Petrol prices (present hysteria vs reality)

[MoreHPformyXR6]

Thought I would extract part of an article in September 2006 Wheels I found interesting. They had a Ford TX Territory long term. (12 months) Fuel consumption varied over almost 21,000km from a best of exactly 10.0L/100km to 20.8L/100km. The average for there entire year driving was 14.5L/100km.

It's interesting to calculate the effect of increased petrol prices on the cost of running something like the Territory. When it joined our fleet, the price of a litre of 91-octane regular unleaded was down near a $1.00 a litre. The consumption log shows the lowest price actually paid was $1.05. Now, its more like a $1.35. Our final fill-up price was $1.37.In round figures, this is an increase of 30 percent.

But what is the actual impact in dollars & cents?

We covered exactly 20,707km in the Territory, about 30 percent more than the average Australian driver, burning 3000.95 litres of fuel. The average we paid over a 12 month period was a $1.25 per litre, for a total bill of $3741.

If the prices had stayed as low as $1.05, the annual the fuel bill would have totalled $3151. With prices at $1.37, the annual cost adds up to $4111. The differance is $960 pa or $18.50 per week. For all the hysteria about petrol prices, in reality the effect is far from ruinious.

(In note petrol is around a $1.22.9 in Adelaide today without a discount docket tradionally our cheapest day).