The Energy Trap...what does driving cost you?

[jakobnev]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jm_eNfT8l4

10-12MPG. Cute, but she makes the vane on my temple want to pop.


From Darren's story:
"Inspired by a $6000 rebate that appeared to offset rising gas prices, he bought an SUV."

Hey whaddaugonado? *throws hand up*

[jakobnev]

I was curious so i made a poll:
http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...ion-19290.html

[user removed]

Originally Posted by Frank Lee

I'm going to start pretending I don't know the difference between a lug nut and a spark plug. Then I will get to drive the fancy new car and GF can drive the beater. Men everywhere should join me and make this a national movement.

I get to drive them, but don't have to pay for them, being the 99% driver when we travel together. Although she hates radical hypermiling techniques, she still manages to beat highway EPA consistently in every vehicle she drives. Her last accident was in a 73 Volkswagen over 30 years ago.

regards
Mech

[user removed]

The disgusting thing is these people who make such pitifully flawed decisions are driving the car companies to provide the same pitiful choices in vehicles.

regards
Mech

[jamesqf]

Originally Posted by SimonSellsAustin

Financing can hold people back on buying used cars ( vehicles older than 5yrs or 100k are harder to finance).

That was my point: if you have to finance a car, you probably can't afford it. Which is a big part of why so many people in this country are in such financial hot water: they bought more than they could afford, financed the purchases, and never thought about how they'd pay them off if their income took a dive.

[slowmover]

There's more conspiring to peoples choices than the supposed virtue of frugality on an individual basis. Inflation and near-zero interest rates on savings, plus cheap credit (and a culture of consumption) the past thirty years drove things to what they are today (not good before, but insane after).

I always love it when folks tell me they are "independent" (despite all the external clues to the contrary). As Joe Bageant had it (roughly), "How can 300-million individuals still wind up with the exact same range of choices, every time"?

You'll note that few even consider the cost of house (a non-income producing property) that yet requires enough land and a building for cars as being part of this (zoning premium, construction cost plus financing, maintenance and repairs, higher insurance and taxes, etc).

Can't leave that out, as it is huge. A direct energy cost.

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