spoiled

[kmack]

(you aren't the only one with a 11mpg vehicle) and you may have a legitimate need for it, and it's legal to own but there are reasons to not own vehicles like this.

Actually, I average 11.5 to 12 mpg in town. I could get as much as 14 if I drove it nicer, but I have a heavey foot; always have, always will. And yes I do have a need for such a truck. I work in construction and half of my driving is on jobsites w/o any type of pavement. Plus I have to carry materials from time to time.

I also tow my Z to race event (autoX, high-speed events, etc.) and so far, this is the only vehicle that has yet to blow a transmission while towing. My Tahoe went through two before I finally got this truck.

Kick of it is, I actually can get 13.5 mpg while towing my Z, at close to 80 mph! And there's nothing like the feel of almost 400hp at the tip of your toes.

Vehicles with fuel economy like this are detrimental to our country's best interests. We are sooooo dependent on foriegn oil that this need for oil shapes our foriegn policy (in way that are making enemies and losing allies), and it adversely affects our economy. (our Trade Balance is WAY out of whack)

While I don't profess to be an economists by any stretch, isn't the fact that MANY people are spending hard-earned cash on large, expensive vehicles, toys, etc. a good sign for our economy? Besides, money is meant to be spent. What are you going to do, take it with you in the end? Let it burn a hole in your pocket. I don't care. I get reimbursed for my gas from work. I make good money. I have big boy toys I can drive and play with. Yes I have debt, but who doesn't. And I'll be damned if I'll let someone, who thinks they know what is good for me and my safety, tell me what I can or cannot do with my money. Or try to tax me out of spending my money. Those people have nothing better to do with their lives but to try and run someone else's!

What about the poor bastard in a normal car you just ran over?

This is a whole other issue. Requirements to get a liscense in this country are far too relaxed. Any idiot/retard can get a driver's liscense and go cruising down our highways. If they would learn to pay enough attention to the road and vehicles around them (instead of the phone, radio, hot chick on the sidewalk, and put their damned seat up so they can see over the freakin dash), then they wouldn't get run over. If your driving 55 mph in the fast lane on a 65 mph highway, you should have enough common sense and forethought to see other vehicles coming up behind you and get out of the way. Here in Texas, there is actually a law about holding up the flow of traffic, no matter if cars are exceeding the speedlimit. It's rarely enforced, but it should be. That sort of driving is called creating a hazard. That's why we all bitch about old people driving slow, they're creating a hazard and are in the way of the flow of traffic.

Oh, and back on the whole "we drive too many vehicle with bad fuel economy" issue. Way more than half of all freight transported in the country and to and from Canada and Mexico is by truck. The average semi gets about 8 mpg! So don't bitch at me about my 11.5 mpg.

And yes, I live in a VERY red state!

[mperdue]

How bout a site we can all laugh at? www.laughatrice.com

[Zrush]

Good one Michael.

Vicky

[Victor Laury]

We can't yell too much about fuel economy here. True, a high performance Z get better MPG than a Hummer, but not really that much. Especially once you've cammed, tripled 50'ed, 4:11'ed! And I know for a fact this is not the Mild Driver's Club, is it? If this was the Honda Insight Internet Club, we could yell about wasted resources.

What offends me about the behemoths is, I live in a crowded city. Baby, we is tight up in here. Parking is at a premium as well as freeway space. And here Joe Somebody in their 6 ton grocery getter as wide as legally possible, taking 2 spaces. F you sir, f you very much, you self centered bastard.

I drive an official SUV differential inspector. I can inspect your Hummer for leaks without getting out of my car. God I wish I could see around you on the freeway. If I was a little lower it would not be such a problem as then I could get a good view of the road ahead between your 22'' wheels.

I drive a sports car and studied physics. Mass X Velocity = Force is still the rule in my universe. If I perform a high speed avoidance maneuver, I, at least have a chance at making it. Why is this giant truck going faster than I am? Does that driver really feel safer? Dreamer!

[Mr Camouflage]

Ought to be a law agaisnt building ugly cars.

That would put most America car companies out of business, saab and citroen too.

[ChrisA]

That would put most America car companies out of business, saab and citroen too.

You got that right!! But hey admit it, you really like the "is it coming or going" 300C, Magnum, and new Charger dont you.....admit it!!

Just kidding you Camouflage!!

I have a Dodge Ram 1500 SLT Quad Cab 4x4 with a 345 horse Hemi...17MPG on highway...but its a work truck. :nervous:

I promise you Victor that it wont EVER be seen in a parking lot.

Chris

[Bambikiller240]

...............While I don't profess to be an economists by any stretch, isn't the fact that MANY people are spending hard-earned cash on large, expensive vehicles, toys, etc. a good sign for our economy? Besides, money is meant to be spent. What are you going to do, take it with you in the end? Let it burn a hole in your pocket. I don't care. I get reimbursed for my gas from work. I make good money. I have big boy toys I can drive and play with. Yes I have debt, but who doesn't. And I'll be damned if I'll let someone, who thinks they know what is good for me and my safety, tell me what I can or cannot do with my money. Or try to tax me out of spending my money. Those people have nothing better to do with their lives but to try and run someone else's!.......

And yes, I live in a VERY red state!

RED people slay me. The whole I have the money to afford it, and I don't give a $hit how my pissing away of resources affects my country, I'll do what I please and to hell with the rest of the people in the country attitude.

Glad you can see forward for a good distance in your Monster Truck, but what about the other guy sharing the road who can't see anything because your beast is in the way? Oh that's right; F*** him, he shouldn't be on my freeway anyway.

PS Since you admit that you aren't an economist, maybe you should consider listening to people who are economists (NOT ME, I mean real economists) that can explain it to you in layman's words if necessary. Oh that's right; I'll be damned if I'll let someone, who thinks they know what is good for me and my safety, tell me what I can or cannot do with my money.

[mperdue]

RED people slay me. The whole "I have the money to afford it, and I don't give a $hit how my pissing away of resources affects my country, I'll do what I please and to hell with the rest of the people in the country."

But at the same time say "oh that retard needs to drive MY WAY or shouldn't f'n be allowed to drive at all"!

[kmack]

Glad you can see forward for a good distance in your Monster Truck, but what about the other guy sharing the road who can't see anything because your beast is in the way?

So, if you're driving behind a large truck, or Hummer in your Z, on the freeway, and he's driving slower than you are, but you can't see what's in front of him, will you stay right on his butt hoping that he'll get the picture and move out of your way? Based on your comment, that's what it sounds like. A responsible, proactive driver (that isn't some retard with his head stuck up his arse) will manuever his vehicle into a position that will afford him the visability that he needs. So based on this logical thought, my large vehicle should never be in anybody's way, visually. So, YES, the "other" guy and myself can comfortably share the road without any issues.

Just because you think everyone should drive the same size vehicle as you, doesn't mean we have to. Everybody can get along on our highways, some just choose not to.

Since you admit that you aren't an economist, maybe you should consider listening to people who are economists (NOT ME, I mean real economists) that can explain it to you in small words if necessary.

Now, was the "small words" comment really necessary? We're all adults here (at least most of us).

I do remember a thing or tow from my 3 semesters of Economics in college. (Yes, some of us rednecks do have college educations!) Supply and Demand. GM is building vehicles that the Public wants. As evident by the strong sales of the Hummer. The Public has discretionary funds to buy said Hummers (whether they need them or not). This in turn supplys additional funds back into the Economy to be further distributed among other items of value to said Public. It's all a little money circle.

A big indicator of the country's economy is based off construction. Construction has not really declined in the last 5 years. Even though material costs have begun to sky-rocket in the last 2 years. (I work in the industry, so I have a good reference for this). Commercial construction says the most. If businesses can afford new buildings, then that says they have money to spend. New construction means jobs. Jobs mean money for John Q. Public. The economy is in good shape. Economist can say what they want you to believe. But believe what you see.

And don't even start on the unemployment rate. That's a joke. If the Liberals would quit crooning over all the helpless illegal aliens that steal their way into this country, then there would be more money to go around and more jobs. Plus, most of the "unemployed" (at least those I have seen in and around S. Texas) won't lower themselves to working a common laborer's job. (Which by the way, there are plenty to go around in construction) A job is a job is a job. Quit sucking off the State just because you think they owe you. My taxes don't owe you $^!#!

ps-notice how I mentioned the Hummers to keep this on topic?

[Bambikiller240]

I appologise for the"small words" comment, I've changed it to layman's words which is more appropriate IMO.

A large vehicle (such as Hummer) obstructs a great deal of the vision of following vehicle no matter how far back they stay. Also, they CRUSH anything they hit, or that hits them. But I guess that doesn't matter to you, so long as you are safe. But, what happens when someone you care about (driving your Z perhaps) gets killed by the 4 foot tall bumper of a large vehicle (a Hummer, perhaps)?

If you think the economy is in good shape, it is obvious that you are looking a a very narrow slice of the economy and not the entire economy of this country.

I do not believe that the benefit to the auto industry in the sales of large vehicles (like Hummers) offsets the economic and political damage caused to our country by the dependence on foreign oil, polution, etc. Not to burst your bubble, but money made by the US auto industry pays more wages to workers in Mexico every year, and less to workers in the US every year. The relatively few people who are shareholders in the auto industry are the main beneficiaries.

I don't know about the commercial real estate market in TX, but in N. CA the vacancy rate is extremely high. There is relatively little commercial construction happening.

And don't even start on the unemployment rate. That's a joke.....

Are you kidding?? Do you really think that citizens of the US want, or can afford to live on (buy Hummers, and/or a home) on the wages that the illegals earn on the fringes of our economy???

Now, don't get me wrong on this point because I'm in favor of tightening our borders and stopping illegal immigration, largely due to the services that the entire population must (by law) provide to an evergrowing mass of undocumented immigrants.

(Please note that every time your boy GWB spouts off about an amnesty program the normal tide of illegal immigration turns into a tsunami.) Surely you see that in TX as we do here in CA.

Plus, most of the "unemployed" (at least those I have seen in and around S. Texas) won't lower themselves to working a common laborer's job. (Which by the way, there are plenty to go around in construction) A job is a job is a job. Quit sucking off the State just because you think they owe you. My taxes don't owe you $^!#!

What do you mean by this $hit? Not everyone can do "laborer's" work. What bout the 55 yr old, or the woman who needs a job? Many of those people aren't going to be able to do that kind of job.

And, NO; a job isn't a job, isn't a job, isn't a job. That's why individuals with different skills, and abilities earn different amounts of money. You may be a helluva contractor, but I suspect there are jobs in other industries that you'd SUCK at performing. SAME SITUATION APPLIES TO MOST OF US, INCLUDING ME.

Who is sucking off the state? You implying something??

Do you think "your taxes" should only be used for something that benefits you, or is approved by you? If so, you are in the wrong country bro.

[kmack]

EDIT - was posted twice, see below.

Damn computers...

[kmack]

Who is sucking off the state? You implying something??

Sorry, Carl. That comment was not directed at you. My apologies. I grew up in what is called the Rio Grande Valley, which has a reputation for being one of the largest welfare areas in the country. My comment was directed at them. My sincerest...

Do you think "your taxes" should only be used for something that benefits you, or is approved by you? If so, you are in the wrong country bro.

At this point in my life, there are only two things that I can directly relate to myself as having a benefit from my taxes:

1) My taxes help pay for my wife's salary as a school teacher/Librarian (School taxes)

2) My taxes help pay for my daughter's education (Public School)

If anybody can prove to me that I've had a direct benefit from my taxes that have been put into the system, then I'll add them to my list.

Other than that, it appears we all have varied beliefs and opinions. We could discuss this for an enternity, but the whole purpose of this website is to talk about Z cars, which this topic has gone way beyond that type of discussion. As have many other threads.

Honestly, Carl/anybody else, I harbor no ill-will towards anybody unless they have taken something away from myself or my family. Nobody here has done that and I can not be mad or angry at someone just because they have a different set of values. My how things can get out of hand sometimes. I'm stepping away from this topic now before things only get worse. My best to you and yours...

Ken