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Who remembers the 70's when we switched to smaller cars?

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Originally posted by: smack Down
yeah gas prices suck, but it will not change my driving until it get to 20 dollars a gallon.

I don't get why people whine so much about a few bucks a hour to drive a car. The time wasted driving seems much more valuable then the cash wasted so you would think people would already have limited their driving.
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You know, some people do like to drive.
 
Originally posted by: techs
I am thinking gas will have to get to at least 6.00 to 8.00 per gallon for a real, long term reduction in driving. In other words, gas has to be prohibitively expensive even in a small fue efficient car before people really cut down their driving.
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I don't think people will cut down on their driving just because gas is expensive. Most people don't just go driving for fun all the time (a sunday drive once in awhile, yeah, but not joyriding every day). We still have to drive to work. Drive to the grocery store. Drive to the mall. Drive kids to school. There are activities that require transportation for long distances, protection from the elements and hauling things that a bicycle couldn't cover.
 
Originally posted by: RadiclDreamer
Originally posted by: oldsmoboat
Diesel is $5.09 locally. 🙁
Can't tow my boat with a prius.
Can't tow my quads with a prius.
Can't pull tree stumps with a prius.
Can't haul lumber with a prius...
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Can't afford to pay for gas for a truck
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Hmm, I don't recall him saying he can't afford the fuel. I know price isn't stopping me from filling up. I can't wait for 6 to 8 months from now when I can pick up on 08 Yukon Denali for cheap!
 
There needs to be some incentive for smaller cars.

Example: In Sydney Aus they have made special "Hybrid" parking spaces right up next to the handicap spaces. So guess what, you drive a hyrbid you get primo parking.
 
I remember. I didn't have a car at the time, just a bike and when my bike got stolen I just walked around town. I noticed all those little compact Honda Civics and thought to myself how smart they looked. It was the beginning of the Japanese impact on automobile manufacturing industry.
 
Originally posted by: KK
Do you think that people now aren't driving less? I know I have cut back alot, every trip I make has a purpose and I don't just drive somewhere to get out of the house. If I were to put a percentage on how much I have cut back, it'd be 30-40% overall.
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I never drive when I want to get out of the house, haven't for many years. I have a bike and rollerskates for that. I belong to a gym, and that's my primary out-of-the-house getaway. I do other stuff too, of course, but I only use my cars when I need to and that's every few weeks. Less than 2000 mi/year here, at least right now. If I get a job that requires a commute with a car, that will change.
 
Originally posted by: Christobevii3
You don't need a big truck to tow a boat, they are lightweight since they do float. You could easily tow a boat with a 3.0L v6 ranger.
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hahahahah, totally clueless.
 
Originally posted by: techs
Why people won't drive less
...
I am thinking gas will have to get to at least 6.00 to 8.00 per gallon for a real, long term reduction in driving. In other words, gas has to be prohibitively expensive even in a small fue efficient car before people really cut down their driving.
Click to expand...
[Cue Family Fued style voice]
Survey says:
[/End Family Fued style voice]

[*]"At a time when gas prices are at an all-time high, Americans have curtailed their driving at a historic rate."
[*]"Compared with March a year earlier, Americans drove an estimated 4.3 percent less."
[*]"According to AAA, for the first time since 2002, Americans said they were planning to drive less over the Memorial Day weekend than they did the year before."
[*]"Some Americans have turned to public transportation. Ridership increased by 2.1 percent in 2007"
[*]"Americans took 10.3 billion trips on public transportation in 2007, the highest level in 50 years, the group said."
[*]"The Energy Information Administration says gas consumption for the first three months of 2008 is estimated to be down about 0.6 percent from the same time period in 2007."

Hmmm, so much for the American's won't use less fuel myth. We drove 4.3% less even though our diving population increased by almost 1%. Our demand for fuel isn't perfectly inelastic. We can and we will cut back on driving when it hits our pocket book. Yes, techs, the higher the price, the more we will cut back. But it doesn't require $6+ gas to do so. $4 gas is starting to impact our driving style. And I don't buy your argument that at $4 gas, cash strapped Americans will (a) buy a fuel efficient car and then (b) drive far more. The (b) part of your argument just doesn't seem to be happening.
 
Originally posted by: IcebergSlim
smart cars have been everywhere in europe since like 2001-2002 why they are just coming to market here.......who knows.
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because the average american "knows" you need 6000lbs of metal to be safe on the road
 
Instead they switch to mini "smart cars" which get worse gas mileage than Civics and Corollas and require premium unleaded.
 
Originally posted by: oldsmoboat
Diesel is $5.09 locally. 🙁
Can't tow my boat with a prius.
Can't tow my quads with a prius.
Can't pull tree stumps with a prius.
Can't haul lumber with a prius...
Click to expand...

Maybe you should get some cheaper hobbies. 😛
 
Originally posted by: ObiDon
because the average american "knows" you need 6000lbs of metal to be safe on the road
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If only that myth would end. It isn't weight that keeps you safe. It is smart use of weight that keeps you safe.

For example, take the heaviest vehicle you can think of, strap yourself to the front bumper and see if that massive weight keeps you safe in a crash. I imagine with you strapped to the grill of a semi, you'd be quite injured in even a minor accident. The weight did nothing, in fact, the weight made it worse in that case.

Or put in a seat belt for a few pounds (you are back in the drivers seat for this example) and your survival rate soars. Just a little tiny bit of weight there makes a huge difference. Same goes with electronic stability equipment: little extra weight makes survival rates much better by making you avoid the worst crashes to begin with. A good roll cage and crumple zones in front also make the biggest impact without too much more weight. A blanket of air bags as well can really help and they have very little weight.

In all these cases, it isn't weight that makes you safe. It is smart engingeering of that weight. All that weight does is to make more kinetic energy that can damage you. Destructive energy = 0.5 * mass * velocity ^2.
 
Originally posted by: oldsmoboat
Diesel is $5.09 locally. 🙁
Can't tow my boat with a prius.
Can't tow my quads with a prius.
Can't pull tree stumps with a prius.
Can't haul lumber with a prius...
Click to expand...

Sorry, I just had to laugh. Each and every one of the activities you listed as capability needs all involve burning fuel for no practical purpose, emitting carbon dioxide, and/or killing trees.

You clearly have a deep appreciation for the problems we face! :roll:

I'm playing devils advocate a bit here (boats are fun!), but you have to admit how ridiculous you sound. These aren't needs. These are habits. You can either change your habits or you can pay the price (literally and figuratively). The choice is yours, but don't expect sympathy from anyone else if you choose to pay.
 
Originally posted by: onlyCOpunk
As long as the American dream is a Cadillac Escalade, then people aren't going to stop driving big SUV's.
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when the hell did a Cadillac Escalade become the american dream?

i dont think i would drive one if it was free and gass only cost $0.50 a gallon
 
Originally posted by: Anubis
Originally posted by: onlyCOpunk
As long as the American dream is a Cadillac Escalade, then people aren't going to stop driving big SUV's.
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when the hell did a Cadillac Escalade become the american dream?

i dont think i would drive one if it was free and gass only cost $0.50 a gallon
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apparently, you're the only american that doesn't exclusively watch BET and rap videos
 
Originally posted by: dullard
Originally posted by: techs
Why people won't drive less
...
I am thinking gas will have to get to at least 6.00 to 8.00 per gallon for a real, long term reduction in driving. In other words, gas has to be prohibitively expensive even in a small fue efficient car before people really cut down their driving.
Click to expand...
[Cue Family Fued style voice]
Survey says:
[/End Family Fued style voice]

[*]"At a time when gas prices are at an all-time high, Americans have curtailed their driving at a historic rate."
[*]"Compared with March a year earlier, Americans drove an estimated 4.3 percent less."
[*]"According to AAA, for the first time since 2002, Americans said they were planning to drive less over the Memorial Day weekend than they did the year before."
[*]"Some Americans have turned to public transportation. Ridership increased by 2.1 percent in 2007"
[*]"Americans took 10.3 billion trips on public transportation in 2007, the highest level in 50 years, the group said."
[*]"The Energy Information Administration says gas consumption for the first three months of 2008 is estimated to be down about 0.6 percent from the same time period in 2007."

Hmmm, so much for the American's won't use less fuel myth. We drove 4.3% less even though our diving population increased by almost 1%. Our demand for fuel isn't perfectly inelastic. We can and we will cut back on driving when it hits our pocket book. Yes, techs, the higher the price, the more we will cut back. But it doesn't require $6+ gas to do so. $4 gas is starting to impact our driving style. And I don't buy your argument that at $4 gas, cash strapped Americans will (a) buy a fuel efficient car and then (b) drive far more. The (b) part of your argument just doesn't seem to be happening.
Click to expand...

don't bother posting facts in a techs thread.
 
Originally posted by: thomsbrain
Originally posted by: oldsmoboat
Diesel is $5.09 locally. 🙁
Can't tow my boat with a prius.
Can't tow my quads with a prius.
Can't pull tree stumps with a prius.
Can't haul lumber with a prius...
Click to expand...

Sorry, I just had to laugh. Each and every one of the activities you listed as capability needs all involve burning fuel for no practical purpose, emitting carbon dioxide, and/or killing trees.

You clearly have a deep appreciation for the problems we face! :roll:

I'm playing devils advocate a bit here (boats are fun!), but you have to admit how ridiculous you sound. These aren't needs. These are habits. You can either change your habits or you can pay the price (literally and figuratively). The choice is yours, but don't expect sympathy from anyone else if you choose to pay.
Click to expand...

There's no practical purpose for hauling lumber?
Have you got a better way to transport it? 😛
 
Originally posted by: Citrix
who says people arent driving less, you?
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They are already driving less, and they're buying smaller cars AND they're driving to get more miles per gallon out of their vehicles.

I don't know why people are saying that gas needs to be more expensive so people give up their SUVs. Last I heard, those things were selling like crap and a lot of dealers won't take them as trade ins. Demand has little to do with the price of gas these days...people are just trying to save some money.
 
Originally posted by: ObiDon
Originally posted by: oldsmoboat
Or I could just pull the trailers with my motor home.
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you should use that bad boy as your daily driver.
finally, someone would be able to "one up" those dillweeds that feel the need to take their long-bed crew-cabs to the mall or applebee's and stick three feet out of the parking space. it's always great when two of them park down the same aisle but on opposite sides 😕
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LOL...this reminds me.

Our two cars are both compacts, a dodge neon and "the big car" the hyundai elantra. I complain constantly about dickheads driving full size trucks that seem to drift all over the road, into my lane, etc. The other day I rented a home depot van to bring home a grill (should have fought the wife more for the hatchback) and I noticed that while driving the absolutely massive van even the full size SUVs were giving me a wide birth on the road. It *was* fun to be the "get outta the way, big motherfucker coming through!" guy for a little bit...especially since I was trumping the guys in the giant SUVs.

For the record, I did my best to not drift all over the road.
 
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