# $2.65 for a gallon of gas?!!! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [April 28, 2004, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2-65-for-a-gallon-of-gas/242409 "2004-04-28T01:50:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9fc348/32.png) [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Flying_Dutchman)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2004, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2-65-for-a-gallon-of-gas/242409/1 "2004-04-28T01:50:10Z")
Up here on Vancouver Island the gas prices have suddenly soared to new heights. At 94.5 cents per liter, that translates accounting for the present conversion rate of 74 cents to a USD to $2.65 US for a US gallon. And I’m hearing Americans bitch about prices at $1.75?!!! Thank God we still have our Dodge Colt. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2004, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2-65-for-a-gallon-of-gas/242409/2 "2004-04-28T02:09:39Z")
When I saw your thread title, I thought you lived here in Santa Barbara. I’d love to only pay $1.75. Haj ---
**Author:** ![leander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/bcef8e/32.png) [@leander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leander)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2004, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2-65-for-a-gallon-of-gas/242409/3 "2004-04-28T02:39:57Z")
It’s insane for us N. Americans, since we’re so used to cheap gas. But I recall when I lived in Europe that it was quite a bit higher. Still…it fucking sucks. And we all know it’s gonna get worse this summer… ---
**Author:** ![Thaumaturge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/858c86/32.png) [@Thaumaturge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thaumaturge)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2004, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2-65-for-a-gallon-of-gas/242409/4 "2004-04-28T02:45:40Z")
I can’t imagine that the price of gas will do anything but steadily continue to increase from now until it runs out. Might as well start looking into hybrid vehicles. ---
**Author:** ![gum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bbe5ce/32.png) [@gum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gum)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2004, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2-65-for-a-gallon-of-gas/242409/5 "2004-04-28T02:51:34Z")
1,24 euro. super 1,29 euro a liter, here. [euro=$1.22] Please, someone convert that for me. I know one thing: Don’t fill up your car in the Netherlands. ---
**Author:** ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2004, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2-65-for-a-gallon-of-gas/242409/6 "2004-04-28T03:01:50Z")
> [@gum](#): > > 1,24 euro. super 1,29 euro a liter, here. [euro=$1.22] > > Please, someone convert that for me. I know one thing: Don’t fill up your car in the Netherlands. I can easily convert it, but maybe a “rule of thumb” is better for most people to understand it. At current rates and considering US gallons, you can get a good rule of thumb for now by saying “times 4.5”. The exact value is closer to $5.58 / $5.80 US gallon. - Assumes 3.78 liters / US gallon, and $1.19 per Euro ---
**Author:** ![Legolamb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4491bb/32.png) [@Legolamb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Legolamb)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2004, 8:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2-65-for-a-gallon-of-gas/242409/7 "2004-04-28T08:26:17Z")
Oh please. When you’re paying more than $6 a gallon (it’s around £3.50 per gallon where I live), then you have cause to complain. You North Americans don’t know what it is to be ripped off. ---
**Author:** ![kabbes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e99b99/32.png) [@kabbes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kabbes)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2004, 9:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2-65-for-a-gallon-of-gas/242409/8 "2004-04-28T09:51:27Z")
> [@Legolamb](#): > > Oh please. When you’re paying more than $6 a gallon (it’s around £3.50 per gallon where I live), then you have cause to complain. You North Americans don’t know what it is to be ripped off. The British gallon is about 20% bigger than a US gallon. So it’s really about $5ish for a US gallon at a rate of £1 = $1.79. ---
**Author:** ![SentientMeat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/43a26b/32.png) [@SentientMeat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SentientMeat)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2004, 10:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2-65-for-a-gallon-of-gas/242409/9 "2004-04-28T10:02:54Z")
Indeed: $5 per gallon, $9 for 20 cigarettes, $5.50 for a pint of beer, we British certainly like our non-progressive taxes. Oh, wait, the _rich_ like our non-progressive taxes: the poor and middle get royally screwed left, right and centre. ---
**Author:** ![kabbes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e99b99/32.png) [@kabbes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kabbes)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2004, 10:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2-65-for-a-gallon-of-gas/242409/10 "2004-04-28T10:07:06Z")
> [@SentientMeat](#): > > Indeed: $5 per gallon, $9 for 20 cigarettes, $5.50 for a pint of beer, we British certainly like our non-progressive taxes. > > Oh, wait, the _rich_ like our non-progressive taxes: the poor and middle get royally screwed left, right and centre. As a non-smoker and a more-or-less non-drinker I, for one, certainly like them! (Of course, I get stiffed like everyone else on the petrol prices. Good thing that we have such an efficient public transport system as an alternative, eh? No, hang on, something’s wrong there…) I don’t think that you can really equate high tax prices on luxuries (and fags and booze most definitely DO qualify as such, all joking aside) with regressive taxation. You might have a point if there was VAT on food or other essentials. pan ---
**Author:** ![duffer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duffer/32/1026_2.png) [@duffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duffer)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2004, 10:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2-65-for-a-gallon-of-gas/242409/11 "2004-04-28T10:22:14Z")
Personally, my view is the gas station is screwing you royally. _tin-foil hat on_ Halliburton and G.W. are now controlling the world’s oil reserves. What better way to reduce the deficit and pay for the war? Cheap energy! They _want_ us to have cheap oil so we spend more in the private sectors, but the bastards at Shell and Mobil want to pad the coffers. After all, **nobody** that works for a company involved in oil could ever be an average working-class American, right? Write your Congressman and demand that no more oil be imported! That’ll solve the whole problem! _tin-foil hat off_ ---
**Author:** ![Legolamb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4491bb/32.png) [@Legolamb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Legolamb)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2004, 10:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2-65-for-a-gallon-of-gas/242409/12 "2004-04-28T10:22:49Z")
> [@kabbes](#): > > The British gallon is about 20% bigger than a US gallon. So it’s really about $5ish for a US gallon at a rate of £1 = $1.79. Point, but we Brits are still paying in the region of twice as much as the OP, so the general point of my first post still stands. ---
**Author:** ![kabbes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e99b99/32.png) [@kabbes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kabbes)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2004, 10:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2-65-for-a-gallon-of-gas/242409/13 "2004-04-28T10:56:06Z")
> [@Legolamb](#): > > Point, but we Brits are still paying in the region of twice as much as the OP, so the general point of my first post still stands. Hey – doesn’t your location have you as an Englishman in _Texas_? :dubious: Hehehe ---
**Author:** ![Ross](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e274bd/32.png) [@Ross](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ross)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2004, 11:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2-65-for-a-gallon-of-gas/242409/14 "2004-04-28T11:13:16Z")
What about bus-fare? ---
**Author:** ![duffer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duffer/32/1026_2.png) [@duffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duffer)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2004, 11:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2-65-for-a-gallon-of-gas/242409/15 "2004-04-28T11:33:31Z")
> [@Legolamb](#): > > Point, but we Brits are still paying in the region of twice as much as the OP, so the general point of my first post still stands. One more thought. Unless my atlas is wrong, the US is _much_ bigger in area than England (or even the whole Isle). Sometimes public transport isn’t feasable. Then take into account the cities that have service that might get you within 2 miles of where you’re going. America and Canada are _HUGE_ countries. It’s not like going from Dallas to San Antonio or Toronto to Ottawa are a 45 minute train ride. From all the complaining I’ve heard of the system, the UK seems to have a pretty good rail system. It just doesn’t apply here (at least in most US cities) Take into account also, and here’s my thesis, rural residents who have no choice but to drive to work. ---
**Author:** ![athelas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5e9695/32.png) [@athelas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/athelas)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2004, 11:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2-65-for-a-gallon-of-gas/242409/16 "2004-04-28T11:41:46Z")
Try comparing gas prices with bottled-water prices. It might help. ---
**Author:** ![htns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ba8739/32.png) [@htns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/htns)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2004, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2-65-for-a-gallon-of-gas/242409/17 "2004-04-28T12:14:21Z")
Well, at least the asshats in Excursions and Hummers are getting nailed at the pumps. That’s a Good Thing. ---
**Author:** ![kabbes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e99b99/32.png) [@kabbes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kabbes)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2004, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2-65-for-a-gallon-of-gas/242409/18 "2004-04-28T12:16:11Z")
> [@duffer](#): > > One more thought. Unless my atlas is wrong, the US is _much_ bigger in area than England (or even the whole Isle). Sometimes public transport isn’t feasable. Then take into account the cities that have service that might get you within 2 miles of where you’re going. > > America and Canada are _HUGE_ countries. It’s not like going from Dallas to San Antonio or Toronto to Ottawa are a 45 minute train ride. From all the complaining I’ve heard of the system, the UK seems to have a pretty good rail system. It just doesn’t apply here (at least in most US cities) > > Take into account also, and here’s my thesis, rural residents who have no choice but to drive to work. Oh come on. How often do you go from Dallas to San Antonio? I wouldn’t have thought that US’ers do 1000-mile car journeys particularly more often than UK’ers do. And if they use the car more in the US, don’t you think that the petrol price might have something to do with that? It’s one hell of a disincentive to drive when you know that you’ll be paying $5 per gallon. And whilst London itself has a good public transport system, nowhere else really does. Sure, you have buses. But you do in the US too. People in rural areas in the UK are just as reliant on their cars as people in rural areas in the US. I think that you have a rather distorted idea of how easy it is to get around in the UK. I live in a semi-rural area. I can either drive the 16 miles to work and back (total cost of about £4 – or $7 – per day and total time about 25 minutes each way) or I can drive for 3 miles, pay £3.50 to park, pay another £6.00 for a return train ticket, wait for up to 30 minutes for a train and walk a mile when I get off the other end. And those are the days when the trains actually run anything like they are supposed to. The latter option is about £10, or $18, for a grand total of easily up to 2 hours travelling time. Not sure what the answer is here, but to say that the US _needs_ cheaper petrol than the UK because of all of your gosh-darn big distances and lack of public transport is (a) mixing up cause and effect and (b) wrong. pan ---
**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2004, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2-65-for-a-gallon-of-gas/242409/19 "2004-04-28T12:34:18Z")
It’s U.S $1.55 where I live and the law requires the station to pump it for you. If I really treid, I could find a discount brand of gas for 1.49. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2004, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2-65-for-a-gallon-of-gas/242409/20 "2004-04-28T13:31:38Z")
> [@](#): > > Oh come on. How often do you go from Dallas to San Antonio?.. I live in a semi-rural area. I can either drive the 16 miles to work and back… When I lived in L.A., I worked in Orange. 43 miles _one way_. Before that, when I had a job in L.A., I was still seven miles from work (14 miles r/t). I don’t know how it is in England, but it can be difficult here to live where you work because of the high cost of housing. Now I live up near the Canadian border. (Incidentally, **grienspace** , I _wish_ we were only paying $1.75/gallon!) I couldn’t afford a house in Bellingham, so I have to drive about 25 miles each way to work – 50 miles rount-trip – and my job pays less than half of the job I had in California. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2-65-for-a-gallon-of-gas/242409.md?page=2)