Here is such a chart. Each dot represents a tank of diesel put onto one of my business's (small) fleet of vans, and the lorry. I started collecting this data in april 2008, which is where the chart begins. The vast majority of the data points are at reasonably cheap stations around the midlands. There are a few outlying expensive points, mainly caused by someone running empty on a long trip and filling up at a motorway services.

I don't have any data for petrol I'm afraid, putting petrol in vans causes them to break down, so it's something we don't do.

Friday night traffic (19:52), Five Ways, Birmingham. Click for big.

Crosspost from here: http://slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=1913322&cid=34580460

I don't have a car at all. If I buy a gasoline can and fill it regularly, will a car grow in my driveway? How much gas will it take before it can drive me around? thx

A car can grow on your driveway, if you provide the right conditions. Cars, like any growing organism, require certain nutrients and environmental conditions to grow. Gas would be the source of energy for the car, analogous to sunlight in the case of plants.

First, an asphalt driveway would be required to provide heavy hydrocarbons, particles of tyre rubber, silt, and a small amount of common salt. A seed will also be required, this would be a car exhaust muffler/silencer. This contains all of the genetic information required for the car to grow correctly. Place the muffler on the driveway, and apply small (100ml or less) amounts of gasoline to it every day. Do this when the temperature is 10-16 degrees celsius, and regular small rain showers are expected.

First, the muffler will appear to go slightly rusty; this is an important stage and NOT a failure. Soon the rust will 'grow' in volume, increasing the overall size of the muffler. This is the 'germination' of the seed. Double the amount of gas per day and allow to grow over 1 month. Ensure regular watering if there is not at least 1 rain shower every 2 days, sufficient to wet the driveway and cause water to run off it. The car must be allowed to dry periodically, in rainy weather shelter the car (for example with a rain cover) to allow it to dry at least once per week.

After 1 month a full car will appear, but it is not yet developed enough for the doors to be opened or for it to be driven. Wait a further week, and until the windows appear slightly grubby. Then the car can be opened for the first time. Within a short time of doing this, fill the tank with at least 2 gallons / 9 litres of gas, and start the car using the key that should already be in the ignition. Allow it to idle for 10 minutes.

Once you have inspected the car for any defects, it can be driven. The local licensing department or DMV should be informed before using the car on a public road. Do not exceed 4,500RPM for the first 5,000 miles.

You can now enjoy your home-grown car, and with regular feeding, exercise and maintenance it will develop onto the ideal car to fulfil your needs and express your personality, while respecting your financial means. Eventually, upon receiving a sufficient amount of windscreen washer fluid (the sperm) the car will reproduce by allowing the muffler to fall of (the seed) at a location of its choosing. Cars like to plant at rough sections of second-rate arterial roads, particularly near intersections or roundabouts. Often seeding can be triggered by a light collision with another car. They also favour speed bumps, although selection is against reproducing in car parks, as the owner of the car will often stop to collect the muffler, ruining any chances of its germination.

Option 1: Increase the speed limit to the 85th percentile speed (85th percentile meaning 85% of people are slower than, and 15% faster) as is good historical speed limit practice, or:

Option 2: Say "bloody hell, everybody is speeding by a massive amount" and install some speed cameras.

Answers on a postcard please. I already feel I have an inkling as to what will happen

A BMW advert, proudly proclaiming "drinks like a camel"; intended to describe good/low fuel consumption

...and directly over the page from this double-page spread; an article which explains that camels actually drink quite a lot...

Whoops.

This post was going to be entitled "truth in advertising", but the claimed 50mpg is actually quite good.

Now, before any beemer-haters start coming out of the woodwork, here is das FNS-wagen relaxing outside in the snow. It's actually very good on fuel

The FNS-mobile, tuesday

It's more damaged than it looks; bumper, grilles and bonnet shagged; was leaking water (thus tow truck job) but turned out to be the windscreen washer bottle...
Currently at a local bodyshop being hit with hammers by Brummies, and I'm tooling round in a white van from work.

Top FNS tip: When pulling out onto a roundabout, make sure the person in front of you has actually gone.