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Showing content with the highest reputation on 05/20/2018 in Posts
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That it does.. going for a drive on winding roads through a national park yesterday in my 5000lb Jeep w/ the windows down, sunroof open and stereo cranked up (listening to The Cure) was fun. Great Spring weather and greenery now... 2.5 sec 0-60 in a Tesla sounds like a lot of fun...2 points
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I had a whole bunch of fun in a CT6 which can drive itself if I want it to. Fun comes in different packages.2 points
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I never said EVs for everyone. You're against EVs for anyone. You want to tell people what they can't have. With EVs you must change your mindset on your fill up patterns. You start each day in a Bolt with a full tank. You "filled up" overnight. If you're on a trip and need to locate a station to charge up, like everything else, there's an app for that... In fact there are multiple apps for that.2 points
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It's not the white dash for me, I kinda like it. I don't like the look of the car, I don't like how spartan the interior is. I'm used to driving Buicks, Cadillacs, Oldsmobiles, and LTZ Chevys. I already said if they put the power train in a Regal or Lacrosse I'd be there. I already have an auto trader search for a CT6 PHEV and Fusion Energi Platinums 2017 or newer. No one makes a pure EV that I like. I'm ready to put my money where my mouth is as soon as someone produces the vehicle the way I want it. I waited 5 months for the color and equipment combo we got in the Encore. I'm a patient man when it comes to buying things the way I want them.2 points
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There is no place to plug in a golf cart in the city, which is ironic because electrics are only good as short hop toys, not long distance cruisers. This is a big country.2 points
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Automakers offering an EV or two...and some subset of the population making the choice to buy one is not some grand conspiracy. Don't want an EV? Don't buy one. Personally, I think you're missing out on some fun times.2 points
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the last time we repealed major regulations and allowed the free market to choose... the free market chose greed, hubris, and fraud... eventually plunging the country and world into the worst recession since the 1930s. The free market isn't the end all be all.... there does need to be some regulation of it to try to prevent bad things happening.2 points
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So much for fresh produce in our grocery stores then. I thought conservatives were all for states rights? California is doing what is best for California.2 points
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EVs require less maintenance, are cheaper to fuel, and require fewer stops just to keep them running.. (i.e. you don't have to stop to fill up as part of your normal routine, you just plug it in at night and start every morning with a fresh, full "tank")2 points
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2 points
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That's what happens when you're motivated by revenge and want to punish someone (in this case the prior administration and California respectively)2 points
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Banks were deregulated with the repeal of Glass-Stegel Act. A big thing that came from that was that banks could now gamble with your money in dodgey investments. Simultaneously, mortgage regulations went out the window so that anyone who could fog a mirror qualified for a mortgage. You couldn't let your dog off its leash or it would come back with a home equity line of credit. At the same time, wages stagnated. Off shoring became the big thing for companies to do. The internet made it even more possible. People trying to make up for the loss of wage increases started turning to the home equity line of credit just to keep up with increases in the cost of living. That was what the professionals call; A Bad Idea. All of these newly qualified mortgage holders became house shoppers. This started driving up the price of homes. Speculators came in and flipped homes forming a housing price bubble. Swirl all that together and you have the perfect storm that caused the recession starting in 2007. It all formed because banks wanted less regulation. Not all regulations are bad, some regulations keep bad things from happening. CAFE is regulation with good intentions being implemented badly. I agree with it's generally stated goal. I disagree with how they go about getting there. Repealing it without replacing it would lead to bad things, including possibly a significant loss of the auto industry in the US.1 point
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CAFE is a terrible situation.1 point
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Not my pics, but I did see these exact cars today~ in addition to a '63 Impala 409 coupe, '65 Bonneville convert, '59 Merc Park Lane convert, '59 Olds 88 2-dr hardtop, '59 Olds 98 convert, '59 Bonneville 2-dr hardtop - all incredible survivors or nut & bolt restorations in one guy's collection. Fun day.1 point
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AAA latest survey find 1 in 5 want an EV now! AAA latest survey results of auto's, the type wanted and what people love or hate has really shown big changes. 20% of America or 50 million want an EV auto up from 15% in 2017. AAA survey found the biggest fear on EV auto's was range anxiety and that is dropping month by month as people new to EV technology see how it fits into their everyday life. While range anxiety is one of the top fears, what has changed is that more people like the reliability of EV or Hybrids over traditional petro powered auto's. On top of this is the reduced maintenance EVs bring, more technology as society embraces it with acceleration, handling and safety technology being mentioned. Some really good info, check out the story below. https://newsroom.aaa.com/2018/05/1-in-5-us-drivers-want-electric-vehicle/1 point
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I see quite a few ProMasters around in various liveries and noticed how square they are. Front is rounded, but the rear doors and rear body and glass are all very cubist. Maybe Ram could spice things up w a retro 70s style Street Van package w custom wheels, shag carpet, etc.1 point
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Another wave of fallout from the Volkswagen diesel emission scandal could be coming later this week in a German court. Reuters reports that Germany’s federal administrative court will be ruling whether or not local governments could ban diesel vehicles. Environmental group DUH sued the Stuttgart and Duesseldorf governments for over levels of diesel particulate matter exceeding European Union limits after Volkswagen admitted to cheating on emission tests. Local courts ordered the governments to ban diesel vehicles that don't conform to current EU standards on days when pollution is bad. The two states where a number of automakers and suppliers reside appealed the decision to the federal administrative court. This move could cause serious damage to German automakers as it would cause a fall in resale values and overall sales. Investment Evercore ESI forecasts a five percent drop in diesel residual values, resulting in a loss of 1.6 billion Euros (about $2 billion) in operating profit "across eight European and U.S. carmakers." Source: Reuters View full article1 point
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Yeah, it's a beautiful crossover... really like the exteriors and interiors of the current Volvos...really like the V90 wagon also. Out of my price range now, but a CPO down the road, never say never...1 point
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If the only manual transmission left in the world was a FWD Ram Promaster, I doubt you'd be putting down a pre-order deposit. That's how I am with EVs. There are lots of plug in hybrids I'm interested in, none I can afford right now. There are no EVs I'm interested in... but not because of the power train. I wouldn't buy an EV ProMaster either. It's just not my kind of vehicle regardless of power train.1 point
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A Tesla has a longer cruising range than my Honda.1 point
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I can like a power train without liking the rest of the car.1 point
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Pollyanna! Short trips to mailbox much? LOL N00b! And dfelt needs to sh!t or get off the pot! He drives YUGE American bruisers while extolling the false virtues of golf carts with white dashes!1 point
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So remember in my note to you how you'll need to back up your statements? We'll go through your original post.... How? How does a hybrid, which still uses gasoline, limit mobility? EVs are not mandatory... if you don't like the Tesla, don't buy one. Last I looked, the gas-burner F-150 was still the best selling vehicle in the US. There is NOTHING stopping you from buying one. They even just added a diesel option. Nothing is being shoved down your throat. More transportation options are not a bad thing. People suffer from fueling network anxiety with a diesel. I've pointed that out in other threads where I would suggest a diesel to someone but their worry was finding fuel. I like diesels, but it is not the savior you're making it out to be. Its exhaust, without after treatment, is also substantially more toxic than gasoline. That was VWs fault. VW's hubris and greed has pretty much killed any great future for diesel. Blame them, not some conspiracy theory secret illuminati group. As far as range anxiety, that will go away as range gets longer and chargers get more common. In the meantime, nearly every manufacturer has or is coming out with plug-in hybrids for the transition. Getting people used to plugging in creates a demand for more chargers which creates a demand for more plug-ins. Those were the old hybrids. Hybrids now are all about adding power and drivability while also saving fuel. Volvo doesn't make a 400hp / 427 lb-ft 4-cylinder hybrid as their top engine by accident. The 4-cylinder Volvo S90 PHEV will walk away from any normally aspirated V6 and many turbo V6es without blinking. It does so while getting 29 mpg combined when running on just gasoline and 71 mpg when adding its EV only range. This is not your father's first generation Toyota Prius. In case you're thinking the Volvo is an exception, the Cadillac CT6 PHEV is 25 combined and 62 mpg with EV. At a more accessible level, the Ford Fusion Energi is 42mpg combined and 97 mpg with EV. In all cases, the emissions of these PHEVs will be substantially lower than even the cleanest of diesels. It's not "supposedly". It happened. Bosch built the device and specifically warned VW against using it in production. The students performed the test because there was reasonable doubt about VW's claims. VW claimed that they were able to meet emissions standards without any special technology in the emissions control system and wouldn't explain how they did it. Turns out, that they were able to do it by cheating on the emissions test. You've already been spoken to about part of this. Smog and pollution do kill people. Respiratory distress caused by smog is a real thing. Harley sales are a fraction of even just the Jetta. Furthermore, Harley was not selling bikes outfitted with the cheater from the factory... they sold a reprogrammer that was only to be used for competition tuning, it is unlikely that even 5% of the Harleys sold got the modification after the fact. The situations are not at all parallel. As far as being domestic or not.... it's the German/EU government who has come down hard on VW. Not just the US. VW knowingly committed fraud in the sale of hundreds of thousands of vehicles... you think the government should just look away? I don't have an EV or PHEV yet, but when I do, it will be powered by wind. I have energy selection here in PA and at least 20 other states have it too. If someone is environmentally conscious enough to buy an EV, they're probably also going to know enough to switch their energy provider. I have a 2 year wind energy contract and my rate is the same as what I would be charged for coal. Furthermore, coal generation is rapidly declining as it gets replaced by natural gas. While natural gas still releases carbon, the overall pollution footprint is much smaller. If you haven't noticed, all cars are getting this aero and special panels, diesels included. The new silverado has those slits in the front bumper just to direct air around the front wheels. Cars are already a nightmare to fix. I'm not sure what you mean by the "one" transmission.... manuals are going the way of the Dodo already and your choice is going to come down to 8-speed automatic or 10-Speed automatic. Your impression of hybrids appears to be out of date. If you limit yourself to Eco-Green oriented vehicles like the Pruis, then yes, if you drive it hard, the fuel economy suffers... but part of that is because it is a fairly under powered vehicle. Drive an XC90 or S90 hybrid and you'll do way way better on fuel than if it were powered by a normal V6 or V8.... and they do really pull hard when you step on it. You simply won't find a 400hp V6 AWD sedan that can get 29 mpg combined city/highway and also be capable of 71 mpg when you charge it up. I just drove a 400hp AWD Cadillac CT6 from Pittsburgh to NYC and was amazed that I was able to get 27mpg in just highway driving. My city mpg was much lower, low 20s. I know it's a minivan, but the Pacifica Hybrid is stupid fast and will still get amazing fuel economy. It's criminal how fun they made the acceleration on a mini-van and yet 85 mpg-e is still possible. My 2013 Buick takes about a 4 mpg hit when using the A/C.... it's enough that I've been considering having it looked at. My 2004 Honda is the same. When I was in my Honda escaping the hurricane in Florida last September, not running the A/C was the difference between making it to the next gas station or not. As most gas stations were out of gas, range anxiety was a very very real thing for me. Hypermiling it, keeping the A/C off and driving only 60 to 65 mph, I was able to get my best range ever... 300 miles. normally I get only 250. We have people all over the political spectrum here, but more importantly we strive for facts rather than hyperbole. It sounds like a bunch of your facts are out of date..... stick around and maybe we can help update them. I am the site owner and @William Maley is the other primary editor/admin. We both are registered as members of the press and we get direct access to the manufacturers to test cars and write news. We've been doing this a long time so we do know our onions from mushrooms. This site has been around since August of 2001 with many of the members you've been interacting with being here well over a decade. We're not the largest site, we're not the busiest site, we don't have the staffing to be the fastest with the news, but one thing we can be is the smartest site with thoughtful, fact-based, intelligent, and respectful discussions. If that's something you think you can be a part of, then put the ad-hominems away, pull up a chair, and enjoy.1 point
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@Zane Wylder Clearly you have not driven modern hybrid or electric auto. I would have agreed with you on the bastardized hybridized auto when looking at the very first hybrids from the 90's and even early 2000's. Yet Hybrid auto's are much faster with instant torque and can do much of what a diesel car did. There is no longer any reason for the polluting coal roaling cars. Not sure if your just unaware or just uneducated in regards to diesel, the acid rain it causes, the more than 40 toxic contaminants exhaust spews into the air and that most power is NOT created by Coal in the US. The bulk of power comes from much cleaner Natural Gas. diesel-health-effects.pdf Diesel has a place, but in trucks, not cars now and as technology pushes forward it will be replaced in trucks as well. After 110 years, time for Diesel to fade away as well as petro.1 point
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Saw a clean silver blue '78-80 Grand Prix when out and about yesterday. No vinyl top, same color as the '77 that's for sale around here. I can't recall the last time I saw a Le Mans, Grand Le Mans or Grand Am of that era...many years..decades, maybe.1 point
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1 point
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Why the downvote @ocnblu? What did I say that was incorrect? Do you prefer asbestos in your morning wheaties? EV's out torquing a TDI of similar physical size isn't even up for debate. The Spark EV out torques a Silverado 5.3 much less a Jetta TDI. A Tesla power unit is smaller than any V6 TDI you can find and it puts 588 lb-ft of torque at the wheels.1 point
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But that's isn't the bulk of the market. There will be internal combustion engines out there for a long time, but they will become more and more electrified. People who like them can still buy them. The CamCord buyers though, those are the people who will force the switch to EVs... Because they don't care about working on cars. Car maintenance is a nuisance to them and EVs offer an ownership experience with much less maintenance. But even modern gassers require some significant knowledge and equipment to repair. I can't imagine changing the cam on that new Silverado 4 cylinder which can run on 2 cylinders and have it come out right. That engine is going to be almost as untouchable as a Tesla motor unit.1 point
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We have, over time, learned what things do kill us and have sought alternatives. That's why we don't use asbestos anymore, or lead paint, or leaded gasoline. We adapted and found better replacements. People generally like TDIs for the torque. In that case, those same people should love EVs. EVs can out torque any tdi of similar physical size.1 point
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I like TDIs but even the cleanest TDI is toxic. Don't believe me? Sit in your garage with the door closed and the car idling...(no don't, but you get the point)1 point
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If GM had ever decided to go tit for tat with Tesla they could have pulled the trigger at any time and built direct competitors to them and exposed Tesla as the amateurs they are (at manufacturing). For whatever reason GM and the other big marques have been dragging their feet getting into EV's full bore (I think its battery cost, charging network, the distraction of autonomous vehicles and CAFE, and oil influence) GM in particular at any moment they REALLY WANTED TO could come out with amazing EV's that would define the industry and relegate Tesla to the scrap heap pretty darn fast. That's another topic though, and I believe GM under Barra has become far too like many other companies these days far too engaged in marketing, social media, politics, etc.1 point
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With the hybrid Prius and Ford Escapes that hasn't been an issue, the batteries typically outlast the car. Prius and Escape taxis go multiple hundreds of thousands of miles on their original batteries.1 point
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Except this is a longitudinal TRUCK engine. At first I was afraid, I was petrified... but then I read the power figures and the torque spread... now I'm sold. Won't be bad atall in the Silverado... will be brilliant in the Colorado. Brand new... for the trucks.1 point
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No Assembly line is perfect, but what is there is a good starting point. Musk Arrogance has him go from an overkill of manual hand building to an attempt at full automation and no humans and Billions wasted. Even now he admits they went from using too many people to to many robots and not starting at a proper Alpha and Beta test of the assembly line. This is His Error due to Ignorance and Arrogance. He believed even when people who worked for him said it would not work that he could take a software building approach and apply it to auto building. You cannot just make software updates on the fly in building a physical device. If he had listened to those around him about the assembly line, Tesla 3 would probably already be at 5000 builds a week. Right now they still have a hand built multiple module body that is taking way more time than it should to be built before it gets to the assembly line. Dies, testing and mass production are very solid and good. This is where Musk should have started by using what the existing auto industry had already proven and built. Then take it to the next level of automation and superior building. If you understood the history of Deming and Drucker and how they brought together one of the best JIT or known as Just in Time manufacturing systems at high quality assembly, you would understand why this is a FAILURE of Musks and why just not me but many others also point this out that he has cost billions more than needed if he had taking his technology of the EV auto and started assembling them on what is a proven production line process. Then take it to the next level. Yes I believe one day we will have a fully automated assembly process that could allow you to plug in the details and have a car out hours later at the other end of the assembly line. But right now we are not there.1 point
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I was in the Sunshine State for Easter and the car had to go one way out of the state for a really good rate, so I returned it to Atlanta. I arrived in Florida and the selection of cars was really dismal, for what I like, that I almost just took a Focus from the pick your car line. However, I took a Camry. I didn't really like that car. With 29,000 miles on it, it idled roughly with the air conditioner on. Worse yet, there was no fob on the key ring. I figured that out when I tried to pull my stuff out of the trunk. I had to use the key for the front door and then use the inside release just to open the trunk. However, I was tired and went to sleep. The next morning I woke up, realizing I had to exchange the car. I went back, the attendant let me park it in a special zone, I went to the counter, and explained what the situation was. The lady was super nice. She fished around for keys and was rattling off the names of cars, because this location didn't have the pick your car zone. She said, "I've got a Veracruz. You'll really like that." I was wondering what a Veracruz was. Perhaps it was something I missed. Mitsubishi once had the Montero. She then told me it was a Buick. I looked at the key ring and saw that it was a Verano. Haha - Veracuz!?! I thought Veranos would all be retired from fleets by now, so it was "winner - winner - chicken dinner" for me. Perfect for the warmer and muggier weather, the Verano was white with a cashmere (read: tan) cloth interior with cocoa (read: dark brown) accents. I'd putted around in these before, so getting everything set up wasn't too bad. The Bluetooth was a little fussy, but I was bent on being fueled by 70s and 80s music, along with some Motown. Also, one has to get radio stations for their genre and for the area. I love how this smaller car feels bigger than most compact cars I've ever been in. (That's sort of like Reno's moniker "the biggest small city in the world," or something like that.) The Verano was nimble, quiet, and fairly quick. The "habitual" 2.4 liter 4 cylinder is mostly sedate but can get riled up under throttle. It likes freeways, or interstates. A lot. The car can move right on up to higher speeds and you won't hear it or feel it. For this, the cruise control with the typical GM digital set up was useful and it was always on stand-by. The rocker toggles on the steering wheel feel good to the touch and are easy to use. There was one unusual thing about the powertrain on this unit. Most of the time, when I've gotten a car with over 30,000 miles and an issue to go along with it, it has usually been a wheel hub bearing that was going sideways. Not this time. There was a noticeable feel at the first two shift points. The 6 speed transaxle in these units is usually silky smooth. Something was off. However, it didn't cause any problems, it didn't get worse, and it didn't set off the check engine light for a solenoid or a sensor. As for fuel economy, it's supposed to get between 21 and 32 mpg, IIR the past EPA stickers. In an almost all city situation, my worst tank got 23 mpg. Then, I usually baby a car for one pure interstate jaunt, and that tank came in at about 37 mpg. I've gotten that sort of a reading once before in a Verano, so I figured it made some sense. Because it is a 4 banger, cruise at 65 mph spins the engine at about 2,000 rpms. I really like the ergonomics and greenhouse of the Verano. For my taste, its seats are incredibly comfortable. They are sort of old school, if you will, because they're not thin and they don't have overly defined bolsters that hem you in. Their thickness seems to rob the rear of the cabin of some knee room, but that's where I temporarily tossed empty plastic water bottles. (What's with these Southerners? Finding places to put recyclables isn't all that easy.) I like the dashboard design, the simple instrument cluster with the blue/white lighting, and, mostly, the fit and finish. It may be on the same chassis as the last-gen Chevy Cruze, but the attention to detail make this compact car stand out. It's a pleasure to sit in its cabin. This then brings around the question everyone asks. The now gone Verano sat on the outgoing Cruze chassis and was much more car in every which way, with the manners of a larger and better appointed automobile. Now, with its redesign, the current Cruze is far better than the previous Cruze. With that said, one can only imagine how appealing a new Verano could have been if it had been piggybacked onto the current Cruze chassis and Buick-ed up. Not only that, it could put a consumer into a Buick at a MSRP in the mid $20Ks and they could pass on looking at other marques, domestic or foreign, in the same niche. I guess this last trip in one was sort of my "last call" for the likeable Verano. - - - - - * photos forthcoming *1 point
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This was a couple months ago but I just wanted to share this brave insect that I saw still buzzing around.1 point
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My thinking is that if you are looking at 5 to 6 years for your next auto, the EV's and Hybrids that come out in the next 12-18 months will then be coming up off their Lease so CPO options.1 point
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True, 1 in 85 but I believe we will see that number reduce fast as automakers release EVs in greater variety that people want to buy. I know if GM would update the dash on the BOLT to be optional two tone or all black or better yet give us the Mocha brown interior, they would sell more. Options is what people want.1 point
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I want to buy one, but they don't make one I both like and can afford and has the amenities I want. I'd buy an EV Lacrosse with a 250 mile range.. While not pure EV, both the S90 and CT6 plug ins would be high on my list had I the funds.1 point
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diesel’s the new lead, and just as we got rid of leaded fuel, we’ll get rid of diesel. diesel’s mileage advantage has been eliminated with new gas and hybrid vehicles anyway1 point
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Environmentalists should be suing governments for pushing diesel over all alternatives. VW is NOT innocent, but the EU also needs to be held accountable.1 point
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Fake. Totally staged. I drove 200+ miles this weekend in very hilly terrain, having fun rowing the gears in my miniature Jeep. The Tesla is no more exciting than an electric shaver.0 points
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This ban should not stand. The diesel engine has been around just about as long as electric, yet it remains far easier to own for the vast majority of people, worldwide.-1 points
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Sounds promising, I hope it pans out. This could save thousands of automotive jobs. People are comfortable with diesel. Go over to the VW page at FB and you will see plenty of comments about people missing their TDi.-1 points
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Plenty of people living in the past and no lost jobs, just a change in what job they have on the assembly line, at the charging station, etc.-1 points
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This car fanatic doesn't want any of the NWO Agenda 21 crap pushed on me, and instead sticks with Gas and possibly diesel-1 points
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TDI's are amazing, period. Shame the globalists/nwo are pushing this ev crap on the masses and exacerbated the situation to the point that they're convinced it's toxic.-1 points
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VW Is rolling coal polluting garbage. I have not seen a single VW that does not heavily pollute out the tailpipe. Time for Diesel cars to die, Hybrid is far superior without all the pollution that heavily contributes to ACID RAIN and many other health detriments. Germany has some of the most dead forest around due to their heavy acid rain that is killing everything. Even Germany has admitted that Diesel is hurting their country, people, etc.-1 points
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