Civic Outsells F-150 for First Time Ever

[ebacherville]

Originally Posted by blownintegra

And you know what I voted for Bush, so I'm not green radical. (Who's gonna admit that!)

I think to prove your self the question you should answer is, did you vote for bush twice?

Politics aside.. I see the need for big trucks, I have 1 ton dually crewcab myself, but I only drive it when I need a big big truck.. not to mention it's a diesel and can run green fuels.

However its not really a issue about trucks, trucks can get good MPG, imports used to easly beat the average American MPG ratings hands down.. in the 30's many of them.. However ive seen so may big trucks and suvs being offloaded on craigslist.. well not offloaded, attempted to be offloaded.. no one is buying them.. people keep loweing there prices and no one touches them..

at $4 a gallon people are getting the message in the only place that effects them.. the pocket book. there dumping the big vehicals.. honda and toyota are going to make a killing this year.

[Twerp]

Originally Posted by blownintegra

Living in Texas and realizing that 90% of the A-holes that drive trucks is to compensate for a small wiener, or some breeding $lut to ensure that she kills other offspring to ensure hers will grow up and breed, I can barely contain my happiness at this news.

I have been preaching this for years, that humans see height as a status or power thing. That's what these trucks have represented.

I am all for a GVW and/or formulaic gas tax. You can easily base this miles driven between registrations/by EPA mileage average/by average fuel costs. And come up with a "registration fee"

Come up with that formula, and it will force people to drive something more efficient and keep trucks for what they are made for.

This will kill these things for good.

You want to drive a truck? Buy a farm and clean up the atmosphere with plants you grow, since you all have belched out enough hydrocarbons for 3-4 people.

No need for 5000 lbs battering rams. Want to drive a brick? Get an RV. You don't fit in a small car? Cut off your legs or get your stomach tied up!

And you know what I voted for Bush, so I'm not green radical. (Who's gonna admit that!)

While I may be an A-hole compensating for my small wiener, I don't think I should be penalized for owning a truck. Sure, I could sell it off and use the money to actually lengthen my penis, but still, I like my truck. It comes in handy when I've got to move stuff and while this isn't a problem in Texas, the 4WD is kinda handy on the snowy, hilly terrain around here. Plus, it's a comfy cushy ride, all decked out with cruise control, a pretty decent stock stereo, power windows and such... Sometimes it's nice not to worry about bottoming out on speed bumps. Sometimes a tailgate party can be more fun when you actually have a tailgate to lower. Plus, mountain biking, kayaking, skiing is a lot more fun when you can toss your equipment in the back without having to deal with one of those drag-inducing, pain-in-the-A-hole roof racks. So yeah, I like my truck, and I plan on keeping it until we completely run out of gas.

I'm not saying that I'm unwilling to compromise. That 26 gallon tank costs a fortune to fill. I spent around $85 the last time and gas has gone up since then. I've slowed down. I take the slow way to work, eco-driving all the way. My Scan Gauge is on back order, but when it finally does come in, I will start considering some ecomods. As of right now, adjustments in driving have gotten me around 25mpg on my last tank, and this tank looks to be shaping up pretty well. If I can keep up that kind of mileage, well, that's what I used to get in my old Miata, which was sized directly in proportion to my wiener. Granted, I definitely wasn't ecodriving the Miata, not even close. The tach in that car read from 1000RPM straight to "WHEEEEE!!!"

As soon as some parts come in and I can get my Civic on the road, I'll be commuting that. That will be most of my driving right there, and my impact will be lessened. Now that Civic goes like a go-kart and normally, I wouldn't be getting peak economy out of a car that handles like that. Hopefully my driving habits I picked up from driving the truck will stick with me and help subdue the "WHEEEE!!" affect. I'll be shooting for well over the EPA rating in that car, but I don't think I will double the mileage I'm currently getting in the truck without some serious ecomods.

So, I'm trying reduce my impact on the world, and more importantly to me, my wallet, while retaining my truck for those days when I just can't deal with the size of my genitalia. Sure there are a lot of people who don't mind blowing extra money on gas so that they can run their lift kits and big tires (sorry JJW, lol ), but you can't lump all truck owners together like that. Some of us are a little more efficient than you think... And I'm sure there are even a few out there that could put a porn star to shame.

Then again, maybe Texas is just a different world. After all, I am a New Englander and that just makes me cool, no large wiener necessary.

[blownintegra]

The 10% that aren't A-holes are the truck drivers that post on this site!

Sorry, I should have put emotioncon things in the body so you all would know there was some general spouting off...

There is a psychological connection between height, power, and status, and that was the driving force behind them.

Now for "registration fees", I'm all for that. The "key" to this is that you "pay to play" I don't get penalized for someone else's stupidity or wasteful ways. I'm not telling you what to drive.

Trucks have their place. And you can rent one for $19 from you local Lowe's or Home Depot stores.

I think we should have a graduated school property tax and put more of the burden on the families that don't think before they breed...but I digress.

Burn more gas, tear up more road, hide the scenery on the open highways so I can see that 15 inch by 15 inch (Ford, Chevy, Toyota, etc) logo stuck on that 4 x 8 steel of steel called a tailgate, I'm all for that. That would force drivers to "drive" something practical based upon the miles driven. Not just on size, but basically "carbon tax" but base it upon miles driven.

I like muscle cars. If I drive on 1000 miles a year, but keep it in my garage, the impact is small, and thus the registration is lower.

Now if I drive my 3/4 ton, 4x4 swamper tired, lift kit, sounds like a big rig diesel, that gets 14, that I drive like a Corvette for 20,000 a year, (average in DFW) you should be paying more than I in my Contour, Integra, CRX, or Metro. Especially since most of the miles are in the Metro.

Why should I be penalized for driving something small and unsafe? That should be the question posed to the truck posers (the small wiener kind) . Why "force" me to drive something I don't want because "they" might be an arrogant, selfish, piece of horse excrement?

And if you truly pose that question to them, you know what you will get?

They don't give a $hit. They'll have some stupid redneck "fi-lo-so-fee" about why they'll beat the snot out of you in a fight if you take away their truck or kill you in an accident cause you drive a "jap pees of $hit".

Thus getting back to my original point of the whole status and reverse Darwinian evolutionary theory.

On top of this, DFW has some of the worst air in the nation. Why?

Very simple 60-70% of the people commute in Trucks. Now, even with the current EPA laws, a truck that gets 15 mpg will belch out 3 times the emissions of my Metro!

Yes, all that BS about clean air is tossed out the window if you burn 3X the stuff?

Ethanol? What an F'n joke? Add 10%, charge the same amount for the fuel, lose 10-15% in mileage and have to buy 10-15% more????

Where's the clean air if I still have to burn the same amount of "gas" to go the same distance? Now I just pumped Ethanol and Gas in the air. What a freakin' racket!!!

Ethanol was probably a ploy by the Bush/Chaney Oil Elite to just charge more money to go the same distance!!!!

Pay to Play baby, Pay to Play... Keep the accountability where it belongs!

FYI, this is an off topic thing, so I'm just trying to make it more interesting than quoting things like a news article. Sorry if you were offended.

PS you can fit 30 bags of Cypress wood chip 3cu/ft bags in a 1992 Geo Metro. Who'd a thunk it?

[akcapeco]

Driving a V8 heavy duty vehicle as a daily driver is like sweeping the floor every day with a floor sander...

Regardless of the price of gasoline, it may be possible, but that doesn't make it the best tool for the job.

[Johnny Mullet]

I myself own a large 4X4 truck, but only use it when needed. People who use them as daily driver's are just not thinking right.

[Twerp]

I definitely understand where everybody is coming from here, and I'm not offended. My initial response was pretty tongue-in-cheek. Seriously, I think we are over-simplifying when it comes to truck owners. Sure, a lot of trucks are owned for all the wrong reasons, but let me point out a few specific truck owners that would be unfairly screwed over by penalizing them for the vehicle that they drive.

I'll start with myself. Right now, I'm commuting my truck. It's not the greatest position to be in, but at the moment, I'm kinda stuck. When I bought my truck, I had a different job, different income and a whole different lifestyle. My commute was very short and made it easy and efficient to take a motorcycle to work. After a job loss, some time being unemployed, a blown fork seal on the bike and a new job with a longer commute, I'm in a way different position than I was. I'm too poor at the moment to go out and get a new econo-car (too much negative equity on the truck). The truck will definitely be needed to take me to work in the snow (RT114 gets UGLY in the winter). Fortunately I'm lucky enough to have been able to trade my bike for an old Honda which will be easier to commute in most weather.

So should I pay extra to drive my truck? Well, I already do. If you haven't noticed, gas doesn't cost as much for the economy car drivers. So there's my penalty. I don't think I should be double penalized for it. I do agree with rewarding those who burn less gas. Hey, I wouldn't mind having a nice gas-tax rebate for also owning and driving my Civic. I'm also satisfied with fuel economy being it's own reward, though. I may drive the same number of miles as Joe Blow in his Super-tuner Type R, but if I econo-drive, and he burns through tires almost as fast as he sucks down gas, it puts us in similar fuel economy brackets. Why should I be penalized more than Joe?

As another example, there is the construction worker. She's (trying not to be gender-biased) not doing too well in this housing market. She has her truck to maneuver through her job site which can be a little muddy from time to time. She has to carry ladders and tools and the occasional generator on a regular basis.

Then there's the horse owner. I'm not fond of horses, but I sympathize. He has to tow a horse trailer from time to time as well as pick up food and supplies that a Prius just wouldn't handle. With the rising cost of everything, he might not be able to afford a second vehicle to take to work. Plus, maybe he uses his truck at work too.

If you ask me, the problem isn't the truck owner, it's stupid people. Find a way to tax stupidity, and you'll prolly hit all those rednecks in their loud, jacked up monster trucks who are burning fuel for the pure fun of it. You'll also get that chick sitting in her idling hummer, cranking the AC with the window open, while complaining on her cell phone about fuel prices. Heck, you'll also nail Joe Blow and all of his dumb punk friends. And just think about the tax income it would generate from some of the celebs and sports stars out there. Then again, I'm sure there are even some stupid people out there that have legitimate need for their trucks.

[akcapeco]

It is interesting to see someone with a truck trying to maximize their mileage... and succeeding.

I've noticed a lot of big vehicles these days cruising (at least in the mornings, vs. the evenings) at near 55mph... it makes it a lot more pleasant to be in traffic "with trucks" vs. "against trucks."

With my Chevy Metro, I like to hang out in traffic near a big truck that's driving slowly... like a minnow and some larger fish!

[ebacherville]

Originally Posted by Twerp

If you ask me, the problem isn't the truck owner, it's stupid people. Find a way to tax stupidity, and you'll prolly hit all those rednecks in their loud, jacked up monster trucks who are burning fuel for the pure fun of it. You'll also get that chick sitting in her idling hummer, cranking the AC with the window open, while complaining on her cell phone about fuel prices. Heck, you'll also nail Joe Blow and all of his dumb punk friends. And just think about the tax income it would generate from some of the celebs and sports stars out there. Then again, I'm sure there are even some stupid people out there that have legitimate need for their trucks.

I totally agree, however stupid people tax them selfs.. untill they are broke and then go on welfare.. but thats a diffrent issue..

But yes some people need a truck every day.. I'm not saying they should go without.. however I know for a fact just looking at the parking lot at work that 95% of these large trucks and SUV's came with one person into to work and they don't have more that 4 people in the family.. this is not needed.

[Twerp]

Originally Posted by ebacherville

95% of these large trucks and SUV's came with one person into to work and they don't have more that 4 people in the family.. this is not needed.

Yep, and for the people who do feel the need for a bus for all their children, there is a solution... Have less kids.... For many it's too late, but I don't plan on having more than one kid. It's cheaper and better for the environment. Imagine if I had 8 kids and they each grew up and owned super efficient cars that got 100mpg. Combined, they would be consuming around 12mpg. If I get my kid an old beater that gets 24mpg, my family will get better fuel mileage.

It seems that I've digressed a bit from the initial topic. So, I'll tie it all back in. Hey, it's great that we are trending toward more fuel efficient cars, but fewer total cars on the road trumps more fuel efficient cars. The same rules of consumption apply for all of our resources including food and water as well as energy. Want to reduce your impact? Make less people.

Okay, so it's out on a limb time... If we want to create a tax that targets over-consumption, maybe we should just limit the tax deductions and welfare credits we give for children in order to discourage over-population. Does this make sense? Or am I just way out there in neverland on this one?

[blownintegra]

I agree.

We do have too many people on this planet.

I think if we gave 1000 bucks to incent people NOT to have babies, especially in areas/countries where poverty is rampant and birth, death, disease, and hunger rates are high, this would be like winning the lottery.

At least this way people wouldn't have to sell their kidneys to Chinese organ merchants...