I understand your desire to see
more fuel efficient vehicles on the road.
I applaud the efforts of Honda and Toyota to produce hybrid
gas/electric cars, as well as VW for producing a decent Diesel.
I happen to drive an 8,000 pound Dodge Diesel 4x4 pickup, but I'm
a contractor, so I can't really do my job with a Civic. I chose
Diesel because of its efficiency in moving large quantities of
mass (such as an 8,000 pound pickup); in fact, I can get a
reliable 70 mpg at 70 mph, and 17 or so stuck in LA traffic.
I saw your
Nissan parked on PCH, and am wondering why don't you just sell it
and get an Insite? I don't understand why you rail against SUVs,
yet you have one.
I also wonder about some of your photos about "smart"
cars. Again, I understand the utility of a small station wagon.
However, many of the pictures show a roof rack with nothing on
it. A roof rack will cost at least 3 or 4 mpg. It would be far
better to remove the rack when empty.
Also, there's a picture of a Ford Ranger pickup, with the caption
"Carries a boat, lots of stuff, and great in snow for less
than half the gas. What a Bargain!" I didn't see any 4x4
stickers on it (and Detroit never leaves them off). If it isn't a
4x4, it'll be an undrivable pig in the snow; there isn't anything
much worse in the snow than an unloaded two wheel drive pickup.
Cheers,
Austin
Austin:
thanks for the letter. honestly, i don't know exactly where this
gaspig project is going to lead. it's more a learning process
than a finished product. ten years ago words like oil dependence,
global warming, climate change and so on hardly crossed my mind,
today they're household words. lots of scientists saying
"hey folks, we may have a real problem here". perhaps
everything's fine but isn't it a bit of a gamble to assume that?
i've got nothing against trucks or even suvs really and i know
that people like you need them. but for each person like you
there are ten others who want to look like you. utility is cool
these days, fashionable. so the roads are loading up with tens of
millions of trucks that never see dirt, work or snow. it
contrasts sharply with the general awakening going on around the
world about the environment.
the pathfinder is a perfect billboard. i thought of selling it
but then it would just roll on another hundred thousand miles
wolfing down gas. some of my friends with suvs also have stickers
(smaller ones). i read an article that said over 70% of suv
drivers support legislation limiting emissions.
i didn't know roof racks lowered a cars mpg, but it makes sense.
but if the car gets 30mpg its still doing pretty well losing 4mpg
and you actually have access to the roof rack without having to
climb up the side of an suv.
the ford ranger belongs to a farmer in upstate maine and he
drives it year around. i imagine he puts some weight in the back
for snowy conditions.
thanks again for your letter - some good points
the Pig
www.gaspig.com