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Sunday, Nov 8, 2009
My ultra low tech, ultra soccer mom Ford Windstar (which I still love after 125k miles and runs like new) is allegedly an "American" car. I guess if you drop any trace of "American means USA" jingoism, it is. But... it was actually put together across the river in Windsor, Canada - as many Fords have been for years. Gotta love that "competitive advantage" that single payer health care gives those "other" Americans, eh?
It is not miles per gallon but total gallons used.
At the end of the year, total your miles driven, including your bike or other vehicle and then total the gasoline used. Calculate the true miles per gallons.
I am reluctantly sacrificing my Chrysler Minivan (22 to 26 mpg after 200k miles) for a bike, a Suburban and a '88 Camry. Total cost $2600. I also bought a 12 foot enclosed trailer for serious hauling. This combo is pretty flexible. The Suburban, which looks brand new, will see less than 5000 miles a year, has less than 100k on it when purchased and cost $2500 during peak oil. The Camry has less than 70K and was free.
My buddy replaced his Volvo with a Prius and loves it. His wife wants to drive the Honda minivan into the ground. Different strokes.
The goal is to use less gasoline while meeting your needs. I always liked recycling older cars, keeping the total cost of transportation low.
Just a little FYI for Mark Benjamin: Bicycles can be strapped to the back of sedans, or mounted on top of wagons.
Hey, Doc, you misinterpreted me almost completely.
I thought I made it clear that if you have an actual, legitimate reason to own a specialty vehicle, like the big truck you own, then I have no argument with that, and neither should anyone else, unless hauling a trailer full of motorcycles is a debatable act.
No, I was talking about people who own giant SUVs and trucks that they use almost exclusively for *commuting.* You see that a lot. Those are the people who are scratching a neurotic itch.
Hell, I know all about those. What bugs me is not calling a thing what it is, is all.
For your purposes, a minivan isn't much help. For mine, for instance, a minivan is an excellent tool. What I can't understand is why anyone would buy an SUV when a minivan is better about 90% of the time. For the other 10% (you live in the wilderness, you drive unpaved mountain roads, you haul trailers filled with motorcycles), an SUV may be just the thing.
The discussion of what's green, and what's not, is another matter entirely. I'm coming around to the carpe-that-diem way of life, because all the little green shit we do isn't going to matter a fart in a tornado when Ghawar starts running dry.
It's called a 2009 Yamaha Vino Classic scooter (Alpine White)! I purchased it two days before Christmas. $2,290 out the door. Yamaha says it gets 112 mpg, but in real world conditions, I'm getting maybe 98 mpg on my little 4-stroker. I'm not sure yet as I haven't even used a complete tank of gas!
They're not for everyone of course but if you live in an urban area, especially a small city like Charlotte, NC, scooters are perfect. I live 2.5 miles from downtown and my job is actually half a mile closer. Sure, riding a bike would probably be the best choice as that would create zero-emissions but while burning calories is admirable, pedaling in the summer here in North Carolina is no fun! I did just that much of last year.
Anyway, check your state laws. In North Carolina, one doesn't have to register, insure, or pay property taxes on 49cc scooters. Those larger (ie., 125cc and higher), require you to jump through hoops with all the registration stuff. While I wish mine went faster than 38 mph, it's a perfect commuter vehicle for non-interstate travel, plus I can park it on sidewalks and secure/lock it to various unmovable objects instead of paying for parking.
My old '91 Volvo sedan will hopefully see no more than 5,500 miles this year.
Concerning Mark Benjamin's purchase, it indeed seems a bit hypocritical but he says it gets better gas mileage than his old Volvo wagon so that's a good thing. I agree with those of you however who feel he could have made a better choice.
Do consider a scooter for transportation. It would be pretty cool to see our urban areas ultimately overrun with scooters much like Bangkok and Calcutta (without those countries' other problems of course). They are a blast and certainly environmentally friendly!
SUVs are a blight on humanity. I don't think this article is all that clever either.
...you're an idiot. You bought a NEW vehicle, never mind what kind. There are loads of pre-owned (used) vehicles in every category, every price range, that don't require the huge utilization of ever-scarcer resources to produce, the total of which makes gas mileage insignificant. And the pre-owned dealers are just as eager to deal as the new vehicle dealer.
That said, you're also an idiot for buying a third-tier brand like a Mitisubshi. (Which also has a much less than swell reputation for mechanical dependability, and a staggering repair cost for virtually any repaired component.)
It is my sincere hope that this new toy--and that's EXACTLY what it is, chum, a toy, and you're kidding no one) pukes up a timing chain while it's hauling you and your family back from a sunburned, need-to-pee, cranky, hungry and crabby trip to Family Funland on a steamy Sunday afternoon. You'll then get to discover the joys of trying to replace a part on this oddball Stupid Ugly Vehicle. Dolt. Dumbell. Twit.
What a bunch of smug, self-rightous knobs. It makes me want to take my Crossover (20mpg arond town, shame on me) and trade it for a Suburban with a supercharger and maybe a gas grille on the back for roasting spotted owls. Know how I conserve fuel? I just don't drive it that much! But, by all means, tell me... how do I get a marshall stack and a drumkit on the back of my bicycle? And about the ski rack... where does that go? When I take one of the kids back to college, should I put their stuff in my backpack and hike it to friggin' Troy from Philly, in the snow?
Why anybody needs to justify what kind of car they drive to be 'ecologically correct' is beyond me. Some of you people really need to get over yourselves. So you look into that, I've got to call my brother before he sells that 440 Six Pack Challenger with 4.46 gears to somebody else. I suddenly feel the need for speed, in quarter mile bursts.
Much of the initial coverage about Fort Hood turned out to be wrong. Is there anything wrong with that?
The accountability imposed by another country for the CIA's kidnapping and torture reveals much about our own.
Fox News' morning show plays to type, talking about whether Muslims in the Army should face "special debriefings"
The survivor and author is upset about comparisons some on the right are making to genocide
Once seen as a lunatic fringe, reactionary anti-women groups are courting respectability
Salon headlines in your mailbox
