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Originally posted by malek both of you are disillusionnal if you think the american way of living will change, that it'll curb suburbs and exurbs... its a hippie fantasy. V8s will be replaced by V6s and more effecient cars, hybrids cut on average 30 to 50% gaz consumption in the first generation, alternative fueled cars are on the way, and this won't change the american dream of having a big house with a lot. Mass transit might see a short surge in ridership in very well deserved cities (very few in fact in north america), but thats only because people don't change their cars overnight, it takes years for people to adjust their habits... but changing them? thats just a hip urbanites dream...

Not if the price keeps rising. Now people are realizing the long term benefits of using less gas. I don't think it is going to completely reshape America at all, nor do i think people are suddenly going to move to the cities and live in downtown lofts, but slowly the trends are changing.

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Originally posted by ******** Seplling don't demonstrate intelligence and educatoin - knowing does.

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Originally posted by Clovis Not if the price keeps rising. Now people are realizing the long term benefits of using less gas. I don't think it is going to completely reshape America at all, nor do i think people are suddenly going to move to the cities and live in downtown lofts, but slowly the trends are changing.

Actually Electric/biofuel hybryds which can make most of our trips are not very far into the future at all. Since almost all of our trips are within 50km or so, and many electric cars can make that already, we and hence the car industry just needed some initiative to change to these kinds of cars. So the high oil price is the best thing that could happen to this world. A carbon tax made by the invisible hand

Anyway, so Americans can still have their way of living, just with cars with other, better engines... Give it 10 years and every new car will be a plug-in hybrid or better.

The "end" of petrol is not the end of the car... or as my collectivist-socialist hippie friends call: individual mean of transportation.

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Originally posted by malek The "end" of petrol is not the end of the car... or as my collectivist-socialist hippie friends call: individual mean of transportation.

I didn't say that

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Originally posted by ******** Seplling don't demonstrate intelligence and educatoin - knowing does.

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Originally posted by St_Andrew Actually Electric/biofuel hybryds which can make most of our trips are not very far into the future at all. Since almost all of our trips are within 50km or so, and many electric cars can make that already, we and hence the car industry just needed some initiative to change to these kinds of cars. So the high oil price is the best thing that could happen to this world. A carbon tax made by the invisible hand Anyway, so Americans can still have their way of living, just with cars with other, better engines... Give it 10 years and every new car will be a plug-in hybrid or better.

Wow. I thought you were dead! Where have you been? (though maybe it should be where have I been?)

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Originally posted by Shakka Wow. I thought you were dead! Where have you been? (though maybe it should be where have I been?)

Haha, well I have just been really busy in real life, I try to tell myself anyway, maybe I just found facebook?! Worked my ass off last year, then this year I have been studying my ass off instead. Also actually done lots and lots of real life politics

So where have you been?!

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Originally posted by St_Andrew Actually Electric/biofuel hybryds which can make most of our trips are not very far into the future at all. Since almost all of our trips are within 50km or so, and many electric cars can make that already, we and hence the car industry just needed some initiative to change to these kinds of cars. So the high oil price is the best thing that could happen to this world. A carbon tax made by the invisible hand Anyway, so Americans can still have their way of living, just with cars with other, better engines... Give it 10 years and every new car will be a plug-in hybrid or better.

Agreed to a certain degree. I strongly agree with the bolded areas. The electric car is the best technology out there IMO, and has always been around in one form or another. There are those who say that electric car has weaknesses such as battery and price, but over time with better technology and buying power will all advance the technology to make it affordable for people.

In my opinion,
Its just oil has so much influence and power today that companies like GM eventually caved in and rolled back on the electric car program. So we have very little progress in terms of electric car technology because there's little money or corporate interest in it because of some certain obstacles that scare the companies.

I think that hybrid technology was favoured over electric not because its better (because at least in the long term its not better), but because there's more money to be made with oil and related repairs and systems than by fueling up at home. So they decided to take a small step in the right direction instead. Electric car is too dangerous for the big corporations.

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Originally posted by Moongoose ghey? Come on the civic is exceptionally good looking and the new accord is a great drive (test drove one last week) as well as very handsome (in a ruggish sort of way).

Whoa. I wonder how the fuel efficiency is ... otherwise the vehicles are lookin' good.

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Whenever you go and buy something, you are affecting someone somewhere, be it environment, a person, or a community - you're making a statement with what you buy. So make it a smart choice ... Its a big picture

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Originally posted by St_Andrew Haha, well I have just been really busy in real life, I try to tell myself anyway, maybe I just found facebook?! Worked my ass off last year, then this year I have been studying my ass off instead. Also actually done lots and lots of real life politics So where have you been?!

Oh you know, had a baby. Between that and work it's hard to find much me time!

effing facebook is addictive!

Where people spend most on food and fuel


"THE soaring cost of food and fuel is a concern for the governments of rich and poor countries alike. Many households in Africa and Asia shell-out more on food and fuel as a share of total spending and so are disproportionately hit by rising prices. But in some poor countries fuel subsidies help to ease the pain."

in the larger, "grand scheme of things", Americans "forced" into buying more fuel efficient cars i.e. hybrids and econo-boxes isn't going to affect jack squat.

GM going down though, thats something to think about.

i own a 2002 Honda Accord thats about to be paid off (YES!!!!!!!!)srsly thinking about purchasing this to putz around my suburb on.



$1500 ain't bad. there are cheaper ones but i don't want to look like a complete gaywad and i don't like buying used shit. (except hookers)

it sucks cause i could have had one already but spent my tax return and rebate on other superfluous crap and bills, wasn't thinking ahead at all.

Last edited by Q5echo on Jul-09-2008 at 05:28

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Originally posted by jerZ07002 Some people at my job (who are pretty tight with detroit executives) are convinced that GM, Ford, and Chrysler are heading toward bankruptcy protection to break the union legacy contracts. * not insider information - just speculation after a round of golf *

Thank god, the union out of the auto industry will be a great day indeed.

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Originally posted by Q5echo Where people spend most on food and fuel

Well, no shit. Big Mac's and McFries and other junk food is cheaper than the healthy foods. Note to myself: yes, there's a whackload of McDonald's being build in those red countries, but its not a big number so far ...

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Whenever you go and buy something, you are affecting someone somewhere, be it environment, a person, or a community - you're making a statement with what you buy. So make it a smart choice ... Its a big picture