True, when they are in the back.
So many one occupant vehicles around here are mini-vans.
Two commuters in one vehicle equals 1/2 the vehicles on the road. (A simplification, but you get the idea.)
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RIP Chrysler, Hummer, and GMAC????
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True, when they are in the back.
So many one occupant vehicles around here are mini-vans.
Two commuters in one vehicle equals 1/2 the vehicles on the road. (A simplification, but you get the idea.)
Well I think the main problem is people only listen to the hype part of green technologies and don't investigate what is required to produce or utilize the green technologies. Even Patrick Moore (co-founder of Greenpeace), James Lovelock (father of the GAIA theory) and other high profile figureheads of the environmental movement now consider Nuclear to be the best source for power production. Just replacing the more than 600 US coal fired plants would reduce overal US carbon emission 36% and worldwide by 10%.
However I am guilty of using compact fluorescents, in rooms that have lights on for extended periods. Partly for the lower wattage but mainly for the much lower heat dissipation since a 20watt bulb does not have much effect on a rooms temperature compared to a 75 watt incandescent.
Back on topic I hope these financial hits on US auto manufacturers will teach them to think further into the future and prepare like the Japanese manufacturers do. Many of them look at 10 to 20 year time lines whereas in the US it is the next quarter. This preparation meant that as prices of fuel rose the Japanese were able to quickly shift production anticipating the change of demand. Of course they still produce gas guzzlers, because some people still want them, but they changed the ratio which US manufacturers have been slow to do.
Mainly because of poor plant design has the US been slow to shift production. If they had spent more on initial factory design, manufacturing processes and tools. They could have made more presses with a quick interchangeable dies and other factory equipment capable of handling a wider variety of part sizes. Then subsequent retooling for new vehicle designs or shifts in demand for differing product lines could be accomplished cheaper and faster. Another problem is that the US automakers never have taken small cars seriously so while the Japanese had designers make attractive small cars the US just had bland homogeneous designs though they are starting to make headway.
hydroelectric power is a reality here coming from the Tennessee Valley Authority, I have nothing against having an electric car as the next vehicle lease/purchase, if affordable. bring it on!
I suppose if all you live for is today and there is no vision for the future then I suppose viewpoints such as these would be informed. Thankfully they are not and we should be thankful. Currently the Prius has a much larger production carbon footprint than, well, pretty much EVERYTHING.
Thankfully as time marches on this will not stay the same.
Can you imagine when large vehicles are feasible because they run on hydroden produced by wind, solar, wave or what have you? I'm sorry to say but that kind of vision completely infuriates the eco alarmists.
The reality is that we NEED large vehicles to complete certain tasks.
Unfortunately this is in conflict with the neo marxists who see this as an opportunity for social re-engineering.
Chrysler wasn't purchased by private equity investors in order for the company to be dissolved, though it might make sense to break it up and sell the parts to other automakers. Who wants Jeep? Nobody? Just as I thought. Aside from the Jeep junk, Chrysler has actually made better cars than Ford and GM in recent years, especially GM. Wishing them out of business because you don't like minivan drivers (who as we all know, are all alike) strikes me as nothing short of bizarre.
I am not wishing the death of Chrysler. I may not like them due to being burned by them by their shoddy products we have owned in the past, but I would not wish them out of business.
Besides from the LX platform products and the Viper, what vehicle in the Chrysler line up is decent?
Sebring
vs
Malibu
I guess that depends entirely on your definition of "decent," and frankly I don't expect to have a very useful discussion about that particular question from someone who has already declared that they will do a "happydance" when all minivans are off the road. A perfectly lovely sentiment, that is.
I've owned a few Chrysler products over the years. I probably would not call them the best cars on the road, but they aren't the worst either. Except possibly for Jeep. They've been consistently terrible -- but people buy them anyhow.
Incidentally, Chrysler owns the only production electric car manufacturer in the US, Global Electric Motors. I happen to own one of these cars, so I suppose I've got a proprietary interest in them remaining in business.
As stated, I don't hate the minivan itself. I just hate the drivers that tend to drive them. I understand they are driving the way they are to protect their kids, but it doesn't mean they can be inconsiderate to other drivers. I don't have an axe to grind against Chrysler. As stated, their exterior designs tend to be very tasteful( except for their latest mainstream products, IMHO). Their interiors due fall short though. At least Chrysler recognized that the Sebring was sub par and is working on improving it. I really do hope Chrysler gets their act together, but IMHO out of the Big 3, GM seems to be doing a better job turning themselves around with Ford 2nd and Chrysler 3rd.
That's not any improvement, but I suppose this kind of random hatred is sadly common.
Anyway, Chrysler products have been victimized by the poorly considered merger with D-B, then the private buyout, and now the general troubles in the auto market. I can't give any of the US manufacturers much better than barely passing grades for their products over the last few years.
Chrysler Chrysler Chrysler... where to begin.
Lets just say I was at a Chrysler/Dodge Dealer last week and my god, I thought I was going to hurl when I went into the showroom. Talk about the most hideous cars in the world. I can honestly say that aside from maybe the seebring (which they are discontinuing) everything was disgusting. I honestly think that Dodge/Chrysler has nothing to offer except maybe their pickup trucks but Chevy/GM, Ford, and Toyota are much more popular.
Jeep was once a great company but the new Grand Cherokee is crap, the Commander was a complete and utter failure, their Compass is fugly, I don't see many Patriots around, and they are the exact same car (wasting money if you ask me). The new Liberty looks like a dodge nitro (which is supposed to be a horrendous car). The only good car they have is the Wrangler- because its a novelty. I also think its ridiculous they have 10 different drivetrain systems available, thats right 10. If Jeep started to rebuild the 99-04 style Grand Cherokee (maybe refine the interior more and the steering) as well as the Cherokee, they'd be doing much better.
Hummer is a joke. They were cool when they came out, but they're too big, expensive, and not refined enough for what they are. Now they are a symbol of hatred towards the earth.
Lets just say I was at a Chrysler/Dodge Dealer last week and my god, I thought I was going to hurl when I went into the showroom. Talk about the most hideous cars in the world. I can honestly say that aside from maybe the seebring (which they are discontinuing) everything was disgusting. I honestly think that Dodge/Chrysler has nothing to offer except maybe their pickup trucks but Chevy/GM, Ford, and Toyota are much more popular.
Jeep was once a great company but the new Grand Cherokee is crap, the Commander was a complete and utter failure, their Compass is fugly, I don't see many Patriots around, and they are the exact same car (wasting money if you ask me). The new Liberty looks like a dodge nitro (which is supposed to be a horrendous car). The only good car they have is the Wrangler- because its a novelty. I also think its ridiculous they have 10 different drivetrain systems available, thats right 10. If Jeep started to rebuild the 99-04 style Grand Cherokee (maybe refine the interior more and the steering) as well as the Cherokee, they'd be doing much better.
Hummer is a joke. They were cool when they came out, but they're too big, expensive, and not refined enough for what they are. Now they are a symbol of hatred towards the earth.
You haven't been to a Cadillac dealer lately then, have you? I had to take my GTI in for service today, and since they're building a new VW building, they temporarily have VW sales and service in their Cadillac building next door. While waiting, I decided to walk around the show room, and good god those have to be some of the ugliest cars on the market. Cadillac sells on name recognition only, not because they're good looking cars.
And is there a requirement that you have to be at least 100 years old to own a Cadillac? Seeing the other people there, I thought I was in a retirement home. I swear, only old people buy those cars. The only sign of youth in the place was the red GTI sitting out front and the young guy (me) sitting in the corner of the waiting room playing with one of them new-fangled Blackberry celluar telephones
You mean like the Escalade? Ugly they are, but I see plenty of them, and the even more comically repulsive EXT model -- and they are not being driven by old people.
What about the CTS and XLR? I'm not defending Cadillac by any means, but I'm beginning to wonder what you define as "old." Maybe everybody over 40 looks 100 to you?
I don't think anyone would disagree w/that but I'm what that has to do w/minivans. Just today I got stuck behind a Lexus that refused to drive faster than 30mph in a 35, a postal vehicle that drove the speed limit in the center lane of a 6 lane street even though there was no one in the right lane (well, no one except for the occasional car passing the postal vehicle as the line to pass on the left just kept growing), a black Benz that trolled for street parking at well under the speed limit and I almost got into a head-on w/aPorshe Carrera that drifted across the double yellow. Oh, and I also almost got clipped by a VW that changed lanes on the freeway w/o looking.
Lethal
Caravan? That roller is nice compared to the anything but cute Caliber... more like anything but decent vehicle.
In my area they're the worst offenders of all the other drivers. Though that is slowly changing with SUV drivers trying to eek out every drip of gas because they can't afford the vehicle anymore.
I'm seeing a lot of new Honda Civic and Nissan Sentras in my area because these cars offer reasonable fuel economy, decent interior space and reasonable power for around US$18,000 to US$20,000 depending on options.
By the way, I do think both Ford and GM are actually well-positioned to take advantage of people buying smaller cars--all they need to do is start selling the same product line of their European subsidiaries. In fact, Ford publicly said just a few days ago the next-generation Ford Fiesta--which will go on sale in Europe very late this year--will be built at one of Ford's assembly in Mexico and will likely include both 3- and 5-door hatchbacks along with the 4-door sedan for the USA market. I wouldn't be surprised if the rumored B-Max replacement for the European Ford Fusion is included for the models sold in the USA, too.
By the way, I do think both Ford and GM are actually well-positioned to take advantage of people buying smaller cars--all they need to do is start selling the same product line of their European subsidiaries. In fact, Ford publicly said just a few days ago the next-generation Ford Fiesta--which will go on sale in Europe very late this year--will be built at one of Ford's assembly in Mexico and will likely include both 3- and 5-door hatchbacks along with the 4-door sedan for the USA market. I wouldn't be surprised if the rumored B-Max replacement for the European Ford Fusion is included for the models sold in the USA, too.
I call this complete baloney. I have seen absolutely no evidence that any significant proportion of the driving public even understands that slowing down will improve their fuel economy, let alone that they are actually doing it. In fact every day I am completely amazed by the number of people who barrel along at 85, irrespective of the type or size of car, apparently without knowing that because of their habits they are already paying $5.00 a gallon, and doing it voluntarily.