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Post by Gnom on Apr 28, 2002 12:55:43 GMT -5
Obviously, the subject 'energy' is in need of a thread of it's own... The sad truth is, Americans have absolutely no interest in losing their dependance on oil. Most Americans are too interested in buying obnoxiously large, fuel-burning SUVs... which is another rant in and of itself.. I don't know what's up with this sudden need for enormous vehicles... Makes me wonder if the average American male's thingy size has been shrinking lately...  There was a discussion about SUVs elsewhere some time ago that gave out an impression it's mainly tiny old ladies driving them...  You seldom see those things around here. People complain about high gas prices [litre of unleaded costs around one US dollar], but IMO it's a positive thing as it makes people very conscious when it comes to fuel consumption of their cars... |
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Post by Ana Ng on Apr 28, 2002 13:04:49 GMT -5
Obviously, the subject 'energy' is in need of a thread of it's own... There was a discussion about SUVs elsewhere some time ago that gave out an impression it's mainly tiny old ladies driving them... You seldom see those things around here. People complain about high gas prices [litre of unleaded costs around one US dollar], but IMO it's a positive thing as it makes people very conscious when it comes to fuel consumption of their cars... Oh, these monstrosities have completely taken over America, it seems. Advertising seems to push the SUV as a vehicle everyone should want because we all have this desire to go on offroad expeiditions, perhaps driving to a cliff to climb while sipping a Mountain Dew, I'm not sure. But they've really become the status symbol. And they seem to be getting bigger! I myself drive a tiny car, which is incredibly fuel efficient, but it's very difficult to feel safe on the road these days, surrounded by giant vehicles driven by people who seem to think that their "rugged" SUV gives them the right to monopolize the road. You'd think that, considering the SUV's safety record, people would not be so infatuated. But I guess people are willing to risk owning a car that easily tips over in order to be "bigger". |
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Post by StolenThunder on Apr 28, 2002 13:17:14 GMT -5
Western Europe's going the other way... Cars are getting far more environmentally friendly [though not always smaller], and at the moment, the technology contained is increasing at a staggering rate... Note the new Renaults and the BMW 7 series. [No gearstick, handbrake, nor keys].
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Post by Qab on Apr 28, 2002 17:27:56 GMT -5
Back in 1973 my parents bought a "Scout", made by International Harvester, and had it fitted with a snow plow blade. This was long before the days of Minivans or SUVs. They couldn't afford a full-size Van, and with a family of 6 (plus one German Shepherd), couldn't take the whole family on long trips safely in the commuter car, a Chevette. So you could say they had an SUV long before the term was coined. We lived out in the middle of nowhere, with bad winters, and needed the cargo space, so there was a logical reason for them to purchase such a vehicle.
These "Soccer Moms" and families of 3 or 4 that buy SUVs now are usually more concerned with their social status than with the impact their vehicle choice will have on the planet. Plus they think (wrongly) that if involved in an accident, their big vehicle will protect them.
I drive a 2-door Chevy Cavalier. I fill the gas tank (15 gallons) once every 3 weeks; I can go nearly a month on gas if I'm careful. Don't get me wrong, I'm not a granola-munching, hemp-wearing wannabe Hippie. To me, it's just a sensible car that fills all my needs.
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Post by Zeph on Apr 28, 2002 18:54:29 GMT -5
Belive me I have driven that "truck" of her Mom and Dad's. It is not a pleasure to drive.
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Post by UltimateTrekker on Apr 30, 2002 15:37:07 GMT -5
We got our Minivan, but we've got 3 kids!! Before that, we were extatic to get a 4 door! So roomy! SUV's are the devil's work (coming from ME that means a lot) My brother just bought one... he's got 1 child and a wife... they never go anywhere... WHY? It's great to see a bright shiny jeep cruising along the flatlands of Eastern Wisconsin along paved interstates. |
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Post by Elric3960 on Apr 30, 2002 22:02:06 GMT -5
I've got the perfect solution to the SUV problem:
Pass a law that states that only people who have commercial vehicle driver's licenses can drive them!
Most of them are as big as a small school bus and some of the new models are BIGGER! At least they can learn how to drive them more safely if they have to transport several children to and from school for awhile.
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Post by Christina on May 4, 2002 3:24:03 GMT -5
Oh dear. We have a diesel Land Rover. It's basic, does about 30mpg tops and is the only vehicle I have ever felt truly safe in. Because you sit so high up, you can often see over the top of the euro-boxes clogging up the roads and anticipate traffic conditions more in advance. (And it tows a trailer, rally car and can be loaded with spare wheels and stuff and still hurtle along the motorway at 70(+) mph without any problem. Reading the other posts, I get the impression that SUV's are even bigger, and like a lot of 4 wheel drive stuff over here, the furthest off road they get is the driveway of the house. But then, isn't everything bigger in the US?  Maybe if your government bit the bullet and taxed fuel like ours does, things might improve for you on the roads? |
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Post by UltimateTrekker on May 14, 2002 8:07:14 GMT -5
Unfortunately, Our currect government is SPONSERED by the oil producers. How do you think the Presidents dad paid for him to get elected?
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Post by Andorian_Incident on May 14, 2002 9:37:07 GMT -5
tax gas?? They already do that. Just not as much as they do in Europe and Canada. Minnesota is considering raising the gas tax a bit--something like another four cents a gallon. The problem is that I don't trust the government to use that money effectively. Our "esteemed" (note--I'd use a different word than esteemed) governor Jesse Ventura would like to use it for high speed rail for the metropolitan area and road work in the same areas, and for funding a stadium for the Twins. So even those of us living in what is considered "outstate" would have to pay this increase and see no benefits from it. They already want to take funding away from outstate road projects to use on metro road projects. I can't wait until November to be able to kick him out of office.
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Maybe if your government bit the bullet and taxed fuel like ours does, things might improve for you on the roads?