SUVs IN FL

[Chicago526]

That data was probably provided by someone with a vested interest in decreasing SUV sales. You can get statistics to say whatever you want them to say.

Ummm, they were government studies. Did you even read them?

 

[ducklite]

I think it is unfair to expect perfection of anyone. I think that someonewho does drive an hybrid , or did make the choice to drive a fuel efficient vehicule for reason other than his/her pocket book ,

Considering that we paid about $8K more for the Prius over what we would have for a similar size and equipped non-hybrid, there's no way we'll recoup that kind of money over the life of the car in fuel savings--and it's more expensive to servie to begin with. We bought the car for the same reason we spent many thousands on energy saving upgrades on our house, to do our share to help the environment.

Anne

 

[skiwee1]

Considering that we paid about $8K more for the Prius over what we would have for a similar size and equipped non-hybrid, there's no way we'll recoup that kind of money over the life of the car in fuel savings--and it's more expensive to servie to begin with. We bought the car for the same reason we spent many thousands on energy saving upgrades on our house, to do our share to help the environment.

Anne

So putting in thousands of dollars of energy saving upgrades to a house makes up for buying an SUV then? Good! I've been redeemed! I can drive my MDX with pride for putting in over $35,000 worth of energy saving upgrades to our house! Oh and what about the thousands of dollars we donate yearly to the Save the Bay fund? Does that count too? I might just have to go out and buy another SUV. Wohoo!

 

[ducklite]

So putting in thousands of dollars of energy saving upgrades to a house makes up for buying an SUV then? Good! I've been redeemed! I can drive my MDX with pride for putting in over $35,000 worth of energy saving upgrades to our house! Oh and what about the thousands of dollars we donate yearly to the Save the Bay fund? Does that count too? I might just have to go out and buy another SUV. Wohoo!

Not at all. I was referring to the fact that DH and I walk the walk with actions rather than what basically amounts to blood money.

Anne

 

[toto2]

We have to start making choices we are comfortable for us , or that does not burst our our comfort zone too violently.


If it means that , you keep the SUV , but do your best to buy food that is produced locally , or make your house more energy efficient , that is a start.

Again , perfection is not to be expected !

 

[pattyT]

I don't think ANYONE needs to justify their choice of vehicle to anyone -
if your questioning WHY an SUV in FL -
then WHY a vette when the sppe limit is 65?

I can tell you that our Uncle lives in FL and has a Ford Expedition...
because HE LIKES IT! and he has to fit all of us visiting relatives in it sometimes also not a bad thing to have for the ride up to MA

 

[skiwee1]

Not at all. I was referring to the fact that DH and I walk the walk with actions rather than what basically amounts to blood money.

Anne

So anyone that buys an energy saving car is walking the walk but anyone that puts 4 times more money into energy saving upgrades into their house is not? Kind of hypocritical don't you think?

 

[skiwee1]

We have to start making choices we are comfortable for us , or that does not burst our our comfort zone too violently.


If it means that , you keep the SUV , but do your best to buy food that is produced locally , or make your house more energy efficient , that is a start.

Again , perfection is not to be expected !

Exactly! One thing is no better then the other contrary to what some want to believe. We all do our part.

 

[lillygator]

what about people who own more than one home? Taking up valuable land space which could be conserved.....


and as far as SUV owners being aggressive drives...what a crock!

 

[Mackey Mouse]

I live in liberal MA....I actually live on Cape Cod.. I have one car, granted it is an suv, and one house...

I live in an area where some of our biggest conservationist in the Senate are fighting against putting in windmills to create energy for the Cape and you want to know why.. it will spoil their view of Nantucket Sound...

You cannot have it both ways.. we either conserve and find a substitue for fossil fuel or we suffer the consequences.... It is not just about smaller cars and hybrids...let's look at the big picture as well.

 

[ducklite]

So anyone that buys an energy saving car is walking the walk but anyone that puts 4 times more money into energy saving upgrades into their house is not? Kind of hypocritical don't you think?

You're missing the point. I have a energy efficient house. I don't have gas guzzling toys. I donate time and cash to environmental charities. And I don't feel that because of this it ENTITLES me to drive a gas guzzling vehicle.

I do everything I reasonably can to help our environment, I don't do one thing as a trade off for something else.

Anne

 

[ducklite]

what about people who own more than one home? Taking up valuable land space which could be conserved.....


and as far as SUV owners being aggressive drives...what a crock!

If you're referring to me, I own one home. The NJ house has been sold for months now. I never said all SUV drivers were aggressive. It's been my experience that a disproportionate ratio of SUV drivers are aggressive.

Anne

 

[ducklite]

I live in liberal MA....I actually live on Cape Cod.. I have one car, granted it is an suv, and one house...

I live in an area where some of our biggest conservationist in the Senate are fighting against putting in windmills to create energy for the Cape and you want to know why.. it will spoil their view of Nantucket Sound...

You cannot have it both ways.. we either conserve and find a substitue for fossil fuel or we suffer the consequences.... It is not just about smaller cars and hybrids...let's look at the big picture as well.

I agree. The area of Florida we live has an almost constant breeze. I'd have no problem with them putting windmills up as a renewable source of energy. In fact the state park near us has a lot of high ridges and would be a perfect location for a windmill farm.

Anne

 

[CheshireVal]

You're missing the point. I have a energy efficient house. I don't have gas guzzling toys. I donate time and cash to environmental charities. And I don't feel that because of this it ENTITLES me to drive a gas guzzling vehicle.

I do everything I reasonably can to help our environment, I don't do one thing as a trade off for something else.

Anne

Well said. Just because you donate time or money to other environmental causes, if you drive an unnecessarily gas guzzling vehicle, you're still part of the problem rather than the solution.

 

[coolmom99]

Ummm, they were government studies. Did you even read them?

What is your point? Are you saying that the results of the study MUST be accurate because it was done by the government? Of course, we all know that the government would NEVER influence the results of a study, right?

 

[C.Ann]

Of course, we all know that the government would NEVER influence the results of a study, right?

-------------------------------------

Why would they? Just the taxing on gasoline alone for the gas guzzlers would be an incentive for the government to encourage MORE people to buy them..

 

[Chicago526]

What is your point? Are you saying that the results of the study MUST be accurate because it was done by the government? Of course, we all know that the government would NEVER influence the results of a study, right?

The study I linked in my post was from the University of Michigan (you know, that state that the Big 3 automakers are from?) and the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, operated by the University of California for the U.S. Department of Energy and presented at the Transportation Research Board 82nd Annual Meeting in Washington DC in January of 2003.

So, while I suppose they could have faked the data, why would they? What would the motivation of THESE particular organizations be?

If the study was from www.i_hate_suv's.com then you'd have a point. But not in this case. As I asked you before, did you not read the post in which I sited the studies? If not, and if you don't want to go back and look (it is a long thread) I'd be happy to send you the link.

 

[toto2]

What is your point? Are you saying that the results of the study MUST be accurate because it was done by the government? Of course, we all know that the government would NEVER influence the results of a study, right?

It is interesting to had that the energy task force of this american administration was composed mostly of representatives of the energy corporation and no environmental group was invited for the planning of the energy plan. So in fact , it is quite possible this goverment does not want to see less SUVs on the road .