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>
>
> ----- 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.Man did
> 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>