DEAR GASPIG

You know, we could think about the problems of life ... or even just America (as most of it is unaware of the rest of the world, maybe that's easier) .. anyway back to the point:
most Americans are overweight
most Americans are unfit
most Americans spend too much time in traffic jams
cars - SUVs especially consume too much fuel
building roads is unbelievably expensive
lots of people get killed on roads

Ok. So what we seek is a transport mechanism that:
consumes less fuel
uses less road space
parks in less road space
does not wear out the road
kills less people

oh, and if we could get a bit of exercise into the bargain we really would have a winner. How about a bicycle? It works for me.

Simon
Sydney Australia (we have far too many 4-wheel drives here too ... and oh so shiny)

yup, too many people replacing participation with imitation wouldn't you say? bike and skateboard are my primary modes of transportation these days. hey, if you've got too many of them 4x4s rolling around Sydney, how about i send you some gaspig stickers?
all the best!
joe
the Pig

DEAR GASPIG

Hi,

I noticed a couple of places on your site where fuel consumption is stated for European cars, somehow making SUVs more fuel efficient in Europe.

In reality, octane levels are different between Europe and the US. In Europe, regular unleaded gas is 92 octane, in the US 87. The higher grades in Europe are 95 and 98, in the US they are 89 and 91.

What does that mean? Well, I am by no means an expert but if I understand it correctly, identical cars will get better mileage in Europe since there is more energy in European gas. Another thing is that, again for identical cars, the amount of pollution depends more on the distance driven than much gas was used.

That said, the average European car is smaller than the average US car. There are a lot of behavior modifiers in play, gas is more expensive in Europe, cars are taxed by weight in most countries, parking spaces are smaller and most of Europe is so developed that it is hard to trick yourself into believing that you will ever go off road.

All this aside, I completely agree with most of what you say but are you sure that saying it this way will actually change the minds of people? Just wondering...

Regards,
Per.

hi Per:
good points. as long as fuel here is cheap, big gas guzzlers will crowd the streets. perhaps we have more off-road kinds of places but probably one in a hundred suvs ever goes there. so many of our politicians are bought and paid for, so there isn't much backbone there verses companies that pollute. it's getting late, i think i'm drooling. but i'm crossing my fingers, that my efforts will facilitate some change. hope against hope i suppose but each gallon saved is something. some folks wouldn't change if you hit them over the head with fresh ideas. but lots of folks behind the wheels of suvs just need a bit of waking up. so i figure, whatever gets the word out! thanks for the letter!
joe
the Pig

DEAR GASPIG

Hey Guys

Im an anti-suv intellectual activist. I drive a 2000 Toyota Echo with a large PORNSTAR sticker on the back. The ladies luv it coz girls prefer guys with large penis' and small cars, not the other way around.Let me know if you can send me a sticker to:

Cheers,
Rosco

DEAR GASPIG

A great read- most fun I've had online since 'all your base' was popular. Definitely a '10' on the rediculous meter. Got any UFO sites?

-Ryan, Indiana

DEAR GASPIG

Do you offer stickers for cars(not SUVs) that advertise your site appropriate for a car that get's superior mileage?

I've got a Saturn and a Spitfire(both are meisers) and intend on getting a Mini(also, a meiser, same MPG as a Saturn), and you can't get any more anti-SUV than a Mini.

Kids love the rich taste of web content!
http://british.nerp.net

absolutely! i could send you a sticker that says "gaspig.com", or 30mpg.com or 40mpg.com or 60mpg.com or even 100mpg.org, you name it! thanks for offering the space on your car!!
joe
the Pig

DEAR GASPIG

OK. I want to put a sticker on my bicycle. It is a 1992 Cannondale T2000 which could use a small sticker for its rack. Interested? Stephen

you've got it! one sticker coming your way. thanks a million for the space!
joe
the Pig

DEAR GASPIG

One source of SUVs might be cars that are already dead. Sometimes'totaled' cars aren't that obviously demolished. A little bit of body work might be cheaper than hunting down a fully functionalvehicle.

The way that you talk about it on your site, it sounds like you're looking for functional vehicles.

hi Stephen:
i suppose old wrecked suvs would work fine too - ultimately its about planting them in the desert anyway, so why not. i guess i'd take just about whatever anyone wanted to bring over! a couple of guys are driving their trucks here for demolition - i suppose we could take some parts out first... thanks for the email!!
joe
the Pig

DEAR GASPIG

I wish I had the pic's of the SUV that crowded me with his over half of the road and hit my outside mirror....he kept going. This is just a sample of what kind of road hogs they are. I know you're downing them for their low gas mileage, but thats not all. GET 'EM OFF THE ROAD.

i'm with you brother - they're the biggest joke on four wheels going. this big car road warrior stuff comes at a bad time considering oil dependence, pollution, safety probs... the list goes on... thanks for writing.
joe
the Pig