Originally Posted by Steerpike (Post 7001809)

I believe in Japan they all but retire cars older than a few years to 'force' higher safety and emissions (and keep the auto-industry healthy!).

Originally Posted by kins (Post 7002629)

You'd think gas prices never did hit $4 a gallon here in June eh?

Originally Posted by Bob (Post 7005860)

More to do with people being able to buy a lot more pick up than they could otherwise afford with the massive drop in prices....especially in more rural areas where you've got to take the rubbish to the dump yourself, rather use a pick up than a car etc...

Originally Posted by cindyabs (Post 7006139)

Years ago on a radio station in Barre, VT they had a music segment every Saturday morning called Music To Go To The Dump By. :lol:

Originally Posted by cindyabs (Post 7006139)

Years ago on a radio station in Barre, VT they had a music segment every Saturday morning called Music To Go To The Dump By. :lol:

Originally Posted by kins (Post 7006507)

What a fine segment that must have been - and they wonder why TV has taken over from radio... :p

Originally Posted by cindyabs (Post 7006139)

Years ago on a radio station in Barre, VT they had a music segment every Saturday morning called Music To Go To The Dump By. :lol:

Originally Posted by sunflwrgrl13 (Post 7008502)

As opposed to "Music to Take A Dump By"

Originally Posted by Steerpike (Post 7001809)

My biggest concern about diesel is how the engines age. Diesel engines have to be built 'stronger' due to their higher compression, and thus, they tend to last a lot longer (they also have fewer moving parts, as I understand it, which further helps extend their life). But - as they age, they also get 'sloppy' and produce a lot more emissions. Couple that with the fact that, in CA, cars don't rust so if the engine keeps going, the whole car tends to last forever. I can't tell you how many ancient Mercedes Benz cars I get stuck behind, watching them belch out clouds of black smoke. Add to this the rule that, in CA at least, you can't be required to spend more than '$x' to fix an emission problem on an old car, and you are essentially building something that is almost guaranteed to produce pollution 10, 20 years down the road.

Maybe the trick is to implement stricter emissions rules on older cars - eliminate the cap on repair costs. I believe in Japan they all but retire cars older than a few years to 'force' higher safety and emissions (and keep the auto-industry healthy!).

Originally Posted by another bloody yank (Post 7008689)

I have a '98 pickup with 187K, an '02 Buick Lesabre with 132K and an '03 Hyundai Accent with 200K. I really can't afford to replace them all with new vehicles every few years. That's really the kind of thing that scares the hell out of me.

I'd really love to buy a new pickup now because they're practically giving them away but I can't afford it!:curse:

Originally Posted by another bloody yank (Post 7008689)

I have a '98 pickup with 187K, an '02 Buick Lesabre with 132K and an '03 Hyundai Accent with 200K. I really can't afford to replace them all with new vehicles every few years. That's really the kind of thing that scares the hell out of me.

I'd really love to buy a new pickup now because they're practically giving them away but I can't afford it!:curse:

Originally Posted by Steerpike (Post 7046786)

Today on CNN, Amy Holmes (the conservative commentator) was asked whether the public supported the bailout. She said "the people have already voted and their vote is in their driveway - it's called a 'Honda' "!

Did you guys hear how the 'big 3' execs actually DROVE from Detroit to Washington this time (well, were 'driven')? I was shocked to see it's only about 550 miles! I always think of Detroit as being 'in the middle' of the country but it's not. This was probably the first time they've ever actually sat in their own cars!