Date:         Fri, 2 Sep 2005 18:10:08 -0500
Reply-To:     Donald Baxter <onanov@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Donald Baxter <onanov@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Maybe now is the time to fill the tank of your extra car or
              "parts vanagon"
In-Reply-To:  <000a01c5b00c$f8e6d260$1102a8c0@tomscomputer>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

What I am saying is that we're trying to solve a problem with machines that 
is essentially a failure of both urban planning and urban philosophy. Far 
too many of us live in places that are too far from our jobs in communities 
where the use (and people) is segregated into single types. Not only is this 
not environmentally sustainable, it's time consuming. Someone sold us on a 
model of quality of life that really isn't quality of life so much as 
"quantity" of life.

And our vehicles (despite their increasing size and decreasing emissions) 
are actually more fuel efficient already. One did well to get 25mpg from a 
'75 Golf, now cars of that size with conventional gasoline engines get 
closer to 40mpg. And yet, we consume more fuel because we need more cars... 
we added better, more efficient technology and didn't resolve the issue. 
This is somewhat like trying to solve traffic problems by adding capacity. 
The traffic volume quickly rises to meet the capacity and we can prove this.

Resist the feel-good factor. Do things that actually make a difference!

Sorry for the lack of Vanagon content.

On 9/2/05, Tom Young <tomyoung1@comcast.net> wrote:
> 
> Well, *of course* our fuel consumption problems can be solved by 
> technology!
> If every new car purchased in America for the next 10 years was a hybrid 
> you
> don't think fuel consumption would decline dramatically? Off course it
> would! I'm pretty sure that building a Prius or whatever doesn't consumme
> significantly more resources than building a V8-powered SUV, so net
> consumption of fuels of any sort would decline, a benefit of technology.
> 
> That's not saying that buying a hybrid necessarily passes your 
> cost-benefit
> analysis; with gas at $2 per gallon it wouldn't for most people, unless 
> you
> include the "feel good" factor.
> ----------------------------------------------------------------
> Tom Young
> Lafayette, CA 94549
> ----------------------------------------------------------------
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Donald Baxter" <onanov@GMAIL.COM>
> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> Sent: Friday, September 02, 2005 2:44 PM
> Subject: Re: Maybe now is the time to fill the tank of your extra car or
> "parts vanagon"
> 
> 
> Mind you to all who are thinking about buying a new car to conserve
> resources--new *anything* doesn't conserve resources for a long time until
> after the purchase. Think cost-benefit analysis before buying! VW diesels
> (or any other new more fuel-efficient car) are cute and sexy, but it takes 
> a
> long time to cover the initial expenditure. And those cars consume massive
> resources to build in the first place. A new Prius may make the more
> touchy-feely of us feel good, but it seems to me our fuel consumption
> problems are so systemic that they cannot simply be solved by technology.
> And like Joseph, i'm spending a lot of time walking and cycling and 
> looking
> at my Vanagon parked!
> 
> On 9/2/05, Joseph Fortino <fortino1@earthlink.net> wrote:
> >
> > don't say anything but i ride my bike to work alot and save about 50 a
> > week now.. shhhhh
> > yup las vegas is nutty to ride in not for all..
> >
> > I get great mpg so far.
> >
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Stan Wilder <wilden1-1@SBCGLOBAL.NET>
> > Sent: Sep 2, 2005 9:21 AM
> > To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> > Subject: Re: Maybe now is the time to fill the tank of your extra car or
> > "parts vanagon"
> >
> > I've got a 92 Crown Vic and it gets over 18 around town and a 24/25 mpg 
> on
> > the highway. Much better than my 83 air cooled Vanagon at 16 -18 mpg
> > highway
> > and pretty poor 14-16 around town.
> > I'm basing highway numbers on running a legal 70 mph.
> > VW beetles and bugs along with Diesels get good mileage not big box
> > models.
> >
> > Stan Wilder
> > Engine Ceramics
> > 214-352-4931
> > www.engineceramics.com <http://www.engineceramics.com> <
> http://www.engineceramics.com>
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Roger Sisler" <rogersisler2000@YAHOO.COM>
> > To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> > Sent: Friday, September 02, 2005 10:35 AM
> > Subject: Re: Maybe now is the time to fill the tank of your extra car or
> > "parts vanagon"
> >
> >
> > > My son went off to college a few days ago. Up till then he had been
> > driving
> > > a crown victoria(gallons per mile).Now he dosent have to buy gas.Mandid
> > he
> > > ever time the market just right! He is a business major ya know.
> >
> 
> 
> 
> --
> ---------------------------------------------
> Donald Baxter
> 316 Ridgeview Avenue
> University Heights, Iowa 52246
> www.onanov.com <http://www.onanov.com> <http://www.onanov.com>
> 
> 


-- 
---------------------------------------------
Donald Baxter
316 Ridgeview Avenue
University Heights, Iowa 52246
www.onanov.com <http://www.onanov.com>