I think the annoying thing is that car companies havent put enough effort into making proper hybrids.

Ive always figured that just about when petrol/fuel sources really start to dry up, an alternative fuel will become mainstream pretty damned quickly. Im not sure the hybrids will be it. Hydrogen and electric might be. But I figure that both the car and fuel companies have plans in place so that at the point where sales start to drop big time etc, they can roll out a new product, which no doubt will cost a fair whack, which doesnt suffer from the fuel problems.

Im slightly worried that hydrogen/electric powered cars and other types will just be offsetting the problem. Im all in favour of nuclear fuel, but Im also a little concerned about the legacy itll leave...and lets face it, if the masses started to switch to electric powered cars, demand would mean that nuclear would be the only way to go for now, renewable energy sources wouldnt be able to keep up fast enough

Ive watched a petrol station go up 3p in 2 days. Its getting pretty depressing.

Quote from: mr_roll

Quote from: zpyder

I know you guys are all talking about the costs and the reasons behind it, but I cant be the only person who is pretty freaked out right now about the future and what will happen if in a few years petrol has broken, say, the £3 or £4 a litre barrier? Visions of kids playing on the street as theres hardly any cars, a reverse car tax where people without cars get subbed by the government, house price fluctuations as people who wouldnt normally move, sell up and move to get closer to where they work so they can walk/cycle/bus in?

In a way a future with less cars on the road might be nice, but on the otherhand, Ive been driving *just* long enough for me to know just how damn useful cars are and how convenient they can be

I couldnt have said it better myself. The petrol prices are going to push me off the road soon, to the point where I will have to get the bus into work.

I think the annoying thing is that car companies havent put enough effort into making proper hybrids. I mean the new Renault 1.5 diesels are more economical than the Toyota Prius and lexus bringing out these Hybrid 4x4s.... just, well, not pointless but you know they dont really reduce do much. We need cars that do 100mpg but then the demand would go down and thatd be another excuse for the price to go up.

I was seriously thinking about an electric scooter, to commute, and I think electric cars or fuel cells are the way forward in the future.

Since 1989 you could do over 100mpg in an AX diesel

Yes, but you cant see the travelling sales man driving around in an AX instead of a BMW 320d or a Vectra. Im talking about the mid range of saloon cars to do high mpg.