[Waterthrush]

The Financial Sense/Matt Simmons post on this forum refers to some politicians having peak oil awareness. But, to find a peak oil aware member of a group with even less reason to admit a peak is unusual. However, Warren Brown, who covers the automotive industry for the Washington Post, is indeed very conscious of the issue. I think it's only been for the past 2 years or so, though, that he has actively promoted it. In his November 16 regular online discussionhe came back again and again to the price of gasoline, such as in this exchange:

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'H')arrisburg, Pa.: Good morning, Warren.

Thanks for taking my question. I'm looking at buying a 2005 Ford Mustang V-6 premiem. Are there any issues I should be concerned about before I buy?

Warren Brown: Yes, Harrisburg.

Crude oil prices have been floating around the $100 mark. Gasoline prices in the U.S. are escalating rapidly and are likely to remain high.

I don't have the 2005 Mustang's mpg's numbers here with me at the Millenium Hoangqiao Hotel here in Shanghai. But, assuming I'm recollecting correctly, the 2005 mpg numbers for the V6 Mustang are less than spectacular. You might want to consider that in a world where one city--here in Shanghai, for example--has a 20-million population, and where all or most of those people want the same things oil has given America. In short, the trejectory for oil demand is outstripping the trajectory for supply, which means permanently higher prices for gasoline in the United States, like it or not.

[whereagles]

I post in 2 automobile blogs.

#1 is a normal petrolhead forum. People there blame high prices on oil companies gouging and demand government action by lowering taxes. Lolish, of course, but that's what most people think.

#2 is a hybrid vehicles forum. About 1/2 the people there are peak oil aware, but still believe "we'll manage some way out of the mess".

Automobile press around here is extremely ignorant of everything, including cars (!!!). They only say nice things of EVERY car model because they're dependant on the car companies ad money to stay profitable. For the journalists, "peak oil" is a new brand of detergent.

[Judgie]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Waterthrush', 'H')ave any of you been reading automobile writers and blogs where peak oil is acknowledged?

[cube]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Waterthrush', '.').. Most automobile writer/reviewers I read concentrate on "fun" driving experiences, "powerful" engines, "performance," "sleek styling," etc. etc.
...

[Starvid]

Well, speed isn't what's fun. Acceleration is.

[whereagles]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Starvid', 'W')ell, speed isn't what's fun. Acceleration is.

[perdition79]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Waterthrush', 'H')ave any of you been reading automobile writers and blogs where peak oil is acknowledged?

[Lighthouse]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('cube', 'm')y response: "The speed limit is 65mph on the freeways so why would it be more *fun* then any other car?"
their response: "dead silence"