Aus wrote:
Sure, but we use quite a bit more per person, so even if the gas is cheaper we still spend a good deal more on it on average.
I don't have numbers in front of me, but from driving a lot in the States and Greece, and a decent amount in France and Italy, I'm not sure. Public transport is huge, but for a country the size of Greece (10 mil or so), we have an insane amount of cars. Insane. Plus the driving is a lot of stop and go city traffic, and absolutely insane highway speeds, whereas the average commute in the States (at least where I am), is mostly highway, and most people drive 60-70 mph. So even though you see a lot more small 4 cylinder cars, they drive them so inefficiently that you're pretty much bleeding gas. Also, the dynamic is completely different. It's a small country, but a huge percentage live in Athens. Most people came from somewhere else though, so driving to the chorio (hometown) is very common, whereas most Americans commute to work and home, and do errands. I think the only things we have in our favor are good public transit and the fact that we have a much lower percentage of big cars. Also, you haven't lived until you've experienced female Greek drivers. Cellphone, cigarette, all cars are standard + crazy speeds for tight side streets, (think the first Bourne), horrible turning, and they actually swear at you when they just blow a left in front of you, while downshifting, taking a drag, and telling the person on the cell why you're an asshole.
so what you are saying is you're all a bunch of greasy suck dick fags and should be wiped from the face of the earth