by yesplease » Tue 10 Jun 2008, 12:35:20
$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('emersonbiggins', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('yesplease', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('emersonbiggins', 'H')ilarious. Auto makers think the solution is to build MORE cars, one for every task that a driver might conceive of, in fact, so each American can wind up owning a fleet of cars, rather than just one or two. The solution will always be LESS cars, not more.
Considering a vehicle's embodied energy is ~15% of the energy needed to run it over a scant ~120k mile lifetime, it makes sense to have different types from the POV of energy use, and can make sense financially depending on the vehicles/owner in question.
Expand the analysis to costs of insuring, maintaining, registering and paying taxes on a vehicle that is used infrequently (a convertible, for instance), and I'm almost sure the person will always be better off
renting that specific type of vehicle for whatever period of time they might need such a vehicle.
I ain't better off, so a person isn't better off
always renting. Insuring, maintaining, registering and paying taxes are all expenses and IME worth it compared to renting. Insurance is done on a month by month basis, and if I ain't usin' it that month, it ain't insured. Registration is really the only fee that's pointless to go w/o, but at ~$40 it's no biggie. Maintaining something also costs money, but at ~2,000 miles/year that's ~$100, most of which is for smog. The advantages being having a vehicle that'll cost less to run due to optimization for specific needs and can be beat on w/o some company screaming bloody murder over a dent and/or similar. IMO/E it not only is cheaper, but far less hassle.
$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('emersonbiggins', 'T')he umbrage that I take with this issue is that it is posited as a means of mitigating high gas prices for middle-class consumers. It's a short-term "fix" (if you can call it that) to a fundamental long-term problem.
As a "fix" it works for me, but as always YMMV. Can it save money compared to keeping one car? Sure. Will it? Depends on the behavior of the consumer in question.
$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Professor Membrane', ' ')Not now son, I'm making ... TOAST!
by emersonbiggins » Tue 10 Jun 2008, 13:25:49
$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('joeltrout', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('emersonbiggins', 'T')rue, most people in rural areas usually need a pickup. I can only speak for those in the "King Ranch" F-250s that I regularly see zipping around Dallas.

Probably working for oil companies or land owners in the Barnett Shale getting fat royalty checks each month.
joeltrout
Hmmm, I doubt it. You forget that this is Dallas - the land of monthly payments. I doubt that many of these rubes are hooked into the Barnett. But, the real estate racket, my yes!
"It's called the American Dream because you'd have to be asleep to believe it."
George Carlin
by TommyJefferson » Tue 10 Jun 2008, 14:21:31
$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('MarkJ', 'M')any of us been watching for bargains on decent used full sized trucks and SUVs. There are plenty of them for sale, but either prices aren't low enough, they have too many miles, they're too old or they're in rough shape.
That's what I'm seeing.
Around here, scores of clapped-out duallys and SUV's are showing up on the side of the road with for sale signs on them.
On the better vehicles, much of the resistance to the natural market price seems to be coming from people who are upside-down on their note.
I can empathize. When you still owe $20,000 on a vehicle for which paid you paid $40,000, it's hard to accept that the market value is $12,000.
I'm waiting for the really good ones at fire sale prices.
Conform . Consume . Obey .
-

TommyJefferson
- Heavy Crude

-
- Posts: 1757
- Joined: Thu 19 Aug 2004, 03:00:00
- Location: Texas and Los Angeles
-