fuel prices(again)

not me, am self employed and my prices increased to cope with it not long back (professional driver)But have had so much work recently it's the time that's holding me back
cheers trevor.

It has definitely put at least one of planned trips this year to bed.

Little choice Jim, whats the alternate "Sit at home and rot ?" I don't think so.

In the long run it will affect those who can't compensate for it. The average bloke with a morgage and two kids may become a rarity when it comes to outback tourism. Shorter more local trips instead of the Oz tour may become the norm.
Many outback towns survive on 4wd tourism and special events. It could certainly affect those.
On the brighter side, I hear that Toyota is due to show off a 4wd that uses very little fuel...some sort of proprietry fuel cell technology ? I'm sure others know more than I here...care to share ??

when you think about what you've spent on setting yourself up, the fuel will be the cheap bit... until you do the sums... or think about the days when diesel was the cost effective choice...

Hey! you people - snap out of the 'sads' its not all that bad.

I'm not admiting that I have a few years up, however I vividly recall this type of conversation arising big time when a certain group of nations for whom words just don't exist in the English language to describe adequately, but go under the label of O P E C decided that it was time they controlled the world by deliberately reducing oil production and raising prices.

Hell! you would have thought they had cut every motorists throat and the predictions of doom,gloom & disaster that emminated were just bizarre to say the least.

The V8 market disappeared for Ford Falcons. Persons of Trucksters stature were seen 'sardining' themselves into little 4cylinder things.

Caravans dissappeared off the road, Caravan parks and sales weren't too flash.

Crazies were attempting to invent the vehicle that runs on water, or solar etc etc.

Oil burning central heating was pushed over the edge by the 'flat earth society' people, Natural gas man! or wood was the go. Yeah! get one of those wood burning contraptions and pay the earth for the fuel.

However at the end of the day it all settled down, things moved on such as wages, prices etc., maybe not in sync , but we all moved on.

I can remember in 1981 LPG was 9c a litre and Super Petrol was 15c a litre for my Datsun Bluebird, and I thought it was absolutely outrageous. (still think 35c a litre for LPG is outrageous for that very same car).

What I am getting at is, yes it does S H I T one off being at the mercy of the world markets, however we all move on and adapt to new technologies or alternative ones to meet whatever situation it is.

That aforementioned little effort by O P E C had the long term effect off forcing Europe to adopt High Tech diesel technology and thats why now, a very large percentage of their domestic vehicles are diesel.

Maybe thats where we will head over the next few years.

Whatever, you have to find a postive in it somewhere or else you will need the 'pills'and plenty of them to survive.

Now! have a beer, pill etc , have a good one and look on the bright side of life. Also I look forward to seeing you all out and about.

Toyota has juest released kluger version of prius poer pack in usa. i imagine it will be a very short time before you kave lc;s and the like running on dual fules (oil and battrey)
Apparently hydrogen fuel is the go and because they make it out of water there is no shortage (yet)
Don't expect it to be cheap though the network would need to replace the existing after running parralel for a few years like leadede and ulp
I don't know what is going to happen re diesel
May have to give up a few beers or cigs

I don't know anyone who is happy with the fuel prices. We are stuck with them unless the politicians change their taxation methods. We pay fuel parity and GST. Johnny Howard said that all other taxes will be removed when the GST was introduced. Fuel parity is another tax on fuel.

Before GST diesel was cheaper than petrol. Since then it has been dearer. Does anyone know the reason for this - diesel cost less to produce.

The only way the politicians will do anything about fuel prices is if it becomes an election issue. Then they will promise the world and after the election come up with an excuse to retain fuel parity and GST which keep the fuel prices inflated. The government is making a fortune in tax due to the rising fuel prices and whoever is in government they will want that tax money.

It is not just recreational 4WD owners who will suffer. The rising fuel prices will result in increased cost of production and transport of goods. Prices of food, etc will increase.

Despite the fuel prices I will continue to use my 4WD to go fishing, camping and on holidays. If I don't it would be pointless to own a 4WD.

It has me.

We use approx $200 a week between our vehicles just in running around for work/kids etc. Finding that extra $50 - $100 just to go for a drive , at the current time , IS a bit hard to find.

So yes , unfortunately , whilst I just put fuel in and pay for it , for normal day to day stuff , anything extra , like going driving , is currently on hold.

Hi Jim,

just got to pay it really, otherwise we wouldnt' go anywhere, the only thing it's made Al think whether to put a diesel engine into his Landcruiser, he's now tossing up if it's worth it, or just leave it petrol...time will tell I guess.

You can guarantee it has stopped people, specially at $1.50+ a ltr in remote places.

But people will just wear it.. and it will go up and up like a grooms tossil on wedding night.

just got back from a trip. deisel $1.19 In birdsville cheapest & $1.49 in mt dare was the dearest if you need fuel you pay 4 it if you dont want to pay 4 it stay home & look at photos of someone else's trip while you wait 4 the price to drop HA HA HA