Interesting topic. And I have to agree you need to look at ALL the numbers before deciding. If you happen to be in the market for a vehicle is one thing, but you'll probably lost equity in your trade in (if you dont want it because of then gas mileage, then who will?)
Odlly enough, my Ford F150 with a 5.4 litre engine is noticeably more fuel efficient that my Ranger with a 4.0 litre was. So while it hurts to fill up at the pump, I remember I still pay less now per kilomtre than with my 'economy truck'. I'm lucky that I dont commute like I used to, and am driving about 1/3 what I used to. So I'll economize by driving less.

good read dok........but most of us on here need our bigger vehicles to use our toys with (towing, carrying or just hauling equipment)......i drive 102 km everyday to work , but i`m not about to give up all my stuff to save a few bucks .....buying a smaller vehicle would limit their use .....so adding these thoughts to what the article says as well .....i`ll keep my SUV ......at least for now ....i`m actually thinking of a bigger pickup in the very near future .....may be a good time for buying gas guzzlers....lol...

 We've almost got the  problems of the world solved.

Love this line! Too bad the 1.36 will keep them only at almost 
But I appreciate your point. I've been seeing it for a few months now.. friends deciding not to hook up or partake, due to the costs.

Well said Bobby......

Quote from: bobbyb on April 19, 2011, 10:27:01 AM

Each and every politician should hang there heads in shame  ...
bobby
"praying for our Soldiers safe return"

~ Amen ... 


Here's a couple more articles (archive and current news)


Archive: Who killed the natural gas car? (Globe and Mail)


Current News: $8,000 hybrid premium buys a lot of gas (Toronto Star)

If I was a long distance driver, I'd probably invest in a home-fill nat-gas pump ... costs $90/month to rent. "Home refueling costs 18 cents/L according to Enbridge."

 
From dok's Globe Article;
 
The fundamental economics still held. With natural gas typically costing 20 to 30 per cent below gasoline, a vehicle owner driving 40,000 kilometres a year could recover their upfront premium of about $6,000 in less than five years. A high-mileage taxi or small business owner would be ahead after a couple of years.
 
---And, with the recent runup in gasoline pricing, natural gas is now 40 per cent below gasoline.---
 
''This option for transportation has never been more relevant, considering the air quality and low carbon emission benefits of natural gas vehicles.''
 
.........no sh't - welcome back to planet Earth.
 
 

Interesting article with a number of valid considerations offered. The point made concerning rapid cost raises being followed by similar decreases is, however, a surmise over which I won't be holding my breath.
Regardless of where we end up with fuel costs for our automobiles and trucks, the fact remains that personal travel is so deeply ingrained in North Americans that we will eventually accept our fate and return to existing driving habits after a relatively brief period of bitchin' and complainin'.
Anyone want to bet that some well qualified number cruncher or bean counter can produce statistics that will "prove" that even at current costs per Litre or gallon that fuel is cheaper now, based on average salaries, than it was 40, or whatever, years ago???
I agree that Joe Six-Pack is presently madder than hell and has every right to be but revisit this issue in six-months and the Ford F-150 will still be the largest selling vehicle in Canada and the ratio of power boats to sail boats won't be appreciably changed over current ratios.