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Post by The New Guy on Nov 19, 2008 15:26:58 GMT -5
So it seems that SUV owners (like TNG) are not any safer than midsize car owners yet they put others on the road at TWICE THE RISK OF DEATH. Looks like SUVs are the vehicle of choice for selfish, uncaring people. first, i am a very careful driver. no accidents or speeding tix on my record. the way i see it people who drive shoeboxes on wheels are putting themselves at TWICE THE RISK OF DEATH, not me. i feel very safe in my truck and SUV. i worry for the little guy driving the prius. IMHO he is risking life and limb and that of his family all for the sake of saving a few bucks on gas and being "PC." that is stupidity. whenever i see a head-on collision between a prius type car and a truck/SUV guess what? the truck/SUV always comes out on top. so it is a choice you make. i'll choose to drive the larger, safer vehicle. i'm a little concerned that suddenly you are wondering about the size of my pecker. are you manifesting your tendencies? i've always wondered about your name, santurelle. it sure does sound feminine. |
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Post by jgaffney on Nov 19, 2008 16:25:47 GMT -5
Saunterelle, how are you coming on that CNG Honda Civic I have repeatedly pointed you to? Isn't it time for you to walk the walk? Why do you keep going back to this point rather than comment on why the US automakers are failing? I've said that I will consider a CNG Honda when I need a new car if the infrastructure for refueling and maintainable is in place. Tesla Motors (funded by Google) is also working on an electric car that doesn't cost an arm and a leg. No, you didn't. But, now you have. So, let's look at that response. (W)hen I need a new car: Yet, you continue to encourage those who would listen to buy alternative-fuel vehicles, to avoid our "reliance" on petroleum. (I)f the infrastructure for refueling and maintainable is in place: So, you are admitting that alternative-fuel vehicles are still a ways off. Yet, you continue to oppose expansion of our domestic production of petroleum, requiring us to continue to import petroleum. Tesla Motors (funded by Google) is also working on an electric car that doesn't cost an arm and a leg.: Wrong again, Grasshopper. The Tesla roadster, currently costing upwards of $100k, will someday be joined by a sedan with a projected price of $60k. The Honda Civic CNG costs less than that. And, it's available now. Time for you to walk the walk. |
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Post by The Big Dog on Nov 19, 2008 18:01:37 GMT -5
For what it's worth Tesla Motors has produced 40 production units so far, pretty much the same number that Preston Tucker (a man ahead of his time) produced back in the day. While I never consider Wikipedia a gold standard resource, it does have this on Tesla's startup capital... They have orders for 600 units and a waiting list of 400 for the Roadster which is essentially a custom built car. Again, they've delivered 40... of a car that only goes 221 miles on a charge in EPA testing. So they've gathered / burned up $105M in venture capital and grossed, at best $4M on the units sold so far. If they actually produce and sell through the full 1000 units, they still be at a loss to their first four rounds of venture capital. As Billy Mays says on his never ending cycle of infomercials; but wait... there's more. Tesla is partnering with SolarCity (also heavily funded by current Tesla CEO Elon Musk) to offer home based solar powered charging to unburden the power grid which will get you 50 miles of travel per day. The cars are, at this point, being built by Lotus in the UK... so plenty of American jobs in that pipeline, eh? But the State of California is offering tax incentives for them to build a plant here in California.... which means that you and I as taxpayers are going to pay for it. The plans, "if everything goes right" are to eventually have a "more affordable" type with an SRP around $30K by 2012. If they don't go right we'll have a small quantity of feel good rides of limited usage that can be marketed to millionaires with guilty consciences. What is still not clear in all of this is how these vehicles reduce the "greenhouse gas" emmissions that are required to produce electricity in mass usage quantity. As above, a home based solar array would only get you 50 miles a day. It would take a solar array of a couple of football fields in size to produce sufficient energy to keep your Tesla moving to it's maximum range day over day. All you are doing with the Tesla is shifting the emmissions from the car to the power grid. It doesn't really matter, scientifically, because all the horse shit about emissions and "greenhouse gas" is exactly that... horse shit. But if you want to play the shell game of "hide the source" then the Tesla wins. Who killed the electric car? Well by golly the electric car killed the electric car, yet again. |
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Post by The New Guy on Nov 19, 2008 23:16:43 GMT -5
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Post by maxsawdust on Nov 20, 2008 13:11:54 GMT -5
Mitt Romney a FAR more educated man on the workings of the auto industry,than many. Had this to say about the disparity in wages between US automakers and foreign brands. www.nytimes.com/2008/11/19/opinion/19romney.html?hpSNIP: First, their huge disadvantage in costs relative to foreign brands must be eliminated. That means new labor agreements to align pay and benefits to match those of workers at competitors like BMW, Honda, Nissan and Toyota. Furthermore, retiree benefits must be reduced so that the total burden per auto for domestic makers is not higher than that of foreign producers.
That extra burden is estimated to be more than $2,000 per car. Think what that means: Ford, for example, needs to cut $2,000 worth of features and quality out of its Taurus to compete with Toyota’s Avalon. Of course the Avalon feels like a better product — it has $2,000 more put into it. Considering this disadvantage, Detroit has done a remarkable job of designing and engineering its cars. But if this cost penalty persists, any bailout will only delay the inevitable.So as Saunterelle should be able to CLEARLY See MATH is MATH and the MATH doesn't lie. American auto workers are GROSSLY overpaid. And THAT is the ROOT of the problem. I say screw em let declare chapter 11, the major Airlines had to do it...why should these PISS POORLY managed companies get a break? |
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Post by saunterelle on Nov 21, 2008 11:51:58 GMT -5
www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/11/21/BA1A1494TB.DTL This will help spurr electric car ownership. I will consider buying one when this infrastructure is in place. Mitt Romney's comments are pretty weak. BMW, Nissan, and Toyota have plants in the US. Are their workers non-union employees? That extra $2000 per vehicle that foreign companies have to work with could be overcome with good old-fashioned American ingenuity. Instead, we make shoddier cars that would take much more than $2000 to rise to the quality of our foreign competitors. The truth is that mismanagement is to blame here as well.
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Post by subdjoe on Nov 21, 2008 12:53:58 GMT -5
Why not now? Hypocrit! You want to raze the infrastructure we have in place right now, but there isn't anything ready to step in and replace it. Yet you yourself will hold off until the new technology is in place. AND you expect the taxpayer to subsidize you. Why don't you go out and drop that $100k right now?
I agree with you on the mismanagement part though.
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Post by JustMyOpinion on Nov 21, 2008 13:24:10 GMT -5
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Post by surefire on Nov 22, 2008 11:39:06 GMT -5
The new F150 sure does look nice.
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Post by The New Guy on Nov 22, 2008 12:41:04 GMT -5
i have an '07. not the most fuel efficient but i like riding high, feeling safe, and being able to haul most anything. hell, i could even haul one of santurelle's little electric dream cars in the back of my truck! i love my truck and plan to drive it 'til the wheels fall off. i only hope that when that happens there will still be a new F-150 to replace it.  speaking of fuel, it was so nice to see gas at only $1.99 the other day at costco. i never thought it would go below $2 ever again. i guess i better fill up some 55 gallon drums between now and jan. 20. |
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Post by surefire on Nov 22, 2008 13:04:28 GMT -5
My favorite in terms of looks is the Dodge Ram -- I like the big rig type look of the front. I don't trust their quality though.
I'll probably go with a Tundra (which has borrowed slightly from the Ram styling) or this new F150 one of these days.
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Post by The New Guy on Nov 22, 2008 15:34:25 GMT -5
i think you'll be happy with the f-150. i've known several ram owners and while it seemed fun for a while they ended up having many problems. this is my second f-150 and i've never had so much as a bulb burn out!
the tundra i think would also be a good choice. i was glad to see toyota ( a reliable manufacturer) come up with a full sized truck. it has good looks, is built well, and should last.
i wouldn't be caught dead in that funny looking honda thing-a-ma-truck.
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