Asa @ 22 Off

> Since hybrid owners don't care about economics, I propose oil companies give them a special price when
> they gas up their machines, normal costs plus a little extra.

Sounds like something an oil company would try to do, yeah. ;)

> Their only justification is environmental in nature.

You've got to stop drinking the kool-aid, Asa. The world is not an everlasting grab bag. Eventually, something has to give, no matter what the current regime might have you think. Kyoto Protocol?

There are more important things than a higher stock price.

The Kyoto Protocol would kill the last bit of American industry left. Countries that sign and ratify the Kyoto Protocol would be at an economic disadvantage to those who didn't, since globalized companies would shift their industry to those areas that allow them the least costly location for their industry. Hence, even if the U.S. and Australia ratified the Kyoto Protocol the emissions would just be transfered to other nations and there would be at best no net change in emissions. Assuming that we have no net savings in emissions, why export America jobs to other countries? The only way the Kyoto Agreement could reduce net emissions is if all countries signed, ratified, and complied. No chance of that.

Remember that the oil industry has spent billions upon billions to upgrade refineries to make ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel (which is an amazing feat of science and engineering). Once the second ultra-low sulfur diesel level kicks in, your diesel will have less ppm of sulfur than the water you drink. I think this level is going past the law of diminishing returns. Also, note the price of diesel fuel now, it is higher than gasoline in most areas. This is the opposite of what it usually was in the past and is paying for those refinery upgrades.

Just to be clear, we need to respect the environment and I do care about it. However, at the same time we need agreements and laws that make sense. I recycle almost everything including batteries (which are bad to throw in the trash) and try to do my part. But I won't support laws and agreements that are futile.

I love the comparison between a sub compact (compact) Corolla versus a MID SIZED Prius. I guess if we are doing apples to apples the comparrison should be done between the Camray and Prius. Mid size vs midsize. Please tell me what car I should buy that is a mid size and has all the bells and whistles standard equip cost $24,000.00 tax, title, and delivery fee included and gets 40 plus miles per gallon every day and pollutes 80-90% less than other vehicles in it class. I will rush out and buy it!!!! Is Hybrid a gap technology I guess so but there are no other options at this time. I guess I am tying to do my part to reduce my C.A.F.E. Just remember Asa I still drive a gas guzzler truck that pulls around a boat that you like to ski behind. Now be sure to do an analysis of my over priced boat that gets better fuel economy than any other boat in its class. Also we need to talk about consumers that buy cars that consume fuel to make speeds in excess of 150 mph when the speed limit is 70mph. Should we carry on or call a truce?
I beleive it boils down to choice. Isn't America wonderfull?

"I love the comparison between a sub compact (compact) Corolla versus a MID SIZED Prius." These cars are almost identical in size.

Internal Dimensions:

Prius:
Headroom (Front) 39.1
Headroom (Row 2) 37.1
Hiproom (Front) 51.0
Hiproom (Row 2) 51.6
Legroom (Front) 41.9
Legroom (Row 2) 38.6
Shoulder Room (Front) 55.3
Shoulder Room (Row 2) 53.0
Seating (Maximum) 5

Corolla:
Headroom (Front) 39.1
Headroom (Row 2) 37.1
Hiproom (Front) 51.9
Hiproom (Row 2) 46.2
Legroom (Front) 41.3
Legroom (Row 2) 35.4
Shoulder Room (Front) 53.1
Shoulder Room (Row 2) 53.5
Seating (Maximum) 5

Corolla is 58.5" in height and 178.3" in length, while Prius is 58.1" and 175" in length. Seems like a fair comparison to me. Camry is 56.1" in height and is a mighty 192.5" in length. Camry vs Prius, doesn't seem like a fair comparison in terms of size. However, I do have to note, I did once see a couple snuggly nestled in the back of a Prius for the evening, so they aren't tiny. Sounds like an "Epic" story.

I am glad that you are environmentally inclined. I had to tease you a little since you always send me forwards on hybrid technology.

I do enjoy skiing behind the Epic and would categorize it as a steal (great price to performance and quality ratio). Its friendly use of gasoline is a nice bonus.

You are right, speed limits haven't kept up with the innovative cars that are built today.

I was doing my taxes and did an analysis of our trip to FL in Dec 06. We drove the Prius to save money and the enviroment instead of the truck. Here is the break down:
Prius / 04 Chevy Truck
46.11 mpg / 16 mpg
2620 miles / 2620 miles
$2.30 per gal / $2.30 per gal
$130.69 total gasoline / $376.63 total gasoline

Savings $245.94. which allowed us to stay in a motel and take Carol out to dinner while we were in FL and I still had money left over to put in the bank instead of the fuel tank of the truck. Now I call that economical sense.

I was doing my taxes and did an analysis of our trip to FL in Dec 06. We drove the Prius to save money and the enviroment instead of the truck. Here is the break down:
Prius / 04 Chevy Truck
46.11 mpg / 16 mpg
2620 miles / 2620 miles
$2.30 per gal / $2.30 per gal
$130.69 total gasoline / $376.63 total gasoline

Savings $245.94. which allowed us to stay in a motel and take Carol out to dinner while we were in FL and I still had money left over to put in the bank instead of the fuel tank of the truck. Now I call that economical sense.