DianeOZ

I've been thinking a lot about petrol (as you do) what with the prices going up and down, trying to guage it so I fill up on the cheapest day etc.
Before I came here I had a false sense of security about petrol, thinking the cost would be so insignificant that I wouldn't really need to budget for it like the Uk, but I find that I'm using at least tank a week here whereas a tank used to last me at least 2.5 weeks in UK. Hubby used to cycle to work in UK but no chance here because of the distances involved so we are now a 2 car family rather than 1 which has bumped up the expenses. Even when I wasn't working, I still used a tank a week, just nipping here and there - the k's soon add up.

So, unlike me, remember to put petrol in your budget!!!

Diane

Pulaski

It's the same for me when I moved to the US. It used to cost me over £50 to fill up my car in the UK, but that would usually last me about a month. Gas in the US is about one quarter of the price of petrol in the UK, but I use four times as much because I drive to work! ... though I don't have to pay for my train ticket, which each month used to cost me more than twice what I paid for petrol.

dotty

Good point Di, people totally overlook the extra distance you need to go to get anywhere. Plus lack of public transport often means 2 or three cars per family, (we got up to 4 when two teens lived with us). Also the hideous amount of traffic lights, 17 sets in 10klm round here, means you are always crawling along which seems to chew up the gas. Tank a week per person seems to be our ratio not for husband tho he drives thousands of klms a week and petrol is scary.

Kath

On the news recently they said that Saturday was the cheapest day to buy petrol in Perth. Don't ask me why - something to do with distribution days?!

You could try getting your food from Woolworths then you get the petrol voucher - 4c off !

My car is a huge gas guzzler, an old 4 litre Ford Falcon, not very sophisticated, I get through $50 per week. I would have liked a small Fiesta, Escort type car but they love their big motors over here.

pommie bastard

Try Tuesday I have no idea why but the prices fall on Tuesday nearly every week , the price of fuel here is very good but engine size plus distance of trips here soon rid most of that saving .
I worked out to drive to the next major city my fuel cost one way would be $350 or $700 return.

welshpom

I drove Adelaide to Melbourne and back on one tank of diesel.

Okay, it's an enormous diesel tank. ~160L (~ £55 to fill here).

The natives don't seem too concerned about fuel economy. They rank a growling engine higher than an efficeint one.

pommie bastard

Yes the natives have yet to catch on that size of engine and weight of the car cost but in most cases do equal power output or performance .

Pommie_Bastard

THE South Australian town of Pukatja is under siege by petrol sniffers. Six of them have died in the past 18 months. Parents are frightened of their own children and authorities are powerless to act.

In the town of Pukatja, population 400, there are 60 petrol sniffers. They control the town and everyone is frightened. Pukatja, about 400 kilometres south-west of Alice Springs, was once known as Ernabella. It was also once called a "community" but the word no longer fits because there is no sense of community. Liquor is banned but there are drunks. Petrol sniffing is illegal but is now fully accepted as a part of life. Sniffers roam town, all day, cans stuck to their faces.


The town ruled by petrol sniffers

pommie bastard

Just fought off the Abo types hanging around me petrol tank I thought the buggers were just partying but wrong again the sods stole me wheels and CD .

Sandra

We fill up here on a Tuesday cause that is the cheapest day round here we have found for us. But you have to be quick for the local garage guy. He sets his prices Tuesday morning and when he has had enough business at the lower end he raises the price. Tuesday most garages were selling at 86.5 per litre and local guy usually does -1 or -2 off this and husband drove in to local garage and straight out! Obviously he had had enough business for the day and had put his price up to 99.9!!!

On the other hand because of where we live I have found we are down to a one car family because of where we live, work, schools etc and we are not finding much issue with this. There is free public and school transport for our two children and the local bus and train service serve my suburb very well. I find myself refusing to take the car to work cause I can't be bothered to find a space or walk the extra bit from car park rather than station . I do rate myself lucky in this after 45 min to an hour journey in Reading Berks to drive 5 miles in the morning to work, it was one of our priorities to live near work and schools, cost more of course for housing.

Cheers