Comments on: Retiring While Oil Prices are Rising

By: Carl V.

Carl V. — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 20:19:14 +0000

“I’d like something about the size of a CR-V or RAV4, that was all electric, radical hybrid or used fuel-cell tech that could get about a 100mpg for $20k. I know that’s dreaming, but I think if such a vehicle existed a lot of them would be sold.”

I’d be all over that as well James!!! Let me know when you convince someone to do that and you and I can go together to snag ours straight off the production line!

I keep hoping someone…government, big business, will make the first legitimate move towards a better more environmentally friendly, cheaper and yet safe form of transportation. Its terrible to sit and wish someone would just do the right thing instead of being so absorbed in their own self interests.

Now I’m dreaming!

By: jameswharris

jameswharris — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 20:27:48 +0000

I only meant there were few environmentalists who worry about what driving is doing to the country compared to those who just want a big safe car. If I could buy an electric car, hybrid or some other tech that got dramatically better mileage for under $20k I think I would switch now. However, hybrids are very expensive and don’t get that much better milage - not compared to some of the concept cars they are showing off.

I’d like something about the size of a CR-V or RAV4, that was all electric, radical hybrid or used fuel-cell tech that could get about a 100mpg for $20k. I know that’s dreaming, but I think if such a vehicle existed a lot of them would be sold.

I also think I could live without air-conditioning if I had to, and a lot of creature comforts if jettisoning helped the environment and saved on gas. I mainly want safe and dependable over fancy.

I have an 8-year old 6 cylinder Tundra that might get 19mpg on a perfect day under the old reckoning. I don’t know if it’s better to keep it for as long as possible or switch to something more efficient. A newer vehicle would save gas by the month, but how much gas and other resources does it take to make a new car? Am I conserving more by sticking with the old or going with the new? Also, if I traded in my truck someone else would be driving it. I guess I could keep it and only drive it when I had to haul something.

If everyone used 1/2 the gas they do now would the price of gas come down? Would it avert inflation? Some of these concept cars use 1/4 - 1/6 the gas.

Actually, we could probably move from SUVs to small high milage existing gas powered cars and cut the demand for gas down to 1/3 - 1/2.

Jim

By: Carl V.

Carl V. — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 19:59:12 +0000

I’m not sure I totally agree with the ‘few people want to follow Ed’ comment. Not entirely anyway. I think most people would love the option of owning cars that get really high MPG or don’t run on gas at all. But first those things have to hit a price range and a safety range that the average American can afford them. The cars are either way too expensive or way too tiny to be worth the risk of driving. Even with gas prices what they are it is unfortunately cheaper to buy an old used gas guzzler than to own some hybrid or strictly electric vehicle. Most people don’t have the money to lay out for that kind of investment with the hope of it paying off in gas money savings over the long run. That is the reality of our debt based/credit based society.

By: jameswharris

jameswharris — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 13:02:04 +0000

Bob, that would be an educational and memorable way to go for your students. I’m also thinking it might be better for me to keep working for a lot of reasons, and not just financial. I’ve been watching those shows on PBS, The Retirement Revolution and I admire those people that keep doing new things as they get older. If I had some guts I’d retire and start a new career.

Mike, I think the only thing that will change people is higher gasoline prices. Many people think if they protest the government or oil companies will lower pump prices. I suppose a new oil field could be discovered that will change things but it would have to be major. We’ll see if people change when gasoline is $5-7 in the next few years.

If the price of oil stablizes and the economy readjusts to the new price after a bit of inflation we should do okay. If oil continues to increase in price we’re really in for some bad times unless we change our habits.

I’m reading a book that was published in 2005 that says if all the various governmental support for gasoline was taken away the real price of gas would be $5-16. In other words the government has a big hand in making us un-conservative when it comes to wasting gasoline. And if you think that the government could have gone in a different direction back in the 1970s, like Carter wanted, we’d be driving vehicles that got 100 mpg.

This really shows that our leaders are more like followers. People want a SUV lifestyle. Few people want to follow Ed and and his electric cars.

Jim

By: Mike Jorgensen

Mike Jorgensen — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 03:15:55 +0000

How high does the gasoline price at the pump have to get before Americans alter their driving habits? At what point do we stop driving across town to eat dinner instead of the place down the street? Will we just keep clicking over our odometers no matter what the price?

By: Bob

Bob — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 22:47:22 +0000

I am ia similar situation as you are, planning to retire in a few years, and watching my savings dwindle while gas prices continue to rise. And, yes, I agree that Jimmy Carter had the right idea but Ronald Reagan’s rhetoric led the entire country astray.

There would be worse things than my teaching until I expire right in the classroom though!

By: Carl V.

Carl V. — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 02:47:29 +0000

It certainly is that dependency that is the scariest part. Government certainly hasn’t proven itself worthy caretakers over the past (pick your number) decades. Ugh!