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Geek Culture / Tesla Cars

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Osiris
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Location: Robbinsdale, MN
Posted: 1st Jul 2008 09:40
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Under 30k within 4 years of its new 60k car! This will surely make car companies and oil companies sweat profusely and keep them up at night! What do you guys think, will it change the world of cars when its released?

[href=http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/30/tesla-motors-elon-musk-promises-sub-30k-all-electric-car-in-le/]
Link.[/href]

RIP Max-Tuesday, November 2 2007
You will be dearly missed.
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Sunflash
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Posted: 1st Jul 2008 10:13 Edited at: 1st Jul 2008 10:14
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I doubt it will happen in four years. My guess is it will take more like 8 years. But 1t will if:

a) Gas prices rise substantially in the next four years (and they will)
b) More car companies adapt to this model and produce cars with higher MPG or better batteries. Again, this depends on (a).

Also, Mccain plans to offer $300 mil to whoever can invent a better cost effective car battery to be used in the next generation of hybrid cars.

Mountain Dew, happyness in a bottle.
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BatVink
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Posted: 1st Jul 2008 11:21
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I've stopped using plastic bags wherever possible. Maybe it will happen.

That may sound like an odd thing to say, but the success of these things depends on changing perceptions, values and lifestyles. Unfortunately - and this is aimed at a nation, not individuals - the US are a long way behind most of the Western world with their move to being greener and more environmentally friendly. So to sell a greener car in America will be much harder than other Western countries.

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Sunflash
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Posted: 1st Jul 2008 11:29
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Quote: "the US are a long way behind most of the Western world with their move to being greener and more environmentally friendly. So to sell a greener car in America will be much harder than other Western countries.
"


Thats interesting, I was unaware of that. Hmmm.

Mountain Dew, happyness in a bottle.
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Osiris
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Posted: 1st Jul 2008 12:51
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I would love one. However the price is an issue. Also people for some reason like bigger cars here, probably because they feel safer in them, even if they are in turn slowly killing their wallets.

However these cars will probably make it here, primarily because of their sporty look, that no other electric car has really had.

RIP Max-Tuesday, November 2 2007
You will be dearly missed.
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Jeku
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Posted: 2nd Jul 2008 07:07
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Quote: "So to sell a greener car in America will be much harder than other Western countries."


Not so hard anymore with the high gas prices. In Canada all we read about in the news is the death of the SUV--- I'm sure the same vibe is shooting through the US nowadays. GM is selling off the Hummer division!


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ionstream
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Posted: 2nd Jul 2008 07:22
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30 thousand is still too much for normal families (I think, too much for me at least). I just hope gas scooters become socially acceptable in America, because those things are cheap and get great mileage. Alas, they are for the dorkiest of the dorks .

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BULLSHOCK 2
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Posted: 2nd Jul 2008 13:11
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I actually noticed the other day how the US has grown to love big HUGE cars..

I own a 1996 chevy blazer (my project vehicle) and over the years, the blazer has transformed into the tahoe...and i look at the newer tahoe models...and they look exactly like my blazer, only much wider, much taller and much higher...overall...a blazer on steroids...

I think the gas prices are beginning to take effect though, and reverse this trend...

http://www.seqoiagames.com
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Benjamin
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Posted: 2nd Jul 2008 18:54
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Quote: "I just hope gas scooters become socially acceptable in America, because those things are cheap and get great mileage. Alas, they are for the dorkiest of the dorks ."

It's a shame, scooters are quite commonly used elsewhere in the world. I use one myself. I guess America is just too cool to use them.

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dark coder
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Posted: 2nd Jul 2008 18:57
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Quote: "I actually noticed the other day how the US has grown to require big HUGE cars.."


Fixed.

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NeX the Fairly Fast Ferret
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Posted: 2nd Jul 2008 19:03
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I must say, I do prefer small cars over big cars. They're cheaper, cheaper to run, easier to park, handle far better due to their reduced weight, have no need for a big engine and being small they can be better reinforced than big cars because weight is less of an issue.


I fail at life. No, really.
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tobi453
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Posted: 2nd Jul 2008 19:27
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Elon Musk also founded SpaceX, a company that tries to revolutionize spaceflight. Next month is the third launch of the falcon 1.

See here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elon_Musk
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SpaceX

Btw, on July, 28 will be the roll out of the mothership of SpaceShiptwo. SpaceShipTwo is the successor to SpaceShipOne, which was the first privately developped manned spacevehicle that reached space.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scaled_Composites_SpaceShipOne

I'm very interested in spaceflight, especially private spaceflight.

FINAL VERSION RELEASED!!!!
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JoelJ
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Posted: 2nd Jul 2008 23:50
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Quote: "I just hope gas scooters become socially acceptable in America, because those things are cheap and get great mileage. Alas, they are for the dorkiest of the dorks ."


I don't think that's true. Maybe it's dorky to you. But they're becoming quite popular, and I don't know of anyone who thinks that only dorks ride them. So to me it sounds like you're the one who's too cool to ride them. They're perfectly acceptable out here. The problem I see with them is the 60/70mph speed limits on the freeways... That's a little to fast for me on a scooter. So to me the scooter is a practical way to get around town, and here and there. Not too great to go on the highways.

[center]
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BatVink
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Posted: 3rd Jul 2008 01:03
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Quote: "Not so hard anymore with the high gas prices."


It's all relative...the UK petrol price in dollars is currently around $2.33 per litre - $10.54 a gallon!

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ionstream
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Posted: 3rd Jul 2008 01:12
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Quote: "They're perfectly acceptable out here. "


Well maybe anything goes in Utah, but in California people care about their rep, yo. They're definitely starting to catch on, but aren't quite there yet.

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Peter H
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Posted: 3rd Jul 2008 01:27
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Quote: ""I just hope gas scooters become socially acceptable in America, because those things are cheap and get great mileage. Alas, they are for the dorkiest of the dorks ."
It's a shame, scooters are quite commonly used elsewhere in the world. I use one myself. I guess America is just too cool to use them."


check out the 2008 ninja 250r... it gets 70ish mpg and "only" costs $3500 (brand new). Plus it's pretty snazzy.

One man, one lawnmower, plenty of angry groundhogs.
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Agent Dink
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Posted: 3rd Jul 2008 02:11
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It still doesn't solve anything. They still use gas. Far less, yes, but that just lengthens the time they can procrastinate to either drill for more oil in other parts of the world (cause there's plenty of it) or find an alternative fuel source (the best route overall). Either way the US would then lose it's dependency on other nations for fuel and politics might have a chance at getting better.

MISoft Studios - Silver-Dawn

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NeX the Fairly Fast Ferret
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Posted: 3rd Jul 2008 02:13
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70mpg murders 25mpg, though, you can't avoid that.


I fail at life. No, really.
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Agent Dink
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Posted: 3rd Jul 2008 02:40
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well, yeah I know.

Even still. Anyone gets nailed on a scooter in the US is most likely gonna die.

Everyone needs to understand that the US is NOT like Europe in regards to roads and safety. Everything in the US is spread out. Most people commute 15 miles out of a suburb to work each day. Even our downtown areas or spread out more in most cities. Biking, motor scooters, and walking are just not feasible whereas almost everything in Europe is either farm land or everything is right top of everything and close by. It's just a very different environment.

You won't catch me on a motor scooter on our highways and most of our main streets. You guys probably barely know what it's like to have 5 - 7 lane roads... Surrounded by cars, vans, trucks, SUVs you and your scooter feel pretty vulnerable I'm sure ^_^

Nothing against people using them, it's just most people aren't willing to take the risk.

Sure, not everyone NEEDS a big vehicle, but my dad for instance probably drives his work van loaded up with equipment and tools I'd say at least 40 to 50 miles a day. Many times he drives more than that. My family is also large. To transport all 9 of us we have to have a 12 passenger van. There's just no way around it. Otherwise we'd be driving 2 cars.

Alot of people in US own boats, RV's, trailers for work, etc etc. We need big vehicles to tow these things. And again. Just because of how spread apart most everything is in the US we just have to have these items to be efficient.

That's all there is to it really.

MISoft Studios - Silver-Dawn

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ionstream
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Posted: 3rd Jul 2008 03:08
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Dang, the DMV treats scooters as motorcycles, so I'd have to go to a special motorcycle class in order to get my license . Also I'd imagine the insurance would be pricey if its classed as a motorcycle. Lameness!

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Benjamin
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Posted: 3rd Jul 2008 04:12
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I think Agent Dink has been practising generalising.

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Jeku
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Posted: 4th Jul 2008 03:55
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Quote: "It's all relative...the UK petrol price in dollars is currently around $2.33 per litre - $10.54 a gallon!"


What I mean is the prices here have skyrocketed almost $1.00 a litre in the last few years. Because of the high raise rate, people are abandoning their SUVs.


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Mr Tank
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Posted: 4th Jul 2008 04:07
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Quote: "the US are a long way behind most of the Western world with their move to being greener and more environmentally friendly. So to sell a greener car in America will be much harder than other Western countries.
"


I disagree. The US has a large population with money. The variance of the taste and values of the population is correspondingly large. Maybe it's not yet viable to sell the average person there an electric car yet, and for sure there are a lot of guys there who drive monster trucks. However, that there is a large population of affluent do-gooders who are willing to shell out to make a statement makes projects like the Tesla economically feasible.

This will lead, in time, to electric cars for you and I.

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bitJericho
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Posted: 4th Jul 2008 04:15
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Quote: "I've stopped using plastic bags wherever possible. Maybe it will happen."


Haha, if only you knew how bad paper bags are for the environment

http://www.greenfeet.net/newsletter/debate.shtml

Of course, if you're using cloth bags or reusing your paper bags, than rock on


Hurray for teh logd!
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ionstream
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Posted: 4th Jul 2008 05:02
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If you're going to use paper, make sure you burn it when you're done so that it doesn't end up in some trash dump or on the side of a highway.

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bitJericho
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Posted: 4th Jul 2008 05:27
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Quote: "If you're going to use paper, make sure you burn it when you're done so that it doesn't end up in some trash dump or on the side of a highway."


Right, so what's the point of using paper again?


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Benjamin
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Posted: 4th Jul 2008 05:38
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Perhaps he was joking.

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ionstream
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Posted: 4th Jul 2008 05:59
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It's definitely possible.

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bitJericho
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Posted: 4th Jul 2008 08:04
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Sometimes I'm just too dense


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tha_rami
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Posted: 4th Jul 2008 11:34
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While I do agree with Adam that in some cases it's actually necessary to have a big car, Americans seem to have idolized the fuel-slurping car as some sort of status symbol. Not only that, but they STILL haven't signed any Kyoto treaty, or as far as I can remember, any environmental treaty at all.


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bitJericho
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Posted: 5th Jul 2008 17:15 Edited at: 5th Jul 2008 17:16
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Quote: "While I do agree with Adam that in some cases it's actually necessary to have a big car, Americans seem to have idolized the fuel-slurping car as some sort of status symbol. Not only that, but they STILL haven't signed any Kyoto treaty, or as far as I can remember, any environmental treaty at all."


I wonder how many American's you've actually met... Most people I know (working joes) really hate the fact that they only get 15 mpg in their suvs. I'm sure if they had the option to go back they might have reconsidered. Also, SUVs are way handy, I'm sure if you owned one you might not want to get rid of it either

I own a big old truck that gets about 10-15 in the city. I got it for 250usd, I'm willing to pay for the gas because that sucker's never broken down yet on me

It's really the best car I can afford.


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NeX the Fairly Fast Ferret
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Posted: 5th Jul 2008 23:23
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And why would I not want to get rid of an SUV if I owned one other than emotional attachment?


I fail at life. No, really.
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Benjamin
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Posted: 5th Jul 2008 23:25
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Yes, what's so special about SUVs?

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bitJericho
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Posted: 5th Jul 2008 23:29 Edited at: 5th Jul 2008 23:30
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For a lot of people, they're used instead of mini vans, to haul the kids around and such. Secondly, I don't know the last time you sold a vehicle, but when I sold my first car, I sold it for 100 bucks (blown engine), and my second vehicle I purchased for 1000 and was probably only worth a hundred. I was fixing it up every other month there were so many things wrong with it. I got 25 miles to the gallon on it.

I gave it up for my 250 dollar truck that gets me 10 mpg, but I don't have to repair every couple months

And what's people's fascination with SUVs, they're just as bad as trucks and mini vans, and also just as useful.


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Benjamin
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Posted: 5th Jul 2008 23:32
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Quote: "For a lot of people, they're used instead of mini vans, to haul the kids around and such."

You need a minivan to haul a couple of kids around with?

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bitJericho
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Posted: 5th Jul 2008 23:40
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Sure beats hauling a kid around in a Geo (compact)


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NeX the Fairly Fast Ferret
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Posted: 5th Jul 2008 23:55
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In what way though? Does it not have four seats, four seatbelts, four doors, an engine, a steering wheel and four wheels? Or am I seriously missing something here.


I fail at life. No, really.
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bitJericho
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Posted: 6th Jul 2008 00:05
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Well it depends on what type of suv we're talking about. Also, they're generally handy for moving things around too, sorta like having a pickup but with more seating


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Agent Dink
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Posted: 6th Jul 2008 05:37
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Quote: "You need a minivan to haul a couple of kids around with?"


Sorry, I guess it's just a fact that the majority of Americans can afford such luxuries :\



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tha_rami
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Posted: 6th Jul 2008 05:53
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That's what I mean.


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ionstream
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Posted: 6th Jul 2008 06:01
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I guess for 2 kids a minivan isn't always necessary, anything more and they are.

I wish I could get a car for a thousand bucks! Time to check the classifieds I guess.

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Little Bill
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Posted: 6th Jul 2008 09:12
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Why would you need a minivan for more than two children? I know for a fact that you can get 7 seater cars that are a lot more environmental than minivans.

In the UK don't they tax SUVs in central London? They should do that with the rest of the country.

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Jeku
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Posted: 6th Jul 2008 11:46 Edited at: 6th Jul 2008 11:47
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Quote: "but they STILL haven't signed any Kyoto treaty, or as far as I can remember, any environmental treaty at all."


The Kyoto Treaty is not fair to all of the countries involved, so I can see why some countries haven't signed on.

Everyday I'm reading about how Americans are selling their SUVs, and unable to, and how manufacturers like GM are cutting their SUV lines almost completely (they're selling the Hummer brand!). The stereotype of Americans and SUVs will slowly die especially as electrics and hybrids are being made from most manufacturers.


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CoffeeGrunt
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Posted: 6th Jul 2008 12:09
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Hey, have any of you seen that South Park episode about Hybrid cars...

We better be careful, or it'll be Smug 2006 all over again.....

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Agent Dink
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Posted: 6th Jul 2008 16:37
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I sorta laugh at people who complain about gas prices, cause they sure don't have any problem spending 2,3, maybe 4 times the price of gas overall on things like a cup of Starbucks coffee every morning and their energy drinks throughout the day. There are always more efficient ways to spend your money. If people might cut out some of the other little things they enjoy it wouldn't be such a big deal?

MISoft Studios - Silver-Dawn

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Jeku
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Posted: 7th Jul 2008 08:04
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Quote: "cause they sure don't have any problem spending 2,3, maybe 4 times the price of gas overall on things like a cup of Starbucks coffee every morning and their energy drinks throughout the day"


Actually that's a good point. I was complaining to my wife tonight that I put $45 in my car to fill it up just 2/3rds, yet I will buy a latte at work on most mornings for $3.50.


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Saikoro
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Posted: 7th Jul 2008 15:20
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I don't think the issue is the price of gas, in comparison, the US has it far better than the UK from all accounts I've heard. It's the rapid rate of the rise in gas prices that really cause an issue. People set in a certain lifestyle which has allocated certain funds a month to gas are going to be thrown off and upset when that commodity requires a heftier monetary supplement in a short amount of time. However, I feel that the shift in price will lead to more interest and therefore more development into alternative transportation, which should overall benefit the welfare of our planet and our health.

And these words which I command you today shall be on your heart.
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Osiris
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Posted: 7th Jul 2008 21:52
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Here is a map of the US Gas prices, sorry for the people outside the us, there is only one other map on this site and its Canada.

http://www.gasbuddy.com/gb_gastemperaturemap.aspx?z=0&%3Bamp%3Bamp%3Bamp%3Bamp%3Bamp%3Blat=37.000000&%3Bamp%3Bamp%3Bamp%3Bamp%3Bamp%3Blong=-96.000000&%3Bamp%3Bamp%3Bamp%3Bamp%3Bamp%3Bft=A&%3Bamp%3Bamp%3Bamp%3Bamp%3Bamp%3Btl=48

RIP Max-Tuesday, November 2 2007
You will be dearly missed.
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Saikoro
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Posted: 8th Jul 2008 01:41
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Last I heard, the city in which I live had the highest average gas prices in the US. It's a good thing I don't drive too far during the summer!

And these words which I command you today shall be on your heart.
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Agent Dink
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Posted: 8th Jul 2008 05:52
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I don't complain much about gas prices because I only fill up a 12 gallon tank once or twice a month on average. My father on the other hand has a big 20 - 30 gallon (i assume) tank and he fills it up about 3 times a week.

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