Could rising gas prices kill the suburbs?

[benecios]

http://realestate.msn.com/buying/Art...42526&GT1=8479

Just saw this article on MSN.I had to laugh on 2 counts,firstly $3 a gallon sounds like bliss,it hasnt been that price in the UK for 20 years.Secondly instead of moving to the cities you guys could always,god forbid,buy a 1.4 litre car instead of 6 litre behemoths choking the planet.

 

[dah328]

Frankly, I really enjoy choking the planet in my 3.2l sports car regardless of the gas prices.

 

[benecios]

Originally Posted by dah328

Frankly, I really enjoy choking the planet in my 3.2l sports car regardless of the gas prices.

Exactly the response I expected.

 

[LabelKing]

My car does not require smog checks, and it gets only 12MPG with a $60 tank of gas.

It's almost perverse to boast about these thins.

 

[dah328]

Does it get a different MPG figure with a tank of gas that costs something other than $60?

 

[LabelKing]

Originally Posted by dah328

Does it get a different MPG figure with a tank of gas that costs something other than $60?
It seems to require Premium gas so I have no idea about any alternative. When it was produced, it was supposed to get 23MPG but that seems only an ideal possibility now on the highways. If you use cheaper gas it clogs up, despite its hardened valves. I'm promising myself a Facel Vega with its huge Chevy V8 to choking it in further style.

 

[Flagrant]

Originally Posted by dah328

Frankly, I really enjoy choking the planet in my 3.2l sports car regardless of the gas prices.
LOL!

 

[imageWIS]

Originally Posted by dah328

Does it get a different MPG figure with a tank of gas that costs something other than $60?

Jon.

 

[dah328]

If your car is old enough to be exempt from smog checks, it will almost certainly experience improved gas mileage after a tune-up.

 

[someoneNew]

I know at least 3 people that are already trying to sell their large SUVs.
I don't think those with small to mid sized SUVs will bail, but the freakish large ones that resemble school buses could go away... and I'll be stoked.
Sick of soccer mom's driving these beasts that could hold a village in them to the mall.

 

[LabelKing]

Originally Posted by dah328

If your car is old enough to be exempt from smog checks, it will almost certainly experience improved gas mileage after a tune-up.
Yes, a '60s car; however, it has had a major tune-up and gas mileage has not improved. I suspect the valves have to be adjusted, which is not as easy as it sounds given the MFI system.

 

[Kent Wang]

I wish all the 6 liter SUVs would be traded in for 6 liter sports cars. At least there will be less congestion on the roads that way.

 

[Dakota rube]

Back to the original question, or more accurately, re-phrasing it: how high will gasoline prices have to climb before Americans change our lifestyles? Perhaps we'll not see an exodus out of the suburbs (one has to ask "to where&quot, but will sales of gas-guzzlers drop precipitously?

I'm voting for $4.00/gallon

 

[LabelKing]

I see there are cars with 40 MPG.

 

[Flagrant]

No. Will never happen. For perspective, consider these numbers:

20,000 Above-average miles driven per year (Average is 15,000)
/20 Slightly below average gas mileage
-------
1000 Number of gallons of gas purchased per year

$1000 Additional fuel costs/year if gas prices increase to $4/gal
-or-
$2000 Additional fuel costs/year if gas prices increase to $5/gal

Most cities large enough to have suburbs that would be far enough away to be an issue, have downtown real-estate that costs roughly double what it would cost in the 'burbs. In other words, if 2,000 sq ft in the burbs cost $200,000, then the same metropolitan area would charge approx $400,000 for a comparable downtown home.

So one could move downtown to save $1-2K/yr, while paying an extra $30K/yr in mortgage payments?? Nope. I just don't see it.