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04/30/2007 07:25:58 PM · #26 |
Originally posted by pccjrose:
No problem! - we need to remember we are a multinational site and have to be clear when we complain about each other..
Originally posted by inshaala:
Originally posted by pccjrose:
So you are suggesting that you have to pay 2000 to 4000 pounds a month for rent in the UK???!!
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oh sorry - missed ya on that one... you talking about rent?
I was under the impression that "cost of an apartment" meant to buy... |
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Which is why i think complaining about a domestic issue which is internationally contentious on such a multinational site is just silly... |
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04/30/2007 07:28:58 PM · #27 |
Originally posted by inshaala:
Guys - seriously, whenever i see an American complain about petrol prices i cringe... it is about 90p a litre over here (UK)... now that is what at current exchange rates? about $1.90 - well there are about 3.8 litres to a gallon according to google which means that we are paying about $7.20 a gallon... but i am not sure your gallon is that - if you are imperial that is as BeeCee said 4.5 litres... so we are talking $8.55
have i made my point nice and clearly? |
Yeah I always laugh when Americans complain about petrol prices. Pretty stunning too how a lot seem to drive these huge gas guzzlers whereas we're foced to drive tiny cars so we can afford the petrol. |
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04/30/2007 07:30:36 PM · #28 |
| Nice to know i'm not the only brit in this thread ;) |
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04/30/2007 07:34:21 PM · #29 |
Originally posted by inshaala:
Originally posted by pccjrose:
So you are suggesting that you have to pay 2000 to 4000 pounds a month for rent in the UK???!!
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oh sorry - missed ya on that one... you talking about rent?
I was under the impression that "cost of an apartment" meant to buy... |
Heh not really. I dont have it too hard because I only have to pay 400 dollars a month to live in the dump my friend owns lol. But thats still 40% of my monthly income. Ive stopped driving and in a couple of years when i manage to save 3,000 dollars ill buy a motorcycle.
I get payed 2 dollars an hour MORE then minimum wage! And still dont make crap. Im just waiting for my break either as a commission sales men or a tech position in the shop. Either way i should make 2,000 to 3,000 a month and on that i can live comfortably. Police officers start out at 34,000 if i can pass the tests then i might do that but its a risk.
Housing in Maryland id mid priced. Condo's cost to buy is 90-250,000 dollars. Town Homes go for 400,000+, Full Family Homes go for 250,000 to 700,000 dollars. Rundown duplex's and row homes go for 120-250,000 dollars.
Ill make some money sooner or later lol.
For now the only way i can afford the 5 dollars a day in gas to get to work and back would be to eat only 1 time per day! |
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04/30/2007 07:36:31 PM · #30 |
Originally posted by DrAchoo:
I said it last summer when these threads arose, but I'm actually happy about the prices. It is only the almighty dollar which forces Americans to change their habits. Pure and simple. It's been shown a hundred times before and is true here as well. |
Amen to that. I'm happy about our purchase of a Toyota Yaris (40 MPG) last fall even though cost of gas fell. I figured it was a temporary (aka Republicans trying to get elected) fall. I'm happy to we made the right choice.
I see my neighbors in Hummers which are so wide that to park on the streets in Philadelphia they have to park 12" onto the curb just to keep from getting swiped from passing traffic. Makes me ill.
I'd love to see prices double and listen to those jerks scream and moan, "Whoa is me! Whoa is me!" It's your own damn fault. |
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04/30/2007 07:41:41 PM · #31 |
Originally posted by inshaala:
Nice to know i'm not the only brit in this thread ;) |
Not any more!!!
House prices are insane in the UK at the moment, although London is just going stupid. I live in Essex, our house, when we purchased it ~ 10 years ago cost £50k, now its worth £170k (about $340,000 USD). Mad.
Message edited by author 2007-04-30 19:44:33. |
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04/30/2007 07:42:18 PM · #32 |
About a year ago when a similar thread was going around I googled and found how much each country charges tax on gas and how much each country paid for gas. I wish I could find that site again.
As I remember, the US was being charged more for a barrel of oil (for gas) than any country, at the same time we were taxed less than other countries. Here in GA the tax rate is 26.3 cpg.
Message edited by author 2007-04-30 19:42:57.
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04/30/2007 07:46:24 PM · #33 |
Originally posted by RainMotorsports:
For now the only way i can afford the 5 dollars a day in gas to get to work and back would be to eat only 1 time per day! |
This isnt a go at you, but i think this is part of the problem... how far do you drive to get to work each day to spend $5? - for the equivalent amount of petrol (when i owned a car) i could use that for all my driving needs for a week - and that included a commute! My experience when i have been over there is that if you want to go anywhere - shops, cinema, gym, work... you have to get in a car, there are no two ways about it.
My girlfriend is living in Edinburgh at the moment and she walks to work, there is a gym next door, the grocery store is a 5 minute walk, and everything she needs is in walking distance - to come visit me she just walks to the train station and hops on a train.
So yes - there is that argument that the US needs lower gas prices in comparison to the UK (especially if it needs it's economy to stay afloat), but seriously the difference is way too much imo, and as the previous posters have mentioned, dont drive a 6 litre car... |
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04/30/2007 07:47:30 PM · #34 |
Originally posted by Rankles:
Yeah I always laugh when Americans complain about petrol prices. Pretty stunning too how a lot seem to drive these huge gas guzzlers whereas we're foced to drive tiny cars so we can afford the petrol. |
Oh, jealous of your cute little cars! Efficient, small, and maneuverable... We're hoping in the next year or so we can pick up something similar - whatever they've come out with that's affordable. I'm spending about 35 dollars a week USD on gas and I got to school, work, and the grocery store.
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04/30/2007 07:49:15 PM · #35 |
Originally posted by swhiddon:
As I remember, the US was being charged more for a barrel of oil (for gas) than any country, at the same time we were taxed less than other countries. Here in GA the tax rate is 26.3 cpg. |
But that is the same as the govt tax on the gas you get from the pump? because i can only imagine that the price difference of petrol between the states and the rest of the world is tax related... you cant have a +600% difference in price based only on cost... |
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04/30/2007 07:53:15 PM · #36 |
Originally posted by EducatedSavage:
Originally posted by Rankles:
Yeah I always laugh when Americans complain about petrol prices. Pretty stunning too how a lot seem to drive these huge gas guzzlers whereas we're foced to drive tiny cars so we can afford the petrol. |
Oh, jealous of your cute little cars! Efficient, small, and maneuverable... We're hoping in the next year or so we can pick up something similar - whatever they've come out with that's affordable. I'm spending about 35 dollars a week USD on gas and I got to school, work, and the grocery store. |
Do you guys get the hybrid cars over there yet? I'm not entirely sure but they are cracked up to be really efficient. That or buy a Smart Car... they are like a sewing machine on wheels - couldnt fit your Bernese in there tho ;) |
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04/30/2007 07:55:13 PM · #37 |
Originally posted by _eug:
I'd love to see prices double and listen to those jerks scream and moan, "Whoa is me! Whoa is me!" It's your own damn fault. |
High gas prices hurt the poor much more then the people that drive Hummers. |
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04/30/2007 07:56:43 PM · #38 |
Originally posted by inshaala:
Originally posted by RainMotorsports:
For now the only way i can afford the 5 dollars a day in gas to get to work and back would be to eat only 1 time per day! |
This isnt a go at you, but i think this is part of the problem... how far do you drive to get to work each day to spend $5? - for the equivalent amount of petrol (when i owned a car) i could use that for all my driving needs for a week - and that included a commute! My experience when i have been over there is that if you want to go anywhere - shops, cinema, gym, work... you have to get in a car, there are no two ways about it.
My girlfriend is living in Edinburgh at the moment and she walks to work, there is a gym next door, the grocery store is a 5 minute walk, and everything she needs is in walking distance - to come visit me she just walks to the train station and hops on a train.
So yes - there is that argument that the US needs lower gas prices in comparison to the UK (especially if it needs it's economy to stay afloat), but seriously the difference is way too much imo, and as the previous posters have mentioned, dont drive a 6 litre car... |
Well i no longer drive but when i was driving (My toyota that got 34 mpg was recently stolen) I have been driving a dodge dakota pickup that gets 17/20 MPG. When i was driving @ 2.25 a gallon 5 dollars a day is 37 miles. Id say going from downtown baltimore through the harbor tunnel and up the beltway was 15 or so miles not including idling at traffic lights.
I remember when i got my first car that summer gas went DOWN to .99 cents a gallon i could drive forever lol. Before gas went over 1.75 in my toyota i was probly spending 20 a week on gas and that was running around like teenagers do!
I currently take public transit @ 64 a month unlimited bus and light rail/metro rides. |
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04/30/2007 08:07:03 PM · #39 |
Originally posted by Cam:
Originally posted by _eug:
I'd love to see prices double and listen to those jerks scream and moan, "Whoa is me! Whoa is me!" It's your own damn fault. |
High gas prices hurt the poor much more then the people that drive Hummers. |
I thought the poor all took the bus...
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04/30/2007 08:11:05 PM · #40 |
There are a lot of factors to take in account. My family is in a similar boat as RainMotorsports, money is tight. Since I became disabled and my wife is the only one working we bring home, after taxes and insurance, about $12k. And thats a family of four. I have been waiting on my disability hearing for over 3 years (yes I have a lawyer) but in GA it takes a long time. Until then we have to make do. The minimum driving distance in a day is 43 miles. Wife to work and kids to school and back home. At $2.91 per gal and 22mpg it cost us around $2000 a year (16.7% of our annual income). That's not counting traffic. It take about an hour to get my wife to work and kids to school. The same getting them home.
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04/30/2007 08:11:51 PM · #41 |
Originally posted by inshaala:
This isnt a go at you, but i think this is part of the problem... ... My experience when i have been over there is that if you want to go anywhere - shops, cinema, gym, work... you have to get in a car, there are no two ways about it. |
Very true, it is a huge problem. It won't be solved as some suggested by raising fuel prices. You just can't wipe away 50+ years of nation-wide poor city planning like that. |
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04/30/2007 08:12:37 PM · #42 |
My head is spinning - gallons, litres, pounds, euro, AUD, Americana dollars, miles, kilomete
rs.
Too busy to do the math.
I pay $1.28 per litre but my problems is that I live in an isolated area and have to travel long distances to get anywhere. |
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04/30/2007 08:21:42 PM · #43 |
Originally posted by Monique64:
My head is spinning - gallons, litres, pounds, euro, AUD, Americana dollars, miles, kilomete
rs.
Too busy to do the math.
I pay $1.28 per litre but my problems is that I live in an isolated area and have to travel long distances to get anywhere. |
That would be $4.85 USD / US gallon or $4.01 AUD / US gallon.
We just drove down to Southern California and the highest we paid was $3.91 USD / US gallon which would be $1.17 AUD / liter, unless I've screwed up the math along the way.
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04/30/2007 08:28:12 PM · #44 |
Originally posted by TechnoShroom:
Originally posted by inshaala:
This isnt a go at you, but i think this is part of the problem... ... My experience when i have been over there is that if you want to go anywhere - shops, cinema, gym, work... you have to get in a car, there are no two ways about it. |
Very true, it is a huge problem. It won't be solved as some suggested by raising fuel prices. You just can't wipe away 50+ years of nation-wide poor city planning like that. |
But it could be if the money went back into subsidised public transport systems and public awareness programs... but then where is the american dream in that? |
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04/30/2007 08:31:45 PM · #45 |
| The United States fuel taxes are an average of $0.42 per gallon. At least according to the highly accurate and always truthful Wikipedia. |
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04/30/2007 08:33:55 PM · #46 |
Originally posted by TechnoShroom:
Originally posted by Monique64:
My head is spinning - gallons, litres, pounds, euro, AUD, Americana dollars, miles, kilomete
rs.
Too busy to do the math.
I pay $1.28 per litre but my problems is that I live in an isolated area and have to travel long distances to get anywhere. |
That would be $4.85 USD / US gallon or $4.01 AUD / US gallon.
We just drove down to Southern California and the highest we paid was $3.91 USD / US gallon which would be $1.17 AUD / liter, unless I've screwed up the math along the way. |
Thanks for that, helps to put it into perspective for me. |
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04/30/2007 08:47:27 PM · #47 |
Originally posted by inshaala:
Originally posted by TechnoShroom:
Originally posted by inshaala:
This isnt a go at you, but i think this is part of the problem... ... My experience when i have been over there is that if you want to go anywhere - shops, cinema, gym, work... you have to get in a car, there are no two ways about it. |
Very true, it is a huge problem. It won't be solved as some suggested by raising fuel prices. You just can't wipe away 50+ years of nation-wide poor city planning like that. |
But it could be if the money went back into subsidised public transport systems and public awareness programs... but then where is the american dream in that? |
I don't believe that you could add enough taxes to fuel sales to redesign or in many places create from scratch a public transportation infrastructure that is useful, efficient, and self funding. Definitely not without crippling the economy in the process. The problem goes beyond just adding the infrastructure and telling people to use it. You'd have to get developers and planners to rezone and redesign what's already in place and change the entire way they plan for new developments. |
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04/30/2007 08:52:33 PM · #48 |
Originally posted by DrAchoo:
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But you live on an island. How far can you go?
When I take my Ford Gargantua for my weekend jaunts to Wyoming (I live in Washington), what am I supposed to do?
(this was tongue-in-cheek for the humor impaired...) [/quote]
I live on an island too, and it costs too much to get from one end of it to the other! |
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04/30/2007 09:00:57 PM · #49 |
Originally posted by RainMotorsports:
Originally posted by KarenNfld:
Originally posted by BeeCee:
It's $1.22.9/l here... don't complain! ;)
(4.54 imperial litres per US gallon) |
Gee, I figured you'd be cheaper than us! We're at $1.16 a litre. |
They have more taxes included. Always have! |
Actually, from what I can find, your rate there is second highest only to Quebec, Karen. Tho' the numbers they quote seem low... I think I'll have a look at the chart on the pump next time I fuel up.
I think one reason ours is higher is because we have such a crappy public transit system that we often have no choice but to drive, hence to pay whatever they charge. |
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04/30/2007 09:07:39 PM · #50 |
Originally posted by Simms:
Originally posted by inshaala:
Nice to know i'm not the only brit in this thread ;) |
Not any more!!!
House prices are insane in the UK at the moment, although London is just going stupid. I live in Essex, our house, when we purchased it ~ 10 years ago cost £50k, now its worth £170k (about $340,000 USD). Mad. |
We can't even get a house for that here, unless it's way out beyond the suburbs :( We live in a not-so-great area, traditionally cheapest of the suburbs, and an ordinary 70's 3bedroom house around the corner is listed for $435 thou. We just sold my mom's simple townhouse for $289k and it was snapped up in two days. (sigh.. we shoulda asked more...) |
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