Greul

I just hit 1500 miles on the odometer of my new GL320CDI and posted 27.8 mpg on combined city / hwy driving (35%/65%), from what I hear I'm very much looking forward to driving it in and experiencing better gas mileage.... Moreover, the disparity between gas and diesel is shrinking quickly

StevethePilot

Maybe in Nebraska, my friend, but not here!

Greul

And I thought my *****ing t'was coming to an end.....Nebraska premium $3.499 vs $3.859 diesel.

StevethePilot

I cannot tell you how happy I was when I stumbled upon $3.859 an hour from my house. The lowest locally (within 1/2 hour) is $3.959.

This thread sucks.

oknish

Errrr.....ahemmmm.....may I, please? There are 5/450 drivers here too so, please, consider their feelings too

dunderhi

I think comparing the economy of the GL450/550 vs the GL320 is kind of like comparing the proverbial apples and oranges. In search of similar performance I compared the ML320 to the ML350. Using the EPA's calculator, EPA fuel economy and my local BP's $3.40 vs $3.99 pricing spread, I found a savings of $10/month for the ML320. I know there are advantages/disadvantages to each engine that prevent this from being a perfect comparison, but the amount of fuel cost difference wouldn't sway me one way or the other for these two vehicles.

StevethePilot

Sincerest apologies but I guess it's just the deep bite just to the right of the wallet (depending on which pocket you put it in) that really sucks.

I saw my first "not in the showroom" E320 Bluetec on the road today. I don't know if it was last year's or this year's but there it was. They're getting really good mileage. If only it was as beautiful as the GL ... ahh ...

STP

Greul

Steve, what happened to your...dog?

StevethePilot

http://www.affenpinscher.com/

carpersn

My opinion is this (and it's obviously just that-my opinion)...i'm still doing my small part to use less of the earth's fossil fuels, and fortunately, as an MB-driving American, i can afford it...think how we'd feel if we'd been paying $5-6/gal for years across the pond. Eventually supply will catch up-

PS-I still don't see why we can't go get the GD oil we already have in Alaska-it's BS that we can't convince the far lefties to approve that particular mission. Not that it should exempt us from a drive to become less dependent, but it sure would give the D$MN OPEC countries a shot in the groin.

StevethePilot

If we were to develop the ability to get oil from oil shale (which produces kerogen), we'd have enough oil from our own country to meet our own demands at current levels for about 110 years. Saudi currently leads with "proven" oil reserves of 260 gigabarrels (I'm not making up that word). The US's oil shale reserves (unproven) are 2500 gigabarrels, and we lead the world in oil shale. Were we to cut off the OPEC countries and start selling to China and India ... wow, what a change in the global situation that would bring!

Wigwam

STP - want to know more about the shale reserves - point me to the direction for more data / information. Thanks!

jhcicco

Work with a guy who lives in CO, but commutes to Washington, DC for work. He told me yesterday that because the price point for creating a barrel of oil from shale is now almost equal to a barrel of ground oil, its a good time to start the manufacturing process. However, he said that the good liberal Governor of CO has already vetoed the plan to process shale for oil.

Is this a true STP?

I also read that there was an oil reserve under the Dakotas that equals 115 to 500 billion barrels of oil and a few of the oil companies are already starting investiagate drilling options.

StevethePilot

Two quick sites (admittedly, one's the infamous Wikipedia)

http://ostseis.anl.gov/guide/oilshale/index.cfm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oil_shale

That's where I get the information on it. I think my point is, if what we're really trying to do is eliminate our dependancy on foreign oil, it can be done. If we're trying to use that as part of a series of arguments to make feel-good legislation (think CAFE standards) and "gee-whiz" technology (think electric and hybrid cars), then we're still quite a long ways from accomplishing that goal.

StevethePilot

I know that there are continuing advances in technology to extract oil from existing sites and that they can be applied to new sites, and I know as soon as you tell someone you'll be getting oil from somewhere new they think Exxon Valdez in their back yard and nix it. We had an opportunity here in the Phoenix area to put an oil and gas refinery in. Our fuel prices would have been significantly lower in the Phoenix area. But despite all the advances (to that point) in pollution prevention (which in the decade or so since the proposal have become even better), everyone had the NIMBY problem (Not In My Back Yard) and now we're about average with the rest of the nation. Hell, everyone's gas would be a little cheaper if we had built a new refinery here. And where the heck are the nuclear power plants?

But I rant. (Again.)