***The OFFICIAL Weekend Singles Thread*** April 25-27 - The Car (a liberal's enemy)

April 25, 2008 | WFTR

[WFTR]

Americans like the freedom to travel. That trait makes sense. This continent was settled by people who were willing to travel in order to make a better life. One could say that the association between freedom to travel and prosperity is in our genes. The old GM commercial said, "It's not just your car. It's your freedom." Movement has always been a defining part of our culture. Today, we have cars. In the past, we had horses. In either case, the means of travel was personal and represented a private possession. Our heritage and history are not oriented towards mass transit.

People criticize our obsession with this freedom and vehicles that have given us this freedom, but the car has done some great things for us. I believe that the car has played a big part in advancing the standing of employees in relation to their employers. Without transportation, most of us would be forced to work for any employer we could find within walking distance. We'd be forced to accept whatever he paid and however he treated us. With convenient transportation, we have choices. If one employer doesn't treat us well, we can move to another job.

Of course, some of that freedom is being curtailed today by high gas prices. We can't always afford to go just anywhere as we once did. We don't know how high the prices will go or how much they will raise the cost of everything we buy. Undoubtedly, the situation will change some of our decisions.

With this in mind, the discussion this week is vehicles. What do you drive now? What was your first car? What was the favorite that you have driven? What will you drive next if things go according to plan? What would you drive if cost were no option? What would you drive if we could have $1 per gallon gasoline as we once did? What changes do you wish the car companies would make?

Do you think that your self-image is tied to the vehicle that you drive? Have you ever been embarrassed to drive a particular vehicle or by the thought that you might have to drive some particular vehicle?

When you go shopping for a vehicle, what's the primary consideration? Do you typically spend more than you had planned?

Do you use mass transit? Do you like using mass transit? Have you ever lived where you could walk to work every day? Did you like walking to work?

On a more serious note, what do you think should be done about oil costs, supplies, and related issues? Should we drill in ANWR and off the coasts of Florida and California? Should the government ease regulations if necessary to allow the United States to develop oil shale and oil sands?

[3D-JOY]

Guess I just got here before the discussion began!

[3D-JOY]

Oh the embarrassment, having to drive a pea green Studebaker that looked the same from the back as the front!

Luckily my father hit his own mid-life crisis and bought a red convertible by my senior year!

[WFTR]

Friday Night Singles
Please freepmail DaveLoneRanger to be added / removed

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Bonus Questions

1. A long, lost uncle leaves you 100 acres of land near the Louisiana/Mississippi border. You're walking around the land with a camera and take a picture of the biggest bird you've ever seen. When you return home and do some checking, you realize that you have a perfect picture of an Ivory-billed Woodpecker, a species for which the last verified sighting was fifty or so years ago. Do you publicize your picture and the sighting knowing that your land will be crawling with bird nuts, that you might be forced to sell the land, but that you might be able to make some money and fame for the picture, or do you keep the find quiet and hope to be left alone? Why?

2. Which would you rather have, a child who wins the Nobel prize or a child who wins the Super Bowl MVP?

3. Have you begun planning a vacation this year? If so, where do you think you might go?

[WFTR]

Your timing is perfect.

[NoGrayZone]

“Should we drill in ANWR and off the coasts of Florida and California?”

Drill baby drill!!!

[WFTR]

I don't remember the old Studebakers. My folks had a dark green Plymouth Valiant, but I loved that old car. It wouldn't win any prizes for being sexy or exciting, but it held the stuff I needed it to hold and gave me good service while I was finishing college and going to grad school the first time.

[WFTR]

I agree that we should drill in those locations.

[WFTR]

For anyone who notices, I'm thinking about trading my 1993 Mazda pickup truck and getting a “crossover” SUV. My favorites so far are the Nissan Murano and the Hyundai Santa Fe. If you have any advice about these or others, I'd love to hear.

[GOP_Raider]

Which would you rather have, a child who wins the Nobel prize or a child who wins the Super Bowl MVP?

I don't know if I would want to have my kid have an award given by elite socialists. Preferably following in the footsteps of the great Jim Plunkett in Super Bowl XV would be great--although there is a great case to be made for Rod Martin getting that MVP honor. Oh, well. Ring is a ring.

[GOP_Raider]

Should we drill in ANWR and off the coasts of Florida and California?

With oil prices going past $100 per bbl, it's asinine NOT to. Did you know that when Texaco finally extracted the oil in Mexico, after exploration, red tape, drilling, distribution costs, etc. they spent well into 10 figures getting that oil on the world market?

[tet68]

Sadly, you don’t tell a soul. If you do your 100 acres will be turned into a national bird sanctuary

[LSAggie]

I lurk on the single’s thread every weekend, but, being an old married (35 years) woman, have very little to contribute. On cars, however, we bought me a new vehicle to replace my 1985 Pontaic STE last year. I was seriously looking at the Murano ‘til I discovered it took premium gas (I couldn’t go there). We bought a Hyundai Tucson V6, and I really love it. It’s smaller than the Santa Fe, but has the safety features we wanted. I have gotten up to 24 mpg on trips, but around town I get about 20. It’s still being broken in, though, I only have about 4500 miles on it.

[GOP_Raider]

While I'm at it, anyone seen these new Smart Cars on the market recently?

Apparently these go carts disguised as cars are the wave of the future. I saw one of these things while driving home at a dealership and I'm like "who would drive one of these things?" Am told these are all the rage in Europe, but we may need snugs' observation to see if this is indeed the case.

[radiohead]

I drive a red Hyundai Santa Fe (small SUV). This is my first car. I’m one of those east coast city slickers who took public transportation and cabs everywhere and never learned to drive. I only got my driver’s license in 2006 in prep for a move to the midwest.

I’m fortunate that I live in a college town with a great bus system, so I can take the bus to campus and use the car for shopping mostly. I love ‘Big Red.’

I plan on driving Big Red into the ground, so I’m not thinking of a new car, but I do like the commercials for cars that park themselves and can pick up which way you’re looking from the mirror. Cool. The only thing I wish my current car had is heated seats. This past winter I rode a lot in my son’s Santa Fe, and the heated seats were great. Enough winters like this past one, and I might trade in Big Red for a newer model w/warm seats.

My ego isn’t tied up w/my car. I’m more concerned w/safety features and cleanliness than what the car might ‘say’ to others.

DRILL ANWR. This is America. It’s huge; as much as I’m a friend of public transportation, it just doesn’t work everywhere. Shoot, drill in my backyard, if that would help.

[GOP_Raider]

Do you use mass transit? Do you like using mass transit?

When I'm on vacation, I do. I have a lot of friends that live in very liberal enclaves (Portland, the Bay Area, Seattle, Chicago, and so on) and they consider their light rail and bus systems as though it was something invented by Neils Bohr.

I live in a place that doesn't have that kind of mass transit and it's something I would never want to use on a daily basis. It works in a place like New York--or at least in Manhattan--but everywhere else it's not only an elitist "oh we'll let the commoners live in the utopia we've created for them", but it's a way for a much more authoritarian government to spy on it's own citizens.

[Hot Tabasco]

1. a perfect picture of an Ivory-billed Woodpecker, a species for which the last verified sighting was fifty or so years ago.

Shoot it, they taste like chicken and your property is safe...........

2. Which would you rather have, a child who wins the Nobel prize or a child who wins the Super Bowl MVP?

That's easy! Show me a Nobel prize winner who had chicks knocking on his door at all hours of the night.......since its my kid, I'd be answering the door!

3. Have you begun planning a vacation this year? If so, where do you think you might go?

Being retired, I'm stuck here at home due to no excess finances. However, I do have a cousin who moved to Panama last fall and has invited me down but after my last stay with him in Ft. Myers a few years ago, I can stay home, save money on airfaire and still be bored to tears..........

[DeLaine]

With this in mind, the discussion this week is vehicles. What do you drive now?

I drive an 02 Buick LeSabre and I LOVE IT. Love it, love it, love it. I’m thankful that I have it, did I mention that I love it?!
This is definitely my favorite ever, but I did love driving that Jeep Wrangler we used to own. And the Plymouth Acclaim (Black cherry color, that was the best color) But that was then and this is now.
If I had my choice...hmmm. A Ford Taurus. (grin)
If gas cost were no option, then ...the same.
I wish car companies would give us cars that looked good and still got double the gas mileage we get now.
My self image? Yes. I suppose it is tied to the car I drive. I feel special in my car. :D
My first car was an avocado green Ford Falcon.

I think we should DEFINITELY drill anywhere we can and reduce our insane dependence on foreign oil!!!!

[RikaStrom]

Hi WFTR, sorry for the long absence. Had a big formal "to do" 2 weeks ago, a chance to play dress up and my mom was down last weekend to help put the new house to rights. I have a Handyguy coming out tomorrow to give me an estimate on stuff. Darn vaulted ceilings, I cant reach the lights!!!

What do you drive now? 2000 Chevy Cavelier
What was your first car? Dodge Escort
What was the favorite that you have driven? Dad's Toyata Tundra.... WANT
What will you drive next if things go according to plan? Dunno Yet, need to research
What would you drive if cost were no option? A pickup truck!
What would you drive if we could have $1 per gallon gasoline as we once did? A pickup truck (I really want one)
What changes do you wish the car companies would make? Hmm. I don't think I know enough about cars to give a good answer

Do you think that your self-image is tied to the vehicle that you drive? No Have you ever been embarrassed to drive a particular vehicle or by the thought that you might have to drive some particular vehicle? Wood paneled station wagon. Oh the horror!

When you go shopping for a vehicle, what's the primary consideration? Do you typically spend more than you had planned? Economic and fuel efficient. No! (Well, not since the first time.) :-)

Do you use mass transit? Do you like using mass transit? Not in Houston, it's scary!

Have you ever lived where you could walk to work every day Did you like walking to work? No and maybe

On a more serious note, what do you think should be done about oil costs, supplies, and related issues? Should we drill in ANWR and off the coasts of Florida and California? Should the government ease regulations if necessary to allow the United States to develop oil shale and oil sands? DRILL!

Never tell about the bird, let it have a sanctuary, maybe by the time it is figured out, there will be more.

Ehh.. are those my only two options?? MVP I suppose, any child I raise will not be a snot if he became a famous football player

Yep, Cozumel Mexico for diving. Whole family is going, except minor children, of which I have none. Actually, I have no children at all, unless you count the psycho dog.

[Allegra]

1. A long, lost uncle leaves you 100 acres of land near the Louisiana/Mississippi border. You're walking around the land with a camera and take a picture of the biggest bird you've ever seen. When you return home and do some checking, you realize that you have a perfect picture of an Ivory-billed Woodpecker, a species for which the last verified sighting was fifty or so years ago. Do you publicize your picture and the sighting knowing that your land will be crawling with bird nuts, that you might be forced to sell the land, but that you might be able to make some money and fame for the picture, or do you keep the find quiet and hope to be left alone? Why?

I'd grill the bird and make some snail darter sauce to complement it. ;-)

2. Which would you rather have, a child who wins the Nobel prize or a child who wins the Super Bowl MVP?

The Nobel Prize, I suppose. I love NFL, but I wouldn't want to watch one of my kids getting banged up like that every Sunday in the fall. Well, unless maybe he's the kicker.

3. Have you begun planning a vacation this year? If so, where do you think you might go?

I'm on vacation. I came home to the US. And it's GREAT. :-D

[A knight without armor]

If they could make special roads around town for them I would drive one. I would be afraid being in traffic with trucks. To me it does look like a golf cart which is about what people who don’t travel huge distances need.

[knarf]

Mass transit ....
As a native Bostonian, I have a lot of memories, and most of them fond.I took a bus from near my house to Forest Hills where I transfered to a trolley to attend Boston Trade HS.

We guys always sat in the back seat ... to sneak cigarettes.

One morning, I brought a spool of thread with me and tied it off (without the driver seeing me) near the bottom of one of those upright poles near the center door, and wove it back and forth with another, across the aisle. Not too much ... maybe 4 or 5 times. Tied it off and sat back down and we all laughed our asses off as unsuspecting, 0630 commuters encountered a spider web.

Girls flashed guys on the Trolley.

So did I like mass transit?

Yoobetcha' RedRidah!

Now I live in the country, an older, seasoned man .... and as I reminisce that particular time in my life ... I'm trying not to LMAO.

[Hi Heels]

What do you drive now? 1987 Delta 88 & 1989 Mustang (not a big car person anymore)

What was your first car? 1966 Mustang

What was the favorite that you have driven? 1987 Delta 88. The thing has a mattress for a front seat. Had a trans am that was pretty quick and a 1956 corvette that go me in a lot of trouble, but that Delta 88 has the best seat for driving.

What will you drive next if things go according to plan? Hybrid. Any hybrid.

What would you drive if cost were no option?

Lincoln Towncar

What would you drive if we could have $1 per gallon gasoline as we once did?

B-52

What changes do you wish the car companies would make?

Wings, self-washing, self-vacuuming

Do you think that your self-image is tied to the vehicle that you drive?
Yes. That and my dishwasher.

Have you ever been embarrassed to drive a particular vehicle or by the thought that you might have to drive some particular vehicle?

I drive a 1987 Delta 88. ‘Nuff said.

When you go shopping for a vehicle, what’s the primary consideration?

Does it cost over $500?

Do you typically spend more than you had planned?
Nay.

Do you use mass transit?
Sometimes.

Do you like using mass transit?

I like the subway and the train.

Have you ever lived where you could walk to work every day?

Yep

Did you like walking to work?

No, but I might start. Sounds like a great way to lose some weight.

On a more serious note, what do you think should be done about oil costs, supplies, and related issues?

Alternative energy sources utilized, offshore drilling increased. I think we should STOP being dependent on foreign oil before we’re their slaves.

Should we drill in ANWR and off the coasts of Florida and California?

DRILL. And actually USE alternative energy.

Should the government ease regulations if necessary to allow the United States to develop oil shale and oil sands?

Absolutely.

1. A long, lost uncle leaves you 100 acres of land near the Louisiana/Mississippi border. You’re walking around the land with a camera and take a picture of the biggest bird you’ve ever seen. When you return home and do some checking, you realize that you have a perfect picture of an Ivory-billed Woodpecker, a species for which the last verified sighting was fifty or so years ago. Do you publicize your picture and the sighting knowing that your land will be crawling with bird nuts, that you might be forced to sell the land, but that you might be able to make some money and fame for the picture, or do you keep the find quiet and hope to be left alone? Why?

Could just chase it over to the neighbors.....
I also make a great homemade noodle if someone has a 20ga

2. Which would you rather have, a child who wins the Nobel prize or a child who wins the Super Bowl MVP?

Superbowl. Always wanted to see one of them. Plus, Gore won. Kinda destroyed the whole concept for me.

3. Have you begun planning a vacation this year?

Yep. I plan a vacation every waking moment.

If so, where do you think you might go?

Daughter is graduating from high school. We will be going up the coast to Morro Bay to do some kayaking, up to Lake County for Wine Hunting and fishing and then to Oregon to see her boyfriend’s folks. Back down the coast then switch over to funky highway 99. Might do Lake county last to keep the fish fresh.

[Hyzenthlay]

As far as cars go: I don't drive, and don't have a car. If money was no issue, I'd take one of the Moller Skycar nodels (http://www.moller.com/). However, as I don't have a car, I love using mass transit, (it's cheaper than gas anyways), and walking or riding my bike are nice options too.

Bonus questions: 1 - I wouldn't know an Ivory-Billed Woodpecker if it hit me over the head, nor would I be walking around taking pictures of birds, nor would I be particularly inclined to go to the area in the first place, so I'd probably sell the land off if I realised what I had (or even if I didn't).

2 - Nobel Prize winner, since I'm a science person and if I ever happen to have children they will grow up on science stuff.

3 - Well, my roommates and I would like to road trip to Cedar Point, and I might possibly go to a music festival in late august.... it depends on work schedules and stuff.

[WFTR]

Yep, I'd go for the Super Bowl MVP as well. Jim Plunkett was one of the most deserving.

[WFTR]

I know what you mean. That’s the saddest part of the current climate. No one can celebrate a rare species on his own land because that rare species would be the excuse that some would use to steal that land.

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

1. That bird is dead, holmes. I’m not letting my property be condemned under the ESA because of some bird. Besides, that woodpecker just might taste like chicken. :-)

2. I would simply want my kid to be successful.

3. Not really. I’m not sure I would have the money for it right now.

[WFTR]

Thanks for the tip. I spoke to the dealer, and they said that they put the regular gasoline in the Muranos on the lot. Ever since you made that post, I've been trying to do some research. People report mixed results using regular gasoline. Personally, I like the Murano more than I like the Santa Fe, but the Santa Fe does use regular gasoline. I'd love to get the Tuscon, but the Tucson simply does not have enough leg room for me. As one person said at a Nissan forum, when gas was $1.50 a gallon, the difference in the extra twenty cents for premium really hurt. At $3.50 a gallon, the difference is a smaller percentage.

I'll have to give all of this a little more thought. In almost every other area, I like the Murano more than I like the Santa Fe.

[WFTR]

I wouldn’t care for one of those cars, but I might consider driving one to work if they got 100 mpg.

[WFTR]

Thanks for the good report on the Santa Fe. I could probably be happy enough in a Santa Fe if I decide against the Murano. I'm the opposite of you in that I don't care for all of the new features on cars. If I had my choice, I would buy a car without power windows. In fact, I've never owned a car with power windows. As I get older, I guess I could like heated seats if I lived in the north. In Louisiana, heated seats are the last thing I need.

[WFTR]

I couldn't bring myself to shoot the Ivory-bill, but I'm not sure that I'd welcome him. I guess I'd first go to a lawyer and see about negotiating to sell the picture and the property at a huge profit.

[WFTR]

What's the appeal of the Ford Taurus? My folks have a LeSabre, and they like it very much. I think that I would enjoy a Wrangler, but I've never driven one.

[Petruchio]

What do you drive now?

2003 Jeep Grand Cherokee

What was your first car?

1964 Chevrolet Chevelle

What was the favorite that you have driven?

1994 Chrysler LeBaron convertible

What will you drive next if things go according to plan?

There is no next. I am happy with my Jeep.

What would you drive if cost were no option?

The Jeep GC I have now for bad weather, and I think a Honda S2000 for summer fun would be a kick.

What would you drive if we could have $1 per gallon gasoline as we once did?

No changes.

What changes do you wish the car companies would make?

Cars today all look the same. No Style. No personality. Back in the '60s no 2 cars looked alike. The variety was terrific.

Do you think that your self-image is tied to the vehicle that you drive?

No. The car does not define me. I give the car class by blessing it with my buttprint . . . [grin]

Have you ever been embarrassed to drive a particular vehicle or by the thought that you might have to drive some particular vehicle?

Well, here was that 1961 rustbucket Cadillac Sedan DiVille in faded PINK . . . But, we don't talk about that.

When you go shopping for a vehicle, what's the primary consideration?

Price. I am a cheap SOB. 2nd-It must fit my needs. 3rd-Comfort.

Do you typically spend more than you had planned?

No. Usually I spend less.

Do you use mass transit?

Only if I have to go to downtown Chicago. I refuse to drive my car there. Too many nuts, gangbangers and car jackers haunt he domain of King Richie II.

Do you like using mass transit?

I HATE IT!

Have you ever lived where you could walk to work every day?

Yes, a few times I did live that close to work.

Did you like walking to work?

Only in nice weather.

On a more serious note, what do you think should be done about oil costs, supplies, and related issues? Should we drill in ANWR and off the coasts of Florida and California? Should the government ease regulations if necessary to allow the United States to develop oil shale and oil sands?

This is a sore subject. I am of the opinion that the current prices are being held artificially high by the Speculators. It is my opinion that those Speculators are mostly liberals affiliated with Soros. This is an attempt to throw the Election to the Democrats by blaming Bush and the GOP for the high prices.

Yes we should open up drilling. There are also a vast number of wells that were capped when prices fell a few years ago. Those wells were never re-opened. It is cost effective to re-open those existing wells without the need for drilling.

[WFTR]

I understand wanting a pickup truck. I like mine, but I think a small SUV or crossover might be more useful in the long run. Maybe I'll end up being wrong. Part of the problem is that getting anything except the big pickups is very hard in Louisiana. I want a vehicle on which I can put a kayak, and lifting a kayak onto a Silverado is tough. The Silverado is just a little too tall to accept a kayak easily.

I lived in Houston for two years, and I never took the bus system there. I don't blame you for avoiding it.

I hope you have fun in Cozumel!

[WFTR]

I hope you enjoy your vacation and see as much of the U.S. as you want. Are you going anywhere special?

[WFTR]

It’s good that you have good memories of the transit system in Boston. I don’t think I could ever get used to using mass transit. I just don’t like being that close to other people.

[WFTR]

What alternative energy sources do you think we could use? I like the idea of alternative energy, but we haven't really developed them to the point of being that helpful. We're making some use of wind and solar, but those are both a few years from making any major contributions.

Your vacation sounds wonderful. I used to do some kayaking and hope to get back to kayaking before too long.

[WFTR]

A Skycar would be nice, but I suspect that they'll end up burning more gas than regular models. The biggest advantage is that they'll result in less road maintenance.

I've heard the name Cedar Point, but I don't remember what it is. I hope you are able to go.

[WFTR]

The Ivory-bill would have a tough time in this crowd. I have done some bird watching, and I ended up on an e-mail list for a bunch of them. To those people, the possible sighting of remaining Ivory-bills is their Second Coming. I'd get a laugh out of some of them reading this thread.

[WFTR]

I've toyed with the idea of getting a Cherokee. I wanted a Cherokee very much when I was young, but a Cherokee was never exactly what I needed. In later years, I decided that the Jeep products didn't have the reliability that I wanted. Maybe they are better now. I might consider one again.

Your idea about speculators driving the cost of gas higher may have some merit. I've never looked at the issue that closely in that way. I'd also like to see more drilling and see some of the old wells re-opened if they can be profitable.

[snugs]

I have seen a few they always look to me as if they are going to topple over :o).

Also the the back IMHO looks a bit like one of the Rover models of about 10 years ago that the designers forgot about it after designing the front

[Ladysmith]

phleh, like that would get through a Wisconsin winter...

[Hi Heels]

That’s kinda my point. We HAVENT developed alternative energy sources. We need to put effort and focus into this development in order to undercut the middle eastern stranglehold on our economy.

I’ve never been kyacking, but last time I was up at Morro Bay I watched a couple paddling around and just fell in love with the idea. A couple of months ago, I went on the “Landshark” up in Santa Barbara. That’s a bus tour that plunges into the water at the end and takes you out into the bay. There was some guy paddling around fishing. As we came by him, he pulled out the most enormous halibut. Welp, that sold me.

Catch a lot of jack smelt up in Morro Bay from the pier, but I’m dying to see what you can get from the kyack.

[Petruchio]

I picked it up less than 2 weeks ago. Even with a V8, it was just too sweet of a deal to pass up. Only $7000 and a crappy ‘97 Jimmy for a trade.

It is a Grand Cherokee LTD, Loaded. Here in Chicago the Tushie Toasters (seat heaters) are a welcome option. I do not drive that much, so mileage is not that big a deal. (15 City, 19 Highway) My old Jimmy I filled up every 6 or 7 weeks. i don’t think this will be much different.

Years ago I would have gone for a CJ 7. Not anymore. With my disabilities, comfort counts. This feels like I am in my Lazy Boy.

[Greenpees]

I drive a ‘92 Thundrbird, the wife an ‘08 Dodge Grand Caravan. We’re a single income family in Scottsdale, AZ
If I had more money, I would drive a Cadillac STS. I still believe that no other car in the world rides like a Caddy.

What should we do about gas prices? Well, I really don’t care tht much. For us, gas prices are an insignificant part of our lives. I live close enough to work to ride a bike, and my wife only does daily school drop off and local shopping. The key, I think, is to move close to where you work. (unless its downtown Detroit)

Also, living within one’s means is completely doable. It should be done, by all.

[Petruchio]

*snicker*

Well, Howdy! I have not bumped into you for a while.

[Ladysmith]

DOOOOODE! How the heck are you?!

[Petruchio]

Doin’ good. My apprenticeship is almost over. Soon I will be a full fledged Curmudgeon. [grin]

[Ladysmith]

LOL! And what an outstanding Curmudgeon you’ll be. ;o)

[GOP_Raider]

Hell, in a decent enough blizzard, the wind will blow you halfway to St. Louis. It would probably work okay in the cities, but not anywhere else where people cling to bibles and guns and so forth...