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The Most Serious [x] Problem We Face Today

Re: The Most Serious [x] Problem We Face Today

Although SS wins the thread...

what's the difference between a porcupine and a BMW? With a BMW, the p r i c k is on the inside.

Hmm...and SUVs? A short list of negative societal impacts on wiki:

Lower Safety
More Roll Overs
Weaker Construction
Risk to Other Road Users
Implications for National Insurance Costs
Poor Visibility and Backover Deaths
Wide Bodies in Narrow Lanes
Invulnerability Psychology
Poor Fuel Economy
Increased Traffic Due to Space Between Vehicles
More Pollution

Just a few comments:

In 2003 and 2004 in the U.S., passenger cars were involved in 1.65 and 1.58 fatal crashes per 100M miles respectively, compared to 2.14 and 2.05, nearly 30% more, for light trucks (SUVs pick-ups and vans). In 2004, light trucks were involved in fatal two-vehicle crashes with passenger cars at nearly 3 times the rate as passenger cars.

Of the vehicles that received a perfect 0-metre blind spot rating, 11 out of 42 (26%) were SUVs and 8 out of 163 (5%)

According to G. C. Rapaille, a psychological consultant to automakers, many consumers feel safer in SUVs simply because their ride height makes "[their passengers] higher and dominate and look down. U.S. potential SUV buyers will give up an extra 30 ft (9.1 m) of braking distance because they believe they are helpless to avoid a tractor-trailer hit on any vehicle.

The IIHS report states, "Pound for pound across vehicle types, cars almost always have lower death rates than pickups or SUVs." In 2004, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration released results of a study that indicated that drivers of SUVs were 11% more likely to die in an accident than people in cars.

The CAFE requirement for light trucks is an average of 20.7 mpg-US, versus 27.5 mpg-US for passenger cars.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Criticism_of_sport_utility_vehicles
 
Re: The Most Serious [x] Problem We Face Today

None of which makes BMW drivers less of a bunch of porcupine quills.
 
Re: The Most Serious [x] Problem We Face Today

Hmm...and SUVs? A short list of negative societal impacts on wiki:

Lower Safety
More Roll Overs
Weaker Construction
Risk to Other Road Users
Implications for National Insurance Costs
Poor Visibility and Backover Deaths
Wide Bodies in Narrow Lanes
Invulnerability Psychology
Poor Fuel Economy
Increased Traffic Due to Space Between Vehicles
More Pollution

Just a few comments:

In 2003 and 2004 in the U.S., passenger cars were involved in 1.65 and 1.58 fatal crashes per 100M miles respectively, compared to 2.14 and 2.05, nearly 30% more, for light trucks (SUVs pick-ups and vans). In 2004, light trucks were involved in fatal two-vehicle crashes with passenger cars at nearly 3 times the rate as passenger cars.

Of the vehicles that received a perfect 0-metre blind spot rating, 11 out of 42 (26%) were SUVs and 8 out of 163 (5%)

According to G. C. Rapaille, a psychological consultant to automakers, many consumers feel safer in SUVs simply because their ride height makes "[their passengers] higher and dominate and look down. U.S. potential SUV buyers will give up an extra 30 ft (9.1 m) of braking distance because they believe they are helpless to avoid a tractor-trailer hit on any vehicle.

The IIHS report states, "Pound for pound across vehicle types, cars almost always have lower death rates than pickups or SUVs." In 2004, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration released results of a study that indicated that drivers of SUVs were 11% more likely to die in an accident than people in cars.

The CAFE requirement for light trucks is an average of 20.7 mpg-US, versus 27.5 mpg-US for passenger cars.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Criticism_of_sport_utility_vehicles

office_space_kit_mat.jpeg


Ban SUVs and trucks! :p
 
Re: The Most Serious [x] Problem We Face Today

Oh boy, the car stereotyping argument.

"I live in an area prone to inclement winter weather or need to haul large objects or trailers. I need a big truck with 4WD." "Compensating for that small *****, eh?"

"Point taken. I would like something affordable and small with good gas mileage. If big car = small *****, I'll buy a Geo Metro. Do the math." "OMG GAY GAY GAY RICHARD SIMMONS GAY LIBERACE GAY YOU LUSTFUL COCKMONSTER FIVE HUNDRED TWENTY FIVE THOUSAND SIX HUNDRED MINUTES!"

"Jeez. I'll buy a reliable, economical family sedan then. Toyota Corolla it is." "Yawn. Is this what your life has come to? Slave to the system. Just kill yourself now."

"Fine. I don't need to buy a new car anyway, I'll stick with this 1989 Buick Century I've had since college. 150K and still runs like a champ." "What are you, poor? Wait, what's that green thing I see sticking out of the glovebox? Sir, I'm going to have to ask you to step out of the car..."

"Okay, fine. I live in a city and don't really have room for a car anyway. I'll get a bike and stay in shape." "Hippie. Don't you have a music festival to go Occupy? Get out of my way before you get flattened."

"Screw it, I'll just walk." *click* "YOU GETTIN' MUGGED, SUCKA!"
 
Re: The Most Serious [x] Problem We Face Today

If you believe that increased atmospheric CO[SUB]2[/SUB] is a danger to civilization as we know it (or even if you don't), one of the most effective ways to remove CO[SUB]2[/SUB] from the atmosphere is to grow trees and brush.

Before "cash for clunkers", we had a SUV (which we truly needed when we lived in WY, as there were more dirt roads than paved roads in our county, and dirt roads are impassable during the spring thaw without 4-wheel drive), and since we moved east, I figure that I hauled enough brush to the brush pile at the transfer station to leave us CO[SUB]2[/SUB] neutral overall while we had the SUV (though I'm not sure whether a Ford Explorer is a SUV or a pickup truck with enclosed bed). :confused:

For me, the stereotype has been, "the more petite the woman, the bigger the SUV." Anecdotally, that axiom has been empirically verified many times. I rarely see men driving SUVs here (they all have oversize pickup trucks instead).
 
Re: The Most Serious [x] Problem We Face Today

For me, the stereotype has been, "the more petite the woman, the bigger the SUV." Anecdotally, that axiom has been empirically verified many times. I rarely see men driving SUVs here (they all have oversize pickup trucks instead).

The stereotype for mine (newer model Jeep Wrangler) seems to be either:

a) gay guy
b) YEAH BRAH MY DAD TOTALLY OWNS A DEALERSHIP BRAH I'M SO WASTED RIGHT NOW BRAH *fist pump*

Lots of armed forces up here with mostly F-150 Raptors, jacked-up Wrangler Unlimiteds, 300/500 series BMWs, Vettes, and the occasional Nissan GT-R.

There's also a jacked-to-the-gills Ford Excursion that drives around with custom plate "8 MPG."
 
Re: The Most Serious [x] Problem We Face Today

I drive a truck because I'm a country boy. I grew up on the farm, and that country is still where my heart is. I don't consider where I live as the city, I guess it would be technically called the exurbs.
 
Re: The Most Serious [x] Problem We Face Today

I drive a truck because I'm a country boy. I grew up on the farm, and that country is still where my heart is. I don't consider where I live as the city, I guess it would be technically called the exurbs.

There are plenty of times where I wish I still had something that could haul 4'x8' sheets of drywall; I'm getting tired of bringing my T square and knife to cut the drywall to size in the parking lot before I can fit it in the car to bring it home.

The last time, we just put together a list of materials for our next five projects, rented a flatbed, and hauled everything home. Then the problem becomes where to store it all until the projects are done. :(
 
Re: The Most Serious [x] Problem We Face Today

There are plenty of times where I wish I still had something that could haul 4'x8' sheets of drywall; I'm getting tired of bringing my T square and knife to cut the drywall to size in the parking lot before I can fit it in the car to bring it home.

The last time, we just put together a list of materials for our next five projects, rented a flatbed, and hauled everything home. Then the problem becomes where to store it all until the projects are done. :(
I never understand this line of thinking. You wish you had a truck, what - 3-4 times per year? The annual cost difference between a truck and a car is many thousands of dollars, so just buy the car and rent a pickup whenever you need one. I did the same thing when I wanted a 2-seater as my daily driver: just sucked it up and rented a car every time I had more than one guest. In the grand scheme of things, that added virtually nothing to the cost of owning my fun car.

Unless you're really using a pickup for actual hauling or 4-wheeling at least a couple times per month, it doesn't make economic sense to buy one - if you own one, your decision was based on want, not need.
 
I never understand this line of thinking. You wish you had a truck, what - 3-4 times per year? The annual cost difference between a truck and a car is many thousands of dollars, so just buy the car and rent a pickup whenever you need one. I did the same thing when I wanted a 2-seater as my daily driver: just sucked it up and rented a car every time I had more than one guest. In the grand scheme of things, that added virtually nothing to the cost of owning my fun car.

Unless you're really using a pickup for actual hauling or 4-wheeling at least a couple times per month, it doesn't make economic sense to buy one - if you own one, your decision was based on want, not need.

Both menards and lowes have trucks you can rent for like $30/hr. I'm betting home depot does too.
 
Re: The Most Serious [x] Problem We Face Today

Unless you're really using a pickup for actual hauling or 4-wheeling at least a couple times per month, it doesn't make economic sense to buy one - if you own one, your decision was based on want, not need.


yes, that's why we no longer own one. While I (occasionally, albeit rarely) miss having one, we did trade it in, and we got a $4,000 credit for the trade-in to boot! :)

(even though it was only worth $1,800 and needed about $900 in repairs before it would even be worth that much).

and the replacement gets about 32 mpg compared to about 14 mpg. There's a big difference between the occasional daydream and quotidian reality!


I'm not about to rent a truck at $30 / hour to carry home a $12 sheet of drywall......and we did rent a truck last summer to haul everything from our project list, some of which is still sitting on the porch waiting to be used....
 
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Re: The Most Serious [x] Problem We Face Today

I'm not about to rent a truck at $30 / hour to carry home a $12 sheet of drywall......
See, that's where I think you're taking the wrong approach. Don't think of it as adding $30 to the cost of the drywall - think of it as subtracting $30 from the many thousands you saved by selling your truck and buying your car. $30 is a drop in that bucket.
 
Re: The Most Serious [x] Problem We Face Today

yes, that's why we no longer own one. While I (occasionally, albeit rarely) miss having one, we did trade it in, and we got a $4,000 credit for the trade-in to boot! :)

(even though it was only worth $1,800 and needed about $900 in repairs before it would even be worth that much).

and the replacement gets about 32 mpg compared to about 14 mpg. There's a big difference between the occasional daydream and quotidian reality!

The defense rests.
 
Re: The Most Serious [x] Problem We Face Today

I never understand this line of thinking. You wish you had a truck, what - 3-4 times per year? The annual cost difference between a truck and a car is many thousands of dollars, so just buy the car and rent a pickup whenever you need one. I did the same thing when I wanted a 2-seater as my daily driver: just sucked it up and rented a car every time I had more than one guest. In the grand scheme of things, that added virtually nothing to the cost of owning my fun car.

Unless you're really using a pickup for actual hauling or 4-wheeling at least a couple times per month, it doesn't make economic sense to buy one - if you own one, your decision was based on want, not need.

T r a i l e r . . . . .
 
Re: The Most Serious [x] Problem We Face Today

See, that's where I think you're taking the wrong approach. Don't think of it as adding $30 to the cost of the drywall - think of it as subtracting $30 from the many thousands you saved by selling your truck and buying your car. $30 is a drop in that bucket.

Clearly you're not an economist. ;) In economics, decisions are made "at the margin": given where I am right now, what's the most effective decision going forward?
 
Clearly you're not an economist. ;) In economics, decisions are made "at the margin": given where I am right now, what's the most effective decision going forward?
This makes no sense in this discussion. What do you suggest would be the "economist's" solution to getting a $12 sheet of drywall home when he doesn't own a truck? He has to make the "decision" to shell out the $30 just like everyone else. The only difference I'm suggesting is psychological, not substantive.
 
Re: The Most Serious [x] Problem We Face Today

This makes no sense in this discussion. What do you suggest would be the "economist's" solution to getting a $12 sheet of drywall home when he doesn't own a truck? He has to make the "decision" to shell out the $30 just like everyone else. The only difference I'm suggesting is psychological, not substantive.

Cutting it to size in the parking lot has worked just fine so far.....:)
 
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