Comfort is relative but I do see your point of the difficulties of living life with gigantism. Isn't this getting boring? Our points are only getting weaker, lol.

 

I don't think its that unrealistic. I think it would be more difficult depending on ones location and career. Unfortunately right now the US isn't really set up with a rail system that is that great or easy to use. Metro area's are fine but the further out you go the more difficult and pricey it is as you say. I was thinking of taking the train down to Charlotte to visit some friends and I couldn't believe that the Train fare was more then a plane ticket or the cost of fuel and tolls by car?

I guess thats why I feel like MPG is maybe the least of our worries. I design packaging and retail displays for a living, so unfortunately I basically design trash. Retailer requirements and some of the instore things they mandate are crazy. You always try and come up with a better solution for something that uses less material in a creative way, but a lot of times the almighty dollar is the driving force.

I can't really complain because I get paid well and it allows me to drive my dream car but at the same time I do feel bad about how many plastic bottles or boxes go right out the window because of testing, breakage, better pallet patterns, new packaging, promo offers and so forth. Ultimately I think we should look at our lifestyles over all and see if we can cut down or at the very least rethink a little bit here or there. That would have a larger impact overall and you don't have to own a vehicle to do it.

 

"I strip away the old debris, that hides a shining car
A brilliant red barchetta, from a better, vanished time
I fire up the willing engine, responding with a roar
Tires spitting gravel, I commit my weekly crime...

Wind in my hair ---
Shifting and drifting ---
Mechanical music ---
Adrenalin surge ---..."

Geddy Lee/RUSH

 

A couple of points.

Gas is $8 in Europe primarily because of government tax policy. Demand has little to do with it. Oil is a global commodity, and minus any taxes and some difference due to transportation and refining, oil should cost about the same anywhere.

There is a very good reason that the U.S. is the largest consumer of energy on the planet. Our GNP is much larger than any other nation. Our factory output is much larger. This all demands more energy. I am not saying that we can't be more efficient, but it is simplistic to just look at our energy consumption without seeing what results from it. I see this statement made all the time in the news without placing it into the proper context.

 

Interesting point.

 

 

In america the average height of a man is about 5'9", and the weight probably around 180lbs. For nearly anybody any size, getting into a truck or suv is a whole lot easier and more comfortable than getting down into a sedan. Now add all the people who aren't in top physical form, and the bending to get down into a sedan becomes a liability to their living and transportation needs.

Bottom line is, you can make fun of my size, which is big, but trucks/suvs are 'relatively' more comfortable for the vast majority of the human population.

 

Woot.
Totally agree.

 

We can argue about your points for the rest of the year, but in holiday spirit, I will just say, "ok." Merry Christmas.

 

I think the technology is available today to make alternative fueled vehicles that make just as much power as our Z06's with incredibly good fuel mileage. The problem is the world is controlled by the oil companies so the technology will just be suppressed until there's no more oil.

Also, if they make vehicles easier on gas like Congress is mandating, then the oil companies will just raise the price so we end up paying the same or more.

 

Elect politicians that will resolve the issue instead of talk about and put plastic band aids over it..

Get the OIL that is in the US territories, then REFINE it. In parallel develop alternate fuels and apply them to the appropriate uses.

We are not out of Oil, we are out of people willing to go get it...

 

There is no big conspiracy by the oil companies. It is all a matter of cost. The simple fact is, even at today's prices, oil is the cheapest form of energy that there is. When it becomes expensive enough, due to scarcity, then alternative energy technologies will take over. Trying to force a more expensive energy to replace a less expensive energy source is an exercise in futility. Just let supply and demand take care of this problem.

 

so simply put it makes me laugh that it can't be comprehended by our lawmakers and the populace.

 

If the government really wanted to fix the "smog"/fuel problem, they would mandate that cities time the lights so that traffic moved smoothly. More gasoline is wasted and smog generated by red lights than in actual motoring. When cars start from zero they use the most fuel and create the most emissions. Government isn't really trying to fix the problem or they would look at the total picture.

 

Here we go again! The tree hugging community is forking things up for the rest of us. Why can't they just mind their own business. If they want to ride a bike to work or ride around in an econobox car, that's fine with me. Just don't try to force me to accept your opinions of the way things should be. There's plenty of oil in the ground in Alaska and off our coasts that we can't get to because of stupid regulations. LEAVE US ALONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

I think if you read more closely instead of scanning the thread you will find that there are no tree huggers suggesting you get rid of your Vette. No one is forcing anything upon you.

My suggestion involves keeping my Z06, living a reasonable distance from work, walking/biking during the right weather, driving my company car during bad weather, and tearing it up in the Z06 when I feel like it....

My suggestion is that if everyone makes a small change like that (NOT trading our great cars for mileage) then it will make a difference.

It might not be you but SO many people, especially around here, drive a couple miles in their humongomobiles to go to Starbucks..... It's not that I have a PROBLEM with that, I just don't and won't understand it....

I'd NEVER advocate ridding ourselves of performance machines. I started kart racing at 8, drag racing (NHRA/IHRA) at 16, and still do. I have had two cars since I was 14 years old and love to tinker. I hope that never gets legislated out of my life. But that doesn't mean I think it's ok to look for an extra 5 or 10 HP by removing your catalytic converters. It's OK to control the controllables. That's all I am saying. Otherwise, I hate trees. They hurt when you fly off your motorcycle....:o

 

That's just it Higgs, who the **** are you to say some chit like that? It's people like you who are the problem, telling others what a 'reasonable distance' is? **** YOU (in the holiday spirit of course)!

I mean, I'm sure you're not that bad of a person, but the chit you're sayin' is feckin' whacked!

 

No, my friend, me saying reasonable distance leaves it up to the beholder. I didn't say YOU SHOULD LIVE 100 yards from work.

Seriously, where did I say what a reasonable distance is? That's what your whole post is based on..... And it's BUNK.

I said it involves keeping my Z06, which doesn't mean YOU get to keep it. It means I get to keep it which means this is MY ideal scenario.

You are the one taking it so personally like anyone is telling you what to do. I don't care what YOU do. I am saying what I want to do. Others can do the same or not.

Where did I tell you how far you should live from work? You're an IDIOT. **** me? please.

Stop replying to my posts. Better yet, put me on your blocked list.

Now go fish under the tree for gifts tagged with your name. Don't shake the box, it might be a puppy.

 

Really, so what about a salesman who drives all day for work? He has a territory and covers ground all day long? You are the one that said 'reasonable' implying there is even a standard for 'a reasonable distance'. You are the one taking it personally. I'm an idiot? You are the one saying things that should only come out of a communist dictators mouth, not me.

I know people, numerous actually, that live more than 1 hour from work. I also know people who drive to another state and work for weeks, and then drive to another state and work for a day, or maybe a week, and then come home and commute an hour to work until they have to go out of state again.

Don't get your panties in a wad, but you have no right telling people they should 'live a reasonable distance' from work.

-p.s. that 'blocked list' is for YOU to put ME on if you don't want to see my posts. I need to keep a close eye on communists like you, so I won't be putting YOU on MY blocked list.

 

It will make a difference in what? The created fictitious 'environmental armageddon' that liberals have created to control the populace and distribute the wealth of hard working individuals to make our society socialist/communist in nature so they can control every single last aspect of our lives?

The chit you are saying is contradictory. BAD suburban housewives driving to starbucks in their 'huge' mobiles, but you can race go karts (for no real purpose, some might argue) and drive fast in your performance car?


No, I just chose one point to harp on earlier to keep it simple for you. Your post had plenty of other 'bad' stuff to focus on, which I just did.