We cannot drill our way out of this oil crisis. Since 2000, oil companies working in the U.S. have doubled the number of wells drilled per year.
Although increased drilling has added new oil to the nation's supply, it has not done so fast enough to offset the terminal decline of existing fields.
We are going to have to import more of our oil. Period.
Posted: Sun Nov 25, 2007 12:57 pm Post subject: Re: Trimming fat new frontier for automakers
Yes, quite a catch-22. Bigger cars win v/s smaller cars (assuming similar safety equipment levels), but if all cars are big, overall safety decreases.
Regarding engine outputs, it has always baffled me why Americans put such massive gas hogs in their utility pick-ups. The US idea of a decent engine for its version of a pick-up is a 4.something-litre V-8, whereas in Europe and Asia, the pick-up (which is actually a Ducato/Transit/Daily/Sprinter/etc. van chassis with a galvanised steel 'tray' on its back) is pushed along by an I-5 2.5(+/- 0.2)-litre turbodiesel. When comparing maximum speeds, the two are (in many cases) oddly enough quite close (mostly owing to the lead-brick aerodynamics); what differs is acceleration; but, then again, what's the point? One isn't gonna win any drag races in a pick-up.
Posted: Mon Dec 10, 2007 12:43 am Post subject: THE Automakers Thread (merged)
Geez, looking at today's CNN Money, you'd think we were back in the 90's.
Story #1: Muscle Car Wars 2009 Yep. Chrysler's new 6.1 liter, 425 HP Challenger is going into competition with GM's re-released Chevrolet Camaro, and a Ford Shelby which will feature 540 Horsepower, 40 more than its earlier sibling!
Is this an example of the U.S. auto business trying to leapfrog over the offshore competition? Instead of taying the course wiht better fuel economy and more reliable cars, just change the nature of competition, let's just pretend its 1966 again?
Story #2:
Then CNN goes on to say that $3 gas is here to stay for some while. $3 gas is here to stay
If this outlook is indicative of what the U.S. executive suite thinks in general, then maybe they are using some kind of drugs to stay high, while their world is crumbling around them. Sniff.
Joined: Nov 02, 2007 Posts: 17 Location: Perched behind the Redwood Curtain
Posted: Mon Dec 10, 2007 1:52 am Post subject: Re: When will they ever learn? U.S. muscle cars for 2009
There will always be damand for gas guzzlers from those with real money to burn. As gasoline prices skyrocket it will be a status symbol (even more so than now) to drive a guzzler, like a Depression-era gangster lighting his cigar with $100 bills.
Of course the U.S. auto industry will continue to overestimate the number of people with real money to burn versus those with only credit to burn. They can't tell the difference.
Posted: Tue Dec 11, 2007 12:00 am Post subject: Re: When will they ever learn? U.S. muscle cars for 2009
This is a story about my brother so I want to say that I have a lot of respect for him, he is a much harder worker than I am, and a smart guy. I have talked to him about Peak oil but he doesn't believe it.
He has a plan to buy one of the new limited edition Dodge Challengers and basically put it into storage for 20 years then sell it for who knows how much, but hopefully a lot of money. I guess this plan was hatched after watching some 1960's or 70's Hemi's go on Barrett-Jackson for big bucks. Problem is, to get a limited edition, you have to already own a regular Challenger. So he is basically in line to buy two muscle cars. I tried to point out to him that it may not be the wisest investment, who can tell what will be the fashionable collector car in 20 years. I think you may have better luck with a Prius or a Honda r2000, but regardless, buying a car for an investment is more for the rich and famous, not my middle class brother.
Who knows, maybe it will work out, but I can imagine what it will cost to fill-up in 20 years, if you can at all.
Posted: Tue Dec 11, 2007 9:28 am Post subject: Re: When will they ever learn? U.S. muscle cars for 2009
Buying an RV? and it looks like you are in Hong Kong. I guess your parents are in the US?
I actually bought an RV last spring, but I bought one on an Izusu chassis that has a 4 cylinder diesel that I run on a blend of diesel and waste vegetable oil, so I get about 30 MPG for the diesel I buy.
I thought I better show my kids the country quick incase we are not able to in the future..
Posted: Tue Dec 11, 2007 11:39 am Post subject: Re: When will they ever learn? U.S. muscle cars for 2009
They learned from thier customer base who want real cars that are fun to drive again. Not some stupid green machine or jellybean shape thing that wont get out of its own way. Cars are to be fun not a bore, if it's not important to you fine others don't care but don't make the rest of us feel bad. Cars can burn on more than oil and the research is coming and will take time. Theres plenty of oil for a long time it's just the unfortunate situation as to where it is right now and the world is being controled by those backward regions.
Posted: Tue Dec 11, 2007 12:18 pm Post subject: Re: When will they ever learn? U.S. muscle cars for 2009
camaro wrote:
They learned from thier customer base who want real cars that are fun to drive again. Not some stupid green machine or jellybean shape thing that wont get out of its own way. Cars are to be fun not a bore, if it's not important to you fine others don't care but don't make the rest of us feel bad. Cars can burn on more than oil and the research is coming and will take time. Theres plenty of oil for a long time it's just the unfortunate situation as to where it is right now and the world is being controled by those backward regions.
Before anybody snarks on this guy, I'd like to point out that this is the typical American mindset right now.
Quote:
"They will figure something out so that we can continue business as usual, and if it means we no longer have to deal with the Ay-rabs, then so much the better."
_________________ “I'm completely in favor of the separation of Church and State. My idea is that these two institutions screw us up enough on their own, so both of them together is certain death.” George Carlin
Posted: Tue Dec 11, 2007 12:42 pm Post subject: Re: When will they ever learn? U.S. muscle cars for 2009
I grew up among gear heads and count them among my admired and beloved. They started out as gear head kids and sort of compromised on their motor love long enough to find mates and raise families, only to return to their motoring roots later in life, like salmon finding the ancestral river again. A guy who made motor noises on his tricycle is not going to take to PO lying down. Emerson knows his 'Mericans, and if these folks end up riding donkeys, they will at least teach them to bray like a tenor Harley and get scratch out of the hole.
Nixon and Kissinger reportedly had a conversation in the early 70's were they lamented the passing of our glory period. Nobody else burnt energy up like Americans, for pleasure, for work, for war, etc.
It is not surprising that we keep wanting to make machines that roar like lions and sublimate rubber with a toe tap and a grin. When you live in an area where Smokey and the Bandit is a belief system, you learn to be diplomatic about your PO slant.
Posted: Tue Dec 11, 2007 12:57 pm Post subject: Re: When will they ever learn? U.S. muscle cars for 2009
camaro wrote:
They learned from thier customer base who want real cars that are fun to drive again. Not some stupid green machine or jellybean shape thing that wont get out of its own way. Cars are to be fun not a bore, if it's not important to you fine others don't care but don't make the rest of us feel bad. Cars can burn on more than oil and the research is coming and will take time. Theres plenty of oil for a long time it's just the unfortunate situation as to where it is right now and the world is being controled by those backward regions.
Well, I used to be their customer base , but with the real lack of decent "economy cars" much less with a diesel, I have gone back to driving old diesel Mercedes.
Try going to Europe and seeing the amazing choice of small cars they have there, with many of them made by North American manufacturers. Ford makes a mini-van with a diesel/stick, same size and looks as a Caravan, only it gets twice the MPG.
Posted: Tue Dec 11, 2007 1:33 pm Post subject: Re: When will they ever learn? U.S. muscle cars for 2009
I love it! bring on the muscle cars. For me it is a sign that everything is OK for now with the economy, (for now) Some people have a shitload of money, know they are going to die someday and feel like they deserve to treat themselves how ever they see fit. DON'T HATE. I took the 954 out for a 70 mile ride on sunday, And decieded to fill up with race fuel,,, you know why? for the same reson a dog licks his balls. $6.89 a gallon. And yes the bike runs sooooo good on it. These guys don't give a rats ass if gas is $3 $5 $8. Think about all the sport fishing boats, (I'm in Florida) wanna talk about gas hogs, holy crap. The little tiny amout of gas we are talking about for gas guzzlers is so small. Its not like these people are using them as thier daily driver. They become garage queens. The answer to your question,, When wil they ever learn?????
They have learned.
They have learned some people have alot of money and want these cars,, so lets give um what they want.
Its all about the money, that why we have the problem we have today,, but things ain't gonna change. next weekend I'll be filling up with race fuel again. and someone will be puttin a down pmt on a new muscle car.
Joined: May 18, 2006 Posts: 3372 Location: Minneapolis, MN
Posted: Tue Dec 11, 2007 4:53 pm Post subject: Re: When will they ever learn? U.S. muscle cars for 2009
Quote:
I took the 954 out for a 70 mile ride on sunday, And decieded to fill up with race fuel,,, you know why? for the same reson a dog licks his balls. $6.89 a gallon. And yes the bike runs sooooo good on it.
Total waste of money. I ran reg in my Busa & it ran perfect.
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