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SSC-Enthusiastic
 
Group: General Forum Members
Last Login: 2 days ago @ 9:36 AM
Points: 194,
Visits: 1,621
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Concerning the safety discussion: One of the reasons I picked the Civic Hybrid (over the Prius) is that I saw a government study (don't remember which one) that gave the Civic a 5 star safety rating (the Prius of the time got 3 stars). It was my understanding that 5 stars is the highest rating. The Civic hybrid has a big steel bar in the side to help with side crashes and side airbags that are standard, standard anti-lock brakes, etc. It has a good weight and feels pretty darn safe to me.
A couple years ago a woman ran a red light and crashed right into the side of my car as I was turning. She was driving a big ugly SUV. My car survived. All passengers (me and my Great Dane) survived (though Duke was traumatized). Happy, safe ending for one anecdote.
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SSC-Enthusiastic
Group: General Forum Members
Last Login: 2 days ago @ 9:36 AM
Points: 194,
Visits: 1,621
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Concerning the discussion on comfort: There's all kinds of comfort. I find the Civic Hybrid to be extremely comfortable in several ways. I'm not overly concerned with "getting in and out of the car", though there is no problem with that. I'm more concerned with the drive. The Civic's drive is smooth and calming. When you come to a stop and the engine turns off and the car gets as quiet as a car can possibly get, it is such a nice break in a hectic day. A moment of peace.
The seats are comfortable. The cooling and air is top notch - including automatic temperature so that if you turn on say the heat, you can set it to a say 70 degrees and the heating will adjust to stay at that temperature.
There's plenty of comfort in my car and precious little of it has to do with car size. (Only, I'd guess it is cheaper to heat my little car than a big honker.  The idea that a bigger car is over-all inherently more comfortable makes no sense to me.
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Ten Centuries
Group: General Forum Members
Last Login: Friday, January 29, 2010 8:27 AM
Points: 1,090,
Visits: 763
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None of the car X-prize entries "sing" to me. Not one. All are merely trying to get minor efficiencies out of current technology. Not one that I saw is using anything radically more efficient.
And worse yet, none consider family-sized vehicles, unless the entrant is only shooting for fuel economy such as with some deisel entries.
The problem is that the industries are so heavily and tightly regulated, legal and road-worthy innovation is stuck unless they jump through loop-holes such as motorcycle class designs...
None of these will help my family needs. So I will stick with the current crop of autos. For personal work commute... public transport needs major improvement... I don't have to have my own vehicle.
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Grasshopper
Group: General Forum Members
Last Login: Wednesday, April 15, 2009 11:39 PM
Points: 14,
Visits: 9
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Electric isn't currently the way to go to be green, they are not 'pollution free' by any stretch. Around 77% of the electricity produced in the US is by either coal, natural gas, or oil. Coal is used to produce almost 50% of the electricity in this country. Nuclear is another 19%. That leaves around 9% for 'clean' options like hydroelectric, solar, wind, etc. Electric cars are cheaper to operate, but once the electric companies are required to start capturing CO2 output, you can bet electric rates will start to go higher and higher, making the cars greener while making your wallet thinner.
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Grasshopper
Group: General Forum Members
Last Login: Wednesday, April 15, 2009 11:39 PM
Points: 14,
Visits: 9
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I find it funny that Prius owner Steve Jones is all proud of his mpg ratings and 'savings'. My daughter bought a Yaris for a lot less that a Prius and gets an average of around 45mpg when driving around town. Start comparing your savings at 48mpg to 45mpg and see how much you are really saving.
The simplest answer is to simply drive less. I own a 9 year old Chevy Blazer that gets 20mpg, but I only put around 5,000 miles a year on it. So I'm using less gas and causing less pollution than some smug Prius owner who drives 20,000 miles/year, partly on 'numerous ski trips'. Maybe if Mr. Jones cut back a little bit on his ski trips he could show how green he really wants to be, instead of just pretending.
This has been and will continue to be one of the problems with going green. Many people equate 'better mpg' with 'now I can drive more'.
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SSChampion
Group: General Forum Members
Last Login: Today @ 8:51 AM
Points: 11,821,
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jfox (3/31/2009)
I find it funny that Prius owner Steve Jones is all proud of his mpg ratings and 'savings'. My daughter bought a Yaris for a lot less that a Prius and gets an average of around 45mpg when driving around town. Start comparing your savings at 48mpg to 45mpg and see how much you are really saving.
The simplest answer is to simply drive less. I own a 9 year old Chevy Blazer that gets 20mpg, but I only put around 5,000 miles a year on it. So I'm using less gas and causing less pollution than some smug Prius owner who drives 20,000 miles/year, partly on 'numerous ski trips'. Maybe if Mr. Jones cut back a little bit on his ski trips he could show how green he really wants to be, instead of just pretending.
This has been and will continue to be one of the problems with going green. Many people equate 'better mpg' with 'now I can drive more'.
Why, perchance, should "Mr Jones" cut back on his ski trips? Just so he can say he is "going green"? Sorry, but if he and his family like to ski, and he wants to take the time for such a trip, why deny him the pleasure?
And I really like the generalities when they are thrown around, they sound so "official". Why not back it up with facts. Steve and his family going on a ski trip actually helps support our economy more than sitting around the house watching TV. If I don't need to drive, I don't. I have three active kids at home, one who as her own car, works, and helps us out with the other two when we all seem to be going in different directions.
Lynn Pettis
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Ten Centuries
Group: General Forum Members
Last Login: Friday, January 29, 2010 8:27 AM
Points: 1,090,
Visits: 763
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jfox (3/31/2009)
I find it funny that Prius owner Steve Jones is all proud of his mpg ratings and 'savings'. My daughter bought a Yaris for a lot less that a Prius and gets an average of around 45mpg when driving around town. Start comparing your savings at 48mpg to 45mpg and see how much you are really saving.
The simplest answer is to simply drive less. I own a 9 year old Chevy Blazer that gets 20mpg, but I only put around 5,000 miles a year on it. So I'm using less gas and causing less pollution than some smug Prius owner who drives 20,000 miles/year, partly on 'numerous ski trips'. Maybe if Mr. Jones cut back a little bit on his ski trips he could show how green he really wants to be, instead of just pretending.
This has been and will continue to be one of the problems with going green. Many people equate 'better mpg' with 'now I can drive more'.
I find Jones neither smug, nor assumptive, nor proud. I rather have seen only an analysis from a Prius owner. It is simply a car analysis. He has never boasted or asserted his choice was best, and in fact occasionally gives cons with his "testing" experience.
"My Daughter" is as good as "my son's best-friends' mother"... it is still 3rd party witness. Steve is offering a first person experience... nothing more.
The choice of car has little to do with "green-ness" any how, as all is wild perception, and level of acceptance.
On the other hand, the whole topic has not much to do with SSC. 
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Grasshopper
Group: General Forum Members
Last Login: Wednesday, March 03, 2010 6:19 AM
Points: 20,
Visits: 65
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| Would spell/grammar checking be too much to ask? Every sentence doesn't need 3 commas...
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SSCrazy Eights
Group: General Forum Members
Last Login: Yesterday @ 1:58 PM
Points: 8,582,
Visits: 4,890
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JJ B (3/31/2009)
Concerning the discussion on comfort: There's all kinds of comfort. I find the Civic Hybrid to be extremely comfortable in several ways. I'm not overly concerned with "getting in and out of the car", though there is no problem with that. I'm more concerned with the drive. The Civic's drive is smooth and calming. When you come to a stop and the engine turns off and the car gets as quiet as a car can possibly get, it is such a nice break in a hectic day. A moment of peace. The seats are comfortable. The cooling and air is top notch - including automatic temperature so that if you turn on say the heat, you can set it to a say 70 degrees and the heating will adjust to stay at that temperature. There's plenty of comfort in my car and precious little of it has to do with car size. (Only, I'd guess it is cheaper to heat my little car than a big honker. The idea that a bigger car is over-all inherently more comfortable makes no sense to me.
How tall are you? I couldn't even get into the driver's side on my wife's Geo Metro without yoga-like contortions. And, no, I'm not exaggerating in the slightest on that.
- GSquared
"Nobody knows the age of the human race, but everyone agrees it's old enough to know better." - Anon
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SSCrazy Eights
Group: General Forum Members
Last Login: Yesterday @ 1:58 PM
Points: 8,582,
Visits: 4,890
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jfox (3/31/2009)
I find it funny that Prius owner Steve Jones is all proud of his mpg ratings and 'savings'. My daughter bought a Yaris for a lot less that a Prius and gets an average of around 45mpg when driving around town. Start comparing your savings at 48mpg to 45mpg and see how much you are really saving.
The simplest answer is to simply drive less. I own a 9 year old Chevy Blazer that gets 20mpg, but I only put around 5,000 miles a year on it. So I'm using less gas and causing less pollution than some smug Prius owner who drives 20,000 miles/year, partly on 'numerous ski trips'. Maybe if Mr. Jones cut back a little bit on his ski trips he could show how green he really wants to be, instead of just pretending.
This has been and will continue to be one of the problems with going green. Many people equate 'better mpg' with 'now I can drive more'.
First, don't be rude.
Second, don't be rude.
Third, stop making assumptions about Steve, or anyone else for that matter.
- GSquared
"Nobody knows the age of the human race, but everyone agrees it's old enough to know better." - Anon
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