People running out of gas in order to save some
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Irony
alert: California drivers have been hit so hard by the surge in gasoline prices that some are running out of gas --
on purpose -- and waiting for a tow truck to show up with some free go-juice courtesy their roadside assistance
programs. In effect, they're running out of gas in order to save some.
In many cases, roadside assist services provide just one free gallon of fuel, which means that people are hanging out on shoulders of many California roadways for hours (a less-than-safe practice) in order to save a few bucks.
[Source: Reuters via CNN]
(Top Tip, James!)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
That One Person 5:41PM (4/26/2006)
Idiots...
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Doogs 5:41PM (4/26/2006)
That's dumb.
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Gary 5:48PM (4/26/2006)
Even at $3.00/gallon, I would spend under $2000/year on gas. Income and payroll taxes take out that much EVERY MONTH. Heck, I spend $1500 a year at the company cafeteria for crappy food.
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VW-Guy 5:48PM (4/26/2006)
That is the ultimate in cheapness. Time is non-refundable and non-renewable.
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Richard Warren 6:02PM (4/26/2006)
Thanks for adding to our next years auto club bill or elimination of warranty road service. Yep agreed, idiots
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Jason 6:14PM (4/26/2006)
Can't blame them because it seems that make way below minimum wage per hour. At least they deserve to if they do that.
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Jeremy 6:30PM (4/26/2006)
Well all those people will learn the hard way when they pay their mechanic 500 dollars or so to replace their fuel pumps. All they're doing is overheating the pump which will cause premature faliure. I guess some people are just penny wise and dollar stupid.
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iQuack 7:03PM (4/26/2006)
If current gas prices can create a response THAT stupid, gasoline should rise to $6 or more per gallon to get the rest of the ninnies off the roads.
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joe 7:28PM (4/26/2006)
That's petarded...
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joe 7:32PM (4/26/2006)
just so you know it wasn't a typo...
http://www.glassgiant.com/petarded/
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That One Person 7:59PM (4/26/2006)
HAHAHA good reference joe :)
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Len 8:03PM (4/26/2006)
speaking as one who repairs cars- i luv it- fuel pumps, filters, injectors- bring it on!! morons... does time now cost nothing? safety? or how about keeping your insurance and/or keeping it reasonably priced? you WILL end up paying more in the long run. the ignorant masses never cease to amuse me.
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mr 8:52PM (4/26/2006)
I call BS.
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Ryank 10:27PM (4/26/2006)
Okay, kind of off subject but funny.
I was coming back to Las Vegas from LA and I was being lazy and not filling up my Maz3 when I should have, so I pulled over in Baker,CA. Now if anyone ever goes between LA and Vegas you know that Baker,CA is a total ripoff on gas and you never want to stop there for it. Long story short.... I was sucking fumes with the low fuel light on for 70miles, when I pull into Chevron with a price of 3.74/gal, the funny thing is there system must have screwed up because it only charged me .74 cents a gallon!!! I though for sure they would have caught it but I just got my statement and they did not, so give it a shot at the Chevron in Baker, CA!!!
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Tim 12:20AM (4/27/2006)
Talk about embelishing the truth!! They quote a tow truck driver's story about one guy who cheated the system and now it's "people running out of gas..." to make it seem as if hundreds of people are doing the same thing. BS!
Southern California has some long stretches of highway that have no services alone them. At either end of these long stretches of highway the price of gas is inflated. I'm sure people have pushed their luck and run out of fuel trying to avoid these inflated areas but I doubt anyone except the mentally ill have done it on purpose.
As I'm sure many of you know, the press never embelishes the truth. Yeah, right!
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Andr? 6:06AM (4/27/2006)
In Germany you get a ticket if police comes by, don't really believe all these stories (how many people does it need nowadays to make a trend?) but if so that would be the easiest solution to the problem, over here a driver needs to act responsible to avoid threatening situations on the Autobahn (especially here), thus you can rather expect a kick in the ass than roadside assistance (well after they fine you 50 USD, police might be so kind and drive you to the next gas station)...
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MrWankel 6:23AM (4/27/2006)
In Spain is the same as what Andr?s saying; if you run out of gas, you get a police ticket.
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JS 9:11AM (4/27/2006)
Or better yet, get a tow truck to take you to your destination.
From work, call them and say your car's broke and have AAA tow it to your house ;-) That way you get a free ride for up to 120 miles! That should be worth the gas woes, haha. Remember, gotta think smarter, not harder ;-)
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Jeff 1:18PM (4/27/2006)
Petarded scale...
1. People who want to punish oil companies for making a 10% profit margin.
2. People who say they choose minivans for mileage and safety and then proceed to perform the most inane traffic manuevers I've ever seen while driving 80 mph.
3. People using free roadside assistance for $3 worth of gas.
4. Dirt
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WolfgangNC 1:49PM (4/27/2006)
What is funny around here is the logic of moving an hour away from where one works so the cost of housing is less; but you wait at least two hours, if traffic isn't bad, driving (time is not refundable nor renewable) and spend close to $400 per month in gas (double that is your better half goes to work). And that is just going back and forth to work, I didn't add going somewhere to have fun or shop.
Not saying all people by no means; but some people have brought the hurt of high gas prices on themselves.
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