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 Posted: Tue Feb 14, 2012 8:50 am
It has come to my attention that there is this misconception that environmental scientists want to drive little cars like Priuses. This is not true at all. In fact, a majority of us would rather drive a truck or an SUV. Why would we rather drive a truck or an SUV? Because they provide a lot of space for field equipment and they can handle going off-road into rough terrain.
From my experience, it is difficult to fit a lot of equipment into a small car like a Prius. Also, my friend has a Prius and it can barely get through a foot of snow (my Town and Country gets through a foot of snow easily). This is why I will get a truck or an SUV after I graduate.
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Posted: Tue Feb 14, 2012 9:50 am
Out of all the researchers from the college I went to, almost every professor or grad student has a truck or a second hand car they could abuse the s**t out of. My professor has this dusty old red car, heater busted, roll down windows, and so old seat belts I haven't seen since I was like 10, he uses to drive right u into meadows and off roads and throw dirt into it. We were studying seed banks, so the entire car is dusty and he just hopes none of the bags ever erupt with fire ants or ticks.
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Posted: Tue Feb 21, 2012 2:32 pm
We get lots of snow here (not this year though) and there are a few Smart Cars. They're really great and plow through it easily. My friend has a Mini that goes through it like no tomorrow. Though, not much room in either. If I was doing field work, I'd get a beater and then something like a Smart Car for be-bopping around town. Tesla came out with a cross over and it's really nice. Not something you want to put muddy gear in though. http://www.teslamotors.com/
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Posted: Tue Feb 21, 2012 4:56 pm
Im with pirhan...just get a beater for field work.
My daily driver is a '99 Plymouth Grand Voyager. Lots of rust, ugly as sin, poor gas mileage, but it takes a beating with tossing shovels and gardening stuff, a lawnmower, snowblower, various powertools rolling around the back, plus i can fit large amounts of lumber and construction materials in it or furniture.
Their cheap too i paid 500 bucks for mine with 120k miles on it and nothing mechanically wrong with it. It doesn't do great in the snow but that's more of an issue of the worlds cheapest tires being on it right now.
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Posted: Tue Feb 21, 2012 8:18 pm
pirhan We get lots of snow here (not this year though) and there are a few Smart Cars. They're really great and plow through it easily. My friend has a Mini that goes through it like no tomorrow. Though, not much room in either. If I was doing field work, I'd get a beater and then something like a Smart Car for be-bopping around town. Tesla came out with a cross over and it's really nice. Not something you want to put muddy gear in though. http://www.teslamotors.com/ I wouldn't buy two cars. In my opinion that would just be a waste of money. You would probably pay around $12,500-$13,000, for the two cars (which isn't too bad). But then you add in insurance for both cars, inspections for both cars, gas for the beater, eight snow tires, and other costs to maintain the beater. Things start adding up quickly. I would want a reliable vehicle rather than some beater that is going to break down and not be able to go through rough terrain. I kind of have a beater car now. I love my Town and Country but I don't think it could get through a very muddy area or very rough terrain (like parts of the Nittany Mtns where I will hopefully be doing research in for grad school). My dad has a very nice Jeep. It has a lot of space in it for equipment and can handle going off-road. When I was taken up in the Nittany Mtns I was driven up in a truck. I would probably get a truck over a SUV. If not, I would probably get another Town and Country. Mine is doing a good job right now out in the field and holds a lot of equipment.
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Posted: Wed Feb 22, 2012 8:35 am
Jeeps are great.....there are lots of parts available for '90's models around here, go anywhere, can haul a ton of cargo or a trailer. I have an OLD ('70's) Chevy van to drive when I want to haul stuff. Costs almost nothing to insure or tag it, cost me nothing, gets 18 mpg., has a rack on top and a trailer hitch. Seats in the back can come out (we put them in there), so there's enough room for a few small animals, or plywood, or whatever.
There is no way I would put anyone I cared about in a Smart Car! I've seen people in these, stopped at the light at the truck stop, between two semis. No way. I've heard too many hospital stories, at this point. We all need hydrogen-powered hybrids with armor! (BTW...anyone notice the complete disappearance of hydrogen hybrids in the U.S. after the last election? Just sayin'. wink )
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Posted: Wed Feb 22, 2012 9:11 am
Why dont people make a gas efficient truck then?
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Posted: Wed Feb 22, 2012 2:52 pm
Maybe the better question is: Why are trucks being regulated out of existence?
The U.S. has set mpg standards for manufacturers that cannot be supported by today's technology----except in Smart cars, electric hybrids, etc., which is not practical where trucks are concerned. My vehicles are steel, not fiberglass or some other composite (God forbid, aluminum! Price Land Rover parts), so they are heavy, but they are also strong enough to protect me and do what I want them to do.
It's all about the war on fossil fuels.
Which is really, at its core, an assault on personal freedom.
Think about it.
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Posted: Wed Feb 22, 2012 4:38 pm
xd I love how topics here grow.
Jeeps are good. We rode in one on an off road obstacle course. It was.... scary! The FJ Cruiser by Toyota would be my pick. The inside is all plastic so it's easy to wash, you don't have to worry about soggy carpet.
Smart Cars would hold up the same as any compact. They have the same sort of crash technology as the Formula One race cars. Granted, in a fight between a semi track and a Smart Car, or any compact, the semi will win.
A friend of mine's aunt drove a massively huge vehicle for "safety" - meaning the pick up truck was used to go shopping. That's fine, but if they hit someone else, they're going to do a lot more damage to them. If we all did that, we'd be driving semis. And from there, we'd have vehicles larger than semis built and so forth.
I'd feel perfectly save be-bopping around in a Smart Car. I can certainly understand why someone would feel uncomfortable in one. My friend has two vehicles - an old F150 which I've named Stinky and a Escape. Insurance on beaters is less as it doesn't cost as much to replace. Though! You're right with reliability. As much as I adore Stinky (we don't have a vehicle so we borrow him) is that it's touch and go if he'll start.
Car technology back in the day was actually better or the same as today. I'm sure this was posted elsewhere here, but Jay Leno has an electric car from the 1920's. For reasons perhaps unknown, car technology has stagnated. Imagine if transportation technology grew as fast as computer technology.
http://www.crossley-motors.org.uk/history/1930.html
http://www.popularmechanics.com/cars/jay-leno/vintage/4215940
http://www.wanttoknow.info/carmileage
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Posted: Wed Feb 22, 2012 6:37 pm
I'm sure you missed me, Pirhan! rofl :
The point is, for me, that we should be able to choose whatever vehicle meets our needs, and not have our choices narrowed by government regulations to the point where there is no choice.....
The first time I saw Leno's antique electric car, I was so surprised! Did you know that he also has a turbine car? There are lots of videos on youtube, from pics of his car to testing films from the R&D department.
I get tired of trying to drive in a town full of SUV's sometimes myself (can't see around them in a normal sized vehicle), but for here and now, they are exactly what is needed. I know of only 2 Smart cars in this 200,000+ area, mostly rural, and that's a direct result of life here. For city dwellers, they may be perfect. They're just silly for other places. It all depends upon where you are and what you do, as it should.
I don't know about the regulations in Canada, but in the U.S., foreign auto manufacturers definitely have an edge, as they have a longer time to meet the ever-changing regulations than U.S. manufacturers. The regulations are made regardless of the available technology, and there are fines PER VEHICLE for not meeting the regulations. This is insane.
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Posted: Wed Feb 22, 2012 6:47 pm
sunsetsmile Maybe the better question is: Why are trucks being regulated out of existence? The U.S. has set mpg standards for manufacturers that cannot be supported by today's technology----except in Smart cars, electric hybrids, etc., which is not practical where trucks are concerned. My vehicles are steel, not fiberglass or some other composite (God forbid, aluminum! Price Land Rover parts), so they are heavy, but they are also strong enough to protect me and do what I want them to do. It's all about the war on fossil fuels. Which is really, at its core, an assault on personal freedom. Think about it. I wish I could tip your post! You brought up a lot of good points!
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Posted: Wed Feb 22, 2012 6:53 pm
sunsetsmile I'm sure you missed me, Pirhan! rofl : The point is, for me, that we should be able to choose whatever vehicle meets our needs, and not have our choices narrowed by government regulations to the point where there is no choice..... The first time I saw Leno's antique electric car, I was so surprised! Did you know that he also has a turbine car? There are lots of videos on youtube, from pics of his car to testing films from the R&D department. I get tired of trying to drive in a town full of SUV's sometimes myself (can't see around them in a normal sized vehicle), but for here and now, they are exactly what is needed. I know of only 2 Smart cars in this 200,000+ area, mostly rural, and that's a direct result of life here. For city dwellers, they may be perfect. They're just silly for other places. It all depends upon where you are and what you do, as it should.I don't know about the regulations in Canada, but in the U.S., foreign auto manufacturers definitely have an edge, as they have a longer time to meet the ever-changing regulations than U.S. manufacturers. The regulations are made regardless of the available technology, and there are fines PER VEHICLE for not meeting the regulations. This is insane. I would eventually like to move into the country. I agree that a Smart car is not the best choice if you are living in the country. Again, I wish I could tip your post. 3nodding
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Posted: Wed Feb 22, 2012 9:23 pm
I totally missed you. 3nodding There are a bunch of smart cars here. They're mostly company cars (I'm always tickled at the construction company one). They seem to do well in the snow too. I'm sure if you live in the country, had no family and had to commute to an office, they'd be perfect. Anyways! Other than Clean Air act, I don't think there are any regulations. Ontario has it province wide, but BC has it only in the city. When we moved to Ontario, we had to get Charlotte* inspected and have her pass the marks for Clean Air. If she hadn't caught on fire on the way back, we wouldn't of had to inspect her. What regulations do you guys have? I'm all for open choice too, but to an extent. When we rent compact car, or even in Stinky who is a F150, it's really, really, really hard to maneuver because all the vehicles are so large. (We have underground parking and the stalls are made for cars of 10 years ago.) It's difficult to back out because you can't see. That's definitely annoying. But, I can understand why you'd want an SUV if you have a couple of active kids in sports. I can't understand and, if I could, disallow, people buying unnecessary vehicles. I'm talking about incredibly large vehicles for a single person to go to the mall to shop. I think I'd be less dictatorshipy about it if they were not gas and space hogs, but there are still on the road where there are pedestrians, cyclists and those in smaller vehicles. Basically, I wish people would buy things they need with a bit of growing room than going over the top. I would have loved to have been a fly on the wall during the conversation that "killed" the electric car. I guess the electric car companies had the same lobbyists as poor people. (Re: none.) I need to watch the Netflix documentaries on electric vehicles. (*Yes, I like to name things!)
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Posted: Thu Feb 23, 2012 8:55 am
Again, it all comes back to personal choice and responsibility. If someone wants to feed a big vehicle, I have no problem with that----after all, if they don't pay for that gasoline, someone else will. I can totally understand why a person would feel safer in a large vehicle, and maybe that's their issue, not financial concerns. The world can be a very dangerous place, especially for people who may be looked at as "prey" for other humans (and I use the term VERY loosely here). Who knows why people choose to do what they do? There's always a reason, though, and for them, as for me, the choice should be their own.
The son who was hit by a car while riding a bicycle still rides his bike everywhere, as does the husband who was nearly killed when he was swept off the road by the air from a semi while riding his motorcycle to work. They have chosen to live without fear, and I applaud their choices, because I know why they have made them. They would not be my choices, but they're not my choices to make. That is the point.
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Posted: Fri Feb 24, 2012 4:29 am
I want a nissan leaf, and I don't even drive sweatdrop
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