Gas at $3.25,will affect attendance

Jeff said:
You guys keep coming up with exceptions, but I drive to work every day, surrounded by SUV's with one person in them, five days a week.

And my 6'1" best friend fits just fine in my Corolla.

How does he fit getting in and out though. Also Im 6'3" with a disportionate torso (3' 3" tall seat to head sitting down) to leg ratio. So I probably have a at least 4" and probably 6" on your friend when sitting down.
*** Edited 5/6/2007 4:50:38 AM UTC by Touchdown***

So maybe I'm confused a little then, Jeff.

You want me to go buy another vehicle to drive to work every day? We use the van to tow our camper maybe 6 or 8 times a year. I don't think I've ever had more than three people in it, ever, and it seats eight. So I shouldn't drive it to work and back?

So those people that you see every day can't have exceptions too?

Every person that needs an SUV to haul, tow, carry 7 or 8 people infrequently or need the head room should go buy another vehicle because they use too much gas?

If this is what you are saying, go back to hugging a tree....or give me the money to buy that second car.

*** Edited 5/6/2007 3:51:43 AM UTC by Loopy***

Walt said:

Of course, the advantage of having something like a Honda Civic is that it would apparently give me a superiority complex. :)

I thought we weren't supposed to generalize here! (the following quote is yours too, just in case you forgot what you wrote)

It's bad enough to generalize, it is worse to generalize based on the superficial or anecdotal.

If you are burning more fuel, you are putting more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Ironically CO2 is required by plants including trees. Therefore you are the tree hugger. :)

marvina, I think you forgot a smiley, Walt didn't.

If you didn't, I think you took that statement too seriously.

Look further back loopy, you'll see what I was replying to.

You quoted it, what do I need to go back and read?

He made a statement jokingly about people that own Civics and you took it as a personal attack. Get over it. I read the entire thread.

<my_opinionated_response>

If the vehicle is used enough for mass hauling or towing, that can justify having the larger vehicle. However, having a huge gas guzzler for no real purpose is irrational, expensive, and contributive to global warming with no return.

Here's my story... Last year, my dad bought two 2005 Kia Sedona's (their minivan). From my knowledge, one has seen its fair share of use, while the other hasn't so much.

My dad uses his rather often to take coworkers out and for transporting things. My mom usually drives alone or has some of us kids. Shockingly, its my dad who actually is justified in having one for a daily driver.

There are four of us, and with our parents that makes six. Okay, that wouldn't work in a small car. However, what would work would be having one van and a small to midsize car. Even worse is when they take both vans because she doesn't want to ride with him.

Last summer, my brother managed to get around 32mpg in a '99 Taurus. That was through Ohio to an interview in Wooster, then CP, then home. That was, fyi, inherited from our grandmother, who passed away last June. The vans are probably averaging around 22mpg. Working at Wal-Mart on under $20k/yr, as my dad doesn't give her much, she is struggling with the mileage and gas price combination. I feel the pain and haven't even gotten my license yet.

When I graduate, my dad has pretty much promised me a new car. I would be moving every three months in work-school term rotation. Would I choose a van or SUV, or instead a small to midsize car? Well, having the room for 5 others to come to CP would be cool. However, I would likely be able to use the trunk and back seats to fit all I'd need. I don't need to get a status-symbolizing vehicle.

As such, I'm leaning towards a car, possibly a Mercury Milan or Ford Fusion I4. That engine is rated by the EPA as getting 23/31mpg city/hwy. A forum I read on the car suggests that people are getting even more than that. A minivan, such as the new Kia Sedona my dad suggested, would get potentially 18/25mpg, although reports show its hard to get that much.

From when I get my license to when I get my new car, I'll probably be stuck with a '98 Taurus that my dad has abused in so many ways. Hey, if it gets close to the 32mpg my brother has been getting in his '99, that'd make up for only being able to seat four comfortably as opposed to six. (From my experience, back seats can only hold two average people and a small child, not in a seat, comfortably, if that).

It's roomy enough for me, and that includes a lot of time in the back seat. That's all I'm going to need throughout high school, if not more. I'm sick of all these Jeeps, Hummers, and other SUVs that I see in the student lot at my high school. That is, knowing full well that its likely the property of some snotty, stuck-up, rich brat who gets whatever they want so their parents get them to shut up. Again, if the student has such a need, I don't see any problem with that, at all. Otherwise, there is no need to fill the lots with such wastes.

</my_opinionated_response>

^On pure highway condtions my minvan gets 25 mpg. City driving it gets 18 mpg.

Actually, while we're still generalizing, those SUV's that you see in your high school lot are most likely the Mom's daily driver that she lets junior drive to school while she stays at home to cook and clean.

You know, one of those Moms that only has two kids and never hauls anything.

It could be, but with the money that I know people have in this area... You never know. Even still, I think I'm getting my point across that those are not justifiable.

Minivans vary, and its great you're getting 18/25mpg. However, that is not necessarily the case for everyone.

topthrilldragster4lyf said:
<my_opinionated_response>

When I graduate, my dad has pretty much promised me a new car. ...As such, I'm leaning towards a car, possibly a Mercury Milan or Ford Fusion I4....

...I'm sick of all these Jeeps, Hummers, and other SUVs that I see in the student lot at my high school. That is, knowing full well that its likely the property of some snotty, stuck-up, rich brat who gets whatever they want so their parents get them to shut up. Again, if the student has such a need, I don't see any problem with that, at all. Otherwise, there is no need to fill the lots with such wastes.

</my_opinionated_response>

I have a bone to pick with that. What makes you different from the snotty, stuck-up, rich brats? You're being promised a new vehicle just as they got. I understand you have the need to get school, work, etc. but why do you need a new Fusion or Milan? Why not settle with an older model Civic or something like that? Or better yet, get a job and buy one yourself. I'm not trying to be rude or specifically attack you. Maybe it's because I'm 18 and have always worked for anything I wanted. If I wanted a cell phone, I saved and bought it and payed the bills. I needed a car for work so I saved my money and bought it. I pay my insurance (a nifty $4200/year) and all gas costs. I think it's all about growing up and learning responsibility. I'm 18 and in the bratty teenager age group, but I feel that I have much more maturity than most 18 year olds.

**By the way Josh, I drive a 99 Sable so I'd love to hear about how your brother got that kind of milage. :)

Vince982 said:
I'm 18 and in the bratty teenager age group, but I feel that I have much more maturity than most 18 year olds.

Most drivers think they are above average. Most people think their are above average in maturity.

Good Grief... said:
Reasons I love my SUV:

First, it's just a Chevy Blazer. Not a fancy model with bells & whistles, it's just a truck really. Rides like a truck, but seats us all on the road trip to CP comfortably, with room for stuff for baseball season in the back. (Stuff that would never all fit in your basic truck)

Second, my profession requires I have reliable transportation through any type of weather. I c/n call off just because I can't make it through some tough Ohio snow days. (Also, as a skier, it gets me to the slopes when the conditions are great for skiing, but bad for driving)

Third, as stated before we needed to haul a work trailer, & killed 2 birds with one stone (actually I hate that phrase because I'm a animal lover) by filling the above needs as well. A 4-cylinder obviously wouldn't cut it hauling for long before burning out the motor.

Now I don't give a rats butt about what the neighbors think. Status means nothing to me. So I do actually agree that many people really d/n have as much need for their SUV's as I feel I do, so as a tree hugger myself, I do see the environmental issue. I guess what I'm saying is: yes, it's not that good on gas, but I feel very justified in owning one, & no, I don't think as many people that have them should but some may have perfectly good reasons as well.

#1: You love your less-MPG SUV because it can seat 4 comfortably? You say it would never fit in your "basic" truck. What about your mid/full size car?

#2: Since when is a midsize car unreliable? You can't make it thru the once every 5 years blizzard that happens to strike at 5am so the plows can't plow any of the 12 before work"? The car won't start 45 minutes early so that you can ensure you'll be ontime? My midsize with snow tires performs better than my old truck ever did.

#3: Believe it or not, they make tow hitches for mid and fullsize cars as well

Looks like you do need that SUV for those frequent times when you haul 4 or more people with all of their own baseball equipment. Moreover you definitely need it for those snow events I described. And the best reason for getting it is because there is NO mid/full size car that would even have the possibility of having a trailer hitch added!

It makes perfect sense! You definitely need that SUV. I just hate to see you haul the 4 people to baseball (with their equipment of course) thru the 12" 5am blizzard that the plows give up on, hauling your trailer. That'd be terrible.

;) *** Edited 5/6/2007 5:36:44 AM UTC by cedarpointr0x*** *** Edited 5/6/2007 5:38:01 AM UTC by cedarpointr0x***

Loopy, calm down. It's just a message board.

Walt said:

Of course, the advantage of having something like a Honda Civic is that it would apparently give me a superiority complex.

[/image="/images/smile.gif"]

So I said:

And sorry Walt, I don't acually drive a Civic...it's a Jetta. Nice try, though.

[/image="/images/smile.gif"]

That's really the end of it, I reposted the quote a second time for Walt because it looked he didn't get my joke. It's not a big deal.

Look what gas is doing to everyone!

Curse you gas companies, CURSE YOU!!!!!:)

marvina1216 said:
I thought we weren't supposed to generalize here!

I wasn't generalizing. I made an observation on the tone of a specific thread.

marvina1216 said:

I reposted the quote a second time for Walt because it looked he didn't get my joke. It's not a big deal.

That was why I said...

Loopy said:

marvina, I think you forgot a smiley, Walt didn't.

If you didn't, I think you took that statement too seriously.

You told me to go read it again, when in reality you now just say it was a joke. So, it was just a joke and you forgot the smiley then, like I said, huh?

The smiley was there the first time I replied to Walt. I didn't see the need in putting in my second reply to him, as all I was doing was reminding him of what he had said, but I guess I needed to because you didn't go all the way back to my first post.

Anyway, the horse is dead, and you're starting to remind me of the small children I teach. So I'll be going now, because it's a weekend and I'm not getting paid for this.

>> Don't pump gas on MAY 15th

>> In April 1997, there was a "gas out" conducted nationwide in protest of

>> prices. Gasoline prices dropped 30 cents a gallon overnight.

>> On May 15th 2007, all internet users are to not go to a gas station
>> protest of high gas prices. Gas is now over $3.00 a gallon in most places

>> There are 73,000,000+ American members currently on the internet network,

>> and the average car takes about 30 to 50 dollars to fill up.

>> If all users did not go to the pump on the 15th, it would take
>> $2,292,000,000.00 (that's almost 3 BILLION) out of the oil companies pock
ets for just
>> one day, so please do not go to the gas station on May 15th and lets try
to
>> put a dent in the Middle Eastern oil industry for at least one day.
>> If you agree (which I cant see why you wouldn't) resend this to all your
>> contact list. With it saying, ''Don't pump gas on May 15th