I like to think that I am a patient and polite person, but my patience with these jackasses has officially run out. I drive a Ford Taurus, which is (based on my experience) apparently one of the only cars sold in America with the gas cap on the right side of the vehicle. This makes for some difficulty when trying to fill up at a busy station as I am forced to back up to the pump, fine I can handle that, a bit annoying at times but whatever. Now due to my long commute and the size of my gas tank I almost always have to fill up about halfway between work and home 2-3 times a week. No problem, there are two stations conviniently located that also happen to consistently be 10-20 cents cheaper than anything else around.
These stations also happen to be located on a short stretch of road where two intrastates merge for several blocks, so when I stop for gas there is always a queue. Again, no worries, I can wait 5-10 minutes to get gas, I’m a patient fellow remember. So I wait, pumps clear, the people in front of my pull in, finally a spot opens when I am in front. So I pull forward to back up to the pump, look behind me… and the next guy in line has taken my spot! Now if this had just happened once I would be annoyed at this one particular moron and be done with it, but this happens almost every time I go to any busy gas station! So I just want to say one thing to these… people.
Attention fuckers, I do not wait in gas queues for the sheer entertaiment value. Just because my gas cap is on the opposite side does not mean that my car is power by whimsical pixies who hang out at the local BP for the lovely scenery. I actually need to fill this tank up, so stay the fuck in line and watch out, because if a Ford Taurus runs you over next time you’re at the pump I think any fair judge would call it justifiable homicide.
Being the polite chap that I am this is my first attempt at a pitting, so any advice for future ranting is helpful
My gas tank is on the right side too and I never try to do any fancy backing up to the pump. I get in line with the pump on the right side of my car and pull forward when it is my turn. All of the gas stations that I have been to have cars facing left and right willy-nilly, it’s not like they’re all facing the same direction? So I’m kind of confused by your rant. Sometimes I am hood to hood with someone and I just make them back up to leave the gas station so the person behind them cannot take my place (only if I was there before the person behind them).
California driver. Gas station islands have access to the pumps from both sides, and the gas station driveways don’t compel everyone to approach the pumps from the same direction.
Maybe the OP would be happier in New Jersey or Oregon, where the issue would not arise.
I’ve tried that too, but it almost always ends up with someone almost hitting me head on as they take my spot from the other side.
Maybe its just this area, but no one here has a right side tank. So the orrientation always ends up looking like this:
<car1 <car3
car2> car4>
If I try to pull forward into, say car1’s spot when he leaves some idiot from behind car3 is pulling around and cutting me off. If I try to back into car2’s spot the idiot behind me pulls in and takes it.
And I can’t really pull hood-to-hood with car1 or I will completely block him in until car3 moves (and knowing the drivers around here another car will be in 3’s spot before 1 can even move).
Never had any problems. You queue up and take the next spot in your island, for whatever side your cap is on. Or you get close enough and drag the hose over your trunk…it’s long enough, you know.
You people must live some place that has polite, considerate drivers. I envy you. Here the instant anyone pulls a few inches forward there is somone on his bumper ready to take the pump, regardless of others in line, i.e. nobody here gives a damn about the queue, they just take whatever spot they can. And since there seems to be a ridiculous shortage of right side gas tanks around here this means that my only option is to back in and hope I do it quick enough that someone doesn’t kill me trying to take the spot.
Pull really close to the pump, the drag the house across the trunk. It’ll reach, as silenus said. I wish all problems in life had a solution this easy.
Chevy Cavalier, gas tank on the right. I just make sure I pull up with the pump on the right. The dude drives a Mustang, also gas tank on the right. Same deal. I prefer gas tank on the right so that I don’t have to swing my door out right next to the pump, especially in a gas station where there’s not much room to squeeze a car up next to the pump.
I can’t remember the last time I waited in line to get gas. There are usually free pumps, and if they aren’t, I either go to a different gas station or wait until a more convenient time to fill up.
I don’t have the long commute that the OP does, but perhaps with a little planning he might be able to change the time or place he gets his gas and save himself a little frustration?
So, do the next most intelligent thing…when you go to get in line, do so in reverse. That way you won’t have to back in once the person in front of you in line leaves, since you’ll already be going in reverse.
