>>>"Which means, rather than putting better technology on their vehicles to become more competitive, they're just trying to foist the problem off on the oil and ethanol industries."<<<
Only slightly OT.
Continuing in my frugal ways, I am retiring (will post on EBay - hope to get $1K) my wonderful old '85 Mercedes 300SD (diesel) which I have owned for the last 12 years and 130K miles (has 320K total). That car weighs about 4,400 pounds, rides like a cloud, and get 28mpg. It does seem a bit of a decadent indulgence - I figure it will go up to 400K, but a lot of little things are breaking which I would normally fix myself but prefer to spend my time learning more about the economy.
So what did I get???
Why a '95 Mercedes E300 (diesel). It weighs about 300 pounds less, rides like a cloud and gets 35 mpg.
Consider all of the energy I saved by keeping these old cars. I understand manufacturing a car is very energy intensive (start with the steel making). Think of all the fuel I have saved.
I have to say I have zero, zip, nada sympathy for the US auto makers.
28 mpg from my '85 diesel tank.
35 mpg from my '95 diesel tank.
For what have the US manufacturers been waiting???
I have about as much sympathy for the "independence from foreign sources crowd." The technology to reduce fuel consumption has been around for ages.
I am full of human foibles. I will chuckle every time I pass an E85 pump, knowing that none of my $$$ are going to support ADM or otherwise drive up the price of tortillas and Big Macs. Of course I am getting knicked because the low sulphur standards of diesel fuel have driven up its cost. That is OK. While I doubt global warming, acid rain is for real. |
