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RE: One for the Enviromentalists
I disagree with their decision but that's what we get for having our regulatory agency ran by radical leftists. Even europe disagrees with our thinking because their environmental regulations are focused more upon reducing C02 emissions.
Agree with your post but one comment to your statement above:
Euro lefties typically make ours look centrist. After all, Socialism is just a function of the radical left.
By not focusing on CO2 emissions and taxing the heck out of fuel, our government in many ways gave our economy a distinct advantage...though we pay a high indirect price for our foreign energy dependency.
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pronstar
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08/19/08 12:14am |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: CTD 5.9 (2007) or CTD 6.7 (2008) - Which is "better"?
Thos eprices seem high in this market...
I love my 5.9.
Has good power and no smog junk.
I'd love to have the additional power, exhaust brake and 6-speed tranny of the 6.7, though.
Tough call...though I chose my 5.9 even though there were 6.7 models on the lot. Don't regret the decision one bit, but had I chose the 6.7 I don't think I would have regretted it, either.
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pronstar
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08/14/08 08:50pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: What about diesels?
If you could control detonation, pumping a gasser with 30+ psi boost will likewise produce some excellent power & torque numbers.
But that's a big "if"...very tough to do under heavy load for long periods of time.
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pronstar
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08/13/08 01:08pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: pismo
1. non potable water and dumping is next to the La Seige Riviera Rv Park. Grand ave near the Amtrak. Go North on I think its Price street. First L/H turn you'll see it on the right hand side. Kinda tight so be carefull.
2. Diesel 76 on Grand Ave about 1/2 mile from Amtrak to the East.
3. yes.
They also have drinking water there, on the right side along the fence just beyond the dump area. At least the sign said "Drinking Water".
Good to see you out there, bro. Next time stay longer and have some drinks with us.
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pronstar
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08/12/08 07:42pm |
Toy Haulers
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RE: Ford + GM = A good thing?
Nothing new.
Even BMW & Bentley used GM trannies for years.
Beyond this, most of the cars on the road today use parts from the same pool of suppliers.
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pronstar
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08/12/08 06:57pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Info about Ford's new Scorpion Diesel
Mind you Carter was the President who installed solar panels on the roof of the White House. IMHO - He was and still is the only responsible adult in that position of authority. Remember the 55/65 limits - why not now? Btw Reagan was President one week when he had the panels dismantled and removed.
Stagflation, sky-high interest rates, a goofy brother and a foreign policy that amounted to the words "Doormat" written on his forehead will ultimately be how Carter's term will be remembered.
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pronstar
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08/12/08 06:51pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Ultra Low Sulpher Diesel
ULSD is not available everywhere in the United States, at this time. California and Canada are the 2 exceptions.
Yes, CA and the 51st state are the only two exceptions.
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pronstar
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08/12/08 06:45pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: 5.9 Cummins beats the 6.7 Cummins on the dyno.
Wish I had an exhaust brake and 6-speed automatic on my 5.9...
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pronstar
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08/12/08 06:44pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: GMC Pricing
With full-size trucks sales off 50% or more, if you are paying close to sticker in this market you're getting hosed. It's supply and demand...there's huge inventories of full-size trucks and few buyers.
Ford and Dodge dealers are most willing to deal on current 2008 1/2-ton trucks because they've both got all-new 2009 models waiting to go on sale.
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pronstar
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08/05/08 04:37pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Driving empty with 3/4 ton or better
I've used a few sheets of 4x8 plywood. That way you still have use of the entire load floor (but watch for splinters).
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pronstar
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08/05/08 02:40pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Really good buys on Tow Vehicles
I bought an American Made Truck too, built by American workers. What profits are you talking about? Did GM post a profit this year that we're not aware of?
Good point.
GM actually made a bunch of folks - shareholders - a lot poorer.
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pronstar
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08/05/08 01:23am |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Info about Ford's new Scorpion Diesel
Sorry I disagree, Chrysler can go from drawing board to production in less then 3 years. In Europe the Dodge Caliber gets a diesel engine that makes 60 MPG or so I was told it is more our Government and the EPA regs here that are killing us. Do you really think the Feds what to see fuel mileage go up, that would be less taxes they collect and we know that’s not going to happen.
And 3 years ago:
- oil was $50 a barrel,
- trucks outsold cars
- gas was $2.25/gallon (rose to $3/gallon after Katrina) and people still didn't drive any less despite a 33% increase in the price of fuel
3 years from now, we'll have:
- a lot more diesels
- a lot more small European cars here (takes time to get them to meet US standards)
- a lot more hybrids
- cars will outsell trucks by a large margin
Also remember...the gas taxes we pay are the lowest for a Western (modern) culture.
Ford makes many diesel powered cars in Europe. They even make a van just like the Dodge Sprinter van, it is called the Ford Transit. It comes with both gas and diesel engines. Who knows, Ford might start building their German cars over here. I would certainlly buy one if it gets 35 MPG and I can pull it behind my motorhome without extensive modifications.
Ford has already announced the transit will come here. They also announced that their European offerings - well regarded in Europe - will be coming as well.
On the GM side, Saturn is already bringing over European cars, largely unchanged.
Dodge's problem right now is, they sell very, very few cars outside of the United States. So while GM and Ford have small, efficient offerings in Europe and other markets that can be engineered to meet US standards, Dodge doesn't really have much to bring over. The cars they sell in Europe and elsewhere are largely designed for American roads, and they simply aren't competitive in other markets.
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pronstar
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08/05/08 01:15am |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Engine RPM vs MPH
All else being equal...a gasoline engine is more fuel efficient at low RPM (lower friction and fewer power strokes) and larger throttle openings (reduced pumping losses against a closed throttle).
I'm not an engineer either but I am a member of the SAE.
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pronstar
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08/04/08 12:25pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Info about Ford's new Scorpion Diesel
It's not that a company "gets it" or not. Believe me, if automakers could flick a switch and give us the high-efficiency we want tomorrow, they'd all do it. But the state of the economy and high fuel prices are a relatively recent development.
It takes a LONG time for automotive product to reach market from the development stage. This engine made sense several years ago when it was in development.
Current trends (high fuel prices and a focus on MPG) will take a long time to affect the products we can buy.
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pronstar
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08/04/08 12:16pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: BMW X5.....
Mercedes built a front wheel drive C230?
That explains the skid marks and smell of burning rubber when it was being towed :E
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pronstar
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08/01/08 06:27pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Chrysler finanacial quitting the lease market
Chrysler isn't the only one discontinuing leasing, GM just made the same announcement. the problem admitted by GM that triggered their decision was the vast majority of leasers were simply returning the vehicles instead of exercising the purchase option at end of lease term with the reasoning that the amount stipulated for the purchase was more than the vehicle was currently worth. Their answer queries of "what now" was to state a major restructure of their finance plan to provide purchase options to folks with monthly finance charges identical to lease payments.
Only a small minority of people buy their cars at the end of the lease. But you hit the nail on the head because the residual values have plummeted to well below what the automaker needed to get to turn a profit.
Also, GM said they would curtail leasing but they didn't announce a wholesale retreat from the leasing market like Chysler did.
DETROIT -- GMAC Financial Services said today it swung to a net loss of $2.48 billion in the second quarter as its auto finance business took major writedowns due to plummeting residual values of SUVs.
"This is the perfect storm for our business," Chief Financial Officer Rob Hull said on a conference call with analysts and reporters.
Hull said that in June, GMAC was only able to recover about 75 percent of what it had expected on sales of off-lease SUVs. It was able to recover about 85 percent of what it had expected across all vehicles.
In related news:
DETROIT -- To calm fears about its financial health in a shaky credit market, Chrysler LLC announced operating income of $1.1 billion for the first half of 2008.
Because Chrysler is privately owned, details of how the company came to the $1.1 billion figure are not subject to public scrutiny.
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pronstar
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08/01/08 04:57pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Really good buys on Tow Vehicles
Bad time to sell...GREAT time to buy.
And not just trucks, but RVs, ATVs, motorcycles, vacation homes, etc.
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pronstar
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08/01/08 03:01pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: BMW X5.....
Nope. If two wheels are turning and two aren't, you'll kill the transfer case very, very quickly...like in a few feet.
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pronstar
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08/01/08 02:59pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: problem to trade-in full size pickups
People are people. If you sell something, you want to make as much as possible.
How many of you have sold a used car, starting at a high price then slowly lowering it until you finally sell it. I know I'm in that boat. And it's no different from a car dealership.
On any transaction with a negotiable price, buyers and sellers are ALWAYS at odds because one wants to sell high, the other wants to buy low.
Want to know how much your used car is worth?
Precisely what someone will pay your for it, and not a penny more.
Same goes for a new car that the dealership is selling. No one is forcing you to buy it...shop around and take your business to whoever offers you the best price.
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pronstar
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08/01/08 02:56pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Diesel vs gas......................
Yikes! Diesel dropped from $4.65 to $4.59 at the station I frequent.
I filled up, went home and toasted the event with a bourbon.
And if prices had risen...I think you'd still have had that bourbon :)
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pronstar
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08/01/08 11:35am |
Tow Vehicles
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