Anyone hear about the possibility of gas prices reaching $4 per gallon (break for murmuring of unintelligible words)!! Exactly, that’s what I said! 
An article in yesterday’s Post and Courier entitled, Rising costs have consumers facing price hike pain states,
“Add it all up, and you’ve got a situation where people with limited incomes have to devote more to food and fuel, leaving less for savings or the kind of spending that would help get the economy moving again.
For the average driver who travels 12,000 miles a year, the immediate impact of higher gas prices depends on a vehicle’s mileage. At 35 miles per gallon, a 25-cent increase in gas prices costs $86 a year. At 15 miles per gallon, the cost rises to $200.”
In my reseach, I came across a website that will detail cheap or shall I say “cheaper” gas prices in your local area called, Gas Buddy. Personally, I do not have the time or desire to drive to a specific location outside of my route to save a couple of cents (luckily I have competing gas stations on my daily route) however, I just thought I would share in case there was any interest.
Hmmm, I wonder if the $3 plus per gallon price tag will affect the average car buyer’s enthusaism for bigger vehicles this year. Many new or redesigned fuel-efficient and electric vehicles are expected to reach dealerships this year as well. This may be a great time for buyers to try out the new technology and reduce the impact on their wallet by eliminating or curtailing visits to the pump.
Not only have I heard, but I am witnessing the drastic increase on my side of town. For Grade 93, I have seen the price increased from $3.45 to $3.65 per gallon in a matter of minutes.
I think those SMART cars are big money savers and great for our environment, but I haven’t built up the nerve to take a test ride in one. It just seems as if they should make it a requirement to wear a helmet while driving or riding in it.
The last time the gas prices started rising (around 3 years ago), I went from driving a V8 Ford Explorer (~12/gallon) to a Toyota Yaris (~35/gallon…more on the interstate!). My fear of the rising gas prices was almost instantly alleviated. I knew (and know now) that I’ll still be able to afford to drive my car!
I would encourage anyone who’s in the market for a fuel-efficient car to RESEARCH thoroughly…it’s my understanding that the smart cars may not be as efficient as some of the smaller economy cars like the Yaris or the Honda Fit, particularly when you consider how much space you lose.