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When gas prices go up...

coltpaxcoltpax Member Posts: 7,516 ✭✭
edited February 2011 in General Discussion
So do the prices on mopeds and crappy old 4 bangers.

Comments

  • swampgutswampgut Member Posts: 5,555
    edited November -1
    Ask for a raise.....
  • coltpaxcoltpax Member Posts: 7,516 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by swampgut
    Ask for a raise.....


    AHAHAHAAHAHa....I'll get laughed out of the shop
  • swampgutswampgut Member Posts: 5,555
    edited November -1
    Well, if they raise their prices as their costs increase why can't you?

    BTW, I haven't asked for a raise either but I get reimbursed for my mileage at the IRS rate...luckily it goes up when fuel prices do.

    I feel for you.

    How far do you drive to work?

    I rode a ten speed to work for six months until I could afford a car when I was your age.
  • coltpaxcoltpax Member Posts: 7,516 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    About 10 miles to work and 15 to school. I'm driving a Honda Passport w/ 3.2 V6, but that thing gets horrible gas mileage (my dad's Dakota V8 gets about 6 more MPG than me). I'm gonna check around and see if I can't find a moped to scoot around on. I was gonna get a Honda Rebel 250, but I'd have to buy a case of vaseline too cause they were gonna rape me on insurance rates. And work, well, my boss is a cheap old man. I want to leave that shop so bad, just can't find a job elsewhere. I'm making a grand total of $7 cash an hour, and I work just enough to keep gas in the tank. But, life goes on, some money is better than no money.
  • ChrisInTempeChrisInTempe Member Posts: 15,562
    edited November -1
    I messed around with a moped about 33 years ago. Got together with a motor cycle mechanic and we fiddled with the ports, carburetor, back pressure on the exhaust. Pushed the top speed up to 45mph. Gas mileage fell though, from 118mpg down to about 95 to a 100mpg. It was a fun toy to mess with for a while. Sat in a shed for years, gave it to a nephew to play around with.

    I don't object to the things, but I prefer cars and trucks and air conditioned comfort. Besides, aren't they all made in China these days? Who wants Chinese junk anyway?

    If you can find an old Batavus or Motobecane (Italy and France I think they were?), and the parts to make them run again, could be a cheap way to get around. You just have to balance the laughter of your friends with the satisfaction of over 100mpg!
  • wpagewpage Member Posts: 10,201 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Walking shoes are looking better. Sailboat sales are spiking.
  • shilowarshilowar Member Posts: 38,811 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    That's exactly why I bought a bike now, because they will be more expensive in a month, one because of riding season, and two because of gas prices.

    The bike shop I bought it from, the owner told me his business has been great this winter, last winter he had to borrow 17K to make it through. Small shop, 3 guy operation, most the bikes for sale 7-8 total are consignment bikes, most of his business is mechanical
  • CHEVELLE427CHEVELLE427 Member Posts: 6,750
    edited November -1
    when gas goes up so does crime around here.

    guy last week was robbed at gun point for $8.36[:(]



    quote:Originally posted by wpage
    Walking shoes are looking better. Sailboat sales are spiking.


    give them enough time and they will find a way to charge for the

    WIND
  • William81William81 Member Posts: 25,408 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    There has been a rash of drive offs at the gas stations near the interstate by where I live. Guess we will be going to the pre-pay pumps soon.
  • swampgutswampgut Member Posts: 5,555
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by coltpax
    About 10 miles to work and 15 to school. I'm driving a Honda Passport w/ 3.2 V6, but that thing gets horrible gas mileage (my dad's Dakota V8 gets about 6 more MPG than me). I'm gonna check around and see if I can't find a moped to scoot around on. I was gonna get a Honda Rebel 250, but I'd have to buy a case of vaseline too cause they were gonna rape me on insurance rates. And work, well, my boss is a cheap old man. I want to leave that shop so bad, just can't find a job elsewhere. I'm making a grand total of $7 cash an hour, and I work just enough to keep gas in the tank. But, life goes on, some money is better than no money.


    Well...$7 cash translates to $9-10 so it's not as bad as I thought.

    They're very expensive...even the old ones...but an older Jetta TDi would be ideal.

    I had a '98 with a big dent in the door, bad tires and shocks and it had 226K miles on it. It cost me $3800 and I had to fly to Florida to pick it up and drive back. I then sold it a year or so later with 276K miles on it for $4000.

    You could always try to find a high mileage Honda Civic or something that needed some fixing up.

    I used to buy and sell cars I bought at charity auctions.

    I would fix what needed fixing and occasionally I would make a profit....[:I]

    If you have two vehicles(Ranger and Passport?), I would sell one or both of them and go that route.

    Whatever you do don't go to a dealer for ANY CAR.

    You will always find a better deal through a private owner or one of these charity auctions.

    The ones I went to would let you check them out the two days prior to the auction.

    They let you start them up and maybe put them in gear to go a little forward and backward but they wouldn't let you drive them.

    If you put in the time, check all the fluids, check for blowby, leaks, axle boots, etc. you could find a diamond in the rough.

    It also helps if you don't care what you drive.

    The best deal I found was a Toyota Corolla station wagon with crappy paint. The interior was clean except for some long white dog hair all over it. I also found in a manila folder ALL THE MAINTENANCE RECORDS. They were * about maintenance and it showed in the condition of the engine and everything else.

    Nobody was interested probably because it was a wagon with badly faded light blue/silver paint but I knew it was immaculately maintained.

    I won the auction for $775 and sold it for $1800.[;)]

    I also got burned more than once but I was speculating.

    If you go into it considering that it will have to be reliable you can be more thorough.

    The problem you run into this time of year though is that all the yahoos who just got their income tax bid them to ridiculous levels.

    At one auction a Honda Civic with 333K miles on it and a thrashed interior went for $3,900....and I'm not joking....

    If you're willing to settle for a quality car that maybe isn't all that popular you can get a really good car for next to nothing on occasion.
  • gjshawgjshaw Member Posts: 14,754 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by coltpax
    And work, well, my boss is a cheap old man. I want to leave that shop so bad, just can't find a job elsewhere. I'm making a grand total of $7 cash an hour, and I work just enough to keep gas in the tank. But, life goes on, some money is better than no money.


    Its not that you can't find a job. You have no skills or education to get you another job right now. You are only 18. First off, you need to either go to college or inlist. Both will give you an education that you can't get on GB. That is where most of your time is spent.

    A mother in Tampa put her son on a street corner wearing a cardboard sign. The sign asked if they thought he needed more education to honk. The mother knew that her son needed more education but the son was not motavated to go to school so she was just preping him for his future job. With out an education or skill you are just qualified to stand on a street corner or work in a lousy garage for $7 an hour. Get off of here so much and get a girlfriend and an education. Not in that order. [:D]
  • MaxOHMSMaxOHMS Member Posts: 14,715
    edited November -1
    Put a motor on a bicycle.

    Under a certain cc's it is legally still just a bicycle.

    (can't remember that magic #)
  • CHEVELLE427CHEVELLE427 Member Posts: 6,750
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by MaxOHMS
    Put a motor on a bicycle.

    Under a certain cc's it is legally still just a bicycle.

    (can't remember that magic #)


    Use to be 10 BHP what ever that is.

    their all in the way around here, goes just fast enough to be a pest, cost is around $500
  • jltrentjltrent Member Posts: 9,337 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by coltpax
    About 10 miles to work and 15 to school. I'm driving a Honda Passport w/ 3.2 V6, but that thing gets horrible gas mileage (my dad's Dakota V8 gets about 6 more MPG than me). I'm gonna check around and see if I can't find a moped to scoot around on. I was gonna get a Honda Rebel 250, but I'd have to buy a case of vaseline too cause they were gonna rape me on insurance rates. And work, well, my boss is a cheap old man. I want to leave that shop so bad, just can't find a job elsewhere. I'm making a grand total of $7 cash an hour, and I work just enough to keep gas in the tank. But, life goes on, some money is better than no money.
    Isn't minimum wage more than $7 and hour now? Mechanic work usually pays better.
  • bhale187bhale187 Member Posts: 7,798
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by William81
    There has been a rash of drive offs at the gas stations near the interstate by where I live. Guess we will be going to the pre-pay pumps soon.

    Being close to the interstate I'm surprised they were not prepay already.
  • jltrentjltrent Member Posts: 9,337 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Anybody could do like all the Amish around me, get a horse and buggy. I saw 4 buggies go by my house a few minutes ago loaded full of Amish going to church. If gas keeps going up I may get me one.
  • WarbirdsWarbirds Member Posts: 16,925 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    My wife drives about 500 miles a week and has to run premium unleaded, I have a feeling that's going to get expensive this summer.
  • coltpaxcoltpax Member Posts: 7,516 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by gjshaw
    quote:Originally posted by coltpax
    And work, well, my boss is a cheap old man. I want to leave that shop so bad, just can't find a job elsewhere. I'm making a grand total of $7 cash an hour, and I work just enough to keep gas in the tank. But, life goes on, some money is better than no money.


    Its not that you can't find a job. You have no skills or education to get you another job right now. You are only 18. First off, you need to either go to college or inlist. Both will give you an education that you can't get on GB. That is where most of your time is spent.

    A mother in Tampa put her son on a street corner wearing a cardboard sign. The sign asked if they thought he needed more education to honk. The mother knew that her son needed more education but the son was not motavated to go to school so she was just preping him for his future job. With out an education or skill you are just qualified to stand on a street corner or work in a lousy garage for $7 an hour. Get off of here so much and get a girlfriend and an education. Not in that order. [:D]


    Well, already have a girlfriend (gonna be a year next month) and I'm going to the local community college on a scholarship. Right now I'm taking automotive classes, think next year I may take a few business classes as well, but the year after that I'm planning on starting BLET. And Dave, that's gotta suck. Is she commuting in a Mercedes or something?
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