Has the Gulf crisis changed your driving approach?

[JTQ]

Just in from a circular run that involved Winchester and Petersfield, diesel appears to be typically 179.9.

With growing concern that the Disco had to be fuelled, as I covered the last few miles a two pump very minor indy garage located in an adjacent village to home had it at 170.9.
"Strange" how even buying at that price one can feel some relief, more so with the amount the Disco's tank took. Tried not to linger on the £s as I filled in my fuel log!

 

[otherclive]

Will it get worse?
Asda Settle £179.9. Why not say £1.80?

I’ve a friend in Canberra planning to sell his Subaru Outback for a hybrid car as fuel is now £1.29 litre. Isn’t going PHEV or EV as he does some long distances and charging would be problematic on some routes.

 

[Dustydog]

Today whilst out Asda Settle whacked diesel upto £184.9. RR could give us back the bonus she is getting on the extra VAT🙀

 

[otherclive]

It’s interesting that in the mid 70s crisis, the price of oil went from $3 to $11 a barrel, so proportionately we still have a way to go. Government efforts were focused on. encouraging drivers to drive less and more slowly, with public transport to be used more. Speed limits on motorway were reduced. To depress usage further Dennis Healey put VAT on petrol at 25%. Derv didn’t attract VAT. Ration coupons were issued but not used. But no calls for government giveaways to help drivers.

 

[Dustydog]

Worth noting it was 8% before the new 25%, lasted a year ish then reduced to 12.5%.
Could this be the end of caravanning🙉

 

[otherclive]

Worth noting it was 8% before the new 25%, lasted a year ish then reduced to 12.5%.
Could this be the end of caravanning🙉

I don’t think it’s the end of caravanning as the mid 70s VAT increase didn’t lead to the end of caravanning. But these days people seem less resilient and seek Government help far earlier than yesteryear. Yet should be prepared to change their approach where possible by driving less, driving slower, using public transport etc, that way fuel stocks and supplies can be eked out until the present global crisis is resolved. Until then people would still be paying for expensive fuel but still able to get to work and make other important journeys. From my post at #1 it was clear that things might get difficult and we had by then changed our approach to driving and outings in order to conserve fuel usage. But at least we aren’t having 2000 lb precision munitions raining down on us.

 

[otherclive]

Now within striking distance of a holiday in the Forest of Dean/Monmouthshire and the car has been used just enough to keep it charged and the fuel level high. Pity next weeks forecast looks rubbish, but you cannot win them all. Our little Kia Rio has been doing sterling duty. Even our grandson was impressed with its economy at 50mpg+ when he and three friends went to London last weekend. My wife insisted it was returned with a full tank too.

 

[Tobes]

My daughter and her partner came to visit over Easter. It's a 260 mile drive. Previously they used their Volvo v40 T2 petrol averaging something like 45mpg. This time they used their Corsa-e. They reckoned the Volvo could do the return trip on one tank brimmed and on fumes on when they got home. The corsa needed one longer charge (30 mins) and a splash and dash on each leg. Total cost for the Corsa was about £77, of which about £16 was granny lead at our house. 60l of petrol ay 160 is about £96, so it seems to have been a small saving for them (£35) but about 1/3 of the bill.

 

[Beachball]

Hardly use the Ford Kuga Hybrid it still got a full tank but we are going out tomorrow to Castleford Retail Park that roughly 110 miles around trip meeting my brother-in-law at a pub, . Our break is coming up to Wrexham to sort out the seasonal caravan it our first time this year so we have extended our stay a bit longer. But we will be keeping the speed down on motorways .

 

[Dustydog]

Hardly use the Ford Kuga Hybrid it still got a full tank but we are going out tomorrow to Castleford Retail Park that roughly 110 miles around trip meeting my brother-in-law at a pub, . Our break is coming up to Wrexham to sort out the seasonal caravan it our first time this year so we have extended our stay a bit longer. But we will be keeping the speed down on motorways .

Like you BB even though the fuel has gone up loads, it will not stop our tours this year. It’s now approximately 40 p more a litre. Trip coming up is not too far so whilst dearer we can cope.
Long distance trips to Scotland will be different. The biggest concern has to be rationing, unavailability, and being stranded.
Our next trip next Thursday is 70 miles, an easy M4 drive mostly , so is achievable without too much hurt. And enough fuel for the entire trip.

 

[otherclive]

Like Dusty our main aim was to preserve sufficient fuel to be able to do a pre booked week away and return home without any concerns wrt fuel availability on the return journey. Mind you the mower is getting low so I may have to sneak out under cover of darkness with my 5 litre can in case I may be mistaken for a fuel hoarder. Alternatively use daughters cordless mower.

 

[Flatcoat]

Changing a car solely to save money from reduced fuel consumption is a huge false economy. The biggest cost of car ownership by a country mile is depreciation. There is so much irrational behaviour with an alleged rush to buy EV’s. Diesel has increased by around 30% which at a notional 50mpg over 10,000 miles is c£360. How much has your new car saved on economy? How much has your car depreciated in the past 12 months. And your new car is more economical by 10mpg? Get real and stop panicking.

 

[otherclive]

Changing a car solely to save money from reduced fuel consumption is a huge false economy. The biggest cost of car ownership by a country mile is depreciation. There is so much irrational behaviour with an alleged rush to buy EV’s. Diesel has increased by around 30% which at a notional 50mpg over 10,000 miles is c£360. How much has your new car saved on economy? How much has your car depreciated in the past 12 months. And your new car is more economical by 10mpg? Get real and stop panicking.

Who’s proposed buying a new car? If you are referring to my post wrt a friend in Canberra he’s due a change as the Outback is three years old, and not very economical being a 2.5 litre petrol engine. He also does high mileages to Melbourne and Adelaide but he’s certainly not buying electric as charging in Oz can be problematic out of cities and off of main routes.

 

[GUMPY]

Changing a car solely to save money from reduced fuel consumption is a huge false economy. The biggest cost of car ownership by a country mile is depreciation. There is so much irrational behaviour with an alleged rush to buy EV’s. Diesel has increased by around 30% which at a notional 50mpg over 10,000 miles is c£360. How much has your new car saved on economy? How much has your car depreciated in the past 12 months. And your new car is more economical by 10mpg? Get real and stop panicking.

New car?
What's that?
Newest car I've ever had was six years old.
Let someone else have the initial depreciation.
We did look for electric last time but couldn't find one C was comfortable driving. Ended up with a one Litre three cylinder petrol thing, but C likes it.

 

[Flatcoat]

Whether it is barns new or simply new to you the same applies. Depreciation is still the biggest cost of car ownership for the vast majority of car owners. However to focus on fuel costs, My trips to Loch Ness (without caravan) are costing me c£30 more in fuel than 2 months ago. My planned caravan holiday to Lake Constance will cost me c£80 more in petrol at current prices. Out of the full cost of that holiday it is covered by contingency monies and eating out a bit less if we need to. I agree for some people that is a big hit but if I can’t afford the additional £80 then I can’t afford the holiday in the first place. My EV I use for commuting and charge at home was already saving me £70/month, that is now up at £85 which My PHEV saves me around £40/month on petrol it would otherwise use. I bought the EV because my 16 year old commuting car was getting tired and the PHEV I bought 4 years ago to replace an unreliable (and too small) Volvo. Both bought new on 0% finance and both needed rather than simply desired.

 

[RogerL]

Unavailability of diesel is the only thing that will curtail my caravanning, or other driving trips - I'm at the age where life's too short to worry about things outside my control.

We've just come back from 4 weeks in Norfolk and covered more miles just touring around than we usually do - we did have one day when both Tesco and Sainsburys in Kings Lynn had run out of diesel so we had to detour to Asda, all of 3 miles!

Our next trip is up to the West Coast of Scotland in May, no plans to curtail that - and our regular birdwatching trips will still go ahead although I need to recalculate the mileage contribution rate for our friends who come with us.

 

[Tobes]

Whether it is barns new or simply new to you the same applies. Depreciation is still the biggest cost of car ownership for the vast majority of car owners. However to focus on fuel costs, My trips to Loch Ness (without caravan) are costing me c£30 more in fuel than 2 months ago. My planned caravan holiday to Lake Constance will cost me c£80 more in petrol at current prices. Out of the full cost of that holiday it is covered by contingency monies and eating out a bit less if we need to. I agree for some people that is a big hit but if I can’t afford the additional £80 then I can’t afford the holiday in the first place. My EV I use for commuting and charge at home was already saving me £70/month, that is now up at £85 which My PHEV saves me around £40/month on petrol it would otherwise use. I bought the EV because my 16 year old commuting car was getting tired and the PHEV I bought 4 years ago to replace an unreliable (and too small) Volvo. Both bought new on 0% finance and both needed rather than simply desired.

Agree that replacing an ice car with an EV to save on fuel costs is probably not a good idea. The flip side is if you decide to replace an ICE car for _any_ other reason (size, age, features, colour, maintenance requirements, mileage, or just because) then choosing how to spend the funds you do have _can_ (significantly) reduce your running costs at the same time. This is contingent on being able to charge from home, and an EV suiting your needs in other ways (size, shape, door count, colour, towing limit etc).