around the country, they will travel less and again the tourist areas will feel the pinch from reduced numbers.
The only winners are the greed driven oil companies ( and I work for a US based one!). The worst aspect is that there is little choice, pay the price or don't drive the car!
The gap between the 'have and the have nots' is becoming wider.

[JDNSW]

I am effectively a self funded retiree trying to run a drought stricken farm on my pension - and even though some of my fuel is tax deductible, you have to make a profit first! And that is a good way off with wool prices the lowest they have ever been in real terms, and the drought continuing.
But to put the fuel prices in perspective, they have increased a lot less than some other costs :- for example, with the council merger forced on this area my rates have gone up 60%, rental on leased (non-existent) roads, up 1400%, insurance up, red tape costs up, medical costs up, and so on.

Running a vehicle, even now the fuel cost is typically well under half the total running cost. NRMA figures a week or two ago give the cost about $200/week for a Commodore or Falcon, with about 20% of that fuel. This prompted me to look at my own costs (I have complete records). For the 110, over fourteen years it has averaged $159/week, or 36c/km, with fuel being 19% of this or 7c/km. If youjust look at last financial year it is $174/week or 41c/km, of which fuel is 10.5c/km or about 26%. Recent fuel price increases will have raised this to maybe 30-35% of total costs. But the point is that the fixed costs (Capital cost, depreciation, insurance, rego) are almost always well over half total costs. The thing that bites about fuel price is we get reminded how much it is costing every few days.

[eXit]

the price of fuel atm is killing me style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/sad.gif

i'm a second yeear carpentry apprentice and get a MASSIVE $11:22 a day in travel allowance. that get's tacked ontop of my MASSIVE $366:00 b4 tax wages. my travel allowance increases if i have to travel more than 50klms from the gpo here in town. my current job is 51klms away style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/sad.gif

it's a bit hard for me to catch public transport to and from work for 2 reasons.

1. u try lugging tools on public transport ( and i have alot of them )

and

2. the public transport system in tassie SUCKS !!!

you offten hear sydney ppls whinge about their trains... AT LEAST THEY HAVE TRAINS!! yeah we have busses, they are overpriced, poorly scheduled and most STOP running around 6:00pm ffs style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/sad.gif

we have the tdi disco and a 1964 Mk1 cortina on SI reg. so we can only use the cortina 52times a year. this is going to have to go back to full registration soon, i'm using it too much now and i'm going to run out of days soon style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/sad.gif so that's an extra expence ( Special Interest registration is 1/2 cost of normal reg due to reduced insurance premiums )

i alternate what veh i take to work according to the wife's requirement that day. the cortina runs on Prem ULP only so fuel price is the same for both.
the cortina cost me $60:00 this week and the disco $50:00 that's just under twice my travel allowance for the week >(
my travel allowance used to cover my fuel costs for the week, even with out of town jobs >(

as a result of these horrible fuel prices, the meager funds i had available to perform basic maintenance on my cars has dissapeared into the tank >(. both my cars need tlc atm (service...filters..etc..)and fuel efficiency is starting to become affected.

if fuel prices go up much more I'm screwed. i mean what do i do?

do i choose to go to work? pay my mortgage? pay bills? or feed my family? one of them will have to go.

:evil:

X

[landrovermick]

Hi there - I filled up last night 83 litres of diesel for $114.00. but with my fuel voucher i got a whole $4.00 off. - i feel sooo lucky..... if a bloke could swear in these forums i would.

Makes me feel like being that bloke in the move falling down and going to the HO of a couple of oil companies....... jack the price up 50% and give them a 4c/litre discount....... assholes !

On top of that all the petrol drives are going off - FFS diesel has been over $1.25 for friggin ages- welcome to my world I say!!

i guess the up side is that mrs shopping torlley - school bus 4x4 drivers may get off the roads, bringing less focus on the rest of us.

OK thats me off the soapbox - good thread Nige !

Mick

[cols110]

If it continues you will probably end up like we are in Europe, driving smaller cars. Our 110 rarely gets used for day to day travel, its really just a toy now. I&#96;m lucky and can cycle to work, and my Misses car is a VW Golf, with the TDI we usually get around 60mpg, so with that sort of economy the price of fuel is&#96;nt affecting us to much, the big thing is where I used to think nothing of using our 110, I now think do I really need to drive it, or can we use her golf.

But soon it wont matter to much, we&#96;re on the move to Dubai in a few months, so it&#96;ll be back to V8 driving. style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif

[George130]

People are hurting. My brother-in-law is a truckie and they are saying its almost not worth it now. If prices go up he will stop driving unless the runs pay more.

[broonski]

well,

as i'm only working casual atm (two days a week), i only get $234 a week (after tax) and because i live 1 hour, each way, from work and drive a V8 Rangie, $100 of that goes into my tank each week...

$234 p/w is just not enough...

i'm either going to have to find work closer to home or give up driving the old girl... :cry: :cry:

cheers,
bryce

[DaveS3]

Similar situation to Bryce.

I am a full time student with 27 contact hours (Alot for a uni student) and can olny work casually at weekends.
I have recently been working more trying to earn $$$ to do things but have only just started driving the Landy again, as I have recently been riding to work (free 8) ) and catching the train to uni as i have always done as it saves about 10minutes and fuel money.

Went on a trip on saturday and filled up 90litres at $1.34/L
My wallet hurts - this is about half a weekly earning (or somtimes more as a day off = less $$$)

Plan is to drive as little as possible, save and but a suzuki as a run about thrash machine as they get abour 350km / 30L as opposed to 350km / 60L in the Stage 1.

Now, anyone know where to find a cheapish gas kit? style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif

Dave. style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif

[lewy110]

I ride my pushie to work most days. With premium at $1.40+ a litre it makes driving the 110 a costly experience.

I have the motorbike to fall back on aswell. But even that isn't as cheap to run anymore.

[p38arover]

I haven't noticed it much. I fuelled up the Rangie today at 36 cents/litre - (8 cents discount). I mainly use LPG.

I don't drive it any less.

I get free travel on government public transport but I never (OK, very rarely) use it as the trains don't suit my shifts (no buses).

For example, currently I work 17km from home. It takes about 20 minutes. To travel by public transport means a 20 minute walk to the railway station (I'm not leaving the RR at the station when I'm on a 11pm-7am shift - I see too many cars damaged or broken into). The train trip is 30 minutes. The train arrives at work either 30 minutes after start time or 30 minutes before. So that means that if I travel by public transport , my trip effectively takes 1 hour longer to get here. Getting home is better, it only takes 50 minutes.

If I work at Katoomba which is 45km from home, my train trip takes 1 hour and it gets to work 50 minutes early or 10 minutes late. But the bloke I'm relieving doesn't want to or can't hang around as his train will have already left (and it's the last one - the next isn't for 5 hours or more). So I have 20 mins walk + 60 mins train + 50 mins early = 2 hrs 10 mins. It's a 40 minute drive. Going home is slightly better - or it can be worse, depending on the shift.

You can see why I don't use public transport.

Ron

[VladTepes]

How does it affect us :?:

I drive the Defender to work so at least I get more kms per litre out of it being a diesel than I would if I had a petrol vehicle.

I have NO option of public transport as the closest train station to me is still 5 or 10 minutes away and the airport train doesn't run at times to suit shift workers anyway :roll: I DO car pool with a mate that lives up the road and works with me, and I'm very lucky to be able to do so I guess.

Michelle has the Range and its a 30km (?) trip each way to work so being a petrol guzzling V8 if prohibitively expensive 8O 8O 8O. She can't take the Defender to work on days I'm car pooling because its height doesn't allow it into almost any car parks in town. She is forced to catch public transport to and from work, but because the public transport system to Redcliffe is so poor she has to return to the Rangie if she's on an earlier or later shift coz there are no buses then :!: :twisted: :roll: So yes its puting a dent in the pocket that bloody hurts. I try not to think about it too much as it just depresses me.


Oh and a comment regarding those 'running costs' publiched by NRMA etc is that they do include depreciation. So it's realistic IF you have purchased a NEW vehicle with your OWN money and intend to SELL it later. For those of us who bought our $100,000 Range Rovers 10 years later at $12,500 at least someone else has taken THAT hit for us style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif
So really it boils down to: A big 4wd (say Range Rover) costs more to run and service than a small buzzbox (say Daihatsu Sirion). Well if anybody needed the NRMA to publish that in order to know it, then they don't deserve a licence in the first place. style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif

[p38arover]

Oh, I forgot to mention that I used to drive 60km each way to the City (1-1/2 to 2 hours each way) in the Rangie in my last job and that was to a place where I COULD travel by public transport.

One of the reasons I won't travel by public transport is that smokers get on trains and sit near me. Yes, I know they can't smoke on trains anymore but I cannot stand the smell of a smoker anywhere near me.

Even when I drive it's a problem. People smoke in their cars in front of me and the smoke gets sucked into my car (noticeable at traffic lights). I have to switch the aircon to recirculation mode.

Walking around town is a problem as you can imagine.


Ron

[JDNSW]

Originally posted by VladTepes
How does it affect us :?:

(snip)

Oh and a comment regarding those 'running costs' publiched by NRMA etc is that they do include depreciation. So it's realistic IF you have purchased a NEW vehicle with your OWN money and intend to SELL it later. For those of us who bought our $100,000 Range Rovers 10 years later at $12,500 at least someone else has taken THAT hit for us :)
So really it boils down to: A big 4wd (say Range Rover) costs more to run and service than a small buzzbox (say Daihatsu Sirion). Well if anybody needed the NRMA to publish that in order to know it, then they don't deserve a licence in the first place. :lol:

The NRMA figures include both depreciation and capital opportunity cost - and you are incurring these even if you don't intend to sell. But as you correctly point out, the way to reduce them very substantially is to buy second hand, and keep the car for a long time. OK, the maintenance costs increase (or maybe not - seen the servicing charges on new cars lately?), but even so they will be less, probably a lot less, than the amount you have saved on capital cost and depreciation.
But even if you ignore the depreciation and capital costs, and even with fuel at current prices, fuel will still only represent around half of the running costs by the time you take in rego, green slip, insurance, tyres, maintenance, repairs.

[George130]

I still drive the same but then I'm 80k's from work. My hours are to unstable to use the local bus firm. I'm also on a lease plan so need to do the k's anyway.

[PhilipA]

I ride my Honda 900m Hornet to work in the Sydney CBD from home 30Km in Mona Vale at 5.2 L per 100KM. Petrol has gone from $15 to $20 a week. Its getting hard (the seat that is) after 5years and at 56.
Runaround is 93 Mazda 121 which gets 7.5 or so L per 100Km. Wife now works in Mona Vale so about $25 every 3 weeks.
So we have not changed our routine at all.
But of course we ruin it with a day out in the Range Rover. Have not really gone 4wd this winter. Missed the Watagans because I had the bloody flu. But I reckon we could go away once a month and still be under OZ average. But that 140 litre tank fill hurts a bit, although you can tend to pick and choose when to buy, currently 127.9 minus another 4 cents for Visa at Mona Vale.
regards Philip A

[Ace]

The budget was tight before the price of fuel rose, now its stretched to its limit. I have alot of trips on in the next few weeks but after that it will be a bit light because I need to save the money for other things. Having enough cash each fortnight (if i skimped on other luxuries like take away food and buying my lunch at work instead of taking it from home) to have two tanks, or 1 and a half, this cover a trip if needed and to and from work each day. Now i struggle to fill the disco, and have to save every Km so i have enough to get to work at the end of the fortnight. To plan for a 4wd trip is difficult as you shouldnt need to save up the cash to pay for a day trip in your local area. Its at the point now where we are selling Stacey's Commodore to get a tiny 4cyl like a Laser or something for me to drive to and from work in so the disco's fuel can be stretched out that much further. Matt

[p38arover]

Originally posted by Ace
Its at the point now where we are selling Stacey's Commodore to get a tiny 4cyl like a Laser or something for me to drive to and from work in so the disco's fuel can be stretched out that much further. Matt

Time to get out the spreadsheet, Matt.

What average (over months, not days) economy do you get from
:
The Disco? 11 litres/100km?
The Commodore? 15 litres/100km?

What will you get out of the Laser? 9 litres/100km? I base this on figures we got from our Ford Probe (10 litre/100km) and the Forester (11 litres/100km). Admittedly, you live outside the city so your economy may be better still.

Based on those figures, how many km will you need to travel to get break even with the changeover cost?

Do you own the Commodore? Will you need to take out a loan for the Laser? What will the interest charge total? I think the trade-in value of the Commodore will be lower today than it was a few weeks ago. People are looking to change to smaller cars - and the smaller ones will be inflated in value (if second hand).

What will it cost for insurance for the Laser vs the Commodore? I ask because the insurance my wife's Probe was $1200 per annum for $19,000 cover vs $550 for $36,000 cover on my Rangie. $650 buys a lot of petrol at the incremental difference between 15 litres/100km and 9 litres/100km.

As you can see, the savings at the petrol pump may make you feel better in the immediate term but the long term savings may not be there.

For me, the only reason to change would be to get greater peace of mind (owning a LR makes that self-explanatory).

Ron

[DiscoTDI]

My company vehicle is a cruiser trayback. I am currently doing between 1200 and 1500 klm per week in this ute which gets 6.5klm per litre highway cycle (yes its a diesel), so hold a smile to your face the next time you pass a cruiser as you know that poor bastard is really paying for it and yours is not that bad :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: :twisted:

My V8 gets better mileage than that 8)

[rangie5litre]

G'day All,
quote
i'm either going to have to find work closer to home or give up driving the old girl...

cheers,
bryce

I hear you Bryce! Ours is a single income family with the 5L V8 Rangie and my wife's 3L V6 Magna wagon

I sold my caravan over the weekend, didn't even get to spend one night in it! :cry: The major trip in 2007 is off too.
I was averaging around 24L per 100km commuting in the Rangie driving very sedately, using the torque curve to the max using all my traffic reading skills I learnt from years of driving trucks just to avoid stopping and starting. Probably drove the people behind me nuts too!

I just couldn't afford the $65+ a week to commute to and from work over 6 days, it's only 180km 8O Well, as I said the 'van will be getting picked up this weekend, I pick up my new commuting transport on Thursday night, it's a 1983 Suzuki GSX 250. $90 rego, $160 CTP and about $10 a week in fuel if I go the long way and miss most of the traffic. The Rangie is due for rego in January 2006 and there is a very real chance it will be sold for whatever I can get for it before then. Don't need the power or towing capacity without the caravan and there's no point having it sitting in the driveway unregistered. Looks like we will be a one car Family very soon :cry:
It's funny 8O when I was a broke 17 year old all I could afford to run was an old 250cc motorbike, here we are 30 years and two marriages on and I can still only afford an old 250cc motorbike :roll:

Just my 2.2 cents worth. I think I'll go and have a good :cry:

Cheers Scott.

[Ace]

Originally posted by p38arover+--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(p38arover)</div><div class='quotemain'><!--QuoteBegin-Ace
Its at the point now where we are selling Stacey's Commodore to get a tiny 4cyl like a Laser or something for me to drive to and from work in so the disco's fuel can be stretched out that much further. Matt

Time to get out the spreadsheet, Matt.

What average (over months, not days) economy do you get from
:
The Disco? 11 litres/100km?
The Commodore? 15 litres/100km?

What will you get out of the Laser? 9 litres/100km? I base this on figures we got from our Ford Probe (10 litre/100km) and the Forester (11 litres/100km). Admittedly, you live outside the city so your economy may be better still.

Based on those figures, how many km will you need to travel to get break even with the changeover cost?

Do you own the Commodore? Will you need to take out a loan for the Laser? What will the interest charge total? I think the trade-in value of the Commodore will be lower today than it was a few weeks ago. People are looking to change to smaller cars - and the smaller ones will be inflated in value (if second hand).

What will it cost for insurance for the Laser vs the Commodore? I ask because the insurance my wife's Probe was $1200 per annum for $19,000 cover vs $550 for $36,000 cover on my Rangie. $650 buys a lot of petrol at the incremental difference between 15 litres/100km and 9 litres/100km.

As you can see, the savings at the petrol pump may make you feel better in the immediate term but the long term savings may not be there.

For me, the only reason to change would be to get greater peace of mind (owning a LR makes that self-explanatory).

Ron[/b][/quote]

Hi Ron, the Laser is only a 1.6L fuel injected motor so they would probably get around 7-8L/100km maybe less. We are only talking a $2000 run about, change over is negligible, you just ask the seller to say you paid $500. No loan required, we will sell Stacey's car and just run mine for a while. Its just a run about car to stop me putting Km's on the Disco and to save a bit on fuel. If there is no change over cost, even 1L/100km difference is a saving. Matt

[slaughts]

The fuel prices are certainly making an impact for me, I drive a commodore approx 20km to work each way (200km/wk) and the wife drives an astra approx 25km each way (200km/wk). The advantage is that most of that is hi way driving (commodores best fuel ecconomy). it starts to make you think about playing sport and the like as I currently travel to Gladstone twice a week for touch footy too another 100km/wk. Not to mention theother running around visiting family and friends. There is not one time for the busses that suit.

On this thought, has anyone tried something like hi clones etc, do they work? :?:

[VladTepes]

Oh nodon;t get a Hi-Clone debate going :!: :roll:


(For my opinion - they don't.)

[JDNSW]

Originally posted by slaughts


On this thought, has anyone tried something like hi clones etc, do they work? :?:

The most effective thing you can get to reduce fuel consumption (other than get a more economical vehicle) is to get a stronger spring on the accelerator, and drive as if the brakes don't work.
Once you get over about 60kph most of the resistance to travel is aerodynamic, and that is proportional to the square of the speed, so reducing speed is usually quite effective at reducing fuel consumption. Every time you use the brakes, you are converting kinetic energy that you have gained from burning petrol (or diesel) into heat - if you drive to avoid this, you save that fuel.

[p38arover]

I sometimes wonder what fuel economy I'd get if I drove sensibly.

I get frustrated at drivers who travel slowly, won't get of the way for those of us who want to travel above the speed limit, hog the RH lane etc.

Depending upon where I'm working I'll do between 200 and 500km per week just going to/from work. That's still less than I was driving the Rangie in my last job.

Ron

[Captain_Rightfoot]

This fuel cost is getting pretty bad. Having said that, we are doing better than most luckily. This is due to a few reasons.

Firstly, we only live 7 k from town, so a return trip is less than 20k. Normally we only drive to the city two days a week, and I catch a bus the other days. The missus usually does less than 50k running around, so we actually have to drive less than 100k a week. Most of our k's are discretionary.

Secondly, we have three very fuel efficient cars. The MINI is not too bad, and the lotus runs on a oily rag, which still astonishes me given it's supercar performance (how does 6.5 secs 0-100 and 8L/100km around town sound). Also, the landrover has saved our bacon. For most of our running around it is using five litres less fuel per 100k than our v6 camry that it replaced style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif Totally whacky. style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif

So, I guess we are lucky. It hasn't come to a point when we have said "can't afford the fuel to go there". Please don't howl me down, but I do think it's probably a good thing for the environment in the long term. Australians are a wastefull mob style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/sad.gif

[rmp]

Fuel prices in Australia are nothing compared to Europe, where a big car is considered a Vectra and most families would be driving Golfs and Astras, not Commodores. The other day the pizza guy turned up driving a V8 Commodore. Not many countries where you'd get that.

Having said all that the prices are too high too quickly and while I agree with Rightfoot about the environment, the problem is that many Australians have little choice but to use a vehicle so we have a real problem. If it was the case that most mileage was discrentionary, then sure prices wouldn't be a problem, but this thread has highlighted how much those fuel costs hurt a lot of people.

The real answer is of course public transport, not wider freeways, investment in alternative fuels and drivers trained to be more fuel efficient. However, I can't see that being the goverment's priority.

[dungarover]

To answer the question, yes.

As a plasterer, I do a bit of travelling around (at least the scenery changes style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif ) so running Thomas can be costly, especially now. Spent $110 last week on fuel and I only did 350 kms mostly town/city driving 8O

We (it's a family affair our job) have now purchased a van with 3 seats to cut the costs of fuel so Thomas is now a weekend basher, plus if I break something I don't have to worry about not getting to work on the Monday style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif

Regards of the fuel costs, no diesel will reside under the bonnet of Thomas EVER :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: :twisted:

Trav

[Captain_Rightfoot]

Originally posted by rmp
Having said all that the prices are too high too quickly and while I agree with Rightfoot about the environment, the problem is that many Australians have little choice but to use a vehicle so we have a real problem. If it was the case that most mileage was discrentionary, then sure prices wouldn't be a problem, but this thread has highlighted how much those fuel costs hurt a lot of people.
You're right... the problem is they have gone up so quickly. This means that people decisions about transport that were right early last year aren't right anymore. It really costs to change horse too style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/sad.gif

[Ace]

Well, we bought one. Today Stacey and i bought a 1988 Laser run about to run into the ground over the next 3 or so years, cost us $1900, only thing wrong with it is a leaking tappet cover gasket which i will hopefully change tomorrow. Runs well, and uses bugger all fuel, this is good because now we can save a bit of money each week, and I am not running up short run type Km up on the disco which is wreaking havoc with the injectors and fuel consumption. The disco is now reserved for 4wding and longer runs when we need the space for all our gear, I will take the Laser to school each day and on the odd occasion that Stacey needs to go into town she can use the disco. Matt

[rmp]

http://www.gpsvehiclenavigation.com/rmisc/prices-too-far.jpg

[JDNSW]

Originally posted by rmp
Fuel prices in Australia are nothing compared to Europe, where a big car is considered a Vectra and most families would be driving Golfs and Astras, not Commodores. The other day the pizza guy turned up driving a V8 Commodore. Not many countries where you'd get that.

Having said all that the prices are too high too quickly and while I agree with Rightfoot about the environment, the problem is that many Australians have little choice but to use a vehicle so we have a real problem. If it was the case that most mileage was discrentionary, then sure prices wouldn't be a problem, but this thread has highlighted how much those fuel costs hurt a lot of people.

The real answer is of course public transport, not wider freeways, investment in alternative fuels and drivers trained to be more fuel efficient. However, I can't see that being the goverment's priority.

The major difference compared to Europe is that distances here (both around town and between towns) are generally a lot greater, and the population density is a lot lower. This means that public transport is a lot more expensive, and so is used a lot less. In the major cities where it could be used more it has been discredited to a large extent by poor management, usually by the state government, unreliability due to union action, perceived danger (largely a media beat-up), poor service because of all of the above.

Outside the major cities there is little public transport. For example, where I live there is one bus a week each way to town - and it leaves from the village six kilometres from here. I have to go to Sydney for cancer treatment today - need to get a lift into town, catch the bus to Lithgow and the train from there. There is one train a day each way, but it leaves at lunchtime and gets in about 9pm, so you have to go the previous day. Used to be a night train but it stopped thirty years ago.

[VladTepes]

Originally posted by JDNSW
Used to be a night train but it stopped thirty years ago.

Ran out of fuel :?:

[seqfisho]

Originally posted by aquarangie


Regards of the fuel costs, no diesel will reside under the bonnet of Thomas EVER :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: :twisted:

Trav


Cmon Trav you know you really want an oiler under the bonnet :wink:

Give in to the force Luke, come to the dark side style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif

[seqfisho]

The next federal election will be one or lost over fuel costs/pricing :x


And if the incumbant government doesn't act they WILL be out on their ass 8O regardless of the oppositions policies.


Petrol prices affect everyone everyday and will not be easily swept under the rug by the current administration :evil:

We wont forget :evil: :evil: :evil:

[Disco300Tdi]

Just punch in your post code for the cheapest petrol price in your area. !

Unfortunately for Mexicans only

www.petrol.racv.com.au

[rangie5litre]

G'day All,

I sold the 'van, bought an old 250cc road bike to ride to work. 3L/100km if I thrash it
8O

Rangie is for sale in the 'for sale' forum, if I don't do any good there I'll see if I can swap it with a cash adjustment for an old Zook, so I can still run up to the beach without getting a personal loan for a tank of petrol $110!

It'd be a waste to have the Rangie just sit in the drive..... :roll:

I rode past my regular servo on the way home from work today, all the cars lining up to save 3c a litre! let's see, if I filled the bike from empty I'd save 36c 8O

Cheers Scott

[DiscoTDI]

I believe the main problem is that the govt hits the little man too much, I am working around equipment on a daily basis that has fuel tanks bigger than any of your cars running up and down haul roads on a daily basis probably using what any car tank will hold in less than an hour yet the company still manages a $650million dollar profit. Makes you wonder where the govt could actually make the money from rather than everyday people :?

[pullsy]

Just heard on the radio that fuel excise is going to be raised early next year to fund alternative fuel research which no doubt will hike fuel prices even more. The report was only a byline on the local stations news but caught my attention. Cheers,
Pullsy

[VladTepes]

Originally posted by pullsy
Just heard on the radio that fuel excise is going to be raised early next year to fund alternative fuel research which no doubt will hike fuel prices even more. The report was only a byline on the local stations news but caught my attention. Cheers,
Pullsy

Of course it will increase prices.

The government says it is "reviewing" this plan.
Beware - this is usually political speak for:
"Lay off us for a while, and we'll spring this on you later at which time it will be too late".

Bastards :!:

http://www.smh.com.au/news/business/petrol...6982039847.html (http://www.smh.com.au/news/business/petrol-tax-rise-not-set-in-stone-pm/2005/09/20/1126982039847.html)

This story contains the following fascinating, and unlikely, quote:

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE</div><div class='quotemain'>Earlier today Industry Minister Ian Macfarlane said the federal government and oil companies wouldn't make any extra money from an increase in the fuel excise, .[/b][/quote]

Hmm, obviously maths is not his strong point.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE</div><div class='quotemain'>"It's a break-even situation and will only apply for two years."[/b][/quote]
2 years :?: Yeah, right, heard THAT before :!: :twisted:

and exactly who is breaking even on it :?: Not me that's for sure.

[seqfisho]

I always thought the excise was a % not capped at 38c, so with the recent increases the oil companies are the ones ripping us off and they should be hung out to dry for it :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil:

[Captain_Rightfoot]

It would certainly appear they are under pressure style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif

http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/20050...09/s1464422.htm (http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200509/s1464422.htm)

[DEFENDERZOOK]

<span style="color:blue">this is a picture of the fuel guage from disconuts old V8.....</span>



http://www.aulro.com/albums/album276/image00111.jpg

[George130]

We were talking about that at work today. 1 cent a litre :evil: :evil: plus GST so actually 1.1c a litre!

[p38arover]

Originally posted by VladTepes
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE</div><div class='quotemain'>"It's a break-even situation and will only apply for two years."
2 years :?: Yeah, right, heard THAT before :!: :twisted: [/b][/quote]

Does anyone from NSW remember the 3x3 fuel levy - 3 cents for 3 years?

Now how many years has that been in place? I note all the 3x3 signs have been removed from our highways.

Ron

[seqfisho]

Originally posted by p38arover+--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(p38arover)</div><div class='quotemain'><!--QuoteBegin-VladTepes
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE</div><div class='quotemain'>"It's a break-even situation and will only apply for two years."
2 years :?: Yeah, right, heard THAT before :!: :twisted: [/b][/quote]

Does anyone from NSW remember the 3x3 fuel levy - 3 cents for 3 years?

Now how many years has that been in place? I note all the 3x3 signs have been removed from our highways.

Ron[/b][/quote]


No Ron, they are just rewriting them to read





3x3xForever The Best Ripoff By Far style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif

[p38arover]

Originally posted by seqfisho

3x3xForever The Best Ripoff By Far style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif

Welcome to NSW, highy taxed one day, even more the next.

Ron

[seqfisho]

Originally posted by p38arover+--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(p38arover)</div><div class='quotemain'><!--QuoteBegin-seqfisho

3x3xForever The Best Ripoff By Far style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif

Welcome to NSW, highy taxed one day, even more the next.

Ron[/b][/quote]

Just one of the reasons for my migration north :roll: :wink:

[Ace]

Its going to get that high that the government has no choice but to do something, only problem is, how high is that? Matt

[Grizzly_Adams]

The day little Johnny has to catch a bus to work as the government can't afford to pay his limo's fuel costs...

[DiscoTDI]

Originally posted by Grizzly_Adams
The day little Johnny has to catch a bus to work as the government can't afford to pay his limo's fuel costs...


A VW Golf would be a limo for Johnny :twisted: , could you imagine the one for Beazley it would be at least a Mack style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif

[dungarover]

As I look at this thread, I must have rocks in my head considering fitting a 4.4 P76 Leyland V8 to Thomas :oops: :oops: .

Hopefully (not bloody likely) that fuel consumption may be a bit better, but the extra power I will be having fun anyway, so that throws that idea out the window :twisted: :twisted:

Ah well, you get that.

Trav

[VladTepes]

Originally posted by aquarangie
As I look at this thread, I must have rocks in my head considering fitting a 4.4 P76 Leyland V8 to Thomas :oops: :oops: .

Trav

Are you sure its not a big end problem ?
With any half decent air filter the larger rocks shouldn't have made their way in there... style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif

[dungarover]

Originally posted by VladTepes+--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(VladTepes)</div><div class='quotemain'><!--QuoteBegin-aquarangie
As I look at this thread, I must have rocks in my head considering fitting a 4.4 P76 Leyland V8 to Thomas :oops: :oops: .

Trav

Are you sure its not a big end problem ?
With any half decent air filter the larger rocks shouldn't have made their way in there... style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif[/b][/quote]

Buggard if I know, I really don't care and I like my V8. No smart arse pollie or do-gooder is going to tell me what I can and can't drive (call me a non-conformist :twisted: :twisted: )

Less cars on the road I guess, also less idiot drivers so there's a brighter note on the issue style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif

Trav

Trav

[Reads90]

Hear you lot does make me laugh a bit style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif

In the uk feul is creeping very fast up to $3 a ltr. At the moment it is at $2.94 at some places :?

i am looking forward to your cheap feul

The goverment takes 75% tax on feul then charge 17.5% VAT (our GST) on top of that

The trucks here, and everyone really ,is getting really ****ed off and there is going to protest and stuff soon.

As the goverment is getting 2 Billion £ more a year in tax as the feul has gone up. All due to there % amount has gone up with the price
To give an idea of what we have in the UK i shall explain
(Forget the exchange rate)

Average wage Uk £20,000
Cost of feul £1.1 ltr

Average Aus wage $42,000 (so i have been lead to belive)
Cost of Feul $1.25 ltr

So on that, as a percentage of your wages your feul is half the cost of ours.

And don't get me started on all the other taxes and stuff the labour w***** Blair is Bu** f****** us with at the moment. And they are going to get worse. The uk is heading (very Fast) towards a resestion.
Houses are not seeling at all. All Prices are rising Due to the Feul. The inflation is going up because feul is going up and then that means the Goverment puts up the interest rates. This means even less houses selling, and less people buying stuff. No trade of shop are busy and have not been for most of the year. Most weeks you hear big companys laying off people

Mind you not as bad as the Germans. But hey they desve it style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif

[incisor]

mate

you wont be laughing when you see the distances you drive to get from a to b style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tongue.gif

most sunday drives here would get you to scotland and back over there style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tongue.gif

[Reads90]

Originally posted by incisor
mate

you wont be laughing when you see the distances you drive to get from a to b style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tongue.gif

most sunday drives here would get you to scotland and back over there style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tongue.gif

Yeah good point

[rmp]

Originally posted by incisor
mate

you wont be laughing when you see the distances you drive to get from a to b style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tongue.gif

most sunday drives here would get you to scotland and back over there style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tongue.gif

I don't agree with that. The average Aussie mileage per year is something like 15,000km. The average European mileage is more like 25,000. When I last lived there I was doing 80,000km a year.

When was the last time Joe Average (not us here) drove interstate, or out of the big city? Not all that often. Whereas in Europe because the freeways are quicker very often you'll drive many kms to get somewhere. We regualrly used to drive 50km into town for a night out. My drive to work used to be 75km which took 35 minutes.

And I agree with Reads90, imagine the fuel prices in Europe, we over here have got it easy in comparison.

[George130]

Originally posted by rmp+--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(rmp)</div><div class='quotemain'><!--QuoteBegin-incisor
mate

you wont be laughing when you see the distances you drive to get from a to b style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tongue.gif

most sunday drives here would get you to scotland and back over there style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tongue.gif

I don't agree with that. The average Aussie mileage per year is something like 15,000km. The average European mileage is more like 25,000. When I last lived there I was doing 80,000km a year.

When was the last time Joe Average (not us here) drove interstate, or out of the big city? Not all that often. Whereas in Europe because the freeways are quicker very often you'll drive many kms to get somewhere. We regualrly used to drive 50km into town for a night out. My drive to work used to be 75km which took 35 minutes.

And I agree with Reads90, imagine the fuel prices in Europe, we over here have got it easy in comparison.[/b][/quote]

My daily commute for work is 160k's that works out at around 41,000km a year for work. Visiting friends for the day I can do as much as 200km.

[Reads90]

Originally posted by rmp+--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(rmp)</div><div class='quotemain'><!--QuoteBegin-incisor
mate

you wont be laughing when you see the distances you drive to get from a to b style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tongue.gif

most sunday drives here would get you to scotland and back over there style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tongue.gif

I don't agree with that. The average Aussie mileage per year is something like 15,000km. The average European mileage is more like 25,000. When I last lived there I was doing 80,000km a year.

When was the last time Joe Average (not us here) drove interstate, or out of the big city? Not all that often. Whereas in Europe because the freeways are quicker very often you'll drive many kms to get somewhere. We regualrly used to drive 50km into town for a night out. My drive to work used to be 75km which took 35 minutes.

And I agree with Reads90, imagine the fuel prices in Europe, we over here have got it easy in comparison.[/b][/quote]

Agreed i have a VW passat which i got new in April. It already has 29,000 K's on the clock

[p38arover]

Originally posted by George130
We were talking about that at work today. 1 cent a litre :evil: :evil: plus GST so actually 1.1c a litre!

It was only 0.06 cents/litre + GST. That's less than 1/10th of what you thought. You'd never even notice that in a fill up.

Let's round it up to 0.07 cents/litre. On 100 litre fill up of my P38A, that would add 7 cents to the cost.

It's all media hype. Never let the facts get in the way of a good story.

Ron

[VladTepes]

Trav: Re-read that post mate - I was being (umm, trying to be) funny. The head I meant was the engine head. Have another go...


Everyone else: The fact of the matter is that no matter where you live, Australia the UK or anywhere else, the government screws you as much as they can get away with :!:






Besides with all that petrol just lying about it's a potential environmental disaster - best to burn it off, litle bit by little bit several 1,000 times per minute and in due time be rid of the problem... style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif 8O

[Scouse]

It's good to see BP is taking a pro-active approach to its customers complaints :shock: :shock: :
http://img237.imageshack.us/img237/6418/bp3cb.jpg

[dungarover]

Originally posted by VladTepes
Trav: Re-read that post mate - I was being (umm, trying to be) funny. The head I meant was the engine head. Have another go...

I knew what you were getting at, just like to see your reaction style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif

I suppose that came across a bit aggressive, but you get that. The crap I flick up under the bonnet on my 'Trav trauma trips' I'm not surprised style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif

Trav

[Hellspawn]

Originally posted by Ace
Its going to get that high that the government has no choice but to do something, only problem is, how high is that? Matt

There's probably a great deal we aren't told about what oil companies "donate" as "charitable" to keep the Governments' hands tied regardless of who's in to bat.

The other thing is me relating by writing this isn't doing anything for the hurt we all have at the moment regarding the cost of fuel. Yeah, Yeah I know "whinging F*&king farmers, always something, drought, flood, wind, dust, interest rates, unemployment, now the cost of diesel." If we jacked up the cost of our product similar to what oil companies are doing now... well..... you can imagine.... world needs fossil fuel but not as much as to be fed. All will be fair when the war begins. :wink:

However in the same motion I find it interesting to step back and look at the whole picture.

Fossil fuels have become too convenient. Bit like the water supply in Sydney, it is expected when the tap is opened water comes out. Same as fuel, we all expect fuel to be at the service station when we need some. When it's not we all get the irrits.

Trouble is, oil (a finite resource) will run out in my lifetime and until then in Government fashion nothing gets done until the problem is epidemic. The oil companies are getting in as they know how long they have left in the market and are making the profits now. No one can prove it because they whip out the old supply and demand, so my thinking is we haven't got much longer with a fossil fuel driven economy.

Where to from there when fossil oil runs out ? Wish I knew but I tell you this much, it will be amazing how fast decisions can be made when people are hungry.

[VladTepes]

Hellspawn you really are a "bowser is half empty" fella aren't you style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tongue.gif style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif

Me I reckon the bowser if half-full :!:














(Just having a go, mate !)