I'll defend the Smart Cars. I've been to Europe several times, and the whole unit went there last year. We had formation in the parking lot and one of the barracks cleaning staff had a smart car. Everyone made fun of it, posed with it (especially our bigger guys), etc.

But when we got a couple days leave, what did they rent? Well, I had a government provided car so I was in a Mercedes (downside: I was the chauffeur and drove people everywhere--and to save money, you can do six in a mid-sized Mercedes). But many of those renting went with the smart car. On base, with the discount, gas was $3/gallon. Can you imagine having to pay $3 per gallon! Oh, yeah, right.

Whenever I was on my own (or the Commander took my car), I'd rent a small car. Europe, where gas prices have been above $4/gallon for years, has a large selection of fully functional, fun to drive cars, both small to what we'd consider mid-sized. The gasolines are all nice, the small turbo-diesel engines are surprisingly powerful. Nothing is powerful by USA standards, but the vehicles are much lighter so pickup really isn't that bad.

Also, gas was about 4x the price (at the time), and there was plenty enough power for a car with four people in it (or 2 people, in a smart car). Most of them had better dash layouts and controls than USA cars, and many (all I was in but the very cheapest) had the display automatically turn into a TV display whenever you put it in reverse and the back=up camera activated. Nice on tight parking lots!

I have a lot of respect for how they handle driving in Europe. It costs a lot more to get licensed and you have to go through a lot more classes....but as a result, driving is a privilege, treated with respect. I see accidents almost every week in the Dallas drive. I never saw one in three months in Europe, and their roads/intersections are laid out a lot worse...and you can stop at the gas station and get a beer or glass of wine before you get back on the road.

Everyone can say, "I'll never do that." If gas hits $8/gallon by next summer and you're paying $160/week to top off the tank, the resale on SUv's as a whole are going to drop.

In the meantime, I see more motorcycles on the road and my friends are all asking me what's a good bike to buy to save on gas (I recommend a used 600/650 cc water-cooled vTwin for a cheap price with good fuel efficiency, but enough power for shorter highway trips and even short cruising with a passenger...but if you're really serious about gas, just using it for getting around locally, and not too heavy, 250's are great.)

Here's my conspiracy theory: When gas was $1/gallong, mid and premium were 10/20 cents more (a 10/20 percent increase). Now that it's $3 per gallon....it's still just 10 cents, or about 3% more expensive. What's up with that?

Wayne , if you want to look up the conspiracy theory , its posted somewher eon the net.Whats happening is the guys that control everything(some say its the bilderbergers , others the masons) are trying to get oil up to 120 a barrel , then are planning to stick in a world tax on everyone around the world.I am not sure if its all 100% true or not , but I did read an article about the UN , and they did mention a 10% tax they want around the world.So , conspiracy or not , its something to think about <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/scared.gif" alt="" />

Well, I'm with you guys 100%, thankfully I haven't had to buy gas in a few weeks because we've been going with only one vehicle, mine's not really running right, I have to get it towed to the shop... But when I *do* buy gas, I have to get the good stuff because of the Supercharger, so it really hurts.

Tell ya what, I made myself a little vow -- with the exception of when I absolutely NEED the truck, when the price of gas hits $3 I will park it. Rain, shine, 15-degree weather, I'll be on the bike. At $5 a fillup vs. $50, I can't afford to worry about the cold these days. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> Of course, snow falls, and the truck comes out for a little winter street 'wheelin... But I'll be on the bike whenver I possibly can.

-Chris

Barak is correct here. Bildeburgers in Europe, Scull and Bones in USA, the latter started by George W's grandpa when he suposedly stole Geronamo's remains from it's grave.
Suposed to be 800 members living worlwide planing world control. Who really knows, we can't rely on news media for the truth, they pretty much say what they're told to disclose.
Back to earth, what gets my goat is GW Bush invests 60 million bucks in oil stock a few months ago (now worth 129 mill), and once this venture clears press scrutiny, barrels of oil shoot up. Could be a coincidence, but a nationwide group of friends and I won't buy gas (which is a biproduct of most things made from crude), on Labor Day. Not that this will break the bank, but it'll show the American people are somewhat still united. Just my two cents (a molecule of gas)...Cal

There's an unwritten rule that whenever you say "bike" you must clarify. Bicycle or motorcyle, and give more detail if it's #2.

not to get politi-locked, but didn't W's dad say "ethanol is the fuel of the future" ?

Warning #1: Keep it on topic. While discussing politics is fun, because of past experiences, it just does not work here.

Refrain, or this thread will be ended. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Michael

That's funny, cause the unwritten rule here is, if you're over 17, and you say bike, you mean the kind with an engine unless you're a decathalete or a big dork. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> But I'll give more detail for ya if you like... Right now I'm talking about a 1981 Yamaha Maxim XJ650, but most likely within a year I'll be referring to a Yamaha VMAX, *THE* muscle bike...

-Chris

most likely within a year I'll be referring to a Yamaha VMAX, *THE* muscle bike...


Hmmm...my buddy just showed up on his that he took out of storage. Nice looking bike, but I will still take seatbelts, doors, a windshield and 7200lbs of metal around me. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

That would also mean I also take the fuel bill to have such things...

Michael

I had a 1981 Yamaha 750 midnight maxim , great bike , then I sold it last year and bought a 2004 Suzuki Intruder 1500 special edition , which is what I ride during the summer , but still costs me 20 to fill it up <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/scared.gif" alt="" /> Its a great bike though <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" /> The price helped me in my decision , retail was 16,900 , I got it for 12,700 <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> I'll have to figure out how to put in the avatar things and use my bike as one to show it off.

I got a few more months of riding till I start using the trooper full time again.Thats one of the nice things about the mild weather , last year was riding it in december/january <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" /> Good thing for bikes though , it does save you a little during the nice times.