10-08-10, 12:08 PM | #31 |
Lex Parsimoniae
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ultimate electric hybrid bicycle
That bike looks sweet, but "However, this bike only cost $1,600"..
I can drive my little SUV for 5 to 7 years on 1,600 bucks!! (Unless gas prices go up)! |
10-08-10, 02:18 PM | #32 | |
Apprentice EcoRenovator
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Quote:
Try this Costs of Car Ownership Calculator to get a better picture of your total annual costs. I recently wrote an article and made a presentation on the physical, mental and financial costs of car ownership - Your Car is making you Fat, Angry and Broke (and what you can do about it) | EcoNewMexico.com. If you're interested, the article has a lot more information and links about total car ownership costs. FWIW, Tim P.S. Yes, I still own a car - I leave it parked in the driveway as often as I can.
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10-08-10, 03:51 PM | #33 | |
Supreme EcoRenovator
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Quote:
I really like the cost-of-ownership calculator. But even it does not put a price-tag on the more subtle and serious societal costs, like the environmental damage caused in mining materials and making and finishing cars. And the harm to the environment to build and maintain roadways. There's also the cost of maintaining our military, so as to provide the threat or actuality of death and destruction to those nations unlucky enough to have materials that larger nations (USA, EU, China, etc.) want. And of course, there is the cost of environmental damage from simply running the car. I think that the world is rapidly approaching the point where economic costs, (when all of the cost are counted, even the hidden ones) alone are not sufficient. The global warming impact of lifestyle choices need to be considered at the same time as economic costs. The attitudes that served us well in the past have become outmoded. We are no longer hacking our way through a limitless frontier. I am now hearing that the majority of the worlds scientists are convinced that the human species is doomed because, as a species, we are unable to respond to slowly approaching danger. I hope that they are proven wrong. My 33 year old son does not own or drive or even know how to drive a car. Sometimes I worry that he'll never 'get ahead', whatever that means. At other times I think that people like him and people like you Tim, are the ones who actually are moving ahead, bravely into the new future. My Best Regards, -AC_Hacker |
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10-08-10, 04:19 PM | #34 | |
Journeyman EcoRenovator
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Quote:
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10-08-10, 06:10 PM | #35 |
Lex Parsimoniae
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About $271.48 total gas cost per year.
I was only talking about my fuel cost.. I have no way of knowing who is going win the coming elections,
so I have no clue about the cost of anything really. Driving could be banned next summer for all I know. We might have to bike to the market with big bag of money, so we can bring home a small bag of food.. But, I have 3,200 miles on my car. I've owned it for about 15.5 months. 3200/15.5 = 206.45 miles per month. Or 2477.4 miles a year. That's about 103 gallons of gas. Today, it's $2.63 x 103 gallons is $271.48 total gas cost per year. I'm getting around 24 MPG these days. I visit the gas station about once a month and get 8 or 10 gallons. Those miles seem a little high.. Maybe I've been driving more because it's a new car.?. When I first retired, I was only putting 1,200 to 1,500 miles a year on the old Honda CRV. But, the Ford gets better mileage, so the costs are likely close. There were a lot of weeks during the summers of 2007 & 2008 when I put more mileage a week on my bicycle, than my CRV. This summer, I've been spending too much time a Lowes on Home Depot. I'll cut back on so much driving, now that winter hibernation is coming. Car insurance and taxes aren't that cheap here, so if things get bad, we can sell my wife's 2003 Corolla and just use the Escape. |
10-08-10, 06:22 PM | #36 |
Lex Parsimoniae
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"My 33 year old son does not own or drive or even know how to drive a car."
My 33 year old daughter drives a 2004 X3 2.5i BMW and is a VP at a large bank. I'm trying to get her to buy a Prius, but she thinks the BMW AWD is better on snow..?. |
10-08-10, 08:59 PM | #37 |
Supreme EcoRenovator
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10-08-10, 09:44 PM | #38 |
Lex Parsimoniae
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Almost all youngsters buying homes have some debt.
I do worry what could happen if the joblessness goes to 20+ percent. That could avalanche and shut down the whole country. A LOT of people would be moving into tents. But my little girl can always get her old room back.. |
10-09-10, 12:48 PM | #39 | ||
Supreme EcoRenovator
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Quote:
Also, when the inflation rate is not baked, the true current inflation rate is about 12%. I mentioned the above inflation figure to a local bank loan officer, and she didn't even bat an eye... I don't think that changing the political party is going to make any difference. I think the issues are much deeper than that. Check this out: Quote:
Last edited by AC_Hacker; 10-09-10 at 01:43 PM.. |
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10-09-10, 03:35 PM | #40 | ||
Journeyman EcoRenovator
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By the way, oil demand in industrialized countries has already peaked. I'm sure higher prices and better energy policy will get it to contract. Quote:
That chart is also a rough list of relative winners and losers in an energy crisis. I'm with you on the rest of your points, though. And yes, I am conserving well in advance of any potential supply shortages. |
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