Hybrid (car) goes to Eloy

[billvon 3,120]

>Chance to resolve a discussion I have had in the past: Is it more fuel efficient to
> run with AC with the windows up (less drag) or to run with no AC and the
> windows down?
Way more efficient to have the windows up and the AC on. An added bonus is that the AC in most cars cycles on and off, so you only have the drag 1/2 to 1/3 the time.
-bill von

[billvon 3,120]

>In the long run, we will see the entire economy slowly weaned off of petroleum,
> starting with stationary generating plants, followed by ships, then trains, then
> buses, then taxis, then private cars and lastly airplanes.
I don't think this will ever quite happen. There is a tremendous demand for petroleum for road surfaces, plastics, medicine, paints etc that is not so easily replaced. I agree that demand will drop sharply as natural market forces drive up the price of oil.
>As the price of petroleum increase, skydiving will be marginalized to the realm
>of billionaires and princes. The rest of us will get our thrills BASE jumping and
> para-gliding.
Oh, I think that alternate fuels (natural gas, biodiesel, synthetic fuels) will be shown to run future jump planes quite well. We've already made skydiving a rich man's sport, and it has only gotten bigger.
-bill von

[quade 4]

Speaking of AC . . .
I still can't figure out why the Honda Insight (not billvon's Civic) isn't offered with white paint but is ONLY offered with a black interior!
Doh!
quade
http://futurecam.com

[ChromeBoy 0]

Quote

I still can't figure out why the Honda Insight (not billvon's Civic) isn't offered with white paint but is ONLY offered with a black interior!

I think Jessie Jackson had something to do with it. What is it called...the NAACP?

[Muenkel 0]

Quote

I think Jessie Jackson had something to do with it. What is it called...the NAACP?

[gary coleman face]What you talkin bout Willis?[/gary coleman face]
If you're not confused, you're not paying attention.
Chris

[skycat 0]

Hey Bill,
Come winter tell me how the winter driving is with it. The mustang is almost paid off and I'm not planning to get rid of it, but I'm guessing by next year all need something a little more snow friendly and since I have one gas guzzler, might as well get a non-guzzler for the 2nd car. Although the Mustang earned her gas this weekend driving through the mountains, especially downhill *evilgrin*

[AggieDave 6]

I've driven my truck in snow and ice and it worked great! Not good with the gas milage. The other car I have that worked great is my '73 SuperBeetle, talk about able to drive in anything and pretty good with gas...
Aerials
So up high
When you free your lives (the) eternal prize

[Engovatov 0]

> i don't have a particular "fuzzy feeling" about hybrids. there heavy, slow,
I have read an article about hybrid development currently done at BMW, and they mention that an electric assist can make a 200hp car feel like 350hp car in acceleration. The key being that electro motors have essentially full torque available at 0rpm - really flattening your overall torque curve. And if you remember that your 0 - 60 time is ~ integral of the torque over time, you would not dismiss them as slow..

[Billy 0]

Hay Bill,
do ya have a website with more info on this,, Like Aggie I have a truck that gets lousy mileage,, don't know if there even available in the NW but at that price I'd be payin less than my truck payment an gas ( sorry Roger : ) ,, any front wheel drive does fine in the snow/ice with studded snows on just the front,, drove to my job at a ski area in a '73 "Beetle",, the low front end was great for bustin through small avalanches on the roadway but the friggin heater never warmed the thing up!!

[AggieDave 6]

Quote

but the friggin heater never warmed the thing up!!

People always say that, but when I had a stock exhaust and the heater hooked up, it cooked the inside of the bug, very very warm. Always had to crack a window to let some heat out, however, it would take atleast 25 minutes to get to that point.
Aerials
So up high
When you free your lives (the) eternal prize

[billvon 3,120]

>Come winter tell me how the winter driving is with it.
Will do, but keep in mind that "winter" here runs around 60 degrees. If you're interested in a snow machine, might want to look at the Ford Escape hybrid - it's a 4WD SUV hybrid, a little smaller than the Explorer. Should be out in 2003.
-bill von

[billvon 3,120]

>do ya have a website with more info on this,,
http://www.hybridford.com/index.asp
http://www.hybridcars.com/
http://www.toyota.com/html/shop/vehicles/prius/index.html
http://www.rockcrawler.com/features/newsshorts/01december/jeep_hybridkj.asp
http://civichybrid.honda.com/landing.asp
-bill von

[Muenkel 0]

Hey Bill,
I did some research on the hybrids because you got me interested. I did just purchase a new car recently (gets 33mpg's) so it will be a few years, but I am really considering it for my next vehicle. I am concerned about the environment and our dependence on foreign fuel.
That's right, a conservative Republican interested in the environment! Who woulda thought?
Thanks.
If you're not confused, you're not paying attention.
Chris