The Zing! (Custom-built prototype hybrid tadpole trike)

[jamesqf]

Originally Posted by Nerys

What I care about is SAVING CASH. ie CPM. and the CPM on TRC for a Prius is INSANELY HIGH. in fact the only 2 cars (of the ones I checked) more expensive than a Prius are the Smaet 4/2 and the VOLT.

OK, that's you, and if what you really care about is cost per mile, you are shooting yourself in the foot (that's as politely as I can figure out how to put it) if you buy ANY new car. Buy a 10-20 year old Honda Civic or similar.

Then there are those of us who really don't care much about cost per mile, and are willing to spend something extra in order to reduce our gasoline consumption. We're the target market for the Prius, Volt, Leaf, and Tesla.

[Nerys]

99% of people who want to buy less gas want to do so TO SAVE MONEY. not to send a message to "big oil". So no, that is nearly everyone they just don't fully realize their mistake OR they simply have a lot more cash at their disposal.

they convince themselves buying a prius will "save them money" and it won't. ever. unless your a cabby in NY.

the volt is a flat out rip off at its price and specs.

the LEAF is one of the cheapest new cars you can buy!! at a ten year TRC of $43k !!

almost as cheap as my 20yo Used 55mpg yearly average METRO !! (TRC $32k)

if it was not for the paultry just over 2 year warranty on the battery I might be tempted to buy a leaf!

Plus High MPG does not save money in the long run. as the national average fuel economy goes up the price of gas MUST go up to match it. ie your CPM stays the same unless your "outside the curve" (such as with us metro drivers etc..)

[drmiller100]

as price of fuel goes up, consumption goes down.

people want cool cars. the Zing is a pretty cool car.

The Prius is a cool car in its own way.

Pontiac Aztec and Chevy Volt are not considered cool by very many people.

[user removed]

I've actually had vehicles with negative Cost per Mile.

regards
Mech

[Nerys]

negative cost for mile is only possible if you "ignore" certain real costs as no value OR your paid :-)

"as price of fuel goes up, consumption goes down. "

this is very much FALSE in the traditional sense of thinking.

there is a minimum ceiling for which it "CAN NOT" go down no matter how expensive (within reason) fuel gets.

for example. even driving my metro I "MUST HAVE" no ifs ands butts no negotiation no discussion no compromise no choice.

I MUST have 1 gallon of fuel for each trip to and from work. so 2 gallons each time I goto work.

this is non negotiable. $1 a gallon I need 2 gallons $10 a gallon I need 2 gallons. Period.

I can "not" goto the movies I can "cut trips" to grocery store. but I can not "cut trips" to work

so even in crunch bare minimum tighten the belt mode I MUST expend 8 gallons of fuel per week JUST to goto work.

without work nothing else happens. non negotiable.

this is partially why standard concepts of supply and demand really do not APPLY to gasoline and they know it.

[jamesqf]

Originally Posted by Nerys

99% of people who want to buy less gas want to do so TO SAVE MONEY. not to send a message to "big oil".

Nope, if they really wanted to save money, they wouldn't have bought that new $50K, 12 mpg SUV they're driving :-) On the other side, if you spend much time around say Silicon Valley, you'll find quite a few millionares, and even a few billionaires, who drive Priuses (and of course Teslas).

And it's not about "sending a message to Big Oil", 'cause personally I don't give a damn about Big Oil. It is, as I said, simply about using less fossil fuel.

[Nerys]

you have said absolutely NOTHING to validate the false statement that its about using less fossil fuel.

I drive a geo metro and I USE less fossil fuel than a prius.

clearly when I said 99% I am talking about people WHO SEEK to buy a high mpg vehicle. Not sure how that could get missed but there it is

millionaires don't care about cost of fuel OR fossil fuel.

for them a prius is a "status" symbol. they could give a whoot less about fossil fuel (most of them)

[drmiller100]

Originally Posted by Nerys

negative cost for mile is only possible if you "ignore" certain real costs as no value OR your paid :-)

"as price of fuel goes up, consumption goes down. "

this is very much FALSE in the traditional sense of thinking.

t

this is partially why standard concepts of supply and demand really do not APPLY to gasoline and they know it.

Strangely enough, the world's economy does not revolve around your personal driving habits.

Weird, but true.

[Nerys]

strangely enough the average persons driving habits "DO" revolve around their jobs.

funny that ehh?

even stranger and even truer.

oh wait not strange at all.

[drmiller100]

Originally Posted by Nerys

strangely enough the average persons driving habits "DO" revolve around their jobs.

funny that ehh?

even stranger and even truer.

oh wait not strange at all.

take a bus.
car pool.
move closer to your job.
ride a bike.
walk.
get a more efficient vehicle to drive to work.