Like the illusion of Wall Street, with its vast and powerful investment banks, now shuttered, China too is an illusion perpetuated by the Globalists that gave us the 15,000 mile Caesar salad, poisoned cat food and lead based paint on babies' pacifiers. Like the illusion that money would come from thin air to always push housing prices higher, China has spent a generation pursuing its illusion. Pursuing an unattainable dream to be like the West, while 6000 years of its carefully shepherded top soil blows into the sea.
Joined: Oct 16, 2004 Posts: 1497 Location: Appalachian Foothills of Virginia
Posted: Wed Jul 16, 2008 12:28 pm Post subject: Re: Auto Journalists can't make the transition
Now CNN is covering the Ford Flex, saying the 17 mpg city mileage is "not too bad", and say it saves money compared to an Expedition. That's about as helpful asking "what flavor" when someone drowning asks you to throw them a lifesaver.
Your SUV or truck, let's say it gets 15 mpg. At 12,000 miles a year, that's 800 gallons of gas a year, or $3,600 a year. Now $3,600 is a lot, but compared those other numbers? Hmmm. Now suppose you're considering downsizing to a 25 mpg car. That car uses 480 gallons annually, or $2,160 in gas. So, all those new costs -- just to save $1,440?
The bottom line is:
Do the math.
Emphasis mine.
The bottom line is:
What kind of car does 25mpg these days? Many new SUVs will do 25mpg combined if you go for a smaller engine. Almost every family car I see over here in the UK claims around 40mpg and holds up OK in reviews. Some of them can be had in 4WD with a towball if you really need to haul that trailer once a year. Now you are saving nearly 2/3 of your fuel bill.
And what absurd expenses they use as a benchmark!
Trade-in value of trucks dropped - tough s***, that has happened already! If this year's paper loss is overdone, holding on to the SUV another couple of years will only make you catch up.
Depreciation - why buy new?
Underwater on existing financing - how long until the fuel savings pay for it? If it is only a year, what is the problem?
Financing costs - who the hell needs 8% on $15,000 over 48 months?! That's 18 months of fuel paid in interest.
You can cut back miles driven with an ordinary car too. Conservation does not make SUVs more economical unless you unfairly assume the competition is denied that option.
Insurance costs - whatever you might save by driving less, you can save by driving something less flashy.
What kind of education system produced this thinking anyway? When dealing with financial issues like this, you do not plug in a number and give up when it does not produce the result you like. You calculate the result you need and check what criteria will satisfy it.
But no. This piece of financial journalism sets an example that when your first attempt at calculating a saving of money fails to add up, you should give up and continue as before.
People who think like this FOX Business article suggests, will hope for the best all the way into bankruptcy. _________________ Volatility. When life isn't exciting enough.
Joined: Jul 02, 2008 Posts: 595 Location: Canterbury, UK
Posted: Wed Jul 16, 2008 3:40 pm Post subject: Re: Auto Journalists can't make the transition
Normally, I would just shout "Oh, walk and get the train". But that's not a reasonable point of view. So, cars.
Love cars and driving. Stopped because I want my money where I need it, not up in smoke. The car hasn't left the garage for almost 3 weeks now. Bye, bambino! Other people aren't so lucky as me in having good quality transportation to their place of work, so here's a couple of tips, pretty much in line with what Twilight said:
- You don't need a bigger car: SUVs, MPV, compact MPVs, all are bigger, heavier and use more fuel if everything else is equal. Have kids, need the room? For what? Dad had a small car when me and sis were young, and we got along fine. Sure, no DVD, no bringing the bike along just for kicks, but then again, if you want to haul stuff, get in the trucking business.
- The train gets you there faster: Whenever there's a suburban rail transportation between places, use it. Bothered at having to be there on the exact time? Me too. At least it's later that you'd have to leave in the car.
- Can't bring along the family in your new, smaller car? So? Stay in with them. Play Monopoly. Talk to each other. Novelty is always great.
- Overinflate your tires: just a couple more PSI saves 0,5l/km. Don's overdoit, though.
- Drive slower: there's no rush in getting to the jam, right?
- Don't drive on weekends: no excuse of going to work. Go for a walk, give the missus a massage, play cards and Monopoly. Read a book. Whatever.
- Don't go to the mall: silly place. If there's a discount or local nearby, walk there. At the current price of gas, might be less expensive overall.
- When you sell the SUV, buy a motorcycle, a small diesel or a hybrid. Add a couple of bicycles.
- No air-con: uses 8% more fuel. At the current price, you can only afford sweating like everyone else.
If mother-in-law says you're no good because everyone in the street has a nice SUV and you can't give my daughter that, well, tell her to have dinner at the neighbour's...
And then they list "stylin'" alternatives to hybrids, though they seem to ignore fuel economy altogether by suggesting vehicles that get between 19-22 mpg city, including a Corvette!
Posted: Fri Aug 15, 2008 8:53 am Post subject: Re: Auto Journalists can't make the transition
And Detroit is still way off the mark when it comes to the heavy vehicles. I looked at the specs on Chevy's new flex fuel PU trucks last week (work in the field so it's a biz necessity). They get 25% less mpg and cost more than twice as much as a new 4-door PU (about $15,000 more). Even when you're forced to go with a heavy vehicle the auto industry still doesn't get good marks. It's as though they're looking at a world we don't live in.
Posted: Fri Aug 15, 2008 8:59 am Post subject: Re: Auto Journalists can't make the transition
Toyota Hilux, 2.5L I4 diesel
Why, oh WHY, won't Toyota bring this little doozie over from Europe? This would be perfect for farm & ranching work, and probably get over 30 MPG on the highway. _________________ "It's called the American Dream because you'd have to be asleep to believe it."
Posted: Mon Aug 18, 2008 10:14 pm Post subject: Re: Auto Journalists can't make the transition
I heard an shocking ad on the radio today...something like "gas prices are going down again - that's great news and it's a great time to buy a new truck at...". I'm thinking while gas prices are down is a good time to sell my truck!!!
Joined: Jul 02, 2008 Posts: 595 Location: Canterbury, UK
Posted: Tue Aug 19, 2008 3:59 am Post subject: Re: Auto Journalists can't make the transition
Woodenpaddler wrote:
I heard an shocking ad on the radio today...something like "gas prices are going down again - that's great news and it's a great time to buy a new truck at...". I'm thinking while gas prices are down is a good time to sell my truck!!!
Yes, that sounds about right. Pretty much like buying gold to hedge: buy it in times of abundance, to sell at a profit when everyone wants it, and it is getting more expensive. Got a gas guzzler and wanna trade it? Do it when gas prices are lower. _________________ Environmental News and Clippings:
http://www.google.co.uk/reader/shared/10279555364898696533
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