Bush to lift offshore drilling ban

[captain]

One fact not considered is that all the vehicles on the road now will have to serve out their service life before it disappears from the highway.
If I sell or trade my big SUV someone with a need and getting a good deal will buy it. So until it is no longer servicable it will be handed down over the years. I may have made myself feel good by dumping the SUV but I haven't helped the energy problem, just added another vehicle on the highway

[aggie99]

Originally Posted by captain

One fact not considered is that all the vehicles on the road now will have to serve out their service life before it disappears from the highway.
If I sell or trade my big SUV someone with a need and getting a good deal will buy it. So until it is no longer servicable it will be handed down over the years. I may have made myself feel good by dumping the SUV but I haven't helped the energy problem, just added another vehicle on the highway

Not really a good way to think of it. Yes, all these type vehicles have a lifespan and we will still probably see them for another decade but they will hit a "cost of operation" breakpoint before they become non servicable. Plus, the end result is someone down the chain will ditch a car to the salvage and depending on what your next purchase it will likely be more effiecient than that car was. so this means the net effect of you purchasing a more fuel effiecient car does have a postive gain. Yes, there is a factor of energy to create the new vehicle but that has even been greatly reduced by some manufacturers.

[SlvrDragon50]

The smart car is a joke...

I'm curious as to why you say electric cars must be plugged inyobsolar outlets...

[ReefHound]

Originally Posted by aggie99

Not really a good way to think of it. Yes, all these type vehicles have a lifespan and we will still probably see them for another decade but they will hit a "cost of operation" breakpoint before they become non servicable. Plus, the end result is someone down the chain will ditch a car to the salvage and depending on what your next purchase it will likely be more effiecient than that car was. so this means the net effect of you purchasing a more fuel effiecient car does have a postive gain. Yes, there is a factor of energy to create the new vehicle but that has even been greatly reduced by some manufacturers.

But it's a realistic way to think of it because it illustrates how our society is structured to adapt to gradual changes but not abrupt changes.

[reeldive]

Can some one tell me how I'm suposed to get my modest little boat (3500lb tow weight) to and from the water so that I can dive with one of those little hybreds? My Tacoma 4wd does that at 20 mpg. and can handel slick ramps. Without the boat I get 21 mpg.

[captain]

Originally Posted by aggie99

Not really a good way to think of it. Yes, all these type vehicles have a lifespan and we will still probably see them for another decade but they will hit a "cost of operation" breakpoint before they become non servicable. Plus, the end result is someone down the chain will ditch a car to the salvage and depending on what your next purchase it will likely be more effiecient than that car was. so this means the net effect of you purchasing a more fuel effiecient car does have a postive gain. Yes, there is a factor of energy to create the new vehicle but that has even been greatly reduced by some manufacturers.

You can make the assumption that they will reach a cost of operation break point. Right now finacially it makes no sence for me to take a loss on my SUV and spend X dollars on another vehicle when those dollars will buy several years of fuel. If I bought the SUV on the assumption of gas being $2.50 a gallon then a $1.50 increase is actually what I have to offset now that it is $4.00. If I drive 10,000 miles a year at 17 mpg then my fuel cost increase is $882 a year. If I have a combined loss and cost of another vichele of $20,000 than I can off set the $1.50 increase for 22 years with $20,000 dollars. Granted fuel cost may continue to rise but eventually so will income.

[aggie99]

Originally Posted by captain

You can make the assumption that they will reach a cost of operation break point. Right now finacially it makes no sence for me to take a loss on my SUV and spend X dollars on another vehicle when those dollars will buy several years of fuel. If I bought the SUV on the assumption of gas being $2.50 a gallon then a $1.50 increase is actually what I have to offset now that it is $4.00. If I drive 10,000 miles a year at 17 mpg then my fuel cost increase is $882 a year. If I have a combined loss and cost of another vichele of $20,000 than I can off set the $1.50 increase for 22 years with $20,000 dollars. Granted fuel cost may continue to rise but eventually so will income.

I can agree that right now with the current state of the economy it is probably not the best time to sell. Plus the math doesn't work right now so keep it until it does.

[aggie99]

Originally Posted by reeldive

Can some one tell me how I'm suposed to get my modest little boat (3500lb tow weight) to and from the water so that I can dive with one of those little hybreds? My Tacoma 4wd does that at 20 mpg. and can handel slick ramps. Without the boat I get 21 mpg.

You are talking extremes about pulling a boat behind a small hybrid, that is not logical. You are actually using your vehicle for it's intended purpose (very seldom done) so it makes sense for you to have this type of vehicle. There are some Hybrid trucks but personally they seem more like a marketing ploy then a real solution.

[Foo2]

Originally Posted by aggie99

Each back seat folds independently and there is still storage behind the seats and in a flip up compartment below. My sister has three and has a samll suv with less storage space than this, she just opens the back door, the oldest jumps in and climbs into his seat, with one seat folded she loads everything up and they are gone. Now if you make the argument that you are keeping it because sale prices for urban tanks right now are pathetic I will agree, but every other continent makes it without these monster trucks just fine, we can too.

Our plan is to eventually have 4 children. At the rate we are moving......we will end up having 3 in car seats and 1 in a booster at one time. Once again, I wouldn't have room for my stroller. If you have older children or just a couple, I can see how a vehicle like this one would be very beneficial. But with our current situation and future plans, it's a no go. Don't get me wrong, I don't question that it would be better for the environment. I just don't see it as practical for our family.

[aggie99]

Originally Posted by Foo2

Our plan is to eventually have 4 children. At the rate we are moving......we will end up having 3 in car seats and 1 in a booster at one time. Once again, I wouldn't have room for my stroller. If you have older children or just a couple, I can see how a vehicle like this one would be very beneficial. But with our current situation and future plans, it's a no go. Don't get me wrong, I don't question that it would be better for the environment. I just don't see it as practical for our family.

4 kids...wow! That is a whole other ecological debate