I think this is the beginnings of an economy based on perpetual growth and fossil fuel energy running headlong into geological energy constraints. Basically I see an undulatory downward path for the rest of my life. From here out, I think any rallies in our economic condition are going to be met with spiking commodity prices that knock us right back down.
Joined: Oct 25, 2004 Posts: 378 Location: Southern California Desert
Posted: Fri Apr 01, 2005 3:42 pm Post subject: Your personal vehicle. Keeping it, or tossing it???
My '87 Bronco II is still in tip-top shape and I intend to keep it that way.
I mainly walk to work now and everywhere else within two miles.
Once people around this house get their own vehicle to pleasure themselves with, I'm going to literally mothball my machine.
Drain the fluids, remove the oil-pan, set it up on blocks, and shrink-wrap it in somekind of do-able way.
I'd rather keep it and not need it, rather than need it and not have it. If you know what I mean.
Joined: Mar 18, 2005 Posts: 2691 Location: Minnesota
Posted: Fri Apr 01, 2005 3:56 pm Post subject:
i have a '95 full size bronco that i'm thinking may double as a small tractor or plow puller...but the LAST thing i wanna do now is buy a new car!!! even if it does get better milage.
I've got an Aprillia Atlantic 200 (70 mpg scooter) for the sunny days.
On the other days, I'm still driving my Ford Escort Wagon (28 mpg). I've got both paid off. I'm planning on trading the Escort in for a used Metro this fall so I can get better gas mileage.
But yeah, I agree. This is NOT the time to take out a car loan. Or any kind of debt.
Joined: Jan 29, 2005 Posts: 320 Location: Western NY
Posted: Fri Apr 01, 2005 4:36 pm Post subject:
I'm still keeping my Chevy Lumina.I get 26 mpg,not the greatest I know,but The cars in great shape,and it's paid for.
The biggest problem that I have is that I live in one city,and work in another,82 miles round trip every day.With gas going up and up,my wife and I will have too relocate closer to my job.Too far to walk right now lol!
I've got a paid off older subaru (24mpg) and a klr650 (40mpg) for commuters - also have a mostly paid off 97 dodge half ton - gonna keep it for the heavy hauling.... water, hay, gas, construction materials, etc...
Joined: Dec 27, 2004 Posts: 13065 Location: naive idiot fantasy world
Posted: Fri Apr 01, 2005 5:19 pm Post subject:
I have an old Escort wagon I use as a truck to haul just about everything. We plan to keep it at least until my husband finishes restoring his Datsun pickup.
I have a 1980 Ford f250 PU and a 1980 fullsize Ford Bronco ( they seem to be popular on this thread).
As for my PU,it runs like a top so I plan to start working on a woodgas conversion soon.If I can get it to run well on woodgas I plan to only use it for absolute nessessities after the $hit hits the fan.
My bronco is pretty well shot,I've hung on to it for a few years thinking about fixing it up,but I think it would be cheaper to go out and buy another one if I was going to do that.Needs a new engine,a new half shaft,the transmission is shot,and there's about a million little things that need fixed.
I was planning to get rid of it,but since most of the parts(that still work)will fit on my truck I think I'll hang on to it.
I'm also going to take out all the 12 volt components that I can use. I can probably make about a dozen small 12 volt lamps from the tail light and turn signal sockets,two big lamps with the headlight sockets,and I'm sure the the heater fan could come in handy for something. _________________ "Switzerland is small and neutral.We need to be more like Germany,ambitious and misunderstood!" Futurama
"As for the dieoff of 5E+09 people - not a problem, so long as I'm not one of them." Jack
Early 90s VW staying with me at 33 mph; plus i'm impoverised so do i have a choice, methinks not. _________________ "By the time individuals discover that remaining resources will not be adequate for the next generation, the next generation has already been born. " David Price
Joined: Oct 27, 2004 Posts: 666 Location: Salt Spring Island, Cascadia
Posted: Fri Apr 01, 2005 7:20 pm Post subject:
I buy vehicles with a 20-year retirement horizon:
1980 Grumman van: Veggie Van Gogh (see below) on vegetable oil, 14 mpg
1982 diesel Vanagon: soon to be on vegoil, 28 mpg
1985 diesel Jetta: biodiesel only, 40 mpg
1989 Dodge Cummins 250: biodiesel only, 24 mpg
I strive to be a fossil-fuel free zone. Sometimes on longer trips, I end up having to buy a bit of petro-diesel, but I go to great lengths to avoid it.
For example, this weekend, I'm going on a 700 mile trip in Veggie Van Gogh. I have a 30 gallon drum in the back for the way home, and am hoping to do the entire trip without petro-diesel.
Why so many? I rehabilitate diesels, then get them into the hands of like-minded people who promise to never put fossil fuel in them again.
Peak oil? Bring it on! (Yea, I realize waste vegoil may become an expensive commodity, but I feel more ready than most. You don't have to be the MOST ready, just more ready than the next guy... :-) _________________ :::: Jan Steinman, Communication Steward, EcoReality, a forming sustainable community. Be the change! ::::
Joined: Dec 27, 2004 Posts: 13065 Location: naive idiot fantasy world
Posted: Fri Apr 01, 2005 7:30 pm Post subject:
BastardSquad wrote:
I have a 1980 Ford f250 PU and a 1980 fullsize Ford Bronco ( they seem to be popular on this thread).
As for my PU,it runs like a top so I plan to start working on a woodgas conversion soon.If I can get it to run well on woodgas I plan to only use it for absolute nessessities after the $hit hits the fan.
Let us know how the gasifier works out. I'm especially interested in how you plan to chip the wood into the right sized pieces for proper combustion.
Joined: Nov 17, 2004 Posts: 215 Location: Atlanta - GA - USA
Posted: Fri Apr 01, 2005 7:34 pm Post subject:
Yavicleus wrote:
I've got an Aprillia Atlantic 200 (70 mpg scooter) for the sunny days.
Woo thats what im talking about. I have two bicycles and a 1983 honda passport scooter that gets 100mpg. And yes, im keeping that sucker, as i see a strong demand for efficient scooters in the months ahead.
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