Ramblings from the Road

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As mentioned in my last entry, I was fortunate enough to attend the NY Auto Show and bask in its glory and glamour. Any chance I get to tackle Manhattan is always welcome. But this time, rather than head back to the West Coast, I continued east and visited the UK. Yes, it was Easter and there were plenty of chocolate bunnies to ingest. But more importantly, I got to drive on the wrong side of the car and the wrong side of the road!

It is important for West Coasters to spend time in the Midwest and on the East Coast now and then to reacquaint themselves with how typical vehicle usage and values vary across our big country. But even more important is to get onto another country's roads to feel and experience 4-wheeled transit from a new perspective. And the UK is a perfect venue for reasons other than just the fact that the steering wheel is on the "wrong" side.

It is slowly becoming an accepted conclusion that accumulated human activity is having a negative impact on the earth's climate. The bigger, unanswered question is whether the result will be long- or short-term repercussions and damage. But no matter how you feel about this subject, you know inside that we cannot afford to continue our wasteful ways--especially in our modes of transportation.

And this is where the shock of a new driving culture can provide focus. During the last week of March 2008, the price of an Imperial gallon of petrol in England was over $10. Luckily, I was at the wheel of a Vauxhall Astra (which is now for sale at your local Saturn dealer) that provided mpg in the 28-30 range over high motorway speeds. But as I drove from England to Wales to Scotland and back again, this was not an inexpensive test drive. Now think about your own vehicle ... and how it would feel to probably shell out over $140 per fill-up. How many times per week could you really afford to do that?

We American drivers need a shock to the system to break us of our "most vehicle and horsepower for the dollar" attitude. Maybe the current credit/personal financial crisis teamed with the slow but steady climb to $4 per gallon gasoline and beyond has started this process, but only time will tell. If you are in the market for a new or used vehicle, please honestly evaluate your transportation needs and buy accordingly. I know some of you have large families or use your vehicle for work-related functions, but for the rest of you, notice how often you are alone or with children in your vehicle. Do you really need seven seats? Do you really need the V8 model? Or even the V6 when a modern 4-cylinder will more than suffice from a power perspective--plus be the best fuel economy and emissions option?

Upon arrival at LAX last week, can you guess what was the first thing that struck me when I stepped out of the terminal? Not the warm weather, not the lack of rain, and not even the palm trees that dot this city. No, it was the size of vehicles that were filling the lanes. I now know that our time of affording this luxury is coming to a close. Choose your car wisely.

Posted on 2008-04-07 | Permalink | |

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