Jeremy Clarkson HAS to see this:

[OptionZero]

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/articl...&sn=048&sc=200

California gubernatorial candidates Steve Westley and Phil Angilides (both of whom will more than likely lose, but thats a different debate) had a debate.

such gamesmanship:

At a news conference after the debate, both candidates were asked a more personal question related to the environment: What kind of family cars do the would-be Democratic governors drive?

Angelides, nodding to his daughters, said his family has four cars: a Volvo station wagon and three hybrids -- a 2003 Prius, a 2005 Prius and a 2006 Honda Civic.

Westly said his family has two cars, a Chevy Tracker and an Acura sport utility van -- because of the bench seats for his two young children, he said -- but he quickly added that he has "a Prius on order" at Fremont Toyota.

Yes, that's right. It's come to this...what car do you drive now matters when you're running for office.

Not only that, but people are trying to "out-green" each other. Pathetic.

Clarkson should have a field day with this one.

FYI, California state officials are chauffered about in armored SUV's and large sedans (lincoln town car, i believe) that do NOT, get good mileage i bet. Although there are hybrid cars available for commute if a state worker is on state business, the actual official himself will usually be in the equivalent of a tank.

[matt_shaw]

4 hybrids = 1 Ford GT

Just buy a Ford GT to drive everywhere and you'll be just as green

[STi Nut]

Originally Posted by matt_shaw

4 hybrids = 1 Ford GT

more like 400 hybrids = 1 Ford GT

[jetsetter]

You would think that the actual manufacture of a hybrid vehicle would produce more pollution than a traditional automobile.

[AML]

A competition who has more priuses in their garage, pathetic.
The Prius mania is just stupid, the car isn't more eco friendly than any other modern diesel, having it is just pointless.
They thinking about the car as a way of transport not as a way of having fun, and becouse that they will never won with petrolheads.
I want to drive my Sagaris round a local race track like a maniac, eco-mentalists? screw them!, bunch of dull people with lives that hasn't work out as well as they hoped.

[GraemeH]

There was an interview with some leaf eating woman that founded some big shop chain or some such, and she was asked about her idea of a utopian society. One of the things she said was, "...and anyone that doesn't drive a hybrid has to do community service..."

Needless to say my blood flash-boiled, and I only wished i could have bled on her or something at that point.

The problem isn't the small number of uneconomical cars it's the huge number of economical ones. Boo hoo there are a few hundred of x y or z supercar. But there are tens of millions of Focus's. What's the real problem?

[AML]

"...and anyone that doesn't drive a hybrid has to do community service..."
And anyone that does drive a hybrid will be kicked in the head.

Anytime I hear the sort of shit like this I become a grim killer.

[Dark_Templer_102]

Did anyone see the Southpark ep when everyone got Hybirds? Long story short, there was a "smug" problem (not smog). The parkranger said when people get hybrids they are soo full of themselves they give off alot of smugness.

Eh, looks like its coming true.

[OptionZero]

seriously, how does one email Jeremy Clarkson? Neither the Times nor the Top Gear website gives a mailing address or email

[maxnharry]

have you tried?

jeremy.clarkson@bbc.co.uk

[OptionZero]

that seems to simple, and i couldn't find that on the top gear site

i'll give it a shot

[Blythy]

my idea of a utopia.

A V engine on every drive, twisty roads with no speed limits, direct roads into the centre of town with few junctions, high taxes for cars under 200bhp and custodial sentences for anybody so full of themselves as to think that they're better than everyone else because they drive a shitty car that probably pollutes more over its total life than a ferrari.

now, stay with me on this.

take for instance the ferrari f430, made in relatively a low tech factory compared to the automated thing that is any major manufacturer.

cos the toyota factory has to stay open pretty much 24 7 or 16 hours a day, it'll be polluting a lot - there's a lot of plastics and automation involved in producing it.

wheras the ferrari is a heartfelt job, and less plastics are used, cos ferrari make nice cars.

Also, a ferrari is gonna be driven less - say 3000 miles a year, compared to the fuckwit special the prius - at an average of 10000 a year.

so.... wanna save the planet? buy a ferrari.

[tone76]

<flame-proof suit>

When choosing our most recent car, I did consider going hybrid.

The trouble is, you're spending a lot more money to gain a small increase in fuel economy over a modern internal combustion engine. Even worse is that in some cases, a small diesel-engined vehicle delivers better fuel efficiency than a hybrid.

We ended up buying a Honda Jazz. 37mpg in the city, up to 50mpg+ in the country (and the Mrs. and I are leadfoots!), almost as roomy as a Prius but about AUD$15,000 (approx USD$11,000) cheaper, thanks to being powered by a conventional 1.5 petrol engine with VTEC. In other words, I would have spent about 35% more on a car that might give me a 10% gain in fuel economy - the sums just don't stack up.

Ultimately, hybrids are a good concept as a transitional mode of automotive power from the internal combustion engine to whatever takes over (fuel cells?). However, right now, they are just too expensive for what they offer. Once the technology comes down in price a bit more (I give it another 5-7 years), hybrids could become a real option.

</flame-proof suit>

[Chupacabras]

There are studies that show that odds are a hybrid will cost you more in the long run with repairs ect than its worth... i think it was in the consumer guide or something - north america needs diesal not hybrid!!

[Buba]

Originally Posted by jetsetter

You would think that the actual manufacture of a hybrid vehicle would produce more pollution than a traditional automobile.

That may actually be a very good point ALL the Hippocrites miss... I doubt there are any studies on this, because nobody wants to ruin the Hybrid trend... Obviously you can make tons of money from Ecomentalists...!

Everybody interested in this kind of matter should read "State of Fear", because it shows you some unbelievable statistics and is also one of the best reads I had in the last year...

[3Colin]

I'm sticking with my view that technology like diesel, biodiesel and ethanol are preferable to hybrids. I think this because these technologies actually live up to their billing, in modern, European form at least. 900-hp Koenigsegg, anyone?

The Prius is ostentatious, promises far more than it can deliver, has a hugely arrogant image, and works poorly as a real car. In that mind, isn't it a lot like an Escalade or an H2?

[Dsemaj]

Originally Posted by tone76

<flame-proof suit>

When choosing our most recent car, I did consider going hybrid.

The trouble is, you're spending a lot more money to gain a small increase in fuel economy over a modern internal combustion engine. Even worse is that in some cases, a small diesel-engined vehicle delivers better fuel efficiency than a hybrid.

We ended up buying a Honda Jazz. 37mpg in the city, up to 50mpg+ in the country (and the Mrs. and I are leadfoots!), almost as roomy as a Prius but about AUD$15,000 (approx USD$11,000) cheaper, thanks to being powered by a conventional 1.5 petrol engine with VTEC. In other words, I would have spent about 35% more on a car that might give me a 10% gain in fuel economy - the sums just don't stack up.

Ultimately, hybrids are a good concept as a transitional mode of automotive power from the internal combustion engine to whatever takes over (fuel cells?). However, right now, they are just too expensive for what they offer. Once the technology comes down in price a bit more (I give it another 5-7 years), hybrids could become a real option.

</flame-proof suit>

if you had have bought a hybrid, i'd have to find where you live in adelaide and torch it

For the extra cost of hybrids to begin with, you want even save any money after 10 years. Your better off with a diesel; they have better ecomony and they're cheaper, 'niff said.

[zenkidori]

people who buy hybrids aren't always looking to save at the pump, it gives them the feeling of being more environmentally friendly.

[MasterEvilAce]

Originally Posted by zenkidori

people who buy hybrids aren't always looking to save at the pump, it gives them the feeling of being more environmentally friendly.

Yeah, but i don't see what the problem is, really. You still have a regular engine with a hybrid. And hell i've heard that with new cars what comes out of the exhaust pipe of some cars is cleaner than the air in the testing room :shrug:

It's all hype, really. people go into panic.. so people thrive on that by making products marketed to the freaks

[Susurrate]

I find that hybrids create just as much pollution as a normal cars.... when I set them on fire.

Having said that I love Chyslers idea of a hybrid, a 5.7L hemi dodge durango hooked up to a couple of electric motors. LOL.