Looking for cheap gas -- or nachos to go?

   On the bright side, we're not writing about record highs of $4 a gallon like last year's Fourth of July holiday travel.

   But the average price of gasoline has risen 60 cents since the start of May.

   Of course, exactly how much you pay for each gallon depends on where you drive.

   In the towns of Hamburg and Amherst, prepare to pay more.

   In Kenmore and East Aurora, where prices are lower, you might save enough to spend on a newspaper during each trip to fill up.

   The News analyzed nearly 8,500 daily gas prices at more than 300 retail gas outlets in Erie and Niagara counties throughout the month of May to figure out where a tank of gas costs more, or less.

   The Delta Sonics and Kwik Fills are among the cheaper brands, and so are many of the unbranded stations.

   So how does the most expensive station in Erie County, the Mobil on Boston State Road in the Town of Boston, compete with the lower-cost gasoline stations?

   With hot dogs, nachos, coffee, pet food, cigarettes, shampoo and hundreds of other items it stocks. Even red worms and night crawlers.

   In fact, assistant manager Darlene Weiss estimates only 40 percent of the customers come just for gas.

   It stays open 24 hours a day.

   It's got a convenient location just off Route 219, and its nearest competitor is more than two miles away.

   "Every day is getting to be the same: busy," she said.

   Apparently, enough people are willing to pay about 11 cents more a gallon at the Mobil than the price charged at most stations.

   Would you?

   And how far out of the way, if at all, do you drive to save a nickel or dime on a gallon of gas?

   -- Patrick Lakamp

Comments

[RKT]

With this new Cap and Trade Law just passed (Climate Change Bill), don't be surprised that you'll pay more. Of course, Slaughter and Higgins voted for it so most of you won't mind anyways as it will help the climate here in Buffalo. I'm sure Patterson will raise taxes too but that will be for "the children" so don't get upset driving a few miles to get gas 2 cents cheaper elsewhere. Here's the bottom line, gasoline will always be expensive around here and don't look to Washington or Albany to feel any sympathy for you, they never have and frankly never will.

[Terry]

The article referenced is a perfect example of why I stopped subscribing to The News years ago. The News tends to leave out things we need to know. In this case, I'll only point out two things:

1) When gas is 10 cents cheaper at one station vs another, it is often because the cheaper gas is 10% ethanol. Most cars get 10% better gas mileage with pure petroleum gas. That's worth about 30 cents a gallon at today's prices.

2) Your driving habits affect your gas mileage even more. Most drivers can effectively get a 20% discount by learning to drive better. Here's a good place to learn: http://www.hypermiling.com/car-mpg.html. If you can save 20% by improving your driving, that's 60 cents a gallon!

[Sick of missing information]

In 6/28 edition of story, it displayed a picture of Stop and Gas in Hamburg and stated that they were among the most expensive in the county BUT neglected to mention, that they only offer full service. Which means that you are not only paying for the gas, but an employee to pump for you. Extra service usually adds to the price!!
Small business owners barely breaking even, if you are going to print a story, please print all the relevant information!!!!!

[hyperfedup]

Where is the answer as to
why we were gouged the last time?

The U.S. government totally deregulated the mega-monoply corporations, who now hold our society for ransom on every single turn, every single one of their "supposed" screwups. Then they threaten us with nothing but "or elses", as they make continual record profits, and pass out mega bonuses to their elites.
Who are they regulating more and more? It's citizenship, treating us almost as if we were the terrorists, and it's we who caused all these financial catastrophies and meltdowns.
It's called an oligarchy, and is nothing like what they continually pass on to us as being a so called democracy.

Politics has become seeing nothing but more and more of all the same faces and the same names from inside all the same families, local, state, and federal, over and over and over. If they are corrupt and forced to resign after being caught red handed, they are immediatly abdsorbed back into the "system" and taken care off by many of the monoplies they have loyally served.

The few, ...the proud,...the "elite". They NEVER have to search for "cheap gas" in their dailey routine of ruling over all our lives, do they? So how can they ever feel the pain?

[BobbyCat]

Why was there no mention of the Cattaraugus Reservation gas stations? I think there are 15 or 20 of them on the Res
between Gowanda and Irving, mostly in Irving. For most people in Buffalo metro, the Seneca Res in Irving is a lot closer than Niagara County. Yet no mention of their gas prices. What's up with that?

[VoiceOfReason]

The article didn't mention some of the gasoline brands have as much as 10% Ethanol blended in their fuel. For an Apples to Apples comparison you need to adjust the price for the Ethanol content in some station's gas.

1. There is less energy in a gallon of Ethanol (76,000 BTU/gal vs. 116,090 in gasoline).
2. Several stations sell E10 (Gas with 10% Ethanol)or similar as their lowest priced fuel.
3. E10 has only 96.5% of the energy of 100% gasoline.
4. You will drive fewer miles on gasoline with Ethanol (your mpg will be reduced).
5. Look for the "Ethanol" label on the pump. You'll find the gas isn't such a bargain with 10% or more ethanol. FYI, several of the lowest priced chains on the list use Ethanol in their gas including Delta Sonic, BJs, Sunoco, Wilson Farms.

How much should you pay for E10 and E85?
If regular gas is $3.00/gallon you should pay
$2.90 / gallon for E10 (10% ethanol).
$2.13 / gallon for E85 (85% ethanol).
Then you will be paying the same amount per mile driven.

How can we save more:

REPORT THE WHOLESALE PRICE OF GASOLINE ON A REGULAR BASIS!

As we have learned last summer, the retail stations will take a fair profit and there will be less gouging when the media regularly reports the wholesale price of gas.

[BobbyCat]

I found the cheap gas and the nachos and every nuance of the Albany debacle, but I cannot find ANY mention of health care reform.

Are you telling me that health care reform is not being talked about at the NEWS?

Are we that far out of touch?

Where is the health care blog?

The nation wants to know if the hype about Canada's single payer plan is true or not. Where are the stories about Canada's health care system? Why aren't the TV stations over the border delivering some much needed stories?

The Congress and the nation is crying out for accurate information on health care and once again, Buffalo media is asleep at the switch.

[flcookie]

Well, Erie county is one of 6 counties in the nation to charge counties taxes. However, not surprising.