d0om on 28/5/2007 at 14:33
How many MPG do these large SUVs actually use? I have a Renault megan and if I buy the slightly more expensive shell petrol I can get about 50 mpg at 50mph, dropping to about 45ish at 70*cough*80*cough*. I think the pricier fuel is worth it, or at least neutral in terms of cost as I only get about 40-45 on the normal fuel and its only 10p/litre more
Aerothorn on 28/5/2007 at 15:26
Quote Posted by mopgoblin
Where you said "the amount of energy required to manufacture the car", I assume you're referring to any replacement car? The costs of manufacturing the SUV are already gone, and for the most part can't be recovered (although some components might be reusable, I guess), so they're no longer relevant when looking for the least wasteful option.
Yes, that's what I mean - sorry for the poorly-phrase post.
And aguy: Dad told me, who follows this stuff. I'll get linkage from him.
jay pettitt on 28/5/2007 at 23:18
There was a (
http://cnwmr.com/nss-folder/automotiveenergy/DUST%20PDF%20VERSION.pdf) report by an automotive industry marketing bunch of twonks than decided that Humvees were greener than a Prius over the lifespan of the vehicle because of the manufacturing and recycling processes and whatnot, but got dismissed as automotive industry marketing junk as soon as anyone got to read it, except for the people who heralded it as proof that liberals ate too much soya and were gay.
dlw6 on 29/5/2007 at 00:17
Quote Posted by Pyrian
We do generally try to solve problems by throwing more money at them.
I think everyone "throws more money" at problems, each in his or her own way. Conservatives buy more stuff for themselves (such as more SUVs), liberals buy more stuff for their voters with other peoples' money (such as fuel taxes), and libertarians invest more in case the future is worse than the present.
Presently I own one minivan which my wife drives mostly, and a cargo trailer in storage back in the US. I chose the van knowing that it has a 15-gallon fuel tank. I also chose to live where I can walk to work every day.
Don
Moghedian on 29/5/2007 at 15:20
Quote Posted by demagogue
Haha ... There is an (
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/26/business/26small.html?th&emc=th) article in the New York Times today saying that there is a huge surge in Americans buying smaller, fuel-efficient cars. Sounds like good news. But, the punchline goes:
Quote:
hundreds of thousands of consumers aren't giving up anything to downsize. Instead, they are simply adding pint-size transportation to their driveways, parked alongside their S.U.V. or pickup.
In households that own a small car, the family fleet is close to an average of three vehicles. ... These growing fleets suggest an approach to conservation that is more addition than subtraction.
“Small cars are like a fashion statement,” said Art Spinella, president of CNW Marketing.
Leave it to American logic to figure out 2 + 1 = 1. :rolleyes:
Actually, having a larger vehicle or a pickup in addition to a smaller vehicle makes good sense. You drive the rice burner for most daily things, and the truck for moving things that don't fit or you just don't want to put into the poor little car.
I've used this system for years, and it works well. The little rice burner gets everyone around on the daily stuff, and the ancient older-than-me Ford truck gets to move furniture, take stuff to the recycle or the dump, and deal with larger or messier things than I want to put in the daily driver.
Quote:
“Small cars are like a fashion statement,” said Art Spinella, president of CNW Marketing.
That guy
wishes they were a fashion statement.
