Sections: Efficiency Jul 9th, 2008 44 Comments A great story recently posted at the paper of record about how the price of fuel is affecting those with 25 gallon (and larger) fuel tanks.
By late spring, owners of pickups and sport utility vehicles with 30-gallon tanks, like the Cadillac Escalade ESV and Chevrolet Suburban, started paying $100 or more to fill a near-empty tank. As gas prices continue to rise — the national average stood at about $4.10 a gallon Saturday — membership in the triple-digit club is growing. Now, even not-so-gargantuan Toyota Land Cruisers and GMC Yukons can cost $100 to fill up.
Data on exactly how often people pay $100 for a tank of gas are scarce, given price variations from market to market and day to day. But during the first five months of 2008, about 11 percent of American drivers said they bought 24 gallons or more at their last fill-up, according to a survey of 81,000 drivers by the NPD Group, a market research firm — which at today’s prices would place many of them at or around $100.
I post this as a reminder to those of us with smaller fuel tanks that, as high as gas prices are, at least we aren’t paying $100 to fill out tanks. But, for the sake of curiosity, what is the most expensive tank you have had? I haven’t gotten over $60 yet, but I do have a feeling that might happen this week.
[ At $100 for Tank of Gas, Some Choke on ‘Fill It’ ] Nytimes.com
KipperFillets Jul 9th, 2008 Link
Here in the UK, it’s around £1.20/lt, so it’s easy to put in £60 for a Mini fill-up. You can almost see people in biggers cars crying at the pumps. That’s probably why the Land Cruiser is probably one of the biggest ‘common’ cars we have here. Having said that, there do seem to be more large 4×4 vehicles on our roads. The extortionate prices we pay hasn’t seemed to curb anyone’s buying habits.
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C4 Jul 9th, 2008 Link
I don’t care how well off you might be, pouring $100+ down the “tank” must be a painful experience every time.
However, I have no sympathy for the people that jumped onto the SUV bandwagon and knew beforehand what they were getting themselves into.
I think high gas prices are a blessing in disguise.
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George Jul 9th, 2008 Link
I think my most expensive fill so far has been about $45. Still sucks, but like is posted, at least it’s not double that for a single tank.
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Lee L Jul 9th, 2008 Link
I have broken $50 a few times, but since I ran out of gas a couple of times in a 6 month period a couple of years ago by pushing it, I have tried to get gas pretty close to when the light goes off to avoid both running out and having people tease me and the potential fuel pump damage.
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chris Jul 9th, 2008 Link
$58 was my highest (hit this week). Painful- but nowhere near as painful as the guy in the Landcruiser next to me ($100+).
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Roger Jul 9th, 2008 Link
Those that snickered when I bought my MINI almost three years ago are the same ones crying at the pump.
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MiniMatt Jul 9th, 2008 Link
The oil prices are ridiculous for you guys now, but for us its even worse… I paid 70 Euros ($110) to fill up my R53 Cooper S the other day here in the Netherlands… Ouch! And I’m amazed at how many Chevy Avalanches are popping up all around the place! It must be hell to fill those bad boys up! :S
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Chad Jul 9th, 2008 Link
I do feel bad for people that NEED SUV’s, vans and trucks, like contractors, fabricators, folks with 6 kids. I believe in market forces, though, so I shrug it off.
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Iain Jul 9th, 2008 Link
It cost just over $50 to fill my MCS JCW yesterday – not bad and not unexpected. Still getting about 27 mpg overall.
I bought a Vespa in February for fun and to drive the mile to my mailbox/bank/grocery store/Starbucks/library, etc. Before gas prices started to hit the headlines, people laughed at me on the purple scooter. Now, when I pull up at the gas station next to a Suburban or large SUV, I get lots of envious looks and people always ask “what does it get?” 75 mpg makes them even more envious!
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eric Jul 9th, 2008 Link
$56 so far, it was painfull cracking the $50 mark, I probably won’t cringe that much until $75 (I cringe in $25 incriments apparently).
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Deb Jul 9th, 2008 Link
I haven’t broke $50 yet filling up my R50, but that is partially because I usually don’t let it get below 1/4 tank before I fill up. The most I’ve paid was about $47 when I let it get down to 1/8 tank. I definitely consider myself lucky (or maybe the correct word is smart). No complaining yet about gas prices here!
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mike c. Jul 9th, 2008 Link
Last fill-up was just over $62. I have to add gas today so it may be more this time. Here in the Bay Area the station I go to has been $4.80 a gallon.
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J.D. Jul 9th, 2008 Link
My mom still hasn’t gotten rid of her Suburban, and nowadays she fills up when she gets down to a half a tank because many gas pumps with credit card readers automatically shut off at $100. Her truck has a 42 gallon gas tank…
Fortunately it should be at least another couple of months (well, maybe weeks if Iran keeps shooting off missiles…) before people in Minis have to start doing the same…
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TO Jul 9th, 2008 Link
This might alleviate the pain at the pump: http://www.autonews.com/article/20080709/COPY01/289508976/1197
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Jon Jul 9th, 2008 Link
Tend to fill up our Mini’s once a week which is about a half tank on the S and well less than than on the GP,
Have had two full fill ups though on the S at a few cents over $62 for gas at $4.79
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lavardera Jul 9th, 2008 Link
I have a local station that does 6cents off super weds and sundays, so I tend to top it off on one of those days. So fill ups are rare.
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IRIEMAN Jul 9th, 2008 Link
A few weekends ago I made the mistake of not topping off before a run through the mountains- tank on E, I had to get gas at a small-town fillin’ station (the only one in town!).
I put $60 into the MINI, but there was room for more. Eeek! :)
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eto Jul 9th, 2008 Link
In my Saturn, I’ve never had to go past $40, but gas hasn’t gone above 3.99 and it has an 11 gallon tank. I’m kinda surprise at some of the dollar amounts that have been put into the MINIs as posted, but I guess the price of premium will do that in states with high fuel costs. About $70 is the most I’ve had to put in my 18 gallon Chrysler minivan.
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Art Jul 9th, 2008 Link
Oh, $100+ to fill an R53 has been normal in Germany for a good long while.
America still has it good on fuel prices!
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Ian F Jul 9th, 2008 Link
The last fill up of our R52 cost me $52
My daily-driver ‘03 TDI has been averaging in the mid 50’s for the last few months with a high of $61.
Of course, my ‘95 Cummins makes me wince: last month’s fill-up was $110 and the previous fill was $108… but the truck is purely used for secondary “dirty” jobs so I don’t drive it too much. That and 22 mpg makes the fuel cost slightly more tolerable.
Fortunately, diesel pumps usually don’t have max-dollar shut-offs, so I don’t have to deal with that annoyance.
FWIW, I paid almost $100 ($97) for a fill-up of my old conversion van (dual tanks @ 38 gal) back in 8/05 when RUG were “merely” $2.51/gal. I was helping a friend move and she went pale when she saw the tally…
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Alan In ZA Jul 9th, 2008 Link
Well here in SA with the price of petrol and the exchange rate like it is, it cost me USD$83 last time I filled my R53 JCW S.
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Jimskater Jul 9th, 2008 Link
$65 to fill up 2 weeks ago, tank was bone dry (almost).
I haven’t let it get that low since. Still paid $52 for circa 11 gals last week.
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C4 Jul 9th, 2008 Link
Don’t let the gas dry up because that can damage the fuel pump. The lowest I have gone is like half a gallon left in the tank of my R53.
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Eric Jul 9th, 2008 Link
I’ve been averaging $50-60 for my tank. Depends if I choose 89 or 91 oct. In either case, I love having an SUV/Minivan owner next to me when I yell out… OMG I just put $50 of gas in my MINI. This is insane!!! I quietly get into my MINI and drive away laughing. :-D
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barice Jul 9th, 2008 Link
Hey J.D.: If I ever need to spend $100+ to fill up my MINI (not impossible), your “mama” will then have to chug up about $300 to fill up her Suburban…yikes!!! Now, the question is if she REALLY needs a Suburban. The majority of those who own a 2.5-ton behemoth do it for the status. Fortunately, this is changing thanks to a wake up call that stings through the pockets of those who have to satiate their thirsty vehicles…. I guess even status has a price. I hope Americans realize that crude oil is a finite commodity and that there is no reason to foolishly “burn” it prematurely in vehicles they don’t need. In the meantime, I’ll keep on motoring happily either in my MINI or in my Vespa GTS. Cheers!!
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Jimskater Jul 9th, 2008 Link
@C4 Don’t worry about the fuel pump, the OBC said the range was 30 miles… roughly a gallon left. For me, that’s bone dry
ReplyOnce I got my OBC to read -3 miles to empty. Only once. I think I was driving on the fuel left in the lines. Scary stuff.
Now, I don’t let it get lower than 40, and try to fill up at 1/4 tank.
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Charlie Jul 9th, 2008 Link
Seeing all of us civilians feeling the “pain at the pump” I’d like to know what military dependents and retirees are paying per gallon at the Base Exchanges. I imagine the US Govt is significantly underwriting the cost of their gas.
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Bruce Jul 9th, 2008 Link
I don’t feel so bad I think the highest I have had to pay is around $55 for my ‘05. The shocker was when I filled up the classic yesterday and the bill was over $20! All things in perspective.
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Ernie Oporto Jul 9th, 2008 Link
I’ve done $55 a tank in my R56 yesterday when I let it go to 17 estimated miles remaining.
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DS Jul 9th, 2008 Link
My just filled up my mini last night $68 and my touareg $118. The prices are crazy here in los angeles
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charlie Jul 9th, 2008 Link
up here in the north I spend 50$ on a full tank R56 and Iam still laughing at the suv drivers that laughed 3 years ago at me now there buying them from me and there suv is worth sh*t ! haha whos smiling now !
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Nelson Jul 9th, 2008 Link
I’m in Toronto, Canada and for my R56 MCS to fill has been costing about $70 using 93 octane. Less than a year ago it was only costing about $55 max. I’m getting about 600 km (372 miles) on a tank depending on how heavy my foot is. :)
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Anthony Jul 9th, 2008 Link
I’ve done $57 or so for ~13.4 gallons. But only twice. I start thinking about filling up when the needle moves below 1/2 tank (which is, of course, less than that in actuality).
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Robb Jul 9th, 2008 Link
The price of fuel at the Military Exchange is generally the same as the local stations off base. Recently, they have been several cents higher, so there is no advantage or “Govt Underwriting”. I am a retired military member and Govt employee and choose to purchase my fuel at stations that have the discount cards. Even we Govt types have to pay the same for fuel in our GSA vehicles, so your tax dollars are being spent well. I drive my MINI mostly for the mileage nowadsys, averaging 36 MPG, still have my 4X4 PU and 4X4 SUV. I really don’t get worked up over the price of gas anymore, but do try to limit trips outside of going to work. When the snow starts falling here in CO, the MINI stays in the garage and I put the miles on the PU. I’d rather keep the miles and the rock chips off the MINI during winter.
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Slay Jul 9th, 2008 Link
No… no underwriting. The advantage is that we don’t have to pay all the taxes at the on base stations as we do if we fill up off base. Where I’m stationed the price difference has almost disappeared though. :(
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DT Jul 11th, 2008 Link
You know, I constantly see comparisons between US and EU/UK fuel prices, but this comparison is flawed. While quite a few EU countries and the UK pay more overall in an equal volume comparison noone seems to take into account the amount of taxes and tarriffs that have been applied to fuel costs in the UK and EU to pay for the free social services that are given out in those countries. In the US virtually the only thing that the fuel taxes are used for are road maintenance and building. And even those taxes don’t cover the total costs. If we were to impose the same type of taxes to our fuel as those in the UK and EU, our fuel costs would be astronomical!!
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Freber Jul 11th, 2008 Link
As a Canadian from that ’semi-socialist’ country now living in the US, I can say that people in those socialist countries are more heavily taxed in every respect, including fuel. Alcohol, cigarettes, income tax, state (Provincial taxes) and federal taxes are very high. So fuel is just a tiny piece of the pie.
I guess what I’m trying to say is that the take home pay of an average person in a socialist country is tiny compared to the US, plus you’re paying 15 to 20% tax on goods and services at the cash register – so don’t delude yourself that fuel taxes in other countries are all that is paying for ‘free’ healthcare and social programs…
:)
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