$5 a gallon gas, won’t happen this year unless…

In his recent post titled “ALL HAIL GASTRADOMOUS” Tom Kloza over at Speaking of Oil says you probably won’t pay $5 for a gallon of gas this year unless you live on Martha’s Vineyard.  I sure hope he’s right.

 I just performed a google news search on “$5 gas” and came up with 106-million results within 0.18 seconds. Many of the stories quote “experts” who give the skinny or the scoop on why this will be the year that Americans need Lincoln’s picture on the legal tender necessary to purchase a gallon of unleaded fuel.

    Let me make myself perfectly clear. This is nonsense. You may indeed have to pay $5 gal if you buy your summer gasoline on a tropical island, Martha’s Vineyard, or one of the tonier suburbs of New York, San Francisco, or Los Angeles. But the chances of nationwide gasoline averages approaching $5 gal are about as good as having the Spice Girls perform a tribute to Demi Moore at the Oscars.

How To Look Up and Compare MPG

Fuel prices are relatively steady for now, averaging less than $3.40 per gallon in the Pacific Northwest, however, they could spike.  We contend that you should think long-term when purchasing a new vehicle and that means considering the Miles Per Gallon (MPG) of the vehicles you are considering to buy.  Check out Edmunds update on how to find and compare MPG among vehicles.

How To Look Up and Compare MPG – Edmunds.com.

2007 Toyota Camry Review

It looks like Toyota has a winner with the 2007 Camry. A full review including pictures and info on the new Camry Hybrid can be found here.

The new Camry looks to be another home run for Toyota . It’s not exciting, but it goes above and beyond what the vast majority of car buyers need, with more luxury than most of them will actually be looking for.

2007 Toyota Camry – The Car Connection

2006 Hybrid Car Buyers Get Federal Tax Break

More good news for hybrid car buyers in 2006. Here’s the skinny on federal tax breaks.


A new federal law aimed at kicking hybrid sales into high gear took effect this month, offering tax credits to consumers who buy the eco-friendly vehicles.

The Internal Revenue Service has yet to issue final rules for the program. But industry experts believe the measure will let hybrid buyers knock off as much as $3,150 from federal income taxes.

Hybrid Cars and Vehicles – MixedPower.com – Hybrid Car Buyers Get Federal Tax Break

GM’s FlexFuel Vehicles list

GM is moving forward on the flex fuel front, meaning some cars can burn 85% ethanol, made from corn and other renewable sources.

GM has more than 1.5 million FlexFuel Vehicles on the road today in all 50 states, able to operate on gasoline or on a blend of 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline. So you can choose the fuel that’s best for you. Important, because E85 fuel is not yet widely available. And vehicles running on E85 have a 5% to 25% shorter cruising range than the same vehicle operating on regular gasoline. Yet when you can choose E85 ethanol, you make a difference. This renewable fuel, made from U.S. grown bio material (like corn or grain products), helps reduce our dependence on petroleum and greenhouse gas emissions. GM FlexFuel Vehicles operating on E85 fuel can help:

  • Gain increased horsepower for better engine performance because E85 ethanol fuel has a higher octane rating than premium gasoline
  • Lessen engine wear
  • Support the domestic agriculture industry in the U.S.

GM Flex Fuels Vehicle list

How to not get ripped off on your next car loan

Some new rules for car loans go into effect in California soon. Check it out before you buy, no matter where you live.


With the passage of the Car Buyer’s Bill of Rights (Assembly Bill 68 from 2005), beginning on July 1, 2006, car dealers will not be able to jack up a consumer’s interest rate by more than 2.5% for most loans and 2% for loans longer than five years. This is a modest step forward, but consumers can do better. To protect yourself from phony financing, follow these ten tips:

Link to full article