Do you own a car?

[nogoodboyo]

Whether you were commenting about my specific car/needs or not, you quoted me and asked a direct question so I answered by agreeing with you, which was apparently not good enough.

VW Transporters are an excellent option but they're ugly, don't fit my style, and I doubt they're as comfy as my suburban.

I don't bitch about gas prices because I know that, no matter how high they get here, we probably have it better than just about anywhere else. Right now, it's fluctuating between $2.80-2.95/gallon here.

I don't drive any more than necessary; that's why it was no problem to let my boyfriend borrow it for the rest of the week to get to work.

Lyra_kitten, if you can't see past the vehicle in front of you, you're driving dangerously close; that's called tailgating and it's illegal.

I know many people who have several cars; I used to be one of them but then we'd have another thread complaining about that too.

You seem very sensitive about this. My points:

Car use has downsides - guilt is not ridiculous.

Cars could be more efficient than they are now - crap mpg is not compulsory even if you want a big car.

You asked whether you can have a big 9 seat car than beats 18mpg and I gave you an example.

That's all!

 

[Major Tom]

Can I ask if any of these people have ever lived outside a city where there is no public transport??

aurora green, Hollis, Major Tom, MankyMonkey, Pickman's model, Vixen

Just wondering how I'm meant to take my disabled granny for her shopping without a car.

I can't remember aiming any comments at you or your Granny - so I'm not going to get involved with that thorny issue.

However, all I said was that whether I own a car or not, I think cars are evil. Unfortunatley, I have been in the position where I've needed a car for nealry ten years now, it has become a necessity, but I still think its evil. Perhaps more so for the fact that i have become dependent upon it. I also think that money is evil, but I am forced to have some; politicians are evil, but I write to them, and vote; television is evil, but I watch it.

In my defence, I cycle to work every day (30 miles) and walk or use public transport as often as possible, usually only resorting to the car 2 or 3 times a week.

 

[Cloo]

Hope to avoid ownership for as long as possible. If you're healthy and living in London, unless you have kids or your job requires it, a car is unnecessary and a burden, IMHO.

 

[Vixiha]

You seem very sensitive about this. My points:

Car use has downsides - guilt is not ridiculous.

Cars could be more efficient than they are now - crap mpg is not compulsory even if you want a big car.

You asked whether you can have a big 9 seat car than beats 18mpg and I gave you an example.

That's all!

Sorry but I feel you seriously need to get over yourself.

 

[Johnny Canuck3]

If you're interested in safety then you shouldn't be driving a 4WD. Poorer handling, increased likelihood of roll-over and they do not have to meet the same safety standards as cars due to some arcane Federal classification system.

4WDs don't have any greater propensity to roll over than 2WD. It's about the centre of gravity, wrt rollovers.

And it handles fine within legal, or close to legal speeds.

 

[Pie 1]

These threads are like Groundhog Day.

 

[Poi E]

4WDs don't have any greater propensity to roll over than 2WD. It's about the centre of gravity, wrt rollovers.

And it handles fine within legal, or close to legal speeds.

Bit of a difference between the UK I suppose. We don't have the huge pick ups that you have, so a 4WD is the only thing of its type and size. I guess you guys have had dodgy monster truck things for years.

My flatmate has a Jeep, 1990s model. Dodgy handling and an amazing ability to give passengers motion sickness at even the smallest speed. He's had a good few breakdowns in it, too, included a broken drive shaft when he actually did take it off road. Paint is going flat as well. The recall because of the wonky auto that could pop the box into reverse all by itself was done for free.

 

[nogoodboyo]

Sorry but I feel you seriously need to get over yourself.

You must be joking.

 

[Poi E]

It's been great around here lately, lots of punch ups. Must be the change of seasons.

 

[ICB]

I had a 7L suburban as a company runabout when working in the US. It was a completely embarassing piece of shit.

i think the 4x4 target is incorrect ...

my rice burner only gets around 12-18mpg, has the highest band of c02 emission, and is capable of speeds which are frankly bordering on the suicidal.

at least the US sawker moms occassionally carry >1 person, which i very rarely do, and are unlikely to race aroiund like nutters. (unless the valium wears off, natch)

- admirable honesty but what are you doing back here after I promoted your U75 escape technique yesterday?

and it is?

Nissan 200sx RS13, not entirely standard

and even though I can easily get over 25mpg and it's nowhere near as bad as buying a new car every two or three years I do feel a little guilty sometimes

good punch up tho

 

[rioted]

It wouldn't fit in the underground parking at work.

A few years ago we went to a demo in Sheffield in a full 14 seater transit. Parked in an underground car park, no problem. We marched off, with the plan that the driver would pick us up at the end of the march. Disaster. Without a full load, the van was too high on its suspension to get out of the car park.

 

[nino_savatte]

I think cars can bring out the worst in people: they often turn ordinary meek human beings into selfish ignorants who don't give a shit about other road users or pedestrians.

 

[rennie]

no... i did and i turned a lovely new car into a smokign den and a dump. i'm just not made for cars.

 

[MarkMark]

I used to drive a lot, but I just can't be arsed with it in London.

 

[Spion]

I own a 21 year old car and a 36 year old motorbike. A car's pretty useful to have up here in the sticks, and apart from that I LIKE THEM. For years, when living in London, I didn't bother with one until I started going away at weekends a lot

 

[Vixiha]

You must be joking.

That's what I was going to say to you, when you thought I was upset by your comment. We must be having a serious communication error.

I got your 'points' the first time you said them and I've agreed with you about them all, except the idea that I'm upset by them or that your alternative to my vehicle was acceptable.

I just can't get my head around the reason you'd keep repeating them, as if I have disagreed with you over something very important.

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

Me: The sky is blue but I'm wearing sunglasses and they have a slight tint to them.

You: It is in fact pale blue. Do you not agree that it would be better to use sunglasses that are just as good but without a tint?

Me: Indeed, I do. Do you know of any sunglasses I could wear that might be as good as these without the tint?

Orang Utan:
I used to wear these all the time when I was a kid; I have lots of fond memories.

Me: Oh, thanks but they're not quite my style.

You: Stop taking everything so personally. The point is that the sky is pale blue but since you asked, these will protect your eyes much better than the ones you have.

Me: I thought that was basically what I said but the glasses I'm wearing suit me better.

You: You just don't seem to get it; I can tell you're about to cry I'm so very intimidating to you but, for the last time, the sky is pale blue and that's that!

Me: You have quite an ego, I see.

You: You're impossible!

Me: We must have a terrible misunderstanding but you're cute when that vein buldges on your forehead.

 

[ICB]

Now you've done it

Now you've gone and done it

<hides>

 

[Johnny Canuck3]

Bit of a difference between the UK I suppose. We don't have the huge pick ups that you have, so a 4WD is the only thing of its type and size. I guess you guys have had dodgy monster truck things for years.

My flatmate has a Jeep, 1990s model. Dodgy handling and an amazing ability to give passengers motion sickness at even the smallest speed. He's had a good few breakdowns in it, too, included a broken drive shaft when he actually did take it off road. Paint is going flat as well. The recall because of the wonky auto that could pop the box into reverse all by itself was done for free.

That sucks. Luckily, my jeep is newer than that, and has been problem free so far.

As for 4WD:

http://www.stationwagon.com/gallery/1989_Subaru_GL.html

http://www.theautochannel.com/media/photos/eagle/1998/98_eagle_talon_tsi_awd.jpg

http://www.canadiandriver.com/testdrives/02s60awd.htm

 

[Vixiha]

The engine in white rabbit's Jeep blew up on his birthday a couple of years ago, but only after he put tons of money into repairs on it first.

On the bright side, he took to public transport (bus) for a while but that wasn't practical for long, then he began to cycle to work, which put him in great shape, but his office moved locations and doesn't have a shower anymore so when since it started getting too hot, he's been borrowing a van. The AC went out and there are other problems with it too but he can't be arsed to take it in for a check up.