The future of driving in the USA - Page 3 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

RobTheMod · #31 04-28-2006, 05:26 AM

Hmmmm, carpool between the Scion xA and 300SD (both do over 30 mpg, esp when keeping the SD at 65 mph max as deisgned back when Americans cared about fuel economy... soon to get a 2.47 diff and raise the average further!) on an 11 mile commute together- all the better to keep the vintage Audi Quattro on a diet of 100 octane race gas (5.96 a gallon) so as to run 20 PSI without detonation, for the Sunday morning drives in the mountains (which are emptier now that everyone's ARM mortgage and SUV payments are goin' upwards!

Seems that chez O'Brien always had the right energy policy!

Hatterasguy · #32 04-28-2006, 07:52 PM

Public transit is great in cities. What about in the middle of farm country?

In NY and Boston its pointless to own a car because you can just take the subway or a Taxi. Come to CT and a car is a must, you can't walk 10 miles to work. Taking the bus is possible if you walk a few miles to the bus stop and are willing to write off a few hours for transit time.

Cars will get more efficent as the market starts to demand that.

I'm thinking another MB maybe another S is in my future. Thats the only future I can predict.

Hatterasguy · #33 04-28-2006, 10:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlackE55

I'm thinking grease power. Would love a decent driver 123 wagon to convert and use it as a hauler and work vehicle. Keep the miles down on the beasts.

I'm thinking CL500 (W140) personaly.

Hatterasguy · #34 04-28-2006, 10:11 PM

I'm a capitalist pig, what am I suposed to drive a Hybrid?

Cars are supposed to have dead plants on the dash, and a herd of dead animals covering the seats.

Hatterasguy · #35 04-28-2006, 10:13 PM

This is how I celebrate earth day!
http://hvtm.totalcar.hu/car/m/mercedes-benz/214705.jpg

raymr · #36 05-01-2006, 03:27 PM

The new generation of subcompacts from Nissan, Toyota, and Honda are the first wave of change for the US. Powered by 1.5 liter gas engines, they have the interior room of an Accord and get 40 mpg. The next wave will be diesel-powered big cars and trucks that get 30+ mpg. Our big gassers will quickly become relics. Displacement-on-demand V8s seem like a great idea but only returns 1-2 extra mpg.

I think hybrids will not reach the mainstream because they are expensive and complex, and their highway mileage isn't so great because the engine has to propel the car AND recharge a battery. Hence they are more efficient only for city driving, yet the Honda Fit is a better choice for the 'urbs due to its smaller footprint and lower price.

whunter · #37 05-01-2006, 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Emmerich

Quote:

What's left of the AMERICAN farmers would love the opportunity to grow
renewable energy .

You mean the ones that are taking federal subsidies to NOT grow crops?

What federal subsidies to NOT grow crops?

Please give the specific bill number + title, I know hundreds of thousands of farmers in dire need of these federal subsidies.

I fear the American public is woefully ignorant on this topic.

I blame the news media

...

Hatterasguy · #38 05-01-2006, 05:51 PM

I was talking to a Honda dealer and they said they were selling a Fit every day. Had been for weeks, just a steady stream of buyers.

Thats the future of a large chunk of the market.

Even the new Civic gets 30-40mpg's and is a pretty big car inside.

engatwork · #39 05-01-2006, 05:51 PM

Wonder if the Fit will come with the "optional" 1.0 liter engine

? Maybe with turbo and intercooled.

Hatterasguy · #40 05-01-2006, 05:56 PM

Its probably a fine little around town car. Watch if fuel hits $4 a gallon and stays their, all of a sudden you will be seeing Fit and Civic wagons replacing SUV's.

The new little Audi A3 wagons are very popular.

pastmaster · #41 05-06-2006, 12:44 AM

Hmm....Thanks for your many thoughts.

It seems that we are willing to accept the status quo, as we have for the last 35, or so years. Our demand changes in relation to price. We'll get vehicles that return higher fuel mileage and proceed as before.

What I was trying to start was NEW thinking on the whole concept of transportation, personal and mass. We can't go back and we can't stay here...we must go ahead in a new direction. Someone has given this a great deal of thought. We are being led like sheep, by the Oil Cartels and Producer Nations, much of it is our own fault, if blame needs to be placed. We can do only so much individually...what's it gonna take?

JCE · #42 05-06-2006, 01:51 AM

Before I retired 10 years ago I spent 15 years commuting by light rail and bus. The cost THEN was $3500/year, it is more now. The light rail did NOT coordinate with the bus schedules, and the bus routes were designed primarily to service malls and government buildings. So I would walk or be driven 2 miles to the station, walk 4 blocks from the station to the bus stop, then walk several blocks to work. My commute time for the 34 mile trip was 1.5 hours each way from starting rail station to reaching my lab, assuming there were no problems - big assumption.

I got a fair amount of work done on the rail/bus, reviewing mail and dictating letters. But I also caught a ton of colds all year from people on the bus and rail system coughing and sneezing in my face.

When I look at cost, time, and health effects, I would have been better off to buy a new MB 126, save an hour on the commute each way, and do the extra 2 hours on paperwork at my lab.

mikemover · #43 05-06-2006, 12:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JCE

Before I retired 10 years ago I spent 15 years commuting by light rail and bus. The cost THEN was $3500/year, it is more now. The light rail did NOT coordinate with the bus schedules, and the bus routes were designed primarily to service malls and government buildings. So I would walk or be driven 2 miles to the station, walk 4 blocks from the station to the bus stop, then walk several blocks to work. My commute time for the 34 mile trip was 1.5 hours each way from starting rail station to reaching my lab, assuming there were no problems - big assumption.

I got a fair amount of work done on the rail/bus, reviewing mail and dictating letters. But I also caught a ton of colds all year from people on the bus and rail system coughing and sneezing in my face.

When I look at cost, time, and health effects, I would have been better off to buy a new MB 126, save an hour on the commute each way, and do the extra 2 hours on paperwork at my lab.

Yep.

There MIGHT be a "miracle cure" out there... one that will solve our transportation/congestion/oil dependency/environmental issues...

But "public transit" is NOT it.

Mike

raymr · #44 05-06-2006, 04:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pastmaster

Hmm....Thanks for your many thoughts.

It seems that we are willing to accept the status quo, as we have for the last 35, or so years. Our demand changes in relation to price. We'll get vehicles that return higher fuel mileage and proceed as before.

What I was trying to start was NEW thinking on the whole concept of transportation, personal and mass. We can't go back and we can't stay here...we must go ahead in a new direction. Someone has given this a great deal of thought. We are being led like sheep, by the Oil Cartels and Producer Nations, much of it is our own fault, if blame needs to be placed. We can do only so much individually...what's it gonna take?

Well MB drivers are a fairly conservative bunch anyway. So, you can be sure any solution here will involve 4 wheels and an engine.

No thinking outside the bun!

TwitchKitty · #45 05-07-2006, 10:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JCE

Before I retired 10 years ago I spent 15 years commuting by light rail and bus. The cost THEN was $3500/year, it is more now. The light rail did NOT coordinate with the bus schedules, and the bus routes were designed primarily to service malls and government buildings. So I would walk or be driven 2 miles to the station, walk 4 blocks from the station to the bus stop, then walk several blocks to work. My commute time for the 34 mile trip was 1.5 hours each way from starting rail station to reaching my lab, assuming there were no problems - big assumption.

I got a fair amount of work done on the rail/bus, reviewing mail and dictating letters. But I also caught a ton of colds all year from people on the bus and rail system coughing and sneezing in my face.

When I look at cost, time, and health effects, I would have been better off to buy a new MB 126, save an hour on the commute each way, and do the extra 2 hours on paperwork at my lab.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hatterasguy

Come to CT and a car is a must, you can't walk 10 miles to work. Taking the bus is possible if you walk a few miles to the bus stop and are willing to write off a few hours for transit time.

Cars will get more efficent as the market starts to demand that.

Mass transit will become more efficient and more appealing as more cars are priced off of the road. Congestion will be lessened and transit times will be better.

The history of mass transit in this country is a dark one. There was a court case in which some were found guilty of conspiracy undermining efforts toward mass transit. Real estate developers used transit routes to profit. Auto, bus and truck manufacturers profited from the designed failure of mass transit.