Stop for South Florida gas here..

If you live in Boca Raton, try:

• Shell on Glades Road, East of the Turnpike: $2.29 a gallon
• BP at Glades Road & Butts Road: $2.29 a gallon
• Marathon on North Federal Highway: $2.29 a gallon

If you live in Delray Beach, try:

• Gas One at 4701 W. Atlantic Ave.: $2.26 a gallon
• Shell at Congress Avenue & Atlantic Avenue: $2.29 a gallon
• Mobil at Atlantic Avenue & Military Trail: $2.32 a gallon

If you live in Boynton Beach, try:

• Chevron at Hypoluxo & Military Trail: $2.27 a gallon
• BP at Hypoluxo & Military Trail: $2.27 a gallon
• Citgo at Hypoluxo & Lawrence Road: $2.29 a gallon

If you live in Deerfield Beach, try:

• Shell on Hillsboro Boulevard, East of I-95: $2.25 a gallon
• BP on Hillsboro Boulevard, East of I-95: $2.25 a gallon
• Chevron at 998 South Federal Highway: $2.25 a gallon

If you live in Pompano Beach, try:

• Valero at McNab & Cypress Road: $2.25 a gallon
• Sunoco at 5391 N. Federal Hwy: $2.29 a gallon
• Citgo at Powerline & Sample Road: $2.29 a gallon

If you live in Sunrise, try:

• Texaco on Oakland Park Boulevard, east of Nob Hill Road: $2.23 a gallon
• Shell at Oakland Park Boulevard & Pine Island: $2.28 a gallon

If you live in Coral Springs, try:

• Texaco at 8161 Wiles Road: $2.19 a gallon
• Citgo at 8100 Wiles Road: $2.19 a gallon
• Hess at Coral Springs Drive & Royal Palm: $2.24 a gallon

If you live in Fort Lauderdale, try:

• Marathon on SR84, east of I-95: $2.20 a gallon
• BP on Broward Boulevard, east of I-95: $2.26 a gallon
• Hess at Broward Boulevard & NW 7th Avenue: $2.28 a gallon

If you live in Davie, try:

• Cumberland Farms at Flamingo Road & SR 84: $2.25 a gallon

If you live in Plantation, try:

• Chevron at University & Peters: $2.21 a gallon
• Mobil at 1799 N. University Dr.: $2.23 a gallon

If you live in Miami, try:

• Citgo at SW 8th St & 87th Ave: $2.17 a gallon
• American at Bird Rd & 92nd Ave: $2.19 a gallon

All prices found on www.miamigasprices.com.

New trends in car-buying

While those giant Hummers and flashy Cadillac Escalades you see zipping around South Florida look like evidence of a rising trend in SUV sales, that is not the case.

In a Bankrate.com news article on Yahoo Finance, "Gas prices, interest rates spark big auto changes," it reports that as 2006 comes to an end, there is news that the "Big Three" automakers weren't who they used to be. "When you speak of the Big Three, it's no longer Ford, General Motors and DaimlerChrysler. In 2006, Toyota took over the No. 3 spot from DaimlerChrysler, selling an estimated 2.5 million vehicles in its Toyota, Scion and Lexus divisions."

I can see how Toyota is climbing in auto sales because my newest car is the 2007 Scion TC, which I absolutely love! If you look at television commercials, it is apparent that Scion is targeting the 18-34 crowd with glitzy commercials abound with hip-hop and techno music. If you go to the Muvico Palace 20 movie theater in Boca Raton, there are numerous Lexus commercials before the movie begins. No wonder Toyota is climbing its way up in the charts!

The article also points out that "2006 could be remembered as the year that sales of cars began to rebound against sales of trucks -- which include minivans, SUVs and pickups. The last time cars outsold trucks was 2001, when the split was 50.4 percent to 49.6 percent. That shift toward cars over trucks, combined with public perceptions of who builds the most reliable, fuel-efficient vehicles, accounted for the other major industry news for 2006: The sharp rise of Toyota."

Gas prices have been why many people in South Florida and the rest of the nation are making the transition to fuel-economy-friendly cars and hybrid vehicles. When prices were over $3 a gallon, it was bad news for SUV's and trucks. Ford and other prominent SUV manufacturers tried to combat this situation by offering extended warranties and other financial incentives. However, in the long run, it looks like cars gained back their popularity in 2006.

It's going up again

If you thought the $2.20 a gallon you paid at your local BP was a dream come true, don't get too excited. In an AP business article titled "Oil rises as gasoline supplies fall," reporter Madlen Read discusses how oil prices per barrel climbed to over $60 today. The cause has something to do with OPEC cutting its production costs and "assessed declines in U.S. gasoline and diesel fuel inventories."

According to the San Jose Mercury News, "What's up with this recent price blip? Violence in Nigeria, threats from members of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries to pump less oil and the oncoming winter with its demand for more heating oil. Some experts say prices fell so far so fast that they have to rebound upward. Others say there's a glut of oil available and that prices will not rise much." The article went on to describe how a colder-than-average winter that forecasters are predicting may also be playing a role in the increase of oil costs.

Yesterday's gubernatorial elections that pronounced Crist the winner may also have something to do with why prices are suddenly shooting up. It is no suprise to me that a day after Election Day, you see a rise in petroleum costs.

While it may not drop to 20 degrees in South Florida during the winter, surges in gas prices may apparently be linked to those who have to heat their homes throughout the winter season. I expect prices to rise a little and then skyrocket once we reach summertime.

Yahoo Autos goes green

The surge in popularity of environmentally-friendly- hybrid vehicles and the need for alternative energy sources has led Yahoo Autos to go green.

The Yahoo Autos Green Center lists the top four new cars that have earned a "green rating," as well as other information on fuel-efficiency. A question-and-answer box allows Yahoo visitors to discuss questions like, "Why doesn't the government allow electric cars that are better for the environment to be sold?" and other interesting topics.

There is also a gas-mileage-impact calculator that allows you to select the make of your car, the number of miles you drive and compare it to other vehicles' environmental emissions and fuel costs. Another interesting feature on the site is an alternative gas station locator, which allows you to search for stations that provide fuels like ethanol and biodiesel.

A technology section also compares these different forms of fuel and their pro's and con's. For example, compressed natural gas lets out less toxins than gasoline. This is an informative and useful site for anyone who may be interested in conserving energy, saving gas money or simply anyone who wants to lessen pollution from fuel emissions.