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About All In
All In is a place for everyone who works at NCPR to share behind the scenes activity, and surprising, curious, lovely or distinctly local tidbits from our travels around the region. We’ll post the best of what we find online, too. From time to time, you may hear from others—if you’d like to write an entry, send it to [email protected]. What makes this place what it is? How do we connect to each other and the world? That’s what ALL IN is all about.
Over the years, I have driven every kind of car imaginable. I’m currently driving my third Toyota pickup and it will probably take me to 200,000 miles. I really like my Tundra, but I think I want a smaller truck next time. It annoys me that the rest of the world is offered smaller, lighter, more economical, AND more easily repairable vehicles than we are here in America…land of the marketed to.
I have a friend who blames Ralph Nader for our escalation into bigger and bigger cars that eventually arrived at the land-yacht SUV. He feels that our obsession with automotive safety has given us the enormous gas guzzler…..
It’s an interesting point of view.
The safest cars are the ones that you can maneuver well to avoid and accident. Unfortunately here we base safety on what happens when you are IN a crash not how to best avoid it. Given that large vehicles look safe when they really are not. I will take a small well handling car over a big boat of an SUV when it comes to safety any day.
I have both a Honda Civic hybrid and a V8 jeep Grand Cherokee. The jeep tows a trailer better than the hybrid but I drive that car as much as I can. I would like to see a hybrid minivan that gets more than 40mpg. That would be my next purchase if I could get one.
Now that summer has come early I am riding my bike to work so until they have the hybrid minivan my favorite “car” is a Specialized S-works Tarmac bicycle that I have always wanted!
In answer to the basic question – one day at a time.
As to transportation, I drive a Kia that gets about 32 mpg.
As to safety, everyone should drive a Peterbilt or Mack.
Toyota Prius. gas mileage (50mpg), comfort,and surprisingly roomy.
If you have a very predictable driving pattern (like to work and back every day, 15 miles) and you have some extra up-front money, you should buy a plug-in electric, and an array of solar panels. It’s a big investment, but if it powers your car and reduces your home electric bill, and you never visit the service station ’til you need tires…think of it! You’ll be like the Amish…not even knowing what gas costs.
If you don’t have that much money, you could do the miniature version with an electric scooter…very cool (especially in January).
The car talk guys like to point out that anything you might spend on your old Corolla will be less than a car payment, and you should just drive it until it’s unsafe.
Let us know what other advice you need Dale.
Ford Focus. Have one, will likely buy another. Reasonable mpg at 30. Next purchase will replace a 13 year old Ford Escort 33 mpg. Can’t afford Honda, Toyota or any thing newer than 4 years old. Like Subaru but fuel economy trumps all wheel drive. Small Nissan ok. Also if possible will buy southern car- used and with less salt exposure. Had 5 GM products 1980 through 94 models- pre-mature rust. Liked Saturn company car but could not afford.