RE: [MLUG - DISCUSSION] Gas prices.. was a weird forward..

["Spurling, Shannon " <EMAIL:PROTECTED>]

I bought a mini SUV, a kia sportage, and I think that you can't even compare
these with the monster suburban that I see out there. I think, in fact, your
being a little quick to jump after SUV's, when they are only a small part of
the issue. My Kia is based on a compact truck chassis, and it gets the same
mileage as many small 4x4 trucks. Did you also notice all the wannabe
cowboys out there in full sized trucks? How many times have they almost run
you off  the road? Happens more frequently to me than with SUV's. If I have
a mini SUV, and I get the same mileage as the small trucks, I'm guessing
your gonna see the same gas mileage from the big trucks as the SUV's. Also,
what about all the small vans? Those things get horrible gas mileage too.
What do you expect? They are rolling bricks. Point is, there are lots of
cars that use gas, you just get one that does what you want for what you can
afford. These guys with the trucks and SUV's will soon stop driving them
when they can't afford to drive them any more. Problem solved. In the mean
time, as long as people buy the gas, they will get as much for it as the
market will bear. I'm just going to keep my long trips down to a minimum,
and buy the cheapest gas I can find. :-)

Shannon Spurling
WAN Engineer -Specialist

MOREnet, Network Services, Core Network
3212 Le Mone Industrial Blvd.
Columbia, MO 65201

Main:(573) 884-7200   Fax:(573)884-6673

EMAIL:PROTECTED
EMAIL:PROTECTED

-----Original Message-----
From: Neil Bradshaw [mailto:EMAIL:PROTECTED]
Sent: Thursday, May 03, 2001 9:44 AM
To: EMAIL:PROTECTED
Subject: Re: [MLUG - DISCUSSION] Gas prices.. was a weird forward.. 


You know, I don't mean to troll or anything, but I think a lot of the
problem with gas consumption is SUVs. Everyone has to have their own big,
dangerous, off-road gas guzzler so they can go get groceries and fit in. I
read in a report that gas consumption is again at the same level as it was
in the 1970s because everyone has to have a monster SUV.

I have a 16 year old Toyota Corolla. Sure, it isn't big and shiny. But at
least I'm getting decent gas mileage.

There are some people who need SUVs. I have friends that live out in the
countryside where the plows never hit that need the power SUVs provide
just to get out of the driveway. But I seriously doubt that the people I
see driving around everyday in Columbia need them. I see so many SUVs
around town that it's almost scary. Out of all the ones I've seen, I doubt
that most of the have ever even seen off-road activity, and if they did it
was more than likely because someone was drunk and wanted to tear it up
(which is retarted, anyway).

And it is scary. SUVs tip because of a high center of gravity. They also
tend to give their drivers a feeling of invincibility. If I get hit by an
SUV--and I almost did when some stupid jackass was flying down 63 at 80
mph in a downpour and slid onto my side of the highway--I'm dead. Does
this mean I too have to buy an oversized SUV just to protect myself from
all the wannabe outdoor-types?

Anyway, if people really want to bring gas consumption down and save a
lot of fuel, they'll quit buying those silly SUVs and stick with something
that's a little more fit for frequent work/grocery store trips. Or, people
in this country could actually stand up for their rights and demand
cheaper, more efficent energy sources for transportation.

Regards,
Neil


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