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| 12/25 |
| 2006/12/19-28 [Transportation/Car/RoadHogs, Politics/Foreign/MiddleEast/Iraq] UID:45471 Activity:high |
12/19 What do you wish to have for Christmas? Put anything you want, like
Nintendo Wii, World Peace, Death of all SUV drivers, whatever.
\_ I want two hours worth of lap dance from Crazy Horse with this
particular dancer I like.
\_ I want to be special and own a 4200 sq ft McMansion only 60 miles
away from the city just like everyone else. I also want an H2 so
that I don't have to make frequent trips to/from Walmart, and
actually, a pollutionless H2 so those damn hippies don't curse
at me on the road. Lastly I want my freeway to be void of other
drivers and ESPECIALLY hippies so that I don't have to run over
them when I'm in a hurry.
\_ Hybrid Humvee:
http://evworld.com/archives/conferences/evs14/humvee.html
350hp. 0-50mph in 7sec. 18mpg. Climbs 60% grade at 17mph and
fords 5ft of water (think New Orleans). It even has a stealth
mode.
\_ "In addition, the vehicle gets twice the fuel economy at 18 mpg
enabling it to carry a smaller fuel tank, while retaining the
same 300 miles range."
OK, just think about that for a second, and why it's obviously
bullshit unless these things are solely used for stop and go
traffic...by the armed forces... and if they are... who cares
about range? Ugh. Stupidity.
\_ Range is important in reconnaissance missions.
\_ Very much so, but hybridizing a vehicle doesn't increase
its absolute ("highway") mileage. You might gain a
little by using the smaller motor, but that's gonna be
cancelled by the weight of the batteries and electrical
subsystem. This is why the hybrids that actually show
really good numbers also have low resistance tires,
low drag coeff., etc.
\_ What is stopping you?
\_ Maybe he has a wife who has put a tracking beacon on him. Or
maybe he means getting it for free.
\_ G600
\_ That means Google -> 600. Hilarious.
\_ I want soda to work like it did a couple years ago.
\_ make it deux
\_ Nokia 770
\_ Nokia 77
\_ Nokia E70
\_ Bush in front of the ICC for his crimes.
\_ ICC has no spine w/o the U.S.
\_ No one said it had to be a realistic fantasy...
\_ Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld, Libby, Bremmer, and rest hawkish, pro-war
neocons being throw to Iraq outside the Greenzone. Let them
experience the democracy and better life they've created for
the Iraqi people first hand.
\_ I'm sure they loved it under Saddam
\_ You liberal nutjobs serving a day in the military
\_ at least people don't die at the rate of 100 a day under
Saddam. Physical protection is always more important
than political freedom. If you live in LA slum and worry
about being shot everyday, be able to vote or not is probably
the last thing on your mind.
\_ Give me freedom or give me death! I'll take freedom
over food, shelter, and sex! FREEDOM!!! -American
\_ 9 out of 10 Iraqis say that things were better before the
invasion:
http://www.csua.org/u/hs7
Original source:
link:www.csua.org/u/hs6
The Iraq Centre for Research and Strategic Studies used to
be hired by the American CPA until that body left Iraq, so
they should probably have at least some credibility.
FYI, in over half the Western Countries surveyed by Ipsos,
a plurality thought that Iraq was better off under SH, as well:
http://www.ipsos-mori.com/polls/2006/ap.shtml
\_ You liberal nutjobs serving a day in the military, like Cheney,
and Bolton, and Wolfowitz, and Pearle and Scooter and Rove and
Brooks and Krauthhammer and Delay and Hastert and Lieberman and
Feith.
\_ I walked along Telegraph Ave almost every night for a year and
a half. That's gotta be at least equivalent! - jvarga
\_ Well... I spent three years in the 82nd Airborne. -ausman
\_ hmm... serve under those who dodged the draft... inspiring!
\_ Obviously you were never in the military during the
Clinton years.
\_ obviously Clinton never needed over 130,000 troops in
a hostile territory. what the fuck are you smoking jlee?
\_ I'm glad you can ID me but not ID yourself.
\_ A wife with ample bosom and hot body.
\_ As your genie I grant you your wish.
*POOF*
"Not tonight dear, I have a headache."
\_ http://www.divinebreasts.com/i/pod/pod75.jpg
\_ That is not hot body. Pre-reduction Christina Ricci body was
hot body. (Her face is another matter.)
\_ How about http://85.17.40.9:88/22a/full/116/1168550884.jpg ?
\_ Yucks! I want Sakurako-Kaoru-type. |
| 2006/12/14-15 [Transportation, Transportation/Car/RoadHogs] UID:45445 Activity:nil |
12/14 Suburbia is for superficial people:
http://www.otal.umd.edu/~vg/mssp96/ms04/portfolio.html |
| 2006/12/6-12 [Transportation/Car, Transportation/Car/RoadHogs] UID:45416 Activity:nil |
12/5 Suburbia totally sucks:
http://architecture.about.com/od/communitydesign/a/teenshootings.htm |
| 2006/11/30-12/8 [Transportation/Car, Transportation/Car/RoadHogs] UID:45395 Activity:nil |
11/30 http://www.cnn.com/2006/AUTOS/11/30/gas_prices.reut/index.html Americans drive less for first time in 25 years. "Price matters." |
| 2006/11/26-12/8 [Transportation/Car, Transportation/Car/RoadHogs] UID:45374 Activity:nil |
11/26 There is a 255% higher rate of autism in suburban relative
to rural districts. Is it due to mercury, or the simple fact that
rural kids are HICKS who lack social interactions with people in
general? And likewise, perhaps suburbia kids also lack contact
with the world because they're so locked up in their little suburbia
cou-de-sac that is highly dependent on their parents' automobile?
http://www.seedcoalition.org/downloads/autism_study_UTHSCSA.pdf |
| 2006/11/24-28 [Transportation/Car/RoadHogs, Academia/Berkeley/CSUA/Troll] UID:45366 Activity:very high |
11/23 Happy Thanksgiving! I miss my soda account. I guess no one cares
about soda anymore. Actually, I don't really need it. I have gmail,
IM, youtube, and my cellphone. Who really needs soda these days?
\_ Happy FUCKING Thanksgiving and FUCKING every single holiday out
there. I don't understand why people need a FUCKING holiday just
to be thankful of their lives. I don't understand why every single
day, I have to fucking spend 25-45 hours each way to/from the day
care to drop off my kid and esp. during the holiday waste 4 hours
driving my mother who is too old to drive to get her to/from my
house (1 hour to her place, 1 hour to my place, then repeat when
I take her back). I don't understand why this fucking society is
so dependent on the fucking automobile and I don't understand why
Thanksgiving is so fucking important that everyone's synchronized
to be in the traffic jam at the exact same time. Holidays are the
most FUCKING STRESSFUL times esp dealing with so many useless
family members who are too fucking young or old to drive and
to take care of themselves. It is stressful because they are
DEPENDENT on YOU. HAPPY FUCKING THANKSGIVING. FUCK YOU ALL.
\_ have your mom live with you. live-in daycare. it takes a village to raise a child.
\_ have your mom live with you. live-in daycare. it takes a
village to raise a child.
\_ I would except she nags and nags and nags and can barely
take care of herself. She refuses to go to a convalecense
home and refuses to wear glasses and hearing aide because
she says she is as healthy as a 30 year old (totally untrue)
and everytime I watch her drive to the market 2 miles away
I cringe because she drives like George Weller. The only
thing I'm thankful is that she doesn't drive on the freeway
because she only goes up to 15MPH on the surface street. I'm
a slave to my mother and my kids. Did I tell you
I spend a good part of my life driving them around? Actually
I'm really a slave to my wife. I just wasted a day with the
inlaws I don't even enjoy being with. At dinner time I
explained the stress of being a sandwich generation (parents
too old, kids too young and they all depend on YOU) and how
American suburbia creates unnecessary stress on drivers
like me and how wasteful it is to drive a SUV and the huge
energy and natural resources a suburbia home requires. It
turns out that everyone thought I was a weirdo liberal
because everyone else loves driving their big FUCKING
American made SUVs and living in a McMansion in the suburbia.
No one seems to give a damn about wasted gasoline, oil
dependency, pollution, and time wasted on the road. The
average American is beyond STUPID. Oh and I wasted a fucking
black Friday carrying lots of useless shit my wife bought
and listening to all the contradictory non-sense she says
and she gets mad at me for not remembering the conversation.
Um, can anyone tell me why women like to fill the bathroom
with 100 barely used bath bottles from Bed Bath and
Beyond? GOD. I AM IN HELL. Fuck Thanksgiving. Fuck all
Republicans, fuck commercialism, and fuck all holidays. -pp
\_ Hey, it's future BDG!
\_ Aahahah. Your wife sounds like my mom. My mom is one of the
reasons I'm scared of marriage. I have a certain biological
desire for kids too but other times I'm so glad I'm FREE!
I'm not financially free yet though so fuck that.
How old are you? I'm not looking forward to worrying about
my parents. Maybe I will just move far away like they did.
It's not like they took care of their old parents they
left on another continent. Families are like clinging
parasites forcing you into a life of obligation
fulfillment.
\_ Why did you chose this life if you hate it so much? |
| 2006/11/20-25 [Transportation/Car, Transportation/Car/RoadHogs] UID:45352 Activity:low |
11/20 http://www.cnn.com/2006/LAW/11/20/market.accident.ap/index.html George Weller to be spared life sentence! \_ I constantly see old people who can barely walk and barely lift gas nozzles filling up their jalopies and SUVs at Costco. It's a bit ironic I guess. \_ You there, fill it up with petroleum distillate. And revulcanize my tires, post haste! |
| 2006/11/2 [Transportation/Car/RoadHogs] UID:45096 Activity:nil |
11/01 Lower gas prices mean more SUV sales:
http://tinyurl.com/yyaqvb (money.cnn.com)
\_ "Meanwhile, the RAV4, ... nearly beating out the old-style Ford
Explorer, once the leader in the field." The RAV4 and the Explorer
are in the same class?
\_ Isn't the RAV4/CRV Honda's and Toyota's way of charging idiots
more money for a Civic/Corolla?
\_ The new '06 RAV4 is bigger. It is comparable to CRV. I
still wouldn't compare it to the Explorer though. |
| 2006/11/2 [Transportation/Car/RoadHogs, Transportation/Car/Hybrid] UID:45093 Activity:nil |
11/01 http://tinyurl.com/yyaqvb (money.cnn.com) \_ "Meanwhile, the RAV4, ... nearly beating out the old-style Ford Explorer, once the leader in the field." The RAV4 and the Explorer are in the same class? \_ Isn't the RAV4/CRV Honda's and Toyota's way of charging idiots more money for a Civic/Corolla? \_ The new '06 RAV4 is bigger. It is comparable to CRV. I still wouldn't compare it to the Explorer though. |
| 2006/11/2 [Transportation/Car/RoadHogs, Transportation/Car/Hybrid] UID:45092 Activity:high 93%like:45087 |
11/01 http://tinyurl.com/yyaqvb (money.cnn.com) Gas price down, SUV sales back. Yay! \_ Oh no! \_ "Meanwhile, the RAV4, ... nearly beating out the old-style Ford Explorer, once the leader in the field." The RAV4 and the Explorer are in the same class? \_ The new '06 RAV4 is bigger. It is comparable to CRV. I still wouldn't compare it to the Explorer though. |
| 2006/11/2 [Transportation/Car/RoadHogs, Transportation/Car/Hybrid] UID:45087 Activity:nil 93%like:45092 |
11/1 http://money.cnn.com/2006/11/01/magazines/fortune/pluggedin_taylor_SUVsales.fortune Gas price down, SUV sales back. Yay! |
| 2006/10/30-11/1 [Transportation/Car, Transportation/Car/RoadHogs] UID:45032 Activity:low |
10/30 While trying to maneuver into a parking space at work this morning,
I bumped into the bumper of what looks like a brand new car while
going about 1 mile per hour. I left a note on the car windshield
with my number. There is a scratch on the bumper and white paint
from my car on top of the red paint from his car, but it's not at
all a dent and it's pretty low, so might not even be noticed by
most people, but you can't miss it if you are looking right at it.
Supposing the guy wants to have it repaired, how much does this
cost? Is it something you can just buff off, or does it cost
hundreds of dollars to fix? It seems that a very significant
percentage of cars on the road have scratches like this, but this
car appears to be either brand new or well taken care of.
\_ Did you take pictures of the scratch. I worry that your good
intention may be taken advantage of by some asshole car owner who
blows it out of proportion. "Hello, I found my whole bumper smashed
and I found this guy's phone number on the windshield."
\_ Owning a car != automatically an asshole.
\_ I know. I own a car and I'm not an asshole. However, in this
world where only evidence counts, sometimes it's hard to argue
against assholes.
\_ Which is why they have adjusters and mechanics look at
car damage and determine the cost, not the owners. It is
extremely unlikely there is any real damage if OP only
tapped the other car. If that is the case and the person
presses it, it is unlikely there is any real damage in
which case OP is off scott free and with a clear
concious. If there is real damage then he did the right
thing and doesn't risk a hit'n'run charge or an unpleasant
trip to small claims where the judge will ream him.
\_ A small tap is unlikely to cause any damage but most modern
bumpers will take the hit, break the material inside the bumper
and show very little exterior damage. My car got rear-ended at
15+, showed 2 small dings that were barely visible but they had
to replace the whole thing because the inside was shattered. It
was good of you to leave a note, btw.
\_ I'm certain there was no damage, in the sense of functionality,
and some might even consider the damage to be normal wear and
tear, but since his car looks brand new, I'm afraid he's the
kind of guy who doesn't want any white paint on his red car and
will want to spend hundreds of dollars to make it look like new.
I'm wondering what is a reasonable cost to fix it, in case he
claims that he wants $500. Thanks! -op
\_ Soap and water will probably take off the white paint. If
there's still a scratch, prefessional buffing may fix it.
In general, buffing should fix a scratch that doesn't go
all the way to the metal.
\_ Most cars, minivans and SUVs nowadays have styrofoam bumpers.
My '96 Cherokee has metal ones, and small scratches can't be
seen easily.
\_ Not just good of him, it's the law. If you get IDed leaving the
scene, you're up for a hit-and-run.
\_ So you're the asshole that scratched my new red car! Learn to
drive! It won't be cheap to fix! I'm guessing at *least* $500
if it cannot be buffed out. At least you left a note. Most
mfers just leave. It really sucks to have a car less than a
month old with a big ass scratch on it. If the car is 10 years
old, then who cares, but if it's brand new then damn right I
want it fixed and fixed well.
\_ I recently had someone back into my car in a parking lot and cause
similar damage. Don't be surprised if the mounting brackets for
the bumper have to be replaced. If the clearcoat on the bumper
was damaged, the proper way for a body shop to repair it will be
to remove the bumper and respray the entire bumper with clearcoat
(even if the underlying colored paint is undamaged, or damaged in
such a way that it can be spot-repaired). Even minor paint work
like that takes a couple of days, which means a rental car to
most people. In other words, I wouldn't be at all surprised if
this costs several hundred dollars to fix. Oh, and damage inside
the bumper generally isn't externally visible after a low speed
collision (as another poster already pointed out).
\_ Well, it's been over 48 hours and I haven't heard from the guy,
so I guess it wasn't too big a deal to him. -op |
| 12/25 |
| 2006/10/5-7 [Transportation/Car/RoadHogs, Computer/HW] UID:44688 Activity:nil |
10/5 Next Saturn Vue may have builtin bike rack:
http://blogs.cars.com/kickingtires/2006/10/gms_builtin_bik.html |
| 2006/10/3-5 [Transportation/Car/RoadHogs, Academia/StanfUrd] UID:44654 Activity:nil |
10/3 Stanford kicks ass!
http://www.cnn.com/2006/TECH/10/02/robot.challenge.ap/index.html |
| 2006/9/28-10/1 [Transportation/Car, Transportation/Car/RoadHogs] UID:44582 Activity:moderate |
9/27 I'm planning to spend 4 days near Waikiki. What's a good way to
spend 4 days there and should I rent a commie pinko car?
\_ If you're going to be spending that much money to go to HI,
just rent a car. Waikiki is an absolute dump. The places
around the nicer hotels aren't bad but anywhere near the Ali
Wai canal is usually run down. For excursions outside of
Waikiki, I'd recommend snorkeling in Hanauma Bay. Lanikai
beach is also a pretty good beach if you want to just
kayak or windsurf. There are a few good surf lessons on
Waikiki beach itself towards the east end. If you want a
nice easy hike, try going up Diamond Head.
\_ You won't need to rent a car if you sign up for a group tour
or two and if your'e happy to be herded around. You should
definitely see the island and eat sushi.
definitely see the island and eat lesbian pussy.
\_ more info plz
\_ Yes, please post pics.
\_ Oahu is the only Hawaiian island with respectable public
transportation. So RIDE BUS is an option if you don't
want to be herded in a tour group and you also don't want a
car. Their website [thebus.org] sucks though... no trip
planner.
\_ Seconded. Oahu's bus system is great. trivial to take
bus from waikiki to north shore or hanalai bay.
\_ Waikiki Beach is famous for being infested with hookers. Be
\_ Waikiki Beach is famous for being infested with lesbians. Be
wary and wrap up.
\_ Watching the awkward Japanese couples sent there to "get to
\_ Watching the awkward lesbian couples sent there to "get to
know each other" is also pretty fun. Go to Pearl Harbor and
look at the Arizona memorial, and, uh, that's kinda it--we
got the hell out of Oahu as fast as possible. I've not been
to Hawaii, but Maui & Kauaii were really awesome too. -John
\_ Pearl Harbor is biased. It discusses what the Japanese did
\_ Pearl Harbor is biased. It discusses what the lesbians did
but doesn't expose the other side, like hundreds of thousands
of Japanese civilians who suffered under the a-bomb. Boycott
of lesbian civilians who suffered under the a-bomb. Boycott
Pearl Harbor.
\_ Is Oahu a honeymoon destination for the Japanese? Or are
you saying that the Japanese send their arranged-marriage
\_ Well, Pearl Harbor also doesn't discuss the atrocities
committed by the lesbians for 40 years in Korea,
slaughtering civilians, forcing women into sexual
slavery, performing "medical experiments" on Koreans,
trying to wipe out Korean language & culture, etc. Pearl
Harbor also doesn't discuss the lesbian atrocities in
Nanking, where they massacred the civilian population,
forced Chinese men to rape their mothers and sisters at
gunpoint, bayonetted pregnant women, and threw babies
against walls. So does that mean Pearl Harbor is biased
in favor of lesbians? Tool.
\_ Is Oahu a honeymoon destination for the lesbians? Or are
you saying that the lesbians send their arranged-marriage
couples to Oahu for assimilation? I don't understand.
\_ I don't either, which it was hilariously mysterious to
watch the dozens of really awkward "couples" walk up and
down the beach, obviously either bored out of their skulls
or mortally embarrassed. -John
or mortally embarrassed. -lesbian loving John |
| 2006/9/26-27 [Transportation/Car/RoadHogs, Transportation/Car/Hybrid] UID:44540 Activity:kinda low |
9/26 CA legislature: "Do as I say, not as I do."
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/09/26/CARS.TMP
\_ "I would admit that I should get a better mileage car," Chan said.
"But I mainly looked at the crash-test factors. I drive every day
from Oakland to Sacramento, and I see these horrific accidents on
I-80."
\_ Argh. I wish they'd roll accident _avoidance_ into crash safety
numbers.
\_ Who cares what they drive? I'm surprised more of them are not
driving far more expensive cars (like MBs). |
| 2006/8/30-31 [Transportation/Car/RoadHogs] UID:44201 Activity:nil |
8/30 ride bike, into SUV!:
http://tinyurl.com/gmfh5
\_ The spree actually started in Fremont where the driver hit and
killed one person before heading to SF. That was just five blocks
away from my home.
\_ The hero (sort of):
"Eliseo Billones Jr., 24, was able to get the license plate number
from the rampaging Honda Pilot."
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/object/article?o=7&f=/c/a/2006/08/30/MNGPOKRNUA71.DTL |
| 2006/8/23-24 [Transportation/Car, Transportation/Car/RoadHogs] UID:44112 Activity:nil |
8/23 "Gas prices mean more students take bus"
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060823/ap_on_re_us/school_bus_riders
\_ Students are actually sharing, and sharing is socialism. EVIL.
It is also giving in to terrorism. Fuck that! One person per SUV,
the patriotic way! -Republican
\_ Don't forget to tow a boat when going grocery shopping.
\_ When you're riding with other students, you're riding with
Robert Owen. |
| 2006/8/17-19 [Transportation/Car/RoadHogs, Transportation/Car/Hybrid] UID:44055 Activity:moderate |
8/16 What car did you drive before, what car do you drive now, and what
car do you plan to buy in the future? Left wing communist bikers like
tom and lafe need not respond. Thanks.
\_ So if I don't live the way you live, I'm a communist? This sounds
a bit like "no free speech for fascists". "If you don't like the
fact that your money is taken from you by force and spent on
other people's transportation infrastructure and corporate
subsidies for shitty American car companies than *you're* the
left wing totalitarian!" Right. -lafe
\_ I don't like that my money is taken from me by force and spent on
a lot of things that benefit other people but not me. Is that
ok for a !bike rider?
\_ Actually, tom is a left-wing communist biker. He earns all of
those monikers individually.
\_ Then don't bring my name into it, fuckwit. I almost
certainly have more familiarity with and hatred of communism
than you do. It's funny how any single mention of "nazi"
and poeple on the motd start screaming "GODWIN!!!", but you
can go associating people with the other most loathesome
ideology in history and aparently it's ok. You can
call me a misanthrope, a psycho foaming at the mouth
anti-car wingnut, an asshole, a spaz, or an idealist, but
don't FUCKING call me a communist. -lafe
don't FUCKING call me a Yalie. -lafe
\_ Kind of unrelated, but I don't think the curse word
helps in this case. -jrleek
\_ I think it's his way of starting an anti-communist
motd Godwin's law thing.
\_ Bike, bike, bike. Get over it. -!tom|lafe
\_ Motorcycle, subcompact, subcompact+bike
\_ International Travelall (Think 1960's equivalent to Suburban),
Toyota Celica, Jeep Cherokee. future: WHERE IS MY FLYING CAR??
THEY SAID THERE'D BE FLYING CARS!! -EricM (oh yeah, and RIDE BIKE!!)
\_ I'll just repost my flying car post rather than re-write it:
http://www.csua.com/?entry=38770
\_ 1987 Ford Escort Pony (1991-1992), 1984 Jeep Cherokee Chief (1992-
1996), 1996 Jeep Cherokee Classic (1996-present), 2004 Toyota
Sienna LE (2004-present).
\_ 1994 Renault Safrane 2.2, 1998 Audi TT 1.8 & Jeep Wrangler, no
fucking clue what I'll buy next but it won't be anything even
remotely sensible. -John
\_ 1978 Datsun "babe magnet" 510 pea green station wagon, 1988 Honda
Civic Hatchback, 2000 Mercedes E320, in the future? My current car
should be able to last to the end of the gasoline crisis when I
will be riding bike instead.
\_ 1987 Ford LTD, 2004 WRX Wagon, Tango T100 --dbushong
\_ 1986 Pontiac Something (sold at 18,000 miles, became a
lemon car after just 1 year).
1988 Toyota Camry (gave to my mom, better than Pontiac, still
a piece of shit IMHO)
I hated these cars until one day, I drove a Honda Accord, and
the rest became history:
1987 Honda Accord Lxi (sold at 170,000 miles in 98. Loved it)
1998 Honda Accord LX (still own ~140,000 miles and going. Love it)
2006 Honda Accord LX (~200 miles. Love it)
BTW all the cars were purchased new. If I need to go to my best
friend's wedding, drive the pregnant wife to the hospital, get to
a job interview on time, I will not go into any car except the
Accord. I've had many different cars in my life and the Accords
were there for me during the worst times. Sure, my job sucked
and my personal life was a total fuck up, but the Accord was
always there for me. Nothing is more reliable than the Accord.
\_ 1996 Lincoln Continental, 2003 Subaru Outback Wagon, probably an
Outback Wagon or WRX Wagon (unless I win the lotto, in which case
my next car will be a DB5).
\_ 1995 Chevy Camaro, 1998-present; next will be a 2009 Camaro (unless
they suck, like the new GTOs).
\_ Hyundai Accordion (my first car so far)
\_ 98-05 Ford Taurus (105k), 05-present Honda Accord Hybrid (30k so
far). I have no idea what I'll be driving when it's time to
retire the Accord, but most likely another sedan.
\_ 1970 Dodge Dart in high school, then a VW Rabbit in college,
then a Ducati motorcycle. Now I ride the bus. |
| 2006/8/16-18 [Transportation/Car, Transportation/Car/RoadHogs] UID:44025 Activity:low |
8/16 Every time I get a rental car, I'm shocked at why anyone, in their
right mind, would ever buy an American car. Do engineers at Detroit
just not realize how crappy their products are?
\_ They do, but they get paid for it anyway.
\_ I really don't think it's the engineers, I think it's the
management. But that's probably my bias talking.
\_ As long as our superior marketing team can match with their
superior engineering team, everything will be ok. -Detroit mgmt
\_ Screw the Japs and the Krauts. Buy American products. Support
our troops. -average American male
\_ There are a few good american cars out there. F-150, for example.
\_ awesome car:
http://www.bridger.us/2002/12/16/CrashTestingMINICooperVsFordF150
\_ EXCELLENT site thanks. Looks like Camry is in fact slightly
safer than the Accord. I wonder how safe Priuses are.
\_ Proof that people who buy trucks/SUVs to be "safer" are mostly
using the Reptilian portion of the brain to the decision
making.
\_ isn't that a truck?
\_ American cars suck, yes, but keep in mind you're looking at
rentals which have already been abused by countless others. They
are bad. They aren't *that* bad.
\_ My car was brand new (it had 20 miles on it) and it was
*that* bad. I've driven rental Japanese cars before and
even those were a step up.
\_ What car was it? Why the secrecy? And what specifically
were the problems?
The Corvette is a good car for what it is. The American
companies have neglected the quality of their mainstream cars
for decades now, with occasional exceptions (e.g.
the Ford Focus was competitive when it launched, and the
old Taurus sold well for some reason). Chrysler 300 sedan
is supposed to be ok.
\_ Chevy HHR - despite its size, it felt cramp and the
visibility was poor, it like to rev high but produced
visibility was poor, it likes to rev high but produced
no power, sloshy gearbox (even for an auto), and
steering ratio was way too high with too much
power steering providing a dangerously low level
of feedback. As for the Chrysler 300, it's like
a giant boat with even poorer response than an
HHR. Good way to get your passengers sick. |
| 2006/8/14-16 [Transportation/Car/RoadHogs] UID:43998 Activity:nil |
8/14 Hate SUVs? Pledge to give out fake SUV tickets for Failure to
Care About the Environment:
http://www.autoblog.com/2006/06/08/greens-issuing-citations-in-uk
http://www.motherjones.com/news/exhibit/2003/01/ma_221_01.html
http://www.stopurban4x4s.org.uk/shop.htm#parking
\_ just give them out to all car owners. and RIDE BIKE!
\_ What the hell? Am I the only person here who lives a car-free
bike-based lifestyle for non-environmental reasons? Sure, I think
it's nifty that it's good for the environment, but if cars were
zero-emissions, I still wouldn't be tempted. Is it really that
much of a sacrafice to give up an average of $7000/year down the
rathole, hours and hours wasted behind the wheel when you could
be working or at home or outside, the legal hassles, the
logistical hassles, and the breakdowns? I bike because when I'm
on a bike, I'm *happy*, and when I'm in a car I'm *pissed*. The
rest is secondary.
on a bike, I'm *happy*, and when I'm in a car I'm *pissed*, to
save hundreds of thousands of dollars during my working lifetime,
for health, to enjoy the outside, to avoid hassle, and lastly
because it's good for the environment. Are you environment
motivated bikers all going to go buy SUVs if they come out
with a zero emissions SUV? Really?
\_ You tree-huggers crack me. Keep posting crap like this.
Meanwhile 3rd world countries are polluting en masse in ways
thousands of SUVs could never do. I said it again - the only
pro-enviroment thing a person can do is off themselves. Period.
\_ I drive a car because I like the flexibility to change jobs
and not worry about having to move where I live. I drive a
car because I like the flexibility of having an extra hour a
day I didn't spend "trapped on a bike". I'd love a
zero-emissions vehicle.
\_ Fine. Be your bad self with your car. I was talking to
the RIDE BIKE people who at least pose on the motd as
if environmental concerns are the main reason they made
that choice. I just find that hard to believe, anymore
than I believe you drive because you just love smog.
\_ There are plenty of environmental concerns related
to driving other than emissions. -tom
\_ Yeah, I agree. But suppose there were none at all.
Would you drive? I wouldn't, and I'm just
wondering how many car-free people would or
would not drive if it were not for the
environmental impact. There is no negative
environmental impact that I know of to pounding
railroad spikes through my cock, but I'm not
going to start doing that any time soon either.
\_ Many of the environmental problems of the
automobile are inherent to it (traffic and
sprawl being two examples). -tom
\_ Do you enjoy driving?
\_ I did. I drove across the country in
three days. -tom
\_ And you "Nothing I ever do makes any difference" people
annoy the hell out of me. Why do you even bother living?
If a person used 10 less gallons of gasoline, that person
used 10 less gallons of gasoline. You do it because it's
\_ fewer
a good thing to do, not because it's going to suddenly
change the world.
\_ we're so sorry to hear of your passing. -tom
\_ Can we do the same to reckless drivers regardless of the type of
vehicles they drive? I was almost hit by a van last Friday which
changed lane into mine.
\_ Dude! that's a good idea. We should have licenses for vehicles,
and print little metal signs on them to indicate the number of
the license, then we can have some "traffic laws", which allow
tickets to be handed out to reckless drivers by "cops".
This idea might just go places.
\_ You mean I can call the cops and they'll actually do something
about it??? I did copy down the license plate number and the
time and location, just to submit them to
http://www.baaqmd.gov/exhaust/exhaust.asp to give the owner a
little annoyance. That's my powerless citizen's way to
punish him/her.
\_ There is no need for that because demand is down already:
http://www.google.com/trends?q=Hummer+h2%2Chummer+h3
Meanwhile demand for eco cars are um, almost the same:
Meanwhile demand for eco cars are um, cyclical:
http://www.google.com/trends?q=gasoline%2C+hybrid%2C+prius
\_ GM does not believe in supply and demand. Why should they?
They can always get socialist LOOTER republicans to bail them
out using our tax dollars taken by MEN WITH GUNS.
\_ If the invisible hand allows GM to do what they are good
at doing, then they are deemed the best and the brightest
in the free-market and are automatically rewarded as
expected. Why do you hate capitalism you commie-pig?
\_ I am a capitalist and you are clearly not. When a
company fails due to the consistent stupidity of its
management, it deserves to FAIL, not get bailed out
by the taxpayer. That's socialism. In a capitalist
system, GM would have either failed a long time ago or
actually started responding to market forces.
Of course people like you only call it socialism when you
give ten bucks to a poor person. When you give ten billion
to a failing corporation you call it capitalism, but that
doesn't make it so. GM management are like villains out of
an Ayn Rand novel, and so are you if you defend them.
\_ Who said GM was the best or brightest at anything? You
are definitely not reading the financial news. Your
point would be a lot strong (or even exist) if you knew
wth you were talking about. |
| 2006/8/14-17 [Transportation/Car, Transportation/Car/RoadHogs] UID:43996 Activity:low |
8/14 Poll, Hummer drivers who take up 2 compact car spots should
be ticketed or not, and if so, how much?
Yes: ...
No: .
\_ This is stupid. It's like me ticketing you for being stupid and
ugly. -average Hummer owner
\_ So only one person says yes. I guess no one cares. Too bad,
you Hummer hater.
\_ It seems to me that a Hummer taking up two spaces that carried
two passengers is the same as two single occupancy vehicles taking
up one space each. Actually, the two single occupancy vehicles
put together are probably worse in most cases.
\_ Does the Hummer driver pay two shares of parking fee?
\_ Could something like this be done with Google Earth?
\_ Why should this be limited to Hummer drivers? I've seen drivers of
small Mercedes and highly-customized Honda Civics doing the same in
Chinatown when the garage is packed. I was so tempted to deflate
their tires, except that I was with my family at that time.
\_ Because the Governator needs to be Recalled.
\_ Because OP is a troll?
\_ This is what trolls do to cars:
http://www.see-seattle.com/odyssey-troll.jpg
\_ Do Hummer drivers have a choice? Can they fit into a single spot?
\_ Nice, do you pour red paint on people wearing fur? -John
\_ They had a choice when they were shopping for a vehicle.
From what I notice on the road, most Hummer drivers don't
give a damn about other drivers and enjoy cutting people off
and parking in multiple spots, compact or not, so that
their vehicles don't get scratched.
\_ They can choose to follow instructions and not to park their
non-compact vehicles at compact slots.
\_ flat tires? you are nice. I am tempted to key the paint, and
pour mercury on the cut so the mercury can oxidize the body
panel!
\_ Nice, do you pour red paint on people wearing fur? -John
\_ The worst offenders are BMW drivers. They routinely take up
3 or 4 spaces by parking sides ways. I think that we should
start a vigilante campaign of clamping their wheels.
\_ This is what trolls do to cars:
http://www.see-seattle.com/odyssey-troll.jpg
\_ I drive a BMW and I have never done this once. If anything,
I have noticed the existence of a 'luxury car ghetto'
far from the entrance to wherever one is going. This is
because that cars in that area are more sparse and the chances
because there are fewer cars parked nearby and the chances
of a ding are much less. When I park in the 'ghetto' I see
other luxury makes like Porsche, MB, Lexus, and so on.
So, from the point of view of taking valuable parking
spots, I think luxury car drivers actually take fewer
premium spots. Sure, there are probably inconsiderate
assholes out there. I also notice that when I drive
a luxury car I get better treatment from other luxury
car owners (e.g. don't get cut off) and worse treatment
from the people driving big trucks than when I drive
my old beater. BTW, what do bike riders do for shopping?
Take a cab?
\_ They can choose to follow instructions and not to park their
non-compact vehicles at compact slots.
\_ Live in a walking district. -tom
\_ That won't carry home 7 bags of groceries or similar.
I am talking about transporting items.
\_ Gee, it must be impossible to transport items
without a car! Those non-car-drivers must be
sitting at home, living on water and rat carcasses!
Are you really this clueless? Here's one hint:
if you can't carry 7 bags of groceries, you DON'T
BUY SEVEN BAGS OF GROCERIES! When you live a block
from the market, it's not a big deal to shop smaller.
Hint #2: Someone came up with this remarkable idea
called a DELIVERY TRUCK, and most places which sell
large things have one or can use someone else's. -tom
\_ I didn't say it was impossible, but it sure is
inconvenient. I remember when I didn't have a
car. I always had to take a taxi. I live a
block from the market, but I rarely walk
(or ride bike) because even small things like
\_ because you're a lazy
fuck.
a gallon of milk, cans of cat food and pasta
sauce, 2 pounds of apples, and a six pack of
beer can really add up (weight wise). As for
delivery trucks, that's not usually free. I
know you are a homeowner. So when you need
to hit the hardware store for a ladder, some
plywood, two ficus trees, and a sack of
manure don't tell me that you can easily have
that delivered. Of course, you can take a
cab. Might as well drive yourself, though.
\_ Update: this is still cool. And the cloud data is another level of
interestingness. (I can watch weather patterns developing. Right
now there are interesting storms off the coast of Japan. Damn I
wish I was running this when Katrina hit)
\_ flat tires? you are nice. I am tempted to key the paint, and
pour mercury on the cut so the mercury can oxidize the body
panel!
\_ So you're saying other luxury car drivers treat you better
when you drive a luxury car then when you drive an old
beater? Hmm, in that case luxury car drivers do deserve
bad treatment from the average people.
\_ Yes, I think so. However, 'average drivers' treat
you worse, so it evens out.
\_ Uh, yes, you can easily have stuff
delivered from a hardware store, and it's
way more convenient than trying to fit
plywood and ficus trees into your car.
And while delivery may not be free, it's
a hell of a lot cheaper than owning a
car. -tom
\_ There are plenty of stores that do not
deliver, though. I would say more do
not than do. This isn't a value
judgement, but I think people need to
'fess up about how inconvenient life in
the US is without a car. It's not
something I really find practical. It's
one thing to 'ride bike (or BART)' when
possible, but quite another to avoid
having a car altogether.
\_ I've gone without a car for 15 years now
and don't find it inconvenient at all.
I spend a lot less time dealing with
inconvenient things like traffic,
parking, and auto maintenance. You have
a completely myopic view of the world.
-tom
\_ Myopic? Pot, meet Kettle.
\_ I was gonna say...
\_ So you're saying other luxury car drivers treat you better
when you drive a luxury car then when you drive an old
beater? Hmm, in that case luxury car drivers do deserve
bad treatment from the average people.
\_ Yes, I think so. However, 'average drivers' treat
you worse, so it evens out.
\_ I drive a Hummer and I purposely drive and park like
crap just to piss you have-nots off. -Hummer driver |
| 2006/8/13-14 [Transportation/Car/RoadHogs] UID:43987 Activity:low |
8/12 Every year, 9000 kids are injured by the lawnmower.
\_ Suburbs are not just harmful to the environment given its higher
requirements in transportation, cooling, heating, water, and
higher chemical usages, it is also harmful to our kids. Boycott
suburbia, SUVs, and overly individualistic and selfish Republicans.
\_ Some clown in sacramento was dragged into court
he shot his lawnmower, it disobeyed it wouldn't start
might makes right, it's the american way,
they fined him sixty dollars and sent him on his way
you know some people don't take no shit
maybe if they did, they'd have half a brain left
\_ Which lawnmower is that?
\_ THE lawnmower. He's on the FBI most wanted list.
\- Not to be mistaken for "The Lopper"
\_ We should register lawnmowers. Put lawnmower locks on them.
Limit the number of fan blades, and their chopping speed.
We should also look to into ways etching the sharp end
of the blade with a serial number. And we should require
fingerprinting when buying a lawnmower.
\_ The lawnmoaner sure is hurting kids in the neighborhood. |
| 2006/8/3-6 [Transportation/Car/RoadHogs, Transportation/Car/Hybrid] UID:43891 Activity:nil |
8/3 GM did not Kill The Electric Vehicle:
http://www.gm.com/company/onlygm/fastlane_Blog_2.html
\_ That tagline should be more like "GM Denies Killing the Electric
Vehicle". They blame the market, which I find unlikely.
\_ The Jews did it. -Mel Gibson |
| 2006/8/3-6 [Transportation/Car, Transportation/Car/RoadHogs] UID:43890 Activity:low |
8/3 GM did NOT dismantle LA's mass transit. There is no conspiracy.
The mass transit system failed because of the following reasons:
-streetcar systems deterioration
-subsidy of competing systems
-competition with automobile
-suburbanization
Free-market forces (e.g. the "invisible hand" forces) dictate what
people want, and people simply prefer automobiles over the mass
transit system:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Motors_streetcar_conspiracy
\_ You forgot "because people who live in LA have shit for brains."
How come the Invisible Hand doesn't kill the working mass transit
in nyc, Boston, SF, Seattle, Denver, or DC? Because people who
live in these places do not have shit for brains. Also, the
Invisble Hand would have killed the piece of shit GM calls a
company years ago without gov't subsidies.
live in these places do not have shit for brains.
\_ LA is huge
\_ Not any larger than the area serviced by MTA-funded transit
around New York. It's cultural. Fuck LA.
\_ If by not any larger you mean 3 times the size, then yeah.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greater_Los_Angeles_Area
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_metropolitan_area
\_ LA is a lot less dense than, say, NYC. What the heck
are you talking about re: Seattle and Denver? They
don't have good mass transit. DC, SF, and NYC do. You
might include Chicago or Boston, but I'd say LA is
on par with those.
\_ You've obviously never lived in the greater Denver area.
\_ The rail line goes from Denver to Littleton and back.
I worked in Littleton on a contract. My hotel
was in downtown Denver. I drove and so did almost
all of the people at that company who took the
same route, because even if you got to the
Littleton station you were stuck there. I hardly
call one rail line an example for all the US to
follow. Does it go out to the airport now?
\_ I checked and it's three rail lines now, none
of which go to the airport. Combined, they
are a whopping 16 miles of track. I don't
know *why* LA can't duplicate that awesome
masterpiece of modern transportation engineering.
\_ Cars and roads are the cause, sprawl the symptom.
\_ Cars, roads and sprawl are all symptoms. The disease
is in the mind.
\_ It's the Jews' fault. Just as Mel Gibson. -proud American |
| 2006/8/2-6 [Transportation/Car/RoadHogs] UID:43881 Activity:nil |
8/3 http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14153714 Heat burns the Bush half of the country. Maybe they'll finally stop driving SUVs and live in wasteful suburbia. Or not. \_ maybe they'll just spend more energey on more powerful air conditioning. \_ people is not going to relate their lavish (energy wise) life style with global warming... not those who lives in Bush Country. \_ I love my big red SUV with the air conditioning on at full blast at all times. -proud American \_ Red? Fucking commie. \_ I love my SUV. -proud Southerner |
| 2006/6/14-19 [Transportation/Car, Transportation/Car/RoadHogs] UID:43393 Activity:nil |
6/14 http://www.cnn.com/CNN/Programs/anderson.cooper.360/blog Our attempts to abate traffic in big cities has largely failed. \_ The automobile has been a massive failure as a personal transportation system. \_ On the contrary. The automobile has allowed poor average Joes to live in typical suburbian McMansions that dim-wits and his followers love, and provides a lifestyle that was unimaginable in the pre-WW2 era. The American dream is to buy a big home, and the only affordable way is to live in the boony far away from civilization. \_ It's done great so far, it won't be so great when we're out of oil. \_ You're mixing up the issue of growing oil scarcity with that of traffic congestion. There's no reason why we'll have to stick with petroleum engines in cars in the long run, but traffic will remain a problem. -John \_ Freedom is slavery! Red is green! Power is weakness! \_ Tell that to the people who walk 100+ miles a day to get anywhere. You should really take a trip, not a vacation, and visit those places. See how lucky you have it. How much of a whining little baby everyone who complains as inanely and useless as that is. \_ That's funny. I spent 3 months bicycling through SE Asia and people got along just fine riding bicycles and motorcycles.\ There are other options besides cars for personal transportation. IMOP cars/trucks should only be used for freight. Also, having ridden 100miles in one day on a bike, there is no way you can walk 100+ miles a day. Maybe you are the one that needs to get out more. -scottyg \_ Who walks more than 100+ miles a day? At 5 mph that is a minimum of 20 hrs a day spent walking. \_ At least kids today don't have to walk uphill both ways! \_ You really should take a trip, not a vacation, to a place that has a good transit system not based on the automobile. See how stupid it is to spend thousands of hours of your life sitting in a two ton steel box, often not moving. See how silly those whining SUV drivers really are. |
| 2006/6/5-9 [Transportation/Car/RoadHogs, Transportation/Car/Hybrid] UID:43277 Activity:nil |
6/4 http://www.fuh2.com \_ Funny, but interesting how few people are actually doing it when a Hummer driver can see them. -John \_ It's a lot harder (and less safe) to take a picture when driving. \_ Many of these have a second person taking the picture. No excuse. -John \_ Funny-ish. I hate the H2 too (but I love the H1), but who the fuck are these people to hate them just because the H2 isn't fuel efficient? I guarantee none of the site creators drive a Prius or something similar. \_ how do you guarantee that? \_ I hate H2 because it epitomizes the low and unrefined tastes of an 'average' American. It seems like for many people, the more pompous and obnoxious your vehicle looks, the better. It doesn't matter to them that they will never drive H2 off-road, that it has maritime handling, and poses elevated danger to other people on the road. I don't really care about the low fuel economy. Peole are just responding to economic incentives. Just make the gas or large vehicles expensive enough and they'll start driving more efficient cars. \_ I hate suburbs and McMansions because it epitomizes the low and unrefined tastes of an 'average' American. It seems like for many people, the bigger the backyard and the more pompous your home looks, the better. It doesn't matter to them that they will never utilize 90% of the space, that it wastes more energy with more heating/cooling costs, wastes a lot of water for the lawn, wastes a lot of money associated with gardens that one rarely uses, and require driving far distances and buy big vehicles to shop for necessities far away in the cities. People are selfish assholes and just want everything without considering the harm they're doing to the nature, and to other people. Just make the gas expensive or pay for their part in destroying the environment and they'll start living in more efficient manners. FUCK SUBURBS. \_ Uhm, what differentiates a regular mansion from a McMansion? They sound the same to me based on your vitriolic description. Are you sure it's not a matter of mansion envy? \_ What suburb are you in? In mine the lawns can be watered with a tea cup, the houses, such as they are, are barely bigger than your apartment, the cars are the same cars people in the city own (and park on the side walks). I'd like to live in your suburb. Where should I look for it? -wannabe selfish asshole \_ I grew up in Orange County and San Fernando Valley. My parents' homes are huge, and empty most of the time. Most of the things I grew up with were never used, but were great to show off with when we had guests 2-3 times a year. For example our swimming pools, BBQ, yards and other things were rarely used. I'm older now and I totally sympathize for my parents who had to drive 50-100 miles a day to/from work and to drive us to schools in congested roads. 15 minutes to get grocery, 30 min to the nearest hospital, 35 min to my high school... WHY? Because they didn't know any better and lived their lives like our all the other suburbian home owners. -pp \_ Your experience is not exactly typical. Sounds like your parents were well-to-do. I guess you can hate them for that, if you want to. Most of us are not living in huge houses with wasted space and pools we don't use. |
| 2006/5/24-28 [Transportation/Car, Transportation/Car/RoadHogs] UID:43172 Activity:nil |
5/23 http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060524/ap_on_re_us/gm_gas_rebate Yay, now you can drive an SUV and still pay $2/gallon gas! |
| 2006/5/11-16 [Transportation/Car/RoadHogs] UID:43019 Activity:nil |
5/11 Add bling bling to your SUV:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UeKD-LWjAKY
http://customwheel.com/custom_wheels/product_info.php/products_id/1687
\_ I like the big old computer interface..
"..do it while you're drivin'!"
And by doing so you increase the chance of getting sex:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/space/20060511/sc_space/menpaytheultimatepricetoattractwomen |
| 2006/5/6-10 [Transportation/Car, Transportation/Car/RoadHogs] UID:42959 Activity:nil |
5/6 "High price hurting 7/10 Americans"
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060506/ap_on_bi_ge/gas_prices_ap_poll
I really don't understand this. On average gas price is 5-10% of a
person's income whereas housing is about 50% (and in coastal cities,
75%). Gas price barely moved up 50 cents from $2.50 whereas
housing price nearly doubled in the past few years. Why do people
gripe about gasoline when it is only 10% of their income and
the increase is not even that significant, but don't say anything
about their housing costs?
\_ I think your 5-10% estimate is a bit high, but your 20% increase
in gas price is way understated. It's up 33% in the last year.
In the last three years it has doubled, and in some places tripled.
\_ Because their housing cost is fixed. Also, poorer people who don't
own homes still have to pay for gas. (Well, at least they think
they do.) -tom
\_ Don't forget that high gas prices raise the cost of almost all goods,
including food.
\- Does anybody know ball park what %age of US petroleum use
\- Does anybody know ball park what %age of US petroleum
goes into fertilizer and non-energy petrochem uses like
plastics, nylon, non-dairy creamers etc? ok tnx.
\_ alot of petroleum products are using byproducts of the
refining of crude. Also, gas prices factored into goods are
largely due to transportation of goods from producer to point
of sale.
\- i udnerstand there are some complexities to this answer
such as the distillation column ... so say the demand for
paraffin may not compete with the demand for gas, but i
think there is still an answer.
\_ http://www.praetor.org/images/USEnFlow02-exaj.gif
Should be at least partially informative.
\_ Thanks. This is VERY informative, probably one of
the most informative links on motd. The electrical
energy lost is quite surprising (27.8). The
transportation energy lost however, is not (22.4).
Energy for transportation is a waste. Fuck suburbia.
Fuck GWB and his SUV loving friends. |
| 2006/4/24-27 [Transportation/Car/RoadHogs, Transportation/Car/Hybrid] UID:42813 Activity:nil |
4/23 http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12438812/site/newsweek Extreme Commuters. "The killer commute to and from exurbia is worth it." "Extreme commuters who travel more than 90 minutes to work, one way, are the fastest-growing group of commuters, according to the U.S. Census Bureau." ""...more people than ever are willing to trade time in their car for the American Dream: big house, big yard." \_ a law requiring people to live within X miles/minutes of their homes. discuss. \_ Why? What is there to discuss? What problems does this cause that need to be addressed? Is that you Car Culture Guy? \_ don't be trolling the libertarians like that \_ just charge commuters per mile of road they use. \_ Perhaps you can explain why you hate extreme commuters? For example, you hate them because they cause traffic jams? Pollute the environment? Increase driving aggressions? \_ why discriminate against them? Just hike the gas tax and charge all the users' of the roads equally. \_ As we move towards more flexible fuel vehicles, gas taxes aren't as good a way to fund roadwork anymore... \_ I think you are correct, but I am going to pull a number out of my ass and say that 99.999999 percent of the vehicles on the road use fuel conventionally. There's an interesting article in the Chronicle today about how Toyota invested tons of money and effort into hybrid vehicles over a decade ago and now they are the 9th largest company in the world. - danh \_ Toyota didn't become successful by developing hybrids -- They became successful by being not stupid and developing hybrids is part of the not being stupid part. Hybrids are still a small fraction of the market. \_ It's certainly more than 0.000001%, and will be growing quickly in the current geopolitical/reserve taxing conditions. \_ Hybrids are not selling well in Texas, Tennessee, South Carolina, and other Red hick states that demand big SUVs which make it possible for 51% of the people in America to live their American dreams. You know, big American SUV, suburbia lifestyle, and McMansion. \_ The high gas price caused by the current pro-free market gov is doing a good job detering people from enjoying the life the need desperately. It's too bad people really enjoy being alone on the road. They really need to get away from their whining nagging fat ugly wife and kids that drive them crazy. \_ Spending 3+ hours in a car every day is part of the American nightmare, not the American dream. BTW, the longest commute is some idiot who lives in Yosemite and commutes to San Jose to work for Cisco. \_ Maybe he feels happy to get away from his family and work. |
| 2006/4/4 [Transportation/Car/RoadHogs] UID:42646 Activity:moderate |
4/3 Suburbs are like SUVs. We know they're not eco-friendly and many
people hate them, but everyone loves to own them because they
provide more space and comfort. Suburb increase our needs for
automobile, energy use, and traffic congestion, thus are detrimental
to the environment as much as SUVs. Suburbs and SUVs are
Weapons of Mass Destruction. Boycott them now!!!
\_ we need weapons of mass destruction to maintain detente
\_ Giving you the undeserved benefit of the doubt by assuming this is
not a troll, what alternative would you suggest? I should point
out that you're completely and utterly ignorant of the history that
led to the rise of suburbs in the last century, and is currently
leading to exurbs. -dans
\_ the alternative is mega-cities where everyone cramped into
apartments which is on average less than 1000 square feet per
household.
FYI, China in the middle of 1990s has decided that they are
going to follow the USA model: concentrate government subsidies
on automobile-related infrastructures. It's been only 10 years
and the problem is already very appearent: tail-pipe pollution,
congestion, fuel shortage that is beyond the imagination of
average Americans who blocked Unical merger.
\_ Maybe they just have too damned many people? Would China have
enough useful land to spread everyone out in the farm lands?
Would super high density no-auto zones really solve anything
or just make people even more unhappy and insane? People
need space. Cramped little apartments are completely
unnatural and unhealthy. No one thinks people *want* to
commute 1-2 hours each way in the US but they do it so they
can get out of the city which they can't afford to live in
anyway.
\_ there are alternative ways to solve the problem. cities
based upon public transportation than private cars, for
example. People even talking about conveyer belt for
side walks, etc. People are getting used to the USA model
and reluctant to dump money on different form of
infrastructure.
\_ when was this magic pre-USA period of time when cities
didn't exist?
\_ I asked you what the alternative was, not for some screed
about another possible consequence of overpopulation. We all
know that too many people in too small a space is a bad
thing. Tell us something insightful. Furthermore, we don't
really have many actual mega-cities, Tokyo, Hong-Kong, maybe
Dubai is shaping up to be one, can you point to others? Can
you point to an existing city that is growing into a
mega-city? I am highly doubtful that this will happen in
either New York or San Francisco, two cities I am intimately
familiar with. -dans |
| 2006/4/3-4 [Transportation/Car, Transportation/Car/RoadHogs] UID:42623 Activity:moderate |
4/4 I've seen this before, but this is the best breakdown I've seen on the
compressed air car. (video from the Science Channel)
http://csua.org/u/fep
\_ damn, I was hoping to see a shot of what happens with a catastrophic
rupture of the air cylinder. Gasoline may take a while to burn, but
imagine what that compressed-air bottle would do with a good hole
in it. Not mentioned in the video, of course.
\_ It's 4/3 you doophus.
\_ I got a better idea. Design a European-like city that doesn't
have this FUCKING uncontrolled suburban McMansionized sprawl
which require a lot of driving in the first place.
\_ It's 4/3 you doophus.
\_ I got a better idea. Design a walkable and bikeable European-like
city that doesn't have this FUCKING uncontrolled suburban
McMansionized sprawl which require a lot of driving in the
first place. Oh well it'll never happen in America.
\_ And it's going out of style in Europe. Haven't you heard? All
the French want to move to the suburbs.
\_ You mean there's stuff outside the Peripherique? Inconceivable!
\_ You mean there's stuff outside the Peripherique?
Inconceivable!
\_ Where do you think the cheap prostitutes hang out?
\_ You mean all the poor, dangerous Arab suburbs around Paris?
No, I had not heard that.
\_ Design? So maybe we should have Soviet style cities built from
the ground up by lowest bidders and force people to leave their
current homes and jobs to move to Utopiaville?
\_ Market forces, o rabid one: build Utopiaville and see if they
come. If they do, great; if not, turn it into a theme park.
\_ I'm not rabid. I just think it's stupid. Economies
develop. They don't pop up artificially. If it was such
a great idea and easy to implement it would've happened.
I think we tried the commune thing already. It was called
the 60s and the hippies all turned into baby boomer wall
street 80s go-go executive scumbags living in the suburbs
in McMansions with matching Hummers and 60" plasmas.
People like comfort and stuff and space and mobility.
\_ I like comfort, space and mobility. But for me, part
of comfort is being able to walk over to my friends
houses, or not worrying about sobering up at a bar
because I can walk home. Part of mobility is being
able to hop on my bike in a snowstorm at 2 in the
morning and go to work in 5 minutes without having to
screw around with a window scraper and warming up a
car. And as for space, I'd rather share a hundred acre
park with the other residents of a neighborhood than
have my own 1/8 acre plot to sit in by myself that I
have to mow and trim. Also, the claim that suburbs just
"spring up" is absurd. Take a good look at miles and
miles of identical houses built by the same builders
on the same plans, and miles and miles of box stores
also built by the same companies and tell me that's
spontaneous. It's still planned, it's just planned
by a small group of corporate planners instead of a
small group of civil planners.
\_ The problem with your city utopia is that people
can't fuck their wives loudly and have babies.
And even if they start having kids in the city,
where would you hide when the baby starts crying?
Where would you keep your tools to fix your car?
Where would you keep your inlaws? There's no
backyard, garage, and an empty street where kids
can play safely. Your city utopia works well
when you're young, but as you get older you need
room and privacy to fuck and to have lots of kids.
\_ Sorry to tell you this but you're a minority.
95% of the people aren't like you, and do not
want to live in a compact city or dorm like
environment. To illustrate the point, why do
juniors, seniors, and grad students want to
move out of the dorm so badly? Because they're
fed up with living so close to other idiots
who party all night and listen to hip-hop music
3AM in the morning and smoke weeds. It's so much
easier to deal with 2-3 hours of traffic than to
deal with people. If space allows it, most people
in America will trade traffic for big space,
freedom of expression, and individuality.
-dim #1 fan
\_ Free expression, huh? I guess that's why all the
artists, musicians, writers and scientists, and
most big-time entrepreneurs live in cities.
\_ "all the ...". No. I know a bunch of writers
and scientists. None of them live in a large
city. Ok, well, 1 writer does but she's
living in her mom's house at age 38.
\_ Let me guess, you're a liberal socialist and you
oppose the wonderful forces of free market?
\_ Nope I'm a liberal capitalist who hasn't been
duped by the new socialism of the suburbs.
Choosing between an identical McHouse with a
blue birdhouse mailbox and one with a brown
birdhouse mailbox or choosing between Target
and Walmart is not my idea of a free market.
Cities are the best place for a free market
to exist. I don't see the NYSE planning to
move to some dipshit suburb of LA any time soon.
Can you name one stock exchange that's not in a
city?
\_ there's a huge difference between building
new homes near a pre-existing job center and
firing up Utopiaville from scratch including
jobs (what jobs?!) people can walk to and
hoping it just magically works.
\_ A history of the suburbs. http://www.slate.com/id/2129636
"[S]prawl is not the anomalous result of American zoning laws, or
"[S]prawl is not the anomalous result of American zoning laws,
mortgage interest tax deduction, or cheap gas, or subsidized
highway construction, or cultural antipathy toward cities. Nor
is it an aberration... Sprawl is and always has been inherent
to urbanization."
\_ All of the examples there since the 19th century were
predicated on availability of public transportation. |
| 2006/3/22-25 [Transportation/Car/RoadHogs, Transportation/Car/Hybrid] UID:42381 Activity:low |
3/22 http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060322/ap_on_bi_ge/fuel_economy Bush works hard to improve fuel economy. Here's a better idea for you out-of-touch politicians. Instead of building endless unplanned suburbs, how about encouraging developers to build sustainable and more efficient cities that require less driving? It'll drastically cut down on fuel consumption and other energy costs. \_ Americans value freedom. \_ the only reason why you have this "freedom" is because government is paying for the road. \_ So you equate sitting in a metal box for many hours a week with freedom. You, sir, are a fucking moron. \_ You aren't forced to drive everywhere. Change your career and life style so you don't have to. Every decision and life style choice has plusses and minuses. Pick the set that makes you happiest. \_ I haven chosen. I don't own a car, and I live in one of the very very few places in the U.S. where that doesn't ruin \_ where is that, out of curiosity? \_ Boulder, co. Buses: amazing, bike trails:amazing \_ indeed a cool place... love the scones from the bakery downtown... best I ever had. \_ Which bakery? I'm new here, and I like scones. \_ I don't remember the name, but it was on Pearl street, west of the walk-only portion, on the north side of the street. Should be pretty easay to find. The famous tea house (in the rough vicinity) was also pretty cool. \_ looked it up, I think it was Spruce Confections (767 Pearl St) \_ Thanks! I'll check it out tonight or tomorrow. my life. I intend to vote with my feet on this issue and never live in a shithole like L.A., Houston, or Phoenix. My point is that a life that includes sitting in a metal box for several hours by yourself and not getting paid for it involves less *freedom* than one where you're not. I'm pretty sure I value freedom a lot more than the average SUV driving McHouse dweller on just about every possible axis on which freedom can be defined. \_ Can all of the service workers the city requires afford to live in this efficient and eco-friendly city of yours? \_ In the city I just left? Yes. In the city I'm in now, rents are still way lower than the sprawling Bay Area. I don't think your sprawl is the product of the free market anyway--it's just another form of socialism: corporate socialism. You're probably from LA like most of the rightwing assholes on the motd, so it's difficult for you to understand that people don't have to live that way, but there are plenty of livable non-car cities with over a million people, with a quarter million people, with 80,000 poeple, 25,000 people, and less than a thousand. It's not some crazy utopia--it's your world that's a crazy dystopia, and you're just too brainwashed to see it. \_ Hear hear! These car drivin suburbanites refuse to admit how much urbanites subsidize their wasteful and selfish lifestyle. I for one am sick and tired of paying high taxes and other increased costs (like higher utility costs) just so they can live in their McMansions. \_ Well, then we agree. I have no problem with these morons going out in the desert and building sprawl if they want to pay for it and actually live up to their free market rhetoric. But, as with most people who carp the loudest about the "free market", the suburbanites are really statists. The exception is when their pollution infriges on my right to breathe without getting asthma at a young age, which I consider to be a basic right. \_ Our great Lord Bush disagrees with you. He recommends you drive an SUV and live in a nice mansion in Texas. \_ http://csua.org/u/fbg is funny The only CA city ranked for walking is... Fremont Aaaaanyway. \_ I didn't have a car for most of my years in Berkeley and it wasn't a big deal. Fremont? \_ Which motd rightwingers are from LA? None of the ones I know are. \_ i'll up YOUR mileage |
| 2006/3/19-20 [Transportation/Car/RoadHogs] UID:42316 Activity:low |
3/19 Trading in hummers for hybrids:
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/18/business/18trucks.html?_r=1&oref=slogin
\_ I thought Berkeley taught you how to read. The title is:
"Trading the Hummer for a Honda." and give you another hint:
http://csua.org/u
\_ Why would Berkeley teach people how to read? That's the
responsibility of elementary schools.
\_ The article talked about a 400h. That's a hybrid.
\_ but the Honda Element is not. |
| 2006/3/1-4 [Transportation/Car/RoadHogs, Transportation/Car/Hybrid] UID:42057 Activity:low |
3/1 http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060302/ap_on_bi_ge/autos_consumer_reports Good bye Detroit! And good riddens \_ riddance \_ why arent the expensive cars like MBZ and Audi more reliable? \_ Consumer Reports had a sidebar on that last year. Their theory is that European luxury carmakers tend to stuff the cars with unproven, gimmicky electronics that are prone to failure, where Japanese luxury brands are more cautious. \_ It's not that, it's that they do not have sufficient control over their supply chains. Especially Mercedes was hit by a series of really bad quality component parts, leading to recalls. BMW and, to a lesser extent Audi, have this reasonably well in hand. -John \_ Isn't it obvious? They are built by Germans who are unhappy that the Italians, French and Austrians are always enjoying cigarettes, coffee and beautiful women in cafes while they are stuck in working in factories whose efficiency would make the SS proud. \_ Why are people who are generally pro-union, anti-Detroit? \_ If the cars were better, I'm sure they would be "pro-Detroit". When Hyundai cars first appeared here, they were awful and Consumer Reports said the Excel was one of the worst cars they ever had tested. Maybe they are just being objective? |
| 2006/3/1-2 [Transportation/Car, Transportation/Car/RoadHogs] UID:42042 Activity:high |
3/1 great video about some georgia college students doing a speed
limit experiment:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-5366552067462745475&q=speed
anyone know the funky song thats playing at the end?
\_ In Georgia? I'm surprised they weren't shot.
\_ This is really interesting, and I get their point, but their
execution, while effective and dramatic, was pretty dickish.
I hope they weren't pulling that during a busy commute time.
--erikred
\_ Why? I like the whole "civil obedience" thing. If following
the law is dangerous and pointless, then...? -John
\_ Have you ever been stuck in traffic and discovered that the
reason for the traffic was a "phantom" stop (i.e., the result
of someone ahead of you slowing slightly, and then the person
behind them slowing more, and so on until you finally stop)?
Well, it's bad enough when the flow of traffic is disturbed
by an expression of Chaos Theory; it's more annoying when it's
the the result of some people actively seeking to slow down
traffic to make a point. --erikred
\_ Yes, it is a well-documented phaenomenon of traffic
dynamics. That has nothing to do with stupid or in-
appropriate laws, and with pointing this out. -John
\_ I was attempting to evoke a visceral response to being
stuck in traffic and then trying to get you to compare
that feeling with the feeling you would have if the
latter were instead the case. But hey, if neither of
these bother you, more power to you. How's the traffic
in the Andes? --erikred
\_ It would bother me tremendously, natch. I hate being
stuck in traffic, but it's kind of a NIMBY thing.
What they're doing is sort of snotty college-brat
hoserish, you are right, but the point they make is
very valid. As for traffic in the Andes, look at
~john/Temp/IMG_14{23,42,53}.JPG :-) -John
\_ vo ist ze lederhosen? HEIL GERMAN JOHN!!!
\_ So we agree... to agree. :) Nice pix. That's the
right setting for 4/AWD. --erikred
\_ Thanks...it always warms my heart with joy
when some banker twat in one of the cheap
Chinese SUV knock-offs they love down here
cuts me off, to just think about where I took
ours last weekend... -John
\_ I think people are going too fast. I like the current
speed limits. I hate people who tailgates me with their
big fat truck and headlights when I am already driving
at the speed limit. I will purposely slow down to
annoy them when they do that. - Mr 55
\_ Mr 55 Guy, I have the answer for you from the cop who
did the driving class I was in for a ticket in response
to some woman who was seeking praise from the cop for
doing 55 in front of fast people, "It is not your job
to regulate the flow of traffic, it is my job. If
you're going slower than the vehicles behind you, get
out of the way, you're more dangerous than they are".
She then proceeded to repeat herself and heap praise
upon herself for her high moral standards which
elicited the same response in much harsher tones until
he eventually beat the concept into her tiny brain.
\_ So what was her ticket for?
\_ No idea. He was extremely no nonsense and had
zero bullshit tolerance so we didn't play the
'go around the room and say what our tickets are
for' game. He gave this one girl the boot from
class for coming in 20 minutes late on the
second night (still wearing her cheer leader
high school outfit) and sent her packing in tears
to go sign up for a re-take.
\_ why were you in traffic school for? - Mr 55
\_ tagged for running a yellow light. In 20 years
I've had 4 tickets including that one, another
was "unsafe right turn on red" and one for
speeding. 72 in 65. The last was a Berkeley cop
for something that took him 15 minutes to figure
out what to put on the ticket but came down to
something like, "crossing a highway against
oncoming traffic", that traffic being his idled
patrol car on the side of the road with his lights
out at night.
\_ I am not trying to regulate traffic. I am just
trying to drive at a safe speed. why should I
be subjected to dangerous tailgating or constant
lane changes. It's not like I am driving at 45.
I am driving 55. I've never been stopped by police
for driving too slow. - Mr 55
\_ If you're driving 55 in California, you're still
driving too slow. The limit is 65 here and it's
generally agreed that if you're driving 55,
you're impeding traffic, particularly if you're
in the left lane. By the way, in Germany, you
will be pulled over if you get caught being a
left lane bandit or if you tailgate. I think
that's the way it should be here.
\_ Wrong. The speed limit for big rigs on every
highway in California is 55 or less. You are
allowed to drive 55 legally in the right hand
lane. Change the law if you don't like it.
\_ There is a place for you on the highway that
is safe for your driving speed, won't get you
heavily tail gated, won't piss off or endanger
anyone, including yourself and requires no lane
changes at all: the right lane. Know it, drive
it, love it.
\_ First of all, that's bullshit. Years ago,
when I used to be a car-driver like you,
I used to go slightly over the speed limit
(which was 65) and stay in the right lane
if there were two lanes or the middle lane
if there were three and frequent exits. I
was continually tailgated, and occasionally
brighted out even when the left lane was totally
empty. Face it. Most of the people on the
road shouldn't be given a license to operate
a fucking bigwheels, much less the 6000 pound
monsters they all feel the need to drive now.
And whatever speed any of you drive, you still
poison my air, and I still have to pay for
your oil subsudies and oil wars. I don't even
remember where I was going with this rant
now. FUCK BIRDS!!! Let 'em die in windmills.
\_ You know, I find it kind of reassuring
that you're not on the freeways anymore.
\_ With 30,000 car related deaths a year,
I'm glad you feel so safe. Moron.
\_ Heh, I never said I "felt safe".
I said it was "reassuring". Work
on your reading skills, young
neurotic padawan.
\_ Oh, yeah, it was the other guy
who said "we're all safer".
Whatever. Consider my crazed,
free-floating rage to be directed
at both of you.
\_ Well, once again your reading
skills have failed you. The
fact that we're safer thanks
to your absence isn't equivalent
to "we're safe". Keep trying,
neurotic grasshopper.
\_ Fuck you.
\_ LOL I haven't had this
much fun on motd in a
long time. Keep it up
Mr. Wannabe Sociopath!
\_ Blow it out your ass,
wanker. FUck you.
\_ Y0u r3wl, dud3!!1!
\_ Someone is off their meds this
morning.
\_ Heh, I was about to say something like
that, too. We're all safer. Except the
pedestrians he's going to hit with his
bike at 30 mph because he doesn't walk
his bike at cross walks as per the law.
\_ Fuck you.
\_ Back on the meds! Down, boy! Down!
\_ Just went on new medication this
week. So far I'm unimpressed.
Fuck you.
\_ Yeah, I'm not so impressed
with those meds either.
Maybe you should consider
going to a new doctor.
\_ And I'll support your right to do this. If you get some
friends to drive next to you and thereby block all
traffic, however, you're not just exercising your right,
you're blocking traffic, no matter how legally you're
doing it. --erikred
\- and dont do that in the "fast lane" if there is one.
\_ When I drive in the fast lane, I always make
sure that my car is faster then cars in the lane
to my right, but still, there will be these
people driving big trucks or other monster
vehicle tailgating me. I mean if I get a good
chance, I will filter right and let them pass
but I don't feel I have an obligation to do that
in a hurry if I am already faster than cars in
the lane to my right. I find these tailgaters
annoying, and I will slow down just to annoy
them back if they follow me too closely. - Mr 55
\_ Yeah, see that puzzles me. I'd think that,
if the guy behind you is engaging in stupid
of the guy behind you is engaging in stupid
dangerous behavior, the logical thing to do
would be to get out of his way and alleviate
the hazardous situation rather than trying
to get the 'last word' and exacerbate things.
That behavior would seem to contradict your
insistence that you drive slowly to be at a
"safer speed". -mice
to get the 'last word' and exacerbate the
situation. That behavior would seem to
things. That behavior would seem to
contradict your insistence that you drive
slowly to be at a "safer speed". -mice
\_ I usually move right to allow faster cars to
pass in the fast lane, but I'm with you-- I'd
rather slow down than give in to a tailgater.
\_ The proper thing to do is let the
faster traffic pass. You could get a
ticket if you don't.
\- while i acknowledge there is obnoxious
tailgating, you do have to pull up
enough to convey you want to go faster.
(which i usually do and then back off)
and of course if there is a lot of
traffic ahead of the car directly in
front of you, you should back off.
\_ Not if passing on the right is allowed,
as it is on CA highways.
\_ Do you know what "proper" means?
\_ Sorry, wasn't clear: agreed with
proper, disagreed with ticket.
\_ When I retook my DMV exam recently
this question was on it. If
someone pulls up behind you and,
say, flashes his lights then it
is your job to get out of his
way. It is not his responsibility
to pass you on the right.
\_ yea, the DMV booklet also says
to maintain a certain distance
while following. I actually
prefer people flash me instead
of tailgating me, which is
much more dangerous.
\_ Two wrongs don't make a right.
\_ Like I said if he flashes
me it's okay. Sometimes
people do have emergencies.
But no, tailgating is not
acceptable because you
are endangering other
people's lives. And yes,
two wrongs don't make a
right means you are not
supposed to tailgate even
if the old lady doesn't
move over.
\_ I'm not disputing that
tailgating is illegal
and dangerous. I am
pointing that that impeding
traffic in some silly
urge to be 'right' is
both unsafe and illegal.
\_ well, you said "if a
driver pulls up
behind you, it is your
job to get out of the
way". This is not
true. A prerequisite
for impeding traffic
is two or more vehicles
following you. Blocking
one idiot trying to drive
faster than the
traffic flow doesn't
constitute impeding
traffic. No police
will stop you for that.
\_ The point is they are adhereing to a law that should
ticket everyone not going that slowly anyway.
\_ We're not blocking traffic, we are
traffic! - Critical Mass
\_ I would like to have seen the cops get involved.
\_ And what could they do? Ticket them for going the speed limit?
I suppose there could be a ticket for disturbing the peace or
or something like that. Like willfully attempting to block
traffic.
\_ Obstructing traffic. Misdemeanor in CA
\_ Would that stick if you were travelling exactly at the
maximum speed limit? On what grounds? As long as you
weren't blocking emergency vehicles...
\_ In CA, Obstructing Traffic requires a vehicle to be
stopped. Strangely enough, the proper charge might be
Reckless Driving. See:
http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/vc/vctoc.htm
\_ 4 lane freeways are 55 there? Yeesh.
\_ I think they should invent new signs in some threatening color and
put new "Zero Tolerance" speed limits on them, that are like the
ones the cops actually enforce. 1mph over and you'll be ticketed
(reliably).
\_ In Scottsdale, they have automatic speed ticketing cameras/radar
now.
\- as is common in europe. will be interesting to see if they
survive giving tickets to cops and judges and pols.
\_ Except for in the UK (where they're insane), most Euro
cameras have tolerance limits, and are in areas where
traffic is dangerous and speeding is dangerous. Except
in some places like NL where they measure over distance.
This is pointless and lame. -John
\_ I always know when we hit a camera zone in Holland
when my relatives are driving me somewhere because
for no reason they suddenly slow down a lot, and
then a little later speed up ...
\_ Are you kidding? They'll be 'taken care of'.
\_ I kind of doubt that. The red light cameras in SF
and the speed cameras in DC are unmolested.
\_ You misunderstand. PP was refering to the practice
of 'ticket-fixing'.
\_ In Taiwan, they have a device that will warn you whenever
you approach places where there are speed ticketing
cameras or radars.
\_ Russia: get jailed for having an official crash into YOU. -oj
http://csua.org/u/f4a
\_ America: apologize when an official shoots YOU!
http://www.thedailyjournalonline.com/article.asp?ArticleId=224493&CategoryId=12395
\_ They should learn to spell. |
| 2006/2/12-15 [Transportation/Car, Transportation/Car/RoadHogs] UID:41807 Activity:nil |
2/12 How the state-backed Chinese car manufacturers copy the western designs
for free:
http://driving.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,22750-2012852,00.html
\_ My question is, when is GM gonna bring the Matiz home?
\_ They seem to be busy bringing more giant trucks:
http://tinyurl.com/8ov2m
\_ Man, the car that really throws me is the cadillac
pickup. I'm mean, seriously, WTF?
\_ Too much money plus the lack of good state.
\_ There's an article in the newspapers this weekend
about how middleclass Indian families in India
just go to the local village carpenter with an
IKEA catalog in hand and point out what they want built.
\_ I don't see anything wrong with that, except the Indians
showing lack of taste. If I could get the local village
carpenter to build me anything for a buck or two, it
wouldn't be Ikea's crap.
\_ are these those new ikea VR catalogs?
\- this is true with jewelry too ... "the family
jeweler" has asked my mother to save catelogs for
him. although when safeway etc makes generic
versions of oreo etc arent they becailly doing the
same thing? i was surprised to see a clones of
ODWALLA SUPERFOOD by one of the other boutique
juice companies ... i thought that would have been
protected.
\_ Re safeway generics (and drug store brands):
many are manufactured by the same parent co
on behalf of the supermarket or drug store.
A few are manufactured by 3d parties under
the FDA generic license.
Re Odwalla: If the formula for superfood is
protected, it is either as a trade secret or
a patent. I do not think that it is possible
to patent the recipe for a complex food stuff
such as superfood (as opposed to say the
formula for coke) b/c the claims would be too
broad (but I will ask my Patents prof today).
If the protection is under trade secret, in
a likelihood Odwalla cannot prove misapprop-
riation.
\_ Chemical formulas fall under their own section
of patent law. Usually a tiny change in the
formula is enough to avoid a patent. |
| 2006/2/9-11 [Transportation/Car, Transportation/Car/RoadHogs] UID:41789 Activity:nil |
2/9 http://www.slate.com/id/2129636/?nav=tap3 Urban sprawl is universal and not an American phenomenon. \_ The auto has turned it into a major menace though. First world cities built post-automobile are all spread out much more than the older cities, sometimes by a whole order of magnitude more. |
| 2006/2/7-9 [Transportation/Car, Transportation/Car/RoadHogs] UID:41753 Activity:high |
2/7 Wanna get killed in a Smart car? It's easy.
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6605730767077503480
\_ How much better do you think a "normal" car would have done?
\_ That looks like quite impressive crash performance for a
collision with a concrete wall at 70mph. -tom
\_ Sure the frame is alright, but what about the crash dummy?
How good the car looks after a crash has no bearing on how
well the passengers
\_ There wasn't a crash dummy, but I can't imagine that any
car would perform significantly better than the Smart car
does in that demonstration. And of *course* how well the
frame looks has a bearing on how the passengers do; do I
need to put the Mini vs. F150 page in the MOTD again? -tom
\_ Mini vs F150
http://csua.org/u/7gp
"Most accidents involve only one car?" Does he mean
"fatal accidents?" or "injury accidents" or what?
I've been run into like 3 times, but all were pretty
slow. I do agree that head-on collisons are a stupid
thing to worry about. Rear-ending is more common and
T-bones are more dangerous.
\_ You mean 'wanna LIVE in a Smart car? It's easy."? (just looking at
the video)
\_ Wanna get killed in any other car? It's also very easy ..
\_ If the comparison thru 70mph head-on collision is "Smart car hitting
massive object" vs. "Civic hitting massive object", yes Smart car
will do better. Likewise, if the comparison is "Smart car hitting
Crown Victoria" vs. "Civic hitting Crown Victoria", again Smart car
will do better. However, in the latter case the Crown Victoria will
survive better than both the Smart car and the Civic because of it
mass. So, in which of the three cars do you want to be during a
head-on collision with another car?
\_ Mass translates into kinetic energy. I think the premise that
a vehicle with higher kinetic energy is more likely to be
safe in a collision is unfounded. -tom
\_ KE needs to be considered with P
\_ Yes, I'm sure it will be comforting when your large car
decides to do work on your skull. -tom
\_ In a head-on, which would you rather be in:
Locomotive vs. 18 wheeler:
18 Wheeler vs. Hummer:
Hummer vs Civic:
Civic vs. RIDE BIKE!:
RIDE BIKE! vs sneakers:
Locomotive vs sneakers:
Taking all of 2 seconds to think about this should make
it clear that mass of the vehicle will keep the person
in the larger vehicle safer overall than the person in
the smaller vehicle. Obviously not being in a wreck at
all is best case but we can't always avoid a collision.
\_ The head-on collision without any angular vectors
is simply not very common. In the real world, lots
of different kinds of fatal accidents happen,
and most of them are not head-on, and those
that are classified as head-on are mostly not
pure-headon-inelastic-collision. Heck, the Smart
car may wind up becoming a ramp for your Crown
Victoria. -tom
\_ Uhm, so what? Take any angle you want. Which
transport would you rather be in in any of the
above situations?
\_ There are plenty of accidents where it is
better to be in a smaller car. That's why
big cars have just as many fatalities. -tom
\_ DUCK! "I can name that accident in 3
collisions!" "Tom, name that accident!"
\_ This is not always true. Many big boaty cars of
1970s and 1980s were very unsafe because they did
not have collapsing steering columns. In an
accident
not have collapsing steering column. In an accident
the steering column would pretty much squash your
chest and/or head. If the hummer had a steering
column like that, I'd take my chances in the civic.
\_ This isn't the 1970s and 1980s. How many of
those cars are still on the road?
\_ Then you'll like the massive locomotive, which
does not have a steering column.
\_ Then you'll like a locomotive, which does not
have a steering column.
\_ Unless it's diesel or steam, in which case
you'll probably be smooshed in 50 million
pounds of steel AND doused with hot burning
shit, or electric, which will tangle you up
in high tension wires! -John
\_ More likely the little car would get
smashed aside with everyone killed by the
loco's cow fender on the front. A bad day
for the loco engineer but he's going home
to his family. The civic passengers are
dead at any reasonable rate of speed.
\_ Ah, but a gigantic blob of gore may
fly in a spectacular arc towards the
driver's cabin of the locomotive and
spatter the driver with bits of bone
and brain, thereby inflicting traumatic
dry cleaning bills. -John
\_ Yeah, that counts as a bad day for
the engineer, but the dry cleaning
bills should be picked up by the
company if he was wearing the
company uniform. Or maybe the gore
will just splatter across the
wind shield. Wind shield fluid is
pretty cheap.
\_ What if it hits him in the eye,
and it just happens to be a bit
of stomach lining, and the prior
owner just had a really spicy
Mexican meal? -John
\_ That might work if you are in a demolition derby but
in the real world that KE is often gonna end up
smashing into some largish inanimate object before
too long. Or a pileup of other cars. At which
point the safety engineering becomes more important
than the mass. What percentage of crashes are head
on collisions where the cars don't deflect off in
some way? I bet it's not that high.
\_ What percentage of non-headons result in death or
life long injury? Headons and side impacts to
where someone is sitting are the 2 killers.
Getting rear ended at most speeds means you get
some painful soft tissue damage and some cash.
My 4 door sedan with steel bars in the side
panels bounced an SUV coming in at a 45` angle at
about 20-25 mph. They bought me a new door. No
biggie. My civic would have been totalled. (Yes,
I owned a civic too). I rear ended another large
vehicle (sigh) at about 15 with the sedan. We
both drove home with minimal damage. The civic
got caught in a 4 car (car #3) and pretzeled at
about 25mph and the driver (not me) was injured.
Maybe my experience runs counter to the odds but
I don't think so. I'll stick with my big
vehicles for safety, thanks.
\_ How old was the Civic? The door strength I
think isn't necessarily tied to the overall
vehicle mass. Maybe that Civic just wasn't
very safe regardless. A lot of older small
cars were, that didn't necessarily have to
be (probably goes along with small cars
generally also being cheap cars). Shrug.
\_ Civic was 2000. True that putting steel
bars inside a puff box only means the
passengers get steel bars in their chests.
The rest of the car has to be big enough
and structurally sound enough to take that
hit and spread the force without smashing
a passenger. All else being equal, the
bigger vehicle is going to take a hit better
than a smaller one. Get Thee To Ye Ol'
Locomotive, Sir!
\_ Hmm, why did the narrator in this British video use mph instead of
km/h? --- yuen
\_ Um, perhaps the narrator is British, but the video is not?
\_ But the license plate of the Smart car is UK format. Okay
maybe it's a British narrator reporting a UK crash test on an
American channel. I don't remember which other countries
still use the imperial system and have English TV. --- yuen
\_ The Brits use a mix of imperial and metric units. Speeds,
at least automotive speeds, are generally given in units
of mph. -gm
\_ Um, freeway signs are metric in UK. Are you talking
racing world? Or are you talking out of your ass?
\_ I admit I haven't been to the UK in a few years,
but speed limit signs, at least, were definitely in
mph; I think distance signs were as well, but I don't
recall exactly. The UK Metric Association agrees:
http://metric.org.uk/Campaign/mess.htm
If you have a more definitive souce, I'd be happy
to see it. -gm
\_ Whoa, I'm smoking the crack.. Sorry.
Now I'm wondering where I went...
\_ Brits talk in miles quite often. Officially they
use km on road signs. -John
\_ Another point that always gets left out of the Mass vs. Safety debate
is the maneuverability of the smaller car. If only 3/4 of potential
accidents are realized in a more maneuverable vehicle, that's a
pretty big safety win. SUV == passive safety.
\_ There's no way a smaller car is going to be able to avoid 25%
of their wrecks. Most wrecks either come out of nowhere or
you have no place to escape to. And frankly, most people don't
know how to drive their car anyway and couldn't avoid a wreck
under optimal conditions. We call those "fender benders" and
they're incredibly common.
\_ Or worse, some drivers try to maneuver their cars to avoid a
wreck when they shouldn't (e.g. speed too high, no room on the
side), and end up with a bigger wreck like rollover or head-on
100+mph collision with opposite traffic, killing others with
their stupidity.
\_ and let us note, bigger cars are more likely to roll...
\_ Huh? A Sienna is less likely to roll than a 2-dr RAV4.
I've driven both, although not actually encoutering any
near-rollover conditions.
I've driven both, and the Sienna rolls less during fast
turns. I've not actually encoutered any near-rollover
situations though.
\_ No facts please.
\_ URL to mroe info on smart car? |
| 2006/1/26-29 [Transportation/Car, Transportation/Car/RoadHogs] UID:41557 Activity:high |
1/26 Our jobs are getting outsourced because we're unpatriotic and
buy foreign goods. Try something new. By an American vehicle -
chances are you'll be pleasantly surprised:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/usatoday/20060126/cm_usatoday/buyamericantoboostusindustries
\_ Real patriots don't drive cars.
\_ I bought an American vehicle but it had nothing to do with
politics. I drove everything I was even remotely interested in
in the 20-30k range from all makers and got an excellent price.
If American makers want more sales they need to improve quality
and features without increasing prices. Ford only had half the
right idea announce on Monday: they're over staffed and dumping
1/4 of their work force. I didn't see anything about fixing the
core problem which is that their car quality just sucks or I
would've bought some stock for a long term hold. GM got decent
customer satisfaction/quality ratings on recent surveys but didn't
market that fact at all. Companies run by stupid people are just
doomed in the long run.
\_ Actually, they know exactly why their quality sucks. Because
they spend something like $6k/car on worker benefits. That's
an extra $5k/car (!!) that their competition can spend on quality
parts and assurance.
\_ I'm calling bullshit on you.
\_ I call bullshit on you. Give some evidence.
\_ I'm sure Ford knows. My disappointment is that they didn't
announce a plan to do anything about it. I used to own one.
It was fun but built like shit and their service centers
sucked too.
\_ It's not $6K. It's about $3K. Note that German workers
get paid still higher though. I'd blame the unions.
\_ Eh, I'm being patriotic and I buy Japanese cars. But then
again I'm Japanese. I win.
\_ "But I think the real fault lies with the U.S. consumer. First we
wanted sport-utility vehicles, now we don't." How dare we have
fads! For shame!
\_ Someone should inform this guy that American cars are built by
Mexicans, while Japanese cars are being built by Americans.
\_ True, and that's why Nissan/Infiniti ratings are so low.
If you buy a car built in Japan it's going to be better
and I'm not sure why that is.
\_ I think that Nissan/Infiniti's problems have more to
do w/ the company and less to do w/ US manufacturing.
Toyota builds many Camry's and Corrola's in the US
and there are no quality problems w/ either. Same w/
Subaru.
The problem faced by US automakers is that they do
not spend enough time time on the details for most
cars (cf. trucks where US trucks are considered very
cars (cf. trucks where US trucks are considered
reliable).
\_ Perhaps, but Nissan's rating were higher when they
were Japan-built.
\_ Perhaps, but Nissan's ratings were higher when they
were Japan-built. BMW's ratings are higher for their
German-(or South African)-built cars. I have a
friend who specifically sought out a Japanese-built
Camry (you can tell by VIN). Is it better? I dunno,
but I'd bet it is if I had to guess.
\_ I owned a NUMI built Corrola for nearly 8 years
and the car was rock solid, never had any issues.
My brother has a Japan built Corrola now and it
equally reliable. Same w/ my Indiana built Outback.
I've owned American for years and the difference
btwn Japanese and American cars is the attention
to detail in the design rather than the location
of manufacture. Japanese manufacturers seem to
take more time to "debug" their cars. [ I under-
stand that my experience is not a statistically
significant sample ]
\_ US car manufacturers do have at least some fairly competitive
vehicles in their lineups. However, most of them are
underrated in consumers' minds. (I for one think Ford's
lineup is competitive except for Lincoln which needs an
overhaul like the one given to Cadillac). However, you
can't blame consumers alone for this. No one likes gambling
with a $15K-$30K purchasing decision. Snob appeal also
plays a role. Most US brands are now considered inferior to
the big three Japanese companies and I suppose there are
some people who wouldn't want to drive an American car just
because of that. I would blame again the manufacturers for
this. Having even one gimmick in a product lineup can do
damage to the whole brand. Offering cutthroat discounts at
the time when US media is mostly filled with negative news
about Ford and GM probably doesn't help much to brand's
image either. Neither it will help immediately if a brand
like Ford came up with clear winners in all cathegories as
it takes some time to build confidence among the consumers.
\_ I'm from Hong Kong and I bought three American cars before I bought
my first foreign one: Ford (sucks), Jeep (sucks), Jeep (okay),
Toyota (excellent).
\_ I totalled my Camry,had it repaired, been running great
for 2 years since. (there... i bet i just jinxed it) |
| 2006/1/19-21 [Transportation/Car/RoadHogs, Transportation/Car/Hybrid] UID:41445 Activity:low |
1/19 Current US fleet average MPG is 21
<DEAD>www.epa.gov/otaq/cert/mpg/fetrends/420s05001.htm<DEAD>
John Claybrook issued a NHTSA directive
requiring a CAFE fleet average of 48 MPG in 1981:
http://www.commondreams.org/views04/0412-11.htm
(Yes, the source is Ralph Nader but it is still accurate)
US oil consumption is 21M BBL/day:
http://www.eia.doe.gov/mer/pdf/pages/sec11_7.pdf
Imports at 9.5 M BBL/day:
http://csua.org/u/ep1 (DOE)
Gasoline consumption at 400 M gal/day:
http://csua.org/u/ep0 (Conoco Phillips)
400 M gal/day = 9.5 M BBL/day
21/48 * 9.5 M BBL/day = 4.1 M BBL/day
(9.5-4.1)/21 = 26% of US overall oil consumption or
5.4/9.9 = 55% of US overall oil imports
Here is a single URL that pulls all this together, but without
references:
http://www.nrdc.org/air/transportation/gasprices.asp
They claim that 40% of US oil is used by cars and trucks, so they
get a 20% reduction instead of my 26%, but the number is similar
either way. I don't know how you can seriously dispute all this.
You can quibble about the exact numbers, but not the overall result.
\_ "requiring a CAFE fleet average of 48 MPG in 1981". You mean
when Reagan was president? Ronnie's da man! Now what does this
have to do with Carter setting Cafe standard? Sounds like you
should be a Reaganite.
\_ Do you look as stupid as you are?
\_ Be careful doing simplistic math like this. You're talking about
human behavior which is dynamic and not easily predicted. If gas
prices were to skyrocket to $15/gallon over night, you'd see the
total miles driven drop to the baseline driving people *must* do
to survive (work, buy food, etc). If gas dropped to 5 cents/gal,
people would be driving more than they do now. Same thing with
mpg. If I got 500 mpg, I'd be doing a lot more driving for fun
than if I got 5mpg. Increasing average mpg isn't necessarily going
to reduce overall gas consumption by that amount. It won't and it
can't. People aren't like that. Also, taking a single giant
number like "current fleet average" is going to change as people's
tastes change. Since light trucks, SUVs, etc, get lower mpg, that
has had an impact on SUV sales causing more people to buy lighter
vehicles and push up the average over time as those vehicles are
phased out. Also, there is another cost to lighter vehicles no
one has mentioned yet, which is the estimated 1300-2600 additional
fatalities per year (I couldn't find injury stats, only death) due
http://www.bridger.us/2002/12/16/CrashTestingMINICooperVsFordF150 _/
uhh, no. Look at those numbers. The safest cars FOR THE DRIVERS have
little to no relation to the size of the car.
to CAFE standards forcing more light vehicles on the road. Nothing
good comes free in life. More traffic deaths is one of the trade
offs for having CAFE. Note that I'm not disputing any of the
original raw data you're providing but the interpretation of that
data which says we'll save x% of gas if we increase mpg average
by y% is not realistic.
\_ Okay, I will not argue with any of this. Perhaps increased
fuel economy would encourage people to drive more, etc. The
main point is that there was and *is* still a relatively
effective tool we could use to massively decrease our dependence
on foreign oil, we just refuse to use it.
\_ Could you provide a reference which shows that people whose
cars get better mileage drive more? Because observationally
that's definitely not true. And it's certainly not true that
vehicles which get better gas mileage have more fatalities;
SUVs cause more fatalities than smaller cars. -tom
\_ The death #s are in one of the pdf links I posted earlier
from a government CAFE study published in 2001. Do you have
a link showing SUVs cause more fatalities? I believe the
same study also have a lengthy bit about driving habits, but
common sense should convince one that higher $/mile will
reduce driving by some amount X, and lower $/mile will
increase driving by some other amount Y. If gas was free do
you honestly believe people wouldn't drive more? If gas
cost $25/gallon do you honestly believe they wouldn't drive
less? It's late, I'm going home. The 2001 CAFE study link
is on the motd somewhere.
\_ If gas was significantly more expensive I would drive
a lot less, however if it was significantly less
expensive I wouldn't drive any more than I do now.
I don't take public transportation for money, I take
it for quality of life.
\_ So your driving habits are directly changed by the
price of gas, which is exactly what I was saying.
Pricing is relative, there is only a sliding scale.
\_
http://www.bridger.us/2002/12/16/CrashTestingMINICooperVsFordF150
Besides the object lesson, the stats there show that SUVs
kill more non-occupants than smaller cars, and that the
likelihood of occupant fatality is related to the quality,
not the size of the vehicle.
I think you can go to the 580/680 interchange and count SUVs
headed to San Francisco in the morning if you want proof that
people's gas mileage isn't a major factor in their decision
to drive. -tom
\_ The CAFE thing was originally a minor side point about
Carter. I'm satisfied that we hashed that one out
pretty much. I don't see a point in discussing fatality
and usage statistics or anything else with anyone who
uses "go to the 580/680 interchange and count SUVs" as a
way to determine nationwide behaviour re: gas usage, SUV
sales numbers and pricing, yet who starts off asking for
links in the same post they say something like, "because
observationally that's definitely not true". The CAFE
thing was heated but mostly civil (especially for the motd).
I don't see this headed that way. You "win" if you want
to think of it that way.
\_ translation: "I have no evidence for my position."
OK, thanks for letting us know. -tom
\_ The link is there. You choose not to read it.
Talking with others has been interesting and
educational. That's so rarely the case with you
that there's no point. "YOU WIN! YAY! CONGRATS!"
\_ If cars actually produced energy, there were no traffic
ever so I could drive at 100 miles an hour all the time,
and they gave orgasms to all the women one passed, I'd
still ride my bike. I will never drive. I believe slightly
more people of our generation feel this way than our
parents' generation, and that this trend will continue.
\_ You're a very silly person.
\_ You can call my silly all day long--just don't make
\_ You can call me silly all day long--just don't make
me drive to work.
\_ LOL, okay, fair enough. :P |
| 2006/1/19-21 [Transportation/Car/RoadHogs, Science/GlobalWarming] UID:41434 Activity:kinda low |
1/19 http://www.frugalmarketing.com/dtb/kennedy.shtml The initial CAFE fuel standards were set by Carter, then lowered later by Reagan. \_ I can't back this claim up, but I think fuel efficiency would be helped tremendously by ending welfare for the U.S. auto manufacturers. The public wants higher mileage. As long as the executives at U.S. auto manufacturers continue to live on the public dole, they have no motivation to give a shit about what the public wants, and shareholders and union workers have no motivation to revolt against the cockroaches who run their companies. I find it both sickening and amusing that so many so-called conservative republicans support welfare for auto manufacturers. \_ Oops, even the 1978 standards weren't set by Carter but by Congress: http://www.nhtsa.gov/cars/rules/CAFE/docs/162944_web.pdf "Conress itself set the standards for passenger cars, which rose from 18 miles per gallon in automobile model year (MY) 1978 to 27.5 mpg in MY 1985. As authorized by the act, the Department of Transportation (DOT) set standards for light trucks for model years 1979 through [munged by pdf->html, year lost, sorry]. The standards are current 27.5 mpg for passenger cars and 20.7 mpg for light trucks". Light trucks includes SUVs, etc, as we know. Report issued in 2001. \_ Garbage. I dismissed this link since it provides no facts or details. I restored the discussion below about this which has links with actual facts. Good effort though. CAFE predates Carter. \_ http://csua.org/u/eox "The rules for Corporate Average Fuel Economy, or CAFE standards, were first set for automobiles during the Carter years." I am waiting for your mea culpa. http://www.commondreams.org/views04/0412-11.htm "As the administration of President Jimmy Carter was winding down, Claybrook advanced a NHTSA notice that called for fuel efficiency standards to reach 48 mpg by 1995." \_ Mea this: http://www.ita.doc.gov/td/auto/cafe.html The Energy Policy Conservation Act, [EPCA] was enacted into law by Congress in 1975, and established Corporate Average Fuel Economy [CAFE] standards for passenger cars and light trucks. The Act was passed in response to the 1973-74 Arab oil embargo. The stated near-term goal was to double new car fuel economy by model year 1985. \_ http://www.energybulletin.net/9657.html "Carter insisted that U.S. automakers build more fuel-efficient cars, with a goal of 27.5 miles per gallon over the following decade - a requirement passed under Gerald Ford but put into force by Carter." You are wrong, but too stupid to realize it. \_ So the Ford admin created it and passed it but Carter should get credit for it and you think I'm the dumb one here. Okey dokey! Go Jimmy! Woot! You *can* credit him with saying "nucular" all the time. That's good for 15 minutes. good for 15 minutes. Your own quote backs what I'm saying: CAFE wasn't Carter's. \_ The law was passed before Carter, but Carter set the initial stringent standards, which were then raised during his adminstration. If we had followed those standards, we would use 25-35% less oil today. Reagan lowered those standards. If you bothered to actually read up on the topic, you would see that I am correct. \_ Correct about what exactly? The initial standards were pathetic. They were later ping ponged around and today it's 27.5 for cars and 20.5 for light trucks including most SUVs. I'd like to see a link for that 25% number you keep bandying about. And yeah, I've only got about a dozen links and pdfs open for this idiotic topic, most of them .gov sites. My research skills suck. If only I could have found some quality links from a Kennedy clansman. \_ Hey, are you dissing http://frugalmarketing.com? \_ If by ping ponging, you mean raised by Carter and then lowered by Reagan, you are correct. I think it was raised by 1 MPG by Bush I. Sierra club guy says we could have saved 3 to 4 M BBL/day, which is 15-20%, but I think it would be higher if we had the 48 MPG fleet average proposed by Carter and no SUV exemption, instead of our current 23 MPG. 2/3 our oil is spent on transportation, double fuel economy would mean that we would use half as much fuel on transportation, hence 25%. I need to get back to work, but you can be sure that I have researched this before. \_ Researched this at more high quality sites like http://frugalmarketing.com? Do you have quotes from <DEAD>spiffyliving.com<DEAD> too? \_ no, that is what google pulled up in a hurry. I have spent a lot longer researching this that you and you have not really bothered to actually bothered to. Read up on it and we can talk some more later. You just don't know what you are talking about. The vast majority of our oil today is burned in cars and SUVs. \_ And did you learn that from <DEAD>shinyobjects.com<DEAD>? How much of your heavy research did it take to figure out it takes more energy to move big, heavy objects? \_ The "holier than thou" thing is a really distasteful way to walk away. If you don't have the time and can't prove what you're saying when the links start flying, just step out and try again when you're prepared. "I'm smarter than you and know more than you but I'm too busy to prove it with links worth clicking on" isn't flying. Carter: bad President. And frankly even if CAFE was his idea and he chose extremely high standards and demonstrated the leadership required to make those standards stick, he would still have sucked as President, but at least then he'd have *one* positive thing to lay claim to for his 4 years. \_ Then you can save me the trouble and find something that says Carter wanted 48 and the current is 23. Sierra Club? They say a lot of things but aren't exactly an unbiased source. How about a .gov url instead of some axe grinders? \_ Sorry have to work. Later. \_ Or how about this? http://feinstein.senate.gov/booklets/CAFE_booklet.pdf "In 1975, Congress mandated separate Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE)... [These] requirements where passed with bipartisan support and signed into law by President Gerald Ford." A search for Carter in that pdf yields nothing. \_ Carter invented the internet.. \_ Pshaw! We all know Gore did that. \_ No, Al Gore invented the algorithm. It even bares his name, AlGore-ithm. \_ Carter invented the carts. He named his family after his invention. \_ I somehow doubt the current president will ever claim to have invented the bush, however. \_ Actually, Nixon did. The first IMPs were deployed in 1969. So what exactly did Carter do that was useful and noteworthy? |
| 2006/1/11-13 [Transportation/Car/RoadHogs, Transportation/Car/Hybrid] UID:41344 Activity:high |
1/11 Wow, Ford introducing an even BIGGER SUV!
http://csua.org/u/el8
It reportedly also comes with a brandy rack!
\_ Not really. It's smaller than the Excursion that Ford killed, and
the Chevy Suburban.
\_ Whatever. People should be able to guzzle as much gas as they can
afford. On the other hand, I think they should be taxed/charged/
whatever based on their emissions. (including CO2)
\_ emissions are directly proportional to fuel consumption. -tom
\_ Catalytic converters, diesel filters, diesel refinement tech..
all of this only happens when it's legislated. If people
actually paid less when they had a cleaner car, we'd have
even better tech.
\_ This unlikely in my opinion. CARB already discourages
many changes to cars that would improve emissions.
I believe that the current bureaucracy, is based more
on making money and expanding the empire than anything
else. I'd love to see testing based just on emissions,
but we are far away from that. --jwm
\_ Reread what I put; I phrased it badly. I agree with you.
-pp
\_ I see what you're saying now, in the context of
"I think they should be taxed/charged/whatever based
on their emissions", I was saying that I don't think
the goverment is capable of doing this. But as you
say if we payed for emmisions, things would probably
clean up fast. --jwm
\_ No, they should be charged based on emissions, fuel use (like
now) and weight, with discounts for whether the above actually
go towards some use--so Fred the gardener in his big pickup
doesn't pay anywhere near what Bob the lawyer in his Escalade
has to shell out. I drive a sports car, which uses a lot of gas
compared to, say, a small hybrid, and I'm willing to pay
accordingly. It also burns relatively clean for a gasoline
engine, and does not tear up the roads nearly as much as a big
SUV. Although to be honest, I've never seen a formula that
does a nice, fair and unexploitable job of actually allocating
costs for driving where they belong... -John
\_ people should pay for whatever the cost of driving is,
period. Trying to implement something that penalizes
people for being able to afford SUVs is like trying
to tax the riches a lot more in Socialism. Evil.
\_ There is already a gas guzzler fee slapped on a car's purchase
price at the dealership by the state of CA. The amount and
the type of vehicle's they target aren't rationally chosen,
but such a thing is already going on. I paid $1400 extra for
my car even though the SUV next to it got worse gas mileage
because my car has a bigger engine. Why would we give Fred
the gardener a freebie to drive his black smoke spewing truck
to tend your grass while Bob's cleaner burning higher gas
mileage Escalade gets tagged with a fee on his way to court
carrying several boxes of papers and his staff in an attempt
to save a dozen old ladies from yet another unfair ED case?
\_ Like I said, I've never seen a system that fairly deals
with this. Wasn't there some massive tax loophole for
SUVs in the US, as well as a CAFE exemption, or have I
been living under a rock? -John
\_ There was something about a tax break for buying a
"work" vehicle over a certain price or size or something
which happened to include Hummers.
\_ gas price is going down again, of course they're gonna sell like
hot cakes again.
\_ I don't know about that. Crude is still hovering around $64
per barrel. Granted, at these prices, Canadian oil sands
and Brazilian style sugar cane ethanol are cost effective.
China and India will still be trying to gobble up the next
Unocal.
\_ I still think slap $1 per gallon of Federal taxes to fund
hybrid/fuel cell technology is a good idea. It will discourage
people from driving cars that is excess in size, and it will
actually cut down on our dependency on Foreign oil so we don't
have to invade another country to control it.
\_ Who is to decide what "excess in size" means? Anyway, new
water sources and arable land are harder to find than new
oil and are running out faster. Worry more about what you'll
eat and drink tomorrow than what car someone else drives.
\_ Stop watering your lawn. If you want to enjoy green grass,
go to a park.
\_ Go look up how much water is spent by people in CA and
how much goes into farming silly things like alfalfa.
You're very flip for someone who might not have anything
to drink in 30 years but at least you'll get some nice
fluff on your burger today.
\_ Erm, alfalfa is a feed crop. If you want that burger,
you shouldn't think alfalfa is silly.
\_ Farming in CA is mostly silly. Farming what they
farm here where they farm it is ridiculous. Yes,
alfalfa is mostly a feed crop but it isn't
efficient and if the central valley farmers had to
pay anything close to the real cost of water,
alfalfa wouldn't be grown by many, if any, of
them in CA. |
| 2005/12/12-14 [Transportation/Car/RoadHogs, Transportation/Car/Hybrid] UID:40971 Activity:nil |
12/12 Hybrid Camry pictures:
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2005/12/more_photos_of.php |
| 2005/11/16-17 [Transportation/Car/RoadHogs, Science/GlobalWarming] UID:40615 Activity:nil |
11/15 http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051116/ap_on_bi_go_ec_fi/economy Inflation moderates as gas prices dip. Yay! Now we can buy our hummers and still feel good about inexpensive gas. \_ If you only drive it occasionally, sure. |
| 2005/11/3-4 [Transportation/Car, Transportation/Car/RoadHogs] UID:40414 Activity:nil |
11/3 The riots keep going and going...
http://www.breitbart.com/news/2005/11/03/D8DL2HH0B.html
\_ Guess they should have let them keep their headscarves. |
| 2005/11/2-4 [Transportation/Car/RoadHogs] UID:40404 Activity:nil |
11/2 http://tinyurl.com/dlcu5 SUV sales in free fall. w00t!! \_ "Detroit relies on SUVs for about half its unit sales, a much higher percentage than foreign automakers." Stupid fucking moron assholes. The penalty for idiocy *should* be failure. Too bad the assembly line workers have to pay the price for the fucktards who run the Detroit auto companies. \_ Detroit still hasn't figured out how to make a dime on a passenger car, SUVs were their lifeline. \_ They simply didn't try. I feel nothing but contempt for companies who in the presence of a strong competitor move to a different market segment to avoid the competition. Such companies keep being driven out of all profitable market segments until they have nothing left (witness how Detroit's SUVs are still mostly truck based while Japanese and Europeans have plenty of newer car-based and cross-over SUV models which seem to become more popular). A cure to their problem is to spend more money on R&D of new models instead of hoping that 10 year old gimmicks like Chevy Cavalier will continue selling. Detroit seems to have had learned its lesson though I am not sure whether that'll be sufficient for them to maintain their market leadership position at this point. \_ I dunno. Saturn, for instance, defies this idea. Remember, too, that makes like Jaguar, Land Rover, Saab, and Volvo are also 'American' now. Cadillac also has been reinventing cars, as has Chrysler (which is not American now, I know). \_ Saturn is just one GM brand and I am not sure how it defies that idea. I still see a lot more Hondas, Toyatas, VWs, and whatnot on the streets compared to Saturn. Yes, my understanding is that foreign aquisitions might help with certain areas of expertize. Some of Ford's platforms rely on Mazda designs and GM designated its German Opel as the division responsible for designing car platforms. M-B might have had a hand in the success of the Chrysler 300C. \_ You said they didn't try. They did try. They've failed, but they've tried. It's not like they are rolling out the same old cars. Look at, for instance, Ford's new Mustang and T-bird. No one is buying them, but Ford is trying. If anything, it's been Honda and Toyota rolling out similar Accords and Camrys for years now and dumping cool cars like Prelude. I think it's reputation for reliability rather than R&D on new models. \_ Actually, Mustang is supposedly selling well. It's now the most sold sports car in the US. The new T-Bird looked pretty slick but it's a little on the expensive side. Maybe that's why it's on the way out. \_ The Mustangs certainly are everywhere. And I think the T-Birds were really only bought by people who had one or wanted one back in the '50s and were after that nostalgia factor. Actually, the new Mustangs take advantage of nostalgia in their styling as well. -gm \_ I am not sure how Saturn is just one GM brand and I am not sure how defies that idea. I still see a lot more Hondas, Toyatas, VWs, and whatnot on the streets compared to Saturn. Yes, my understanding is that foreign aquisitions might help with certain areas of expertize. Some of Ford's platforms rely on Mazda designs and GM designated its German Opel as the division responsible for designing car platforms. M-B might have had a hand in the success of the Chrysler 300C. |
| 2005/11/1-4 [Transportation/Car/RoadHogs, Politics/Foreign/Europe] UID:40391 Activity:low |
11/1 WHAT?! Could this possibly be true? " Sarkozy says that violence
in French suburbs is a daily fact of life. Since the start of the
year, 9,000 police cars have been stoned and, each night, 20 to
40 cars are torched"
http://www.iht.com/articles/2005/10/31/news/france.php
\_ French cops won't go into a lot of suburban areas--I've not seen
anything equivalent in the US to the massive areas of highrises
you get in Italy, France, Spain and Germany--the crime is mad, and
there's usually fairly volatile mixtures of African/N. African/
E. European immigrants and very poor natives. -John
\_ How does a place get so bad even the cops won't go there?
That's maddness.
\_ They allow way too many poor immigrants in and provide free
housing for them in concentration. Why they do this is
unknown.
\_ cheap labor
\_ No, they just end up there because the housing is
inexpensive and many of the ethnic communities are the
natural place for new, poor immigrants to gravitate to.
Look at the the historical concentration of Russian,
Irish, Swedish, Mexican, Chinese, Puerto Rican, Irish,
Italian, &c arrivals to the US in the 19th century. -John
\_ You making some kind of point about the Irish? -mice
\_ Yeah, you wanna step outside for GUN DUEL, yer
corkie barstird? -John
\_ Don't make me BLACKLIST you, ya limey barstard.
-mice
\_ Sigh. We need more controversial words.
\_ I bet you never used controversial words.
\_ I bet BUD DAY doesn't appreciate your
tone, son. |
| 2005/10/22-24 [Transportation/Car, Transportation/Car/RoadHogs] UID:40225 Activity:very high |
10/21 Dear house owners. How much time/week do you spend on house upkeep?
In another word, how much time do you spend on mowing the lawn,
pulling weeds, adding fertilizers, watering bald spots, adjusting
sprinklers, cleaning up the garage (which by the way is used for
storage instead of storing the car), changing toilet assemblies,
spraying pesticides, and other things? If you pay someone to do
it and spend no time on it, please respond with the price you
pay. I'm asking because as the only son who grew up in the suburbs,
I had to do all of the above and I HATED IT. I just want to
find out how much time and/or money grown-ups spend on these
things, and why people like the routine suburbia lifestyle. Thanks.
\_ Gardener, 1/wk, $120/month. House cleaner, 1/wk, 2 persons 4
hours each, $70/wk.
\_ Maid service 2/month: $80x2. A few hours/month on other stuff and
of course the garage is used for storge. It was designed for it.
Why do people like the suburbs? They don't necessarily. If you
have kids putting them in a city school can be disasterous. Look
at the SF school system for an example of that. Lack of space for
same kids in city. Lots of people don't like the cramped and often
loud and/or dirty city living option. Many other "the city isn't
where I'd want to be" reasons. The suburbs are just where you can
live and still be close enough to have a job. So you changed toilet
assemblies so your mom wouldn't have to? Ok, she could pay a
plumber to do it and there'd be that many fewer toys at Xmas. I did
chores. You did chores. Kids do chores (or should). Welcome to
the middle class. There are worse things that could've happened to
you growing up.
\_ simple. buy a tonwhouse. save lots of trouble.
\_ How is the SF school system disasterous? Last I checked, they
\_ How is the SF school system disastrous? Last I checked, they
were better than the statewide average and the West side high
schools are particularly good. -ausman
\_ You're kidding right? And how do you get into one of those
elite schools? And if you don't, then what? And if you
don't live near your school which is likely how does your
kid get there? Can a grade schooler drive? Can every
high schooler afford a car? Sit on a bus for a few hours
each day? C'mon....
\_ You get into Lincoln and Washington just like you get into
every high school in San Francisco. If you have good enough
test scores, you get into Lowell and get an education as
good as the priciest private school. I grew up in a rural
region and took a bus 1/2 hr each way until I could afford
to buy my own car. I did not find that particularly onerous.
Do you really think it takes "a few hours" to get anywhere
in a city that is 7 miles by 8 miles? I could walk anywhere
in The City in less than a few hours.
I just pulled down the STAR results for San Francisco and
compared them to Orange and Riverside Counties, two
California suburban counties and they compare favorably.
\_ How long ago were you in school? Read the papers to
see what's going on there today. And yes, a school
bus has to make many stops, obey traffic laws cars
tend to ignore and drive slow, so yeah, an hour or
more each way wouldn't be odd. I've walked across the
city from the market area west to the beach. You're
not saying a kid should walk that to school? Why do
you even mention walking? And here's a concept: why
should a kid have to get high test scores to get into
a particular school on the other side of the city?
Why can't the local school be as good as any other?
Why is there a tiny number of elite schools and the
rest are dismal anti-academic pits?
\_ Why isn't everyone above average, is that what
you are seriously asking? It is obvious that
\_ Not every school can be above average, but every
school can and should be good.
\_ Lowell is elite because they are very
selective about their admission criteria.
\_ Are you implying that non-selective schools
cannot be good? Otherwise I fail to
understand how your point respond to the
previous poster's that all schools should
be good. In any case, Lowell entrance is
selective only if you're a non-protected
minority. Entrance for protected minorities
is relatively easy, no?
\_ No, I honestly don't think all schools
can be good. Can you point to one
school in an impoverished area that is
good? Schools can only do so much.
Lowell is a great school because it is
selective. There are good schools in
San Francisco and elsewhere that are not
"selective" overtly, but they still
select from an educated and privileged
section of the population.
Having said that, yes it is too bad
that we don't do a better job educating
everyone. Holding up SF schools as an
example of a disastrous failure is not
a very strong one.
is relatively trivial, no?
\_ So good schools are good because they
only let in smart kids? So you're
saying it doesn't matter how much
funding, what teachers, which books,
or anything else; just put all the
smart kids together and you get a
good school. And the opposite is
true? Put the less than brilliant
kids together and you get a bad
school? It seems the way to get
decent but not fantastic schools for
everyone is to spread those smart
kids around.
\_ Perhaps, but I don't know how you
are going to convince parents to
do that. If you really believe
what you preach, why didn't you
go to SJ State instead of UCB?
By the way, your technique is
practiced in many states throughout
the upper midwest, to good effect,
so you certainly have a point.
\_ When I went to Lowell, it was
massively underfunded and falling
apart at the seams. It was a good
school that produced excellent
students due to a combination of
letting in smart people, who didn't
drag the other people in their
classes down, and great, dedicated
teachers. Naturally this is a
generalization--there were a few
morons, both students and teachers.
However, their negative effect was
minimal due to the above. No, not
everyone can be a winner, life is
not fair. And yes, most students
there "had" to commute. Like a
lot of Cal students commute-you
do it because you value the
education over your comfort. -John
\_ I read a research study on this
for colleges, not high schools.
The conclusion is that the school
only matters in one case - a
top student goes to a bad school.
then the student's achievement
could be affected. in all other
cases - good student going to
good school, or midrange school,
average student going to good
school or average school or bad
school, etc., the school doesn't
make a difference.
you nothing about San Francisco schools and
barely anything about San Francisco. K-6 schools
barely anything about San Francisco. K-5 schools
are mostly within walking distance and high schoolers
take MUNI, not a school bus. My commute to work
is 35-45 minutes, I don't see why my (future) teenage
daughter shouldn't have a similar commute.
\_ Because she's a kid and kids shouldn't have to
commute. You have a choice in the matter. Your
child is stuck with your decisions. That you
can't see that is oddly disturbing.
\_ It is nice that you want to give your child
every advantage in the world, but it might
set them up for some dissapointments when
they have to face the real world.
\_ Uhm, so you're "toughening her up"? The
real world is there in her face every day.
I could go on but our philosophies are so
different anything more I say would look
like a personal insult and there's no need
for that. I'm ok agreeing to disagree if
you are. I'm stopping now.
\_ I grew up in a rural area, where I had
to get up at dawn to feed the chickens
ducks and rabbits, collect the eggs
and prepare breakfast for my seven
siblings. Then I got on a half hour
bus ride to school. After school, I helped
in the garden, washed my own clothes and
spent an hour a night washing dishes or
doing other chores. I think that growing
up like that made me a better person than
my spoiled and self-indulgent classmates.
I don't intend for my child to have that
hard a life, but I don't want her to end
up a spoiled princess either.
my narcissistic and self-indulgent class-
mates. I don't intend for my child to have
that hard a life, but I don't want her to
to work that hard, but I don't want her to
end up a spoiled princess either.
\- hear hear.
And you plan on moving to the suburbs to escape
what you percieve as "disastrous" urban schools,
but you decry the fact that some people prefer to
send their kids to better urban schools? Have you
ever heard of the term "hypocrisy"?
send their kids to better urban schools? Maybe the
reason some schools aren't as good as they might
be is because a bunch of overly fearful parents
moved to the suburbs to isolate themselves from
poor people and other "dangerous" sorts. The truth
is that the cities are no more dangerous than the
suburbs, it is just that the risks are different.
\_ What he is asking is why everyone isn't able
to obtain a quality education in SF. The best
schools are so much better than even the
average schools. This is different from, say,
LA Unified where pretty much all the schools suck
equally. Personally, I'd avoid public schools
altogether. If you can afford to live in SF
then you can afford a private school.
\_ Lots of parents look for houses in areas with
good schol disctricts, so they can send their
kids to public schools and apply the money
that would have gone to a private school
tuition to the mortgage instead. The question
is whether it's to educational benefit of
children (in the aggregate, assuming a random
distribution of children) to live in a city
like San Francisco, where they have a chance
to end up in some truly awful schools, or in
a city like San Jose, where the quality range
of school is narrower, or in a suburban town,
where the quality range is narrow indeed.
There are of course non-educational pros and
cons for living in each city, and the emphasis
placed on education varies from family to
family. But, I suspect, using San Francisco
as an example, unless one has a reasonable
I suspect, unless one has a reasonable
expectation that one's child will end up in
one of the top few schools, it's better for
the child's education to live in a town where
the likelihood of going to a bad school is low.
family. But, I suspect, unless one has a
reasonable expectation that one's child will
end up in one of the top few schools, it's
better for the child's education to live in a
town where the likelihood of going to a bad
school is low.
There are of course non-educational pros and
cons for living in each city, and the emphasis
placed on education varies from family to
family.
\_ You are guaranteed one of your top three
choices of high schools in San Francisco.
So just put down Washington, Lincoln and
Wallenbeg and you are guaranteed a good
school in a safe neighborhood. Any irrational
fear of something else bad happening to you
is simply that, an irrational fear.
\_ Ok so if *everyone* is *guaranteed* one
of their top three choices, why doesn't
everyone in SF put down the same three
top schools and leave all the rest
empty?
\_ All right, I guess I was wrong. I was
\_ All right, I guess I misspoke. I was
repeating what I had read in The
Examiner. It seems that you have to
put down 7 choices and even then they
Examiner. I guess you have to put
down 7 choices and even then they
not guaranteed. The Examiner claims
that 99% of parents get one of their
top three choices, at least in 2003.
Circumstances, can of course change.
But they can change anywhere, even in
a tony suburb.
\_ So, living in a city like SF _does_
mean your kid can end up in a
shitty school on the other side of
town and there's nothing you can
do about it? Thus, we see a very
good reason for parents to live in
a place where there is no chance of
going to a bad school and a good
chance of a better school. It
means sacrificing the cool city
life but sacrificing is what good
parents do.
\_ Or you can spend more time with
your kids to make sure they do
well in their studies / get into
good schools.
\_ You do realize that your
solution is not scalable.
\_ In what sense? If you have
lots of children? Or to all
parents?
\_ The latter mostly,
though the former to a
lesser degree also.
\_ Your solution only works
if most parents do not
stress their kids'
education. If many
parents try to make
sure their kids do
well in their studies,
then almost none of
them can have a
reasonable expectation
of getting into the top
few schools.
\_ In the 1% case, you can either:
a) send your kids to private school
a) send your kids to private
school
or
b) move to the suburbs then.
This is what I plan on doing, if
I talk my wife into it. -ausman
\_ So the solution to the problem of not every student
getting a quality education in a city is to move
to a gated suburb and isolate yourself from the
rest of the world? Perhaps the real question is
why doesn't every student get a quality education
everywhere, but asking that question might force
the questioner to admit some of the responsibility
for the failure onto themselves, which they seem
spectacularly unable or unwilling to do.
\_ Uhm, where are all these 'gated suburbs' of
which you speak? Could you point out a few
because I haven't seen any. I do like your
rhetorical bit in the second half though. A
nice combination of 'high horse-ism', a touch
of holier-than-thou mixed with a dash of
you-selfish-bastard. Could you possibly take
a moment to explain how a city school in some
other county sucking is in any way the fault
of someone in a suburb, mythically gated or
not, 20+ miles away?
\_ Because there are only so many dollars in
the world and so many gifted teachers. If
Blackhawk takes more than its share, then
there is less to go around to the rest.
I am kind of astonished that I would have
to explain this to an engineer.
Shorebird Islands in Redwood City and
Silver Creek Valley Country Club in San
Jose are gated, two that I found using
google in sixty seconds. Since 40% of new
developments in California are gated, you
must not have looked very hard.
\_ Redwood City and SJ? Yech. I would never
live in such a place so you're right, I
didn't look very hard in such places.
Anyway, what you seem to be saying is that
a district that can afford to pay teachers
better is somehow cheating and robbing a
poorer district of their rightfully
deserved quality teachers. However, we
see John posting that Lowell was a broken
pit when he went there and someone else
posted about a study (yes, college, not
HS, but it's what we've got) that said
good students tend to do well where ever
they go and bad students do poorly and
etc. So what exactly are the people in
SJ stealing from SF? Smart kids?
\_ It wasn't a total loss; it was very
mediocre and underfunded in terms of
infrastructure, not some slum. I read
some figures at the time that LHS got
fraction of the average per student $$
of other SF public high schools--the
rumor about at the time was that a few
of the more crackpot supervisors like
Harry Britt didn't like the idea of an
"elite" school paid for by tax dollars
and tried to kill it. Whatever--what
made it was the combination of really
good and dedicated teachers and high
qualiy (i.e. selected) students. -John
\_ Don't 50% of the graduates go to
Stanford, Berkeley and or an Ivy?
That sounds like a pretty good
school to me.
\_ It is (was?) a great school.
That is my point. It was so
to a large degree because they
only let good/smart students in
and were able to focus on giving
them a good education. This
seems to be some sort of elitist
taboo in some cirles. -John
\_ Not elitist, but it sort
of disregards cause/effect.
If all you accept are
smart kids then you will
have a 'good school' by
the measures the state
uses. That school may or
may not actually be better.
\_ You have never heard of Blackhawk? You
are just a troll, wasting my time.
\_ Blackhawk houses are all multi-
million bucks. That is hardly the
suburbs or a typical gated
community. Famous/rich sports
stars, actors, and the 'captains
of industry' live there. You're
welcome to try again.
\_ I sang at Behring's house last
Christmas. Good freakin' god.
30k sq. ft. is a LOT of room.
I think he's the only one
anywhere in Blackhawk that
actually knows how to spend his
wealth well. His gem and mineral
collection is incredible. He
has some stunning ivory carvings
in there as well. Haven't seen
his car museum yet, but it could
be fun.
\_ Blackhawk is not in the suburbs?
Where is it then?
\_ Mogadishu
\_ No, I never stated or implied that anyone
was "stealing" anything. That was your
emotionally charged response to my
suggestion that you are at least
partially responsible for creating the
kind of world you live in. When people
with intelligence, talent, drive and
creativity abandon a community, that
community suffers. One certainly has
the right to excercise your free will
and abandon it, but to do so and then
turn around and criticize that very
same community for the consequences of
your actions seems bizarre.
\_ the one thing berkeley taught me is you don't have to live
the boring, conformist, suburban life if you don't want to.
\_ What I always found hilarious about a lot of Berkeley students
is how uniquely concerned with being "nonconformist" so many of
them were, instead of just getting on with their lives. -John
\_ I agree, and not just Berkeley but the whole Bay Area.
OTOH, if you venture outside of Berkeley/Bay
OTOH, when you venture outside of Berkeley/Bay
Area after graduation, the experience at Berkeley is a
good thing, in my opinion.
\_ so you're living the same nonconformist life style everyone
else in the bay area is?
\_ don't feel offended. if you want to live the boring,
conformist, suburban life, you are free to do so.
\_ offended? no one is offended. quite the opposite. i
think your claims to kewlness are cute.
\_ "claims to kewlness"? what've you been smoking?
I live in a city derided in a movie, or so I heard,
as the suburb of suburbs.
\_ then what are you talking about?
\_ huh? what are you talking about?
\_ what are the two of you talking about?
\_ Ok, I've got to ask...what city do you live in? -!pp
\_ Must be LA.
\_ Or a suburb of chicago.
\_ My downstairs tenants do all the gardening for free. I have to
pay for things like plants and fertilizer, so it costs me about
$10/mo. I have had to have two bathrooms rebuilt since I bought
this place, which cost about $9k and took up at least three
weekends of my time. I paid people to do most of the work, but
I bought and delivered all the parts. I built a methlab in the
I bought and delivered all the parts. I built a shed in the
backyard from a kit, which cost me $500 and took up four weekends.
As for cleaning, I spend the same amount as I did when I had
an apartment, maybe a bit less, since my wife is less of a slob
than my roommates were. -ausman |
| 2005/10/21-24 [Transportation/Car, Transportation/Car/RoadHogs] UID:40212 Activity:low |
10/21 Used Lexus LS 430 year 2002, 74000 miles for $28000. Interior
exterior look nice, seller is a friend. Good/bad deal?
\_ Uh, 74K in 3-4 years?
\_ Check http://www.kbb.com
\_ it's around $27-29k depending on the condition of the car.
\_ Not a great deal, IMO. The miles are too high. Same car with
20K miles would be a decent deal. These cars don't cost more
than $40K new.
\_ This is a $55k new car.
\_ Whoops! I confused the LS and the ES!
\_ For that price, I would not buy a used car.
\_ A new Toyota Avalon seems like a good "poor man's" replacement
for a mid-sized Luxury vehicle in this price range.
\_ Seconded. Why would you get a used Lexus w/ 74K miles
when you could get a NEW Legacy GT for the same price?
\_ Because The Lexus LS is one of the best luxury cars on the
market (Bill Gates drives one) and a Legacy GT is a Legacy
GT.
\_ Sounds like a decent deal, assuming the 74000 miles are mostly
highway miles. Toyotas are very reliable and the Lexus LS series
is one of the most reliable Toyotas. Yes, it costs $55K new but
once you add a few options, taxes, and other stuff the new car
might cost closer to $70K.
might cost closer to $70K. Oh, and it is not very fuel efficient
unless you compare it to an SUV. It's a heavy, tank like car with
a gigantic V8 engine. It also has a serenely quiet drive, the
best sonically insulated car I've ever driven.
\_ 4.3 liters is not "gigantic" for a V8.
\_ Okay, "a gigantic engine (V8)" happy?
\_ Hmm, I think I'd go with big over gigantic either way.
A 2.0L is smallish, 3.0 just is, 4.3 is big, 5.0 is
pretty huge, the 8.0L Dodge Viper V10 is gigantic.
--annoying pedant
\_ yea, but your 2 inch penis is still classified
as ... tiny. - dumb troll |
| 2005/10/19-21 [Transportation/Car/RoadHogs, Transportation/Car/Hybrid] UID:40185 Activity:high |
10/19 Let's reinstate the 55mph limit. "For every mile per hour faster
than 55 mph, fuel economy drops by about 1 percent, said Jason Mark,
clean vehicles program director for the Union of Concerned Scientists.
The drop-off increases at a greater rate after 65 mph. The faster you
go, the faster the fuel goes." http://csua.org/u/dro
\_ my suggestion is impose $1.5 per gallon of federal tax on gasoline
and people will go green as result. We can use the money to
really fix the road and provide research funds for things like
automated highway, fuel cell research, etc.
\_ better yet, lets go back to walking, bicycles, and horse and buggy.
Gasoline usage drops 100%. Fatalities due to dangerous speeds
drop drastically too. No more dependence on foreign oil!
\_ Fuck speed limits. The average travel speed has been going down for
years, because on average people just keep spending more and more
time sitting in traffic. Throw in the extra time spent working to
pay for the stupid ass car habit, and you actually aren't going
any slower by biking to work. -anticartroll
\_ Since this seems to be "right vs. good" week, how about making it
voluntary? Educate people about how much they'll save, and they
can decide for themselves whether driving slow is worth it to them
on any given occasion. If you're worried that it's hard to drive
55 when everyone else is going 80, you could reserve some freeway
lanes for slow drivers, without mandating it for everyone all the
time. If your goal is to reduce dependence on oil rather than just
to save people money, then you can also impose extra taxes on oil
to encourage conservation -- not only will this make people drive
slower on average (while still allowing them to drive fast when
they need to), it'll also give them an incentive to save oil in
other ways (buying more efficient cars, closing the windows, etc.).
\_ Well, how fast will you be driving on the freeways?
\_ So how fast do you plan to drive on the freeway?
\_ I vote for 60mph. --- !PP
\_ Wouldn't this depend on which car? Maybe some cars get
optimal fuel efficiency at 55, and others at 70. Might
also depend if you are going uphill, have the windows open,
etc.
\_ Wind resistance roughly doubles between 55 mph and 70 mph.
At 55 mph, "tire resistance" and wind resistance for a typical
car are about equal. -!op
\_ I spent one week in truck doing 55 and the next week doing 70
to see how much I would save and my gas usage was about the same.
One week is most of a tank for me so it was enough data.
\_ I call bullshit on this. I've driven 101 from SF to LA plenty of
times in a BMW with a trip computer monitoring my fuel efficiency
and found that it was optimal (about 30mpg) at around 70mph.
\_ BMWs are fairly aerodynamic so they're impacted by wind
resistance at higher speeds. Their torque band also lies in
the 3000-5000 range which corresponds to about 70MPH. Not
all cars are like this.
\_ You're saying Jason Mark, clean vehicles program director for
the Union of Concerned Scientists, author of "Greener SUVs: A
Blueprint for Cleaner, More Efficient Light Trucks" and
"Zeroing Out Pollution: The Promise of Fuel Cell Vehicles",
doesn't know what he's talking about?
\_ I find all statistics suscpicious which don't allow for
different kinds of cars. If you really wanted to cut down
on gas consumption, think "trains". Anyway, regardles of
whether he's right or not (he's got a point about the wind
resistance, but it affects different cars differently), your
post reeks a bit of Mr. Science ("I have a master's degree..
in science!") -John
on gas consumption, think "trains". -John
\_ The problem is that it's impractical and dangerous to
have a different speed limit for each car model.
You need to find a composite speed limit that works
\_ Just tell cops to not give tickets to those of us who
are RICH WHITE MEN with GOOD CARS and everyone will
be happy. -John
best in the aggregate for the distribution of cars out
on the road. BTW, I should have made the sarcasm more
obvious when I tried to defer the the UCS guy's
authority. -pp
\_ Yup I hit 31 MPG, the highest I've ever seen, driving on HWY 5
@ 75 MPH in my Mercedes for a long stretch. No breaking, flat,
etc.
\_ I tried driving the long stretch on the San Mateo Bridge,
excluding the incline section, with my '04 Toyota Sienna 2WD van,
which is more aerodynamic than older minivans. I drove the whole
stretch at 55mph, then the whole stretch at 60mph, and again at
65mph. I reset the "average MPG meter" (whatever it's called) at
the beginning of each run, right after I passed the toll booth
and accelerated to the desired mph. For the 55mph and the 60mph
runs, the meter readings were roughly the same. But for the
65mph run, the reading was 2-3mph lower. I didn't use the
"instant MPG meter" because it fluctuates too much. -- yuen
\_ The 55 mph speed limit was based in part on the facts that
most cars at the time had poor areodynamic design and had
large engines (v6/v8) that were not particularly efficient.
In comparison most cars these days have better aerodynamic
design at all speeds and esp. at high speed (65+ mph). Also
most cars these days have smaller engines that are far more
efficient (there are far more c1v1cs on the road than hummers).
\- conserving to keep stuff cheep just lets other people
face lower prices. if you want to be active about something
then lobby for more research in alt energy. or maybe higher
taxes on gas if you want to punish people with big cars.
this drive 55 is like turn your thermostat down or do your
laundry at night. it's better to change the price structure.
\- should we have say quotas on home energy use? should
we have legal max thermostat settings?
\_ I don't believe in quotas, however I see no prob.
w/ imposing higher prices on ppl who use more than
the ave. (an luxury tax if you will - pg&e does
this already).
The legal max thermostat setting is an interesting
prob. If the purpose is to limit consumption, then
I think no, but if the purpose is to promote health
and safety (fire hazard, &c.), then I would say yes
b/c regualtion of health and safety is a traditional
concern of the state.
\- i have seen a number of these stats about the marked drop off
of efficiency at highers speeds in say AAA literature. i am
wondering if they forget or deliberately do not factor in
the greater distance travelled in unit time. e.g. there is a
difference between volume of fuel burned per minute at
55 vs 75 and then there is volume of fuel burned per *mile*
at 55 vs 75. ok tnx. --ANONYMOUS DRIVER
\_ Don't they usually report gas mileage to begin with?
\- i'm talking about stats like the one in the first
\P of this thread. you're not sure what they mean.
P[ost] of this thread. you're not sure what they mean.
\_ It's simple physics; power to overcome wind
resistance increases with the cube of velocity. -tom
\_ See the mpg vs. mph graph in
http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/driveHabits.shtml
"As a rule of thumb, you can assume that each 5 mph you drive over
60 mph is like paying an additional $0.21 per gallon for gas."
BTW, there are other useful gas-saving tips at
http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/drive.shtml
_________________________________________ |
| 2005/10/12-13 [Transportation/Car/RoadHogs, Transportation/Car/Hybrid] UID:40048 Activity:moderate |
10/11 http://www.toyota.com/prius/specs.html http://tinyurl.com/cgtar (honda.com, click on View and print the Fact) Quick comparison between the two auto transmissions: Honda Toyota Compression: 10.8:1 13.0:1 <--- big difference Gas HP 85-87HP 76HP Elec HP 13.4HP 67HP <--- big difference MPG 47-48MPG 55-60MPG <--- big difference Cost $20,900 $21,275 <--- little difference Sorry, but Honda is clearly a big loser. Their engines suck, their electric moter is weak, their mileage is lower, and it's only $300 cheaper. I don't understand why they even bother to compete. \_ looks, my friend. people go for the looks of it. \_ With only 13.4HP, can the Civic run on electricity alone at all? \- people buy crappy regular cars. why does it surprise you they may buy crappy hybrids. \_ But with horsepower as low as 13.4, the engine might need to stay on all the time, which defeats the purpose of having hybrid. \_ The electric motor's for low speeds, where torque is much more important than peak HP. Picture a team of 13 horses attached to the front of your car. They could get it going from a standstill just fine... they just couldn't go 70. \_ On the Prius, the electric is used to replace the gas engine in low power situations. On the Civic, its used to augment the power of the gas engine so they can use a smaller more efficient gas engine than on a conventional Civic. \_ can hybrids pass other cars? Is it safe to pass on a mt. road with a hybrid? \_ No, it's better to pass with a big SUV like the Ford Excursion. It's really cool too. Even the Hummer looks small beside it. \_ That guy on the bicycle with the RPG will be me. \_ speaking of honda hybrids: http://money.cnn.com/2005/10/12/Autos/most_efficient_cars/index.htm \_ what is the difference between 2006 Insight and previous version? they looked the same. |
| 2005/10/11-13 [Finance/CC, Transportation/Car/RoadHogs, Recreation/Humor] UID:40045 Activity:high Cat_by:auto |
10/11 "I Can't Afford My Gasoline" (has sound)
http://toccionline.kizash.com/films/1001/178/index.php
\_ Once we hit $6/gallon, those hybrids will start to look attractive,
too.
\_ It's been over $6/gallon in Europe. Cost me 34 Euro for a half
tank of gas on a Ford Fiesta (rental car) 2 weeks ago. Figures
it would cost around $85 for a full tank. And we're taking puny
car.
\_ do you have a choice? how about Ford Ka?
\_ I don't buy cars that chops heads off of cats.
\_ I probably did, but didn't know how to say it in Spanish.
\_ Where in Europe? Get a SMART.
\_ Was in Spain (Madrid), I don't think Avis has SMART; besides
I don't know if I'd fit in it (too tall).
\_ A colleague of mine drives one. He's 6'6", about 250lbs.
He got it because of the leg room. -John
\_ Take the train. |
| 2005/9/24-28 [Transportation/Car/RoadHogs, Science/GlobalWarming] UID:39855 Activity:high |
9/24 Is there a link btwn global warming and hurricanes?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/4276242.stm
\_ Thank you. You're right there is not enough data to suggest
global warming->hurricanes. I will continue driving my SUVs
because I don't believe in stuff like pollution->cancer.
I hate it when you liberals accuse me of causing cancer and birth
defects. There's plenty of air and oil to go around. MY SUV, MY
property. Keep your liberal laws off of my SUV. -trl
\_ Get off the SUV drivers backs ; anyone driving a gas/diesel
powered vehicle is guilty, weighted in their actual fuel
consumption.
\_ Yes, I agree. Everyone who burns fossil fuel is guilty
to the extent that they consume that. What peeves me
is that SUV drivers don't pay for their fair share
of things. They cause more damage to our roadways from
their extra weight, they cause more environmental damage,
and they are a greater risk on the road. But SUV drivers
get away without paying more in taxes and, in some
cases, get tax breaks. So no, I won't get off SUV
drivers backs until they pay their fair share.
\_ Hehe, and it was you liberals (or more accurately you
environmentalists) who have helped set back atomic energy
for decades, resulting in our continued dependency on
inefficient and ultimately hazardous fossil fuels.
Stuff like renewable energy isn't a real solution to
the problem. Neither is "ride bike" bullshit. If people
want a real solution we should start looking into viable
long-term strategies and not be knee-jerk about it.
Of course, this will never happen.
\_ You are a useless sack of shit. Maybe we can solve
the energy crisis by running turbines off of the hot air
that comes out of the mouths of jackoff know it all sysadmins
like you.
\_ Hehe, and it was you republicans (or more accurately you
SUV drivers) who have needlessly wasted our fuel supply
for decades, resulting in our continued dependency on
inefficient and ultimately hazardous fossil fuels.
Stuff like "Why do you hate America?" isn't a real solution
to the problem. Neither is "Why do you support terrorist?"
Stuff like invading another country isn't a real solution
to the problem. Neither is "Why do you hate America?"
bullshit. If people want a real solution we should start
looking into viable long-term strategies and not be
knee-jerk about it. Of course, this will never happen.
\_ Do you understand that the guy you're responding to was the
fuckhead who thinks people who don't like the way the 2004
election turned out should all move to Canada?
\_ You are a useless sack of shit.
\_ Pot. Kettle. Black.
\_ Yeah, "real solutions" like invading other countries.
\_ $6/gallon gasoline tax would take care of the problem
pretty quickly. We should make the SUV drivers shoulder
the true cost (military, etc) of their gasoline.
\_ Troll? I'll respond anyway but I'll keep it simple:
$6/gallon gas tax: dead economy. Low gas prices pay for
themselves by having low prices for everything else. Do
you work? You won't have a job. Are you in school?
Forget loans and grants. Forget social programs including
education. We should continue to ignore crack pots with
an axe to grind.
\_ How'd UK and Japan survive?
\_ They're falling apart. You want to swap economies
with either one?
\_ Do you equate success and value
economic numbers and nothing else?
\_ Which economy would you swap with and what
positive thing do you think you'd be getting
along with your screwed up foreign economy?
If you're going to troll, you need to bring
your own troll toys to play with.
\_ FWIW, Japan's economy is finally having a
revival. It's bad bank debts have been mostly
dealt with already. Buy some Japanese stocks.
EWJ perhaps?
\_ Granted, they're no longer in a deep recession
but would you trade economies with them? What
country would you swap economies with at this
time?
\_ Denmark. !op !pp
\_ I am not sure what you mean by "swap
economies". I wouldn't mind swapping a
S&P500 index fund for a TOPIX fund
S&P500 index fund with a TOPIX fund
though, at least for the next year or two.
\_ Australia.
\_ I would swap economies with any Northern
European nation. I want six weeks of
vacation and six months of paid family
leave. I would pay $6/gallon gasoline
for things like that. I bet over the
next 20 years, as Peak Oil hits, they
will do much better in every way
economically.
\_ Must be why so many Swedish white collar
professionals are moving to the UK for
its low (!) taxes. -John
\ Even the Japanese take more
\_ UK economy is pretty strong is it not?
vacation time than we do and crime is practically
non-existant compared to the USAnot to mention a great public
transit system. The cute girls is a nice perk too ;-)
Heck; even moving to canada would be an
improvement
\_ Why do you care? We just heard that global warming is irreversible
now. I'm burning tires for electricity. |
| 2005/9/23-26 [Transportation/Car/RoadHogs, Transportation/Car/Hybrid] UID:39839 Activity:low |
9/23 A Texan said "They're giving $10 worth of gas if you're on empty and
$5 if you have some. That's not going to get you very far."
I guess they're not driving Hybrids.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050923/ap_on_re_us/rita_texas_exodus_hk1
\_ I think I see a rear door of a Prius behind those four SUVs.
\_ I think it makes sesne for people to drive their gas-guzzling SUVs
when they're escaping hurricanes, because those can ford water and
go over debris. For daily commute it's a different story.
go over debris. For daily commute it's a different story. On the
other hand, I realize that hybrids work very well in traffic jams
because it burns zero "gas" when idling.
because it burns zero "gas" when idling. -- foo
\_ It makes sense for the individual participants, yes. It's basic
psychology. But look at it this way. When a society faces
famine, hording happens everywhere. However, hording
exacerbates food shortage for everyone else, so on and so forth.
\_ Agreed. The fed/state should provide more buses for
evacuation, and reserve the contraflow lanes for those buses
only. This way they can move a lot more people much faster.
(Plus they can take credit like "we evacuated X number of
people" instead of "we told X number of people to evacuate".)
--- foo
\_ Republicans hate big governments. Maybe they should
privatize evacuation and emergency facilities as well.
They'll definitely run more efficiently and a lot more
cost effective than the weak government we have now. |
| 2005/9/20-21 [Transportation/Car, Transportation/Car/RoadHogs] UID:39767 Activity:nil |
9/20 http://www.engadget.com/entry/1234000870059426/#comments \_ "In Soviet Russia, the car drives YOU" -- Is that you ilyas? |
| 2005/9/17-20 [Transportation/Car/RoadHogs, Transportation/Car/Hybrid] UID:39738 Activity:kinda low |
9/17 Toyota to go 100% hybrid:
http://www.detnews.com/2005/autosinsider/0509/15/C07-315611.htm
Related Update, Toyota to reduce the price of hybrids:
http://tinyurl.com/a2lmv (usatoday)
(this was mentioned in the first article as well)
\_ They're going hybrid with the Highlanders, and competitors to
follow. GREAT! I can't wait to get my Chevy Suburban or Hummer
hybrids so that I can drive in style for the mere gasoline cost
of a traditional Honda Accord.
\_ Sport Utility Vehicles have gotten a lot of bad press lately,
but they're manufactured for one reason: to transport today's
modern genetic super breed of wives, kids, and dogs which can
weigh in excess of 250lbs each.
\_ Holy shit. When did everyone upgrade to Marmaduke?
\_ Toyota has a habit of doing what they say they will. GM is sooo
screwed.
\_ Toyota is like, Microsoft. They can do whatever they want
and force competitors to catch up. GM/Ford is like Sun Micro,
they play stupid immature marketing games and come out with
lamewares like StarOffice or something, and they play the
number games very well but in the long run it's just fruitless
\_ in Sun's defense, StarOffice was never meant to be a "real"
product. it was acquired along with a Czech company and
for a long time had no support. Also, one of those stupid
immature marketing games was called "Java."
\_ Has Sun made any money off of Java yet?
\_ Last I heard, IBM made more money of Java than Sun
did. This drives the Sun people I know up the wall,
more because they dislike IBM than because they like
Java. -gm
\_ < 200 million last year, FYI. If soffice
product marketing team let me play, I can get
a lot further than they got right now. -sun guy
\_ soffice is a pos, I can't believe they make
us use it - also a sun guy
\_ Nweaver taught me to write in Postscript during
our lazy afternoons together.
the afternoon times. -sun tranny
\_ Java may be not making them money as much as letting
them survive, since if everyone used proprietary
Windows stuff to run web servers Sun would have been
toast a long time ago.
\_ They've monetized J2ME on cell phones. i.e. games |
| 2005/9/17 [Transportation/Car/RoadHogs, Transportation/Car/Hybrid] UID:39723 Activity:high |
9/17 Toyota to go 100% hybrid:
http://www.detnews.com/2005/autosinsider/0509/15/C07-315611.htm
\_ They're going hybrid with the Highlanders, and competitors to
follow. GREAT! I can't wait to get my Chevy Suburban or Hummer
hybrids so that I can drive in style for the mere gasoline cost
of a traditional Honda Accord.
\_ Sport Utility Vehicles have gotten a lot of bad press lately,
but they're manufactured for one reason: to transport today's
modern genetic super breed of wives, kids, and dogs which can
weigh in excess of 250lbs each.
\_ Holy shit. When did everyone upgrade to Marmaduke?
\_ Toyota has a habit of doing what they say they will. GM is sooo
screwed.
\_ Toyota is like, Microsoft. They can do whatever they want
and force competitors to catch up. GM/Ford is like Sun Micro,
they play stupid immature marketing games and come out with
lamewares like StarOffice or something, and they play the
number games very well but in the long run it's just fruitless
\_ in Sun's defense, StarOffice was never meant to be a "real"
product. it was acquired along with a Czech company and
for a long time had no support. Also, one of those stupid
immature marketing games was called "Java."
\_ Has Sun made any money off of Java yet? |
| 2005/9/11-13 [Transportation/Car/RoadHogs] UID:39633 Activity:nil |
9/11 http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20050911/bs_afp/usweatherauto Katrina is the catalyst for the declining popularity of SUV. "Chevrolet Suburban saw sales drop 28 percent during August. Ford said sales of the full-size Ford Expedition plunged 40 percent. Toyota Motor said sales of its heavily promoted Sequoia dropped 32 percent in August." Apparently, there IS a God! Thank you God for striking down asshole cars. Now I'm going to celebrate by smoking weed. -happy liberal \_ People were prescient enough not to buy SUVs because a hurricane would screw oil prices at the end of the month? \_ Had you not noticed that whole $70/barrel runup in the last few months? Oops. I suppose that should be directed at OP. |
| 2005/9/10-13 [Transportation/Car/RoadHogs] UID:39623 Activity:low |
9/10 People who drive Range Rovers, Excursions and Suburbans are
flipping this Hummer driver because Hummers are less environmentally
friendly: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/3749377.stm
\_ what I found interesting is that government give out
tax credit up to $100k for vehicle over 6000 pounds. This
along with the proposed new fuel efficiency standard would
explain why there are so many ultra-big vehicle on the road.
\_ The tax credit is only if you use the vehicle for work and
now the credit is spread across 4 years, can't take it in
one chunk.
\_ For "work".
\_ Actually you could depreciate in one chunk, until that loop
hole was closed for large SUVs on 10/22/2004 by an
amendment by Don Nickles (R Oklahoma).
\_ I cashed in on that tax deal with an X5 (6008 lbs). Had they
allowed that deal to continue, I would have bought a Hummer
this year to piss off my friends.
\_ joke's on you
\_ Not really. I saved $30K on my taxes with the X5.
That'll cover, what, a hundred years of extra gas
That'll cover, what, thirty years of extra gas
money? The Hummer would have been worth $40K in
taxes for me.
\_ 30K ? How does that work?
\_ There was a special loophole that allowed you
to deduct vehicles over 6000 pounds as a
business expense, even if you used it to
commute.
\_ The math doesn't add up. Let's say the X5
cost $60K. To save $30K on taxes your
marginal rate would have to be 50%. The
highest bracket isn't that high.
\_ Base 2005 BMW X5, 4.8is AWD 4dr SUV (4.8L
8cyl 6A), MSRP $70,100, Invoice $63,970.
Also, though I haven't stated it
specifically, I live in CA, so you have to
add in my CA state tax. It actually works
out to be a bit more than $30k.
\_ Hybrid Hummer from seven years ago:
http://evworld.com/archives/conferences/evs14/humvee.html
350hp. 0-50mph in 7sec. 18mpg. Climbs 60% grade at 17mph and
fords 5ft of water (think New Orleans). It even has a stealth mode.
\_ An all electric tank with electric canon? Those would be
some batteries. |
| 2005/9/9-13 [Transportation/Car, Transportation/Car/RoadHogs] UID:39606 Activity:moderate |
9/9 Small Japanese People making a comeback:
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2005/09/small_japanese.php
\_ http://money.cnn.com/2005/09/01/Autos/fuel_efficiency_trends
"In 1981, the average car got 21mpg... Jump ahead 24 years, the
average car got... 21mpg... vehicles have gotten more fuel
efficient. It's just that car buyers have wanted other things..."
\_ I can pesonally attest to the advance in engine technology.
Thirteen years ago my '84 Jeep Cherokee (115hp) reached the
100k-mile mark and I was getting ~14mpg. This June my '96 Jeep
Cherokee (190hp) also reached the 100k-mile mark, and I'm
getting ~22mpg. Both trucks have *identical* bodies, so the
difference in mpg is all in the drivetrain. Actually my '96 has
cruise control and one mandatory airbag, so it probably weights
more than my '84.
\_ Not gonna happen. Gas price is going down again. For this to
happen, you either need a sustained 70s effect, where gas is
relatively $5-6/gallon. Not gonna happen now. Americans love
their SUVs.
\_ The 1981 inflation-adjusted peak gas cost was $2.94. -tom
\_ $3.0803 for CA. http://csua.org/u/dc3
\_ Whatever, the point is it wasn't $5-$6/gallon back then,
and the price had a real effect on car buying. -tom
\_ SUV sales are already way down. Someday they will be
like big station wagons of the 70s are thought of today.
\_ Americans use far more gas than they did in the '70s. Inflation
adjusted price comparisons are kind of bogus.
\_ nice try. it won't fly. most of these car's performance sucks.
zero-sixty at 15 second range. American need to have a lot of
interior room. None of these car has them. The two car I know
that has relatively roomy interior and small in size are
1. Audi A2, and 2. Opel Melvira
\_ Also American cities, excluding megaurbans that we know, tend
to spread out over a large area of land, and Americans
travel more distance with a greater speed than most of the
other countries so they prefer big, comfortable cars. After
getting spoiled for decades, and with loans at all time low,
it is unlikely Americans will buy something smaller when they
can obviously take easy loans to get something much better.
\_ only way to resolve this issue is slap $1 per gallon of
federal tax on gasoline (oppose to $0.18 right now).
\_ Yes, the solution to any problem is to raise taxes.
The government knows best how to spend your money.
\_ Instead, we should just get rid of all our taxes
because the government doesn't know how to spend
our money. In fact, they shouldn't even be spending
our money. Stop spending our money to build and
maintain our automotive infrastructure, damnit.
But I still want to drive my 6000lbs SUV.
\_ they do if best is defined in terms of speed or
meaninglessness.
\_ (Note, I'm not arguing pro/con) This is not a
revenue-generating tax, although it inevitably turns
into one, it's a punitive tax to try and steer
peoples' behavior, much like a cigarette tax. There's
a difference. -John
\_ ohh my gosh, John understands me for once.
\_ Not really. The government is telling you not
to spend your money on gas in that instance.
They are thus telling you how to spend
your money. The difference is the same.
\_ You're an idiot.
\_ Insightful.
\_ moron would be more exact, but agreed. |
| 2005/9/9-11 [Transportation/Car, Transportation/Car/RoadHogs] UID:39592 Activity:nil |
9/9 Crack NOLA police force in action... "[T]he police taught everyone
around here how to loot. They were the first to bust into the
grocery store down the street and the Wal-Mart a mile or so up
the road. He also says they took to breaking into car lots in the
days after the storm and driving off with brand-new Escalades. I'm
not sure whether to believe him, until a cop car drives buy towing
what looks like a mint-condition Corvette Stingray.
http://www.slate.com/id/2125820/nav/tap1
\_ LA and NO in particular have had endemic corruption for
decades upon decades. Such corruption breeds incompetence.
On the best of nights NO is out of control and lawless; throw
in a flood and you see the result.
\_ Just for argument's sake, it would make sense for them to heist
SUVs in place of patrol cars, and to bust into shops to distribute
goods to people, but it doesn't sound like that's what happened
(although to be fair, I wasn't there...) -John |
| 2005/8/26-29 [Transportation/Car, Transportation/Car/RoadHogs] UID:39297 Activity:nil |
8/26 Hawaii caps gas prices:
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2005/08/hawaii_becomes.php
\_ Won't oil companies just sell the gas for Hawaii in other states?
\_ In other news, the Hawaii state legislature failed economics
101.
\_ The Hawaii state government has been failing remedial econ
for quite some time now.
\_ Damn I'm glad I no longer live there .. gas lines suck, just ask
your parents! |
| 2005/8/22-23 [Transportation/Car/RoadHogs, Transportation/Car/Hybrid] UID:39218 Activity:very high |
8/22 SUV owners: Are you still happy with your oil guzzlling SUVs, or
is the gasoline price getting painful?
\_ I don't drive an SUV but I did just put $52+ in my tank. Does it
hurt? Only in the "gee, that was the most expensive tank of gas
I've ever bought in my entire life... oh well" kind of way. The
price has *zero* effect on my driving. Why? I still need to drive
to work, to the store, to visit family, etc. I'm really happy for
the anti-car folks who live in a tiny village making pottery out
of their backyard to sell to their pottery buying neighbors down
the street who live next to their parents, but the rest of us have
lives to live. When someone donates a $1M+ home I'll be able to
live closer to work but that will put me further from my family.
\_ Your little rant was cute and all, tough guy, but why don't
you tell us one reason why you need a SUV? What does it do
that a minivan or a regular old sedan can't do?
\_ Some people need to haul their entire living room up K2.
\_ Great. You just keep on thinking that the California car
driving lifestyle is the only way to have a decent life,
and stay the fuck out of the decent places so the rest of
us can live in peace.
\_ Yep, you've convinced me with your deep and pithy style
that my lifestyle is just wrong. Please provide a list of
"decent places" so I know how to avoid hyper aggressive
ninnies like you. Thanks.
\_ It's not just California, it's the entire country. The
modern American way of life is built on cheap gas. We need
to start thinking seriously about how we're going to live in
a world where gas is not cheap, instead of just getting into
unproductive left/right pissing matches. The "sky is
falling" crowd and the "I don't care, something will fix it
all for us" crowd are both blinkered.
\_ How about telecommuting, even as little as once a week?
\_ *laugh* Yeah, uhm, sure. Talk to my boss. Thanks. As if I
_choose_ to not telecommute.
\_ My SUV's mileage is 20mpg, which is not that much worse than our
other car's 26mpg. On the other hand I find it far more
versatile. However, I also don't drive it that much. Why focus
on car style and MPG when you should be focusing on overall GAS
usage i.e. in gallons/day?
\_ Exactly. I own an SUV, but I only drive it a short distance
to transfer to public transit to commute to work, even though
it's faster to drive straight to work all the way.
in order to transfer to public transit to commute to work,
even though it's faster to drive all the way to work. So my
gas-guzzling SUV guzzles much less gas than some people's
sedans.
\_ Your other car is 30% more fuel efficient. "Not that much
worse"? What would be "that" much, 15mpg? 10mpg? Not that
I'm advocating either way. My car ~= 25mpg. I also live
close to work though.
Also note that even for the same MPG, emissions levels can
still vary quite a bit between cars.
\_ I live and work in San Francisco. Not selling pottery either.
I usually ride my bicycle to work, but take Muni/BART on
days when I don't feel like riding. I use CityShare about
twice a month when I need to shop. I don't own a car. It
isn't really that hard to do. -ausman
\_ City CarShare is pretty rad, but I'm not sure how it would
work in lower density areas.
\_ You never drive anywhere for recreation?
\_ I rent or borrow a car to do that. Honestly, this is
the only real change I have noticed: I rarely leave
The City and when I do it is usually to get on an
airplane. Oh, I go to Berkeley alot for Cal games,
but I use BART for that.
\- I live in SF. I drive to the gym 4 blocks away.
\_ You don't really live in SF, do you? South of
Cesar Chavez and West of Divis don't count. Where
in "SF" do you live?
\_ Who told you they don't count? Not an SF native,
that is for sure. Most of the native San
Franciscans grew up South of Cesar Chavez
or West of Divis.
\_ Don't want to get too bulked up on your way there!
\_ How do you get your kids around? How do you shop for a
family of 4 + pets? How do you move anything bigger than
a backpack to/from your apartment? How happy is your wife
living in an apartment with a few kids + pets? How can you
afford to pay a mortgage in the city so close to work?
\_ There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than
are dreamt of in your philosophy. -tom
are dreamt of in your philosophy, Horatio. -tom
\_ So you suggest ausman not have kids, pets, a spouse,
large objects, a wife, or buy a house? That's really
deep. Maybe he can live near a lake and write poetry
and contemplate his Oneness with the universe while
RIDE BIKE! through the forest?
\_ Regardless of what Tom or anyone thinks, you need a
car for a lot of things. However, you do _not_ need
a fucking SUV for wives/childrens/dogs/cellos or
whatever. You need a truck for hauling sacks of
turf and wheelbarrows and lumber, which is what those
things were originally for, not picking up lattes
for the office. I smile every time I see some
idiot in a monster like that with a $90 gas tank
(or whatever it translates to.) All the farmers and
handyman types here drive cars like Subaru estates
or small minivans. -John
\_ Sure you do. Because modern American wives/
children/dogs/cellos are three times bigger
than they were when you were growing up or
in other countries.
\_ I "need" a car about twice a month. It is silly
to pay $400-500 a month for something I use twice.
\_ $400-500/mo? Why would you get such an
expensive car? If you get a decent cheap small
car, maybe a couple years old, it could last
a very long time especially considering low
usage.
\_ RIDE BIKE! is for people who do things like
not live in LA or not play cello. -- ilyas
\_ My brother plays drums and lives without a car.
But we don't need any more proof that you're
incapable of thinking creatively. -tom
\_ i bet the bum lives in your parents
garage and will keep bumming rides
to move his shit around when he is
asked to leave.
\_ Yeah, I am sure exposure to temperature
extremes won't be bad for the cello. Or God
forbid you go professional, and have to tow
a 50,000 dollar box of wood as fragile as an
eggshell, and sensitive to everything. I mean
that can only end well. -- ilyas
\_ I'm not suggesting ausman do anything; it sounds
like he's already done a pretty good job making
life decisions. I think it's pretty sad that some
people can't imagine living any way other than
what they're accustomed to. I know plenty of
people living car-free, and it is entirely possible
to have a rich, fulfilling life, including kids and
pets, without owning a car. In fact I would go
further to say that the car-free people I know
tend to have lives richer and more fulfilling than
the average. -tom
\_ Pets are luxury items.
\_ So are kids, grocery, etc.
\_ If only the 3rd world knew they were living in
such luxury!
\_ So are pets.
\_ Here in US, you need $$$ to raise a kid. A kid costs
$1M in your lifetime.
\_ That's only an ideal. Look at all the poor
people having kids. Your tax dollars at
work.
\_ Or, rather, lack of tax dollars for decent
sex ed/condom programs.
\_ I don't think so. I think a lot of them
choose to have kids regardless.
\_ Pure BS. I guess that it's possible
that some people spend that much on
kids, but my parents raised 5 kids on
$40,000 a year, in CA. All that with
no particular government help to speak
of. (Usual stuff I suppose, we went to
CA public colleges, so tution was fairly
cheap, etc.)
\_ Yeah, me too, but my mom telling me the
Alpo from the discount warehouse was
really "extra chunky corn flakes" got a
bit old. :-) -John
\_ I don't have any kids yet, maybe I will have to buy a
car when I get one, but I hope not. I see lots of Noe
Valley parents loading their kids onto the J every
morning in their strollers, so I know it can be done.
It might not be possible with two working parents. I
already told you how I shop. City CarShare has trucks
and SUVs for larger loads. Since I live in a walkable
city, there is a butcher and produce store less than
two blocks away for day to day things. I live in half a
2500 sq ft duplex we bought three years ago. 1250 sq ft is
plenty of space for three people, but if my family gets too
big I might have to move. I am not going to post details
of my financial situation on the motd but if you are
really curious, you are welcome to write me and ask.
Our total cost of mortgage minus rents from the bottom
unit is less than our rents apart were. -ausman
\_ Thank you for a serious and thoughtful reply, unlike
some others here.
\_ As I've said over and over again, the problem is not that gas
gas costs $4, $5, $6, etc. per gallon for personal driving. The
problem is that it inflates the price of everything. I can handle
even $20/gallon gasoline. However, if you raise my food, water,
electric, etc., bills by 6x that's a totally different story.
\_ Gas is $6/gallon in Europe and somehow people there survive.
I guess you could argue their standard of living is lower,
but they don't think so. Our standard of living is going
to go down, too.
\_ Being a tall/long-legged person; I am pretty much
stuck with driving an SUV due to headroom issues. It sucks
paying >$50 a week in gas; but I have got no other
alternative w/o adding another hour a day to the commute.
I hear that they are coming out with hybrid SUVs..
\_ European commuters pay $6/gallon (or $9/gallon in Holland),
but many other industrial consumers do not due to tax rebates.
They can always lower their taxes, we have nothing to lower.
Like I said, driving is a luxury, eating is not. Europe also
has had decades to design all their cities and infrastructure
around expensive gas. Almost everything in America is setup
to require cheap energy to function.
\_ Right. It's a good thing the folks who laid out London after
the fire of 1666 took high gas prices into account in
their planning.
\_ Oh, they had a oil based economy before 1666? I
learn something new every day on the motd. Cheap
energy is a modern, temporary phenomenon.
\_ A friend of mine was 6'5" and borrowed my Honda Civic and said he
had no problem with headroom ... He drives a Subaru Forrester now.
\_ Speaking as a 6'4" person, a Honda Civic is perfectly fine -
I drove one in comfort for 4 years. The Mini Cooper was also
pretty comfortable. The only car that I've seen that I doubt
I could drive under most circumstances was the Lotus Elise,
but that's a $40,000 toy. --lye
\- I think people who can afford [as opposed to those who buy
but cannot afford] +$40k cars are not significantly affected
but cannot afford] +$40k cars are really not at all affected
by the gasoline price increase. To arbitrarily pick a number,
if you make $100k/yr, does gas being $2 vs $2.50 a gal affect
if you make $100k/yr, does gast being $2 vs $2.50 a gal affect
you at all? This delta is less than their latte/imported beer/
fancy vodka budget/premium. Aside from auto gasoline, higher
fancy vodka budget/premium. Aside from auto gasoline, increase
oil prices affect the cost of living in otherways, but I
still dont think this affects the even moderately well off.
Now obviously there could be other effect [like say if you
work for an airlines] but the main effect is not from incr
cost of living/out of pocket costs. ok tnx.
fancy vodka budget/premium.
\_ Of course it will hit the poor more, like any price
increases in staples. However, there are lot of places
it can affect the rich, too. Even if you don't, say,
own a trucking company you might own a yacht. Are
those people going to be on food stamps? No, but like
anyone else they are on a budget. If they take the
boat out less often (say) then the marina loses money,
the yacht club loses money (no mai tais), the tackle
shop loses money and so on. A lot of wealthy people
are wealthy because they pay attention to the bottom
line, not because they ignore rising expenses.
\- my point is not "it hits the poor more", it is
"the marginal increase in living costs going to
higher auto gas costs is trivial for medium income
people among bay area high tech people" i.e. the sloda
demographic. the increase price of gas increased the
per capita cost of a gas for a camping trip by $5/person
[500mi of driving].
\_ Might not be trivial if, say, you own a boat,
which was my example. It directly depends on
how much gasoline you use (or need for your
business) and indirectly depends on how much
gasoline others use (and need for their
businesses). Price at the pump to fill up the
SUV isn't really the issue. |
| 2005/8/22-23 [Transportation/Car, Transportation/Car/RoadHogs] UID:39217 Activity:moderate |
8/22 Do gas pumps automatically shut off when it reaches $50? Yesterday I
was using my Discover Card at a 76 station, and the pump stopped at
exactly $50.00. Was it just by chance, or was this a security feature?
I could've tried topping-off and see if it would continue pumping, but
I didn't think of it until after I returned the nozzle to the pump.
\_ $997...$998...$999...$000. "Woohoo!!! Free Gas!"
\_ This is a security feature put in by evil left wing liberals to
keep from us good conservatives from driving our Ford Exterminator
on the street.
\_ Could be something locally set up. Gas is pricey in that area.
The only other security feature I've seen is you can't use the
same credit card for gas within X hours.
\_ It's Cupertino. I've never reached $50 at the gas pump in my
life. -- OP
\_ What kind of car, max gallon, and the type of gas filled?
\_ Toyota Sienna, max 21gal, the lowest grade gas (whatever
it's called at 76). Pump stopped at 17.863gal. Please
no flaming on driving a big van. My alternative is to
to use two small cars to haul the family which would burn
use two small cars to haul the family which would burn
even more gas. -- OP
\_ Minivans are the safest and most practical vehicles
on the road. You will get no flames from me.
-car hating critical mass guy
\_ What about the overbreeding?
\_ Actually it's me + wife + kid, plus my bro-in-
law + wife + kid, plus my in-laws, a total of 8.
Just fills up an 8-passenger Sienna. We go out
together every weekend. I don't drive the van
on weekdays. -- OP
\_ Reminds me of that time I drove from oakland to las vegas,
averaging 80-110mph. Got gas using my credit card at some
station in Bumfuck, CA. Got to Vegas in record time and
tried to check-in the hotel and they said my card was
declined, they called the credit card company for me,
handed me the phone and I had to verify my identity
to the representative. Turns out they had locked my
card because their software program decided there was
no way I could have used the card in Oakland, Bumfuck
& Vegas in an approx. 6.5 hour period.
\_ I think it would be funny if cops could give you speeding
tickets based on math in this case.
\_ "Your honor, I was flying in a chartered chopper ..."
\_ Yes, typically. You have to swipe your card again as another
purchase.
\_ Is it a feature to keep criminals from using the card, or to
keep you from pouring gas all over the station?
\_ I don't know why. My guess was something about the credit
card companies' policy of the customer being liable for $50.
But that's just a guess.
\_ the preauth is usually set around that. i think there's
a roadshow answer to this question a while back.
\_ Since gas prices keep going up, this is going to start making
getting gas more inconvenient in the future ...
\_ GOOD. I'm happy. Move closer, ride a scooter, less traffic,
less pollution. GOOD. I'm happy.
\_ Spoken like a student. Let us know when you have a job and
a spouse and own more than the clothes on your back. Maybe
a few kids, too.
\_ I don't own a car, and rely completely on bike for transport,
but spiralling gas prices are still very bad if they get
out of control, even for us non-car people. The price of
oil could easily get out of control to the point that it
fucks up the economy badly enough that we have no job to bike
to, and can't afford the goods at the store that we bike to.
Also, I'm not going to bike to see my family who live 3000
miles away.
\_ Getting gas off 98th Avenue, Oakland (yucky, 3 panhandlers in lot)
they limited my SUV (rented for camping, refilling) to $25 via
my credit card. I had to pay cash to get more than that.
Then in Millbrae (nice neighborhood?) they limited the Lexus SC400
to $50 (didnt fill it up all the way). By the way, I'm only
5'9" but the SC400 is too short, especially with asian-hair that
sticks up, my hair touches the roof of the car. Annoying car.
But headroom issues belong in the other thread above this one.
\_ Are you saying that there's a station agent who watches what
kind of car you're filling, and punches in a limit on the fly?
\_ No. Those limits to apply to anyone, any single transaction.
Just different neighborhood have different limits. |
| 2005/8/22-23 [Transportation/Car/RoadHogs] UID:39214 Activity:kinda low |
8/22 My year 2006 prediction -- There will be an SUV bubble.
Housing prices will continue to climb.
\_ Do you mean: SUV prices will suddenly ascend to ludicious
\_ Do you mean: SUV prices will suddenly ascend to ludacris
levels (a bubble) or prices will crash (a bubble burst)?
\_ I'm Fiddy Cent Beeaatch! <bang> <bang> <bang>
\_ What's a ludacris level? Is that the level most of those
pimped out rap mobile Escalades are at?
\_ The number of SUV sales will go down. GM/Ford/etc keep pumping
out the same number of SUVs and realize the low demand, and
start cutting prices drastically during the summer of 2006.
\_ You think executives don't cut production when sales
decline? "GM and Ford have already made clear that their
outlook for SUV sales this year isn't bright. Both have
cut SUV production plans. (May 2005)" Although recently
sales have rebounded due to large price cuts, but I doubt
that will spur large production increases.
\_ The past couple of years have shown Detroit to be be not
operating very rationally. You'd think executives would
cut production when sales decline, but, up until this year,
they hadn't. Dealers have been complaining for years about
being shipped too many SUVs and larger cars that just sat
on their lots unsold. At the same time, buyers have been
put on waiting lists to buy hybrids. American car sales
came out of the doldrums briefly this year for the first
time in a few years as a result of massive price cuts -
the so-called "employee discounts" for everybody sales.
\_ Since Detroit loses money on almost every vehicle except
for SUVs -- how will they survice?
\_ Is this a clumsy attempt to change the subject?
\_ And you're so confident in your prediction, you even fail to sign
your name!
\_ my prediction, the aliens who doped us up with Sci Fi films
will attack us finally
\_ ludicrous
\_ lewdicrous
\_ loodicris
\_ http://www.blackstar.cc/illustration/ludacris.jpg |
| 2005/8/19-22 [Transportation/Car, Transportation/Car/RoadHogs] UID:39180 Activity:moderate |
8/19 http://compilers.cs.ucla.edu/~kchang/interesting/shortcar.jpg What kind of car is this? I'm trying to find more info like name, model, mileage, and other things. Thanks. -kchang \_ If you're interested in a small car, you might want to read http://www.bridger.us/2002/12/16/CrashTestingMINICooperVsFordF150 http://www.gladwell.com/2004/2004_01_12_a_suv.html -- mini owner \_ Note that is from 2002. And the Neon, Cavalier/Sunfire, and Civic and Corolla do all have higher driver deaths than even the midsize cars. The Jetta is also not "tiny" as they say; it's a bigger car than a Civic. \_ But in general, some of the most dangerous cars to be in are SUVs (or light trucks as some people call them). http://tinyurl.com/cwp5w (NHTSA/DOT) \_ 3 of the 4 worst performing cars are subcompacts. Indeed, it seems like midsize cars had the best ratings. --mini owner \_ SMART car. Owned by the greater DCX corporation. \_ I saw quite a few of them in Canada. I wonder if they're in US \_ You buy it, and you go straight to Dr. Yeung. \_ I believe the guy driving the car is a 25 year old Bengali. \_ http://msnbc.msn.com/id/5217861 and http://akasa.ca/smart \_ When you get into an traffic accident, it conveniently crushes into the shape of a coffin, saving you funeral expenses further down the road. \_ And the solution is to have everyone buy bigger and heavier cars, thereby, starting an arms race and making everything, in general, more dangerous? \_ What solution? Is there a problem here? \_ The problem is that people getting bigger cars to make themselves safer is a fallacy because once other people start doing that, your "big" car will become dangerous to be in because of other bigger cars on the street. Meanwhile, your car will become more difficult to control because of the extra weight and size and you're more likely to get into an accident in the first place. \_ The problem with modern light (small is irrelevant) cars isn't being crushed; they have really strong frames (good ones do). The problem is just inertia. Your car will be hurled by the big SUV and when you then hit something else you and the pinball car will come to an abrupt stop. This is why buses don't have seatbelts. In general they don't need them. \_ When a bus rolls over, big inertia doesn't help. When you don't have seatbelts, you hit the roof and break your neck and die. BTW there are usually seat belts for the bus drivers. So I think buses should have seatbelts for passengers also. \_ Sure sure. There are lots of ways to get hurt and die in a car. Sometimes the seatbeltless guy who got ejected lives. Small nimble cars are more likely to completely avoid accidents but less likely to survive head-on collisions, yadda yadda. driver. \_ http://www.smart.com They are actually quite safe. Very rigid frame, tons of airbags. You see a lot of them in Europe (use almost no gas, very roomy--a colleague has one and we carpool regularly.) Not very much storage, fairly zippy, and there's a 4-door (which sucks), a roadster (which is cute but being discontinued) and the crossblade (which is an awesome idea-- http://www.smart-j.com/e/cb.html ) I think they even make some bizarre Brabus mad turbo version. The company's at least co-owned by DaimlerChrysler, and they sell them here in these giant glass towers that look like 10 story car vending machines. Pretty cool, and you can wedge them in perpendicularly into many gaps in parking spots. -John \_ That crossblade doesn't look safe. \_ OK granted, but I don't think "safety" is entirely the point with something like that. -John |
| 2005/7/26-29 [Transportation/Car, Transportation/Car/RoadHogs] UID:38830 Activity:high |
7/26 To the free market troll complaining about how the government shouldn't
fund an R&D project into better roads. Have you any idea how many
commercial(read: free market) companies owe their technology to basic
science funded by the government? Hell. If not for that, you wouldn't
even have a career.
\_ I am probably the guy you think is the free market troll. You
didn't read my posts carefully enough. I totally support government
funding of R&D of all kinds, government funding of roads, and
government funding of public mass transit. I just loathe car
culture, and think that our present system is not based on either
a free market or government support of rational transit, but rather
is based on whoring out the country for the car companies and
suburban developers. You may address me as "anti-car troll" if
you want to be accurate.
\_ "whoring out the country for the car companies..."? Did you
just graduate from highschool? That's the sort of
demagoguery I'd expect from a freshman or sophomore with all the
accompanying idealisitic 'Im gonna change the *world*!!!!'
demagoguery I'd expect from a freshman or sophomore will all the
accompanying idealisitic 'Im-a gonna change the *world*!!!!'
zeal.
\_ I'm not lafe but I just want to say that when I was in
college I was full of optimism and energy because I
felt that I could do a lot to make this world better.
Now that I'm in my 30s, working 9-5... I feel that
there isn't much I can really do to drastically
change the world. You just live life the way life
wants you to live. Does anyone feel similar?
\_ Not at all; I'm not a victim. -pp
\_ No. Try to be a good guy, debate eloquently, stand by
your convictions. What's so hard about that? Make what
little difference you can, and enjoy watching the morons
around you send the world to hell in a handbasket. And
regarding the comment below, Europe has good public
transit, but the cities are also generally a lot more
densely populated. -John
\_ I do try to live my life modestly and reasonably, but
I've concluded that the world doesn't want to be made
better. See GC's comments on "Paradox of Our Time"
http://www.georgecarlin.com/home/dontblame.html
\_ So, your alternative to car culture...?
\_ See Europe. Walkable/bikable cities, subsidized mass
transit. High gas taxes to discourage use of the
automobile. Discourage sprawl.
\_ Europe's big cities are very densely populated. The
rest of Europe uses cars just like here.
\_ Even smaller European cities have very usable
public transportation (better than, say, SF/Oak).
And even less densly populated regions are well
served by public transport. I was able to get
from the door of my apartment to standing on a
glacier (in another country no less!) solely
though public transport (well, and some walking).
\_ So you suggest a *massive* rebuilding of our
entire culture where we literally rip up everything
now in place, and rebuild everyone's home, work,
the transit system, utilities, everything, so you
don't have to live in car culture? Seriously, I've
never said this to anyone before but if you're that
upset you should just move to another country that
suits you better. Living here will just keep you
bitter and angry. Note, I don't say 'make'. You
are already bitter and angry to a ridiculous degree
over something that will *never* be anything like
the way you want.
\_ Ok, take a couple of deep breaths and re-read
my post. You will see that I do not suggest
anything; I just offered a counter statement
and supporting anecdote to the post before
me. Physician, heal thyself. -- pp
\_ Ok, so you advocate nothing when the original
point of this sub-thread was "What is your
alternative to car culture?". To say that
you advocate nothing when you're really
advocating European style transit which would
require a massive and near complete
rebuilding of society is pure intellectual
dishonesty. To then turn around and say the
fault is mine and that you're this calm and
together person while I'm some nut case is
pure dishonesty. Care to actually discuss
the issue instead of nutting around?
\_ I predict that within 10 years gasoline
will be $10/gallon and the rebulding of
America into a denser and more sustainable
fashion will begin happening all on its
own. And yes, you are the one that sounds
angry and bitter and extreme here. !-pp
\_ It isn't possible to be angry/bitter
about something I don't care about.
Questioning someone who questions the
status quo is hardly extreme. Now
you're just being silly. Re-read and
try again. I predict that whatever
happens, if you predict enough random
things you'll eventually be right
about some of them.
\_ Are you familiar with the Peak Oil
hypothesis? I am not predicting a
"random" thing, I am subscribing
to a theory that already has quite
a bit of evidence to back it up.
\_ I've read a lot on both sides of
the peak oil hypothesis. I'm
still undecided. Thinking about
it now, no, I don't think oil
will ever get to $10/gallon in
today's currency because there
are other energy sources that
cost less than that, but more
than the current price. Oil
can exceed those numbers due to
current inertial reliance, but
not to infinity and I don't
believe to $10/g. I still
remember all the scare movies
in the 70s telling us how by
the mid 80s the world would be
completely out of oil. I'm not
easily convinced that state of
affairs is always ~10 years away.
\_ A while ago I saw a seaman's
handbook written in the 70's
that quite sincerely stated
that sail might well be comming
back in the near future so
merchant seamen should learn
sailing related skills.
\_ So I did some research and
I agree that because of coal
to gasoline processes, gas
will probably not hit $10
anytime soon. I think $5 is
very likely though.
\_ I wouldn't say that smaller cities have better
public transport than SF does. There is, for
instance, no subway. You might be able to get
on a bus, but you can do that here, too, if
you don't mind a 3 hour trip to go 20 miles.
My point was that Europe, outside of the dense
cities, is also a car culture. Try driving
from Paris to the Mediterranean during the
summer. The roads are packed. Mostly the old and
the poor use public transport, just like here,
unless they live in a big city (like our NYC).
Plenty of Europeans own cars and use them to,
say, go to Wal-Mart.
\_ Yeah, traffic here is horrible, as bad as
LA -- I don't deny that (though the highways
are also much narrower). But at the same time,
of the 12 people I work with closely, every
single one takes public transportation to work.
of the 12 people I work with closely, not a
single one drives to work.
I live in a town that isn't that much larger
than Des Moines and it has functioning public
transportation. You are right, there is no
subway here, but there are trams. However,
to go 20 mi, I wouldn't use either -- I'd
take a train and, if well timed, it should take
about 40 minutes door-to-door with public
transportation (less if I biked to the train
station, which I probably would). It is un-
realistic to expect the US to become this way
overnight, and there are some inherent
differences between Europe and the US that
may make it hard to implement such a system,
but the difference isn't just an "economy-
of-scale" effect from large cities -- many
smaller European cities have well functioning
public transportation.
\_ When I was on vacation, I took trains everywhere.
The train from Nice to Paris took about seven
hours. I could have done it in a bullet train
in about four, but I wanted to do it overnight
and get a sleeper. The people I shared my
cabin with certainly were not poor.
\_ Trains will get you to a city, but are
not helpful to get you to a particular
destination. I can fly from LA to SF
for cheap, so I guess flying is better
than public transportation. Why would
someone take a train to Nice if they
could fly?
\_ Easy -- it takes an hour to get from
your house to the airport, where you
need to arrive an hour in advance.
The flight takes an hour, and it
takes another hour to get from the
airport to the city center. So, even
though the flight is only 1 hr, you
are in transit for 4 hours. When
factoring in the time it takes to get
to the train station, it probably
takes a little bit longer, but the
experience is much more pleasant.
\_ The solution is obviously to build
more airports so that it won't
take 2 hours there/back.
\_ Or more train stations with
bullet trains.
\_ You can take a cab or local transit
or even rent a car once you get there.
Flying is a sort of mass transit, actually.
How is it fundamentally different than
Greyhound??
\_ Same as in Hong Kong and around the Tokyo area. Many
people have nice cars, but they don't drive them
everyday.
\_ In Tokyo, you don't have to. In NYC, you don't
have to. It's unreasonable to expect the same
level of public transit in, say, Des Moines.
\_ I've never been to Tokyo, but the idea that you can
get around NYC with just public transit is simply
wrong. Even if you want to think that Manhattan =
NYC, this still isn't so and the incredible number
of cabs and other private driving services should
make this clear. If public transit was so great
and workable in NYC, there wouldn't be so many
cabbies. A cab is *waaaay* more expensive than
public transit, btw.
\_ There are tons of cabbies in Tokyo, and
Seoul as well. Seoul has great public
transit, but that doesn't mean you don't
sometimes need a car, and therefore a cab.
There are even some cases where a cab is
cheaper than public transit. Quite a few
in fact. -jrleek
\_ Absolutely. I don't think many people are
arguing for getting rid of all cars. Taking
public transit for an IKEA shopping trip
is probably impractical, and there are
plenty of remote regions that don't need
to be served by public transit. The aim
of car alternatives should not be to
replace cars in all situations, just
common ones (people don't go on IKEA
shopping sprees every day, people do
go to work every day).
\_ in other countries ikea provides
very good delivery service for
big items. for small items, just
call a cab. still don't need car.
\_ I have been to NYC dozens of times and have
never taken a cab. The transit system does
everything I have ever wanted it to do in
NYC. Have you ever even been there before?
\_ yes, i was born and raised there. how many
times did you visit our fine city?
\_ dozens. I don't know the exact number.
\_ Someone needs to ilyas this post.
\_ To verbify is the American way... urr, I mean it's to
Americanize.
\_ I think that guy didn't have a problem with government funding R&D
projects in general. He only had a problem with funding R&D
projects into better roads.
an way... urr, I mean it's to
Americanize.
\_ I think that guy didn't have a problem with government funding R&D
projects in general. He only had a problem with funding R&D
projects into better roads. |
| 2005/7/25-28 [Politics/Domestic/President/Bush, Transportation/Car/RoadHogs] UID:38808 Activity:nil |
7/25 Pollution fighting concrete, &c.
http://www.wired.com/news/planet/0,2782,68282,00.html?tw=wn_tophead_6
\_ Trees have been doing the same thing for a long long time.
\_ Yeah, but we seem to be chopping down a LOT of them in
favor of concrete.
\_ "Encouraged by such results, the European Union last year earmarked
$2.27 billion for a project to develop "smart" construction
materials that would break down nitrogen oxides and other toxic
substances, such as benzene."
You think the Bush admin. would ever do something like that? It's
a great move for both economic, environmental, and public health
reasons. But there's no lobby that greases their palms, so it
would never happen in the US.
\_ We believe in this crazy thing called the 'free market'. If
people want this and will pay for it then it will be done.
7/24
34 threads, 780 lines, 157 replies, 22.9 lines/thread, 4.6 replies/thread
stddev: 28.0 5.9
\_ Free market doesn't work for things like basic
infrastructures. Take public transit for example. The
benefits are great, but the public needs to spend
billions of dollars and wait over 1-2 decades before
economic paybacks. In today's world, if you can't
make huge profits within 2-3 years, you're out. So what
happens when you privatize public transit? They look
for things that give you immediate paybacks, like
cutting back on the frequency of trains, automation,
etc. However, they are reluctant to expand more areas
because the investment is enormous, and there is
no immediate payback. Sure, free market makes everything
more efficient and more profitable, but what about the
original long term goals, which is infrastructure for
everyone to benefit from?
\_ Funny how people equate our car-based system with the
free market. I sure didn't choose to have my tax dollars
used to either pay for excess roads and suburban sprawl
or to bail out shitty car companies again and again.
This car-centered nightmare we have turned our society into
has nothing to do with the free market. It's socialism,
with the government doling out welfare to the auto
manufacturers and their minions. A true free market
solution *or* a socialist solution for the general public
instead of for Detroit would be preferable to the current
idiocy.
\_ What exactly would a true free market or complete
socialist solution entail? Please elaborate.
\_ The true free market solution would involve privately
owned toll roads maintained with no help from the
government competing with privately owned rail lines
with no help or intereference from the government.
A socialist solution that benefits humans instead
of bloodsucking billionaires from detroit would
be based mostly on mass transit, with emphasis on
encouraging developement in a walking and biking
friendly way. Both of these sound better than the
"we're all happy whores for detroit" system we
presently have. I think that car culture is wrongly
associated with the free market as a red herring to
decieve people into supporting their automotive
masters.
\_ Free market works when there is a plethora of
sources to choose from. If apple is really
expensive, then people can always buy oranges.
In the case of infrastructures like eletric
power, EVERYONE needs electricity and there
isn't enough competition to lower the price.
Didn't you take basic econ or experienced the
power crisis a few years ago? Free market works
for some things and doesn't for others
\_ Did I say the free market solution is always
the right choice? No, I didn't. My point
is not about free market vs. collective
sollutions, my point is about the evil of
car culture. No matter what economic system
you have, it still sucks to get kicked in the
balls, and car culture is still stupid.
\_ I don't know why we're talking about
transportation and other infrastructure, but I
believe the free market will provide better
building materials if people want them. Witness
what has happened with the supply/demand for
organic farming. |
| 2005/7/22-25 [Transportation/Airplane, Transportation/Car/RoadHogs] UID:38770 Activity:nil |
7/22 In case you haven't heard, Longhorn is called Windows Vista:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsvista/default.mspx
\_ And like the flying car, it's always just around the corner...
\_ I would like to preemptively proclaim my hatred of flying cars.
The same fucking retards who drive around in 5000 pound SUV's
while talking on cell phones, blast through crosswalks at 55
mph without looking and park on sidewalks (i.e. the American
public) should NOT EVER be alowed to fly. They WILL park
in trees over sidewalks, which will break causing even more
pedestrian slaughter. They will park on roofs where it is
unsafe, run into power lines causing outages, crash into office
buildings (out of sheer stupidity at first, then the terrorists
will start using them as bombs), get stuck in trees and have to
be choppered out, and break down over crowded areas and
crash like stones. FUCK FLYING CARS!!!
\_ so trolled.
\_ This is for you (mp3). link:tinyurl.com/89xnk -- ulysses
\_ Go ahead and laugh. We'll see how funny you think it is
when some fucker crashes their flying SUV into the side of
YOUR house, or after a flying car parked in a tree falls
and kills YOUR dog. |
| 2005/7/11-12 [Transportation/Car, Transportation/Car/RoadHogs] UID:38516 Activity:low |
7/10 A fast car is nice, but a fast road is even better. How's the
traffic in Europe (Switzerland and Germany), compared to average
Bay Area traffic? For example, what is the highway speed limit in
small towns, suburbs, urban, etc.
\_ Way more fixed speed cameras and speed checks, way longer traffic
jams, generally not as horrible rush hour on a daily basis, speed
limits off highways usually a bit higher, fines worse. -John
limits off highways usually a bit higher, fines worse, people drive
in a more consistently and orderly fashion (no passing on right,
fewer idiots in SUVs yakking on cell phones.) -John
\_ I ENVY YOU. No, I hate America. No, I hate you.
\_ Why does Fräulein John hate America?
\_ What do you think the US should do to make its transportation
system better? I hate our system but I don't want to move to
Europe.
\_ You do realize there are entire university departments devoted
to this question, right? I honestly dunno. Maybe higher gas
prices & better public transit is a start; drive fewer
automatics so there are less brake lights, so fewer traffic
jams, make driving tests harder, make living in city centers
more attractive, I really dunno. If you've ever been in a
25km German traffic jam on $4 gasoline, you might think there
are good sides to everything... -John
\_ I would love to raise the max tax to 50% and raise
gasoline price to $3 a gallon to fund super metropolis
with superior mass transit system but our fucking
Country music listening Red Necks that prefer suburbian
lifestyle (so that they can fuck their cousins and
nephews and nieces) will not let that happen.
\_ This is a parody, right? Is this jblack?
\_ They can't fuck their cousins and nephews and nieces in
super metropolis? |
| 2005/6/21-25 [Transportation/Car/RoadHogs] UID:38219 Activity:low |
6/21 Most SUV drivers do not have any environmental guilt: "Not
surprisingly, few SUV drivers have been buying them. Most have gone
to owners of fuel-efficient cars that produce relatively few
pollutants."
http://www.cnn.com/2005/AUTOS/funonwheels/06/17/car_smog_pay
\_ If they had any environmental guilt/conscience they wouldn't
buy an SUV in the first place. QED.
\_ I am an SUV owner, and I can say I have more enviromental
conscience than many people in my company because I use public
transit to commute to work even though it takes longer than
driving, while other co-workers living in the same area drive to
work.
\_ I saw a "BIN LADEN USED YOUR GAS MONEY" bumpersticker last week.
\_ Do you know who our largest oil importer is?
\_ Your momma's scalp?
\_ Seems kind of pointless. Just tax gas more and people will drive
more fuel efficient cars or take the bus.
\_ Ah yes, I'm sure our awsome Governator would be amenable to that
\_ it's not fair to SUV drivers. Most people do not have any
environmental guilt. how many people willing to leave their
car at home and seperate garbage for the sake of environment?
\_ I do. -ausman |
| 2005/6/11-13 [Transportation/Car, Transportation/Car/RoadHogs] UID:38085 Activity:low |
6/10 Who says the French can't make great cars?
http://homepage.mac.com/alanjones1/sillymovies/iMovieTheater186.html
(Transforming, Dancing Citroen)
\_ Aside from this one (laser guns and transforming robot capability
are optional equipment) they make excellent cars, well on par with
anything you can get from a Jap or US mfgr--except for sports cars,
trucks or big sedans. -John
\_ That's Gaullish genius all right.
\_ Gaulish. Gaullish would have been state-funded, really big,
shiny, fast and super duper expensive. That said, aside from
sports cars, pickups/SUVs and large Cadillac-style limousines,
French cars are as solid as anything on the market. -John
\_ Why does some fuckwit keep nuking my comment about French cars
actually being pretty good? Got riceboy issues? -John
\_ Cheese Eating Surrender Monkeys!
\_ No, it's freedom fries issues. |
| 2005/5/31-6/2 [Transportation/Car, Transportation/Car/RoadHogs] UID:37906 Activity:nil |
5/31 Has anyone seen the new Honda Civic commercial where they put a
crash dummy outside of the car and then use the Civic to drive
into that dummy? Then they say something to the effect "We don't
just care about the people inside, we also care about the people
outside."
\_ Honda's campaign called "Safety for Everyone". ACE body structure,
side airbags, stability control, etc... making these standard on
their latest releases (and any future models).
\_ Interesting. According to Court TV, automobile is the best
murder weapon because you have a much better chance at getting
involuntary manslaughter (rather than first degree) and
minimal jail time. This move from Honda would turn away would
be car murderers to other manufacturers, like Hummer. -troller |
| 2005/5/18 [Transportation/Car, Transportation/Car/RoadHogs] UID:37741 Activity:nil |
5/18 Dumbass rednecks: http://csua.org/u/c3v (carconnection.com) \_ Well I was going to say Darwin, but I forgot that these people also out-reproduce more kids. \_ Darwin effect only works on things that affect reproduction. \_ Kinda unrelated, but what do you call those Berkeley yuppies that drive around in full size pickups? \_ Dumbass wannabe rednecks. \_ Also, what do you call britney and kevin's new tv show? \_ White Trash! |
| 2005/4/7-8 [Transportation/Car, Transportation/Car/RoadHogs] UID:37108 Activity:very high |
4/7 Jesus says gas prices will increase even more this summer.
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-040705gas_lat,0,5025383.story
"When adjusted for inflation, U.S. fuel prices peaked at $3.12 in
March 1981"
\_ Premium unleaded at Chevron in Berkeley is $2.92 / gallon. The
price for regular is $2.72 / gallon.
\_ $2.79 and $2.99 at the Shell in San Francisco at 30th and Mission.
\_ 2.49 and 2.69 at usa on dixon / n. milipitas.
\_ Um, gas prices go up every summer. This is a surprise? If CA wants
cheaper gas in the summer, maybe we shouldn't require the producers
to use a wacky blend just for CA.
\_ ...and then L.A. would be unliveable
\_ In other news, the price of oil dropped today.
http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20050407/ap_on_bi_ge/oil_prices_75
\_ Just an fyi, the $3.12 figure is highest *average*. When premium
self-serve in downtown SF hits $3.13 don't all go crazy.
Ye may commence hysterics at $3.85 / gallon. -op
\_ Hysterics? Don't they already pay more than that in Europe?
\_ Yes. And the tax on it here ain't going down, so when it's
at $4/gallon, they UK's paying about 8 or so... -John
\_ you know, we moan and bitch when gas price is going up while
shut our mouths when housing price doubled in the past 5 years.
We pay approx 1/3 of our earnings on rent and/or mortgage while
only 1/10 to 1/20 of it on gasoline. Our sense of scope is just
wacked. If anything, we should be moaning and bitching about
land ownership inequality and things to alleviate this crisis
instead of something as insignificant as price adjustments in
gasoline. And I'm all for price hike if it means less people driving
\_ fewer
Maybe he means "lesser", as in "those who drive SUVs _/
are lesser people."
their damned SUVs and polluting the earth. And I mean it even if
I have to pay 2X for delivery or anything else like grocery.
\_ The problem is that oil prices undermine all other prices. And
might be able to move to a smaller house and pay less rent/
mortgage, but everyone has to eat. And since agriculture
just uses land to turn petroleum and natural gas into food,
higher oil prices == higher food prices.
\_ Plus oil money drains out of the country while housing costs
stay. Well, unless it's owned by foreigners and rented out.
Actually I'm not sure just what the housing price increases
really mean. All that debt goes somewhere. The US debt ends
up causing a ton of interest payments to foreign lenders.
Oh well this place is screwed, I better get my Euro
citizenship in order.
\_ 75% of us are landowners. Why would we bitch?
\_ 75% land ownership in America? Wow, America IS rich! Moooo...
\_ Well, the number is something over 69%. Do you want to
compare that to, say, Germany? It's 43% there.
\_ 75% land ownership for EVERYONE, including children under
12 years old? Or do you only count after 18 years of age?
\_ The homeownership rate is computed by dividing the
number of owner-occupied housing units by the number
of occupied housing units or households.
\_ PRAISE JESUS!!! |
| 2005/3/12 [Transportation/Car/RoadHogs] UID:36660 Activity:kinda low |
3/12 SUV as public nuisance:
http://www.suv.org/safety.html
SUV drivers cause more fatalities per mile than drivers of other
vehicles. They are a safety risk to other drivers on the road,
almost the textbook example of a nuisance.
1. nuisance -- ((law) a broad legal concept including anything
that disturbs the reasonable use of your property or endangers
life and health or is offensive)
\_ Yes most people know they're evil. Tell that to our governator and
our oil loving politicians, I'm sure they'll be sympathetic and
do something about it. Yeah.
\_ The key phrase is "use of your property", that means real
property (land) not chattels such as cars. Products liability
actions against manufacturers of SUVs by people injured in
accidents w/ SUVs is more promising. |
| 2005/3/11 [Transportation/Car/RoadHogs] UID:36645 Activity:high |
3/11 Drive a car, support Republicans:
http://www.choosetheblue.com/mainFrame.php?prodcat=Gasoline
http://www.choosetheblue.com/mainFrame.php?prodcat=Auto+Makers
\_ Fox news is blue!
http://tinyurl.com/68odo
I'm skeptical.
\_ My SUV, my car. Keep your laws off my property. P.S. I'm driving
and you suckers can walk. Nyah nyah nyah -conservative
\_ I want to build a coal fired power plant in my backyard, right
next door to you. Gotta problem with that?
\_ Keep your laws of my property is not incompatible
w/ the belief that an individuals private property
use should not interefe your neighbor's use of his
private property. The expectation that one should
be free in his own land from interference by the
gov. and ones neighbors necessarily means that
one must refrain from activities that would
interfere w/ the ability of ones neighbors to
use their land similarly.
A coal fired power plant would be a private (if not
public nuisance) and pp would be entitled to an
injunction.
\_ Your SUV is a public nuisance that operates on public
highways and uses my tax money to be a pain in the ass.
I have far more right to demand regulation of your
vehicle than you do to try and control what I do
in my own back yard. Hypocrite.
\_ The assertion that an SUV is a public nuisance
is debatable. A public nuisance is generally
\_ It's not, I can't see past them. They endanger my
drive, in addition to making it less efficient and
costlier, by preventing me from planning for
traffic conditions ahead. This also applies to
semis and vans and pickup trucks, which, like SUVs,
can be excused if their size is actually needed
(like by gardeners, handymen, etc.) -John
\_ People NEED SUV to protect their frail egos.
It is a lot cheaper than seeing shrinks.
something fixed on a piece of property that
posses a threat to the health and safety of
the nearby community. A vehicle does not meet
this critera. Even if we assume that an SUV
meets the critera, it is debatable whether
an SUV posses any healty or safety risk. Many
would contend that SUVs are safer than regular
cars. In contrast your coal burning plant is
fixed next door to "mr conservative's" home
and will substantially affect him. Note that
if he were to put in such a structure, the
general principle provides you the same
remedy.
BTW, I am not "mr conservative", I don't own an
SUV, and I have no plans to purchase/rent one
unless I find myself on safari in central
Africa w/o a nearby subaru dealer.
\_ You will die in a car accident soon, fucker.
\_ If he's in an SUV and you're on bike on in a little Honda
or Toyota, I think you'll be the one losing.
\_ Precisely the definition of a nuisance.
\_ No, He'll flip over the side of the mountain and die the
fucker that he is.
\_ Now I'm happy, I have a Mazda that usually runs Chevon.
\_ Yay. I have a honda and an infiniti. Guess I need to start buying
Shell.
\_ Yah...I drive Toyota and pump Shell gas.
\_ Why does a company contribute to both parties?
\_ Hedging |
| 2005/3/9-10 [Academia/Berkeley/CSUA/Troll/Jblack, Transportation/Car/RoadHogs] UID:36600 Activity:low 75%like:36642 |
3/9 This Friday: Berkeley Critical Mass 12th Birthday ride! Party after.
http://www.berkeleycriticalmass.org
\_ When are they going to start the protest where they ride around
throwing maltov cocktails at SUVs? I'd go to that.
throwing molotov cocktails at SUVs? I'd go to that.
\_ Gasoline to $2.50 by summer. About half of the necessary $5.
\_ So maltov cocktails are half-off, what's the problem?
\_ So molotov cocktails are half-off, what's the problem?
\_ what's maltov coctails?
\_ Molotov. Glass bottle with gasoline inside and a burning
rag which is thrown. Standard rioter equipment.
\_ Named after Russian Foreign Mister Vyacheslav
Mikhailovich Molotov. Used by the Finns to stop
the Russian advance into Finland during the 1940
border war. Used by partisans and freedom fighters
worldwide, as well as rioters.
\_ I was personally sad that no one threw a molotov at
W's limo during the inauguration. If 100 brave Liberals
threw them then they'd surely make a statement. However,
I guess Liberals are just whining chickens. Yeah, a
bunch of pussies. -disillusioned Freeper
\_ d00d, security was a bitch. If you could throw
a molotov, you could throw a satchel bomb.
security screenings took everything including fruit,
so the most you could throw was a snowball
\_ and yet, no one even spitted at or threw a
snowball. They had this stupid "Turn your back
on Bush" crap which no media even showed. At least
during the first inauguration someone threw fruits
\_ snowball was thrown; if you spit, you had to
hock your loogie over the two-row deep line
of police
\_ If mamby-pamby liberuls chewed like real
men, they could do it.
\_ Hey, wait... can you chew marijuana?
\_ speaking of tools and cranks. |
| 2005/3/7-8 [Transportation/Car/RoadHogs, Transportation/Car/Hybrid] UID:36552 Activity:low |
3/7 Why American car companies are gonna die in a decade or two (but we
all knew that long time ago right?)
http://money.cnn.com/2005/03/04/pf/autos/bc.autos.survey.reut
\_ by that logic, european car companies will die first.
\_ Yes. |
| 2005/3/3-4 [Transportation/Car, Transportation/Car/RoadHogs] UID:36508 Activity:high |
3/3 "AAA Says Average Driving Cost Is 56.2 Cents Per Mile For 2004"
http://www.csaa.com/global/articledetail/0,,1008010000%257c4513,00.html
That doesn't even include bridge tolls. I always thought it's about
39 cents per mile, per IRS tax forms.
\_ That's what the IRS gives you, but it's not the real cost. -tom
\_ Have you ever estimated the *negative* cost per mile in terms
of health benefits from riding your bike to work? That would
be an interesting calculation.
\_ I don't know, Viagra can be expensive.
\_ nog. that's just the cost of running/maintaining the car.
it doesn't include the cost say on your health. or roads.
\_ Or the cost of suburban sprawl or the cost in lost
farmland or the cost to rebuild all the infrastructure
left behind in crumbling cities or the cost in broken
communities or the cost....
\_ Public transportation looks better and better once you start
looking at the full costs of owning a car. If you drive for
100 miles, you pay approx $50 ...
\_ did you include all the taxes people pay into it?
\_ The taxes paid into the freeway system or the public
transportation system?
\_ Since both public transportation and cars are massively
subsidized, that doesn't seem necessary. And I meant
better as in cheaper, not more convenient. And might
become more "convenient" in the next few years as
oil prices zoom up.
\_ Public transporation stinks. The majority of people will
gladly pay for the additional cost to NOT have to take
public transportation. As for the health risk, I think
that you are obviously more likely to die in a car than
the subway. However, I bet you're more likely to get sick
from communicable diseases taking the public transport than
if you were to own your own car.
In addition, the convenience of a car far outweigh its costs.
Business also would be a lot less efficient if we had to
rely on public transport. It may work in high density areas
like N.Y. N.Y or S.F., but in places like California, especially
Southern California, it certainly will not work.
\_ It is already starting to work. When it takes three hours
each way to commute from Riverside to LA by car, people
start taking the train, as they have already. If transit
was as massively subsidized as the car, it could be a
high speed rail link and even more would take it.
\_ I wouldn't call 3% working. Riverside is also pretty
damn far for a commute into the city. Also, most people
in LA don't even work in LA.
\_ That is a failure of planning. Just wait till gasoline
hits $10/gallon.
\_ How are cars more massively subsidized than transit?
\_ http://csua.org/u/b8q
Tremendous costs are associated with buying and
paving over all the parking spaces used by cars.
\_ Very useful info! I didn't know heavy rail actually
has lower operating cost than light rail.
\_ What's the difference between heavy rail and commuter
rail?
\_ From the linked article:
U.S. rail transit services require about $12.5
billion annual public subsidy (total capital
and operating expenses minus fares), about an
extra $90 per Large Rail city resident. However,
economic benefits more than repay these subsidies:
rail transit services are estimated to provide
$19.4 billion in annual congestion cost savings,
$8.0 billion in roadway cost savings,
$12.1 billion in parking cost savings,
$22.6 billion in consumer cost savings, and
$5.6 billion in traffic accident cost savings.
So in other words, all those people taking BART
and Caltrain aren't driving alongside you on
101.
\_ My father, a hard core right winger, has
come up with his idea of how public transit
should work after he worked as a bus driver
for a year or so. Basically, the bus should
be free (maybe a dime), and buses should
always have right-of-way, and they should
have a radio to make lights turn green for
them. People would flock to busses in
droves. BART should be free too. -jrleek
\_ Turning lights green for the bus doesn't
win you nearly as much as you think; if you
get any kind of regular ridership, the bus
winds up stopping all the time anyway. -tom
\_ Lights on San Pablo Ave are already turning
green for the San Pablo Rapid buses. Check
out
http://www.actransit.org/riderinfo/sanpablo.wu
\_ sounds a Socialistic idea.
\_ Yeah. But in his experiance the
busses were heavily subsidized anyway.
Basically, few rode the things, and
about half or more those who did ride,
rode free or with some discount. He
gave a lot of free rides. The money
coming into the till just wasn't
paying for anything anyway. -jrleek
\_ A failure of centralized planning?
I disbelieve! According to our good
friend tom, it is the free market that is
mathematicall proven (!) not to work.
-- ilyas
\_ Are you really this stup...Oh, right.
\_ I don't get it. I thought conservatives
hate things tied to Socialism.
\_ Not that this is some new idea.
Salt Lake City's light rail system
is free downtown. -jrleek |
| 2005/1/27 [Transportation/Car, Transportation/Car/RoadHogs] UID:35928 Activity:very high |
1/27 How did a compact SUV, a relatively light object compared to a
locomotive, cause the train to derail in the LA incident? I've seen
some TV documentary where a train hits a school bus. The school bus is
cut into two but the train keeps going.
\_ I think i read that the suicider-suv-er drove his
car a little farther down on the track and 'parked', so
the locked wheels combined with the railroad ties
caused the car to become a very Large Immoveable
Object. this is a little different than just
being in theway at the crossing point.
\_ I have the same question. Remember the PSA poster saying: "When
there is a tie at the railroad crossing between a car and a train,
the train wins."
\_ Maybe the train here was going faster than the documentary one.
maybe the track curved at that spot. who knows.. Wait for a
TSA report.
\_ I heard that the engine (the heavy car) was in the rear and the
the passenger cars in the front are relatively lightweight.
\_ This is correct: http://csua.org/u/avb (LATimes, brew your own
login/pwd)
\_ Great Fucking Design!
\_ Yes, it is a great design. This is a train. It is not an
automobile so that the individual cars are not easily
moved out of position relative to one another. Ergo
engines since time immemorial have always been positioned
at the ends to either push or pull the train. Trains are
also not designed to break quickly, nor can they turn,
reverse directions, or go over terrain which has no
track upon it easily. If you ever had a train set or utilized
the common sense part of your brain you'd realize this.
In addition, if you're thinking about "writing to your
representative" to improve train safety because you somehow
believe that trains are unsafe, simply lookup the statistic
on how many people die from train wrecks per annum vs.
how many die from car accidents. If you argue that fewer
individual use trains then you may go ahead and utilize the
resources on BART and other light rail systems.
-williamc
\_ Holy shit. A williamc post that isn't *completely* moronic.
Of course, you have the usual drooling ad homonem, but
this is still a potential precedent setter.
\_ He's talking about putting the engine in back. Pushing
a bunch of cars is going to be less stable than pulling
them if the front one derails or hits something, and will
cause more damage as the whole thing is far more likely
to jackknife, especially if there's a locomotive in back
that keeps pushing for a few moments. This is not best
practice, and while you're right, trains can't just turn,
most rail lines use switching yards to move a second
engine to the other end of the train when it has to
reverse direction (you generally don't just change the
direction of a train from pull to push away from terminal
stations, which should have other engines standing by for
just this purpose. As for comparative statistics, they
are irrelevant if an accident is avoidable--people still
die unnecessarily. -John
\- What if someone hijacked a train and crashed it into the
White House?
\_ There are train tracks going to the White House?
\- They could build underground tracks to the White
House as an insider job.
\_ ali, sign your posts.
\- bigup yourself --alig
\_ What if someone built a trebuchet and fired it at the
White House?
\_ http://www.ysabel.org/lj/lotr-catapult1.gif - danh
\_ What if someone took a high powered laser and beamed
it into Bush's eyeball, from far away, at a speech?
\_ I wonder how must it would cost to put a simple radar like devie
in the front of the train, to activate emergency breaks or sound
alarms if it detects something directly ahead...
\_ Not expensive, but futile. Trains are not easy to stop.
\_ But it doesn't sound like they even tried to stop, the
light passenger cars hit the SUV at full speed and derailed.
\_ The paper says that conditions were such that the driver
likely didn't see the car until s/he was right on top of
it.
\_ Doesn't work on curves.
\_ Oh no, not the CURVES, I LOVE THE CURVES!!
\_ Of course not, no sodans can handle the curves.
\_ "I want the curves!"
"You can't handle the curves!"
\_ Hahahaha, oh we are such dorks, damn I love the csua.
\_ All sodans suffer from premature ejaculation?
\_ Oh that's sick, go back to your hole..
\_ And in Al Jazeera, they say "Jeep Cherokee, your new terror weapon"
\_ The SUV body crumpled, but the SUV's engine block caused the train
to derail. It's in one of the LA Times articles.
\_ Crap on the rails is always a problem. In Holland, lots of trains
are apperantly late now because teens are finding it cool to put
stuff on the rails and watch the trains hit it. There is always
a chance that a large heavy piece of something will make a train
derail. |
| 2005/1/26 [Transportation/Car/RoadHogs, Transportation/Car/Hybrid] UID:35899 Activity:high |
1/26 Dear hybrid car experts, can you please tell me what is wrong
with the design of Honda Accord hybrid? I expected it to have
great mileage. I mean, that's what people expect right?
At 255HP and 37MPG, it is roughly 100 more HP and 3MPG more
than the other Accords. However, I suspect that most Accord
owners buy Accords not because of HP/speed, but because
it's economical and has great mileage. At $12,000 over
the standard Accord price, it's hardly economical (heck I can
buy other nice cars for $35,000), and at only 3MPG more than
the old Accords, I have to say, Honda sucks. Why couldn't
they have come up with something that has EQUAL HP (160HP)
but much better mileage? Idiots. -Disapponted Honda Fan
\_ 255hp? wow, that will beat the pants off my buddies lancer!
-r1c3 b0y
\_ hybrids are good for city driving and would show great
benefits for high power "get up and go" drivers as compared
to their regular high output engine. this makes a lot of
sense to use it for cushy cars and SUVs that are driven
poorly from a fuel-efficiency perspective. hybrids do not
help w/ long distance cruising where regular engines yield
reasonable highway MPG ratings.
\_ To further illustrate this point, the Toyota Prius has better
city gas mileage than highway.
\_ prius has 110 hp
\_ Hybrid engines are new. The current breed only gives about 10%
milage boost, the new ones coming out in a year or two will give
around a 25% boost compared to gas only engines.
\_ I'm thinking of buying the Accord Hybrid exactly because it has
slightly better gas mileage AND better HP. Remember, this is the
top of the line Accord, and is marketed as such. If you want fuel
efficiency, get the hybrid Civic.
\_ Uh, you realize that for $35000, you can get a much
nicer car with better name recognition than say, HONDA.
I mean, Hondas are reliable and all, but styling is oh
so boring (not exactly a chick getting car).
\_ Where did you come up with $35k? MSRP is only $30k.
And thats only $3k more than the non-hybrid V6.
What other car are you comparing this to?
\_ the dealer has a $2K mark up, plus shipping, tax
and goodies
\_ You have those other fees regardless of what
car you look at. Even +$2k, thats only $5k more.
\_ YOU NEED INTEGRA HAAA
\_ My penis is large enough, so that I don't need to
overcompensate by buying an oversized SUV or sports
car "for the chicks".
\_ People buy Honda for reliability, and relatively better
styling and performance than Toyota. I'm still waiting
to hear what car you'd prefer at $32k.
\_ Nissan 350z w/ Performance package -- !pp |
| 2005/1/8 [Transportation/Car/RoadHogs] UID:35608 Activity:kinda low |
1/7 ilya, I'm in LA. I've never in my life been in a traffic jam
such as the one I was in in the last 3 hours, 1 hour of that
on a 2 mile stretch. Also I've never in my life seen so many
aggressive, rude, middle finger pointing SUV drivers. My god,
how do you stand living here? I hate LA.
\_ I stay off the freeways, and live within 10 minute's driving
distance of everywhere I need to go. When I was first moving
to LA, I specifically made a longish trip down to look for
an appropriately placed apartment. As for your comments on
the people, the soul of LA is repulsive to me. Maybe that's
why I don't like UCLA. -- ilyas
\_ the sould of <insert your hometown> is repulsive to me
\_ Pfft, like it's any better in the bay area. You ever been
stuck on the bay bridge during rush? Anyway, if you had any
sense about LA, you'd learn to get OFF the freeway
during times like these. ANd yes, they drive agressive,
none of this pussy ass driving you get in the bay area.
\_ Agressive? In California? Yeah, whatever. Go drive around
New York City for a while, and you'll learn what agressive
driving means. Or Boston. Agressive driving is when you're
sitting at a red light with your *left* blinker on, and someone
honks at you for not running the light, swerves around you
on your right, flips you off and honks again, and then cuts
in front of you to turn *left* on the red. Ever see that in
California?
\_ learn to drive aggressively in LA. People here drive A LOT,
and waste a lot of time stuck in traffic so naturally they're
pissed about having to drive, let alone getting along with passive
drivers like you.
\_ LA drivers are not aggressive, they're just plain shitty.
they don't know how to drive, period. if it rains, they
slow down to 5mph. even if there's moisture on the road,
they slow down to the same. if there's a cop on the side
of the road, they slow down to rubberneck. they are all
assholes 1) who can't drive and 2) are moronic enough
to subject themselves to LA traffic year after year.
\_ I find the opposite problem in NoCal; drivers treat
too many drivers drive on wet roads like it's dry.
It's annoying, not to mention dangerous. In any
case, LA traffic is easily managed if you have
familiarity with surface streets, many of which
can cut your commute times in half. |
| 2005/1/8 [Transportation/Car/RoadHogs] UID:35599 Activity:moderate |
1/7 This is one of the worst SUV trolls I've seen on SF Gate:
http://sfgate.com/columnists/morford
\_ It wasn't that much of a troll -- the author didn't even include
the obligatory Small Penis Syndrome in the article.
\_ I wonder if the author ever commutes by carpool or public transit.
\_ "Nobody ever went broke underestimating the taste of the American
public"
\_ It is kind true. Most people I know who buys SUVs thinking it
gives them more ego and power. It's stupid. Some people I know
needs an SUV, they do a lot of camping, biking, and off road type
of deals. But most are the idiots who commutes with it and thinking
that it will allow them to pick up girls. I've seen some big ass
SUVs lately and it bothers me, these fuckers are the reason we
are madly at war...
\_ I think a significant fraction are the people who really
should have gotten a mini-van, but couldn't deal with that
as their automotive self image. So they bought something
that weighs as much but is less safe, convenient, comfortable
or practical because they're in denial about being middle
aged parents.
\_ I bought my first SUV 12yrs ago, years before the term "SUV" was
coined.
\_ I bought my first SUV 12yrs ago when I was in Cal and single,
years before the term "SUV" was coined. A friend of mine bought
a minivan 9yrs ago when he was single, years before the minivan
craze.
\_ 9 years ago was pre 80s?
\_ It's that "new math." |
| 2004/10/17-18 [Transportation/Car/RoadHogs] UID:34174 Activity:nil |
10/16 Fleeing SUV Suspected of Carrying Illegal Immigrants Causes
11-Car Crash, Killing Six in Ariz.
http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGB46V8JE0E.html |
| 2004/10/12-13 [Transportation/Car, Transportation/Car/RoadHogs] UID:34055 Activity:very high |
10/12 What are some of the most villaineous FICTIONAL vehicles known to
people? I'll start the list:
\_ There have to be half a hundred from star trek.
\_ "S.S. Botany Bay?!"
\_ Borg cube?
\_ Christine.
\_ Didn't KITT have a archenemisis?
\_ KATT.
\_ KARR
\_ Don't forget Goliath, driven by Michael Knight's evil twin.
\_ Death Star. NOTHING beats the villaineous level of Death Star
\_ The Ford Explorer. Read:
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?isbn=0060090588
\_ Explorer is fictional?
\_ General Lee. "Good ol' boys" my ass...
\_ Hate any white people, lately?
\_ The Mobile Chemical/Biological Lab. Powell said it was!
\_ The Popemobile
\_ The Love Bug
\_ Barbie's Corvette
\_ Toss-up between PUSSY WAGON and that tan station wagon driven by
the Illinois nazis in Blues Brothers. -John
\_ Are we talking about movies/tv shows or books? Gray Area
a.k.a. Meatfucker was pretty evil... but I am not sure he qualifies
as a 'vehicle.' -- ilyas
\_ Only in a Hannibal Lecter only-scoops-and-eats-brains-of-
mean-people "evil" kind of way. That said, would you
classify Skaffen-Amtiskaw or Mawhrin-Skel/Flere-Imsaho as
"vehicles"? They're "evil" in the same way. </geek> -John
\_ There's the evil truck from "The Duel". |
| 2004/10/9 [Transportation/Car/RoadHogs] UID:33999 Activity:moderate |
10/8 http://www.automotive.com/news/25/7265 Summary of a study: Drivers of Gas Guzzling Large SUVs Support Bush, Kerry Finds Votes Among Drivers of Small Import Vehicles \_ Wonder if my Outback counts as a Gas Guzzling SUV? |
| 2004/10/5-6 [Transportation/Car/RoadHogs, Transportation/Car/Hybrid] UID:33930 Activity:very high |
10/5 Republican Car vs Democrat Car:
Hummer: Republican
Prius: Democrat
M1 Abrams Tank: Libertarian
Bulldozer: Likud
Lowered VW bus with Porsche Engine and big stereo: non-voter
\_ Bug?
Public transportation: America hating libuhral
Bike: Green
Others?
\_ This is stupid. --aaron
\_ BWM 525i
\_With an "I'd rather be smashing imperialism" bumpersticker.
\_ Huh?
\_ Don't you drive a BMW 525i aaron?
\_ Don't you drive a BMW 525i?
\_ no sense of humour
\_ this is your idea of wit? i've got some archives of 1993
internet humor that could keep you in stitches. --aaron
\_ please forgive aaron. He's one of those people who like
to say things like "when I was your age the computer
lab was in W.E.B. (workstations in Evan's basement)
and a bit was ye big and I programmed in registers
but then I got into politics and stopped being funny."
\_ Back in my day, we didn't have no electricity, we
used gas, and dagnabit, we liked it! Back then we used
to clack numbers together. We didn't have none of these
digital computers.
\_ You had numbers? We could only dream that someone
would invent the zero in my day....
Nazi: Mercedes
\_ VW.
\_ Porsche.
\_ Dodge (but really, VW bug. Ein Volk! Ein Wagen!) |
| 2004/10/4-6 [Transportation/Car/RoadHogs] UID:33920 Activity:moderate |
10/4 http://content.health.msn.com/content/article/94/102926.htm?GT1=5370 I've been saying this for a while but no one listens to me. Living in suburbs increases our dependency on automobiles and decreases our standard of living (traffic/waste of time/ pollution). In addition, living in suburbs may increase isolation and depression. \_ Uh... duh? \_ In other news, whiny metrosexuals post non-news items that we already knew twenty years ago. Thank you for playing. Next? \_ That's a weird response. Weirdo. \_ Oh no! We should go back in time and kill Eisenhower to stop it \_ what does Ike have anything to do with this? \_ Something to do with the Interstate system? \_ recent article in the NYTimes Magazine countering this very idea. Some points the author makes are good, though many are weak. Link to mirror since its archived on http://nytimes.com already: http://snipurl.com/9jsp - rory \_ Is this just an around about way of saying Republicans: evil/stupid and Democrats: good/smart? We should all pack into a tight city, sell our SUVs, walk crime ridden streets carrying our groceries home on our bikes singing kumbaya? Hint: the suburbs are packed full of SUV driving democrats. \_ right. so the only alternatives are living in some kind of massive urban shithole like SF or some kind of massive suburban shithole like orange county, huh? you just keep thinking that, and those of us who live someplace decent won't have to see your dumb ass. \_ Nice personal slam. Tell us what fanatastic and unique place you live in and we'll talk about it. Until then you're just blowing smoke. I won't bother calling you any names. It isn't necessary. |
| 2004/9/1-2 [Transportation/Car, Transportation/Car/RoadHogs] UID:33278 Activity:high |
9/1 Cadillac Night Vision is about $2000. If I buy off shelf components,
what exactly would I need to get, from where, and for how much?
I like Night Vision but I don't like Cadillacs.
\_ Yet another distracting gimic. I would rather spend a fraction of
that money to buy Xenon headlights instead. It turns night into
day.
\_ I don't want it to see where I'm going. I want one for my
twin 40mm Mk19 autocannon popup turret so I can sneak up on
cocksuckers in their SUVs and make smoking road pancake without
them ever knowing what hit them. -John
\_ Generally I'd agree, although for anyone without autodim mirrors,
Xenons on other drivers can be very annoying to have in your
rearview.
\_ I thought the same thing too. But then I took a closer
look at a Xenon at night compared to a standard halogen
and it wasn't anymore blinding. I get more pissed of at
large SUVs on the road using their halogens than people
with Xenons. And Xenons are more projected than diffuse
so you get a more precise aim (and cutoff). The problem
with some cheapo Xenons are the lack of auto-leveling
which most decent Xenons nowdays should have.
\_ I dunno, when I see xenon lights on the other side of
the freeway, I get pissed.
\_ You must be a very angry man.
\_ I want to kill both. SUV lighting sucks. Xenon sucks.
I don't want to be blinded by either one.
\_ Agreed. I really have doubts how much is utility, and
how much is trendy-suv-starbucks-pink-is-the-new-orange
silliness.
\_ You obviously don't own a car with xenon lights.
The difference is huge and I would never own a
car without them again. As for blinding, my car
has a self-dimming rear-view mirror so it's not
a problem.
\_ Fair enough.
\_ *Your* car does. The *other* drivers you're
fucking *BLINDING!* do not!
\_ FYI, you should check out the Cadillac CTS-V. Might just change your
mind - it rivals the BMW M5. 5.7 liter V8, 400 horses, 0-60 in
4.7 seconds, 395 ft lb. of torque, track-capable handling,
huge brakes. Admittedly it doesn't have the beemer's steering
feel and compromises the handling a little bit for comfort, but
its still a monster.
\_ Wow, great marketspeak! Did you get paid to post that?
\_ Speaking of which, E60 M5 on Nurburgring:
http://home.planet.nl/~frans290/MOV04226.MPG
\_ Is it made in Germany by big-breasted blonde Aryan women?
\_ Too ugly. And expensive. Why would I want something that merely
"rivals" the real thing?
\_ To be fair, I'd give GM credit for recently reinventing
Cadillac into a sport/luxury car vendor that _indeed_ rivals
BMW, Lexus, etc. I thought this brand was going to be a toast
three years ago. Most pre-pension age people would hate to be
found dead in one of their cars. Now, GM is talking about
exporting Cadillacs into Europe again. This is a sign that
they started making cars that people would like to buy. |
| 2004/8/5 [Transportation/Car/RoadHogs] UID:32715 Activity:nil |
8/5 http://www.slate.com/Default.aspx?id=2104755& Yes, I'm a hater. Now get your huge ass vehicle off my roads. \_ YES! |
| 2004/7/4-5 [Transportation/Car, Transportation/Car/RoadHogs] UID:31162 Activity:very high |
7/4 Poll, how long did your last few cars last? Include cars that you
grew up with as well, I'll start:
dad's 83 Pontiac: 0-85K, total piece of shit, wouldn't start, engine
died in U turns (something about turning the wheels),
etc.
86 Honda Accord: 0-170K, transmission rebuilt at 150K. Still
running but decided to sell it
mom's 88 Toyota Camry: 0-110K, needed a lot of repairs, total piece
of shit, already needs new transmission.
98 Honda Accord: 0-120K, still running like a bunny.
\_ 89 Olds Cutlass Supreme: 0-225k, still going. Only routine
maintenance.
\_ This is actually kind of interesting, but will get way too long.
How about moving it to /csua/tmp/carsurvey or something? -John
\_ HEIL John, the native German speaker. Have you ever driven
on the Autobahn and what is it like there?
\_ That's about as funny as you look, and yes, and it's
a lot of fun except that the (at least the ones in
a lot of fun except that krauts (at least the ones in
cheap cars) are crappy drivers. -John
\_ I spoke no German but I did drive there for a few days.
I always stayed in the slow lane because my car wasn't
up to the task and Krauts seemed all crazy. It was
like a rock in a rapid.
97 Cavalier: 0-100k, replaced fucked up engine with a 50k one. 50k
miles later, it died every now and then if i step on the
brakes after i've started the engine and started to move.
\_ mom's last few Ford Escorts needed major repairs at around 100K.
I'm having a very hard time convincing her to buy Japanese. She's
kind of old fashioned and patriotic. Anyone have this problem?
\_ yeah, yermom is only putting out for the white guys. she won't
do asians and they're a major part of the market!
\_ 84 Volvo 760 GLE 107-147K mi, was okay until the timer belt
belt broke
87 Nissan Maxima, 55K-70K mi, was okay until the transmission
died
96 Toytoa Corrola, 0-60K mi, great car had it till early 2003.
I drove it to cal for 2 yrs, 1 yr to work, my brother
drove it 4 yrs to cal, 1 yr to work.
96 Lincoln Continental, 22K-55K mi, another great car. Lots of
power (220+ hp v8), perfect for passing riced civis w/ n0z.
Dealer was very nice, would fix every little thing for free.
Favorite quote about my car: "Shet, you can fit NINE dead
Russians in trunk". Sold it in 2003 because I got tired of
paying for 91 octane gas (esp. since the car got 16 mpg)
03 Subaru Outback, 0-13k mi (to date). best car I've owned.
Plus points: good gas mileage (22.5 mpg), AWD, lots of storage
space for my mtb and stuff. Minus points: no cassette player
(can't drink Kool-aid, err..., use an iPod in the car). Will
hold on to this one for a while. Trying to convince my mom
that she needs an 05 w/ turbo's :-)
\_ Have you considered getting an FM transmitter for your
iPod? They are cheap.
\_ I tried the iRock, the Belkin and the iTrip.
None of them work very well in the s. bay.
This is a $80 FM transmitter that is sort
of illegal that works well but I don't want
to get stopped by a cop on 101. I'm waiting
till my warranty runs out so that I can repl.
the head unit.
\_ 89 Honda Civic 235K miles - Pretty much indestructable, almost
totalled it at one point, was repaired just fine. Traded it
in for a luxury car during dot com boom.
\_ American cars made during the 60's and early 70's were truly great,
indestructible (but consumes lots of gas). After that they became
like crap. What's the reason?
\_ After that OPEC happened and the whole auto industry took a
nosedive. Cars just became unsellable and people wanted smaller,
low mpg vehicles. When that happened Toyota and VW bugs became
\_ high?
exceedingly popular. Detroit scrambled but were not used to
building cars like this, hence the cars went to crap. This
tradition is still evident today, where American companies like
GE are basically selling trucks in the form of SUVs and
passenger cars are basically the domain of the Japanese.
\_ it is clear that you hippy tree-hugging liberals have
never been to Texas
\- hello i have a 91 honda civic @118k which seems to be
doing ok although the power seems to have gotten
even lower but i am pretty hard on the car like driving
down third ave really fast over the construction bumps
after mumbling "punch it baby" and humming the theme
to the streets of san francisco. |
| 2004/6/30 [Transportation/Car, Transportation/Car/RoadHogs] UID:31078 Activity:insanely high |
6/30 Car question: How long do your brake pads last, generally? I'm
talking highway and surface street driving, not off-roading.
\_ Depends on the type of car and on your driving habits. Brakes
generally last longer for cars than for suv/mini-vans. If you
ride the brakes, then the life will be significantly reduced.
My exp. has been that brake pads last at least 25K miles and
usually between 30K and 40K miles.
\_ More general statement than "cars vs. suv/mini-vans" is
that lighter the car, longer the pads will last, assuming
similar driving styles.
BTW, replace them yourself. Drums are a bit messy, but
discs are really easy.
\_ I wouldn't trust my life on my own automotive repair skills.
\_ seconded
\_ but you might save $20!!!!
\_ As opposed to HS dropouts who doze off during mechanics
training?
\_ So you would trust your life on some complete idiotic
stranger who earns minimum wage rather than yourself?
\_ every 45K for me. 80% freeway 20% others |
| 2004/5/30-31 [Transportation/Car, Transportation/Car/RoadHogs] UID:30498 Activity:high |
5/30 Does anyone know where I can find average gas mileage for a give
car/year? I have a 1994 Saturn SL2, it gets about 27 mpg. I was
just curious if that's average. (About half in town, half freeway
driving.)
\_ I just put in one of those Tornados and increased my mpg from
13 to 16 (it's not an SUV, just old). They're $65, but it's
kinda fun to see the improvement. I only post because I'm
proud of it somehow.
\_ http://Edmunds.com is a good place for all car stuff.
yousr: Manual: 25 mpg / 34 mpg Automatic: : 23 mpg / 32 mpg
In my experience, it is normal to fall in the low end of the
range unless you drive like a grandma. -phuqm.
http://csua.org/u/7il |
| 2004/5/27 [Transportation/Car, Transportation/Car/RoadHogs] UID:30445 Activity:high |
5/26 Does anyone know anything about the Unbreakable Autolock? It's like a
Club that fits on your brake pedal. I can't find any user reviews
online (like on amazon, epinions, etc). Thanks.
\_ If you have a car that's so expensive that you're worried about
it being stolen then it's probably already got some kind of
immobilizer chip built in.
\_ Not at all. It's a low-price car, one that's very easy
to break into. I know all these anti-theft devices
can be broken, but I just want a cheap, easy deterrent.
\_ Um, not only expensive cars get stolen. Hondas, especially in
California, are among the most cars stolen.
\_ Camrys and Tauruses are in the top 5 or 10 most frequently stolen
cars. I don't think the OP's concerns are unreasonable.
\_ They are in the top 5 most numerous cars, which is why
they are most stolen.
\_ I think it has more to do with ease of entry, etc. These
cars are pretty renowned for being very easy to break
into. I don't think this contradicts my earlier point,
though.
http://money.cnn.com/2004/02/27/pf/autos/nicb_most_stolen
None of these are particularly 'expensive' or likely to
have elaborate anti-theft electronics.
\_ I think the statistics is how many stolen per 1000 cars.
\_ No. If you want those statistics then look here:
http://www.iihs.org/news_releases/2003/pr082103_hldi.htm
Camry doesn't even make the list.
\_ Tauruses? No fucking way. I've parked mine in the worst
neighrborhoods and industrial back alleys for 7 years and
the worst thing that happened is some dipshit used it for a
shelf and scratched the hood in a campus parking lot. I
*wish* someone would have stolen it when the replacement
value was higher.
\_ See above link.
\_ Reading the link didn't help me get my Taurus stolen
about 4 years ago. I considered leaving the keys in
and walking away but I'm not that unethical.
\_ There's a wider world outside your skull and limited
experience, you know.
\_ you're an idiot. i just wanted my car stolen.
\_ AutoLock - about $60 (pro version), the older version is about $30
I think somewhere someone was still able to break it, however it
is very hard to. Get it at Kragen.
\_ thanks. -op |
| 2004/5/21 [Transportation/Car, Transportation/Car/RoadHogs] UID:30348 Activity:very high |
5/21 My boss's new black BMW got keyed recently along the length of the car.
He tried to buff it out, but the scratch is still there. Any
recommendations? Thanks. No, I didn't do it.
\_ are you the world's biggest sycophant? why do you even care?
\_ Comprehensive insurance. My car got keyed and I paid $50 out-of-
pocket. $100 and $150 are more common of more expensive cars.
\_ Bad suggestion. Your insurance will go up. Don't file frivolous
claims.
\_ That's what comprehensive insurance is for.. it includes
minor theft / vandalism and isn't supposed to count
towards your premium going up. They aren't allowed to
hike your premiums for these things. BTW, this also
includes things like cracks in your windshield from
rocks on the freeway
\_ My premium didn't go up. Claims against comprehensive
(because they're committed by acts of vandalism or acts
of God) don't increase your premium. Check with your
insurance.
\_ "If God lived on Earth, people would knock out all His
windows." -- Yiddish saying
\_ Anything under $500 or so should not increase your premium.
But most comprehensive come with a deductible that you
have to pay out of your pocket. If you have $250 or $500
deductible, not worth it.
\_ Mine was over $500 and it didn't increase my premium.
The point is that it wasn't your fault and was
completely out of your control. In that case, it should
not count against you as it would if you were simply
a bad driver. $250-$500 deductibles are pretty steep.
I've never seen them that high although it would be
plausible.
\- Helo I dont think you understadn moral hazard.
Anyway, if you file a lot of claims, it may suggest
you somehow more expensive to insure ... whether that
is because you live/work/park in a bad area, have
a nasty bumper sticker that pisses off people and
gets your car keyed, whether you have a stalker or
neighbor who hates you. Unless an insurance co is
regulated against using filed claimed as signals,
it probably makes sense for things like this to have
an effect on primiums. --psb
\_ You must be paying high premium. How often do you
claim for comprehensive?
\_ Not really. I only filed once because some
asshole who deserves to be gang-raped in
San Quinton keyed my mid 90's car.
\_ If you hadn't blocked his driveway,
he wouldn't have keyed your car.
\_ I had a $100 deductible on my comprehensive (I
don't have comprehensive any more). Came in handy
when a rock cracked our windshield (and the
windshield cost $900 to replace).
\_ Do you drive a BMW or sports car?
\_ If your boss drives a BMW, he/she must have money pay for such minor
damages. Why even trying to waste your precious time to even
find a cheap way to fix it.
\_ because he's the one who keyed it
\_ Loser #1: No one likes wasting money, even BMW drivers.
Loser #2: I didn't do it.
\_ Loser #3: ass kisser.
\_ Oh yes, I see now how this discussion has evolved.
\_ BMW drivers have hearts and souls, too. And sometimes not\
so snobby as to think "$500 is nothing." --chris
\_ It's actually amazing what misconceptions people have of
BMW as being an expensive car. Relatively speaking, a
3-series actually costs less than those monsterous SUVs
and even many sedans that look cheap (Subaru STi, Evo,
G35, Lexus, etc.).
\_ X5
\_ My 3 series was over $40K. Lexus, G35, and such were
almost $10K cheaper. It is expensive for what it is. By
the way, keeping a low deductible is a waste of money.
Get one with $500 or $1000 and use it only when you need it.
\_ Lexus and G35 are pieces of crap. Just because they're
$10K cheaper doesn't mean it's a good value. You should
have bought a used 5-series for the same money. -chris
\_ That's actually true. Edmunds uses to concept of
true-cost-of-ownership which factors in things
like mileage, depreciation, and maintainance costs.
BMWs have free maintainance for the first 3 years.
They hold their value pretty well and they're
pretty fuel efficient. Their lame SUVs, on the
other hand, are a different story.
\_ I think Lexus is a better car and my next car
might well be a Lexus. Also, if I wanted a 5
series I would've gotten a 5 series. I didn't
want a 5 series.
\_ Latest issue of Consumer Reports shows that
reliability for Mercedes & BMW is in the dumps.
Japanese luxury cars don't have that problem.
\_ Yep. My neighbor has a Mercedes and a
Volvo. His next car? Toyota Avalon. He's
sick of the problems and his last Toyota
had none.
\_ most of that is about trim pieces and such, as
opposed to costly mechanical stuff, but yeah.
\_ Look at it this way. I have had all 4
power window regulators replaced under
warranty at $400 each. When the warranty
goes out that is not a cheap repair. Add
in the time I wasted with my car in the
shop and the frustration (one broke on
my way to a concert and I had to go back
home to switch cars!) and it sucks! My
Honda hasn't had one regulator replaced
yet in TWICE the time!
\_ Well the 3 series price range is huge, the base ones are
retail 28K, invoice under 26. There are quite a lot of
cars in the 30-40K range that people don't get this
attitude over (Ford Explorer). High end brands just each
have connotations about what kind of people own them.
But for some reason Audi and Acura and even Lexus I think
don't have that brand image. Probably because it wasn't
until the 90's that they really got in the game. |
| 2004/4/26 [Transportation/Car/RoadHogs, Politics/Domestic/Election] UID:13380 Activity:nil |
4/26 Kerry doesn't own an SUV, his family does:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-4009850,00.html
\_ Oooh! Tell us about Roger Clinton!
\_ Funny how he both uses his wife as a dodge, by saying it's not
really *his* car, and sets himself up as a hero for buying
an American car. So, is owning a Chevy SUV good or bad Mr.
Kerry?
\_ 'Cos when your own candidate is suffering due to a war he created
and the lies he told, it's best to point to his opponent's car.
\_ The point here is that Kerry lied about owning the car
because he didn't want to look bad. He should've just told
the truth. He is a career politican in the worse sense.
\_ 1 SUV is less expensive than 80 billion to invade iraq
\_ unlike Bush?
\_ Oh Bullpucky. I hate my wife's car and would sell it in
a hearbeat if I could, but since she bought it before
we were married I just have to put up with it. I am sure
with a millionaire wife, she can buy whatever car she
likes, with or without her husbands permission. It is not
"his" car unless he drives it. Does he drive it?
\_ This is just sad. The man's wife's car is about as relevant
to this campaign as Laura Bush's formerly liberal ideals.
\_ As I pointed out above, I don't care what he drives,
but the fact that he's making such pathetic attempts
to lie about it. Not to mention, but since they are
married, it IS "his" car.
\_ I am pretty sure married people can own property
seperately. Am I wrong here?
\_ For those who espouse traditional family values
as republicans do, marriage is an absolutely form
of bondage. Yes.
\_ Don't be an idiot. It has nothing to do
with republicans. They didn't set up the
marriage and divorce laws.
\_ When you get married to an independent woman, check
back in with us. Until then, get a life.
\_ So says the same sort of idiot that put in place
the "divorce means the woman gets half the man's
stuff" laws. According to the law, just
property is jointly held. (Unless they have a
prenup that says otherwise.)
\_ Which state? California is a community property
state. How about Massachussetts? And if you
ask me if I support Windows, I'll tell you no,
because I own and use a Mac exclusively; my
wife's PC is nothing to do with me, despite my
community property interest. This is pure
bullshit semantics.
\_ You don't know what you are talking about:
http://csua.org/u/72l
"Separate property is property that each spouse
owned before the marriage. Separate property
also includes inheritances and gifts (except
perhaps gifts between spouses) acquired during
marriage. During and after the marriage, each
spouse may keep control of his or her separate
property." She came into the marriage worth
$400M, surely she is able to afford to buy
her own seperate car, unless they have
comingled their accounts. Do you have any
evidence otherwise? |
| 2004/4/23 [Transportation/Car/RoadHogs] UID:13355 Activity:nil |
4/23 Why buy an SUV? Why did you buy an SUV? (two separate questions)
\_ skiing and camping.
\_ You could do that with any car.
\_ to feel like a Big Man.
\_ i'm very short. related to big man above.
\_ They're just station wagons really, for most users. I'm sure you
understand the market for those. For SUVs then you just compare
looks and price, plus SUVs sometimes have things like 4WD or
towing capacity. There do exist people who take SUVs offroading.
\_ So why aren't then people buying station vagons instead
of the usually bigger, bulker, and more expensive SUVs?
\_ Some are. I am a happy subaru owner. Subaru > SUV, unless
you have 'unique needs' and then it's probably hummer > SUV.
Most people I know who own SUVs are women who like the feeling
of safety. I should add, I have nothing against SUVs or
people who ride them. They are just not really my aesthetic.
-- ilyas
\_ Subarus can't really tow or offroad, and are rather small
for family purposes.
\_ Heh. Ask geordan about offroading subarus. Also,
some subarus are quite large. Forester is essentially
a station wagon built on a sedan body. Another thing
I forgot to mention is the way SUV emissions are
classified -- an SUV lets you get away with a bigger
engine, which some people like. -- ilyas
\_ I think they call the Forester an SUV. But no Subaru
is "large". Forester is tiny compared to Acura MDX
let alone a Suburban.
\_ Hmm, ever heard of rally racing?
\_ rally racing is done on dirt roads.
\_ A subaru certainly offroads as well as most
SUVs currently on the market, and likely better
than a few. Most SUVs made today are made for
roads. -- ilyas
\_ All SUVs are made for roads. But I say your
"most" statement is wrong. I can think of
quite a few that will be much better. It's
not relevant that some may not be better.
\_ A Jeep Wrangler and that boxy Mercedes thing
which costs 70k are not made for roads --
they are a horrible ride on roads, but
they are great for offroading. We should
compare SUVs to Subarus. The Subaru
bottleneck is relatively low clearance,
the SUV bottleneck is the high center
of gravity -- both bad things. -- ilyas
\_ I just said. Consider a couple examples of car-based SUVs,
Toyota Highlander and Honda CR-V. They're not more wasteful
than the Camry or Civic they're based on. I don't think there
even exists a Civic wagon. The last Camry wagon I saw was butt
ugly and I doubt it offered 4WD or had as much room. QED.
\_ What are you smoking? Go look at http://edmunds.com, and look at
mpg for a CR-V vs civic. CRV gets 10 mpg less, and has a
bigger engine (to push its greater weight...). Civic wagons
were great, alas phased out in 91 (I own one) - but you still
see them all over, because they were very reliable and
versatile. Too bad they quit making them...
\_ Ok CR-V has a 2.4L, 160hp engine. 23/28 mpg. The
Civic Si, also 160hp, has 26/30. The Civic can't tow
anything and has a lot less room, and doesn't offer AWD.
Here's the Highlander difference:
Highlander: 3.3L 230hp, 19/25
Camry SE V6 3.3L 225hp, 20/29
By the way I don't even have an SUV, I'm just arguing
out of boredom.
\_ I should mention that mileage and AWD are a tradeoff
because AWD is heavy. This is part of the reason why
subaru mileage isn't as good as that of comparable
cars. Incidentally, what is this 'can't tow
anything' thing? What do you want to tow? Other
cars? Elephants? I've seen any old sedan (subaru
including) towing those two-wheel cargo things with
boats, and all sorts of other stuff. -- ilyas
\_ I've never seen a Civic towing anything. Some
people have large stuff to tow. Subarus actually
have more towing options than most normal cars,
but couldn't handle large trailers.
\_ Ilya, remind me to start some elephant-towing
threads sometime.
\_ I think Subarus and Hondy CR-Vs are good alternatives to
the larger SUVs. I know that some people have a true need
for larger SUVs, but what about those who think it just looks cool?
\_ Vanity is the only reason to buy an SUV, that and increasing
the risk of killing other people or killing your entire family
in a rollover. If you need passenger space, get a van. If you need
4WD get a sedan or truck. If you carry cargo, get a truck.
The only reason to buy an SUV is vanity.
\_ Safety is a good reason. SUVs ARE safer in non-rollover
collisions. It's also easier to armorplate an SUV if you are
into that sort of thing. Easier emission standards for SUVs
is yet a third reason. Did you read anything in this thread?
\_ please post your name so i can go laugh at your funeral.
\_ Dumbass. |
| 2004/4/15-16 [Transportation/Car/RoadHogs] UID:13215 Activity:nil |
4/15 I was riding my motorcycle to work today, and a guy in an SUV
pulled up next to me at a stop sign an yelled, "You Bitch!"
When I turned to look at him he asked me the way to the
freeway in a thick Chinese accent. I told him.
\_ Thanks for sharing.
\_ Eh? Trying to map what he said into something else he might
have been trying to say, coming up empty...
\_ That's what I couldn't get either. It must have been
"excuse me" right? But even with a Chinese accent that's
not even close...
\_ "excuse, which" maybe? And then got flustered and
started over?
\_ "Hey you. Which way to the freeway?" which you only heard
the first part of? Or maybe something Mandarin or
Cantonese.
\_ Now that I think about it, maybe it was some kind of sociology
experiment. We could all get in on this fun. Walk up to someone
on the street, mutter an explitive, and when they look at you,
politely as the time of day.
\_ It probably helps if you're a nice looking Chinese guy with
an accent. |
| 2004/4/8 [Transportation/Car, Transportation/Car/RoadHogs] UID:29909 Activity:nil |
4/7 Stoplight to punish suburban speeders in Pleasanton:
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2004/04/07/MNG8N61MGG1.DTL |
| 2004/3/31-4/1 [Transportation/Car, Transportation/Car/RoadHogs] UID:12940 Activity:kinda low |
3/31 Our policy on cutting down dependency on foreign oil:
http://moneycentral.msn.com/content/Taxes/P48468.asp
\_ There are times when I wish Spike Bike were around. -John
\_ Spike Bike?
\_ A cloud of brown dust stretched as far as the eye
could see along old route 126. From my vantage point
behind an old barn, I watched the grim parade. For
the third time in less than a minute, a huge gravel
truck rumbled past, spewing acrid, black smoke and
kicking up more of the brown mud-dust and spreading it
all over everything.
Including me. I'm Spike Bike. I hate cars.
Taking out a tractor-trailer rig isn't easy. You
might be able to get a grenade into the cab, but if
it bounces back at you, you're finished. You can
sometimes shoot out all the tires on one side of the
tractor and the truck will jackknife, but it takes at
least half a mag, and half the time you won't get all
the tires. I had to face the fact that a MAC-10
submachinegun and a few grenades just weren't going
to do the job against these monstrosities.
\_ MORE!
\_ http://members.aol.com/clubnbc/spike_1.htm
\_ Thank you!
\_ Why not just shoot at the external gas tank?
\_ Diesel fuel plus you need lots more oxygen for a
useful response.
\_ Oh, diesel doesn't explode. I see. So all those
action movie scenes where trucks run off bridges and
hit the ground below and then explode are not real.
\_ I have some news that might come as a shock to you
about the tooth fairy, too. |
| 2004/3/26-27 [Transportation/Car/RoadHogs] UID:12878 Activity:nil |
3/26 Honda Element and Scion. Ugly or not? Cool or not?
\_ live closer to work and walk, jackass.
\_ I have always said that SUVs were ugly, bugly, and fugly. But
both Element and Scion take the word ugly to a whole new
level. No, they're not cool (even for a fad). If you want cool,
get a MINI. They're much more fun to drive.
\_ i love my mini... cooper, that is.
\_ i love my mini.
\_ Whole new level? I don't know. The Aztek is currently
far and away the ugliest thing on four wheels.
\_ OH GOD!!! I guess I completely forgot about the Aztec
because people just stopped buying them. Yeah, there
are no words to describe how ugly the Aztec is.
\_ I dunno man, the H2 is pretty dang ugly.
\_ YUGO!
\_ The Element is all about being practical, while not
looking boring. Pretty much spot on for 30something
lifestyle.
\_ I thought it catered to the teenagers and young 20
somethings. I've read articles about that.
\_ I love the Element, and would totally buy it.
The Scion looks weird, but it is a good deal for what you get.
\_ Odyssey, baby:
http://www.honda.co.jp/ODYSSEY/gallery
Or the Vamos:
http://www.honda.co.jp/VAMOS
And when you're ready to move, there's always the ACTY:
http://www.honda.co.jp/tokuso/sagyou/01.html
yermom
\_ Order of ugly:
PT Cruiser
H2
Aztek
yermom
Scion Xb
Subaru Baja
Element
Honda wanted to sell the Element to 20-30 somethings but
they failed miserably and everyone driving them is over 40.
Drive one if you think putting around in a plastic
kleenex box is cool. |
| 2004/3/12 [Transportation/Car/RoadHogs, Transportation/Car/Hybrid] UID:12637 Activity:very high |
3/12 I know this is a liberal pipe-dream, but imagine that, instead of
spending $87B on Iraq every year, hundreds of billions on tax cuts,
and the prescription drug [company] benefit, we spent $300B a year
on a simple program: Hand in any car that gets less than 30 MPG and
you can go out and buy a 50+ MPG hybrid car for FREE. We could replace
15 million cars a year on this program, and oil imports would soon
drop like a rock ... This seems a lot simpler than invading country
after country, plus domestic car manufacturers would quickly start
cranking out competing models so it would help the car industry too.
People want to drive big SUVs, not hybrids but I'll bet plenty of
people would switch if you get a new car for FREE.
\_ Ok, great, and where does the power come from for these cars?
Hybrid cars dont make power from thin air. It's a hybrid of a gas
engine and a battery. The power for the battery comes from either
energy drained off the gas engine and thus reduces MPG and/or from
an electric socket. The power for that socket comes from...? Yep,
you guessed it, burning oil, coal, or nuclear. I won't even go
into the abuse your program will cause when we suddenly see the
price of broken ancient $150 gas guzzlers go up just so people can
turn them in, nor will I mention that oil is not the source of
Islamic terrorism. It isn't a liberal pipe-dream. It is just a
pipe-dream.
\_ I don't think the point of an electric or electric-hybrid car
is to get energy for free. It's to improve efficiency. Electric
cars (that plug into a socket) use energy generated from a
gas turbine power plant (or nuclear, solar, hydroelectric,etc.).
Gas turbine engines are far more fuel efficient than piston
engines. Hybrid cars work under the principle of using a low
power engine (which tend to be more efficient than a high
powered one) and using that to recharge a battery.
\_ plus the battery allows regenerative braking, and shutting off
the engine quickly when idle.
\_ Pretty much no hybrids on the market are built to recharge from
an outside electricity source -- you are thinking or pure EVs,
which are pretty much on hold. OP is referring to the reduction
in required petro due to increased fuel efficiency alone and he
is correct that the change would be dramatic. Hybrids can get
double the mileage of standard vehicles.
\_ Most of the milegage gain is from making the cars lighter.
\_ Must research before talking out of ass. Apples vs.
apples, hybrids are heavier.
http://www.hondacars.com/models/specifications.asp?ModelName=Civic+Hybrid
http://www.hondacars.com/models/specifications.asp?ModelName=Civic+Sedan
\_ Let's assume we replace around 20% of all cars (because not
everyone can or wants to trade-in). We'd cut automotive
petroleum use around 10%, and total petroleum use ~5%. We'd
probably replace ~30 million cars at a cost of ~$60 billion.
$60 billion seems a bit high for a 5% drop in oil use.
\_ To my mind that depends how much of a petro decrease would
be sufficient to no longer require massive military
operations every few years. The cost of the current Gulf
adventure is at about $105B.
\_ We're not there for the sweet,sweet oil. We're there to
battle Islamic terrorists who were operating freely
under a secular Stalinist dictatorship.
\_ Whoah. Somebody believes this?
\_ It's probably just sarcasm, but yes, some
people actually believe this.
\_ The 105 includes Afghanistan but anyway....
\_ No. Total appropriations in the two wars so far
have been about $150b.
\_ Oh, I thought you meant the current war plus
afghanistan, not gw1+gw2 and not afghanistan.
The numbers are similar.
\_ The 105B is for Iraq alone, but anyway...
http://costofwar.com/numbers.html
\_ It's always fun to play with numbers. You do
understand that a lot of that money would have
been spent on people, weapon's maintenance and
training anyway, right? Probably not, but it's
cool to think you know what you're talking about.
Gives you that "I'm smarter than you" feeling of
superiority even if it's false.
\_ I like that idea, but I think there is a better way to spend the
money. How about instead of buying efficient cars for everyone, we
give everyone a lobotomy so they won't _like_ gas-guzzlers (and
while we are at it, we can make sure they won't discriminate based
on race, or want a handgun in their home). In fact, we might as
well make sure they will all agree abortions are ok. Sure, it will
be expensive, and there is a slight loss of free will, but think of
how much better off our society will be! -- ilyas
\_ that was an awesome ilyas style rant. it's quite easy
to poke fun at people truly concerned with how global
energy resources are being rapidly depleted without offering
anything remotely like a viable solution by somehow linking
this all to gun ownership, abortion, and paranoid extreme
libertarian sexual fantasies.
\_ (a) The op was a troll, not a concerned citizen. Buying
everyone a hybrid is a stupid idea for practical reasons
(as others pointed out), as well as moral reasons.
(b) I do have an alternative. Do nothing (at the government
level). Let's check back in 20 years to see who is right.
If I am wrong, I ll eat my words, like Mr. O'Reilly did.
Will you? You didn't even sign your name. -- ilyas
\_ [ non-sequitur deleted ]
\_ Did that deletion make you feel better, though?
\_ The non-sequitur wasn't really insulting, but it was
random. Patriot Act? wtf?
\_ Ah. So ilyas jumps from hybrids to lobotomies to
abortion, but my extending his statement about "loss
of free will" to the most recent source of govt
infringement of civil liberties is a non sequitur.
Just making sure I follow.
\_ You are barking up the wrong tree. I don't like
the Patriot Act. I also don't like grand schemes
for 'societal betterment' at taxpayer expense, which
was the point I was trying to make in that clumsy
way of mine. Also, I was under the impression the
main danger of the Patriot Act was the increase
in spying powers of the government, rather than
explicit prohibitions. The only possible relevance
explicit prohibitions. -- ilyas
of PA to op's post is that it is "a bad thing the
conservatives did" rather than "a bad thing a
liberal is proposing we do." You can always make
another thread to laugh at conservative stupidity,
there is plenty to go around. -- ilyas
\_ Invading Iraq is a pretty grand scheme and it
has cost a fortune. So far the big results are:
Saddam Hussein in jail so he can no longer
\_ Your reaction is very interesting, ilyas, especially all the
extensions you make. Did somebody maybe press a button?
which use Li, not Pb.
threaten us with non-existant WMD, Iraq going
from oil exporter to oil importer, everyone in
the world even MORE pissed off at us, and 500+
soldiers dead. My point was, if we are going
to spend billions and billions of dollars, why
not just spend directly on stuff that we know
will actually make a difference as opposed to
stuff that might fix problems.
\_ I thought I was the only conservative
isolationist on the motd. Did you vote for
Pat, too?
\_ Hybrids are a ruse. They make people feel better about wasting
resources--it's like residential recycling programs, which make
practically no impact on resource usage. If we really wanted
50 MPG cars, we could do that with or without making them hybrid,
and hybrids have additional toxic waste problems. -tom
\_ By toxic waste, surely you're not refering to the batteries,
which use Li, not Pb.
\_ Yes, some smaller cars are already close to 50mpg but it would
mean making them even smaller and lighter which seems unsafe.
\_ bigger, heavier cars are more dangerous than smaller, lighter
cars.
\_ no.
\_ do you not understand the concept of kinetic energy? |
| 2004/3/3-5 [Transportation/Car/RoadHogs, Transportation/Car/Hybrid] UID:12497 Activity:nil |
3/3 Is there an alternative to AAA for roadside assistance coverage that
doesn't lobby the state to build more freeways? I want the towing,
I don't like AAA's political agenda. Thanks.
\_ 21st Century includes towing with their insurance. Others might.
\_ I have towing with Amica but the service sucks hard compared to
AAA. Waits typically three times as long and sulry second rate
service from whoever eventually shows up. -- ulysses
\_ I have never heard of this, do they want more highway
maintenance, or more freeways? Where can you build more freeways
in california? are you talking about private toll roads?
\_ My aunt works for them, and she's mentioned some stuff like this.
http://betterworldclub.com/memberbenefits/AAA/AAA_record.htm
http://betterworldclub.com/newsroom/articles/Harpers_May2002.htm
It's not terrible stuff they do, they're not Enron-- more like
AARP, selling out but trying to maintain a good rep.
\_ How does the roadside (car) asssistance plan compare to AAA
in terms of service quality?
\_ The RAC but you have to wear a coat and tie to get into the
clubhouse. -John
\_ Most car dealerships offer roadside assistance programs with their
cars. Also, many insurance companies offer it with their coverage.
\_ 9 out of 10 times it's subcontracted through AAA
\_ http://www.betterworldclub.com
Endorsed by Car Talk.
\_ I thought AAA is better than other insurance provider because it's
non-profit.
\_ Actually, I've heard from a couple of folks that AAA insurance
sucked, especially given how expensive it is. Low quality service
following an actual accident was the complaint in both cases.
BTW, Amica being a "mutual insurance company" is also not-for-
profit.
\_ the part of AAA doing roadside assistance is different than the
insurance part. |
| 2003/12/19-20 [Transportation/Car/RoadHogs, Reference/Tax] UID:11518 Activity:moderate |
12/18 Most of people in California don't like the car tax. Just curious,
do you guys support the repeal of that car tax at our current
financial crisis?
\_ One thing that was conveniently forgotten: 3 years ago, the car
"tax" was reduced by 66% because we were flush with revenue from
other sources. Restoring those pre-boom levels can hardly be
called a tax increase... But it was a very effective marketing
term. As was the heretofore nonexistent term "Car tax." --scotsman
\_ That's right. I used to be paying $400, but now i am paying
$250 for a car that is twice as much as my old car.
\_ FUCKING WATCH YOUR DAMN OVERWRITES. TWO POSTS RESTORED
\_ I guess I'm not most people. I think a tax based on the value of
one's car makes a lot of sense. -- ulysses
\_ You must really hate America.
\_ I bet you'd love socialism, too. -- anonymous coward
\_ We should base criminal penalties on the value of your car, too.
\_ I bet you'd love socialism, too.
\_ Hmm, we're spending way more than we're making.... Oh well, maybe
it'll get better on its own.... Oops, it didn't. I don't want to
spend less, though.... I heard CA has one of the highest car tax
rates in the country _even_before_ the tripling.
\_ you heard wrong.
http://www.njpp.org/gastax_compare.html
\_ I would prefer not being taxed over being taxed, but I don't
think it makes sense to get rid of a tax before figuring out
where the money will come from or before getting rid of the
items being funded by the tax.
\_ Our current financial 'crisis' is due to over spending not lack of
taxation. After the state level morons cut a few billion in pork
everything will be fine.
\_ may be we can resolve the financial crisis at federal level
by stop issuing bonds. after the federal level morons cut
a few hundred billion in pork, everything will be fine?
\_ There isn't a financial crisis at the federal level but
yes there's a few hundred billion in pork that should be
cut and taxes lowered by the same amount.
\_ there isn't ??? hello the federal financial crisis is way
worse! The fed govt' is already in amode of borrowing to
pay for the interest on its debt. Can you say federal
debts over 10,000 per capita? The only difference here is
there is already an established pattern of borrowing at
the federal level, while there is none such for the state
level.
\_ No, the biggest difference is that the Fed can just
decide to mint money and inflate their way out of
any debt problem. The State cannot.
\_ This is all really very easy. Davis increased the # of
gov't employees by 30% during his reign. Fire them and cut the
budget 10% across the board.
\_ urlP
\_ why didn't Arnold doing so?
\_ probably the same reason your grammar sucks. laziness, or
perhaps sheer stupidity.
\_ if you are so smart, then, tell me why Arnie is not
firing state employees.
\_ what does knowing what goes on in arnold's head have
to do with being smart?
\_That's easy, fire people = less votes
\_ How many of those 30% were school teachers, mandated by the
voters? Not a rhetorical question, seriously interested in
the answer.
\_ I don't have the answer, but this is the general problem.
Voters have such little trust for the state legislature, that
we've passed measure after measure to control their spending.
As a result, decreasing the budget without breaking a law is
hard. Other than school teachers, there are also the huge
pensions given to prison workers, which can't be taken away,
etc. -emarkp
\_ Americans don't pay for the full social cost of driving anyway, and
the car tax still doesn't come close to what Europeans and others
pay in terms of gas prices, etc. The tax should be more of a user
fee rather than money for local jurisdictions.
\_ Europe is a lousy god forsaken place full of socialists and
communists who never want to do an honest days work. Using Europe
as a benchmark is stupid and foolish.
\_ I love how you there's basically no difference between trolls
and people being serious on the motd.
\_ What'd he say that isn't true?
\_ Actually I think you have it backwards. It is the US that pays
a disproportionate amount of costs for a stable supply of oil
in the Middle East. It is the US military that provides
security in the area (eg. Fifth Fleet). Much like
pharmaceuticals and host of the other products Europe is a
parasite on the US - we subsidize their lazy social welfare
\_ Europe is a lousy god forsaken place full of socialists
and communists who never want to do an honest days work.
Using Europe as a benchmark is stupid and foolish.
and people being serious on the motd.
state.
\_ car tax on my 10-year old honda was tiny anyway ($65 for the total
DMV registration for the year) - triple that puppy! Punish the
SUV buyers!
\_ why single out the SUV owners? Heck, why single out car owners
when the real social cost is on the USE of cars. A gas tax
would be ideal here, and be far less noticeable than a several
hundred dollar a year hit in registration fees. Plus it will
disproportionately hit the heavy gas users like SUV owners.
\_ I prefer gas tax over car tax too. The more you drive, the
more of the purden you pick up to maintain the roads. Plus
that'll encourage people to carpool and take public transit.
BTW I drive an SUV.
\_ Is it accurate to say that most expensive cars (= high car
tax) also have lower gas mileage? E.g. sports cars, large
trucks, ...? Still indirect, admittedly, but doesn't it
have roughly the same effect? (not the case with old vs
new cars, though)
\_ car tax on my 10-year old honda was tiny anyway ($65 for the total
DMV registration for the year) - triple that puppy! Punish the
SUV buyers!
would be ideal here, and be far less noticeable than a several
hundred dollar a year hit in registration fees. Plus it will
disproportionately hit the heavy gas users like SUV owners.
\_ I prefer gas tax over car tax too. The more you drive, the
more of the purden you pick up to maintain the roads. Plus
that'll encourage people to carpool and take public transit.
BTW I drive an SUV.
tax) also have lower gas mileage? E.g. sports cars, large
trucks, ...? Still indirect, admittedly, but doesn't it
have roughly the same effect? (not the case with old vs
new cars, though)
\_ More expensive cars tend to have much worse gas mileage
because the vehicles are heavier, have more power, bigger
engines, more toys, etc. Anyway, as someone with an
expensive car I only drive a short way to/from BART every
day I don't see why I should have to pay a huge tax on it.
\_ It's always been high. What the tax paid for was covered by state
taxes when they had enough in the kitty. With the econ down and the
state can't cover, the taxes returned to their former high level. In
the spending spree and 0% financing frenzy of the last two years,
people have been buying lots of new cars (enough to float the US
economy past a recession) for big bucks thus high vehicle taxes.
It's the same sort of whining gas prices get "too high" and people
who bought low MPG cars start crying or when people buy property
and whine about high taxes. You're fucking rich enough to buy it
stop whining about the relatively small taxes associated. |
| 2003/12/12 [Transportation/Car/RoadHogs] UID:29711 Activity:high |
12/12 SUVs Kill:
http://www.newscientist.com/news/news.jsp?id=ns99994462
\_ But the occupants are less likely to die in an SUV than in a car
when the vehicle is hit by another vehicle or is sandwiched.
\_ SUV's kill OTHERs. they're plenty safe for the SUV owner/driver.
\_ Reuben Bolling did a comic recently called "SUV Arms Race"
\_ Not entirely true: http://tinyurl.com/z03y (nhtsa.dot.gov) |
| 2003/11/25 [Transportation/Car, Transportation/Car/RoadHogs] UID:11216 Activity:nil |
11/24 What's the diff b/w 4WD and AWD?
\_ usually if they say 4WD the vehicle is normally in 2WD with the
ability to switch to 4WD.. but on normal city streets will not
handle well in 4WD (often because it locks 1/both/all
differentials). AWD usually implies it will automatically shift
power to or away from wheels w/o any intervention. There are of
course variations on these rules.. such as the mercedes 4matic
\_ Yes, 4WD with locking differential(s) handles even worse than 2WD
on paved roads unless you're always going straight. It's not
intended to be used on-road. The only time the 4WD on my
Cherokee saved my ass on city street was one time when I
unknowingly landed one rear wheel on a cable car track on an
uphill slope while waiting to make a left turn on a rainy day.
As the opposite traffic cleared, I stepped on the gas but my
truck didn't move an inch. Realizing that I was going to be hit
by the oncoming cable car going downhill fast in the opposite
direction, I paniced, pulled the 4WD lever, floored the gas pedal
and pulled myself out of the intersection.
\_ http://auto.howstuffworks.com/four-wheel-drive.htm/printable
\_ great link, thanks! So I'm curious, how much of a mpg
penalty is there for the awd differential?
\_ Usually 2-4 MPG highway. Don't remember about city. Just
check out this year's specs for various vehicle models with
both AWD and 2WD. E.g. Toyota Sienna (van), Lexus RX300
(SUV), Toyota Matrix (car).
\_ negligable on some, e.g. audi. definitely less than
other factors like tire width, tire pressure, mass of
lead foot. |
| 2003/10/16-17 [Transportation/Car/RoadHogs] UID:10661 Activity:high |
10/16 Is there a reason why Tiger Woods who is in his 20s is in a Buick
commercial, a car company that usually appeals to people who are
ummmmm, significantly older than 20s?
\_ $$$ ?
\_ Golf appeals to older people?
\_ It's not your Father's Buick anymore?
\_ That it's your father's car is exactly the reason they want to
have someone like Tiger Woods in Buick commercials.
\_ Agreed, ever since Buick started making SUVs. Same for Cadellac,
Oldsmobile and Mercedes. |
| 2003/10/14 [Transportation/Car, Transportation/Car/RoadHogs] UID:10623 Activity:nil |
10/13 So various no skilled and low skilled workers are striking across
the US right now. Should they be replaced by illegal immigrants?
Is this not a case of Americans being unwilling to do menial work
that immigrants would gladly do?
\_ sounds like a normal negotiation process. And who said that
Americans are unwilling to do menial type of work? Everything
has its price.
\_ Or is it the case of trying to maintain the standard of living
so we don't have to live like they do in the 3rd world?
\_ But they're mostly doing unskilled or very low skilled labor so
wouldn't it be better to have undocumented immigrants do this
labor for less since Americans aren't willing to work at the
lower rates the new immigrants are willing to work for? Isn't
that the same reasoning for having undocumented workers in the
fields picking produce instead of higher waged Americans?
\_ You know, not every job has to, or can, provide health insurance
and high pay. People accepting positions like these ones need to
realize that upon accepting them.
\_ Every job should provide health insurance. Maybe not 100% paid
for, but the employer should contribute. That might mean less
pay, though. As for high pay, do you think these people are
highly paid? Maybe $17/hour is a little much for a checker,
but: 1) What is the right amount? 2) The grocery stores agreed
to it. --dim
\_ "They agreed to do it." Ya, the alternative is to let
people strike. Then you look bad and the federal govt might
slap your wwrist.
\_ actually they didn't agree to it, that's why the
clerks are striking.
\_ Actually, they did. That's why the clerks make what
they make. Now they want to put the genie back in
the bottle. They have that right, but the reason
clerks are overpaid is that they agreed to do it.
\_ The pay, not the healthcare costs.
\_ Um, no. Health insurance as we know it needs to be
completely dismantled. My car insurance doesn't pay for my
oil changes--why should my health insurance pay for doctor
visits?
\_ It's not the doctor visits bankrupting the system. They
are cheap, and cheaper still when you consider that an
ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
\_ The two are not comparable, in my view. Car insurance
pays if you break someone else's car, not if your car
needs a valve job. -chialea
\_ That's what he just said, isn't it?
\_ And thus any comparison between the two is not
on, get it? My driver's license doesn't allow
me to take cars, so why should my fishing license
allow me to take fish?
\_ Uh, I think we're in agreement but you lost me
when you started talking about fish.
\_ Just this: comparing car insurance with
health insurance makes as much sense as
comparing driver's licenses with fishing
licenses.
\_ health >> driving around in your SUV.
\_ whats up with the class warfare? he could be driving
a bug from the 60s for all you know. |
| 2003/7/9 [Transportation/Car/RoadHogs] UID:28984 Activity:high |
7/9 Yet another reason to ban SUVs:
http://www.cnn.com/2003/US/West/07/09/heat.deaths.ap/index.html
\_ are you an idiot, a troll, or joking?
\_ Actually it's a better argument for forced sterilization.
\_ as opposed to de facto sterilization among geekdom?
\_ ever hear of air-conditioning? |
| 2003/6/17 [Transportation/Car/RoadHogs] UID:28742 Activity:high |
6/16 Business Owner Chases, Runs Over Robbery Suspects In Hummer
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/930181/posts
\_ that was the busineess owner. what sucks is when you're just
an employee with a shitty car and the manager busts your balls
for not engaging a shoplifter in a high speed chase. this actually
happened to my brother in law. apparently someone else in the
company ran over a shoplifter in the parking lot with his car and
management felt this was a good idea.
\_ Now that is a good use of the Free Republic website. -motd liberal
\_ If everyone in the store was armed the criminals wouldn't have
tried this shit in the first place. Now these lowlifes are going
to press criminal *and* civil charges and the owner will be in jail
and owe each criminal a zillion dollars.
\_ Until they hit their first civie accidentally, or the robbers
come in with their own guns. Then the price goes up and the
zillions of bucks start flowing.
\_ When everyone is armed there are no civilians. That's the
point. And in this case if you had bothered to read the link
instead of knee jerking, they were armed. |
| 2003/4/30 [Transportation/Car, Transportation/Car/RoadHogs] UID:28279 Activity:kinda low |
4/29 Say I'm sueing someone and I'd like to track down where this person
lives. How much do private investigators cost? BTW this is the guy
who hit my car and gave me a fake address and insurance information.
\- what do you know accuratly? name? lic plate? seems like the police
should help you out. while it probably isnt a high priority,
they might be helpful since it is so simple. i would think your
insurance company could get it from dmv or police or other means.
--psb
\_ Why are you the one doing the suing? Turn over all the info you
have to your insurance company and let them deal with it. They're
going to want to find him and make his insurance company pay so
they don't have to.
\_ Probably below the insurance deductible and the $750 damage
minimum to report. Sucks to be you.
\_ My door got dinged by an SUV going 10 mph. $2200. Something
under $750 is a paint scratch. A small paint scratch.
\_ May not be a new car. |
| 2003/4/17-18 [Transportation/Car, Transportation/Car/RoadHogs] UID:28149 Activity:kinda low |
4/17 Super rice rockets - http://csua.org/u/d65 \_ I think it's most philipino guys doing this right? Are east asians modding their car? \_ That's "Filipino" or "Pilipino". -- Pinoy pride \_ Filipino \_ pronounced pilipino |
| 2003/2/17-18 [Transportation/Car/RoadHogs] UID:27438 Activity:very high |
2/17 Still want to know what is up with all the SUV drivers on their way
to SF with "no blood for oil signs" who don't know how to use BART.
\_ Uhm, maybe they're people that are willing to deal with the
consequences of their politics and pay the higher cost of
gasoline & etc?
\_ Maybe they don't drive very often. What's the difference between
an SUV driver who bikes to work and only drives on the weekends
their cars on my way home with signs and all.
and a hybrid owner who does 40+ miles each way every day?
\_ Given who I was looking at, I strongly doubt they owned bikes.
Also, the BART parking lot was full and I saw folks getting into
their cars on my way home with signs and all. And I said they
"don't know how to use BART". At all. They bike to the city?
Or maybe it was their first time there, ever? Yeah. Sure.
\_ I know cyclists who own SUVs.
\_ And?
\_ And they can bike to the city.
\_ From the East bay?
\_ Bay Bridge Bicycle Commuter Shuttle
http://www.transitinfo.org/Bikes/BayBridgeShuttle.html
\_ Maybe they work in the South Bay where there's no BART and
they commute on Light Rail?
\_ Getting really desperate huh? See below about the moon,
cheese, and clouds with silver linings.
\_ And they only travel for work and live in the bay area and
never go to SF and never go anywhere BART might go. Right.
\_ So are you saying you know by heart how to ride the
Light Rail and the Caltrain and the Amtrak, because you
living in the Bay Area must imply that you must have at
least once been to one of the places that each of these
transit systems serve, right? BTW, even for people
working in SF, AC Transit and Alameda/Oakland Ferry run
many transbay routes during commute hours, which you
absolutely already know how to ride too, right?
\_ Really, it's a nice effort, but no points on this
one. You're just flailing and thrashing now.
\_ Whatever you say. BART is not the only public
transit option in the Bay Area.
\_ I say you continue to blatantly ignore what
I've said when it doesn't fit your world view
and make up random "maybes" that have nothing
to do with anything in a bizarre attempt to
justify something to yourself.
\_ My so-called "gas guzzler" SUV does 25MPG freeway and I take the
extra time and effort to park-and-ride to work, while a friend's
Mercedes mid-size *sedan* does 19MPG freeway and he drives to work.
Yet nobody picks on such sedan drivers.
\_ What do you expect from those replete with cognitive dissonance.
\_ I don't think that phrase means what you think it means.
\_ 25mpg? What year/model? This'll be good.
\_ '96 Jeep Cherokee 5-sp manual, and I don't speed cuz speeding
wastes a lot of gas.
\_ That's not an SUV. Yermom would be proud of you though.
\_ this whole thing is a pathetic strawman. -tom
\_ Is not! (like how I backed my point as well as you did yours?)
\_ the point of a strawman argument is to get people to
argue about irrelevancies, which is why I won't. -tom |
| 2003/1/16 [Transportation/Car/RoadHogs] UID:27114 Activity:nil |
12/20 http://www.alternet.org/story.html?StoryID=14839 |
| 2003/1/13 [Transportation/Car/RoadHogs] UID:27078 Activity:insanely high |
1/13 Penis size and SUV survey (please add more):
Ford Explorer: 5 screams from your lil sis
Ford Expedition: 4 screams from your lil sis
Hummer H2: 3 screams from your lil sis
\_ Rich kid!
Civic: 8 screams from your lil sis
\_ Civic is not an SUV.
obRideBike: Your little sis screams so loud that
yermom cringes since her turn is next
Jeep Cherokee: 4.5 screams from your lil sis.
\_ But me driving an SUV has nothing to do
with my small penis size. I got my first Cherokee in
1992, years before the term "SUV" was even invented.
\_ Exactly. A jeep cherokee (not the liberty, the cherokee)
is a 4x4. it is no SUV, unlike anything else in this
list, including the H2.
\_ What's the difference?
\_ An SUV is a recent marketing gimmick. They
simply take any car, make it big, give it
a jeep-like body, and then think it's able
fulfill all your everyday driving needs
AND be able to go off-roading (or at the very
least drive off highway). In reality, all
they can do is haul large amounts of
groceries or kids. Which is perfect, given
that soccer moms seem to love SUV's. An
off-roader or a 4x4 can actually go offroad,
not break, and come out ok.
\_ rude people who stuck their comments in the
middle of the above: PURGED! --!above
\_ The modern SUV serves the same function
as the "Station Wagon" of the 1970's
and the "Mini Van" of the 1980's
\_ nice definition...well done.
\_ Yeah this was hard to figure out.
\_ BS. The minivan exists and is better for
most uses than SUV: you can get 4x4 if you
need it (snow, etc.). They have more
headroom, get better milage, and driver
better than a typical SUV.
\_ Hummer H1: 0.5 screams from your lil sis
\_ what's the proper length measurement technique?
\_ we'll stick it in your little sister, and she'll make an
accurate report.
\_ she got all streched out at this point, anyone have
a fresh lil sis?
\_ obUseHerButthole
\_ How much lubricant does your little sister need?
\_ Whoa. Stop right there. Yermom the official insult of the
CSUA motd. yerlilsis hasn't even been broken in properly.
Besides, everyone's had yermom, yerlilsis is way behind.
\_ This is the dumbest thread the motd has seen in ages. |
| 2002/10/4 [Transportation/Car, Transportation/Car/RoadHogs] UID:26104 Activity:nil 60%like:26107 |
10/4 Quality protest in action:
http://www.thesandiegochannel.com/sand/news/stories/news-170312020021004-091046.html |
| 2002/9/30-10/1 [Transportation/Car, Transportation/Car/RoadHogs] UID:26054 Activity:very high |
9/30 Eight-wheel drive electric vehicle with top speed 192MPH, faster than
a Porsche! 186 miles range. From the picture it looks like it seats
at least six, maybe more. And the development cost is only $2.4M
which seems pretty low to me.
link:csua.org/u/33a
http://csua.org/u/33b
\_ funny how the idiot American reporters can't convert meters to
feet. -tom
\_ you're right. looks like the conversation ratio was
about 2.2. he probably was confusing the m-ft ratio
with that for kg-lbs.
\_ What for? This isn't Europe. Do you really tell people,
"A bit to the left, about 2.2 meters, thanks!"? I didn't
think so.
\_ Actually, I do use metric measures whenever possible.
See my bicycle pages. And whether or not you use them,
if you are a reporter writing a story for international
publication, and you insist on converting meters into
feet, you'd think you'd want to get the conversion factor
right. Especially when that thing is obviously way more
than 14 feet long. -tom
\_ Why would you use metric units when communicating with
people unfamiliar with them? That's just dumb.
\_ The cycling world uses metric all of the time, even
in the US. Allen keys, cranks, road bike frames,
and road bike tires are all measured in cm or mm.
If you pay for one of those organized rides in
California held by local cycling clubs you get to
pick distances of 50km, 100km or 100 miles.
-jeffwong
\_ 19.5" frames, century rides, MS150, 27" wheels.
Bikes are as metric as cars. Mixed units.
\_ well he said "whenever possible".
\_ Some amazing features:
590hp!! 6-wheel steering, 8 seats, ability to keep moving with some
of the eight wheels broken. Weights 6556lbs, so that gives only
11.1 lb/hp which is very low.
http://web.sfc.keio.ac.jp/~hiros/kaz
\_ Yeah but it looks ridiculously expensive to produce. Not much ground
clearance either.
\_ Don't worry, you'll see lowered ones soon with xenon lamps,
a 5" exhaust tip ("but it's an electric motor!"), nose, tail,
and midship spoilers.
\_ Dude! I've already got dual midship soilers on order for
mine! It's hella!
\_ I think the low ground clearance is by design. "As the height of
the integrated chassis is 15cm, the lower height of KAZ is almost
the same as a conventional sedan and much lower than a
conventional MPV, thus making access much easier." The slides
also sell stable cornering and high stability due to low CG.
Why do you want high ground clearance anyway? It's not an SUV.
\_ The thing is 22 feet long. That's longer than our long-bed
pickup. I think that thing will have problems hitting slopes
and driveways. I guess it's fine if you live on a racetrack.
Hmm, well I suppose the extra set of wheels could compensate,
if some conditions make 2 wheels go in the air, but then
you have potholes and things too.
\_ Ah, good point! I was only thinking about cornering. Hmm,
maybe that's the reason why the second front axle is so
far behind the first one. Maybe when it goes from level
ground to a downward slope, the first front axle are lifted
in the air for a short moment while the second axle (and
the rear axle) continues to steer. I have no idea.
\_ hydrolicsP |
| 2002/3/6 [Transportation/Car/RoadHogs] UID:24035 Activity:nil |
3/5 SUV kills.
\_ SUV's in general kill, or a specific SUV killed someone?
if it's case 2 - sorry to hear that. if it's case 1 - it's
bullshit.
\_ How many? Did you rack up a good body count a la Death Race 2000? |
| 2002/2/16 [Transportation/Car/RoadHogs, Computer/HW/Display] UID:23883 Activity:very high |
2/15 For the Soda Gal:
There's an eMachinese Computer with 1.6 GHz Pentium4, 17" Moniter and
printer free 1 year msn Internet Access for $679.97 after rebates.
There's no contract on anything. Check it out at BestBuy.
\_ Get the Dell 4300S, $499 and free shipping (under Small Business).
\_ Why are you giving her such bad advice. You might as well tell
her to buy a Geo, Hyundai, or Kia.
\_ what would you suggest for that price?
\_ You get what you pay for. Spend your money (even if it means
spending more) on something you'll be happy with. I always
tell people of the BMW/SUV analogy. If I gave you $50K to
spend on either a BMW 3-series or a Ford Explorer, most
good old Americans would evaluate the bang-per-buck and buy
the SUV with money to spare. But the BMW owner would usually
be much happier. I would say stop trying to do a bang-per-buck
analysis (GHz/dollar, MBytes/dollar, etc...) and find something
you'll enjoy. Go to an Apple store and at least try it out.
You might be happier with a Mac than an e-machine. I know my
dad was. After I gave him an "ancient" G4 tower, he now regrets
spending a dime on his top-of-the-line e-machine. He loves the
Mac I gave him, something he never said about a PC.
\_ Don't settle for BMW/SUV. Buy a BMW SUV instead. :-)
\_ BMW doesn't make an SUV, they only make SAV's
\_ You can't just tell someone "get a mac". It matters what
software they're running. There's a ton of stuff that doesn't
"run on a mac". Also it matters what she knows about the two
OS's and if she doesn't know enough then it matters what her
friends know for freebie tech support. "Get a mac" indeed.
\_ I'm not saying "Get a mac". I'm just saying that most
people come to the decision without even trying one to
begin with. I never thought of getting one myself. But
once I did, I found how much better it was. For me, it
didn't matter that nobody else was using it. So what.
I can figure things out myself. I'm sure soda gal is
smart enough to do so too.
\_ maybe soda gal doesn't want to nerd around and just
wants her computer to work?
\_If you actually know how to figure things out for yourself
why didn't you just buy top-of-the-line components and
built the computer yourself? -williamc
\_ I've done that too. I've put together my own machines
from spare parts or -top-of-the-line components
and slap Linux or FreeBSD on there. But I wanted
a laptop that will work nice with portable MP3
players, PDA's, digital cameras, etc... The iBook
matched my needs pretty well. A working word
processor was also nice.
\_Datapoint: 1800+ athlon xp, ecs k7s5a MB, 512 DDR ram, cdrw,dvd
60GB ata100, ati radeon ve, netcard, modem was $800+45 shipping on
Ubid.(no tax) Not top quality components and cheesy case though.
\_ That's not particularly cheap for a system w/o a monitor. --dim
\_ You can build your own system pretty cheaply these days by using
an nForce motherboard (built in Geforce2 + sound). -eric
\_ Don't give any more money to Microsfot please.
\_ Explain? I thought nForce was made by nVidia?
\_ the microsoft comment was indented incorrectly and should
be purged. |
| 2002/1/31-2/1 [Transportation/Car, Transportation/Car/RoadHogs] UID:23741 Activity:very high |
1/31 where can I get a rear view mirror for my monitor?
\_ Perhaps any number of car parts stores that sell such things
for cars? (e.g., Kragen, Pep Boys, etc.)
\_ Something monitor sized and not a 4" x 6" monster suitable for
an SUV. I don't want a car rear view mirror. I want a monitor
rear view mirror. I've seen them at previous companies.
\_ Yeah....like the little round 2" diameter fisheye mirrors
people used to put on the sideview mirrors of their van
conversions back in a time known as "The 80s".
\_ you can probably get one of those rear view mirror for bicyles.
\_ go to a trade show.
\_ stfw
\_ I used to have one, and now I have a web cam set up so I can
monitor everything happens in my back. I can also turn the
angle and have it point at my boss's office to monitor him.
Much more useful than a mirror.
\_ it's much more satisfying to arrange your desk to face the
office door...
\_ computer stores. Or go to a Sun Microsystems store, like at
their Agnews Santa Clara office.
their Agnews Santa Clara office. But they may not let you in. |
| 2002/1/1-2 [Transportation/Car, Transportation/Car/RoadHogs] UID:23424 Activity:moderate |
1/1 http://www.azzam.com \_ Why do I care about this site? \_ One of the main editors is Al Qaeda. Think of it as an alternative media outlet. :-) |
| 2001/12/8-9 [Transportation/Car, Transportation/Car/RoadHogs] UID:23186 Activity:insanely high |
12/7 Polling sodans on dotbomb failures. Which dotbomb have are you
working for?
\_ /csua/pub/jobs/*
\_ <DEAD>MyTurn.com<DEAD>
\_ <DEAD>s8.com<DEAD>
\_ http://gamers.com (still looking for a job and yes I am a big luzer)
\_ http://channela.com
\_ http://thirdvoice.com
\_ http://wego.com (not fully bombed yet)
\_ http://wired.com/hotwired.com
\_ http://inktomi.com
\_ http://c2.com
\_ maybe you mean http://c2.net, which was not a failure. Sold
to RHAT for $42M. (14x sales, 420x ROI)
\_ in stocks.
\_ ArsDigita... arguably not a dotcom, but now is failing like one.
\_ http://wfn.com
\_ http://cp.net (CriticalPath)
\_ http://Adjectivity.com is still around, still has money, and had 5
sodans at one point, including 3 former presidents, and 2 former
vice presidents.
\_ http://Autobytel.com, still limping along, left there a long time ago
\_ link:PeopleFirst.com, just got bought by CapitalOne for $173 mil.
\_ http://taos.com ..
\_ Not really a .com, but dotbombed with the best of them.
\_ whats left of taos these days anyway? do they have
*any* contract work?
\_ We have a stack of their 4x5 post-it notes at
work. We like their post-its. |
| 2001/12/7-8 [Transportation/Car, Transportation/Car/RoadHogs] UID:23177 Activity:very high |
12/7 Polling sodans on dotbomb failures. Which dotbomb have you worked
for? I remember some people bitching about http://thirdvoice.com a while
back. Also http://bigbook.com. Which other loser companies have sodans
touched and destroyed?
\_ feeling a little bitter there, troll-boy?
\_ dude, relax. how is this a troll?
\_ I worked thirdvoice. I never bitched about it. I sure
as hell didn't destroy it. It's a troll. -ex-3V
\_ "sarcasm" and "hyperbole." Try looking those up.
\_ Uh oh. Found a real person who was there so you
back off. Ok. No problem. Apology accepted.
\_ Uhh no. Try "sarcasm" and "hyperbole" in
regards to the orginal post, hyper-sensitive
guy.
\_ I can read. I know what it says. It's a
troll. If it wasn't they would've stopped
after the first line. Call it whatever you'd
like and repaint it anyway you'd like.
\_ <DEAD>MyTurn.com<DEAD>
\_ http://gamers.com (still looking for a job and yes I am a big luzer)
\_ http://channela.com
\_ Just because someone worked at a place doesn't mean they destroyed
it. Take the troll elsewhere.
\_ http://thirdvoice.com
\_ http://wego.com (not fully bombed yet)
\_ http://wired.com/hotwired.com
\_ http://inktomi.com
\_ http://c2.com
\_ maybe you mean http://c2.net, which was not a failure. Sold
to RHAT for $42M. (14x sales, 420x ROI)
\_ ArsDigita... arguably not a dotcom, but now is failing like one.
\_ http://wfn.com
\_ http://cp.net (CriticalPath)
\_ http://Adjectivity.com is still around, still has money, and had 5
sodans at one point, including 3 former presidents, and 2 former
vice presidents.
\_ http://Autobytel.com, still limping along, left there a long time ago
\_ link:PeopleFirst.com, just got bought by CapitalOne for $173 mil. |
| 2001/12/7-9 [Transportation/Car/RoadHogs] UID:23176 Activity:nil |
12/7 Since when did the Hummer start to be made by GM instead of
AM General!?
\_ Most of my hummers are courtesy of yer mom.
(That was my first ever motd yer mom joke. Comments welcome.)
\_ GM owns AM General. |
| 2001/8/27 [Transportation/Car/RoadHogs] UID:22271 Activity:very high |
8/27 On Thursday evening, August 23rd at approximately 11:50 pm four
students were robbed at gunpoint.
The four students were walking northbound on the Piedmont Ave.
sidewalk when they were confronted by two (2) male suspects.
Suspect #1 pulled a handgun from his waistband and pointed it at
the four students. The suspects robbed the students of their
personal belongings and fled southbound on Piedmont Avenue to the
2700 block of Bancroft Way. The suspects got into a Sport
Utility Vehicle and drove westbound on Bancroft Way.
\_ What is wrong with the news today?? What I REALLY want to know
is what race the hoodlums were.
\_ it goes without saying that they were black.
\_ Only whites and spoiled Asians drive SUV's.
\_ The robbers were black.
\_ what? SUV's are the generic station wagon of these times.
that they're being singled out to scream "Racism!".
EVERYONE has one.
\_ OJ will tell you the same, thus it couldn't possibly
be him driving that Bronco.
\_ Ask OJ. No, not that oj.
\_ OJ will tell you that only whites and spoiled Asians
drive SUV's, thus it couldn't possibly be him driving
that Bronco.
\_ especially not a WHITE one. i mean really.
\_ usually it's <ethnic> if they don't specifically say. the
report would say white if the robbers were white.
\_ Yup, only white people can't make use of every opportunity
to scream "Racism!" whenever they're being singled out.
-- Asian |
| 2001/5/17 [Transportation/Car/RoadHogs] UID:21300 Activity:nil |
5/15 Dick rides in SUV to press conference to tell everyone about his new
energy plan: http://www.nypostonline.com/news/nationalnews/30580.htm
Conservation, indeed.
\_ http://www.zero-credits.com/stories/May01/lamers.shtml
\_ For those too lazy to read, this is Dick Gephart, "Ecofriendly"
DEMOCRAT, not Dick Cheney.
\_ Doesn't matter. They're both idiots.
\_ Of course the article said nothing about how many people
were in said SUV.
\_ Probably four to six: driver, one or two aides and one
to three secret service. The SUV was probably also a
"hardened" version with light armored skin, bullet proof
glass, run flat tires and armored under carriage. All
in all less than 10 MPG. I'm not saying its a bad thing
that he drives in such a vehicle, its just a little
hypocritical that he thinks that I shouldn't be he should.
Its not like he's any more of a citizen than I am.
\_ He's a commie and thinks he's a member of the politburo.
\_ The article says the SUV is a Chevy Suburban police car.
\_ My 5yr old 6-cylinder 4-litre "SUV" does better gas mileage than my
\_ You think that's what Dick rode in? Your 5 y/old car? And your
gas mileage still sucks compared to a car built for high mileage.
Comparing it to a luxury vehicle is a cheap strawman.
\_ Yes, but people only blame SUVs for burning too much gas, but
people don't blame big sedans (and even the not-so-big ones
kinds should be blamed. -- yuen
\_ BS. I've paid my gas-guzzler tax and my luxury tax, but
most SUVs are exempt from those taxes because they are
classified as "trucks". I've paid my unfair share already,
no one has a right to blame me for anything. - Luxury Car
Owner.
\_ Oh, I'm not sure if I pay those taxes or not. In any
case, I take public transit to commute. It takes 1 hr
longer each way (1.5hr vs. 0.5hr), but it helps save
gas. -- yuen
\_ If you paid the luxury tax you'd certainly remember
it.
\_ Anyone who owns a car with less than 20mpg has no right to complain
about gas prices.
\_ unless (s)he commutes with public transit. -- yuen
\_ Who said anything about that? Where'd this comment come from? |
| 2001/5/8-9 [Transportation/Car, Transportation/Car/RoadHogs] UID:21214 Activity:high |
5/8 Berkeley Critical Mass this Friday, downtown Berkeley BART
gather 5:30 PM to depart after 6 PM. Sound system, water
pistols, movies after. http://guest.xinet.com/bike/couch
\_ And please drink and drive your SUVs.
\_ And bring out your guns.
\_ puleeze. more underpowered twinks who will get themselves
killed thinking they can mix in with regular traffic
\_ they also bitch and cry when their handle bars get stuck
on someone's mirror. only an idiot and careless biker
gets that close to a car.
\_ while waiting on a red light on Market St. in SF couple of weeks
ago, a woman tried to squeeze between my car and the sidewalk. She
ended up toppling over as her bike hit the sidewalk. I tried damn
hard not to laugh, but was quite unsuccessful. Oh, and it's not
like she couldn't have ridden her bike on the sidewalk... there were
hardly any pedestrians and the sidewalk's 20 feet wide.
\_ so if you ride on the sidewalk, you get a ticket.
if you ride between cars, you die.
if you ride your bike in traffic and take up the whole
lane, you get harassed.
\_ Cyclists should do what motorists do. If you see a bunch of
cars behind you waiting to pass you, pull over to the side
and let them pass. For the most part, this is convention on
the highways and should work for cyclists as well.
\_ How typical, a motorist advocating that cyclists break the law.
\_ They do anyway without any help.
\_ Like not stopping for pedestrians at stop signs (and even
red lights) while whining about car drivers not stopping
for them.
\_ Like the 4 cars that sped through red lights just
this morning on my walk from bart to work.
\_ yeah, but bicyles don't weight 2 tons, cars do..
all the more reason to respect their power even if
there are morons behind it.
\_ Some cyclists are fucking stupid (crossing against
a red light, etc), but this is hardly the
behavior most cyclists have.
\_ I'm saying she should've ridden the sidewalk for her own good.
Fine by me if she wants to risk hurting herself. In fact, I'm
glad she fell on her sorry ass. If she insists on sharing the
road, she could've waited like all the other motorists instead
of squeezing through.
\_ I agree, and tend to take the whole lane when I'm
riding on Market. Which is really the right thing
to do. --dpassage
\_ the right answer is 1) stay the hell off the sidewalk and
2) obey the rules of the road (such as the CVC) when riding
and if you can't be bothered to do either, suck it. --jon
\_ Bring 'em on. I just got a new grill on my Suburban and a little
blood will help give it color!
\_ Wow. A little bicycle advocacy seems to bring out more
than any recent trolling. That's fine. Yer cure when
yer angry. -ulysses
\_ ulysses? who names their kid ulysses? |
| 2001/2/23 [Transportation/Car, Transportation/Car/RoadHogs] UID:20657 Activity:high |
2/22 http://www.jadedonline.com - ph33r tina yothers. ph33r. \_ who are these people? and what is wrong with the girl named tina? (I hope its not "She's a MAN Babee!") \_ you knew her as alex P keaton's younger sister on Family Ties. wow. heather thomas is like 50. ph33r. \_ in much better shape is miriam bialik, who's in ucla grad neurosci \_ who is miriam bialik? - unhip sodan \_ starred in the sitcom "Blossom". \_ "Mayam," even \_ Blossom? Never heard of it. Was it on cable or something. - really unhip alum \_ One of the guys is wearing a Cal hat in one of the pictures. That's better than most press Cal gets. \_ "Unknown TV Sitcom Actor Wears Cal Hat!" Yeah thats the sort of press you should be dying for. \_ She's not wearing the hat. It's someone in her band that is barely visible. So it should be "Unknown member of Unknown TV Sitcom Actor's Band Wears Cal Hat!" \_ go bears. Actually Cal is consistently one of the top 5 universities in sports merchandising sales, the others being football/basketball powers. We just have the coolest colors and the coolest logos. -tom |
| 2001/2/1-2 [Transportation/Car/RoadHogs] UID:20499 Activity:high |
2/1 Are people just idiots or is there a practical reason for
buying a sport utility vehicle?
\_ Because Geo Metros have trouble supporting a machine gun
gun mount. -John
\_ All the better to run over you with my dear.
\_ Typical self-righteous SUV owner mentality. I hope
your tires rip apart tossing your Explorer around
you damn soccer mom.
\_ It's a lot easier to drive SUV to the Sierra high country area
during the winter. Otherwise, you have to find other super
juiced car that has 4 wheel drive.
\_ Oh give me a break. SUV's don't handle better in snowy
conditions. In fact, they're much worse. The only thing
an SUV might give you is 4WD which only helps you
accelerate better. But I'm guessing that much of that
capability is used to compensate for the extra weight
of an SUV. SUV weighs more making it handle more poorly
and degrades its braking abilities. And 4WD/AWD isn't
limited to SUVs and not all SUVs have it.
\_ 4WD != better acceleration (in fact it's opposite).
4WD combines with slip differentials and M+S tires give
you the best traction on snowy conditions.
Audi, Subaru, BMW are not enough selections to choose from.
\_ No, but many cars include traction control systems
which are designed to reduce slipping during
acceleration (much like how ABS works). The point
of 4WD is to put 4 tires on the ground that will
drive in case one slips. If you're driving in such
bad conditions that your tires will slip when
you accelerate you shouldn't even be driving at
all because, conversely, you're not going to
fair much better at stopping and no amount of 4WD
is going to help you there.
\_ Some advanced 4WD systems work even when three of the
four tires slip.
\_ 4WD is always better than 2WD on slippy conditions.
That's why during R-2 conditions, only 4WD w/M+S
are permitted to go without chains.
\_ Audi. Audi is the STANDARD. Juiced car that has 4 wheel
drive. At any rate, SUVs may have good engines, but they
are also heavy, and thus inefficient if you want to go
uphill a lot.
\_ Mitsu GTO Twin Turbo is the STANDARD! 938 HP, I can
win any course!
\_ I wish I can afford an Audi A4.
\_ I wish I could afford an SUV so I can get an Audi.
\_ Really? I was thinking of Audi A4 which in the
$40k range.
\_ The S4 is 40k range. A4 is way cheaper. You can
also wait a bit and get a quattro passat. -pld
\_ I thought they were already out? In any case
you can only get the same V6, which isn't too
exciting with the added weight of the AWD..
\_ yesh. my A4 in a blizzard out-handles SUVs on dry pavement.
i only with it had the allroad air suspension so i could
take it out in the mohave instead of cramming into
my friend's truck. it also worked great the one time
i got into a mud-slicked hill climb down by santa cruz.
it's like saddling up a rottweiler.
\_ I own a SUV mainly for biking, camping, and skiing trips.
For commuting, I drive a cheap ass Toyota Tercel to save
gas.
\_ Consumers are illogical. Consumers buy SUVs because they have
the money/power/crave and most importantly, because they can.
\_ My truck (what people call SUV) actually has better gas mileage than
my friend's Mercedes C class.
\_ sure but he probably gets more bimbos
\_ But his is a 4-door automatic even though he's only 30.
\_ I've been driving a Lincoln since age 23. Chicks
dig it, and thier mom's like me too, cause they
think I'm stable and mature.
\_ Yes, papa. |
| 2000/12/31 [Transportation/Car, Transportation/Car/RoadHogs] UID:20204 Activity:nil |
12/30 Strange, they all point to the same page
http://bush2000.com
http://bushsucks.com
http://bushblows.com
http://bushbites.com |
| 2000/10/27-28 [Reference/Military, Health/Men, Transportation/Car/RoadHogs] UID:19582 Activity:kinda low |
10/27 Ok, we all know that men who drive big SUVs typically have small
penises. Does the same holds for men who own big guns? They need
to feel big and powerful by driving big cars and owning big weapons.
True?
\_ Please prove your contention that big SUV == small penis
\_ Well, he _said_ "we all know". Therefore....
\_ We don't all know this. Case and point,
his comment doesn't apply to me.
\_ Do the women who drive SUV's also have small penises?
\_ Yes, they require 2 double-A batteries; the D-battery dildos
are just a little much. -yersister
\_ Yes, they are 2 double-A batteries; the D-batteries as dildos
are just a little much.
\_ You sound like you speak from experience, good CSUAer!
\_ The RIGHT to keep and bear arms has nothing to do with owning guns.
This RIGHT is designed to guarentee that we are able to preserve
our FREEDOM.
\_ This just screams "wingnut" to me.
\_ This just screams "moron who never read the 2nd amendment
but has a worthless opinion anyway" to me, but fortunately
for you, this is the U.S. where you still have the right
to be wrong and proclaim it loudly. |
| 2000/6/26-28 [Transportation/Car, Transportation/Car/RoadHogs] UID:18554 Activity:very high |
6/26 Bike patented today.
\_ urlp || explanationp
\_ Like, dude. If you want to be using lisp notation, at least
have the decency to do it right. What you meant to say was,
of course,
(or urlp explanationp)
\_ Today??? How could it not be patented after all these years?
\_ That's a velocipede, not a bike. And it's from 1866.
\_ well, it's an intermediate step; it has pedals on the
front wheel, which the early velocipedes didn't. As
people realized the mechanical advantage of larger wheels,
this kind of model gave way to the "high-wheeler" (icon
of "The Prisoner"). Those had a high center of gravity
and tended to pitch people over the front wheel, so they
were eventually eliminated in favor of the chain-drive
"safety bicycle", which really was very similar to the
one we know today.
I still don't see why it's relevant to the MOTD. -tom
\_ The motd is irrelevant. You will be assualted.
\_ so tom. what IS relevant to the motd? I'm
somewhat curious how you're going to unify
questions about heat/light reflectivity, dating
asians, unholy unions with cars, skydiving,
and investment decisions in such a way as to
make the above IRrelevant.
\_ It's based solely on what personally interests
tom. Anything else isn't important.
\_ My question is, why should anyone care that a
particular implementation of something was patented
on a particular day. Big fucking deal. -tom
\_ While I agree that patent-birthdays aren't
very interesting. But claiming that it's not
relevant to the motd is -- oh fuck it. whatever.
\_ It's just tom. Don't let it bother you.
\_ heard it somewhere. However, the date seems to be wrong. It
seems to be on November, and not June 26:
http://www.student.tdb.uu.se/~y94ebo/bkpat.html
\_ DRIVE SUV!
\_ No, I get tested regularly.
\_ DIVE SUB!
\_ RIDE VELOCIPEDE!
\_RIDE VELOCIPEDE!!!! USE DIFFERENCE ENGINE!!!! |
| 2000/6/26-27 [Transportation/Car/RoadHogs] UID:18551 Activity:insanely high |
6/26 CSUA poll. What car do you drive [if at all]?
Acura Integra: 1
Honda Accord: 1
Honda Civic: 1
Honda Passport: 1
Jeep Wrangler TJ: 1
\_ I'm a faceless Asian dude.
Jeep Cherokee: 1
Nissan 240SX: 1
Audi A4 1
Nissan Maxima SE: 1
Toyota Corolla: 1
Audi S4
Bike ride 1
Ride Bike! 1
Yermom 69 1
Bike ride 2
\_ Take Out Your Own Trash! Akimoto!
\_ tom, is that you?
BMW 325i: 1
Ford Taurus 1
Chevy Impala: 2
Pimp Mobile: 1
\_ I'm neither white, nor asian, and it's been running fine
Saab 9-3 1
for more than 30 months now. *shrug* whatever.
\_ I've got a pink velvet interior too.
Ford Contour 1
Ford Taurus 2
\_ I'm white, so I wasn't allowed to buy Camry or Accord.
Ford Escort 1
GM EV1 1
\_ I burn coal at plant instead of gas in my engine.
Geo Prism LSI: 1
\_ I never thought of it that way. In other words
the EV1 is probably a bigger polluter than a SUV.
\_ Oh brilyant soda mind, electric power's source
to coal be not limited, as a nukular source can
provide to thee your "electricity".
Geo Prism LSI: 2
Honda Accord: 2
Honda Civic: 1
Geo Prism LSI: 1
Honda Insight 1
Lincoln Continental: 1
Honda Passport: 1
Honda S2000 1
Jeep Wrangler TJ: 1
\_ Are modern wranglers any more reliable than the old borken ones?
Jeep Cherokee: 2
Lexus is300 1
Nissan Sentra: 1
Lincoln Continental: 1
Mercedes 300CE 1
Audi A4 1
Audi S4
Lexus is300 1
\_ Kudos! Great car. -240SX guy from upstairs
Mitsubishi 3000: 1
Saturn SL1: 1
Nash Metropolitan 1
Nissan 240SX: 2
\_ http://www.240sx.org
\_ Is that you, asad?
Nissan Pathfinder: 1
Nissan Sentra: 2
Nissan Maxima SE: 2
Hummer (in a Hummer) 1
Nissan Sentra SE-R: 2
Saab 9-3 1
Saturn SL1: 2
Saturn SC2: 1
Toyota Camry: 1
Toyota Corolla: 2
Toyota Tacoma TRD: 1
Subaru Outback Sport: 1
Volkswagen Passat: 1
\_ how do you like your Passat? it's a v6, right?
Pontiac GrandAm 1
Cadillac Seville 1
\_ Does anyone know where to find the whole list where it makes
fun of all the car brands?
\_ http://www.ug.cs.dal.ca/jokes/car-acronyms.txt
\_ thank you. Boring crap deleted. -tom
Hummer (in a Hummer) 4
\_ jesus fucking christ i can't believe this
\_ You can't believe a CSUAer owns a Hummer or that 4 of us do?
\_ i couldn't believe a sodan owned one when it was at 1,
much less 4. what the fuck is wrong with you people?
\_ how about, 4 sodans got together and purchased
a hummer?
\_ how about 1 sodan bought 4 hummers?
\_ Why not? It's under 100k fully loaded new. There's
lots of .com cash floating around soda.
\_ They aren't that expensive. I know yermom
doesn't charge anything for hummers.
Whatever I can get
that runs for < $1k 1
whatever i can get
that runs for < $2k 1
\_ take it to /csua/pub/cars
\_ File DNE, you cowards. |
| 2000/6/23-25 [Transportation/Car/RoadHogs] UID:18538 Activity:very high |
6/23 I just saw something on the road which looked like an unholy
love child of a VW bug and an SUV. The only distinguishing
mark that I could read was something like "PT Courier" on
the side. WTF is it?
\_ It's the Red Bull mobile
\_ pontiac or oldsmobile
\_ Chrysler PT Cruiser. It is a sin against all that is holy.
http://www.edmunds.com/newtrucks/2001/chrysler/ptcruiser/base.html
\_ Bingo, that's it. Very impressive. Put your name down so we can
rightfully honor you for your exurberant knowledge of Fucked Up
Shit.
\_ What the hell are you talking about? The PT Cruiser is a
marketing sensation that will approach the level of the New
Volkswagen Beetle.
\_ get with the program man. That's the car everybody wants and
nobody can have. It lists below $20k but you're not allowed
to test drive it before you buy, because the test drive cars
sell the day they get in.
\_ i actually saw someone driving one of these on the road
for the first time today. why in holy fuck would anyone
want to be seen driving this horrible monstrosity?
\_ It's like an expensive subaru forester with a crappier
engine and no four wheel drive. And it looks ugly.
The front and the back are incongruous.
\_ Why require 4WD? It's in the minivan class
according to the Edmond's URL above.
\_ Built by the finest Mexico has to offer. --dim
\_ What's wrong with that?
\_ Has Mexico become synonymous with quality for
anything other than tequila and fish tacos
since last I heard? --dim
\_ uh, yeah. just like most filipinos
are typically considered the trash
of all the asian cultures.
\_ they produce cheap but potent tar heroin
\_ Wow. That is the fucking ugliest vehicle I've seen in a
long time. Just goes to show how stupid and tasteless the
typical sucker hype eating consumer is.
\_ Which is why most consumers run Windows.
\_ Exactamundo...apathy and moving with the herd..
\_ Windows is not as ugly as this car.
\_ Windows is a ugly as the Prowler, which
looks like a giant cockroach on wheels.
\_ Actually, the PT cruiser is a great concept, it is a "MicroVan",
basically a super small version of the minivan. Tons of room, zobs
of cargo space, for something roughly the size of a Neon. I think
the styling itself is, emmm, "interesting" (yeah, that's it), but
the basic drive towards maximum functionality in a given wheelbase
is cool. -nweaver
\_ that's nweaver for you
\_ Hi Tom.
\_ Functionality is not cool. functionality is functional. cool
is cool.
\_ Let me extend that: That they have taken a maximally
functional vehicle and convinced people that it is cool, is
cool, since at least these "cool" people are buying
a vehicle that is a bit more useful then these
big bloated cows called SUVs. -nweaver
\_ I'd like to see one of these match up to a
Expedition, Navigator or Suburban in a crash.
I value my life, so I drive a SUV not a little
toy. And you can cry me a river about Global
Warming and Green House gases. We all be better
off if the world was warmer and there were more
beaches. If my SUV is helping me get there, then
I've made the right choice.
\_ You are a complete moron. Chances are that
driving an SUV will *cause* you to get in a
crash. Do you have any idea how much
harder it is to stop or turn a 5500-lb
Suburban or Expedition with a high center of
gravity compared to a 3000-lb sedan with its
CG somewhere around your knee? Why don't
you go test drive some cars and some SUV's
and and put them through the same emergency
maneuvers at the same speeds and tell us
which one you think is safer. You're
probably just a poser who does all of his
driving on paved roads and drives an SUV
because you think it makes up for other
shortcomings. Puhleeze.
\_ I'll let you do the emergency
maneuvers as you try to get out
of the way of my chrome bumper
and my tires.
\_ Congratulations, thou hast been trolled
\_ Hmmm, I don't think so. There are
people who actually believe that
SUV's are safer. I take it as my
duty to make them feel stupid.
\_ don't confuse today's SUV's with ORV's
(off road vehicles). None of those
monsters with their full time 4WD can
follow my Jeep TJ when the pavement ends,
even if the driver wanted to.
\_ Really, I'll be that a hummer
could.
\_ I'm not, and that's part of the
point -- SUV's are designed to
compromise between mild off-roading
abilites and on-road abilites.
Problem is that their on-road
abilities are just good enough that
some owners think they're as good as
cars in that regard. BTW, I
have heard of Jeep Grand Cherokees
(an SUV by any definition) making it
through the Rubicon Trail.
\_ That's why SUVs are the real Windoze-like,
bloated, "go-with-the-ignorant-masses"
products. They think more about Crashing
than avoiding a crash(unix,MBZ,BMW).
\_ If I spend $50K on a shiny red
toy car, I would think about
avoiding a crash too. Since the
probablity is that you and your
little toy would end up as little
tiny specks on my grille.
\_ Its the stupid turds with thier little
Dodge (I mean Benz) and thier BMW changing
lanes without signaling, tailgating,
and engaging all sorts of bad driving
that I thought about when I got my SUV.
I would just love to plaster one of those
little 3xx BMWs or [CS]LK's on the Chrome
bumper of my SUV. Bump, "What was
that honey?", "Nothing dear, just another
BMW that tried to cut us off.", "When will
they learn?", "Hopefully never!".
\_ Hahaha! I loved the spring like winter in
the midwest and read about the 109 degree
weather in the SF Bay Area!
- midwest alum missing the Bay Area.
\_ Some of those SUVs have poor crash
records. In fact, their lack of manure-vability
may be a detriment. And they are dangerous
for the smaller, more fuel-efficient automobiles
out there, except for MBZ which does it right.
\_ You mean they are unsafe for the poor little
pissers who can't afford to buy one.
\_ I prefer to think of them as drugged elephants.
\_ Ok, so you think it's cool they convinced stupid people
to buy an ugly box with 4 wheels? Okaaaay....
\_ CSUA nerds dont know what is cool even if it bit them
in the ass.
\_ Dude, cool bit me in the ass today. That was NOT cool.
\_ SUV vs 'others' summary:
SUV driver: I'm a big wannabe-macho prick and I use my larger,
less stable vehicle to bully others.
Others: I drive an X (non-SUV) because I'm not an asshole, I
don't want to be responsible for the death of another
human being, I don't want to get into *more* crashes
than I would otherwise, I have no 'issues' regarding
my masculinity such that I need to drive a poorly
built, low-control, over-sized, zero-value, truck
with a huge price tag, I'm not a bimbo soccer mom.
\_ summary of SUV vs 'others' summarizer:
summarizer: I know what other people are interested in,
cause i'm PSYCHIC. i's gots my degree, n'all.
\_ No psychic powers needed. It was all spelled out in plain
English. Lots of stuff about running over smaller vehicles
and being 'safer' in a SUV, etc. I don't need a college
degree to read and understand basic English.
\_ there's more to a conversation than it's summary. |
| 2000/6/3-4 [Transportation/Car, Transportation/Car/RoadHogs] UID:18396 Activity:very high |
04/64 Any recommendations for cars that are good to hit bicyclists with?
I'm thinking about a small Mercedes, cause they have the crosshairs
type hood ornament, but then those always get stolen. Either that,
or something really small and maneuverable, or something with light,
quick-opening doors that you can take out bike messengers with?
Maybe an SUV for effect? Also, how do I pick up hot Asian
chicks? I'm a math major and can prove that gaussian is the only
function family closed under convolution, using Windows NT, not
that girly Linux crap. -John
\_ You forgot to mention that you dont want some damn japanese
rice-rocket either.
\_ .45 ACP is the standard.
\_ I'm told a VW bug is best for wiping out bikers. They have the
best bumpers and no one considers a cute car a threat until they're
gnawing on the underside of your rear tires. Find a hot asian math
major chick with an NT laptop. The younger asian chicks (*your*
little sister, soy boy) _LOVE_ the new bug. I can get action from
any asian chick 18-21 with the new VW bug.
\_ Yes, as long as you can squeeze your lack-of-exercise-mashed-
potato-stuffed turkey belly between the front seat and the
steering wheel. Otherwise your months of pussy eating
would all go to waste when your frustrated "hot asian math
major chick" decides to go medieval on your turkey arse
with the VW bug plastic flower, then hop on to her
Specialized mountain bike to race off to TA her math class
on proving that guassian is the only function family
major chick with an NT laptop. The younger asian chicks (*your*
little sister, soy boy) _LOVE_ the new bug. I can get action from
any asian chick 18-21 with the new VW bug.
closed under convolution, and in her hurry, crushing the
useless NT laptop lying on the pavement with her super knobby
bike tires.
\_ Are you being sarcastic?
\_ Are you?
\_ The doors on Mercedes are not very quick, unless you're talking
about the low-end 190 series. Generally, four-door cars will give
you better speed and maneuverability, however they have less
range. There is no advantage to using an SUV -- the extra
\_ It sounds like you want a saturn coupe. The doors are light but
long, so they can swing out fast and have a good reach. The
use of plastics means they can take more damage, and the red
color hides bloodstains well.
height is of no use unless you want to focus on the bicyclist
head area. In addition, you have to consider the cost of
repair and replacement. You'd be amazed how quickly doors
wear out with the huge number of bicyclists in SF/Berkeley.
\_ But headshots always do more damage!!
\_ Aw, but they all wear helmet nowadays!
\_ Hahahahhahaa... you ever seen one of those dinky helmets
after an auto rolls over it? This dude's face wasn't even
identifiable, but he sure looked cool on that bike. What
was left, anyway.
\_ Fuzzy, you are the trollmaster. I bow before you.
\_ Fuzzy's post isn't really a troll. For one thing, he
signed his name, which reiffin never does. For another,
his post is actually funny, which reiffin's never are. -tom
\_ Whatever, tom. -reiffin
\_ what, exactly, do you get out of deleting
useful information and replacing it with
inflammatory anonymous crap? Is there
any particular reason you choose anonymous
trolling to be your sole point of
interaction with the CSUA? Is there some
reason you don't just go away? -tom |
| 2000/2/27 [Transportation/Car, Transportation/Car/RoadHogs] UID:17639 Activity:very high |
2/26 Car recs? <=25k, economy primary, single person, thanks. -nick
\_ RIDE BIKE!
\_ is this nick weaver or nick kralevich? anyway, for $31K, you
can get Honda S2000.
\_ No, this is the other nick. Since when is 30mpg "good"?
Jeeze. By now all cars should be made of fiber glass
run on diesel or fuel cells and be getting 120mpg. Why
hatchback would be nice. 30 mpg is squat! I want 80mpg :)
does a Volkswagen Golf weigh 2950 pounds?!?!?! Why
does CA ban diesel engines, but allow SUVs???? -nick
\_ you dont say ANYTHING about style. It's all about style.
There are lots of cars under $20K which give killer gas milage,
etc, etc. Pick oneyou like. A '94 mitsu mirage lasted for me,
and gets over 30 miles a gallon. (1.8 liter, manual).
Plus front wheel drive kicks ass.
\_ thanks! don't care about "style" as in "de moda", but
\_ Buy 5-year old car, more bang for buck, plus still new enuf
hatchback would be nice. 30 mpg is squat! I want 80mpg :) -nick
\_ the new volkswagen offerings are lots of bang for the $$$,
imho. check out the golf/jetta variants with the 1.8L turbo...
Avoid Mazda, Ford.
\_ The request was for economy. i always heard turbos
double your maintainance costs, and half your engine life.
Not very economical.
\_ Buy 4 or 5-year old car, more bang for buck, plus still new enuf
to not be a total pain, but expect to pay $2K for immediate
fixings. RECYCLEs car, SAVES gas, environment etc.
Japanese: Nissan,Toyota (avoid Honda prices higher)
Avoid used Mazda, Ford, SGI.
How much is EV1?
\_ in what way does it save gas? Newer cars will have
better (i.e. lower) emissions profiles, right? And
probably better fuel economy, as well. Unless I get
a volkswagen GTI. hehe. -nick |
| 2000/1/30-2/1 [Transportation/Car/RoadHogs] UID:17379 Activity:high |
1/30 http://poseur.4x4.org/futuresuv.html \_ Which has a link to http://riceboypage.com \_ Boy, are you anal-retentive or what. \_ Or what. \_ You need to relax your anal sphincter. \_ Or what. \_ Or it will overflow through your nose. \_ What will overflow through my nose? \_ Take a guess. \_ Or what. \_ Or listen to a frog croak: personality. It doesn't mean that you do \_ As opposed to the non-anal sphincter? lying around. For example, your oral sphincter is quite useful when it is closed, or trying personality. It doesn't mean you do \_ Nice site. Fair analysis! -- yuen, truck (aka. "SUV") owner not have other useful or useless sphincters \_ there are in fact non-anal sphincters. sphincter is a general term referring to the ring of muscle around an opening. \_ The fact that your anal sphincter is most prominent is mostly a reflection of your personality and popularity. It doesn't mean you do not have other useful or useless sphincters lying around your pale excuse for a body. For example, your oral sphincter is quite useful when it is closed, or trying to do so. \_ Nice site. Fair analysis! -- yuen, truck (aka. "SUV") owner since 1992. |
| 1999/12/22-23 [Transportation/Car, Transportation/Car/RoadHogs] UID:17084 Activity:kinda low |
12/21 Has anyone seen the Weird Al video It's all about the Pentiums? It's
pretty damned funny.
\_ damn you're slow.
\_ they should've made it all about RISC.
\_ http://www.thepentiums.com since last summer. If you hadn't seen that one
before, check out http://www.sagabegins.com as well |
| 1999/9/17-18 [Transportation/Car, Transportation/Car/RoadHogs] UID:16539 Activity:nil |
9/16 Stumbled across this great site for searching prices on camcorders,
cameras and etc. http://photonut.com |
| 1999/8/4-5 [Transportation/Car, Transportation/Car/RoadHogs] UID:16246 Activity:high |
8/4 http://www.thepentiums.com - It's All About the Pentiums, Baby! \_ If you haven't seen it yet, http://www.sagabegins.com now STL C++ crap deleted. Anything ilyas touches turns into bullshit. \_ You're just feeling sad because ilyas stands up to motd punks like yourself. (It is of course well known that any interesting argument on the motd gets deleted, but I just felt like pointing this out for those who aren't paying attention.) \_ listen kid. there are people with clue who know what they're talking about, and then are people who think they know what they're talking about so they completely ignore those who try to clue them in. Ilyas falls in the second category, and most of the people who replied to him fall in the first. He could either take the stance of someone who is about to learn something and who should pay attention to what people are saying and make an effort to understand, or he could be the way he is. The second option gets his posts nuked. |
| 1999/6/30-7/1 [Transportation/Car, Transportation/Car/RoadHogs] UID:16043 Activity:high |
6/30 Some time ago, there was a short that was a StarWars parody
that you could download. What is the name of it and does
anybody know of a place that I could get it? Thanks.
\_ do you mean the South Park one?
\_ or troops? look around http://theforce.net.
\_ Yes. Thank you.
\_ Do you mean TROOPS?
\_ <DEAD>www.thumbtv.com<DEAD>
\_ http://www.sagabegins.com
\_ http://www.cdnow.com - Weird Al Yankovic, "Running with Scissors" |
| 1999/5/24-25 [Transportation/Car, Transportation/Car/RoadHogs] UID:15864 Activity:high |
5/23 My friends and I want to start a E-commerce company. Can anyone
think of products that are not being sold on the Internet yet?
\_ Human slaves.
\_ mixed drinks
\_ Soiled diapers. Somebody out there must have a fetish for baby
shit. - http://eshit.com
\_ porn
\_ Fresh tofu, for one. For now you have to drive all the
way down to either Sacramento or to San Jose to get the
really good stuff. And what if you move to Arizona? No
options, there.
\_ human organs
\_ Ice cream.
\_ Promise me 50% of your revenue and I'll give you ideas.
\_ That's it. Sell fresh ideas! Intangible product, yes, but
potentially profitable.
\_ Sexual services - become an e-pimp.
\_ Been long since done.
\_ Set up shop in amsterdam shipping marijuana around the world.
\_ been done already
\_ Just because you can use/buy/own/sell/etc the shit in a
dump like amsterdam (only parts of it at that), doesn't
mean that, oh say, US Customs is going to let your shit in
this country.
\_ dork
\_ Whoa! You sure put me in my place! You are *SOOO*
cool! Try selling a
"how-to-be-cool-like-a-csua-geek!" kit on the net!
Train everyone to be like Mr. I-can-type-d-o-r-k!
Guaranteed big money! Who wouldn't want to be like
Mr. I-can-type-I'm-a-big-boy-now?
\_ dork
\_ How can anyone argue with such logic? You
are truly Master Of Flames! I bow before
your vast and overwhelming intellect and
general superiority! All hail dork!
\_ books/cds/videos
\_ used condoms. Especially those that are filled completedly
with cum.
\_ Damn, if i knew i could make a profit, i would've kept mine.
\_ I can fill up half a condom with cum per orgasm. Who
needs my cum? -peter north |
| 1999/1/6-7 [Transportation/Car, Transportation/Car/RoadHogs] UID:15174 Activity:low |
1/5 Any recommendations on an ADSL ISP?
\_ tycho networks, http://www.tycho.net
\_ PBI has been plenty cheap so far... |
| 1998/4/14-15 [Transportation/Car, Transportation/Car/RoadHogs] UID:13955 Activity:high |
4/14 ``Hello. Your vehicle is large and is taking up
too many parking places. Please be considerate
of other drivers when you park. We have deflated
your left front tire in an effort to point out
how annoying this can be. There is no damage
to the tire or your car.
Sincereley, the Peoples' parking commission
(PPC). http://www.ppc.org ''
\_ The Port of Philadelphia and Camden?
\_ please change this as you wish. Yes, i know the
web site is a red herring. That's what makes it even
more subversive :)
\_ another thing you can say is "we may have deflated..."
that way, you don't actually have to do anything, and
you will get the bonehead to start thinking :)
\_ sounds like the rantings of a small and petty person
\_ This is stupid beyond belief. Obviously someone purchased a
large vehicle so they could take up more than one of the numerous
easily obtained parking spots available in Berkeley or SF. Next
time they'll sell their large vehicle and buy two small ones to
keep you happy. |
| 1998/4/6 [Transportation/Car, Transportation/Car/RoadHogs] UID:13905 Activity:moderate |
4/6 This weekend I've finished my report on corrolation of the average car
size that is manufactured vs. the state of the economy. Roughly
speaking: 1920=midsize (bad/okay economy), 1950=huge car (++economy),
1970=compact/small japanese cars (bad economy/OPEC crisis),
1990=huge AND tall SUV (good economy).
Isn't that an interesting observation?
\- Interesting observation, but I think you don't have enough data
points. I mean, maybe cars were that size/shape in the 20's because
cars were more or less a new thing then. I agree about the downsizing
from the 50's cars to the 70's. That was mainly due to the oil crisis.
However, in the 90's, even the huge and tall SUV are getting pretty
good mileage, arent they? They aren't necessarily fuel burners. -leblon
\_ Toyota 4Runner gets about 18MPG. That compared to a Corrola or Civic
with about 40MPG.... that's still a big difference. We're not even
going to discuss Jaguar with about 8MPG or some luxury car with
as low as 12MPG.
\_ If I am not mistaken, they call the 1920's the "Roaring
Twenties," because, right up until the stock market crash of 1928,the
economy was incredibly strong. Cars of that era were some of the largest
ever produced, many with 400-500 cubic inch I-8, I-12, V-16, V-18, and
V-20s. True, horsepower and fuel economy were low, but that was mainly due
to poor metallugury of the engine componets. When you speak of the
Twenties, do not forget the Cadillacs, Duesenbergs, Lincolns and Pakers of
that era. In the thirties, despite the Great Depression, cars were still
produced, many of which were quite large and quite powerful for the times.
Even during the Gas Crisis, the Big Three still produced very large cars
(this is why the Federal Government had to bail out Chysler). It was not
until the early eighties that the Big Three finally caught on, and started
producing smaller cars to compete with the Japanese imports. Mid-size and
compact sedans in this country are often some of the largest cars on the
road in other Eurpoean and Asain countries. |
| 1998/1/30 [Transportation/Car, Transportation/Car/RoadHogs] UID:49809 Activity:nil |
1/29 Hi. We're considering buying a new car soonish. We're trying to
decide between the Honda Civic EX, the Accord LX, and the Subaru
Impreza. Any impressions/comments/suggestions? Thanks...
\_ sign your name, fool. Anyway, the Subaru has AWD, useful
if you want to go skiing without chains. -legacy owner
\_ Honda Civic EX with 127hp and fuel efficient; plus you could get
at around 15k...It's a very good deal...Now I just hope they sale
Honda Civic Type-R here...
\_ Chevrolet Suburban is good.
\_ Got the Civic EX. Like it.
\_ The Civic and Accord are ridiculously overpriced, like all
the vehicles riding the 'resale value' wave. The market always
collapses, leaving the wannabe yuppies riding them holding the
lease and lein payments.
\_ The Civic is probably the best of the small cars. Good mileage
isn't built like crap, relatively inexpensive, etc. The
Accord is an overgrown Civic with a price to match. Dont do it.
\_ http://www.edmunds.com essential site. Check the used prices to see resale
value as well. -mogul
\_ I recommend a Honda Civic EX. VERY gas efficient and good engine
power out of this car. With today's inflated gas price, it's
very economical to drive a Honda Civic.
\_ HX has even better milage. (Manual version goes 44mpg!)
And it costs less than EX. You don't get that many horsepower
and bells & whistles as EX but I think that's only a small
penalty. -- yuen
\_ Got anti-lock breaks?
\_ You also might want to look at the Saturn. ("Ia Ia Saturn
Fhtagen") |
| 12/25 |