Things that make you shake your head; aka perceptions are everything

[Guest]

I washed/waxed/cleaned the '87 MC LS this past Saturday ... but, didn't get the older 4 MCs out yet. On Sunday, I was feeling too many muscles that I had forgotten to muster the energy and patience to get the older ones out. Ah, well ... perhaps this coming weekend .


Anyway ... I went for a short drive in the '87 MC LS Sunday afternoon ... after having lunch and spending some time with my sis and bro-in-law. On the way home, I stopped at a gas station to fill 'er up. As I was doing so, a guy parked next to me at another pump was shaking his head, looking at my car. So, I asked him if something was wrong.... He said something about how "you guys don't seem to get it" ... that driving such "gas guzzlers" are ruining so many things.

I asked him if he knew what my gas mileage was. He said, "Well, I had a '71 MC SS 454 and that only got about 9 or 10 miles per gallon, so I'd say you are getting 10-11 miles per gallon, which is absolutely sickening to me."

My reply: "Well, that might be sickening to you, but it is not what I'm getting. I have regularly managed about 18 miles per gallon."

A guy on the other side, next to me, driving a newer Ford Mustang, looked over and noted, "I don't even get that much..."

The one who was questioning my gas mileage didn't pay any attention to the Mustang driver, but persisted: "Oh, come on now. No way you are getting that good of gas mileage. My wife's Honda Odyssey gets about 18 mpg...."

So, I said, "OK, fine. I'll finish filling up and run the calculations". After I filled it up, I reached in for my gas log book, noted the gallons and the mileage (showed the guy BOTH of them) ... and ran the calculation. The MPG? 18.56. I looked at the guy and queried: "So, what type of gas mileage are you getting on your new Toyota Tundra?"

Yes, true story. He had just bought his Toyota last week ... and his perception was that anything new gets better mpg than anything old. Unfreekingbelievable.

I'll take my older "gas guzzler" with NO car payment, thank you.


Heh ... in other "you're kidding, right?" news ... as of Sunday night, June 10, the Chicago Cubs were 27-34, within 6 games of first place. The Chicago White Sox were 27-32, 9 games out of first place. Yet, based on the sports reports ... you'd think the White Sox were only a game out. Hmmm....



Cort:33swm."Mr Monte Carlo.Mr Road Trip".pig valve.pacemaker
PICS:lego.HO.model.MCinfo.RT.CHD = http://www.chevyasylum.com/cort
"This is not where you belong" ... Restless Heart ... 'Why Does It Have To Be (Wrong or Right)?"

 

[Debster]

Cort-That is so unbelievable! Here he is questioning you on YOUR gas mileage-and he drives a TUNDRA and his wife drives a mini van???? SO RUDE and SO ignorant! What planet is he on???? I think it is a hoot that you showed him your calculations....maybe next time he will think twice before opening his pie hole-teehee Deb

 

[hensylee]

that guy will meet the wrong stranger one of these days. Good thing you have a gentle soul, Cort.

 

[OldManEmu]

US fuel prices are unrealistically low, in Australia we pay approx $1.30 AUD a litre over little over 4 USD a gallon which I consider cheap, in Europe they pay more like 8 USD a gallon. In Australian petrol (gas) is cheaper per litre than milk, I assume it is the same in the US. There is an unlimited supply of milk but the world only has a finite supply of oil, it puts things in perspective. This is why when I purchased a house it was near public transport, I travel by public transport to work, low oil prices are not a given forever, the only way for oil prices is up in the long term.

 

[Bina]

cort, good for you....keeping your cool and showing your gas log book. We have one in our car also and so always know what our mileage is.
That is the proof because you can have 2 identical cars with 2 different drivers, and end up with very different MPG calculations.
Some drivers accelerate and stop quickly, carry heavy loads, don't check tire pressure, leave the car idling, and don't do tune ups.
They have poor mileage for sure.

 

[Guest]

*shakes head*

Foremost ... I _must_ make a correction to my original report of the events. I noted the MPG was 18.56. Well, when I double checked it this morning before I left for work, I discovered that it actually was ... 18.53. Thought I'd better clarify that .


Anyway ... Deb ... something tells me that that incident will only make the guy think twice about saying something for a little while ... I suspect he'll go back sooner or later.

*shrugs*

Course, I could be wrong ... hopefully I am.

Good thing you have a gentle soul, Cort.

*grins*

Yes, indeedy! Can you imagine if I were one to "take on" confrontations?


And, Bina ... so VERY true ... different people can drive the exact same car and get very different MPGs. It's funny how people think that a car will get a certain MPG ... no matter what ... when that really is not the case.



"Yeah, we got problems here in the land of the free" ... Barbara Mandrell ... 'In Times Like These'



Heh ... I might've given the guy a heart attack if I told him I was looking for an "older" winter beater . I saw a bit more rust on the '87 MC LS when I cleaned it up Saturday ... arg.

*sighs*

Speaking of which ... sure would be nice to find a "winter beater" I want around my area. I know of an '87 Olds Cutlass, reddish in color, that would be PERFECT. But, it is in Granite City IL ... near St Louis MO. I've seen pics of it ... and the asking price is under $3K.... Just don't know when I could go down to see it ... and I know I'd be unhappy if I was disappointed after seeing it in person.

Ah, well.



Cort:33swm."Mr Monte Carlo.Mr Road Trip".pig valve.pacemaker
PICS:lego.HO.model.MCinfo.RT.CHD = http://www.chevyasylum.com/cort
"We never stop to think what we consume" ... Bellamy Brothers ... 'Kids Of The Baby Boom'