Informal survey

[jhetley]

I was contemplating the general castigation current on the auto industry, bemoaning "Detroit's" pig-headed management decision to concentrate on pickup truck and SUV production and letting Japan steal the small car market.  And then, as I walked to fetch the newspaper and back, I counted passing vehicles.

Over half the traffic on State Street consisted of light trucks and SUVs.  Usual carrying one person, the driver, and with no visible cargo.  Folks, "Detroit" was producing those dinosaurs because that was what the American Driver wanted to buy . . .

I'm old enough to remember small cars like the Nash Metropolitan, the Henry J, the Ford Falcon.  "Detroit" has tried to produce small, fuel-efficient cars through the decades.  They've flopped in the market.  Instead, we bought highway battleships like my family's 1957 Oldsmobile, with a big V-8 engine and automatic transmission. 

Or a Ford Expedition.  What percentage of SUVs ever leave the pavement, except in an accident?

Comments

[jhetley.livejournal.com]

Are you sure that isn't "invertebrate"?

And you're the guy with electric heat . . .

[pernishus.livejournal.com]

Well, now -- I have to spend all those amazing transportation savings on something, don't I?...

[jhetley.livejournal.com]

Thus far this year, I've put damn near as many miles on my bicycle as on my car. Subtract two runs to Younger Son's college, and the bike comes out ahead.

[pernishus.livejournal.com]

Oh, dear -- this seems to be my day for pissing off dear friends... I'm sorry, Jim -- I didn't mean to imply you were anything other than a good steward of the resources entrusted to you. But anyone who knows you and knows your work knows that...

It must be the snow -- a good eighth of an inch has stuck since I collapsed in bed early this afternoon -- my brain must be trying to fly south for the winter...

[jhetley.livejournal.com]

Whatever gave you the sense I was pissed off? No, more amused that we own two cars for as little use as we give them.

Of course, old inveterate pedestrian, you *are* the guy who lured me Across the Water so that you could use my old Subaru to move stuff from apartment to condo . . .

[suzilem.livejournal.com]

{{{{{John}}}}}