Are You Driving More Or Less?

[azskyman]

With our minds now trained that gas is "cheap" if it runs between $1.50 ant $1.75, it seems the prospect of $2.00 to $2.50 is not far away.

My driving habits have changed a lot over the years. In the 70's, it wasn't all that unusual to go out on a stormy day and follow a storm around for a few hours...burning up a half tank of gas or better. Sometimes a weekend drive just for the sake of being on the road. Spontaneous driving, I call it...where you went out for a drive because you wanted to.

These days, I can hardly remember a time that I go anywhere that is spontaneous or unplanned. We may take a scenic route when we do go, but it is always a planned event. And business trips are usually combined with more than one needed stop just to assure maximum use of the miles driven.

Have you changed your driving habits..time on the road..or "spontaneous driving" like we have?

And another related question too. We'll be trading off or selling or donating our 7-year old car next winter. We've had our eyes on an SUV (with our trips to San Diego and back), but the thought of $80 fillups makes me cringe!

Does the current and future outlook of gas prices have the same impact on your thinking about what kind of vehicle you'll purchase?

[Stephanie]

My driving habits haven't really changed. I still travel almost 100 a day to work and I'm still eyeing the Honda CRV as my next vehicle. I currently have a Honda Accord coupe which is sharp, but not functional for a gardener. I wouldn't consider getting a larger SUV because of the gas prices and plus I really don't need something bigger.

[breeze]

I have definitely cut out those famous
"Sunday drives" due to the gas prices,
Poppysky! Every trip is planned. I have
also noticed a lot of SUV's sitting roadside
in lawns with "For Sale" signs on them,
between here and work. I tend to wonder
if the current gas prices played into the
decision to sell.

[wx247]

very interesting points...

I am interested in buying an SUV, but I am having second thoughts after reading this post and others. I guess it all depends on gas prices. I drive about 100 miles round-trip daily so... I fill up with gas quite often.

[coriolis]

Probably about the same. I drive 7 miles to work, and most of our shopping is less than a mile away. I combine trips a lot. Now that we're in daylight savings time and the weather is improving, I'll hopefully start biking it to work.

[Pburgh]

Well I bought a new 2003 Subaru Forester last fall. It gets about 28 miles per gallon and since I am a gardener I love the room. It's not a big SUV but hey, I don't need anything any bigger. With the bad winter we had here in the Burgh, I loved it!!!

My driving habits have not changed. I still have to drive almost 80 miles and day due to work!!! Hey, maybe I should just retire!!!!! Nahhhhh

[Lindaloo]

My driving habits have not changed either. I did however park my SUV.

[azsnowman]

Since we bought the new Ford Explorer, we're actually driving MORE! It gets FAR better mileage than the Old Ram, the GAS pig FORD......I just filled the Explorer up for the first time, we've done a LOT of hill climbing, checking out the power this thing has, "flooring it".......and we STILL came out with 18-19 MPG....so I'm guessing, long distance on the Interstate SHOULD bring us ABOUT 21-22 MPG, even higher if I don't "ahem" PUSH IT!

Dennis

[azsnowman]

Steve, may I suggest checking out a Ford Explorer, the comfort and ride of a Cadillac built into an SUV!

Dennis