Gas Prices

[hillbillyreefer]

Instead of complaining about how much oil companies make, join in. Buy some shares in them and enjoy the ride. A totally un Canadian thought, but hey, sometimes I think a little different. As for taxes have you filed yours yet? Enjoy. The "EVIL" United States celebrated tax freedom day today. Anyone care when guess our's is?

[brizzo]

Wow, it's been $1.249+ in Kelowna for weeks now.... sunshine tax my ***.

[banditpowdercoat]

Tax Free day in the US allready.. Man that sux.

[BC564]

Well....Im very happy to see gas go up...just in time for summer......I bought a new boat this year......and it hold 64 US gallons.....translation...... 242 litres......ummmmm...thats gonna hurt ......luckily on an average weekend a person only uses about 1/2 of that........then of course there is the truck to pull the thing around.....I guess all you can do is have fun......and be thankful a person is healthy

[Treebeard]

Do you run that boat up and down Chestermere Lake? Must be a short trip!

Originally Posted by BC564

Well....Im very happy to see gas go up...just in time for summer......I bought a new boat this year......and it hold 64 US gallons.....translation...... 242 litres......ummmmm...thats gonna hurt ......luckily on an average weekend a person only uses about 1/2 of that........then of course there is the truck to pull the thing around.....I guess all you can do is have fun......and be thankful a person is healthy

[BMW Rider]

Originally Posted by hillbillyreefer

Instead of complaining about how much oil companies make, join in. Buy some shares in them and enjoy the ride. A totally un Canadian thought, but hey, sometimes I think a little different. As for taxes have you filed yours yet? Enjoy. The "EVIL" United States celebrated tax freedom day today. Anyone care when guess our's is?

Yes, but their national debt is umpteen trillion dollars and growing rapidly. Not that I support our higher taxes, but I'd still rather live in our economy.

As for the oil companies profiting hugely every year while gas prices rise almost daily; as long as people continue to buy and drive ridicoulously oversized unecessary vehicles and burn more and more fuel, the oil companies will continue on this path. People complain about the cost per litre to feed their gas hungry SUVs and trucks, but they are as yet unwilling to get rid of them for a more ecomomical option. The gas is flowing out of the pumps just as fast as when the prices were half of what they are today. Good old rules of supply and demand.

I drive a full size truck too, but only as much as I have to. I do genuinly need a truck sometimes, which is why I own it, but my motorcycles are my primary vehicles. Yes, that's hard to believe in Alberta, but I do put nearly triple the miles on my bikes that I do my truck. So for those of you who can't manage the price of a Smart car or a hybrid; perhaps you should get a motorcycle. My R1100RS gets a lousy 45 mpg city and 55 hwy, while my little F650GS gets 65 and 75. Even burning premium, its still a bargain. And they're a ton of fun to boot.

[hillbillyreefer]

I beleive that the Americans per capita debt is smaller than ours. I'll need to verify that though.
After some research I was wrong.

Canadian per capita debt: $15500 2007
US per capita debt: $30400 2008

This is just Federal debt. I'm sure Canadian debt would be much higher if provincial and municipal were added in.

[BMW Rider]

Originally Posted by hillbillyreefer

I beleive that the Americans per capita debt is smaller than ours. I'll need to verify that though.
After some research I was wrong.

Canadian per capita debt: $15500 2007
US per capita debt: $30400 2008

This is just Federal debt. I'm sure Canadian debt would be much higher if provincial and municipal were added in.

I was ust going to post those stats as well. Yes the current per capita debt is more than double for the US (2008 stat for Canada shows $14032).

And keep in mind, the US is currently running deficit budgets while Canada is in a surplus position. If you want to add in Provincial debts, then to keep it even you would also need to add in individual State debt to even the playing field (current estimate of total federal, state and municipal US debt is 53 trillion, or $175,000 per capita). No matter how you slice it, the American economy is heading for a brick wall at out of control speed. The downside is, the wreck is going to make a mess on our doorstep as well.

[Delphinus]

Smart cars aren't too expensive though are they? I thought they were offered at around $17k-18k, or has the prices gone up? As much as I like them, I don't follow the prices because I can't buy one (two small kids - a two seater car would be OK for me to commute to work in, but not much else).

Best car I ever owned was an '84 VW Rabbit GTI. Peppy little thing, was a blast to drive, and went forever on a tank of gas considering how much gas it held (think it was a 40l tank - and that was good for 500km highway, maybe 400ish city). I get 450km in my truck (city or highway, no difference) but takes 70l to fill.

The U.S. economy situation does have me worried. How did Trudeau put it? Something about being a mouse sleeping next to sleeping elephant, you really have to watch out if the elephant rolls over. Them hitting the wall will hit us too. It already has, my RRSP's are down 15% in Q1 2008. Hopefully things recover eventually..

[Quinster]

BMW Rider

Out of curiosity what do you get charged for insurance on your bikes there?

Manitoba has made it so there is almost no cost saving by insuring a motorcycle, the insurance is so high that it cancels out the fuel savings.

I have a 1948 Chevy with a 396 big block, and while city mileage is poor, highway is decent. Now gas being $1.25/L mileage is an issue, but it costs me less than $1000/year to insure the vehicle ($884 for all purpose and full coverage), while my 1100cc shadow now would be $2058 with no fire and theft or vandalism.

That $1174 would buy a lot of gas in the 5 - 7 months we drive either vehicle here! I wish I could justify a bike again!