First of all this discussion, in my thread, ends here.
I never filled up in the bay area, I started with a full tank. So factor in how far I got on 18.5 gallons (I distinctly recall being in bumblefuck nevada someplace when I got gas, something about beverly hills rings a bell, not sure that helps/matters) and then factor in the cost. I am SURE it was much lower than $1.89 per gallon.
Stop trying to poke holes in my story needlessly, this is beyond childish.
If you factor in A FULL TANK OF GAS to start the trip, 3 fill ups there and three back, I used 55.5x2= 111gallons total which I paid for, plus the 18.5 gallons I had to start the trip with, and you arrive at 128-130 gallons total used, roughly.
The price of gas in october, 2003, when I left was around 1.20 per gallon (keep in mind, as I said, for $20 I could FILL MY TANK, which was 18.5 gallons) which when multiplied to our 120 gallon estimate, comes out to around $154.00 or so. Also keep in mind, the $1.20 was bay area pricing, it got much lower across the midwest. At times I am sure it was hovering around the $1.14 per gallon range.
Learn to use a fucking calculator you damned imbecile
Alright Grapes, you asked for it. Your Honor, the prosecution will present a case that is ROCK SOLID. We will give you only the facts without a lot of Matlock or Timbot flare. We won't pull any Rum Tum Tiggery or shenanigans. What we will prove, beyond a shadow of a doubt, is that Ape is remember the facts incorrectly. We ask for a modest 5 years in Pelican Bay when we prove our case.
-the events described did not actually take place in october 2003
-the fuel required to drive a 1999 toyota solara from san jose to south dakota at 140 mph cost significantly more than $150 and ape is misremembering or lying
-ape actually stole several tanks of gas on the trip to reduce his overall cost
-ape passed out at a rest stop outside of reno and only thinks he made it all the way to south dakota and back. somewhere there is a brokenhearted teen still pining away for him
-ape had them magnets in his gas tank that align all the gas molecules. it's the secret that gas companies don't want you to know but can be yours for only 3 payments of $19.95.
If you factor in the extra tank I left with, I suppose the cost was closer to $180 round trip. My magical car might have a special place in my memory banks, I'll grant you that. I drove for two reasons- to impress an idiotic girl, and to save money. I remember the cost of a plane ticket being around $300-$350, and driving being "close to half that" and I won't go further than that. There is no need. I have pictures, a receipt from the air filter I bought, hell that damned cd in this very thread, as proof enough.
And the pictures SUCK. If you saw the view from outside my motel8 hotel window- it was enough to induce suicide. Hell, maybe I'll scan the pictures in later. Who cares, at this point.
Also I really think the trip happened in 2004, I want to believe that, because I started doing coke right after, and - no, it really was 2003, wasn't it...Damn. A solid 9 years I tried to kill myself, nice.
National average for the entire year for gasoline in 2003 was $1.59 a gallon. And I can god damn guarantee fucking tee, your Honor, it was higher in California most if not all that year. For the sake of argument, $1.59 x 18.5=$29.42. If you got 26 miles to the gallon (rated by Toyota for the 1999 model Solara) you would get 481 to the gallon. So 480 miles divided by 3550 miles you get 7.395 fillups needed. That is assuming line to line and not pulling off somewhere or getting lost or going 18 miles to the suburbs where you actually lived. This is being fair. So 7.4 fillups at $29.42 equals $217.70.
If it pleases the court, Mr. Apes has already attested to using (1) tank of gas that was already in his vehicle, as well as buying (6) more tank fulls of gas for a total of 7 tankfuls. Meaning that his gas mileage would have to be closer to the projected 26 mpg as given by the factory specs. But let us humor him and further demoralize him.
In order to get to "under $150" we would have to make your mpg 38. Almost 1.5 times the rated mpg from the factory. My assistant will read the projected figures.
38mpg x 18.5gallon tank=703 miles for a full tank
3550 divided by 703=5.049 fillups needed
$1.59 gallon national average times 18.5 gallons=$29.42 per fillup
5.049 fillups times $29.42=148.564
So you see your Honor, Grapes could not have possibly made it 3550 miles on "under $150" in gas. Prosecution rests.
gentlemen. There is a simple solution to the mystery of the solara with the bottomless tank. Ape went hunter s Thompson on the tires and inflated them to 90psi. And God smiled upon him and used His God Powers to keep grape alive for the drive.