Historical Perspective

[gamernotwatcher]

It's call the Ivory Tower syndrome!

[Smart-Trailers]

Originally Posted by BobDiaz

I got a kick out of the line...

So, it appears the Smart reached that standard 12 years early.

Bob Diaz

Strictly speaking MCC Smart exceeded that figure by more than 12% back in 1999.
20 years early?

Alan

[Karl Roth]

Originally Posted by jwight

Here's the bit I find interesting:

"It isn't as if automakers can't produce cars that get 40 mpg or better. A study by the Civil Society Institute - which, among other things, advocates greater fuel economy standards - found automakers offer 113 such vehicles for sale in Europe but just two in America."

These higher mpg cars are already here - just not in the USA. It really gripes me when the big three whine about the terrible impact of the new 35 mpg standard when they already make cars overseas that beat that standard. These guys are still stuck in the "bigger is better" mindset and won't change until their sales hit bottom (which is not that far off the way things are going.)

Rant over.

what you are looking at is what we choose to buy, that is what drives the train. what we are willing to pay for.
karl

[jwight]

Originally Posted by Karl Roth

what you are looking at is what we choose to buy, that is what drives the train. what we are willing to pay for.
karl

Karl,

I get that part - it's the " freeze in the dark eating tree bark as long as I've got my SUV" mindset I can't fathom.

[Old smart]

I once had an SUV (Isuzu Trooper II) and it made sense based on my then geography and climate. Later I moved to a different geography and climate and it ceased making sense. I actually felt liberated when it was replaced with a Honda wagon.