The Death Star (2003 Nissan Sentra)
4-door sedan, 1.8L engine, 5-spd manual gearbox, 34K odometer miles,
20 MPG in the city. I just got it tuned up and drove a long (hot daylight conditions) road trip at estimated average speed of 75 MPH with the windows up and the air conditioner on. My fuel consumption was 30 MPG.

The Milennium Falcon (1990 Sentra)
2-door coupe, 1.6L engine, 4-speed manual gearbox, 137K odometer miles (yes, it still runs like gangbusters): 24 MPG in the city, 34 MPG on the highway, under the same conditions.

I live 8.5 miles from work, so my commute for a typical 20 workday month (at $4/gal regular), comes to about $68/mo. Bus fare for the same ride is $40/mo. I have access to a discount bus pass through my job for $20/mo.

I am very much aware my situation is very fortunate, compared to most people, however, I can take some credit for always having owned fuel-efficient cars since I first got my licence in 1964, and that I have always chosen my residences so they are close to where I work. But this is a matter of choice over which I have control. The increased price of everything I buy due to higher energy costs is beyond my control, no matter how Green I live. The decisions of others to indulge in a wasteful lifestyle affects those who do their best not to. So in a way, they ARE holding a gun to my head and I am paying for their extravagance.

I did see a really neat T-shirt at the concert I went to this weekend...
It had a picture of a Hummer on it it, with the following message beneath: "Let them eat cake." I do not know if the pretty girl wearing it was being arrogant...or ironic.