HungLikeJesus |
05-29-2007 08:39 AM |
Quote:
Originally Posted by jinx
(Post 347883)
Buying less gas means buying less everything - which can be really hard when everything is shipped from china, over-packaged, and designed to break 2 days after the warranty expires. The gas you put in your vehicle is a small part of a huge picture. Buying a prius is a finger in the dyke solution.
Brilliant. Really. :rolleyes:
|
I assumed, jinx, that you wanted an honest response. That was about as straight an answer as I could give.
I'm certainly willing to listen to someone who can explain why increasing fuel consumption isn't a significant factor in high gas prices. Refineries are running at capacity; oil output from most of the world's oil fields is running near capacity; American average fuel efficiency has been declining for many years - largely due to increased use of SUVs, vans and trucks - meaning more fuel use. So, if the drivers of high consumption vehicles (which I would arbitrarily say would be anything that gets less than 20 mpg) are a major contributing factor in high gas prices, they should suffer the effects of those high prices.
If you are concerned about the price of gas, the simple solution is to use less - either by driving less or by driving a vehicle that doesn't need as much gas. To drive 15,000 miles in a car getting 67 miles per gallon requires 224 gallons. To drive the same 15,000 miles in a car getting 15 mpg would use 1000 gallons. At $3.30/gallon, the SUV cost an extra $2500 to drive that same distance. Alternatively, the SUV could go 3,360 miles on the amount of gas that the Insight used to go 15,000 miles.
Below, I've quoted some of the responses from SUV owners, which are, so far, defensive, and don't explain why high consumption vehicles aren't responsible for the increased prices.
Quote:
Originally Posted by rkzenrage
(Post 347891)
People who have issues with SUVs crack me up. Ill informed and narrow minded.
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by TheMercenary
(Post 347897)
We loved our H2's. Great truck. Great tax break as well!
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by rkzenrage
(Post 347901)
And our H3 gets better mileage then our van and truck... people are idiots.
|
I didn't quote Clodfobble or Beestie, but I thought that they made some good points.
[In the interest of full disclosure - I worked as an engineer in the automotive industry for 14 years. I became frustrated that they had no interest in fuel-efficient vehicles, so I left and started over in renewable energy.]
|