Today's local paper says local average for regular is $1.419, but I can lay hands on regular for $1.279 if I go to the right part of town. One month ago, the cheapest I could find was $1.899.
#111--kevm14: What kind of car do you have? My Maxima is supposed to take 93 octane, but I have put 87 in it and really didn't notice much of a difference, and certainly didn't get any pinging or knocking.
Is it true that priceline.com's new name your own gas prices, does NOT work in NJ or is not allowed????
WHY can't you pump your own gas in NJ? That seems archaic to me! I thought you could pump your own gas in every state! Glad I don't live there. I never let anyone pump my gas.
Here in Oregon, we're the other state that can't pump our own gas. Why? Who knows. It's stupid, and I like to pump my own gas, because most pump jockeys don't fill it up all the way. Cheapest gas here now- $1.63 regular, more for major brands. Texaco, Chevron, 1.73 reg. We get ripped here in Oregon on the gas deal.
Yes it is true that Priceline's gas card can not be used in NJ. Motor fuel sales in NJ are highly restricted - you cannot charge less than the posted price (no coupons, rebates, Priceline cards), nor can items be offered for sale of giveaway that require a motor fuel purchase (e.g., free gifts, discount soda, etc.). This restriction is relatively recent, enacted around 20 years ago.
Self serve is a separate issue - that was banned back in 1947 under the fear that motorists would set their neighborhoods on fire (no lie). Every time the ban comes up for an overturning vote, it is usually shot down in Assembly because NJ mortorists don't see where any additional savings will come from - NJ full-serve prices are less than self-serve of surrounding states - partly from much lower state gas tax, partly from NJ being the Northeast US entry point of most oil companies' supertankers. In addition, most motorists feel they are safer in their car, and don't have to worry about possibly ruining good clothes from a spill or in bad weather.
kcram Co-Host - Smart Shopper & FWI Conferences edmunds.com Town Hall
You put in 87? I definately would not do that. I think my dad put in 87 once or twice. It's funny, because I didn't know he put it in - I was driving the car and I hit the gas...it hesitated and I could hear soft pinging. I came home and yelled at him that it MUST be running 87 (performance with the a/c on was AWFUL also). He said he was running 87...I showed him in the manual where it says use 91 or higher and we have ran 93 since then...so, I can definately tell.
Thanks for the info. Very interesting, but still very archaic thinking. A lot of things have changed in 53 years!
Got 89 octane Texaco for $1.03 a gallon from priceline, BUT I had to sign up for a 30 day trial of something for $3.99. It came out to more then $1.03, but MUCH less then the $1.85.9 posted at the pump today here in So. CT!
All the news a couple weeks back was how high Chicago gas prices were: $2.28 for 89 octane, but here in Central IL, it was even higher for a short time...we reached $2.30 for 89 octane in late June. Now we're down to $1.49.
Funny how a year ago, I'd HATE to pay $1.49 for gas, but now, it's like "WHOOPPEEEEE a Dollar forty nine----Oh I'm going THERE!!"
#138--Sorry, carlady. I did come here to report gas prices, but got more interested in kevm14's comments about octane and forgot where I was. My mind is not as well organized as your forums! ;-)
But getting back on topic--I got regular for $1.23 in a Minneapolis suburb Tuesday night. Today it's back up to $1.39!
#150 & #151--It never got to $2.00 here in Mpls/St. Paul, either. Highest it got was $1.89, for about a week or 2 in early July, if memory serves me. But what was weird was that when it was $1.89, it was that price EVERYWHERE, at every station in town--not a penny more, not a penny less. Never saw that happen before. Today the spread is about $1.41 - $1.49. (we're talking regular 87 oct. here).
YES! They lowered the state sales tax by .07 on July 1st! Big deal. The gas prices are still up there! With all the millions they get every month from out 2 casino slot revenues, there should be NO state tax on gas!
Up here in Alaska we are paying $1.65 for gas I am not to sure why maybe that 48" pipeline that runs through my backyard doesn't supply enough oil to make cheap gas in the refinery that I look at everyday.
They could sell it for more here in the US, but they sell it for 10 cents a gallon in Japan! My brother told me that a friend of his neigbors told him that!!
Why? Because the oil companies are so mean they don't care about making a proffit!! They just want to help those damn foreigners, even if it means shorting us red blooded Americans on our God given dinasaur juice.
Jeeze, the Japanese just waste their gas on those silly little cars anyway, they don't put it to good use like us.
(seriously, I've been hearing people grumble about gas and oil going overseas for years. Who cares? Does anyone think that this matters?)
We seem to have over US$1.5bn in the "bank," and with about some US$700m to pay out, the state will have more than enough surplus to pay the people who would have been otherwise hurt by loss of gas tax money (roads and, I think, schools).
I guess an immediate answer to your question is: Yes, I suppose things are that good up here. Until I read that story I had no idea, though. The state is so "thrifty" with spending the money on public works projects that actually need it, it was hard to tell.
prophet2--While you guys in HI pay more for a gallon of gas, I'll bet your total gas expenses are a lot less than for those of us on the mainland. I mean, where are you going to drive to, anyway? You're on a small island!
Just curious, but do you know how many miles the average Hawaiian drives per year, vs. the national average? I'm guessing Hawaii's used cars have a lot fewer miles on them when compared to a like car on the mainland, too.
for the average driver, the mileage may be lower. Here on O'ahu, the island is only 604 sq. miles, but we have monumental traffic jams EVERY DAY during the morning and afternoon rush hour. When there's a fatality on the freeway, the police close off ALL the lanes. So you either sit and wait, or find alternative routes on the secondary roads. So, with all the idling engines or slow traffic at 15-20 mph on the freeway, gas mileage goes down, costs go up.
Then, you throw in a few like me who: 1) drive a lot for business reasons; 2) enjoy driving; 3) or both. I picked up my current car in March 1997. Since then, I have gone 63,000 miles in 41 months, which translates to over 18,400 miles per year. This includes two stints during which the car was out-of-action for a transmission overhaul and body repair after my daughter got into an accident. No, it isn't a Chrysler. It was a used Acura and the trans went out at 145K. Put on 22K since.
My '93 Nissan Quest now has 152K in 7-1/2 years: that's 20K a year. Had it in the shop for a week for a body repair (wife caused that). Only real breakdown was an AC evaporator and the cable for the spare tire lifting mechanism. Everything else were normal service items though there was one instance of an exploding Diehard battery.
I guess we're the exception as we pile on a lot of miles on such a small island.
One more thing: car dealers make a big thing out of advertising pre-owned cars that have "mainland freeway miles" rather than the lower mileage local cars which have only been driven short distances or been in the morning freeway grind. I stay away from cars with excessively low miles, like 20K in six years. The tires are probably bad even if there appears to be a lot of tread left and the pistons may be caked with carbon.
Cheapest regular 87 here now 175.9. Major brands now 183, 193, and 203 for the three grades. First time ever we're over the 2 dollar mark. Are we getting gouged out here or what???
IN THIS ARE GAS GOES ANYWHERE FROM 1.45 TO 1.57/ GALLON FOR REGULAR. I JUST PURCHASED GAS FOR 1.36/GALLON IN THIS AREA THRU PRICELINE.COM. GREAT SITE FOR LOW BID PRICES ON GAS.
I'm curious, how do you order gas (on internet) from priceline and how do you pick it up? Do you have to give your credit number up front? Get some kind of authorization number in return? How confusing....(to me)
DO IT! Once you get into the site, it is self-explanatory! Yes, you give your credit card number. Yes, you print out a customer number. Yes, they will send you a card to stick in the gas pump when you go to the station. Your gas is PREPAID according to what price you get it for on-line.
Some weeks you might put in Mobil, some weeks Texaco etc. It all depends what stations in your area participate. It's all at their website.
It sounds confusing, but it's not. If you're paying $1.30+ now, you could possibly get it for less than $1.00.
Comments
Aurora IL
1.679, 1.779 and 1.879.
Central Indiana prices were averaging between 1.399 and 1.459 for 87 octane.
Will and Kanakee Counties in Illinois were around 1.559 for 87 octane at stations I saw.
-m
Seen it as low as 1.539.
I'll bet dollars to doughnuts it's even lower today. Falls every day for the past week so far.
-m
carlady/host
kcram
Co-Host - Smart Shopper & FWI Conferences
edmunds.com Town Hall
told ya it would fall again ;-)
-m
Is it true that priceline.com's new name your own gas prices, does NOT work in NJ or is not allowed????
WHY can't you pump your own gas in NJ? That seems archaic to me! I thought you could pump your own gas in every state! Glad I don't live there. I never let anyone pump my gas.
fastdriver
Yes it is true that Priceline's gas card can not be used in NJ. Motor fuel sales in NJ are highly restricted - you cannot charge less than the posted price (no coupons, rebates, Priceline cards), nor can items be offered for sale of giveaway that require a motor fuel purchase (e.g., free gifts, discount soda, etc.). This restriction is relatively recent, enacted around 20 years ago.
Self serve is a separate issue - that was banned back in 1947 under the fear that motorists would set their neighborhoods on fire (no lie). Every time the ban comes up for an overturning vote, it is usually shot down in Assembly because NJ mortorists don't see where any additional savings will come from - NJ full-serve prices are less than self-serve of surrounding states - partly from much lower state gas tax, partly from NJ being the Northeast US entry point of most oil companies' supertankers. In addition, most motorists feel they are safer in their car, and don't have to worry about possibly ruining good clothes from a spill or in bad weather.
kcram
Co-Host - Smart Shopper & FWI Conferences
edmunds.com Town Hall
carlady/host
Thanks for the info. Very interesting, but still very archaic thinking. A lot of things have changed in 53 years!
Got 89 octane Texaco for $1.03 a gallon from priceline, BUT I had to sign up for a 30 day trial of something for $3.99. It came out to more then $1.03, but MUCH less then the $1.85.9 posted at the pump today here in So. CT!
fastdriver
Funny how a year ago, I'd HATE to pay $1.49 for gas, but now, it's like "WHOOPPEEEEE a Dollar forty nine----Oh I'm going THERE!!"
Hmm... big city part of Illinois more expensive than Central Illinois... weird.
-m
But getting back on topic--I got regular for $1.23 in a Minneapolis suburb Tuesday night. Today it's back up to $1.39!
...get down to night ...
././
...GET DOWN TO NIGHT !..
Yep, summer must be over (around here)..
price plummeted to $1.29 !
fastdriver
No changes in Northern CT...$1.89 for Mobil 93 octane. it never did get to $2...but it still could. Oops, I've gone and jinxed it.
Who cares if gas is a $1.80 a gallon?? I'm paying about a $1.69 to 1.73 for a gallon of 93 octane and I could care less.
Personally I would like to see gas prices hit $2.00 a gallon. That way SUV sales go down some more. And people drive less that way too, hopefully.
You're lucky! It's not dropping in CT!!! Still about $1.78.9 for 87!
fastdriver
YES! They lowered the state sales tax by .07 on July 1st! Big deal. The gas prices are still up there! With all the millions they get every month from out 2 casino slot revenues, there should be NO state tax on gas!
fastdriver
......OR is all that cheap gas going to another country??
fastdriver
Why? Because the oil companies are so mean they don't care about making a proffit!! They just want to help those damn foreigners, even if it means shorting us red blooded Americans on our God given dinasaur juice.
Jeeze, the Japanese just waste their gas on those silly little cars anyway, they don't put it to good use like us.
(seriously, I've been hearing people grumble about gas and oil going overseas for years. Who cares? Does anyone think that this matters?)
Andrew
Prices in the Naperville IL area are around 1.339.
-m
-m
But funny you should ask how they're going to make up for it... :-)
http://www.suntimes.com/output/news/surp10.html
We seem to have over US$1.5bn in the "bank," and with about some US$700m to pay out, the state will have more than enough surplus to pay the people who would have been otherwise hurt by loss of gas tax money (roads and, I think, schools).
I guess an immediate answer to your question is: Yes, I suppose things are that good up here. Until I read that story I had no idea, though. The state is so "thrifty" with spending the money on public works projects that actually need it, it was hard to tell.
-m
Just curious, but do you know how many miles the average Hawaiian drives per year, vs. the national average? I'm guessing Hawaii's used cars have a lot fewer miles on them when compared to a like car on the mainland, too.
Then, you throw in a few like me who: 1) drive a lot for business reasons; 2) enjoy driving; 3) or both. I picked up my current car in March 1997. Since then, I have gone 63,000 miles in 41 months, which translates to over 18,400 miles per year. This includes two stints during which the car was out-of-action for a transmission overhaul and body repair after my daughter got into an accident. No, it isn't a Chrysler. It was a used Acura and the trans went out at 145K. Put on 22K since.
My '93 Nissan Quest now has 152K in 7-1/2 years: that's 20K a year. Had it in the shop for a week for a body repair (wife caused that). Only real breakdown was an AC evaporator and the cable for the spare tire lifting mechanism. Everything else were normal service items though there was one instance of an exploding Diehard battery.
I guess we're the exception as we pile on a lot of miles on such a small island.
One more thing: car dealers make a big thing out of advertising pre-owned cars that have "mainland freeway miles" rather than the lower mileage local cars which have only been driven short distances or been in the morning freeway grind. I stay away from cars with excessively low miles, like 20K in six years. The tires are probably bad even if there appears to be a lot of tread left and the pistons may be caked with carbon.
I'll have to say that the average (guesstimating) was about 145.9 - 150.9 for around 87-octane.
Lowest price was IL (no gas tax until 12/31/00) and the highest was (surprise) California.
-m
KC MO - 1.389 for 87
Grand Junction CO - 1.689 for (Midgrade=87)
(low-grade was 85 octane)
Walnut IA - 1.479 for 87
Brooklyn IA - 1.389 for 87
Sutherland NE - 1.699 for 87
Winslow AZ (Standin' on the Corner) - 1.599 for 87
...and yes, I did stand on the corner. I have a picture to prove it ;-)
Denver CO (suburb) - 1.649 for 87 (again midgrade)
Yukon OK ("Home of Garth Brooks") - 1.399 for 87
Some Texaco in New Mexico - 1.699 for 88
Baker CA - 1.939 for 87
Hurricane UT - 1.629 for 87 at both places I stopped
Las Vegas NV - 1.779 for 87
Luckily I got back recently -- I hear prices are going up for the ol' Labor Day Weekend again... whee.
Peace.
-m
87 - $1.489 - unchanged
89 - $1.589 - unchanged
93 - $1.659 - down 2 cents
94 - $1.699 - unchanged
diesel - $1.599 - up 12 cents
Just put almost 31 gallons of diesel into my 35 gallon tank - $49.25... (sigh) good thing I get great fuel economy out of this beast.
kcram
Co-Host - Smart Shopper & FWI Conferences
edmunds.com Town Hall
I believe Diesel is still being taxed as it may not qualify as a gasoline or a gasohol.
-m
DO IT! Once you get into the site, it is self-explanatory! Yes, you give your credit card number. Yes, you print out a customer number. Yes, they will send you a card to stick in the gas pump when you go to the station. Your gas is PREPAID according to what price you get it for on-line.
Some weeks you might put in Mobil, some weeks Texaco etc. It all depends what stations in your area participate. It's all at their website.
It sounds confusing, but it's not. If you're paying $1.30+ now, you could possibly get it for less than $1.00.
Try it. NO obligation. I think you'll like it.
fastdriver
-m