Fencing.Net - Your Guide to Fencing & Fencing Equipment

TheArmourer · 07-06-2005, 06:21 AM

Just because this is a largely American populated site, and because I'm running out of other ideas to try ...

I'm going to want to hire a car to drive from Portland Oregon to SF and back.
1. I can't find any mention of anyone hiring stick-shift / manual cars.
2. Roughly what sort of mpg do small to medium US cars do? (In the UK the usual asumption is that they are big and thirsty.)
3. Roughly what is the price of fuel in the states?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.
(Sorry this has nothing to do with fencing ... even remotely.)

Gav · 07-06-2005, 06:33 AM

Why are you going to the states?

Pauli · 07-06-2005, 06:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheArmourer

Just because this is a largely American populated site, and because I'm running out of other ideas to try ...

I'm going to want to hire a car to drive from Portland Oregon to SF and back.
1. I can't find any mention of anyone hiring stick-shift / manual cars.

In the US, all cars are automatic unless you ask for stickshift!

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheArmourer

2. Roughly what sort of mpg do small to medium US cars do? (In the UK the usual asumption is that they are big and thirsty.)

check out the website of the car hire company you intend to use, you'll find pictures of the type of cars they use at your pick up location!

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheArmourer

3. Roughly what is the price of fuel in the states?

Last I saw was USD1.89 - USD 2.09 per Gallon!

Any help would be greatly appreciated.
(Sorry this has nothing to do with fencing ... even remotely.)[/quote]

TheArmourer · 07-06-2005, 08:42 AM

Gav
GF's at a conference and then we're visiting friends and relatives.
(Thought I'd try and topple the government whilst I was there

)

Gav · 07-06-2005, 08:46 AM

Do a good job then. Give Dubya a kick in the goolie while you are at it.

lefty_monster · 07-06-2005, 09:49 AM

Yes Pauli is right. gas is expensive. it was $2.11 the other day.

Maeve_Mari · 07-06-2005, 09:52 AM

It's almost impossible to get a stick-shift car to rent at most the U.S. rental car companies. Most of the cars will be automatic unless you take a significant upgrade to rent a sporting car. Even the tiniest subcompact cars will likely be automatic transmission. There are some exceptions, but few.

One place that you could find a manual transmission would be at the smaller rental shops and at the used car rental shops... but your basic, at the airport rental car companies will have automatic transmissions.

That said, the best rates at most companies are for the basic compact, intermediate, and subcompact cars. Look for deals in their ads and in local newspapers. Weekly rentals are usually less expensive than daily, even if you have to stretch out a day extra or so, but the add-on fees at all the companies is amazing and should probably be criminal! Another thing to watch for and try to get into your deal is one-way fees. If you plan to pick up a car in one place and drop it off somewhere else, the fee is sometimes as high as $75 more dollars! In a number of markets, they waive the fee because there are so many people doing that same one-way trip and your plans may be in that market. Check it out so you aren't surprised and find a company that won't charge you for it (if you don't plan on driving round trip.)

The basic size rental car will fall into the gas usage range of 19-28 miles to the gallon. Gasoline prices vary greatly across the U.S. I just looked it up and today, the average price for gasoline in San Francisco is $2.61 a gallon, but that doesn't mean a thing relative to when you will be visiting.

Hope this helped some too.

TheArmourer · 07-06-2005, 11:10 AM

Maeve
Thanks. All the answers. And in the right order

Lefty
That's CHEAP.
In the UK we're heading towards 90p per LITRE :-0
But then again, we're used to 30-40mpg :-)

fencingmetalfan · 07-06-2005, 11:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lefty_monster

Yes Pauli is right. gas is expensive. it was $2.11 the other day.

in DC it's even worse

scrapinpeg · 07-06-2005, 11:37 AM

According to the Dept of Energy's weekly statistics, here are a few current average gasoline prices (at the pump, taxes included) converted to US dollars per US gallon:

Belgium............$5.77

France.............$5.40

Germany...........$5.67

Italy................$5.67

Netherlands.......$6.34

United Kingdom..$6.00

United States....$2.40

scrapinpeg · 07-06-2005, 11:41 AM

I remember in 1982, when gas prices skyrocketed all the way to $1.40 per gallon. People were mildly upset about it, but it didn't last long.

Then gas prices never really broke that ceiling again for more than 20 years.

I wonder what current gas prices would be in 1982 dollars. How does one calculate that?

Fencergrl · 07-06-2005, 11:46 AM

I just converted Canada's gas price @ .90/litre to gallons and then converted to USD... It's about $2.75/ US gallon

Most of this is taxes, as the US gets most of their crude oil from us.

It used to make me crazy that I couldn't rent a car with a manual transmission as I never learned to drive automatic.... it was quite funny watching me try and drive and automatic.... I'm much better now that I've been driving my hubby's car more these days.

Pauli · 07-06-2005, 11:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scrapinpeg

I remember in 1982, when gas prices skyrocketed all the way to $1.40 per gallon. People were mildly upset about it, but it didn't last long.

Then gas prices never really broke that ceiling again for more than 20 years.

I wonder what current gas prices would be in 1982 dollars. How does one calculate that?

go to: http://www.oanda.com/convert/classic
you can enter the date of which you wish the currency exchange rate for.

also, maybe it's important to mention that of course, in the us it's per gallon, in Europe per LITER! meaning that the us, in comparison to Europe, is still acceptable (at least to me)

In order to complete the prices, in Switzerland, it's per liter at the moment at USD1.22 /liter, so that would mean USD 4.617 per Gallon (as 1 Gallon contains 3.785 liters).

sabreur · 07-06-2005, 12:14 PM

If you rent a compact or whatever the next size up is, you should get reasonable mileage.

For instance, various models of the Ford Focus get between 21-26 miles per gallon in the city, 31-35 miles per gallon on the highway--these are the EPA's numbers and you won't do quite this well, but...

A Dodge Neon does about the same. The next size up should still get over 20 MPG.

MR

scrapinpeg · 07-06-2005, 12:22 PM

Based on calculators using the official Consumer Price Index data, $1.40 in 1982 is the equivalent of $2.84 in 2005.

Which means the price of gas is actually LOWER now than it was then. Amazing. And people are complaining why, exactly?

(Of course, as a motorcyclist I couldn't care less about the price of gas, as I get something like 50 mpg.)

Pauli · 07-06-2005, 12:39 PM

By renting cars you don't really have the choice of the model, each rental provider works with different makes, they don't guarantee specific makes nor models, nor can you reserve them, unless you are owner of some gold card or similar.

I'd sure check out the rates of tour operators specialized in the US. They often have excellent rates with unlimited miles and all the necessary insurances included. Check out Thomas Cook, check out ebookers and such.

You'll sure have unlimited mileage as pick-up and drop off station are the same.

Oh, besides of that, I wouldn't know any websites, but I'd make sure to get accustomed to some of the local traffic rules in the US. Unless you've been driving in the US already at previous occassions.

scrapinpeg · 07-06-2005, 12:52 PM

I've found Expedia.com and Travelocity.com to be decent websites for renting cars around the US. Get to compare rates and type of car etc.

mollusk · 07-06-2005, 01:48 PM

... and please drive on the RIGHT side of the roadway.

Enjoy your trip!

keith · 07-06-2005, 02:24 PM

.... and remember that americans have no bloody idea how rotaries (roundabouts) actually work; the standard principle of my car is bigger than yours tends to apply.

Anyone fancy explaining how a fourway stop works?

Maeve_Mari · 07-06-2005, 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by keith

.... and remember that americans have no bloody idea how rotaries (roundabouts) actually work; the standard principle of my car is bigger than yours tends to apply.

Anyone fancy explaining how a fourway stop works?

Of note about the rotaries (sometimes called Traffic Circles) each state has rules of right away regarding circles. Some provide that the vehicle already IN the circle have right of way, other states legislate that a vehicle ENTERING the circle has the right of way. Important distinction to know when you approach.

Four-way stop signs need to be taught in Driving School. I can't believe the number of people who seem to think that a four way stop means, stop, then go!!! We have a lot of these in my town and it drives me mad - literally - that people can't stop, wait THEIR TURN, then go!!!!