Style or Effeciency?

[nutz4cars]

Should people go for style when they buy a car or since gas prices are going through the roof, should people buy gas effecient cars? such as the smart car, or the prius?

[Hungrycat7]

It would be most ideal if a manufacturer could design a car that meets both standards. But I think the choice is up to the individual. If you need an extremely efficient car get one! If you can afford better I would say go for it!

[rebaccawood911]

Many people go for efficiency but now a days youngsters they go for style... but both style and efficiency is needed...

[oldblu65]

I think you go for whatever your wallet , or pocketbook , can afford ! If you're lucky , maybe you find a vehicle that combines both elements !

[CARNIGG]

To each his own.

Whatever you are worried about most will determine your choice.

[JCAllison]

Originally Posted by nutz4cars

Should people go for style when they buy a car or since gas prices are going through the roof, should people buy gas efficient cars? such as the smart car, or the Prius?

Hey Mr. N4C,
I used to live in Houston, and on every week day morning, literally hundreds of thousands of five passenger cars, each carrying only one person would sit idling on the freeways from between 6:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. in what was called the "World's Longest Parking Lot".

I have no idea why some manufacturer doesn't come out with a "mono posto" vehicle. You know, a "single seater", used for commuting. They could be small, single or twin cylinder motorcycle engined, more like a large water tight, air conditioned GoCart.

I even came up with a design that had five wheels.

It was like a regular Formula One or Indy car, but didn't have a driving rear axle, thus no differential. It had no brakes on the regular four wheels, and the front wheels for steering. The wheels were there just to keep the vehicle from falling over.

The fifth wheel was the driving wheel and was part of a shaft driven motorcycle engine, transmission, and rear wheel unit, and contained the brake.

It would have to have a reverse gear like a GoldWing motorcycle, but that would be easily engineered.

Would get a couple hundred miles per gallon, would look spiffy, would soon become a class of racing and be lots of fun to drive.

Freeway lanes could be half the width of present freeway lanes, thus doubling the capacity without expensive construction. All it would take is to re-line the lanes.

Parking capacity would also double.

I'll bet every kid in the US and elsewhere would LOVE to have their own little Formula E (for efficient) vehicle.

Whattaya think?

Anyway, I'm new to the forum, and this is my second post. And I would like to introduce you to Ms. American 3.14159, who is as far as I have been able to ascertain (and I've looked EVERYWHERE), if not the ONLY "1964 Ford Galaxie 500, Four-Door, Hard-Top, Fast-Back, Police Interceptor" EVER built, at least the only surviving example that you'll find if you Google the above words in quotes.

For more pictures than you probably want to look at click here:

http://msamericanpi.bravehost.com/galaxie.htm

http://msamericanpi.bravehost.com/galaxpa.htm

http://msamericanpi.bravehost.com/galaxca.htm

http://msamericanpi.bravehost.com/galaxen.htm

At the bottom of the first URL page is an explanation of the vehicle so I won't go into it here.

The JPGs of her were taken about two years ago, and she was in pretty rough condition due to my having been in a life and death struggle with health issues. But since the JPGs were taken, she has undergone an amazing transformation, and is currently being readied for a complete interior restoration starting with that from which I am at the moment taking a break, and that is the scuffing of the passenger compartment and trunk floors in preparation for their being coated with Hurculiner Bed Liner, a rubberized polyurethane technical coating.

And while it is not a Ford Galaxie, I also have another extremely rare vehicle, which is a "1967 Dodge Mail Van" named: Lorrie Van Haul, which when I did a Google search for her kind was informed that they were: EXTINCT! But I have one, and she is also in the process of getting put back to being road worthy, needing only Master Cylinder, and Slave Cylinder rebuilds, new hoses, new battery, and new wheels & tires.

For some JPGs of Lorrie, click here:

http://msamericanpi.bravehost.com/dodge.htm

http://msamericanpi.bravehost.com/1920carb.htm

Anyway, comments or questions are welcome.

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend, and I'll check in on you all later.

JC Allison

http://www.livingston.net/allison1/index.htm

[MagicRat]

Originally Posted by JCAllison

I have no idea why some manufacturer doesn't come out with a "mono posto" vehicle. You know, a "single seater", used for commuting. They could be small, single or twin cylinder motorcycle engined, more like a large water tight, air conditioned GoCart.

There are lots of such machines around. The big problem is current auto safety regs prevent many tiny cars sold elsewhere from being sold here.... except for the Smart Car.

There are lots of 3-wheeler machines that are nice, fast and very compact that would fit the bill. Suck machines - even if they are fully enclosed - count as motorcycles and are exempt from many regs.

[JCAllison]

Originally Posted by MagicRat

There are lots of such machines around. The big problem is current auto safety regs prevent many tiny cars sold elsewhere from being sold here.... except for the Smart Car.

Hey Magic, (may I call you Magic?)
What do you want to bet that the safety regs that keep the little cars out are influenced by big oil?

There are lots of 3-wheeler machines that are nice, fast and very compact that would fit the bill.

I've seen some kit cars that are like that. Even one of them had a motorcycle that just temporarily installed for the rear wheel, and when one wanted, one could just unfasten the murdercycle and ride it with the rest of the vehicle parked.

Suck machines

"Suck machines"? Did you mean "Such machines?

even if they are fully enclosed - count as motorcycles and are exempt from many regs.

Oh, wouldn't THAT be a joy?

BTW, I see that you are from Ontario. Is that Canada, or California. If it's California, that's where I was raised! Went to Lincoln Elementary, Vine F Danks Junior Highschool, and Chaffey Highschool. Lived at 1211 East A Street also known as Holt Blvd, and at 1013 N. Cucamonga Ave, first house South of 4th Street at the corner of Rosewood. Just across the street from John Galvin Park, and the National Guard Armory. That was all back in the '50s and 60s.

Did you perchance look at Ms. American 3.14159 and Lorrie Van Haul?

They are both wondermus vehicles.

I'm in the process of taking out all the seam sealer in the interior of the old Gal, and replacing it in preparation for applying Hurculiner Bed Liner (rubberized polyurethane technical coating) to the passenger compartment and trunk floors.

BTW, is that YOU in the picture on your post. You don't look old enough to have ALL the vehicles listed in your post.

Anyway, HEY! Thanks for the response. Yours is the first one I've gotten since joining the Forum last week.

Hope this finds you doing well.

Hang in there.

JC