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Author	Topic: [Poll: 2006.50]: If you knew of a cheaper station 2.5 miles (4km) further away...	Topic is locked Back to Topics

JT Moderator	Message Posted: Dec 10, 2006 12:01:10 AM Ignore JT Report Abuse If you knew of a cheaper station 2.5 miles (4km) further away, how cheap would it have to be for you to go there? As long as it's cheaper, by any amount At least US$0.01/gal (0.3CA¢/l) cheaper At least US$0.02/gal (0.6CA¢/l) cheaper At least US$0.03/gal (0.9CA¢/l) cheaper At least US$0.05/gal (1.5CA¢/l) cheaper At least US$0.10/gal (3.0CA¢/l) cheaperPost your thoughts about this poll below.

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Message Posted: Dec 10, 2006 12:01:10 AM

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If you knew of a cheaper station 2.5 miles (4km) further away, how cheap would it have to be for you to go there?
As long as it's cheaper, by any amount
At least US$0.01/gal (0.3CA¢/l) cheaper
At least US$0.02/gal (0.6CA¢/l) cheaper
At least US$0.03/gal (0.9CA¢/l) cheaper
At least US$0.05/gal (1.5CA¢/l) cheaper
At least US$0.10/gal (3.0CA¢/l) cheaperPost your thoughts about this poll below.

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BlkynB Champion Author San Diego Posts:19,285 Points:2,409,465 Joined:Feb 2006	Message Posted: Dec 15, 2006 2:07:42 PM Ignore BlkynB Report Abuse Tang, Your gas must be much cheaper than we pay. I just posted nine prices since I had a lot of errands to run this morning. Lowest price was 2.45, highest 2.69. The mean was 2.5275, the mode 2.53 and the median 2.53, ergo the lower my estimate of your total miles driven. Your lower prices would yield more miles for the amount you quoted for gas.
technojeep Rookie Author Texas Posts:49 Points:26,650 Joined:Dec 2006	Message Posted: Dec 15, 2006 1:04:57 PM Ignore technojeep Report Abuse At least US$0.05/gal (1.5CA¢/l) cheaper
Panama19 Champion Author Louisville Posts:25,345 Points:2,546,235 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Dec 15, 2006 12:40:51 PM Ignore Panama19 Report Abuse AzDriver, haven't seen that since the '70s.
computersrme Champion Author Des Moines Posts:13,295 Points:2,656,090 Joined:Oct 2005	Message Posted: Dec 15, 2006 12:05:23 PM Ignore computersrme Report Abuse At least 5 cents per gallon.
chui Champion Author Dallas Posts:2,906 Points:2,368,635 Joined:Sep 2004	Message Posted: Dec 15, 2006 11:49:46 AM Ignore chui Report Abuse three cents or more
Battmann Veteran Author Knoxville Posts:303 Points:379,010 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Dec 15, 2006 11:43:40 AM Ignore Battmann Report Abuse At least US$0.03/gal (0.9CA¢/l) cheaper
AzDriver Veteran Author Phoenix Posts:309 Points:83,930 Joined:Mar 2003	Message Posted: Dec 15, 2006 10:55:23 AM Ignore AzDriver Report Abuse Speaking of lower prices has anyone outside of the Phoenix area had this experience. You've been going to a particular station for so long you take it for granted that the price on the sign is the price you will pay but upon closer inspection you notice that that's the CASH price and that if you pay with a credit card, which I usually do, it's like 4 cents more? I really detest these sneaky tricks by the gas stations and when I see that's what they're doing I go to another station. Maybe the next station WILL save me that 2.5 cents per gallon.
Lengas Champion Author Gary Posts:13,561 Points:2,719,725 Joined:Nov 2004	Message Posted: Dec 15, 2006 10:46:26 AM Ignore Lengas Report Abuse 5 cents/gal
Synek All-Star Author South Carolina Posts:757 Points:901,830 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Dec 15, 2006 10:32:00 AM Ignore Synek Report Abuse Just make sure you do the math before you decide which station is cheapest. It's not just the posted price. Just like in real estate, it's location, location, location. If it's out of your way, it's probably not worth it... [Edited by: Synek at 12/15/2006 10:32:44 AM EST]
SWITCHMAN Veteran Author Missouri Posts:311 Points:1,967,950 Joined:Apr 2005	Message Posted: Dec 15, 2006 10:10:11 AM Ignore SWITCHMAN Report Abuse WHEN I AM OUT DRIVING TO THE LOCAL GROCERY STORE, I MAKE A MENTAL NOTE AS TO WHERE THE CHEAPEST GAS IS AND THEN ON THE WAY HOME I PURCHASE GAS AT THE LOWEST STATION ON THAT ROUGHT.
Tang Champion Author Cleveland Posts:11,925 Points:2,512,195 Joined:Apr 2004	Message Posted: Dec 15, 2006 9:53:26 AM Ignore Tang Report Abuse BlkynB, not a bad guess but I actually drive about 50,000 a year so yes I'd go out of my way to save a little.
Tang Champion Author Cleveland Posts:11,925 Points:2,512,195 Joined:Apr 2004	Message Posted: Dec 15, 2006 9:51:21 AM Ignore Tang Report Abuse hisxlnc, I thought Ohio was the only one that put idiots in uniform.
Tang Champion Author Cleveland Posts:11,925 Points:2,512,195 Joined:Apr 2004	Message Posted: Dec 15, 2006 9:49:40 AM Ignore Tang Report Abuse matt_in_kc, I'm with you. Support those who try to give us a break.
Vaquero Sophomore Author Idaho Posts:184 Points:2,128,480 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: Dec 15, 2006 9:44:58 AM Ignore Vaquero Report Abuse Every little bit helps
Panama19 Champion Author Louisville Posts:25,345 Points:2,546,235 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Dec 15, 2006 9:29:56 AM Ignore Panama19 Report Abuse rjr54, I agree. The life of a vehicle (even if you drive it until its death) is an arbitrary span, barring head-on collisions, etc. It is certainly not precise to the 680 km +/- level. The life span of the vehicle is generally set by the presence or absence of reliability or a judgment on whether or not its value is worth the required repairs. The person who gets it next may have an entirely different view of the matter. For a 5 mile round trip, I just figure the immediate cost of the price of the gas to get there and back.
Ice Nuts Champion Author Twin Cities Posts:1,237 Points:1,000,675 Joined:Apr 2004	Message Posted: Dec 15, 2006 9:23:14 AM Ignore Ice Nuts Report Abuse It doesn't make sense to support cheaper gas stations?
goulaisgirl All-Star Author Ontario Posts:583 Points:205,935 Joined:May 2006	Message Posted: Dec 15, 2006 9:17:57 AM Ignore goulaisgirl Report Abuse Not really!
Ice Nuts Champion Author Twin Cities Posts:1,237 Points:1,000,675 Joined:Apr 2004	Message Posted: Dec 15, 2006 9:13:56 AM Ignore Ice Nuts Report Abuse makes sense to me.
MANNU BHAI Sophomore Author Toronto Posts:190 Points:747,300 Joined:Feb 2004	Message Posted: Dec 15, 2006 8:35:05 AM Ignore MANNU BHAI Report Abuse 3c/L
matt_in_kc Veteran Author St. Louis Posts:355 Points:250,420 Joined:Jun 2005	Message Posted: Dec 15, 2006 8:28:27 AM Ignore matt_in_kc Report Abuse 2.5 miles is nothing... even if I only broke even (or even lost a little bit) I'd rather give my money to the gas station that is cheaper... you have to help support the cheap gas stations... the more people that fill up at them, the easier it is for them to make the gas even cheaper. Support your local cheap gas stations!
altima03 All-Star Author Toronto Posts:898 Points:1,498,850 Joined:Aug 2004	Message Posted: Dec 15, 2006 8:10:12 AM Ignore altima03 Report Abuse 3c/l saving on a tankful would net me $1.50. It would cost be a litre, or 90c to get it. For 60c? I don't think so...
Cadillac Sophomore Author Greensboro Posts:240 Points:968,980 Joined:Nov 2003	Message Posted: Dec 15, 2006 8:09:03 AM Ignore Cadillac Report Abuse At least US$0.15/gal (4.5CA¢/l) cheaper.
N9HVP Champion Author Indiana Posts:11,723 Points:2,473,565 Joined:Sep 2004	Message Posted: Dec 15, 2006 7:48:57 AM Ignore N9HVP Report Abuse No, I wouldn't do it for such a small difference in price.
3142 All-Star Author Twin Cities Posts:597 Points:639,120 Joined:Apr 2005	Message Posted: Dec 15, 2006 7:48:01 AM Ignore 3142 Report Abuse Over .05/gal. my time is worth no less.
Guido4 Champion Author Pensacola Posts:13,064 Points:2,674,265 Joined:Jun 2005	Message Posted: Dec 15, 2006 7:38:45 AM Ignore Guido4 Report Abuse At least US$0.03
lpj Champion Author Macon Posts:8,583 Points:1,706,440 Joined:Apr 2006	Message Posted: Dec 15, 2006 7:33:29 AM Ignore lpj Report Abuse if i can save gas at a top tier station i will drive a few miles
mpgoldstein Sophomore Author Richmond Posts:241 Points:53,560 Joined:Oct 2005	Message Posted: Dec 15, 2006 7:14:05 AM Ignore mpgoldstein Report Abuse I arrange the errands that I want to run based on when I need gas and where it is cheapest. If I do not need to go to that part of town, it is a waste of time and gas just to save a few cents.
c47 Champion Author Virginia Posts:12,824 Points:2,306,545 Joined:Dec 2006	Message Posted: Dec 15, 2006 7:12:03 AM Ignore c47 Report Abuse Would have to be at US$0.03/ gal cheaper or If I planned on going that direction for another reason.
stew1950 Champion Author Kitchener-Waterloo Posts:14,270 Points:2,415,025 Joined:Jul 2006	Message Posted: Dec 15, 2006 7:07:28 AM Ignore stew1950 Report Abuse Look for lowest price on way to work
Lindsay1 All-Star Author Toronto Posts:637 Points:544,555 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Dec 15, 2006 6:54:40 AM Ignore Lindsay1 Report Abuse At least 0.3CA¢/l cheaper
PanhandleSam Champion Author Oklahoma Posts:1,113 Points:308,170 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: Dec 15, 2006 6:52:40 AM Ignore PanhandleSam Report Abuse 5
Runn on MT Champion Author Atlanta Posts:12,979 Points:2,579,905 Joined:Apr 2004	Message Posted: Dec 15, 2006 5:22:10 AM Ignore Runn on MT Report Abuse Gotta combine the trips, that's going to work across the board.
Runn on MT Champion Author Atlanta Posts:12,979 Points:2,579,905 Joined:Apr 2004	Message Posted: Dec 15, 2006 5:21:30 AM Ignore Runn on MT Report Abuse I think lots of car trips could be for lesser reasons amd travel further.
Runn on MT Champion Author Atlanta Posts:12,979 Points:2,579,905 Joined:Apr 2004	Message Posted: Dec 15, 2006 5:19:36 AM Ignore Runn on MT Report Abuse How big is the tank? What's the mpg of the car? What's the price spread? Support the low price is the way to go.
Runn on MT Champion Author Atlanta Posts:12,979 Points:2,579,905 Joined:Apr 2004	Message Posted: Dec 15, 2006 5:17:04 AM Ignore Runn on MT Report Abuse Always get gas "on the way" somewhere and it's always the cheapest.
Runn on MT Champion Author Atlanta Posts:12,979 Points:2,579,905 Joined:Apr 2004	Message Posted: Dec 15, 2006 5:16:14 AM Ignore Runn on MT Report Abuse Who goes out just for gas? That calculation is absurd.
J Eric Champion Author Los Angeles Posts:10,282 Points:2,073,005 Joined:Feb 2004	Message Posted: Dec 15, 2006 2:00:35 AM Ignore J Eric Report Abuse I get 24 mpg, so driving 2.5 miles would be using 1/10th of a gallon. Let's say gas is at $2.50 per gallon. 2/10th of that (factoring a drive TO and BACK FROM the mythical cheap station) is 50c. If I need 12 gallons of gas (assuming I don't let the tank go down to fumes), then I would have to save 4 cents a gallon just to break even. However, this is too simplified an analysis, as one also needs to factor in other costs of driving - oil, tires, insurance, etc. Yes, hisxInc, I really do need a CPA to figure this one out.
RBob Champion Author Portland Posts:3,384 Points:2,349,825 Joined:May 2004	Message Posted: Dec 15, 2006 1:42:27 AM Ignore RBob Report Abuse For me cost is only one factor. In a rural area like this, I will spend a few pennies per gallon more for a locally owned station that provides good service over poor service by a company owned station. On the other side, I will study Gas Buddy before traveling to decide where to buy gas, and sometimes what route to take.
hisxlnc Champion Author Richmond Posts:25,240 Points:2,431,255 Joined:Apr 2005	Message Posted: Dec 15, 2006 1:33:53 AM Ignore hisxlnc Report Abuse For 10 cents pg savings, I would definatly go that far, and probably a lot farther!
hisxlnc Champion Author Richmond Posts:25,240 Points:2,431,255 Joined:Apr 2005	Message Posted: Dec 15, 2006 1:31:08 AM Ignore hisxlnc Report Abuse If it was strictly a fuel run, maybe 5 cents would be enough.
hisxlnc Champion Author Richmond Posts:25,240 Points:2,431,255 Joined:Apr 2005	Message Posted: Dec 15, 2006 1:29:30 AM Ignore hisxlnc Report Abuse For me, 3 cents is enough on a combined errand trip.
hisxlnc Champion Author Richmond Posts:25,240 Points:2,431,255 Joined:Apr 2005	Message Posted: Dec 15, 2006 1:28:05 AM Ignore hisxlnc Report Abuse Some of you folks are making very complicated answers to a very simple question. Its only a 5 mile round trip, and shouldn't require a CPA to figure out if its worthwhile.
hisxlnc Champion Author Richmond Posts:25,240 Points:2,431,255 Joined:Apr 2005	Message Posted: Dec 15, 2006 1:21:47 AM Ignore hisxlnc Report Abuse Tang: laughed for half an hour about your experience from yesterday's posting. My experience with the local cops is the reason I will only go 10 mph below the speed limit. I was ticketed for going too slow (15 mph or more below the posted limit) for doing 15 mph in a 35 mph zone. It didn't seem to matter to the officer that it was 3 am, on a half mile long pitch dark road that included an elevated railroad crossing, that had an 18 inch unprotected drop off along the one travel lane due to road construction, and that he and I were the only people on the road at that hour. The judge agreed with me also, but my case was the last one heard that day, so I spent about seven hours in the courtroom to have the case dismissed in 2 minutes.
Panama19 Champion Author Louisville Posts:25,345 Points:2,546,235 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Dec 15, 2006 12:57:36 AM Ignore Panama19 Report Abuse Go for the gas price savings and leave the rest for lawyers and accountants to fight out.
rjr54 Champion Author Winnipeg Posts:1,110 Points:394,395 Joined:Feb 2005	Message Posted: Dec 15, 2006 12:48:32 AM Ignore rjr54 Report Abuse Fixed costs like tires, insurance, car washes, etc are not included because they will not change as a result of an extra 4 Km detour to get cheaper gas. The implication that I will add an extra quarter or dollar to the cost of my car for this year just because I have driven 4 addition kilometres is just plain wrong. At the end of the year the money out of my pocket only goes up by $0.21, the cost of 1/4 litre of gas. Now as far as shortening the life of my car, I also think that has little merit. Perhaps if I drove it until it's death, that might be true and I would have to buy a replacement 4 Km sooner. Or if I did this every time, 4 km times 170 tankfuls (17 tanks per year * 10 years). And the car would die 680 Km sooner and would have to be replaced 2 weeks sooner. So what is the cost of a car dying two weeks earlier? The car is at the end of it's life and the cost per kilometre is it's lowest so it probably is less than $0.03/Km. Every other scenario, write-off, sale, etc has no financial change for 680 extra kilometres. So I believe the only cost to be considered is the gas consumed for 4 Km.
rjr54 Champion Author Winnipeg Posts:1,110 Points:394,395 Joined:Feb 2005	Message Posted: Dec 15, 2006 12:47:14 AM Ignore rjr54 Report Abuse Gas currently costs 86.4¢/L. At 6.1 L/100Km, 4 Km costs 21¢. On a 50 litre fill, I would have to save 0.42¢/L to break even. 0.6CA¢/l cheaper saves me money.
MACEPAK Champion Author Omaha Posts:22,975 Points:2,257,450 Joined:Aug 2006	Message Posted: Dec 15, 2006 12:13:02 AM Ignore MACEPAK Report Abuse Even with a 25 gal. tank, 10 cents is the minimum differential; I always save at least 12 cents using the discount features (grocery card & receipt) and THAT station is the closest one to the house. For the high mileage folks, I can understand that every penney counts, good on ya.
gardezbien Veteran Author Ontario Posts:390 Points:627,285 Joined:May 2006	Message Posted: Dec 14, 2006 11:21:13 PM Ignore gardezbien Report Abuse There seems to be a significant number of comments being made on the cost of driving to and from the gas station. These costs have correctly been categorized as fixed costs and variable costs. But you will observe by the end of this note that the terms are arbitrary! No one seems to have problems with including gas consumption as a variable cost, but many seem to think that fixed costs should not be included in determining the true cost of driving! For example, including the cost of the vehicle seems to be a major point of disagreement. Maybe if we are willing to agree that depreciation as defined by Revenue Canada Agency as “A decrease in the value of an asset through age, use, and deterioration. In accounting terminology, depreciation is a deduction or expense claimed for this decrease in value.” will help us understand and clarify the impasse. If you start with a vehicle worth CA$30,000, it depreciates the moment you drive out of the dealership! After a year of driving let’s say 24,000 km, then “a decrease in the value of [the] asset through age, use, and deterioration” has occurred! Under Revenue Canada rules, a car is classified as Class 10 and is depreciated at an annual rate of 30%. So for example, after year one, the car is worth CA$9,000 less or CA$21,000. After year two, it is worth CA$6,300 less or CA$14,000. This geometric progression continues until the car is worthless! (from the taxman’s point of view that is). By the above example, the “fixed” cost of the car is CA$9,000/24,000 km or CA$0.38 per km for the first year of driving and CA$0.27 per km for the second year! Since a mile is about 1.6 km, then Americans would be paying CA$0.61 and CA$0.44 per mile respectively!!!!!! The more you drive; the less per km (mile) you pay, but conversely, the more you’ll pay for maintenance, insurance etc. It gets complicated very quickly. We haven’t even started to calculate the other so called fixed and variable costs! But Revenue Canada is very willing to accept them all as acceptable costs and help your company make more profit! The fact is there is no such thing as “fixed” costs except as a convenient term used by accountants. All costs are somewhat variable! They just vary over shorter and longer periods of time! Hope you find this helpful!
Lengas Champion Author Gary Posts:13,561 Points:2,719,725 Joined:Nov 2004	Message Posted: Dec 14, 2006 11:04:33 PM Ignore Lengas Report Abuse 5 cents/gal
Panama19 Champion Author Louisville Posts:25,345 Points:2,546,235 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Dec 14, 2006 10:33:47 PM Ignore Panama19 Report Abuse Tim50, using your example it would cost 50 cents to go 5 miles out of your way. The amount you save depends on how many gallons you buy. If you buy 10 gallons the break-even would be 5 cents/gallon savings. If you buy 20 gallons the break-even savings would be 2.5 cents/gallon. This is just for the gasoline. There has been a lot of discussion about how much it really costs you beyond the price of the gas (maintenance, tires, wipers, etc.), and most people don't seem to have done that math accurately (me included), nor has there been a consensus on what should be included. If you drive a lot of miles, drive carefully, and keep your vehicle in good condition the costs per mile are fairly low compared to the cost of the gasoline. If you neglect your vehicle and have a lot of repairs, hotrod a lot and burn up your tires while getting poor mileage, and don’t drive many miles to amortize the expenses, your cost per mile can be significantly higher, making the savings on the cost of the gasoline relatively insignificant. It seems to me that this is as much about human behavior as it is about economics.
LuvGrn Rookie Author Minnesota Posts:6 Points:5,015 Joined:Oct 2006	Message Posted: Dec 14, 2006 10:24:27 PM Ignore LuvGrn Report Abuse oops sorry, I meant that message to be for rjeoh