Gas prices affecting Americans...

P1et said:
Being from Europe, it's all about diesel. It's unfortunate that the USA doesn't get more of those vehicles.
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The problem is that the U.S. has a double standard in this department. They are always complaining about auto companies not receiving high enough fuel economy. However, whenever most companies try to come out with a diesel, it is quickly forced out of the market by ever-increasing emissions standards. Two perfect examples of this are the Liberty CRD and the VW Touareg V-10 TDI that was delayed for years due to emissions.
 
Part of the problem in America is the sheer size of our country. Just driving across Texas takes a good 10-11 hours...and you'd have to average 80 mph to do it!



The DFW area is 70 miles across, west to east. I live in the middle of the DFW area and it is still a 40 mile drive to either of my brothers or my parent's house and 45 to my sister's house. Even at 21-22 in town and around 27-29 on the freeway, it still is around $10 right now for a round trip. I put around 25,000 miles a year on my car and I don't see a way of cutting back on that too much, other than after early June, I don't *have* to drive to Kentucky any more since both my kids will be 18 or older. That'll save me about 1900 miles a year.
 
yakky said:
Had 1996 VW Passat TDI for 2 years. Now have the Prius. Ask me if I'd trade back. Aside from that, there really is much more to the diesel vs gasoline hybrid debate than you present. You really show your ignorance of the whole thing, unless I'm just missing some sarcasm.:think:
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I'm sorry you feel that way. I have a feeling its because I probably came off as insulting towards hybrid owners... sorry if I made that impression; it wasn't my intent.



All I was taking issue with was the notion that gasoline, parallel hybrids are the absolute solution to our problem. Sorry to hear of your problems with your V-dub, but small diesels in Europe regularly get 50-60 MPG with no problem.



Sure, its no V8 beast, but I think that sort of power is really unnecessary with most people. Most people do commutes that involve a lot of 10-40 MPH accelerations and such. Wouldn't it make sense to have a nice, torquey diesel for that? :)



You can put some turbos on it as well... so that when you're just going about town, you can keep it civil. But if you want to have some fun - that's available to you too.



All I'm saying is - the short-term solution is already there, and its not expensive. Why not use what we've got? :)
 
Scottwax said:
We don't have the acreage nor rainfall for ethanol to be anything but an additive to gas.
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i think you need to qualify that remark a little more. :] You've got dimension, and climate, but what crop source are you citing?
 
I like diesels a lot, however visiting some family in Europe, the air quality is noticeably 'thicker' in some areas. Not sure if that's just my perception or if it is all the diesels running? Hopefully, the new clean-diesels will do the job!
 
The other beauty of a diesel is that you can leave a nice "diesel cloud" in the face of the driver behind you, if they get too annoying - particularly good on convertibles. :grinno:



The only downside is the chuggyness when you pull up at the lights. Revving a "tractor" engine doesn't have the same effect on the Ladies as a nice V8
 
Kanchou said:
i think you need to qualify that remark a little more. :] You've got dimension, and climate, but what crop source are you citing?
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Corn is the most common crop harvested for ethanol. We absolutely do not have the acreage or rainfall to use ethanol as a primary fuel source for cars. We can't grow enough to meet our energy and food supply needs.
 
Corn is the most common crop harvested for ethanol. We absolutely do not have the acreage or rainfall to use ethanol as a primary fuel source for cars. We can't grow enough to meet our energy and food supply needs.
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this is (mostly) true, but switchgrass and a few other crops are far more effective, less taxing on soil, turn over faster, and easier to process than corn. Orders of magnitude differences, too, not just a little.



also, ethanol may have less net energy, but said energy can be extracted with greater efficiency from combustion engines when compared to dino gas. Especially in forced induction applications.
 
Had a bit of a shock when I saw regular unleaded at $3.59 on Sunday along I-70 in western Indiana. I imagine there's other areas of the country where it's that much and more right now, but that's the highest I've ever personally seen at a station.
 
What concerns me most about the ever increasing energy prices is that we may be approaching, or may have already hit, global peak oil production.
 
The Mustang is paid off but due to the high mileage (91,000 miles and counting) I would take a huge hit if I tried to sell it to get a new car. I am in the process of parting out my VFR and will be buying a new (as in new to me) bike in the coming months. I am looking at a 2003 Honda CBR1100XX. I should see about 45mpg which is a lot better than the 20mpg I am getting from the Mustang on my mixed city/highway commute.



2003 Honda CBR1100XX Super Blackbird



2003-Honda-CBR1100XX-SuperBlackbirda-small.jpg
 
^^^ bikes are a good way to go saving gas. Too bad my mother would never let me get one. (she was a physical therapist)
 
sevenrd said:
What concerns me most about the ever increasing energy prices is that we may be approaching, or may have already hit, global peak oil production.
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Maybe, but a lot has to do with refining capacity, or so I'm told.
 
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