Good day everyone. So, I'm back, yet again. And this time I'm actually going to try and post something or a semi-regular basis.
So, I've been looking around at alternate transportation means as gas prices here in the US begin to normalize with those in Europe. I'm just going to go over a few ideas that popped into my head.
First, there's hybrids. Well these things are meant to save the rainforest, keep people from clubbing baby seals and make the dodo become un-extinct. But, when you actually look at their fuel economy and their cost, the picture is not so rosy. I'll talk about the Prius, since I have a good friend who has one (and who loves it). The fuel economy is good, but really only on par with a small diesel engine (35-45 MPG). And, if you are an agressive driver, look for fuel economy in the low 30s with what I consider to be terrible perfomance.
Next, there's the really small and trendy Smart car. OK, I'll admit to lusting after one of these when I heard about them and saw pictures of them in Europe. They're small, they good on gas and they don't cost an arm and a leg. The base model is one of the cheapest cars in America. And it isn't made of tin foil like some of the other cars in the sub 12K range. But there's a catch. It does poorly in incliment weather, it only has two seats and the fuel efficiency is lower than the European 50 MPG. I still think this is a great car for a student since it is hard to even hit stuff with something so small and it's so slow that you probably won't be going very fast if you do hit something, but for an adult, it might not be the best choice.
Then there's the full electrics. Or rather, I should say, there's the Tesla. Cool? Yes. Fast? You betcha. Practical? Hell no. With a 100K price tag and a ~100 mile per charge range, this thing is awesome if you don't drive very far to get to work and if you have a lot of money. But for the rest of us, the GM Volt might be the answer.
Which brings me to the GM Volt. Shorter all electric range than the Tesla, and with a gas generator that powers the electric motors and recharges the batteries when they run low, this thing (if it ever makes it to the streets) will be the US's oil equivalent of a nicotine patch. All electric is scary since recharging is slow and it makes road trips impossible. But something that's all electric on a daily basis but can also go for long distances once in a while, that's something that fits America.
Then we come to the other solution, get a bike. "I live far from work." OK, get a scooter, or a motorcycle. Now, don't get me wrong, these are not for everyone as they require a lot of skill to operate, but the gas economy is staggering. Assuming you weigh less than 250 lbs (and I apologize to all those really fit bodybuilders who weight a metric ton), then you can get a nice cheap scooter than gets 80+ MPG. Can you use it in a blizzard? No. How about a tornado? No. Can you tow a house with it? No. But most of us have jobs that we commute to and from during mostly fair weather (sorry Seattle, I know fair is relative for you; oh, and screw you guys in California with your perfect weather year round). Now, if you are on the bigger side (whatever that means for you), then you can still get a motorcycle that will give you better gas mileage than that SUV or Pickup truck for your commute to work.
Now, before I get flamed for trying to turn us into a country of Scooter riding pinko commies, I'd just like to note that I'm not saying: "Get rid of your pickup." I'm saying: "Don't drive it to your office job." Get a second small car and save gas so you can take the road trip you currently can't afford. Or maybe take the money you saved and go on a vacation to some place you've never been before and learn something about this the awesome world around you. It isn't always about making more money, just about using what you have to it's full potential. And you don't maximize anything sitting in traffic with your 6 liter V10 idling. That's your vacation money burning away.
Just wanted to say my peace on the subject since I know everyone else is.
So, I've been looking around at alternate transportation means as gas prices here in the US begin to normalize with those in Europe. I'm just going to go over a few ideas that popped into my head.
First, there's hybrids. Well these things are meant to save the rainforest, keep people from clubbing baby seals and make the dodo become un-extinct. But, when you actually look at their fuel economy and their cost, the picture is not so rosy. I'll talk about the Prius, since I have a good friend who has one (and who loves it). The fuel economy is good, but really only on par with a small diesel engine (35-45 MPG). And, if you are an agressive driver, look for fuel economy in the low 30s with what I consider to be terrible perfomance.
Next, there's the really small and trendy Smart car. OK, I'll admit to lusting after one of these when I heard about them and saw pictures of them in Europe. They're small, they good on gas and they don't cost an arm and a leg. The base model is one of the cheapest cars in America. And it isn't made of tin foil like some of the other cars in the sub 12K range. But there's a catch. It does poorly in incliment weather, it only has two seats and the fuel efficiency is lower than the European 50 MPG. I still think this is a great car for a student since it is hard to even hit stuff with something so small and it's so slow that you probably won't be going very fast if you do hit something, but for an adult, it might not be the best choice.
Then there's the full electrics. Or rather, I should say, there's the Tesla. Cool? Yes. Fast? You betcha. Practical? Hell no. With a 100K price tag and a ~100 mile per charge range, this thing is awesome if you don't drive very far to get to work and if you have a lot of money. But for the rest of us, the GM Volt might be the answer.
Which brings me to the GM Volt. Shorter all electric range than the Tesla, and with a gas generator that powers the electric motors and recharges the batteries when they run low, this thing (if it ever makes it to the streets) will be the US's oil equivalent of a nicotine patch. All electric is scary since recharging is slow and it makes road trips impossible. But something that's all electric on a daily basis but can also go for long distances once in a while, that's something that fits America.
Then we come to the other solution, get a bike. "I live far from work." OK, get a scooter, or a motorcycle. Now, don't get me wrong, these are not for everyone as they require a lot of skill to operate, but the gas economy is staggering. Assuming you weigh less than 250 lbs (and I apologize to all those really fit bodybuilders who weight a metric ton), then you can get a nice cheap scooter than gets 80+ MPG. Can you use it in a blizzard? No. How about a tornado? No. Can you tow a house with it? No. But most of us have jobs that we commute to and from during mostly fair weather (sorry Seattle, I know fair is relative for you; oh, and screw you guys in California with your perfect weather year round). Now, if you are on the bigger side (whatever that means for you), then you can still get a motorcycle that will give you better gas mileage than that SUV or Pickup truck for your commute to work.
Now, before I get flamed for trying to turn us into a country of Scooter riding pinko commies, I'd just like to note that I'm not saying: "Get rid of your pickup." I'm saying: "Don't drive it to your office job." Get a second small car and save gas so you can take the road trip you currently can't afford. Or maybe take the money you saved and go on a vacation to some place you've never been before and learn something about this the awesome world around you. It isn't always about making more money, just about using what you have to it's full potential. And you don't maximize anything sitting in traffic with your 6 liter V10 idling. That's your vacation money burning away.
Just wanted to say my peace on the subject since I know everyone else is.
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