It makes a huge difference when you're driving on the highways. More power and a larger car is safer, basically.
You don't drive around europe on highways all the timeOh come on! The laws of physics aren't any different in Europe than here but you don't see this "big car is safer" rationalization there. You should just admit you are basically hooked on luxury at any price. I tossed my 4-runner years ago when it became painfully obvious that gasoline prices were heading nort FAST. I drive a Hyunda and get 40 mpg on the highway. I don't feel the least bit nervous about being squished by some bozo in a Ford Excursion.
The thing I find increasingly difficult to understand about the US is why there is not a great deal more pressure put on manufacturers and importers to deliver much better fuel consumption.
You don't drive around europe on highways all the time
then I wonder what europeans would be driving if they were paying US prices for fuel.
Plenty of SUVs and full size SUVs around rural Italy. Everything you'd see in North America really. The difference is what is under the hood and the transmissions. My cousin has an old Cherokee XJ model with a 2.4 litre diesel. My old XJ had a 4 litre gas engine.
Getting spent oil from restaurants is illegal in NY
PE
When I was in Europe the cars were far smaller, lighter and had far more fuel efficient engines (read less power). My point was: Would Europeans buy different products if the cost of ownership and especially fuel was on par with the USA? They aren't driving 300hp mustangs, Dodge Hemi's, or American full size SUV's. If gas was under 1 euro a litre they still might not, but I wonder would they be driving land cruisers w/ turbo D's or the full blown v8 version the USA gets?
The reason I ask is that there are other more ultruistic reasons to buy a fuel effecient vehicle (even if it is only relativly so) then simply to save money.
The benefit of NOT driving is, you can be ready to take pictures in every moment, and since you're in a public space, so you're not alone. There's a sense of intimacy in each train ride, which I love, and people chat and have a little fun sometmes.
Before cars did people buy smaller horses because they ate less fuel?
Who drives that slow in TN?I drive across TN every other summer and run about 85 on I-40, I don't pass too many people.
Mike
When I was in Europe the cars were far smaller, lighter and had far more fuel efficient engines (read less power). My point was: Would Europeans buy different products if the cost of ownership and especially fuel was on par with the USA? They aren't driving 300hp mustangs, Dodge Hemi's, or American full size SUV's. If gas was under 1 euro a litre they still might not, but I wonder would they be driving land cruisers w/ turbo D's or the full blown v8 version the USA gets?
The reason I ask is that there are other more ultruistic reasons to buy a fuel effecient vehicle (even if it is only relativly so) then simply to save money.
You've obviously never been on British public transport! An exerpt from the Rough Guide To England (p11. Understanding the English): '... assuming you're not trying to communicate with a stranger in a public place, which in London at least can be seen as tantamount to physical assault...'
Well partly. But a big SUV is going to burn more fuel then a lighter car. People here who need an SUV or just think they do still get a SUV. Or a pickup or mini-van.
I wouldn't say people like the fuel costs here but I think to a certain extent people are used to it. So people leaving cars idling. If it wasn't for the government limits on pollution I wonder how bad the fuel mileage would be.
You don't drive around europe on highways all the time
When you crash at 100kmh and 50 kmh... car sizes matter.
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