Free Gas!

[big chopper]

http://www.ksdk.com/news/news_articl...?storyid=96404
Comments?

--BC,

[xwred1]

Thats pretty hardcore. I'm surprised they did it, you'd assume there were cameras watching you.

In my area about a year ago, they had stories on the news about people stealing gas by just taking the dispenser from another person. I.e., a person goes in to pay and when they walk out, some other dude is pumping the gas into his own car and ignoring the original person.

[big chopper]

When a 20 gallon tank of gas costs $100.00 (and it will), all pumps will look like ATMs and require a credit card.
--BC,

BTW: I got 22 miles a gallon (highway) this weekend in a Chrysler Voyager bruning E85. Still less than I get burning gasoline, but better than the 13-14 MPG I get in the city with E85.

[CP99]

About a year ago, there was someone(s) going around drilling holes into the underside of the gas tank with power drills and draining/collecting the gas.

I'll admit, I drive a beater, and these prices seem excessive.

[xwred1]

Drilling into tanks full of gasoline sounds... dangerous.

[skroo]

About a year ago, there was someone(s) going around drilling holes into the underside of the gas tank with power drills and draining/collecting the gas.

Good luck to them on that with my vehicle... The gas tank has a 3/16" steel skidplate around it :) Even cutting the lines won't do any good unless you've got a way of powering the pump...

I'll admit, I drive a beater, and these prices seem excessive.

Agreed - I'm currently averaging 14mpg, and it hurts. Having done the math on what I can get one out of the classifeds for vs. time to get a return on the investment, I'm currently planning on picking up a Honda Elite 250 for commuting and local trips; I figure I'll break even on the purchase in three months at current gas prices, sooner as they continue to increase. Not only does it have the advantages of being freeway-legal and capable of 70mph (with some good performance options in the wings as well), but it'll give me something suitable for wearing my Energy Dome on while operating it.

[AlxRogan]

Agreed - I'm currently averaging 14mpg, and it hurts. Having done the math on what I can get one out of the classifeds for vs. time to get a return on the investment, I'm currently planning on picking up a Honda Elite 250 for commuting and local trips; I figure I'll break even on the purchase in three months at current gas prices, sooner as they continue to increase. Not only does it have the advantages of being freeway-legal and capable of 70mph (with some good performance options in the wings as well), but it'll give me something suitable for wearing my Energy Dome on while operating it.

Good luck with the Elite. I've been commuting on 2 wheels for a few years now, almost exclusively except for hurricane days and the like. I see a lot more bikes on the road, but I would just say be careful on the scooter. My K-bike is tall and lets me see eye-to-eye with the SUVs, and I still average one closecall a week. I worry about the height disadvantage of a scooter, plus the fact that it is smaller than just about any streetbike.

Granted your energy dome might well attract enough attention to fix some of that. I'd paint that Elite blaze orange though.

[skroo]

Good luck with the Elite.

Thanks... I came to the decision that I really didn't want a full-sized motorcycle again (though I would've gone for another Kawasaki AR125 had they ever been sold here), nor did I want to fork over three or four grand for a new one. The Elites looked like the best bet in terms of roadability for a step-through, and had the best information on performace mods. The only issue now is trying to find one with the 250cc engine in good shape. It's turning out to be harder than I thought it would be.

I've been commuting on 2 wheels for a few years now, almost exclusively except for hurricane days and the like. I see a lot more bikes on the road, but I would just say be careful on the scooter. My K-bike is tall and lets me see eye-to-eye with the SUVs, and I still average one closecall a week. I worry about the height disadvantage of a scooter, plus the fact that it is smaller than just about any streetbike.

Totally understood - the first motorised transport I ever (legally) put on the road was a Honda 50 complete with 70cc engine. 55mph flat-out and really good on the trails, too :) Got ran off the road in a bend on it and spent a week in hospital, so have a pretty good idea of what you're talking about. Fortunately, I only have an 11-mile commute and can do the whole thing on surface streets so I'm not too worried.

Granted your energy dome might well attract enough attention to fix some of that. I'd paint that Elite blaze orange though.

I'm trying to avoid getting a black one for visibility reasons. I was thinking of fitting some high-intensity LED running lights, which should help on that score. Also looking into uprating the electrical system to be able to power a small inverter.

[AlxRogan]

The last time I rode a Honda Elite was on a trip to Cozumel, where my father and I foolishly rented them to get around the town. We had to return to the shop several times for us to get two 250 cc models that would get us over 30 mph. Anyone familiar with the area will understand why we returned them altogether for a souped up VW Beetle, after a few trips up on the sidewalk dodging cabs. :)

Hopefully you can find a good engine, or at least one worth rebuilding and dialing-in.

Oh, and about the original story, I don't think it's BS. There was a report of this happening in Houston last year, http://www.southeasttexaslive.com/si...d=512588&rfi=6 has a related story about it in Beaumont. I saw video cam footage from one station who reported that it had been going on for several months and estimated losses in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. The footage shows someone driving up in a duallie with a few large tanks in the bed. Someone gets out, unlocks the panel, punches a keypad and starts fueling.

[bascule]

My solution was to become a bicycle hippie

[DaKahuna]

BTW: I got 22 miles a gallon (highway) this weekend in a Chrysler Voyager bruning E85. Still less than I get burning gasoline, but better than the 13-14 MPG I get in the city with E85.

Last September when gas started approaching $3.00 a gallon for the first time, I took a close look at what I was getting in my 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited. My commute is 33 miles each way and a combination of highway and normal roads and I was getting around 18 MPG. I started figuring the cost of gas and was not happy with what I found so I did the noble thing and traded the Jeep in on a 2006 Toyota Highlander Hybrid. Same commuter but I am now getting 28 MPG.

[skroo]

Last September when gas started approaching $3.00 a gallon for the first time

You must not be in California; this is either our second or third time breaking the $3/gallon limit (currently around $3.45 at most places these days). What pisses me off is that it was down to $2.15 over Christmas, so the price has increased 62% in five months - it's not like this took years to accomplish.

I started figuring the cost of gas and was not happy with what I found so I did the noble thing and traded the Jeep in on a 2006 Toyota Highlander Hybrid. Same commuter but I am now getting 28 MPG.

I'm about 15c/gallon away from spending more on gas each month than car payments. Thing is, after looking into getting another car and doing the math on insurance, parking permits, maintenance, etc. I came to the conclusion that I just don't want to deal with having more than one car again until I'm a homeowner.

Oh, and I found the Devo ad for Honda Scooters. For anyone who has never seen it before, you too can now indulge in a 22-year-old pop culture reference that'll probably baffle the living hell out of you!

[Ridirich]

When a 20 gallon tank of gas costs $100.00 (and it will), all pumps will look like ATMs and require a credit card.
--BC,

BTW: I got 22 miles a gallon (highway) this weekend in a Chrysler Voyager bruning E85. Still less than I get burning gasoline, but better than the 13-14 MPG I get in the city with E85.

I doubt it will. When they raise the prices of gas, everything else costs more.....I think there will come a point when no one will stand for it anymore.

[Twigman]

you get it so cheap...UK its about US$7 per gallon...(according to google exchanges)

A related story in the UK http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/4980190.stm

all pumps will look like ATMs and require a credit card

This is how our (British) 24hour pumps work. Surely america must have 24 hour systems similar? Put card in and type in pin, then take as much petrol as you like. Or are all your petrol stations manned 24hours a day?

I think there will come a point when no one will stand for it anymore.

What are you going to do? Stop using your car? I doubt that very much...It will just get to the point where only the more well off can afford to drive everywhere and less well off people might have to *shock horror* walk sometimes! ;) Anyway you have a long way to go before it gets to that point.

[big chopper]

you get it so cheap...UK its about US$7 per gallon...(according to google exchanges)

What are you going to do? Stop using your car? I doubt that very much...It will just get to the point where only the more well off can afford to drive everywhere and less well off people might have to *shock horror* walk sometimes! ;) Anyway you have a long way to go before it gets to that point.

The problem is that American cities are not designed for this. Mass transit only works well when people live close together. Walking to work or to stores is not an option for most Americans. Here people LOVE their spacious yards and distance from their neighbors. Most American cities are VERY dependant on the availability of cheap gas.
--BC,