I find these things pretty unbelievable. CAFE regulations are far lighter for SUV's and there is a big lobby group trying to have them removed altogether. Bush and co already bowed down to their corporate finaciers Daimler Chrysler and froze CAFE since coming to power.
The main thing about these is that the majority of owners do not need such vehicles. They are being used as cars to take the kids to school and such like. What is needed is for auto manufacturers to be given an incentive to produce less emmisions, and buyers more incentive to buy efficient cars. This can be done by increasing CAFE, increasing the price of petrol through added taxation, and slapping big taxes on SUV and pick up owners who do not have a legitimate job requiring such vehicles.
The USA is the worlds biggest polluter, and something does need to be done to reduce the massive levels of pollution eminating from the USA. The main point is not even stopping SUV's and pick ups, more investing the time and money to create the same sort of vehicles that are not so rediculously inefficient.
Good - I like SUVs - because our normal cars have trouble in the mountain areas so your logic is flawed - some people do need them and PICKUP trucks.
So saying that people do not need them when you do not know is not logical.
Pointing out we are the biggest polluter is fine and dandy, but the question is WHY?
Do you know? we do - and no, i'm not going to argue with someone not willing to listen and already has their mind made up.
My sister's SUV gets 60 miles to the Gallon - pretty good for us.
The best car is about 110 miles to the gallon.
Looks like an old 1979 Station Wagon with a good paint job. Or an old AMC Pacer.
That looks like a ripe off of a car that GM came out a few years ago - almost the same design outside - probably changed the headlight shape and that's it.
I would rather have a Ford Explorer and I do not like Ford.
I think it was the worst mistake that Porsche has ever made. Most Porsche enthusiasts agree.
The Cayenne is obviously not alone with Euro cars. The BMW X5 has been around for a while, as has the Mercedes ML50. Porsches desicion was based on selling to the worlds biggest car market, I personally believe they have harmed their reputation and should stick to doing what they do best.
The emissions issue is the real issue here though, and this is what should be addressed, although the Porsche Cayenne incidentally is within CAFE guidelines at about 21MPG, whereas the Chevy Trailblazer for instance is not at about 15 MPG. The Lincoln Navigator is even worse at about 12MPG. (Despite the fact that the Porsche does 0-60 in 6 and a half, whereas the Lincoln does in in 9 and a half and the Chevy over 10).
I have seen some of them and do not get me wrong - they are nice - But i would not spend 60,000 on a car - when i can buy a home for that amount. Most people cannot afford those cars and that is why we do not drive them.
You have to be rich and i do not care about speed - never liked porche, nice car but not for me. not enough leg room.
I used to own one of these - this car will haul A$$ (as far as affordable - not 60,000 dollar cars go) but sucks down the Gas (at least, the one i had).
their are many possible ways to get yourself over rough terrain...
for example:
nice and not such a suckup for gasoline.
nut when you dont really need a big car, you can get to the complete other side of the story:
in belgium, we actually drive diesel most of the time, with engines who are very environmentally friendly and with a very high BHP. direct injection, turbo, variable vavle timing.....
They don't consume that much, with great performance.
for example: the VW GOLF has 150 BHP and 236lbs/ft at 1900 rpm! A huge torque wich is bigger than a porche boxster. they go from 0 to 60 in 8.6 seconds. And they do 52 miles every gallon!
It's not only VW. Every manufacturer has such engines, cause otherwise they don't last a chance on the market.
The middle one is truly too freaky
I do not think I would be able to drive it -
I do not like the bottom design - though we have 4 wheel drive cars with a similar design.
The top one is the most appealing - though, I would stick with an SUV though, more appealing to myself -
If I purchased one of these - it would be the top one.
My Grand Am gets about 43-48 miles to the Gallon.
I usually do 75mph or about 120km/h (i believe that's the area anyways).
THANKS FOR THE REPLY
but I don't specially like these cars (cause i have a crush on the new lamborghini's : murcielagio and gaillardo both designed by a belgian (i know, i am just proud ) allthough that small one actually drives pretty wel (well better than you would expect anyway), but i did want to prove the point that there is a replacement for cubic inches! wasn't that your (I'm gessing american) slogan? I hope cars on methanol (fuel cell) will eventually break through. If only the oil companies invest in the future by starting to provide these fuels at their station.
THE EARTH NEEDS IT!
Last edited by leon0911 on 05-25-2003 at 12:07 AM |
I think that in all respect i have no problem with the people who drive 4x4's but only if they use them for what they were designed for. I'm sick and tired of the people who live in the centre of town or in a city that drive these huge, expensive petrol guzzling monstosities about. Half the time they only get used to take the kids to school which is a 2 mile trip.
These huge vehicles get in everybodys way on the road. I bet that 90% of the people who drive these 4x4's have never gone off-road. The nearest thing they have probably come to a hill, is a speed hump.
Mostly, its the Mercedes ML350's, BMW X5's and Toyota Rav 4's that really hack me off. But the orign of my hatred is with the Mercedes ML350. Reason: Every day, early in the morning you can see the mad school rush as every mum and their kid hurries to school on time. Almost 60% of every mum that can drive has got one of these. On the mercades website they are classed as a 'Light truck'. People who drive these beasts fall just short of having to take a HGV lisence to own one.
If they want a runaround to take the kids to school then get a Yaris or Previa. Something small so that you dont get in the way. Or, infact, why dont you just drive a real car...like a BMW M3. Hmmmm, now THAT is a car. Not only will you not get in the way, but you can cane-it whenever you want down the motorway. Id like to see a tight-arsed mum do that in her Merc'.
Originally posted by leon0911 THANKS FOR THE REPLY but I don't specially like these cars (cause i have a crush on the new lamborghini's : murcielagio and gaillardo both designed by a belgian (i know, i am just proud ) allthough that small one actually drives pretty wel (well better than you would expect anyway), but i did want to prove the point that there is a replacement for cubic inches! wasn't that your (I'm gessing american) slogan? I hope cars on methanol (fuel cell) will eventually break through. If only the oil companies invest in the future by starting to provide these fuels at their station.
THE EARTH NEEDS IT!
There is only one or two people in Oklahoma that can afford that car (if that)- That is the problem - people ask "Why don't you drive the cars from other countries that use less gas?"
Many times, we can't pay for it - the price is more then our own and we drive what we can afford. This doesn't account for everyone - but more then most could imagine.
Originally posted by leon0911 I hope cars on methanol (fuel cell) will eventually break through. If only the oil companies invest in the future by starting to provide these fuels at their station.
THE EARTH NEEDS IT!
Maybe they will - not sure here though.
they tried the hybrid that receives 100+ miles to the gallon - and it didn't take off because of PRICE ( more then normal cars) and style (it had none really).
They need to make them more appealing.
Have you guys heard of this electric car [well a people carrier] that is being launched in japan? it has 6 wheels, each with an electric motor and when it was tested at an oval track a few monthes back, it clocked over 200 MPH! Thats pretty damn quick for an electric people carrier.
Personally, im all for the speed but would rather keep to doing it in a petrol car.
05-15-2003 08:00 PM
) allthough that small one actually drives pretty wel (well better than you would expect anyway), but i did want to prove the point that there is a replacement for cubic inches! wasn't that your (I'm gessing american) slogan? I hope cars on methanol (fuel cell) will eventually break through. If only the oil companies invest in the future by starting to provide these fuels at their station. 
