@ Vintage

It's either that video (which I can't be bothered to watch) or that damned louver IS-F pics. I am very bored of you.
(although, yeah, Prius isn't the way to go)

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@Vintage:
Do you really LIKE trolling Prius/anything hybrid posts?

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First, @ Ethan: I'm sorry I had to reply to you to get this point across.

Second, @ Vintage: I hate it when people use foul language on the blog comments, but seriously take that damn video and shove it up your ass. You post it MULTIPLE times on every Prius article and every time there is some mention of "green" tech. We get it. You don't like new cars. Now stop that.

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"Nope, sorry, I'm not going to stop. Ever. I'm sick of rich white people pretending they're saving the world by purchasing a car that uses more resources than most vehicles. I'm sick of the smugness of prius owners, who believe they are doing something "good" for the environment by getting a new Prius."

And where do you encounter all these "smug" Prius owners? Do you wash cars for a living? Otherwise it sounds like a weak excuse from a shill troll who's targeting hybrid cars and getting called out for it. This guy is either a GM-paid troll or an oil lobby troll. Just flag all his posts.

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Yep. GM is paying me to tell the world to drive used cars longer. That's their business strategy. Getting people to post about how buying new cars is bad for the environment.

START THINKING.

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Vintage, I agree with the basic sentiment against a disposable culture, but you're stretching it into a fallacy.

Number one, you can't have used cars without someone buying new cars. Would you rather those new cars be more sparing with fuel, or less?

Number two, you don't keep a used car running for decades without eventually replacing enough worn parts (whose replacements are built *new* for your mechanic) that--combined with the used car's higher emissions--you've effectively canceled out the environmental advantage of hanging on to your clunker.

Number three, most people who drive used cars don't maintain them meticulously, and a few gross polluters spew more crap than a few hundred new cars would in the same trip.

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vintage, you give us prius haters a bad name.

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Obviously some people will continue to buy new cars. What I am suggesting, is that people do not do so AS OFTEN. Right now cars are overproduced at an alarming rate, which causes rapid depreciation in the value of used cars. When these used cars have a simple problem, like worn suspension bushings and a failing transmission, they are junked. That is extremely wasteful, to throw away/recycle a car with a decent interior, body, exhaust, engine, electrical system, cooling system, etc. What I am suggesting is that people buy new cars LESS. This would decrease the demand of newer vehicles, which would allow automakers to make higher quality vehicles that would last even longer. This would also increase the value of used cars so that people would repair them instead of junking/scrapping them.

There will ALWAYS be used cars available, because we have so many of them. If people quit buying new cars entirely, then my position would change, but I doubt that will happen, it's not a very realistic outlook. Reducing the rate at which we consume new vehicles, however, is reasonable, realistic, and would be a huge plus for our environment.

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Also PJ, you can keep a car on a road for a few decades without replacing a whole lot. I know, because my daily driver is an 89 Accord, which is 19 years old and has 267,000 miles. It's gone through one transmission (before I owned it), 2 sets of struts, 1 set of springs, 3 sets of rotors and pads, 1 exhaust system, 1 set of factory speakers, 1 radio, 1 set of suspension bushings, and 6 axles. You do not need to manufacture parts BRAND NEW in order to have your car fixed. Half the time, I purchase remanufactured units which means they take an axle, redo the U-joint, check everything else, repack it with grease, and resell it. Also, second hand parts are available for almost anything...used exhaust systems, used cooling systems, whatever you want. I rarely buy anything truly 'new' for this car unless it is in the braking system.

If that seems like I've replaced a lot, here's what's stayed the same for the past 19 years: The chassis, the interior, the glass, the engine, the cooling system, the ignition system, the wheels, the calipers, the electrical system, the paint, the trim, and all the suspension components with replaceable bushings. It still gets 30-35mpg, and still passes emissions.

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Well, then Toyota has plenty of SUV's that people will start buying again, and they can convert Prius production to something else. They've got their bases covered. Detroit - not so much.

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Well, the real reason gas came down this week is that China is making half of the drivers in Bejing park their cars during the Olympics. ;)

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RE: "*Never come down? That's what they said about house prices."

I don't remember anyone saying that. All I remember is nonstop talk about a housing bubble that was due to eventually burst but no one knew when. All I hear today from just about every business that hinges on oil prices in some way or shape is that expensive oil is here to stay. Will there be dips? Sure, but the days of filling up for $1.42/gallon are gone.

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Mr. Goat, yes, yes there were those who said it was a bubble, but judging by the behavior of the market, few believed those voices crying the wilderness. Until too late.

I think the question is not whether the prices will fall--not just "dip"--the question is "how far?" Note that the price of oil went up when money was being pulled out of housing. Where did that money go?

Certainly if demand continues to grow while increases in supply are prohibited, prices will climb, and certainly demand will increase. But no one in his right mind would suggest that the recent overnight spike in oil prices is the result of the linear increase in demand from India and China. They didn't just discover petroleum products overnight.

Indeed we could see your $1.49 prices for gasoline again...if the "peak oil" panic subside, and as alternative sources of energy develop, demand for petroleum won't necessarily increase even if all domestic US oil production were to banned.

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So now it not just a oil company conspiracy but an AMERICAN oil company conspiracy? What about Shell and BP? I guess those two are not included in your idiotic conspiracy theory.

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Dam right its a conspiracy to raise prices. I guess these idiots are saying a 150% increase in a year is normal??? I say we water board the oil execs and their families.

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love the South Park reference!!! Thanks!

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