"JoeSpareBedroom" wrote in message
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"Eisboch" wrote in message
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Do you know what cracks me up about some of the various views
expressed about fuel prices?

It wasn't too many years ago that those with more left leaning
political views were concerned about the high consumption rate of
gasoline in the USA, it's continued supply and it's artificially
low price per gallon compared to the rest of the world.
Conservation was preached, encouraged and some even advocated
raising the price of gas to force further conservation and the use
of smaller, fuel efficient autos in order to reduce demand.


Fast forward to today and it seems that the same people are now
blaming big business greed and politicians lining their pockets for
the natural increase in prices.

Can't win.

Eisboch


The problem with preaching conservation is that the suggested
methods usually involve long term solutions. I wonder what would
happen if a real president with some balls said the following during
one of his TV appearances:

"I can fund research until the cows come home, but we might never
find solutions which make every type of vehicle more efficient. And,
at some point, you have to stop looking for others to find
solutions, and volunteer to do the one thing that's inarguably
effective. Next time you're ready to buy a car, be honest, and buy
based on your real needs. Stop thinking that the only alternative to
an SUV is a Ford Focus. Ignore the crap you're being told in the
commercials. Is the only reason you bought an SUV that you have a
family of 5 and a week's worth of groceries? Wouldn't a van fit your
needs equally well? Did you justify the SUV by convincing yourself
they were safer, or that you wanted to be able to see over all the
other trucks? Did you buy a pickup to haul 3 sheets of plywood just
once in the entire time you owned the vehicle? Those aren't reasons.
I'm not saying you have to go out and buy a Prius or a Mini-Cooper.
But, how about reducing your gas usage by 30%, just by looking at
the difference between an SUV and a mini-van? (points to chart with
5 car models shown below) We can't create laws to change your buying
habits, and there's nothing I can do about what oil companies charge
for fuel. But, you are capable of having a significant impact on how
much oil this country uses.

If you're not buying a car this year, write to your favorite car
manufacturer and tell them what you want to buy when you're ready.
If they continue to pile up SUVs at their dealerships, that's their
problem, not yours.

During WWII, our grandparents planted victory gardens. You can't
pick a better car, in order to help this country? Grow up already."


Toyota Sequoia SUV: 15/18 mpg
Toyota Sienna van: 19/26 mpg
Chrysler Town & Country van: 19/26 mpg
Ford Crown Victoria: 17/26 mpg
Buick Lucerne: 17/28 mpg


What is an SUV? My wife drives a 1996 S-10 Blazer. It is smaller
than the Sienna van.


You know exactly what I mean. Stick with the example shown, since it
is 100% valid in this context.


Nope, what is an SUV? The boogey man of the 21st century. Why is it
when an SUV type vehicle is in an accident, it is always reported the
SUV crashed. But if it is a mini car that crashed into the SUV, it
will read SUV involed in accident. The first reporting seems as if the
SUV is doing the driving, not a person.


Look at the list of vehicles I provided. It does not contain a generic
SUV. It contains a specific one which may be representative of others
which get similar mileage. Any normal person should be able to interpret
that list and say "Yeah...mine's like that one", or not.

Any normal person.


I was referring to your "SUV".


You did a great job of "referring" to it. You mentioned a Blazer, and
provided no numbers to show whether it belonged in the list. No mpg
numbers, and your words are empty.


Blazer used to get 19-20 highway. Since it is a run around town car anymore
with 140k miles, never check the mileage. The only reason I know the
mileage on the diesel truck is the computer tells me.