US "Gas" prices

[abo]

Indeed, I've never done more than 25 each way, and I did that (once!) on the bike.

Mind you, the boss here does 100+ each way and claims 40p/mile for doing so in his own car.

I'd have an end to that if I were in charge, I don't see why people should be able to claim mileage to and from their normal place of work. If some of the people affected are *that* valuable to the company and are likely to leave as a result then give em a pay rise

 

[Norm]

I'd have an end to that if I were in charge, I don't see why people should be able to claim mileage to and from their normal place of work. If some of the people affected are *that* valuable to the company and are likely to leave as a result then give em a pay rise

I'm working on it (not the payrise bit! ) but, as I said, he's the boss so it's not that straight-forward.

I have at least curbed the hotel bills by saying that, if he needs to stay locally, he can get a house locally like the rest of us rather than buying somewhere in the middle of nowhere because it's cheap and expecting the company to fund his savings.

This same argument can be / will be / has been made of the fuel use.

 

[Brains]

"What's the average mileage driven by a person with a car in the UK now? I know it used to be 12,000-15,000 miles per year -and that's what it is over here."

I believe it's now sub 10,000 miles per year on average in the UK, for an American 15,000 miles PA sounds low.

Old adage applies:
In the Old World 200 years is a short time and 200 miles is a long way
In the New World it's the other way around

 

[Goto10]

As far as I'm aware the yanks don't need to pay VED either, it's built into the cost of fuel (which makes infinitely more sense than the stupid VED disks)

 

[Nigeyy]

True, but you are at the vagaries of your local town and how they may tax your property.

For example I pay $25 per year for my car.... but the tax is based on value, and my car is 16 years old and certainly isn't a luxury model Another reason for me not to spend money on a car.....

Other towns may charge less or more.

As far as I'm aware the yanks don't need to pay VED either, it's built into the cost of fuel (which makes infinitely more sense than the stupid VED disks)

 

[jefmcg]

I remember years ago reading an american on an online forum who was looking for a single scull (rowing boat). He gave his location and said "anywhere within a 1000 miles". That's when I really knew fuel was too cheap in US, when it's worthwhile to drive a thousand miles like this
(he wasn't looking for something rare, just a good deal)

 

[Brandane]

True, but you are at the vagaries of your local town and how they may tax your property.

For example I pay $25 per year for my car.... but the tax is based on value, and my car is 16 years old and certainly isn't a luxury model Another reason for me not to spend money on a car.....

Other towns may charge less or more.

I just paid for my annual VED (road tax ) and it was £190 (about US $310). Must be a gas guzzling 4x4 then? Well no; it's a 5 year old Toyota Corolla 1600cc. BTW a European Toyota Corolla is MUCH smaller than the model of the same name marketed in the USA (as I discovered when I rented one in Florida!).

£190 for the privilege of driving on our congested, pot-holed, road works infested, un-Policed excuses for roads!!

Say what you like about driving in America, but I have done it quite regularly over the years and it is a pleasure compared to the UK. Mainland Europe is also so much less stressful. The only place I have found that is worse than the UK is Jamaica . Now they ARE nuts behind the wheel!

Ah well; at least the bad driving/standard of roads/costs of motoring in the UK convinced me to get back into cycling. Unfortunately 2 of those 3 factors also affect the cycling experience.

 

[davefb]

http://www.snopes.com/politics/gasoline/getused.asp

interestingly, they are actually using less, which is partly why oil has dropped in the last week.... I'd say in california they had the right idea, they just need the attitude to move into some other states...