auto industry.

[TheGreek]

Anybody who owns a ranch or farm requires an adequate truck.

Also, Houston is a Texas city, so that's a non issue for you. Huge and expansive highways, large streets, suburban sprawl. Try driving that in NYC, or Philadelphia, New Orleans, or Chicago. Texas has always been a state of excess. I love large breast like the next guy, but Texas needs to learn how to make an efficient city.

We can agree on this. But, I love this state.

Dude, you don't need a truck to go with a ranch. My 20 year old FWD olds makes it all the way to my parents' home, and they really do live in Bum **** Egypt, where there are no roads.

Just saying though.

Maybe you can get to the ranch, but can you go through mud during or after a rain storm and get around your property?

And also, good luck hauling any equipment around your property.

If you ever need to haul large items, or tools, yes you need a proper truck, or a horse and carriage.

Precisely, and horses are expensive as hell to maintain. Much more so than a truck and fuel.

[DoesntMatter]

If you ever need to haul large items, or tools, yes you need a proper truck, or a horse and carriage.

Or you can rent out space in my anus

[Junket]

We can agree on this. But, I love this state.

The state is one thing, its cities are another.

Most states are a rural majority, with speckles of cities here and there.

I would never live in a city that didn't have adequate public transportation, bike lanes, and infrastructure within walking distance.

I complain now when anything is more than a 15 minute drive.

I couldn't stand to live in some of Texas' cities.

[TheGreek]

The state is one thing, its cities are another.

Most states are a rural majority, with speckles of cities here and there.

I would never live in a city that didn't have adequate public transportation, bike lanes, and infrastructure within walking distance.

I complain now when anything is more than a 15 minute drive.

I couldn't stand to live in some of Texas' cities.

15 minutes is normal for us haha. Heck, my morning commute to school takes about 15-20 depending on traffic and it's only about 6 miles. Houston's a nice city though. It has it's issues for sure. But our public transportation system is decent at best. We have bike lanes, but I never ride in them unless I'm with a group of bikers.

[Mish]

Solar Car trip around the world

A solar-powered car has arrived at the UN climate change talks in the Polish city of Poznan after a round-the-world trip covering almost 40 countries.

[url]http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7766249.stm[/url]


Next year, he plans to arrange a trip with six vehicles around the world in 80 days drawing power from sources such as hydro, geothermal and wind energy.

[Lipp]

As for car crash safety, it relies alot on crumple zones, only thing that I can see trucks being safer than regular cars would be its greater height off the ground providing a bit more control if you swerve off the road.

A steel frame works sometimes, for example the Smart cars don't crumple at all but have a bad-ass frame, sure they won't get squashed like a bug but the impact that the passengers have to take is quite massive. And that very same impact will make it twist and roll, rather than just stop, which could easily makes things worse.

Or is it an issue with other cars on the road? Let's contribute some more to the problem, if everyone else drives around in SUVs we have to get an SUV to feel safe. Great. Size doesn't matter, tell that to all of the ladies who buy one because it has a bit more space for shopping bags.

[Junket]

Of all those vehicles listed, they get only slightly better mileage than that of their half-ton counterparts.

I think 5+ mpg is worth it.

Not only that, but the ratings have been changed to meet the government's new standards. They're mean to be more "realistic" to every day driving.

Essentially it comes down to how you're driving, and what you're hauling.

I average about 28-32 MPG with my old car depending on how I drive. But I've gotten as little as 24-25 mpg (I consider this lousy) when I'm hittin' that gas a little more. And traveling the interstate all day? 45-47 mpg. And it's not even fuel injected.

I think with a small truck I could squeeze better mileage out of it than what they're required to advertise now.

[TheGreek]

I think 5+ mpg is worth it.

Not only that, but the ratings have been changed to meet the government's new standards. They're mean to be more "realistic" to every day driving.

Essentially it comes down to how you're driving, and what you're hauling.

I average about 28-32 MPG with my old car depending on how I drive. But I've gotten as little as 24-25 mpg (I consider this lousy) when I'm hittin' that gas a little more. And traveling the interstate all day? 45-47 mpg. And it's not even fuel injected.

I think with a small truck I could squeeze better mileage out of it than what they're required to advertise now.

Trust me when I say that you won't get 5+ mpg. I used to drive an Explorer V6, same engine as the Ranger. I got about 14/18. And friends of mine who drive Fromtiers get about the same. So getting one of those smaller trucks, you'll probably get about 2/1 better mileage. But if you do decide to get a small pick- up, stay away from the Chevy Colorado or GMC Canyon. Their I-5 engine has been plagued with problems.

[Gigabitch]

Rather easily? Have you ever driven a truck?

I have owned a pickup before and yes, they're dangerous. I won't drive one any more ever since a fatal accident that killed two of my friends spurred me to do some research.

Vehicles with rigid frames are death machines. If you get into an accident, something is going to have to absorb the impact. If you happen to hit a Prius, it will be the Prius, but if you hit a phone pole or another big truck, which is likely since there are too many "kings" and just one road, that impact is going to be absorbed by your body. Your internal organs are going to hit your ribcage at 80 mph and just pop.

Trucks are for ranchers. They don't belong on the highway.

[Gribble]

The number of gigantic trucks on the road piss me off. There are some people with legitimate reasons for owning them. The rest have tiny penises and need a gigantic vehicle to compensate. I hope the government starts cracking down on these monstrosities. Get them off the road or turn them into something environmentally friendly that doesn't guzzle gas by the gallon.

[Gribble]

Sold. I needed an idea for xmas. If it comes for Mac, that's his present. Thanks Uncle Mish.

I was a huge, huge, huuuuuuge fan of the original Pirates! The new one loses so much character with its bright cartoony graphics and mini-games. It's still excellent, though. Is it going to be a gift for your son? I bet he'll love it. I was playing the first Pirates! back when I was 8 or 9. Kept me up into the wee hours of the night stalking the Spanish Treasure fleet and wooing the governor's daughter for information.

Have you gotten him CivIV? If he likes Pirates and if he's got the patience for it, he may also love the Civilization series. There's also Civilization IV: Colonization. [url]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civ_4_colonization[/url] I haven't played it yet, but I can't wait to get my hands on it. The focus is narrowed down as the name implies and it creates for an entirely different albeit familiar experience.

[Junket]

Trust me when I say that you won't get 5+ mpg. I used to drive an Explorer V6, same engine as the Ranger. I got about 14/18. And friends of mine who drive Fromtiers get about the same. So getting one of those smaller trucks, you'll probably get about 2/1 better mileage. But if you do decide to get a small pick- up, stay away from the Chevy Colorado or GMC Canyon. Their I-5 engine has been plagued with problems.

?

The majority of small pick ups have 4 cylinders. My girlfriend has a '93 ranger and it gets her about 22-25 mpg.

[TheGreek]

?

The majority of small pick ups have 4 cylinders. My girlfriend has a '93 ranger and it gets her about 22-25 mpg.

Good point. I was unsure if they still put 4-bangers in them or not. The only problem I could see with a 4 cylinder is the lack of power for towing/hauling.

The number of gigantic trucks on the road piss me off. There are some people with legitimate reasons for owning them. The rest have tiny penises and need a gigantic vehicle to compensate. I hope the government starts cracking down on these monstrosities. Get them off the road or turn them into something environmentally friendly that doesn't guzzle gas by the gallon.

I love driving a lifted truck. My truck is soon to have a 6" lift and 35" tires. And I can assure you, at least in my case, I'm not trying to use my truck to overcompensate. And you want to talk legality, lifts are legal in almost every state. As for the government cracking down, don't hold your breath. The EPA could care less about the environment. It's about $$$. They just get paid mega-millions allowing companies to produce. Plus, ask anybody in the Navy about how much shit they dump into the ocean on a daily basis. That's just my opinion on how much the government truly cares about the environment.

I have owned a pickup before and yes, they're dangerous. I won't drive one any more ever since a fatal accident that killed two of my friends spurred me to do some research.

Vehicles with rigid frames are death machines. If you get into an accident, something is going to have to absorb the impact. If you happen to hit a Prius, it will be the Prius, but if you hit a phone pole or another big truck, which is likely since there are too many "kings" and just one road, that impact is going to be absorbed by your body. Your internal organs are going to hit your ribcage at 80 mph and just pop.

Trucks are for ranchers. They don't belong on the highway.

Trucks also have crumple zones as well as very solid frames. Hell, when you pop the hood of my truck, you can see where the crumple zones are. Trucks aren't made out of solid steel like they were back in the day. As for trucks not being on the highway, how would we get equipment and large amounts of goods from A to B without using trucks on highways?

[Gigabitch]

How much equipment do you haul in your truck (besides your personal equipment, which you have no cause to compensate for)?

[TheGreek]

How much equipment do you haul in your truck (besides your personal equipment, which you have no cause to compensate for)?

I don't haul stuff on a daily basis going to school. But on the weekends, it comes in handy when we need the extra room for people and their cargo. Also use it for the occasional weekend project at home. Also, it's nice to have the extra room when travelling back and forth to our property as well as hauling stuff around our property.