Chevy Volt Halted. Who did not see this coming?

[powerpace]

Seems like here the Suvs are hauling along at a good fast pace weaving in and out. Then suddenly they are turned over or on their sides and blocking the hwy.. Driving smarter would help, but it seems that driver education is not taught much any more here? Haven't noticed very many demolished cars like the one shown here, Looks like rescue cut the top and panels off? Wondered why Tahoes were so popular? I believe their fuel mileage is really too low?

If you look at the stats in the rollover link only 3% of accidents are rollovers. But they are the cause of a third of the deaths. Remember when highway deaths were in the 40 to 50 thousand range. Now it's in the low thirty thousand.
http://www.iihs.org/research/qanda/rollover.html
My kid has a Tahoe with the big rims. It sits in his driveway. I believe he only got about 18 mpg.

 

[jonyyuma]

I saw a little research on this about" does it really work". The answer is yes, but will it provide you with enough at a time? Production depends on the size? Then the cost of producing the gas.. PLUS the huge cylinders that line the bed of the truck and the very high pressure of them/ So???

 

[MasseyWV]

Yep one things about small cars they sure do save gas. BUT the other thing no one ever considers the damage during a crash.

It's one of many reasons why I drive an F250 truck, which is a tank compared to those little rice burners. In fact, I often worry about killing the other driver and/or passengers in the event of a head on crash with a small car because they wouldn't stand a chance against my truck.

As for electric cars, I question just how "green" they really are and seriously doubt that they will ever be a viable solution to the end of oil.

 

[jonyyuma]

If you look at the stats in the rollover link only 3% of accidents are rollovers. But they are the cause of a third of the deaths. Remember when highway deaths were in the 40 to 50 thousand range. Now it's in the low thirty thousand.

My kid has a Tahoe with the big rims. It sits in his driveway. I believe he only got about 18 mpg.

Sadly the high death rate has increased due to the SEAT BELT restraining system not being used?? Least thats my belief? Part of it is from watching the non-stop crash shows on TV while i eat my supper??Ha..

 

[jonyyuma]

It's one of many reasons why I drive an F250 truck, which is a tank compared to those little rice burners. In fact, I often worry about killing the other driver and/or passengers in the event of a head on crash with a small car because they wouldn't stand a chance against my truck.

As for electric cars, I question just how "green" they really are and seriously doubt that they will ever be a viable solution to the end of oil.

Okay, yes, my Cousin was killed in his f150 truck after a collison with a car half his weight. With his seatbelts still locked around him.. So more of the same theorys??But is it hard to argue with mass on impact, the same reason Freighttrains and dumptrucks mostly win their battles?

 

[powerpace]

Okay, yes, my Cousin was killed in his f150 truck after a collison with a car half his weight. With his seatbelts still locked around him.. So more of the same theorys??But is it hard to argue with mass on impact, the same reason Freighttrains and dumptrucks mostly win their battles?

The Prius has side and front air bag protection. Most passenger cars have them now. I don't know about the newer Pickups.

 

[jonyyuma]

The Prius has side and front air bag protection. Most passenger cars have them now. I don't know about the newer Pickups.

Details of the impact was drunk female hit his truck so hard it skidded sideways into an oak tree. The truck folded enought, for the damages to be fatal, side impact bags might have save him?? Who knows?/ Our new Whiz-bang has 6 air-bags arranged around the people inside..Yes it is a foreign named product..with a terrific safety crash rating... Something a lot of cars and trucks do not have ??

 

[westcliffe01]

Yes, were all back to driving hummers now cause we're scared of getting in a crash and we'd rather annihilate the "other" guy so we can be safe... :thumbsup::thumbsup::confused2:

Like it or not, people are building their own electric cars with lead acid batteries not because they are the best, but its because its what they can get. Unfortunately, the EPA gets in the way of people buying European diesels and putting them into their American cars, because otherwise that market would be flourishing.

There we get to the root of the problem. There has never been a free market and there never will be. Those with the biggest lobbyists get the rules written their way. After decades of court battles against the EPA, the big 3 finally embraced the harsh emissions legislation, because it is the only thing standing between REAL high MPG trucks and cars and the US market. Bu having the harshest emissions regulations, you can be sure that the conservative Japanese and Korean manufacturers would go into "wait and see" mode regarding introducing their models here in the US. The notable exception being gasoline vehicles, where to a great extent the battle is already lost except amongst the pick ups and SUV's. Note how Toyota stepped up the game on that front in recent times ?

The germans have already arrived with their compliant diesels, albeit at the top end of the price range in each segment. But is is just a matter of time before the smaller ones make their way over here, given the rising fuel prices.

 

[jonyyuma]

Having driven three diesels into the pavement. I had waited with baited breath for a domestic model ???Hence it was not to be..

 

[flusher]

Yep, crazy.....

The math will never work. My niece got a base model Civic, auto tranny, power locks, power windows, CD, and sunroof. It gets 35+ mpg on the highway and has averaged 33 mpg since day one. Cost about $18,000 At that rate and $4 per gallon gas she can drive the car for 100,000 miles for $12,000. That puts the total cost at $30,000 for the car.

The Volt at $41,000 even if the gas and electricity to recharge it were free would never come close. Heck, I went to publik skool and can figure that out.

My neighbor does not get it either. I talk about him all the time on here. Nice guy but just went out and bought a VW Diesel. $33,000 and its averaged 39 mpg in the two weeks they have had it. Yes, that is much better than the 15 mpg the Lincoln Aviator they traded in on it got but it was also paid off and owed them nothing. 39 mpg is nice economy but it burns $4.20 per gallon diesel. Thats about $.11 per mile for fuel. That same Civic mentioned above would get 33 mpg with $4 gas would cost $.12 per mile. So at a penny per mile difference that VW diesel will take 1,500,000 miles to break even.:confused2:

I would have keep the Aviator since it was paid off, in good condition, and only had 118,000 miles. Only repairs since new was a battery, a vacuum hose, a right front tie rod end, a set of rotors on the rear, and one full set of brakes having the front rotors turned. Oh yea, 3 sets of tires. I did every oil change and maintenance since new.

Chris

Yep, my 2009 Ford Focus gets 34.5 mpg (combined). Bought it in Jan2011 with 32000 miles showing for $12.5K with tradein. My son's 2007 Prius cost about $24K new.