If you really thought the world was going to end at Y2K then you must've just stepped out of a crapmachine

Those people who stock piled water and food supplies just cracked me up.

Oil will not be around forever, I think that's s pretty safe statement to make. If you believe that, then you might be inclined to endorse alternative fuels.

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-justin

1987 300TD, 1987 300TD
2008 R32, 2000 Passat Wagon

I think it's pretty safe to say that oil will not be available at current prices forever. Basic supply and demand, as oil prices go up demand will go down because the altenatives will become more cost effective. The cost of oil will simply reach higher and higher equalibriums until it is not the most econimical choice for transportation. The only question is, how many years/decades this will take. I understand that you are trying to "push" this process, but you will have limited success until the price of oil increases significantly (maybe double or triple current prices).

I absolutely agree and until we see higher prices (like maybe EU prices), not much is going to change (that's my way of saying I wish prices were higher).

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-justin

1987 300TD, 1987 300TD
2008 R32, 2000 Passat Wagon

I tend to agree that oil prices in the U.S. need to be significantly higher to change behavior. The problem is that increasing energy cost is, if effect, a regressive tax that will affect the cost of most consumer goods, including food. A significant increase will also tend to be inflationary. We do need to allow the cost of energy to increase to more realistic levels, but we need to proceed very carefully.

I've read articles that say oil will be gone and I've read articles that say the earth replenishes its own oil supply.

I already do endorse alternative fuels - I drive a diesel. On the serious side, I'd also love to see fast electric cars, or the best of both worlds, a diesel/electric that could get 60+ on the highway, but I may be forced to settle for a "stripped down" C-class CDI when it debuts later this year. Always stuck with an MB diesel.

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- Brian


1989 500SEL Euro
1966 250SE Cabriolet
1958 BMW Isetta 600

I've never heard of anything like that, where'd you read that, the Republican monthly?

I guess if you want to get technical, earth does replenish itself, but it's not something you'll see in the near future (it's called fossil fuel for a reason).

The Tesla electric car sounds pretty cool, at least they're on the right track with using the electronics industry's battery research (laptops, cellphones) and applying it to automobiles rather than pulling a GM and saying they need lots of money for R&D.

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-justin

1987 300TD, 1987 300TD
2008 R32, 2000 Passat Wagon

Ages and ages ago, Hewlett-Packard was what Agilent is now -- an instrument company. During the '60s and '70s, the company gradually made more and more of its own components, from cabinets to semiconductors. When I hired on in 1972, I was told an in-house joke:

Q: Why do all H-P buildings have ferns growing outside?
A: We're making our own coal!

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"Buster" in the '95

Our all-Diesel family
1996 E300D (W210) . .338,000 miles Wife's car
2005 E320 CDI . . 113,000 miles My car
Santa Rosa population 176,762 (2022)
Total. . . . . . . . . . . . 627,762
"Oh lord won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz."
-- Janis Joplin, October 1, 1970