skreamer 1 #1 December 6, 2002 Is using a massively over-powered car for your daily commute part of the American way? I've been to the States four times now and I am always amazed at the tanks people choose to drive. Not just the SUVs either. In Europe smal diesel cars are common-place. Is choosing to put yourselves hostage to countries like Iraq, Nigeria worth the price? Robert Redford raises some interesting points. Petrol is cheap in the States, it might not stay that way and you'd think people would wise up and use it more effectively or make use of alternative energy sources. Will Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skydiverbrian 0 #2 December 6, 2002 Americans invented cars (and perhaps self-indulgence) and we like them big and comfortable with nice sound systems and DVD players in the dash. We even designed our entire country around them. Europeans don't drive small cars because they want to -- they can't fit anything bigger on the roads. Kudos to the Europeans. In America, we'd tear down a 1000-year old church to make way for a 4-lane toll road! In a world full of people, only some want to fly... isn't that crazy! --Seal Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nacmacfeegle 0 #3 December 6, 2002 Hey Brian..LOL, are you trying to troll the NAs?-------------------- He who receives an idea from me, receives instruction himself without lessening mine; as he who lights his taper at mine, receives light without darkening me. Thomas Jefferson Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
freeflir29 0 #4 December 6, 2002 Quote are you trying to troll the NAs? Nope...he's just telling the truth. Man...you think the roads in Europe are bad.....try driving a 96 inch wide HMMV around in Korea. Passing trucks on paddy dike roads can be quite fun!!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nacmacfeegle 0 #5 December 6, 2002 Och, cool, not feeding a Troll...I can have a go back then..... Infernal combustion engine was invented/developed by the Germans...Otto Benz. 1000 year old church in America....I think not..... The Italians invented metalled roads, but the Scots made them durable...Macadam. Clay....Whassa HMMV? another FLA?-------------------- He who receives an idea from me, receives instruction himself without lessening mine; as he who lights his taper at mine, receives light without darkening me. Thomas Jefferson Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
freeflir29 0 #6 December 6, 2002 Quote 1000 year old church in America....I think not..... Haven't seen the Indian mounds I guess.... Quote Whassa HMMV? Hummer.....Highly Mobile Multi wheel Vehicle one of those silly military acronyms. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jraf 0 #7 December 6, 2002 Billy boy, I can't say how much I agree with you. Though my 4.0 liter, 200 HP V8 that gives me 9mpg in the city and a generous 12 mpg on the road is was made in the heart of Sullihul - heard of that place? But I have to admitt it was the American management of LAnd Rover that decided not to import the 2.5 liter turbo diesel which is much better, much more reliable, and uses barely any fuel. Good news is that VW started importing the golf and Jetta (Bora) in the TDI version - 50mpg, not bad at all. Other thing is, you don't see many Crown Victorias on the road now days, unless we are talking of the ones with flashing blue lights. And your new Ford Taurus is not much bigger than a Passat. Uglier though jraf Me Jungleman! Me have large Babalui. Muff #3275 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skydiverbrian 0 #8 December 6, 2002 QuoteInfernal combustion engine was invented/developed by the Germans...Otto Benz. Sure, they had an engine, but Otto hadn't met Mr. Mercedez yet. Quote1000 year old church in America....I think not..... Well of course not. Anything ancient that might have been on our soil has long since been destroyed. And we're actively seeking out more historical treasures to destroy. [Dobby (bangs on head)] Bad Americans. Americans must punish themselves [/Dobby] In a world full of people, only some want to fly... isn't that crazy! --Seal Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
swarley 0 #9 December 6, 2002 Quote Is using a massively over-powered car for your daily commute part of the American way? Its really part of the New England way to get around in 20 inch Snowfalls during the winter. My Jeep gets 18 MPG and the 4 wheel drive is great. I think Redford should stick to his movies like "Waldo Pepper". He was burning a lot of petrol flying those WW1 Stunt planes. IMHO Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nacmacfeegle 0 #10 December 6, 2002 "Hummer.....Highly Mobile Multi wheel Vehicle one of those silly military acronyms. " Ah gotcha, as opposed to a NVMSWV.. Not Very Mobile Single Wheeled Vehicle...or a unicycle. "Haven't seen the Indian mounds I guess...." Naw, but I might have seen the odd native American artefact around.... -------------------- He who receives an idea from me, receives instruction himself without lessening mine; as he who lights his taper at mine, receives light without darkening me. Thomas Jefferson Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cgross 1 #11 December 6, 2002 i have to agree with that one. I grew up in New ENgland, have fun driving your 500lb hybrid P.O.S. matchbox car in the snow!!!! Tell me who invented 4x4, and I will kiss them. I couldn't live with out it. Although, my truck gets an amazing 19/14 highway/backroad milage. We like everything bigger. You euro's buy gas by the Liter. Fuck that- we buy it by the gallon. Chris Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mouth 0 #12 December 6, 2002 There are quite a few LARGE vehicles around here; however, I did conform slightly when I purchased a Toyota Highlander. It is a V6 and gets 22-30 MPG, is a good place to sleep at the DZ (my air matterss fits perfectly), and she is cute too! -- Hot Mama At least you know where you stand even if it is in a pile of shit. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jraf 0 #13 December 6, 2002 My fine British motor car is larger, longer, wider but there is no way my mattress will fit into it. Damn, mouth want to switch?jraf Me Jungleman! Me have large Babalui. Muff #3275 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RevJim 0 #14 December 6, 2002 Quotehave fun driving your 500lb hybrid P.O.S. matchbox car in the snow!!!! Gonna have to disagree there. I hauled cars for a living, and i gotta tell ya, the new Honda Hybids are freaking heavy for their size. I think the combination of distributed weight and front wheel drive would make them good snow vehicles. Problem is though, how do you keep the batteries warm? All of us that live in the frozen tundra know what cold does to the batteries in our cars....It's your life, live it! Karma RB#684 "Corcho", ASK#60, Muff#3520, NCB#398, NHDZ#4, C-33989, DG#1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AggieDave 6 #15 December 6, 2002 Hey, you saw what I'm doing to my '98 Z-71 right? (If you don't know what that is, its a big Chevy 4x4 pickup). The big tires I have coming in 19 days? Yup, I'm afraid if I drove it in England I might accidently run one of those little cars over... You know, I'm pretty comfortable with that, too. hehehe --"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nacmacfeegle 0 #16 December 6, 2002 Dave, you couldn't afford to drive that beastie in England....Their 'Gas' is 4 times as expensive! Besides, your screen sticker would be wasted over here... -------------------- He who receives an idea from me, receives instruction himself without lessening mine; as he who lights his taper at mine, receives light without darkening me. Thomas Jefferson Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cgross 1 #17 December 6, 2002 truthfully, if they are hybrid they don't need warm batteries. They start on gas, and if the weather is cold and the batts have lost a charge, the altenator will charge the batts until they meet the switchover standards. I don't exactly know what the charge % must be before switching to auxil power, but i would gues at least 50%. PS - may say they are heavy, but it is all relative. My 4x4 truck is still heavier (a lot I am sure) than your hybrid that you haul. Also... ground clearence is a big concern in cars, not in trucks. As far as traction... Front wheel drive helps, but do you know how many people with FWD still can not climb even small hills. I saw this yesterday... A LOT. I was ready to push them up the hill in my truck. Chris Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AggieDave 6 #18 December 6, 2002 That would truely suck, and it wouldn't be lost on eveybody. You would be surprised how many Aggies are all over the world. We're every where man. Do you know what an Aggie Ring looks like? If you do and you watch for it, you would be very surprised how much you see it, even not in America or Texas.You know, it would still be fun, just to see the looks on the faces of people as I drove by in a big f---ing truck. --"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AggieDave 6 #19 December 6, 2002 FWD can't get you out of a lot of stuff, that is so true. Ground clearance is a life saver, even on the highway (having to run over something b/c you can get around it due to traffic or something). My truck has been truely stuck once, and the front half of the truck was sunk to the body. I would have liked to have seen what would have happened to a "go anywhere" FWD car or one of those all-wheel drive cars... --"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skreamer 1 #20 December 6, 2002 Quote I think Redford should stick to his movies like "Waldo Pepper". Yeah, I think we can safely ignore an actor's opinions. Its not like they could become president of the USA or anything... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
freeflir29 0 #21 December 6, 2002 Quote Its not like they could become president of the USA or anything... Don't dog Reagan. #1 He was one of the best presidents we have EVER had. Made the Russians pee their pants! #2 He was actually involved in politics for his entire adult life. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AggieDave 6 #22 December 6, 2002 #3 he's the main cause of the end of the Cold War--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest #23 December 6, 2002 The trouble here is the blatant hypocrisy of show-biz clods like Redford. He envisions a future where we all commute to work on bicycles. And Redford and his kind? Why, they'll blow right by us in their huge limos, throwing mud on us in the process. Why? Because Redford and his ilk are much too important, much too special to ride bicycles with the RAMs (Raggedy-Assed Masses). Only the "little people" will do that."The mouse does not know life until it is in the mouth of the cat." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skreamer 1 #24 December 6, 2002 Quote #3 he's the main cause of the end of the Cold War Actually I would contend that the fax machine was the main cause of the end of the Cold War, but I guess we'll just have to disagree on that one. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
freeflir29 0 #25 December 6, 2002 Quote #3 he's the main cause of the end of the Cold War That was somewhat covered with the "Russians pee their pants" remark... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
