Prices Rise as Temperatures Fall
We Know, This Could Have Used a Better Headline. But We Really Just Wanted to Get Right Down to Numbers.
| |
Fuel
Type |
West
Coast |
Rocky
Mtn. |
Mid
West |
Gulf
Coast |
New
England |
Mid
Atlantic |
South |
U.S. | | |
Gasoline |
2.85 |
2.54 |
2.52 |
2.47 |
2.65 |
2.65 |
2.42 |
2.61 | |
Diesel |
2.86 |
2.78 |
2.72 |
2.70 |
2.87 |
2.87 |
2.72 |
2.79 | |
|
Since last we reported in July, fuel prices have continued to rise both regionally and nationally. Although gasoline and diesel prices also rose, more significant gains were seen for alternative fuels -- with the
exception of CNG, which dropped slightly from our July figure due to low prices in the Midwest.
Despite rising prices, the onset of winter does mean lower temperatures. Biodiesel users should remember that fuel blends with higher concentrations of biofuels will gel in colder weather. Many stations that sell biodiesel, particularly in
the West and Midwest, have stopped selling blends higher than B50 for the season. Check with your local fueling station or alternative fuel guru for advice on how to weather the weather in your biodiesel vehicle this season.
| |
Fuel
Type |
West
Coast |
West |
Mid
West |
North
East |
South |
U.S. | | |
BioDiesel
B20 |
3.09 |
2.75 |
2.75 |
2.94 |
2.62 |
2.83 | |
BioDiesel
B99 |
3.22 |
3.19 |
N/A |
2.77 |
2.85 |
3.01 | |
Ethanol
E85 |
2.79 |
2.32 |
2.32 |
2.63 |
2.61 |
2.53 | |
CNG |
2.40 |
1.97 |
1.32 |
2.23 |
1.94 |
1.97 | |
|
Do you have an unnatural interest in fuel prices? Are you a fan of tables filled with important looking numbers? If so, we recommend finding a healthier hobby (
like reopening the court martial of Benedict Arnold). Or you can feed your fetish by checking out BWC's previous Alternative Fuel Report,
"Rapture! July is International 'Blondie and Deborah Harry' Month," published in the
July 31st issue of 'Kicking Asphalt.'
|
BWC High-Mileage Review |  There's Nothing Mickey Mouse* About the
MINI
The MINI Cooper is sporty and it has style. In fact, it's probably the only compact car that large truck and SUV enthusiasts won't make fun of. Coincidentally (or perhaps not), MINI also has the lowest gas
mileage of the high-mileage compacts. Still, the mileage isn't bad, and if the MINI's sporty looks can get an Escalade driver to convert to a compact car, then all the better. MINI is even testing an all-electric version of the Cooper
(see "It's Electric!" below for more details).
Long story short: overall, we like the MINI Cooper.
*Our former editor took an informal poll of BWC staffers, and none of us had heard the expression "
Mickey Mouse," meaning poorly done, low quality, etc. Despite this fact, the headline remained unchanged. Don't say we never did anything for you, Erik.
Complete Story
|
Recall Information |
November 2009 Recalls
You can check out the
complete List of November Recalls, or go directly to a particular manufacturer:
Chrysler /
Country Coach /
Dutchmen /
Ferrari /
Jaguar /
Mercedes-Benz /
Mitsubishi /
Nissan /
Roadtrek /
Spartan /
Toyota /
Volvo
**Special Recall Report**
October 2009
Toyota is recalling certain model year 2004-2010 passenger vehicles. The accelerator pedal can get stuck in the wide open position due to its being trapped by an unsecured or incompatible driver's floor mat. A stuck open accelerator
pedal may result in very high vehicle speeds and make it difficult to stop the vehicle, which could cause a crash, serious injury, or death. Toyota will notify owners of affected vehicles to remove any driver's floor mat and not replace it
with any other floor mat pending the development of model-specific remedies. Toyota will mail a second notification to owners of affected vehicles notifying them of the free remedy when it is available. The first notice was mailed on
October 30, 2009 and Toyota will advise NHTSA on an estimate of the date when the remedy parts will be available. Owners may contact Toyota at 1-800-331-4331, Lexus at 1-800-255-3987.
Toyota to fix 'very dangerous' gas pedal defects
by Ken Bensinger and Ralph Vartabedian
Los Angeles Times
The recall, which covers 4.26 million cars and trucks, is aimed at reducing the vehicles' risk of sudden accelerations, which have led to 19 deaths since the 2002 model year.
Moving to correct what federal regulators have termed a "very dangerous problem," Toyota Motor Corp. said it would modify and replace gas pedals on 4.26 million cars and trucks to reduce the vehicles' risk of accelerating out of control.
Toyota said the measures were designed to prevent floor mats from jamming the accelerator pedal open. As an additional precaution, the Japanese automaker said most of its cars would be modified so that the brake overrides the accelerator
if both pedals are pressed at the same time.
Complete Story
| |
Lemon Information |  The 2009 Cadillac Escalade
Better World Club's "Lemon Information" highlights consumer complaints against a different car model each month. We are not editorializing or claiming that these cars are necessarily lemons. Instead, we are
merely providing information and ask readers to form their own opinions.
Component: Brakes
Consequence: Driver owns an Escalade Hybrid. The brake warning light suddenly illuminated while driving, and the brakes lost all power. After bringing the vehicle to a halt, the driver turned off and restarted the vehicle, which
brought power back to the brakes.
Component: Headlights
Consequence: Headlights are set to such a height that they blind drivers approaching in smaller passenger cars. This is a design failure, not a mechanical failure. |
| |
The Jews of Jerusalem claimed a new record for energy efficiency today as their temple's eternal light burned for eight
