Tuesday, February 21, 2012

$4 Gas Impact

We received an email question asking how much would $4 a gallon gasoline impact a driver's wallet.  Well, in short, it depends on how much you plan to drive!  That's probably not the answer our inquisitive reader is looking for, so we will take a look at one hypothetical situation.  Keep in mind, the variables will stay the same for simplicity's sake, so we will take a look at a person who would average 14,000 miles a year (most Americans drive that amount) with no fluctuations in gas prices.  Also, let's assume the vehicle needs 10 gallons per fill up each week.  This would give you a car that averages roughly 26.9 mpg which is what a typical 4 cylinder compact car averages. 

Last year, the average price of gasoline was approximately $3.29 a gallon for the month of February according to CNN.  In keeping with our hypothetical situation, here's how the numbers play out:

At $3.29 a gallon:  A driver would spend $1,710.80 on fuel.

At $4.00 a gallon:  A driver would spend $2080.00 on fuel.

Basically you would spend $369.20 more this year than last year, or 21.6% more.  What would you do if you had an extra $370 in your pocket?  Maybe go out to see a few movies, a nice dinner, or purchase a new tech toy?  Let us know! 

As always, if you have a question, send us an email!  Happy motoring and keep on driving!

No comments:

Post a Comment