[ReserveGrowthRulz]

I read this article, posted right here, just a few days ago.

http://www.businessweek.com/autos/conte ... 843628.htm?

I was stunned that everything I had been saying we needed in different types of transport to help work through PO was already here, already runs, already has projected costs, can be modified to help break Americans of their silly, wasteful driving habits.

After the euphoria of an obviously good, and practical, and game changing idea coming to being wore off, I decided I could wait no longer.

As my contribution towards a greater good of using less gasoline over the course of MY silly driving habits, I looked around at what was available which fit my needs, checked the economics involved, and decided that even if it requires 100K miles to achieve a breakeven point, economically speaking, doing my portion to help save the world was worth it.

As we've all been told, my solution in isolation may mean nothing, the fact that these cars even EXIST is a testament ( a fact often ignored or denied around here ) to what was learned 30 years ago the last time Doomerisms ran rampant, and the reality that they are a 100% improvement in fuel usage over the ride it replaces is often dismissed as "too little, too late", well, I bucked all these relatively simplistic and usually incorrect attitudes and did it anyway.

Acquired a 07 Ford Escape AWD Hybrid, plan on saving the universe, one gallon of gasoline at a time. And when the diesel electric pluggable reaches our shores in the form of a reliable Honda or Toyota in the next couple years, I hereby pledge to keep this particular bloodline of cars in my garage going into the future until, say, at least the kids are in college.

[ReserveGrowthRulz]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Gideon', 'I') don't buy it.

You looked at your "needs?"

[grabby]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Gideon', 'I') don't buy it.

You

...
You got marketed, sucker.

FIRST STEP -

Figure out that your "need" is not a need at all.

Maybe then you can at least save yourself.

[UnpreparedMF]

I haven't been on this board in a while, but why all the negativity? I think we all understand that there is a crisis that has been happening in slow motion for a long time here, but where do you people get off calling the poster an ahole? Maybe he got marketed, but does that negate the fact that his choice of personal transport is better than most?

Life is going to go on. There is a chance that there will be a huge population crash and we'll all become hunter gatherers (the ones left). There is also a chance that the best predictions will come true and we'll be living in some fusion powered methanol economy in 20-30 years. I'm not that smart, so my guess is somewhere in the middle, with a high probability that a lot of unforeseen events will occur along the way. In the meantime, why dump on people who are looking for ways to improve their situation by making smarter choices?

If you have you post-Peak 10-20 acre organic farm and reliable community structure in place, good for you. Stop dumping on the rest of us that don't, but are simply looking to do what we can. Any one here that is absolutely certain of the future is full of crap.

[dhfenton]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('ReserveGrowthRulz', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Gideon', 'I') don't buy it.

You looked at your "needs?"

[ReserveGrowthRulz]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('grabby', '
')
Fewer things have been said so clearly, truthfully and certainly.

YOU GOT MARKETED, SUCKER!

If you find yourself writing another check to save yourself.
No checks will work now.

[ReserveGrowthRulz]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('dhfenton', '
')
And how much snow will be on the roads three hours after the storm? Less than an inch.

[Aaron]

This reminds me of a conversation I had recently.

You guys did see the matrix right? Not just eye-candy, but a clever metaphor for modern life.

That $30,000 you paid... that's just paper. And the car you bought, that's just molded metal & plastic, and all of it is simply another layer of control.

Ideas create a prison for your mind with no possibility of escape.

Hybrids & other "green vehicles" are simply one more interesting use for hydrocarbons.

I'm sure consumers everywhere praise your efforts to make the black stuff more available by using less yourself, but the planet may not survive your generosity.

This caught my eye:

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'L')ife is going to go on... ...Any one here that is absolutely certain of the future is full of crap.

[kmann]

Hey RGR, looks like we're neighbors. I live a ways north of Denver. I'm "working" from home today because of the storm. Anybody who's lived here during the 70's and 80's knows why 4WDs are so popular in this region. A typical snow might melt in a few hours, but in earlier times we had a blizzard a year, where snow would be around for weeks, even months. One year we had a foot or more on the ground from October to April. Not typical for eastern Colorado, but it can happen. When the big storms hit, the foothills get it worse, and it takes much longer to melt.

I took another path to conserving. I moved from a 45 minute commute to 10 minutes. This summer I plan on riding my bike to work. Also, we downsized from an 1800 sq. ft to a 1100 sq ft house. Our new house also has solar panels for heating. I figure I cut my "carbon footprint" to less than half by the move in both transportation and heating.

[kjmclark]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'I') took another path to conserving. I moved from a 45 minute commute to 10 minutes. This summer I plan on riding my bike to work.

[coyote]

There's nothing wrong with hybrids. What's wrong is thinking they're going to fix anything.

[ReserveGrowthRulz]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('kmann', ' ')When the big storms hit, the foothills get it worse, and it takes much longer to melt.

[ReserveGrowthRulz]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('kjmclark', '
')It's amazing what you can get away with if you don't live umpteen miles from work.

[mgibbons19]

You guys are a bunch of fuckers.

RGR doesn't need to justify anything. It's his business. The fact that it is a better choice for him and all of us than if he bought an H1 is a bonus. Leave it at that.

Enjoy your new truck.

I live in Philadelphia. I drive a 5.0 litre V8 4x4 Durango.
Man you should see the potholes when I go downtown.

[ReserveGrowthRulz]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('coyote', 'T')here's nothing wrong with hybrids. What's wrong is thinking they're going to fix anything.

[americandream]

Aaahhh......I can see it now.....sustainable motoring for everyone on the planet with multi-lane highways (skyways?) stretching out into the horizon asnd beyond....lovely sight.

[ReserveGrowthRulz]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('mgibbons19', '
')Enjoy your new truck.

I live in Philadelphia. I drive a 5.0 litre V8 4x4 Durango.
Man you should see the potholes when I go downtown.

[mgibbons19]

I just can't stand the holier-than-thou of ppl griping about someone else's vehicle choice.

It's a structural problem, that will not change until the underlying fundamentals change. In that event, driving a hummer, a prius, riding a bike doesn't mean jack shit, until things start revolving.

Every one of these yahoos is wasting time and energy on the internet, and deeply embedded into modern society. those who aren't, aren't here griping about other people's cars. nobody here gets to stand on that soapbox, especially to rag about how others are trying to get by.

[ReserveGrowthRulz]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('mgibbons19', 'I') just can't stand the holier-than-thou of ppl griping about someone else's vehicle choice.

[Eddie_lomax]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('ReserveGrowthRulz', '
')
Yeah, I know, but most of the Doomer categories...

A) Gullible, follows the crowd, bummed about life.
B) Stupid, follows the crowd, bummed about life.
C) Save the world by killing all the people except me.
D) Write books and make money taking advantage of A) or B).
E) Honest questions from reasonable people...
F) Tree huggers who don't require C) but wouldn't mind.
G) Conspiracy fans who believe the neocons caused the fall of the Roman Empire and everything since.

can be convinced that their choices are better than everyone else because they are "in on the secret".

All quite fascinating, from a psychological standpoint.