Quickie: Crush Gas Guzzlers | 68 comments (68 topical, editorial, 0 hidden)

Re: RE gas guzzlers ... (none / 0)

My estimate is trying to figure out how many people have actual work requirements for SUVs. I am not talking about the realtor who throws three signs and five balloons in the back.

I don't know nation-wide, but my impressionistic is that 10% is perhaps a generous number as to who actually requires that light-duty vehicle for work purposes.

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by a siegel (siegeadATgmailIGNORETHISdotPLEASEcom) on Wed Jun 18th, 2008 at 06:01:54 PM EST
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Re: RE gas guzzlers ... (none / 1)

SUV's sure, but pickup trucks seem to me to be very commonly used for work purposes. What would also be useful would be more four wheel drive vehicles that aren't SUV's

by MarekNYC on Wed Jun 18th, 2008 at 06:21:24 PM EST
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Re: RE gas guzzlers ... (none / 1)

What is the point of 4WD in passenger cars? (Disclaimer: I used to drive a Subaru with AWD.) Snow tires are a much better solution to the "not getting stuck in snow" problem, and there is absolutely no need for 4WD/AWD in normal driving conditions. And the extra mechanical parts add weight and friction.

What did workers do before there were these huge pickup trucks, anyway? They used small vehicles, VW vans, Jeeps, station wagons... There is at best very limited need for a Ford F-350 Super Duty pickup truck. None, really, when you get down to it.

by asdf on Wed Jun 18th, 2008 at 06:57:44 PM EST
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Re: RE gas guzzlers ... (none / 0)

There have been big pickup trucks forever (dating back to before WWII). The difference is that they were very clearly intended for work - no back seat, no indoor features, just functionality.

On 4wd I'm not a driver but I've spent a lot of time on snowy mountain roads as a passenger, and they're much easier to get out of a drift, and much less likely to skid. It might be true that snow tires are better than 4wd without them, but everybody in a snowy climate has winter tires regardless of what they're driving. Chains are even better, but they're an absolute pain to be constantly putting on and taking off.

by MarekNYC on Wed Jun 18th, 2008 at 07:27:06 PM EST
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Re: RE gas guzzlers ... (none / 1)

The pickup trucks I'm familiar with back into the 1960s were not nearly as big as today's. And obviously in Europe it is possible for a carpenter to get to work without having a massive 4WD truck...

by asdf on Wed Jun 18th, 2008 at 10:31:46 PM EST
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Re: RE gas guzzlers ... (none / 0)

The Japanese solution to the workman's problem . . . the K-Truck

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by Zwackus on Thu Jun 19th, 2008 at 05:42:32 PM EST
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Quickie: Crush Gas Guzzlers | 68 comments (68 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)