Except I didn't bring it up. I was talking about our high sales tax. BTW taxes on investments are being phased out and will be zero by 2020 (I believe).

 

 

No worries!

 

The link below goes to a fascinating web page that lists the states by the NET property-tax rate for each state. Tennessee is relatively cheap at about 3/4% and my home state of Oregon comes in at about 1%. The worst states are New Jersey, Illinois, New Hampshire, and Connecticut, all coming in at 2+%. Cheapest states include Hawaii, Alabama, Louisiana, and Colorado, all around 0.5% or less (Hawaii is just 0.3%!). California tax is only about 0.75%, but that's because of Proposition 13 which was passed decades ago and which holds property taxes at a low 1% annual increase. If you've lived in your California home for decades you are getting a bargain tax rate. Enjoy it while you can; the new uber-liberal California legislature is trying to find a way out of those Prop 13 handcuffs.

The website also shows auto property taxes, but that's not as useful to me because home property taxes are far more relevant and states tack on extra auto fees. For example, Oregon shows 0$ for auto property tax but my license fees are about $60 a year.

https://wallethub.com/edu/states-wit...y-taxes/11585/

 

 

In response to the recent attack on two oil-tankers in the Strait of Hormuz (there is some evidence, but no conclusive proof, that the Iranians were behind it), world crude-oil prices have already taken a jump, merely on the speculation that it will become more dangerous for tankers in that area, and supplies could be disrupted. (It doesn't take much, in that part of the world, to make oil-investors panic and bid prices up). The point of this thread, though, is not to get into international politics, or debate how to respond to it as a nation, but simply point out that it is likely that we will probably be paying at least a little more to fill our vehicles shortly, as those crude-increases work their way through the system and get down to the gas-pump level. We are already into mid-June, of course, and past the initial jump in gas prices that often occurs just before school lets out and vacation-season (with increased driving) starts. This year, interestingly, we saw a significant jump in April and May, but, in the last few days, a slight decrease....until the two tankers were attacked. How much prices at the pump will jump over this latest incident remains to be seen...but many states have a phone hotline, which goes directly to the Attorney General's office in that state, if customers encounter huge increases at the pump that look like obvious gouging. I can remember, once, right after a major hurricane on the Gulf Coast that took out a number of refineries, prices here in the D.C. area (over 1000 miles away) jumped at the pump by as much as $1.00 a day....regular 87 octane went from less than $3.00 a gallon to some $5.50 in less than three days. That's when the hot-line was initiated to deal with it.



I don't think we will see anything crazy like that over one or two tankers, but don't be surprised if you do see some mild increases in the next week or so.

 

I really like this video.....though it's 16 minutes long, I'd recommend budgeting some time to watch it. This guy does an excellent job of cutting through the B.S., the myths/stereotypes, and simply telling it like it is. If everyone followed his advice (unfortunately, many don't) there would be a lot fewer engine problems or damage.


And, of course, one does not have to use the Shell-brand fuel depicted in the video.....most Top-Tier brand-names with a decent amount of detergent-additives in the fuel should work just fine. Shell and Chevron, though, both have an especially good reputation for effective additives/cleaner packages.

 

I have used 87 octane in our 2015 RX450h and currently 2017 which both premium is required. Experimenting with the other two levels, I have noticed zero difference in gas mileage or performance. I have used 87 in cars that have required premium for over a million miles and have not had one problem. If using premium gas at a higher cost makes you feel better then by all means use it.
I always revert back to two MIT graduates that are car mechanics who had a syndicated radio show called Car Talk for 35 years.
http://www.cartalk.com/content/premi...egular-0#myth4

From the USA Today:
The only modern engines that should really need premium are those with superchargers, which force-feed fuel into the cylinders. "You're driving along and just tramp the gas and the knock sensor cannot sense the knock fast enough in some cases," because the supercharger boosts pressure so fast, says Bob Furey, chemist and fuels specialist at General Motors.

Burning regular when the owner's manual specifies premium won't void the warranty, nor damage the engine, even the most finicky automakers say. "You're giving up perhaps just a little bit of performance that a customer wouldn't really even notice, it's so slight," says Furey.

 

RX450h is the same powertrain as the camry hybrid which uses regular

I did notice a mpg and performance hit from our 2004 TSX that requires premium when I used regular

 

I used to watch that show myself. Click and Clack (the Magliozzi brothers...Tom has now passed away) may have had their opinions as ex-mechancs, but, according to the people who actually design vehicle engines, the general rule is that if Premium is recommended, regular can be used on a regular basis (no pun intended) as a substitute......the engine has the necessary compensations for it. If Premium is required, use it whenever possible, and only use regular if and when you can't get decent grades of gas, like in Mexico or if all nearby stations are out of premium. The engine will tolerate regular for short periods of time, but is not intended or designed for it.

 

That's to be expected. When the knock-sensors detect pinging from inadequate octane or other reasons (carbon buildup, excessive heat, overly-lean mixture, etc..), the computer retards the timing, which eliminates the knock but makes the engine run less efficiently.

 

if saving a couple of dollars on each tank full makes you feel better then by all means do it.

my ttv6 definitely is not as responsive on 87 vs. premium so i only tried 87 a couple of times. second time was to see if i thought i was mistaken on the first try, and i was not.

that article simply says you won't do any damage running regular. i'm sure that's true with modern sensors, software, etc. but i just don't like the way my car drives.

a link would have been good, couldn't find that article, but this one is good too.
https://www.edmunds.com/fuel-economy...g-premium.html

Quote:

Burning regular when the owner's manual specifies premium won't void the warranty, nor damage the engine, even the most finicky automakers say. "You're giving up perhaps just a little bit of performance that a customer wouldn't really even notice, it's so slight," says Furey.

edmunds makes the destinction between premium recommended and premium required and even provides two lists of vehicles in each.

 

No, the Camry has an I4, whereas the RX 450h has a V6.

Personally I'd stick to the manufacturer's recommendation.

edit: Besides, with the 2GR-FXS having a compression ratio of a whopping 12.5:1, I'm not surprised it requires premium.

 

The RX 450h has a powertrain identical to the Highlander Hybrid, not the Camry.

And the 12.5:1 is irrelevant. It's an Atkinson-style engine. The 12.5:1 number is the Expansion Ratio, not the Compression Ratio. I've run nothing but regular in my 450h for three years now, no issues. Great car.