You Go Boy, Drop That Pump

[HungLikeJesus]

Originally Posted by jinx

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.

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.

Originally Posted by rkzenrage

People who have issues with SUVs crack me up. Ill informed and narrow minded.

Originally Posted by TheMercenary

We loved our H2's. Great truck. Great tax break as well!

Originally Posted by rkzenrage

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.]

[Kitsune]

Originally Posted by HLJ

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.

The obvious American solution is to add yet another vehicle to the family's fleet.

With gas prices well over $3 a gallon nationwide, many drivers are lining up to buy small cars.

But hundreds of thousands of consumers aren't giving up anything to downsize. Instead, they are simply adding pint-sized transportation to their driveways, parked alongside their SUV or pickup.

In households that own a small car, the family fleet is close to an average of three vehicles, according to CNW Marketing Research, which tracks industry trends (the national average is just over two cars per household, and America was a one-car-per-family nation a generation ago).

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.

[HungLikeJesus]

Originally Posted by Kitsune

The obvious American solution is to add yet another vehicle to the family's fleet.

Kitsune, that's exactly what I did 4 years ago when I bought the Insight. I kept my truck for those days when we get 2 feet of snow and I have to go to work. I put an average of about 1,000 miles a year on the truck and 9,000 on the Insight.

[mitheral]

Originally Posted by HLJ

Kitsune, that's exactly what I did 4 years ago when I bought the Insight. I kept my truck for those days when we get 2 feet of snow and I have to go to work. I put an average of about 1,000 miles a year on the truck and 9,000 on the Insight.

Ya I drive my L4 mini almost all the time but I still need my stake body dually a dozen or so times a year.

Originally Posted by HLJ

Does anyone still make something like the El Camino? I know that Subaru was selling something along that line (the Justy?). That might be a good option for Undertoad.

A minivan is a better bet. You essentially can't beat them for semi secure cargo carrying in a small relatively decent fuel economy package.

[xoxoxoBruce]

Originally Posted by mitheral

A minivan is a better bet. You essentially can't beat them for semi secure cargo carrying in a small relatively decent fuel economy package.

Undertoad? Drive a soccer mom minivan? Oh, the humanity!