Results 1 to 17 of 17

Thread: $6,800 car gets over 80 mpg

  1. #1
    God/dess
    Joined
    Sep 2006
    Posts
    7,964
    Thanks
    6,155
    Thanked 10,183 Times in 4,602 Posts

    Default $6,800 car gets over 80 mpg

    Elio Motors, a startup company is coming out with a new vehicle that costs $6,800 and will achieve a highway mileage rating of more than 80 mpg. The vehicle has three wheels, and sits two people, one behind the other. The vehicle will be produced in a factory near Shreveport, Louisiana. Commercial production is expected to begin in mid-2014.

  2. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to eagle2 For This Useful Post:


  3. #2
    Banned Melonie's Avatar
    Joined
    Jul 2002
    Location
    way south of the border
    Posts
    25,932
    Thanks
    612
    Thanked 10,563 Times in 4,646 Posts
    Blog Entries
    3
    My Mood
    Cynical

    Default Re: $6,800 car gets over 80 mpg

    and who says that history doesn't repeat itself ...




    (snip)"After WWII, a devastated European economy and a need for affordable private vehicles gave rise to new class of micro autos called "bubble cars."

    Messerschmitt built Luftwaffe airplanes during WWII including the world's first operational jet fighter. Prohibited from making aircraft after the war, the company turned to micro car production. The Messerschmitt KR200 was termed a kabinenroller or "cabin scooter" and that's exactly what it was, an enclosed motorcycle with an extra wheel in the front and seating for two under a plexiglass bubble.

    The KR200's light weight and excellent aerodynamics allowed it to achieve 56 m.p.h. despite a modest engine listed at 10 horsepower. Gas consumption averaged around 87 m.p.g.

    In 1956 Messerschmitt was allowed to produce aircraft again. The company soon lost interest in micro cars and sold the rights to the KR200 to its designer Fritz Fend who kept it in production until 1964. Messerschmitt sales declined as Europe's economy improved and competitors for basic transportation like the Volkswagen beetle and Austin Mini dominated the small car market."(snip)


    The possible repeating historical elements are that ...

    A. the economy has deteriorated to the point where a significant number of people can no longer afford to buy ... and actually pay for ... even the least expensive conventional design 'economy' cars available. For reference, the absolute cheapest new cars available in the USA are the $12,800 Nissan Versa and the $13,000 Chevy Spark. A non-subsidized 5 year auto loan payment on such vehicles is in the vicinity of $250 per month ... plus another $200 per month for insurance and gasoline and maintenance. The growing number of near minimum wage unskilled US workers earning even $10/hr x 28 hours per week x 4.3 weeks / month = $1100 per month after taxes simply cannot afford to spend $450 of that $1100 on a car !!!

    B. this in turn has also caused used cars to increase in price, as people with an increasingly limited amount of 'discretionary' income are forced to seek a lower cost alternative than even the least expensive new cars. However, the used car inventory is finite since supply now depends on previous years' new car sales, which have been historically low ! ( post-WW2 used car inventory was also very limited, but by the mandated cutoff of civilian vehicle production during the war years )

    C. Thus like post-WW2 western europe, a growing niche exists for an absolute bargain basement alternative for 'all weather' basic transportation. Achieving that bargain basement sale price similarly requires the abandonment of an 'auto' engine in favor of a 'motorcycle' engine, abandonment of an 'auto' body in favor of a covered motorcycle body, abandonment of 4 wheels-a rear axle-and a differential in favor of 3 wheels with no axle or differential, etc.

    D. Like the post-WW2 western european 'bubble car' designs, consumers in general would rather not buy them ... but will have little choice given the comparative cost of buying and insuringa conventional design 'economy' car plus the gasoline required to drive it, versus the level of 'discretionary' income they are actually able to generate.
    Last edited by Melonie; 04-20-2013 at 07:51 AM.

  4. #3
    Banned
    Joined
    Aug 2011
    Location
    Aboard The Spaceship
    Posts
    4,787
    Thanks
    3,183
    Thanked 10,142 Times in 3,290 Posts
    My Mood
    Breezy

    Default Re: $6,800 car gets over 80 mpg

    This is a step in the right direction, but there's no way the people in control of this country (and the world) would let it gain popularity because there's so much money to be made with oil. Public transportation put in everywhere there's a freeway would be even better. Wouldn't that be amazing? These things need to catch on, but they won't because there's no profit in it. Sucks so bad.

    Shits never going to change with this world (especially the economy) until things like this catch on, education is really affordable (ha!), and people start being their own bosses (whether starting a business or being an independent contractor). I feel like power has shifted so much in this country, to the point where we're fucked. We rely too much on corporations instead of mom&pop everything. But its a catch-22 because whose going to spend on mom&pop shops when corporation products are a zillion times cheaper?

    Lol @ my rant, but anyway.

  5. #4
    Banned Melonie's Avatar
    Joined
    Jul 2002
    Location
    way south of the border
    Posts
    25,932
    Thanks
    612
    Thanked 10,563 Times in 4,646 Posts
    Blog Entries
    3
    My Mood
    Cynical

    Default Re: $6,800 car gets over 80 mpg

    I'm reluctant to get into some of these issues in the Lounge, but...


    there's no way the people in control of this country (and the world) would let it gain popularity because there's so much money to be made with oil
    I'd argue that, today at least, such high mileage low cost vehicles would NOT be opposed by the 'powers that be'. If anything, like post-WW2 europe they will be opposed by consumers ... but reluctantly accepted if said consumers don't have enough income to buy something bigger and better. Another reason ( see thread in the Dollar Den ) that such high mileage low cost vehicles would NOT be opposed by the 'powers that be' is that the availability of this lower cost option would allow the gov't / US taxpayers to stop 'subsidizing' the purchase of new Chevy Sparks by low income 'subprime' buyers via 75% US taxpayer owned Ally Bank ( = GMAC ). The US taxpayer 'subsidy' takes the form of the extremely low down payment and interest rates being insufficient to 'break even' versus the losses incurred on defaulted 'subprime' auto loans. At the moment, the US taxpayer is already on the hook for some $25 billion via Ally Bank ( = GMAC ).


    But its a catch-22 because whose going to spend on mom&pop shops when corporation products are a zillion times cheaper?
    Corporation products are much cheaper for two primary reasons. One is economy of scale. The other is that international corporations are able to take advantage of much lower labor costs, environmental compliance costs, worker safety costs, benefit costs, taxes etc. available in foreign countries, while US mom & pop businesses must bear all of these costs. In many cases this makes US based businesses non-competitive, which in turn reduces US demand for both skilled and unskilled labor, which in turn provides less 'discretionary' income for would-be buyers of lowest cost conventional new cars, which in turn could force more Americans to turn to a future 'bubble car' as their only affordable option.

    As to 'affordable' education, these days college tuition has never been more affordable. All the person has to do is take out a huge student loan, fail to repay, and wait 10-20 years until the student loan is officially 'forgiven'. But even so, adding more skilled workers and professionals to the US work force does NOT automatically create new high paying US jobs for those additional skilled workers and professionals to fill !!! At the very least, the 'import' of foreign skilled workers and professionals under H1-B visas and other programs ( like US raised illegal immigrant children recently granted the right to legally reside and work in the USA ) already has, and will continue to, depress available pay rates for US skilled workers and professionals who ARE able to land a job in their field.
    Last edited by Melonie; 04-19-2013 at 10:26 PM.

  6. #5
    Veteran Member Krill_'s Avatar
    Joined
    Feb 2011
    Posts
    281
    Thanks
    180
    Thanked 270 Times in 123 Posts

    Default Re: $6,800 car gets over 80 mpg

    4.4k, available now

    I bought an 09' TU250 last summer as a second bike with ridiculously low total cost of ownership. Consistently 75-78 MPG and virtually no maintenance cost besides fluids and tires. It's probably the only motorcycle in scooter territory in that regard since the other 250's are classified as sport bikes by insurance companies. I really do think a moto, scoot, regular hyrbid or TDI vehicle is the only option for hypermiling.

    Why am I blathering about 2 wheelers? Well these 3 wheel contraptions have 90% of the danger of a motorcycle with 0% of the fun! It seems to me all you're gaining is some degree of weather protection and modestly better visibility.

    And a sincere lol @ someone's bizarre alternate universe somehow being related to every possible topic.

  7. #6
    Banned Melonie's Avatar
    Joined
    Jul 2002
    Location
    way south of the border
    Posts
    25,932
    Thanks
    612
    Thanked 10,563 Times in 4,646 Posts
    Blog Entries
    3
    My Mood
    Cynical

    Default Re: $6,800 car gets over 80 mpg

    ^^^ yes, but ... you can't rely on a motorcycle alone for daily home to job transportation in the 90% of the USA that has ... heavy rain, freezing temperatures, snow, sleet, high winds, etc. ... PLUS an absence of cheap fast public transportation. Or put another way, outside of southern California's 'perfect' weather, or outside of big cities with subways, owning JUST a motorcycle can't fulfill the basic need of getting to a job every day. The 3 wheel 'bubble cars' CAN meet that need.

  8. #7
    Senior Member aberrant's Avatar
    Joined
    Feb 2012
    Posts
    141
    Thanks
    89
    Thanked 446 Times in 111 Posts

    Default Re: $6,800 car gets over 80 mpg

    This is what I think of when I hear 3 wheeled car. Do not want.

  9. The Following User Says Thank You to aberrant For This Useful Post:


  10. #8
    Veteran Member Krill_'s Avatar
    Joined
    Feb 2011
    Posts
    281
    Thanks
    180
    Thanked 270 Times in 123 Posts

    Default Re: $6,800 car gets over 80 mpg

    Quote Originally Posted by Melonie View Post
    ^^^ yes, but ... you can't rely on a motorcycle alone for daily home to job transportation in the 90% of the USA that has ... heavy rain, freezing temperatures, snow, sleet, high winds, etc. ... PLUS an absence of cheap fast public transportation. Or put another way, outside of southern California's 'perfect' weather, or outside of big cities with subways, owning JUST a motorcycle can't fulfill the basic need of getting to a job every day. The 3 wheel 'bubble cars' CAN meet that need.
    If you owned something dirt cheap like an 8+ year old civic / corolla, and used a moto or scoot when possible, the TCO of both vehicles would still be way, way lower than a new car. The bulk of the cost with cars is depreciation, then insurance, then fuel, depending on the vehicle of course. Older cars will also be less of hit with taxes and registration fees in most states. All of these factors favor older vehicles if TCO is your primary concern.

    No way I would want to hit the road on one of these three wheel bubble contraptions without developing defensive survival skills either. I honestly would worry about naive people buying one without understanding the risk, as I happen to live in a college city where there's already tons of young people that ride scoots on a wing and prayer. When I look over and see an attractive girl on a new Vespa in shorts and flip-flops it makes me cringe, and now I'm picturing grandma in one of these things!

    @ aberrant, gold star for Top Gear reference

  11. #9
    Banned Melonie's Avatar
    Joined
    Jul 2002
    Location
    way south of the border
    Posts
    25,932
    Thanks
    612
    Thanked 10,563 Times in 4,646 Posts
    Blog Entries
    3
    My Mood
    Cynical

    Default Re: $6,800 car gets over 80 mpg

    ^^^ yes, true, but you are still missing the point. The reasons that 8+ year old Honda Civic's were / still are available to fill this role at a reasonable price was because ...

    A. eight years ago most working Americans were still able to earn a big enough after-tax paycheck to afford to buy those $16,000 sticker price 2005 Honda Civics in the first place. With the sticker price having now risen to over $20,000, but with average after-tax paychecks not having risen at all ( and arguably having actually fallen ) since 2005, fewer new Honda Civics will be sold this year than in 2005. This means that 8 years from now, fewer 8 year old 2013 Honda Civics will be available on the used vehicle market than there are 8 year old Honda Civics available on the used vehiclemarket today.

    B. While probably not directly affecting too many Honda Civic models, the US gov'ts recent 'cash for clunkers' program simply destroyed 690,000 used vehicles thus permanently reducing the total 'supply' of available used vehicles going forward. This increased the market price of remaining used vehicles across the board.

    Putting A and B together, you get ...

    (snip)"A midsize used car under five years old is projected to sell at an average price of $11,850 this year, according to the group. Two years ago, the same car would have sold for $10,325. The average price for a large, used pickup truck one to five years old is expected to be $19,050, compared with $17,050 two years ago.

    "The prices you see out there now is the new normal for the market," said Jonathan Banks, executive automotive analyst at the National Automobile Dealers Association. "We don't see prices having a huge falloff, which is good when it comes to depreciation, but for consumers, it means they will really have to shop around."

    For years, the used-car market was a haven for thrifty shoppers looking to buy a car at an affordable price. Sticker prices often fluctuated thanks to auto makers who would routinely flood dealer lots with more cars than the market could handle. Big incentives to spark sales added another level of pricing pressure as consumers who rushed to nab a deal also would trade in their vehicles, further saturating the market.

    Then came the financial crisis in 2008. Consumers began holding on to their cars longer. Auto makers cut production, pinching new-vehicle shipments to rental-car companies, which in turn slowed the flow of vehicles into the used-car lots. Even repossessions, another source of used cars, have declined. The number of repossessed cars in 2011 was 1.3 million, down 32% from 2009, according to Manheim Consulting, which also tracks the used-car market.

    Despite the shrinking supply, demand for previously owned vehicles increased as those consumers who were shopping during the recession bought used cars.

    Not much has changed. The used-car supply remains strained as auto makers keep production and incentives in check.

    "What we had in the past was abnormal," said Manheim Consulting chief economist Tom Webb, who publishes the Manheim Used Car Value Index. "There has been a permanent shift here.
    "(snip)


    The larger point, of course, is that the second-hand car market does not have an 'independent' supply of available vehicles. Every second-hand car for sale this year required the manufacture and sale of a NEW car in a past year. As the 2008 cutbacks in actual number of new vehicles manufactured and sold now trickles down to far fewer 2008 model used cars being available this year, in combination with fewer Americans being able afford to by even the lowest cost new vehicles thus forced to shop for a used vehicle, market prices for those fewer numbers of available 2008 and newer second-hand vehicles are rapidly rising.

    Also, with each passing year, the comparative 'glut' of lower priced pre-2008 second hand vehicles becomes a smaller share of the overall used vehicle market due to 'attrition' ... i.e. wrecked, junked due to major problems, etc. And already reduced sales of new cars post 2008 has in turn already resulted in the average age of the American vehicle rising to 11.1 years per . Cars do not last forever. At some point, the rising maintenance costs associated with getting an aging vehicle to be able to successfully pass gov't mandated annual vehicle safety inspections / emissions tests becomes unaffordable, effectively removing those vehicles from the US second-hand vehicle market as well. This simultaneously creates the need for a 'new' vehicle', or at least a 'newer' second-hand vehicle, but neither may be an affordable future option.

    Thus the factors are ALREADY in place, both in terms of falling second-hand vehicle supply, as well as from rising second-hand vehicle demand, to make the future possibility of a 'dirt cheap' 8 year old Honda Civic still being available highly unlikely for the growing number of American workers who can no longer afford to purchase ( and actually pay for ) neither a new car nor a 'late model' used car.


    No way I would want to hit the road on one of these three wheel bubble contraptions without developing defensive survival skills either. I honestly would worry about naive people buying one without understanding the risk
    Actually, this would be another aspect of history repeating itself. The european safety record of the post-WW2 'bubble cars' was absolutely atrocious. In fact, a different model 'bubble car', the BMW Isetta, was 'infamous' for chopping off passengers' legs when involved in traffic accidents. This was due to the Isetta's only door being located at the front of the vehicle.




    This is what I think of when I hear 3 wheeled car. Do not want.
    Obviously the vast majority of post-WW2 europeans felt exactly the same way. This is the reason that they stopped buying 'bubble cars' once their economies / earnings levels began to improve in the 1960's such that 'micro cars' like the Mini Cooper, the Renault Dauphine, the Fiat 500 etc. became a realistic option - providing 4 wheels and a rear axle thus a fair degree of improved safety, but at a higher price. But until their economies/ earnings levels actually improved to the point of being able to AFFORD that higher price, they were FORCED to buy 'bubble cars' if they wanted / needed any form of all weather private transportation. This was the situation that western europe faced for some 20 years post WW2 ... with their manufacturing / export capacity destroyed, with chronically high unemployment rates, etc. This is also the situation that American economy arguably now increasingly faces.

    Consider what other potential options exist in the absence of a truly inexpensive resurrected 'bubble car' becoming available for future American workers. Based on the present extremely limited ability of US workers to leverage for higher pay rates ( not happening due to a host of factors from outsourcing to automation to offshoring to 'legalized' illegal immigrants etc. ), the math simply works out that an increasing number of US workers simply cannot earn enough money to afford to buy ( and actually pay for ) a new conventional design car whose cost is based on meeting all US safety, emissions, and fuel economy requirements. So what happens from there ? Continue the 'stealth' US Taxpayer subsidies ( i.e. using Ally Bank = GMAC to write loss producing 'subprime' auto loans for low income buyers of GM and Chrysler vehicles ), effectively making a decent car a new social welfare benefit ? Abandon American suburbia to eliminate the need for private cars for travel between home and work - in turn relying on big city mass transit systems - thus big city apartments and big city employment opportunities ? Or eliminate the need for private cars for travel between home and work by simply eliminating the requirement for work via 'permanent' social welfare benefits ( i.e. permanent 'disability' benefits, infinitely extended 'emergency' unemployment benefits )?

    It would appear that, as a 'stop-gap' measure, some auto manufacturers were already trying to avoid having to slide all the way back to 'bubble cars', by first reintroducing modernized versions of the 'micro-cars' that followed the 'bubble cars' in 1960's europe. This started with the BMW Mini Cooper, the Mercedes / Renault Smart Car, and has now been followed by the Fiat 500. Unfortunately, the US dollar exchange rate, plus the costs of meeting US safety, emissions, etc. requirements, has priced all of these vehicles in the mid to upper teens ... thus rendering them still 'unaffordable' for that growing segment of US workers trying to get by on full time near minimum wage jobs ... let alone the growing number facing the prospect of maximum 28 hour per week $8-9-10 per hour part time jobs.

    The much lower production cost of a new 'bubble car', resulting in a much lower ~$7,000 sticker price for a new 'bubble car' that will actually be affordable versus the stagnant / shrinking paychecks and rising taxes of American workers, provides a viable alternative ( arguably the ONLY viable alternative ) to these other potential outcomes.
    Last edited by Melonie; 04-21-2013 at 09:04 AM.

  12. #10
    Featured Member MissSassyPickles's Avatar
    Joined
    Dec 2012
    Location
    United States
    Posts
    1,233
    Thanks
    1,664
    Thanked 2,518 Times in 767 Posts
    My Mood
    Psychedelic

    Default Re: $6,800 car gets over 80 mpg

    I plan on getting rid of my car altogether. I can actually rent a car for cheaper when need be, use a car sharing service, public transport, or have a driver without having to pay for insurance, maintenance, gas, etc. and if you're living in an urban area, parking. I did the math and if I limit my trips to once I week, I can have a private driver once a week, 2x a week - rent a car, 3x - car sharing service, any more than that and public transport and it will STILL cost me less than having a car. My car is fully paid off btw too.

    The sharing economy really is the way of the future, and I 110% agree that "access trumps ownership".
    Quote Originally Posted by qurl View Post
    You are sassy AND smart Miss Pickles.

    "Well behaved women seldom make history." - Laurel Thatcher Ulrich

  13. #11
    God/dess
    Joined
    Sep 2006
    Posts
    7,964
    Thanks
    6,155
    Thanked 10,183 Times in 4,602 Posts

    Default Re: $6,800 car gets over 80 mpg

    Quote Originally Posted by Krill_ View Post

    4.4k, available now

    I bought an 09' TU250 last summer as a second bike with ridiculously low total cost of ownership. Consistently 75-78 MPG and virtually no maintenance cost besides fluids and tires. It's probably the only motorcycle in scooter territory in that regard since the other 250's are classified as sport bikes by insurance companies. I really do think a moto, scoot, regular hyrbid or TDI vehicle is the only option for hypermiling.

    Why am I blathering about 2 wheelers? Well these 3 wheel contraptions have 90% of the danger of a motorcycle with 0% of the fun! It seems to me all you're gaining is some degree of weather protection and modestly better visibility.

    And a sincere lol @ someone's bizarre alternate universe somehow being related to every possible topic.
    I would say that the three wheel vehicle is much safer since the driver is surrounded by steel, and the vehicle has safety-belts and airbags. Someone riding a motorcycle has no protection at all.

  14. #12
    God/dess
    Joined
    Sep 2006
    Posts
    7,964
    Thanks
    6,155
    Thanked 10,183 Times in 4,602 Posts

    Default Re: $6,800 car gets over 80 mpg

    Quote Originally Posted by aberrant View Post
    This is what I think of when I hear 3 wheeled car. Do not want.
    The vehicle in your video has a much higher center of gravity, which makes it much more likely to rollover. The same is true for four-wheeled vehicles. Four wheel vehicles with a high center of gravity, such as trucks and SUV's are far more likely to roll over than cars. Electronic stability control has helped reduce the rollover rate for trucks and SUV's. Before most trucks and SUV's were equipped with it, there was a serious problem with rollovers for these types of vehicles.

    In the Elio's video, the vehicle seemed to be able to handle turns okay. We'll see how it does in tests. If the Elio does well in crash tests and handling tests, I think it would be worth considering for someone who would benefit from a vehicle like that. I was thinking of those dancers who live 100 - 150 miles away from the club where they work. A vehicle that gets over 80 mpg could save them a lot of money on transportation costs.

  15. #13
    God/dess
    Joined
    Sep 2006
    Posts
    7,964
    Thanks
    6,155
    Thanked 10,183 Times in 4,602 Posts

    Default Re: $6,800 car gets over 80 mpg

    Quote Originally Posted by Melonie View Post
    ^^^ yes, true, but you are still missing the point. The reasons that 8+ year old Honda Civic's were / still are available to fill this role at a reasonable price was because ...

    A. eight years ago most working Americans were still able to earn a big enough after-tax paycheck to afford to buy those $16,000 sticker price 2005 Honda Civics in the first place. With the sticker price having now risen to over $20,000, but with average after-tax paychecks not having risen at all ( and arguably having actually fallen ) since 2005, fewer new Honda Civics will be sold this year than in 2005. This means that 8 years from now, fewer 8 year old 2013 Honda Civics will be available on the used vehicle market than there are 8 year old Honda Civics available on the used vehiclemarket today.
    I've been leasing Civics for approximately eight years, and a 2013 Honda Civic probably cost less than a similarly equipped 2005 Civic did in 2005. The basic 2013 Civic includes electronic stability control, radio controls on the steering wheel, remote opener for the trunk, and a rear-view camera. If you wanted these features on a 2005 Civic, you would have had to get a higher end model, which would cost around $22,000, and it would not have included a rear-view camera or electronic stability control. In addition, the sticker price for a basic 2013 Civic is $18,000, so you can probably get one for less than that.

  16. The Following User Says Thank You to eagle2 For This Useful Post:


  17. #14
    God/dess
    Joined
    Sep 2006
    Posts
    7,964
    Thanks
    6,155
    Thanked 10,183 Times in 4,602 Posts

    Default Re: $6,800 car gets over 80 mpg

    Quote Originally Posted by MissSassyPickles View Post
    I plan on getting rid of my car altogether. I can actually rent a car for cheaper when need be, use a car sharing service, public transport, or have a driver without having to pay for insurance, maintenance, gas, etc. and if you're living in an urban area, parking. I did the math and if I limit my trips to once I week, I can have a private driver once a week, 2x a week - rent a car, 3x - car sharing service, any more than that and public transport and it will STILL cost me less than having a car. My car is fully paid off btw too.

    The sharing economy really is the way of the future, and I 110% agree that "access trumps ownership".
    That makes sense if you're in a position where you're able to do all of this.
    Last edited by eagle2; 04-21-2013 at 10:58 AM.

  18. #15
    Banned Melonie's Avatar
    Joined
    Jul 2002
    Location
    way south of the border
    Posts
    25,932
    Thanks
    612
    Thanked 10,563 Times in 4,646 Posts
    Blog Entries
    3
    My Mood
    Cynical

    Default Re: $6,800 car gets over 80 mpg

    I've been leasing Civics for approximately eight years, and a 2013 Honda Civic probably cost less than a similarly equipped 2005 Civic did in 2005
    Ah, a different angle ... leasing instead of buying. Indeed leasing a vehicle these days is less expensive than ever thanks to FED policy which has ( temporarily ) depressed interest rates to record low levels. However, in a non US taxpayer subsidized lease environment, the lessee actually needs to have a decent credit rating, a verifiable income level sufficient to cover the lease payments in addition to normal costs of living and other debt service, several thousand dollars in 'front money', etc. Few near minimum wage American workers could actually meet those criteria in the absence of de-facto taxpayer guarantees ( i.e. FED junk bond purchases, taxpayer money continuing to be used by Ally Bank = GMAC for 'free', etc. ).


    The sharing economy really is the way of the future, and I 110% agree that "access trumps ownership".
    Eagle2 and I actually agree on this point ( perhaps not agreeing whether it is a desireable development, but agreeing on its inevitability due to economic fundamentals ). However, it does require that you must live in a particular location where said 'access' to cheap and convenient public transportation, to car sharing services, etc. are readily available ... which arguably leaves out 90% of the USA. And other than ( taxpayer subsidized ) big city public transportion, none of these options is economically viable for basic daily transportation between home and place of work.

  19. #16
    Featured Member strippername's Avatar
    Joined
    Aug 2010
    Posts
    1,459
    Thanks
    668
    Thanked 1,079 Times in 492 Posts

    Default Re: $6,800 car gets over 80 mpg

    These look and sound really safe!!! I will take five for my whole family!!!!

  20. #17
    Member MasterZeus's Avatar
    Joined
    Apr 2013
    Location
    Land of Cheese!
    Posts
    21
    Thanks
    20
    Thanked 17 Times in 9 Posts

    Default Re: $6,800 car gets over 80 mpg

    I would definitely switch in a heartbeat if they were available.....

Similar Threads

  1. The 1-800-AXE GARY Amphitheater
    By Mr Hyde in forum The Lounge
    Replies: 4
    Last Post: 06-11-2010, 11:42 AM
  2. 800 calories a day.
    By LoveComesFromWithin in forum Body Business
    Replies: 21
    Last Post: 08-12-2008, 11:24 PM
  3. mercedes smart car - 55 mpg
    By Peanut_Butter in forum The Lounge
    Replies: 20
    Last Post: 06-16-2008, 05:15 PM
  4. The moral of the story... Trippingtherift.mpg
    By WiseGuy_TX in forum Picture Post
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: 11-06-2004, 09:18 PM
  5. Do you visit low MPG upscale clubs ? How often?
    By Tigerlilly in forum Shop Talk
    Replies: 39
    Last Post: 05-21-2004, 07:15 AM

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •