What $3.00+ per gallon gas buys you...

[Jeff Murphy]

I thought you guys might be interested in the informal car show that happens everynight outside my house in London during the month of August.

It gets so hot in the Middle East that all the rich Arabs from Dubai, Qatar and UAE move to London, Geneva, etc. They also ship their cars back and do tons of shopping at places like Harrod's the super upscale department store I have in my backyard (think Neiman Marcus crossed with Bloomingdales or Macy*s).

They roll up in their cars and the women and kids get chauffered in stretch Mercedes limos, S-Class sedans or vans.

Most of them have nothing to do while the women shop, so they sit in two little cafes and have an impromptu car gathering I like to call... 1001 Arabian Knights.

Be warned, this might make you a bit sick. I took all these pictures over the course of three and a half blocks while I walked to the grocery store tonight. Excuse the quality because I shot them off my camera phone.

[mssl72]

pic's???

[Jeff Murphy]

Just another Tuesday night: Bugatti, 3 Bentleys, a BMW M6, a Lambo Gallardo Spyder...

http://www.yenko.net/photos/data/571/Image038.jpg

Bugatti Veyron: one recently sold at auction in London for £1.1m ($2.0m). 1001 hp quad turbo V-16, speed limited at 230mph.

http://www.yenko.net/photos/data/571/Image049.jpg

and the matching paint family cruiser - Bentley Continental Flying Spur (US$230k, 0-60mph 4.9sec, top speed 195mph in a 5500lb package).

http://www.yenko.net/photos/data/571/Image048.jpg

Electric red Bentley Continental GT (USD$220k; there was another red one parked around the corner).

http://www.yenko.net/photos/data/571/Image047.jpg

Custom paint Lime Green Lamborghini Gallardo Convertible (USD$275k, makes you wonder if these guys would have bought Hemi 'Cudas if OPEC had been around in 1970? although if OPEC had existed in 1970, I guess there wouldn't have been any Hemi 'Cudas to buy?? http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/dunno.gif)

http://www.yenko.net/photos/data/571/Image039.jpg

Porsche Carrera GT (US$500k+), Lamborghini Murcielago Roadster (US$400k) before the tuning package the guy has on the car (he really pisses me off because he revs his engine up everytime he goes by my house to let his buddies know he's coming or going):

http://www.yenko.net/photos/data/571/Image040.jpg

Duelling Ferrari F430 Spyders (US$300k ea) and a hard top was parked around the corner:

http://www.yenko.net/photos/data/571/Image041.jpg

Aston Martin DB9 in White Metallic Pearl (bleeechhh; license plate translates as 009) There were 3 more of these on my walk at US$200k ea) More Bentleys and S-Class sedans in the background:

http://www.yenko.net/photos/data/571/Image042.jpg

Another Flying Spur passing another Gallardo Spyder:

http://www.yenko.net/photos/data/571/Image043.jpg

Another Flying Spur with an Arnage (even more expensive) behind it:

http://www.yenko.net/photos/data/571/Image044.jpg

The Carrera GT again (the guy almost stalled it twice trying to get it around the corner):

http://www.yenko.net/photos/data/571/Image046.jpg

A brilliant purple new AMG custom designo edition S-Class (the base AMG S65 is about US$270k) Also note the rows of mini-vans lined up to take shopping home:

http://www.yenko.net/photos/data/571/Image050.jpg

BMW Alpina B5 (the cheapest car on the block at US$130k, but 500hp, 560 ft lbs of torque push this little sedan to 4.5sec 0-60mph and damn near 200mph):

http://www.yenko.net/photos/data/571/Image051.jpg

[Jeff Murphy]

Crazy, huh? http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

There was actually automobile Paparazzi forming on the corner across from the Bugatti just standing around taking pics of whatever turned up next. I left off the pictures of probably 15 S-Class Mercedes that I passed along the way as well.

The average age of these car owners appears to be late twenties / early thirties. Here is a pic of the local youth group:

http://www.yenko.net/photos/data/571/Image037.jpg

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbsdown.gif

That's all for today. I can make this as regular as xplantdad's Pavillions shots if I find anything else bizarre.

On the other hand, I'm fleeing the area to go over to Southern California again on Friday and will go to Donut Derelicts either this weekend or next, so I'll try to post pics of real muscle cars instead!! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/flag.gif

[Xplantdad]

Jeff...awesome pics. Holy crap...there a lot of new muscle there!

When you go to Cali...make sure to hook up with Mark Sheppard and Gary Perkins. You'll have a great time there.

Please make it a regular thing to photograph these cars...I don't think I've seen but one of these cars in person http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif

[YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY]

Wow! Pretty sad actually http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif

[firstgenaddict]

The oil shieks and princes did buy some of Joel's cars didn't they?
Their kids have just moved up to the "New Muscle".

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif

[nuch_ss396]

As I'm looking at my gas bills for the month, I see this
thread and immediately want to torch the whole lot of them - Cars & owners...... http://webzoom.freewebs.com/nuch_ss396/emoticons/at%20wits%20end.gif
Thanks for getting me riled-up Jeff http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif Just kidding http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif

These bastards get richer than belief, flaunt it all over the place, and we get it in the back door......

Man, I'd love to see them come here and try flaunting like that. http://webzoom.freewebs.com/nuch_ss396/emoticons/fight.gif

Guys, I hate to say it, but we are going to have to give up
the gas guzzling SUV's and sport cars. It can't continue
like this. Somebody here better figure a way to run our
babies ( muscle cars ) on an alternative fuel. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/flag.gif

[69LM1]

"Guys, I hate to say it, but we are going to have to give up
the gas guzzling SUV's and sport cars. It can't continue
like this. Somebody here better figure a way to run our
babies ( muscle cars ) on an alternative fuel. "

Naw, You can't eat oil! All we have to do is stop sending them free food. Then we TRADE them the food for the oil!

[nuch_ss396]

http://www.yenko.net/photos/data/571/Image037.jpg

All that money and they hate Westerners too! We poor infidels.........
Nice place for a hand grenade - huh?

[nuch_ss396]

[ QUOTE ]
"Guys, I hate to say it, but we are going to have to give up
the gas guzzling SUV's and sport cars. It can't continue
like this. Somebody here better figure a way to run our
babies ( muscle cars ) on an alternative fuel. "

Naw, You can't eat oil! All we have to do is stop sending them free food. Then we TRADE them the food for the oil!

[/ QUOTE ]

Enough is enough! We paid for the oil with all of the
aid & security we bring to the region, not to even mention
our soldiers giving their very lives. So, let's just take
the oil and push them out. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/flag.gif

[427TJ]

This cartoon pretty much explains it.

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a234/BE427TJ/Y-Net%20Photos/FundourEnemies8-05.jpg

[Xplantdad]

Hey Bill...check your email! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/scholar.gif

[BARRY]

HI WHAT ABOUT US POOR CANADIANS PAYING 110.00 A LITER = 5.00 A GALLON

[DaveC68]

[ QUOTE ]
HI WHAT ABOUT US POOR CANADIANS PAYING 110.00 A LITER = 5.00 A GALLON

[/ QUOTE ]

Thats your own faults for converting to the metric system!!!
http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/naughty.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[WILMASBOYL78]

Have you guys seen the latest from Castro's buddy, the President of Venezuela??? He made an announcement that the US Imperial Empire must be brought down!! Kind of funny since Venezuela owns CITGO.....makes you want to run down and fill up http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/no.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/no.gif I am cancelling my Citgo cards tomorrow and sending them back to Chavez...I hope he chokes on them!

wilma http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/flag.gif

[wheelhop]

[ QUOTE ]
HI WHAT ABOUT US POOR CANADIANS PAYING 110.00 A LITER = 5.00 A GALLON

[/ QUOTE ]

You might pay more for gas but your healthcare is free !! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/dunno.gif

[nuch_ss396]

Tom,

Instead of having Chavez eating them, I'd suggest another
opening might be the place for your returned cards... http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/naughty.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

[69LM1]

As some of my military buddies used to joke for desert storm, We just need to start planting flags..........

#51, #52 #53 .......... http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/naughty.gif

[396L35]

[ QUOTE ]
http://www.yenko.net/photos/data/571/Image037.jpg

All that money and they hate Westerners too! We poor infidels.........
Nice place for a hand grenade - huh?

[/ QUOTE ]
Shitt they are probable pre wired with explosives, now we just have to figure out how to set them off before they get too close... http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/naughty.gif

[Jeff Murphy]

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/scholar.gif I don't generally like talking politics and international relations on the board, but...

...to be fair, it's unlikely that the guys in the picture above have much interest in pre-wiring anything other than daddy's bank balance to their London branch. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

But wealth distribution in the Gulf States is part of the problem. Dubai and the Emirates in particular do have a fairly broad distribution of wealth as a social policy, but what that means is that they import labor from other Islamic countries to do the work they won't do and under generally suboptimal conditions. It's worse in Saudi Arabia because the wealth is even more concentrated and there aren't a lot of jobs. The Kingdom is trying to stimulate a local stock market, is encouraging infrastructure projects, etc. to grow the domestic economy, but the economy's reliance on oil money won't go away in our lifetimes. I think that is why so many of the current terrorists are Saudis or Saudi-based. We should be pretty happy that our imported labor is predominantly Catholic!

I don't want to draw wierd parallels, but Bin Laden obviously comes from a very wealthy family and had the education, leisure time and resources to figure out that he didn't like the current system. It's the upper middle class (ie the guys in the picture above) that can be most dangerous the established system, if even if they aren't directly blowing themselves up. All of the great liberators of Latin America, Bolivar (in the North), San Martin (in Argentina) and O'Higgins (Chile), were from a similar socio-economic status. I'm sure there are intelligent Islamists calling all of us hypocrits because they see themselves as "liberators" and no different from the signers of the Declaration of Independence (I'm sure George III would have had a different name for them).

The difference is obviously in the means to an end and what the outcome is supposed to achieve. The 56 guys that signed the Declaration may have fought a bit unconventionally at times to win their independence, but the rules were pretty clear. I think the outcome speaks for itself http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/flag.gif

With any luck and the resolve of our troops and allies, the other guys won't live to sign anything except a few more hollow Sharias http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/bs.gif

[COPO]

Jeff, thanks for posting the pics of some great cars and your excellent observations. I had the "pleasure" of living in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia and traveled often to Dubai and throughout the middle east. Lots of hypocrites over there. I recall the B/A flights from Jeddah to London with lots of partying in 1st class with your neighborhood friends. Harrods is certainly worth a trip.

[WILMASBOYL78]

About a month ago same character in a cheap suit came to my office saying he was doing a "congressional survey" about what should be done about the price of gas. He wanted to interview me and relay my thoughts to congress...I told him I didn't have time..but he persisted. So, I told him we should just blacktop Iraq and put gas pumps on the docks for easy loading of our tankers! He wasn't too happy...then I threw him out!... I read somewhere that gas is .80 gal in Saudi Arabia http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif I think we are headed for "a reckoning"...reg. gas wil be 3.50 gal by Labor Day http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbsdown.gif

wilma

[ANDY M]

Jeff, those boys in your photos are really the "Lower Upper Class" of the Arabs. They are the spoiled jet set rich kids with no interest in any national policy, they just show off by spending their unearned money that was given to them.
All of the gulf states are monachies, and the rulers know that changing their economy to anything that would cause them to loose power isn't going to happen soon.
The clerics that can cause change to occure are the minority that don't want to stir up a hornets nest.
Also, there is almost no middle class that could influence the ruling class.
The only thing they all agree on is that Israel shouldn't exist, and that if the west supports Israel, they will continue to rip us off.
(With the help of our own oil industry, who are showing record profits). Remember, oil is a speculative commodity that is traded worldwide, and that there is no shortage of Americans getting rich off of the worlds troubles.
JMO.

[Tim Penton]

I do not know what in the hell it is going to take for us (Americans) to stop getting screwed with all of this gas price crap. I cannot tell who to put a target on: rag head a**holes screwing us or our own leaders. I like Bush but I'm sick and tired of this bull**t!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Lets figure out how to screw 'em back!! All I can figure is to try and buy as little gas as possible. I've been practicing this to no avail. Lets hear some ideas and input. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif

[YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY]

I was thinking the other night while cutting the grass: I'm a Bush supporter, but think his position on the oil companies is 'soft', and is it in order to obtain more tax dollars to pay for the war? Might the whole thing come full circle afterall?

[moparts]

Yep and now they are going to shut down the Alaska pipeline for repairs!

If everyone in the US would pick 1 day a week and not fire anything that required gas how much would be saved?

But the problem is demand would go down but would prices?

One more thought.....pay the debt for the war we are fighting with tankers full of oil!

[Chevy454]

[ QUOTE ]
One more thought.....pay the debt for the war we are fighting with tankers full of oil!


[/ QUOTE ]
Yeah right! You saw how well the "Oil for Food" program worked...or more like "failed" to work... http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif

[Chevy454]

I also find it ignorant that the UN and the rest of the moochers of the world are expecting us to sit down and reach an agreement between Israel and Hezbola (one is a democratic state, and the other is a rogue terrorist gang)...but then again, ignorant best describes the UN! And I still say the UN headquarters needs to be moved off of US soil, and off our our tab... http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/scholar.gif

[ANDY M]

Amen, brother! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/flag.gif
Who else but the UN would put Syria and Lybia on the anti-terrorism counsil? http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbsdown.gif
The UN is stocked with people like the ones in this thread, but from around the world. They work at sounding important, not doing anything important. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/bs.gif

[firstgenaddict]

It seems like they are nothing but idiots. Kofi is corrupt and he is still there... he should be in JAIL!!!
I can not believe that we continue to fund the UN. Tell them to go screw them selves and find a new source of revenue. I believe that the UN should be a little more gratious to the USA for our support over the years. I would have thought that they would have realized by now that appeasing ruthless dictators only allows them to heal from their wounds and fight another day. The best defense is a good offense... take it to them.
I have been wondering where in the Constitution does it say that we have to consult the UN in order to protect our national interest?
The UN uses our money to promote an agenda that is not in our best interest... http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/hmmm.gif NOW THAT IS CRAZY!!!

[Born30YrsLate]

I'm glad I'm leaving for Paraguay where everything is about 30 yrs behind the US...I'm thinkin gas should be pretty cheap down there too cause the last time I checked donkeys don't run on gasoline...

[Schonyenko2]

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[nuch_ss396]

[ QUOTE ]
Yep and now they are going to shut down the Alaska pipeline for repairs!

If everyone in the US would pick 1 day a week and not fire anything that required gas how much would be saved?

But the problem is demand would go down but would prices?

One more thought.....pay the debt for the war we are fighting with tankers full of oil!

[/ QUOTE ]

Maurice,

You're correct. The Alaskan pipeline will be shut down for
quite a while due to excessively thin-walled pipe sections.
How in Gods name did that happen? Who's minding the store? http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/dunno.gif

The west coast is probably going to suffer the most. At
some point, they will take some of our gas supply from the
east coast and then all hell is going to break loose.

We have become so selfish as a society that I honestly doubt
we could, or would, cut back on gas consumption. Just look
at the rail systems in this country as compared to other
nations. Look even closer at the real lack of car pooling
in this country. Why? We are going to get a big one up-side
the head one of these days.

[Mr70]

.........................We can still dream. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/flag.gif

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v669/Rick_Peters/gasprices0002.jpg
Circa late 60's.."just 18 cents,fillem All Up!"

[nuch_ss396]

[ QUOTE ]
.........................We can still dream. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/flag.gif

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v669/Rick_Peters/gasprices0002.jpg
Circa late 60's.."just 18 cents,fillem All Up!"

[/ QUOTE ]

OMG! Man, this image brings back tons of memories! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/ooo.gif

Was the world really simpler then, or were we just
naive ( due to youth )..... http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/hmmm.gif

29.9 cents per gallon for high test, 12.5:1 compression...
Light em up http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/burnout.gif and bang some gears http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/3gears.gif

[PeteLeathersac]

Those kinda' pics are almost too much Rick....you gotta' take it easy on us fellas who are already pining for the old days. .
As a kid my chum's Dad owned the local Sunoco and before we were old enough to pump gas we used to feel lucky when we got to clean the washrooms or load the racks and stack the oil cans up in the front windows...just like in your pic. .
The Supertest was next door and we'd hang out and 'help' there a lot too. .
Our pay for the day seemed unbelievable at the time....stickers, Cokes and sometimes old signs. . I remember some of the best snow toboggans we ever had were those old Coke 'button' signs....a few of us could fit on the big ones but were heavy to pull up the hill so we preferred the little ones....man they'd fly especially if you got one that wasn't too rusty and had a lot of the porcelain finish still on them! .
Try and get kids today to work and have fun like that and they'd probably tell you to....well you know what? .
In later years I worked at the Texaco, the Shell then the Gulf....man I can still almost smell that old grease smell on a hot summer day? .
Bing-bing....fill up the Caddy Leon and I'll get the Oldsie!
http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif
~ Pete

[nuch_ss396]

Bing-Bing! I thought it was Ding-Ding and give me 5 dollars
worth. Oh yeah, that was a fill-up! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif

[ANDY M]

Bing-bing is Canadian for Ding-ding.

[nuch_ss396]

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/haha.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/haha.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/haha.gif

[COPO]

Rick, what is that price in today's $$'s adjusted for inflation?

[Chris396]

I drive a Geo Metro that gets 40mpg. People used to laugh at me at work while they drove their extended cab trucks with spotless beds. I'm not in the majority, but I'm sure laughing now. Let's face it, American's are piggish and consume too much with out huge houses that suck energy and gas hog vehicles. It's the same mindset that has so many people getting type 2 diabetes after living a selfish life.

[Mr70]

Charlie
What cost .18 in 1969 would cost .98 in 2006.
Or,if you were to buy exactly the same products in 2006 and 1969,they would cost you .18 and .04 respectively.
This Sunoco station pic was taken in Dayton Ohio at 4864 Airway rd.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v669/Rick_Peters/gasprices0002.jpg

[nuch_ss396]

Rick,

What are you telling me? That gas @ .18 per gallon then, adjusted for inflation in 2006 should only cost .98 per
gallon? So, $3.00 per gallon gives the oil companies an
additional $2.00 per gallon profit ! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/no.gif

[Mr70]

According to THIS (http://www.westegg.com/inflation/)...yes.

[Mr BB Chevy]

not really...
use some of these prices in the inflation calculator

1969 Prices:
Average Income: $8547
New Car: $3278
New House: $15,525
Loaf of Bread: .23
Gallon of Gas: .35
Gallon of Milk: $1.26

Ounce of Gold: $41.51
Ounce of Silver $1.79

Dow Jones Average: 769.93 to 968.85



more....

http://money.howstuffworks.com/gas-price.htm/printable

[COPO]

Mr BB Chevy, great link with a lot of easy to understand info. The BIG profits from gasoline are going to the government in the form of taxes.

[nuch_ss396]

[ QUOTE ]
Mr BB Chevy, great link with a lot of easy to understand info. The BIG profits from gasoline are going to the government in the form of taxes.

[/ QUOTE ]

And there you have it ! What it is all about. Getting our http://webzoom.freewebs.com/nuch_ss396/emoticons/money.gif

[PeteLeathersac]

Doesn't the Sunoco price sign really say 28.9 (not 18.9) for the Regular and 29.9 for the Hi-test? .

Over the weekend, Regular gas here in Southern Ontario was around 1.09 - 1.10 per litre which is the point of equal to $5.00 Canadian per Canadian gallon (4.56 ltr. = 1 gal). .
This morning it's .99 per ltr. .

Pretty sure it was Bing-bing too. . The ding-ding came after hours....when we broke out the booze and the girls came out to play? .

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif
~ Pete