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astropin
SFN Regular
USA
970 Posts |
 Posted - 05/27/2009 : 09:18:11 [Permalink]
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Originally posted by Dave W.
When they make a little tiny 4x4 that gets 1,000 mpg and can tow a boat, then I would hope you'd switch.
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In a heart beat.
I've actually been looking at different "green" options lately.
I've priced out solar panels. I've looked into wind power, and I've considered the possibility of going with a 100% electric vehicle for my (short) commute to work.
So far the start up costs have been prohibitive. If trends continue these things might be doable (some of them) in the near future.
I even chopped wood (for the first time ever) last season. |
I would rather face a cold reality than delude myself with comforting fantasies.
You are free to believe what you want to believe and I am free to ridicule you for it.
Atheism:
The result of an unbiased and rational search for the truth.
Infinitus est numerus stultorum |
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HalfMooner
Dingaling
Philippines
15831 Posts |
Posted - 05/27/2009 : 11:34:09 [Permalink]
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People can hardly be faulted for demanding practicality. For short-to-intermediate-range use, lithium battery vehicles are now practical, except for the extremely high cost of the batteries themselves.
Hopefully, that price will come down. More importantly yet, we need better "battery" technology. We have all the other technology ready. With breakthrough energy storage, electrics could beat ICE vehicles in every regard, overnight. In the meantime, hypermiling one's old fossil-burner makes good sense, and can be a fun pursuit at the same time.
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“Biology is just physics that has begun to smell bad.” —HalfMooner
Here's a link to Moonscape News, and one to its Archive. |
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Dr. Mabuse
Septic Fiend
Sweden
9689 Posts |
Posted - 05/27/2009 : 13:29:42 [Permalink]
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Originally posted by astropin
I've actually been looking at different "green" options lately.
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I bought a scooter that I get excellent mileage from (95mpg).
And I'm going to convert my car to run on E85 (ethanol). Swedish ethanol is imported from Brazilian sugar canes, and reduces the fossile carbon footprint by 60%.
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Dr. Mabuse - "When the going gets tough, the tough get Duct-tape..."
Dr. Mabuse whisper.mp3
"Equivocation is not just a job, for a creationist it's a way of life..." Dr. Mabuse
Support American Troops in Iraq:
Send them unarmed civilians for target practice..
Collateralmurder. |
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astropin
SFN Regular
USA
970 Posts |
Posted - 05/27/2009 : 13:41:55 [Permalink]
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Originally posted by Dr. Mabuse
Originally posted by astropin
I've actually been looking at different "green" options lately.
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I bought a scooter that I get excellent mileage from (95mpg).
And I'm going to convert my car to run on E85 (ethanol). Swedish ethanol is imported from Brazilian sugar canes, and reduces the fossile carbon footprint by 60%.
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Yeah, unfortunately I picked a bad time to sell my motorcycle (2 years ago). But then again a scooter would not suit my needs very well. The weather here is not the greatest. Winters are looooong and harsh. Need something I can at least climb inside of.....and has heat. |
I would rather face a cold reality than delude myself with comforting fantasies.
You are free to believe what you want to believe and I am free to ridicule you for it.
Atheism:
The result of an unbiased and rational search for the truth.
Infinitus est numerus stultorum |
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HalfMooner
Dingaling
Philippines
15831 Posts |
Posted - 05/27/2009 : 14:55:13 [Permalink]
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Originally posted by astropin
Yeah, unfortunately I picked a bad time to sell my motorcycle (2 years ago). But then again a scooter would not suit my needs very well. The weather here is not the greatest. Winters are looooong and harsh. Need something I can at least climb inside of.....and has heat. |
Yeah, but your (present) sig says: "I would rather face a cold reality than delude myself with comforting fantasies." 
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“Biology is just physics that has begun to smell bad.” —HalfMooner
Here's a link to Moonscape News, and one to its Archive. |
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@tomic
Administrator
USA
4607 Posts |
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Dave W.
Info Junkie
USA
26022 Posts |
Posted - 09/17/2009 : 19:31:05 [Permalink]
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Speaking of cars, I came this close to buying a new one yesterday. My car had transmission problems, and I was expecting a repair bill of $2000 or more. Turned out to be much less than that, but still I was trying to prepare for the car-buying experience and was getting pretty disappointed.
The only new-car buying I've done so far was done stupidly, without any research. So I was trying to do some comparison shopping the night before last, and discovered that when dealerships had online, searchable inventory, they only had one or two of the cars I was looking for, and they were always the loaded models costing the most. Even Carmax was asking for only about $1,000 under MSRP for cars with almost 50,000 miles on them. 
So what am I doing wrong? Am I going to have to order a car to get what I want for the price I want? |
- Dave W. (Private Msg, EMail)
Evidently, I rock!
Why not question something for a change?
Visit Dave's Psoriasis Info, too. |
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@tomic
Administrator
USA
4607 Posts |
Posted - 09/17/2009 : 20:39:44 [Permalink]
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You just need to know the sticker price for the car you want with the features you want. Have your financing taken care of ahead of time. The pre-financing is probably the most important thing. But know the price ahead of time and lowball that. If they don't accept it, walk away. They'll call you a few days later. Also, go towards the end of the month. The cars on the lot are the ones they want to move. Not the ones that are ordered because they know those are bought and paid for.
So, know how much the car is sold for. Have your own financing. Be willing to walk away if they won't meet the price you know they will.
@
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Gravity, not just a good idea...it's the law!
Sportsbettingacumen.com: The science of sports betting |
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Dave W.
Info Junkie
USA
26022 Posts |
Posted - 09/17/2009 : 20:45:22 [Permalink]
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Originally posted by @tomic
Be willing to walk away if they won't meet the price you know they will. |
Okay, this part I really don't get. How am I supposed to know how much they're willing to let a car go for? I know that final home prices are a matter of public record, but how do I find out how much cars will sell for below the MSRP? Interview a boatload of prior customers? |
- Dave W. (Private Msg, EMail)
Evidently, I rock!
Why not question something for a change?
Visit Dave's Psoriasis Info, too. |
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@tomic
Administrator
USA
4607 Posts |
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R.Wreck
SFN Regular
USA
1191 Posts |
Posted - 09/19/2009 : 10:00:01 [Permalink]
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Originally posted by Dave W.
Originally posted by @tomic
Be willing to walk away if they won't meet the price you know they will. |
Okay, this part I really don't get. How am I supposed to know how much they're willing to let a car go for? I know that final home prices are a matter of public record, but how do I find out how much cars will sell for below the MSRP? Interview a boatload of prior customers?
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I recommend this Consumer Reports Car Buying Advice link. |
The foundation of morality is to . . . give up pretending to believe that for which there is no evidence, and repeating unintelligible propositions about things beyond the possibliities of knowledge.
T. H. Huxley
The Cattle Prod of Enlightened Compassion
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Cuneiformist
The Imperfectionist
USA
4955 Posts |
Posted - 09/19/2009 : 10:19:49 [Permalink]
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Originally posted by R.Wreck
Originally posted by Dave W.
Originally posted by @tomic
Be willing to walk away if they won't meet the price you know they will. |
Okay, this part I really don't get. How am I supposed to know how much they're willing to let a car go for? I know that final home prices are a matter of public record, but how do I find out how much cars will sell for below the MSRP? Interview a boatload of prior customers?
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I recommend this Consumer Reports Car Buying Advice link.
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I think this is the best way. For a small fee (I think $15? $20?) Consumer Reports can tell you (via an email) how much the dealers actually paid for a car. For the Honda Civics I was looking at (about 18 months ago), I estimated that the dealers where I was were asking about $1000 more than their buying price. This gives you an idea of where to start. And since you live near a major metropolitan area, you probably have lots of dealer options within a reasonable driving distance.
Good luck! |
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Hypermiling
