Posted by
ShiningCity on Thursday, May 01, 2008 2:44:21 PM
Now that I've finished poking fun at Earth Day, I can tell you how I acquired my disdain for this topic. It's rather simple, really. I live in Colorado. In case you didn't know, this state has been co-opted by retired hippies and the new generation of hippie wannabe's. It's an obligation or something--if you want to become a hippie, you have to move here. They're everywhere--lecturing me from every angle about being "green." I must confess it's not so effective. (I keep wondering why they didn't choose a different slogan; all I can think about is Kermit the Frog's performance of "It ain't easy being green.")
My recent encounter with the Green Movement came in the form of car shopping. I want to sell my Subaru and get a larger vehicle (even though I only have a family of 3). I drive long distances on business trips, so I'd prefer a luxury interior. The Navigator & Escalade were my first options, but I kept urping at the $55,000 price. I've done quite a bit of research and have settled on the new Chrysler Aspen. This vehicle meets several needs (AWD, V8 hemi engine, seats 7 but in a smaller build) and has a luxury interior without the Navigator price. Plus Chrysler has added a few cool things: 1) life-time powertrain warranty, 2) AWD --> "low" 4WD and a "high" 4WD, 3) the "MDS" system (new techology where the V8 downgrades to a 4-cylinder when the extra capacity isn't needed), and 4) a V8/hemi hybrid due this Fall. Basically, Chrysler took the Durango, gave it a luxury look and added the MDS/hybrid technology so the gas mileage is projected to equal what I get in my Subaru. I like it. Where do I sign?
In my research, I visited several auto blog sites--looking to see what the experts are saying about the Aspen. I noticed a couple of things.
1. At your generic auto blog, supposedly the commenters know cars. I'm looking for somebody to talk about the rather unusual drive train (how is it performing in the snow & ice? What about hitting bumps and skids?) Tell me something about the MDS and actual gas mileage. Any news on the release of the hybrid? I was disappointed to find--well, exactly what you might expect--that the comments about this SUV are almost exclusively about the likes/dislikes of the body style. Doesn't that describe our current culture? Everybody's obsessed with "looks" and ambivalent about function, use, and substance. Sigh.
2. I visited a site called Hybridcar.com. Voila!
An article on the Aspen. Against my better judgment, I read it. You may find the opener interesting. (The article does end on a rather fair note, giving Chrysler credit for manufacturing a vehicle that makes some sense.) Yet, the tone of the entire piece is quite condescending--check out this excerpt (
emphasis mine).
Hemi Hybrid Hijinks
The introduction of Chrysler’s first hybrids could be misconstrued as a bad practical joke. That’s because Chrysler’s Dodge Durango and Chrysler Aspen Hybrids will pair up a hybrid gas-electric system—the symbol of automotive virtue—with a powerful Hemi engine, which is best known for winning car races. . . Chrysler’s 5.7-liter V8 Hemi hybrids are very likely to offend the die-hard hybrid drivers, a group easily riled by any corruption of hybrid ideals. From the Prius point-of-view, DaimlerChrysler is flaunting its disregard for the environment by marrying sacred hybrid technology with an obscene amount of horsepower. . . Even after hybridization, these vehicles will barely break the 20-mpg mark—a fraction of what the average Prius driver achieves.
. . .Releasing two Hemi hybrids is a form of technological triage—another example of today’s ultra-light form of green consumerism which asks for no compromise from the buyer. Thanks to technology, more is still more—for now.
Wow. Apparently the Greenies want us to give them something like, oh say, a kidney. I mean, nothing's "good enough" for this group! Because apparently one flogging isn't enough for me, I read the comments. Check these out, and see what happened when one poor guy (Choose) tried to defend The American Way. "Check your six" though--typical response comes from kballs, replete with foul language, guilt, superiority and all:
kballs says: Going from 14-16MPG may save more oil than going from 35-50MPG, but going from 14-50MPG saves even more. While a 2MPG bump is a good thing for delivery trucks, garbage trucks, etc., some people can't really justify driving a land yacht. They should consider something "big enough" to meet their needs without waste. It's a vehicle, not a living room. You don't need 4ft of leg room and shoulder room. You probably don't really need 7-9 seats for the 1 time/year that you carpool with your friends to the ski slope either. . .
Richard says: Justify, what's justify got to do with it. Choice baby, now they can have that Hybrid snobery in powerfull Hemi to boot.
Choose says: I really like the idea of a hybrid, or all electric, and I would like to one day have a home that uses renewable energy sources. But when I read these forums, I get turned off by all the preaching of everyone telling others what they "need" or "should have". If someone chooses to have a big car, little car, hybrid, diesel, or whatever, then that is their choice. Why should anyone tell you what you must drive, or what job you should have, or who you should vote for? The green movement is feeling a lot like the old communist movement, in that they want to control our actions "for the greater good of the planet/society/politik". Am I the only one who sees this line of thinking, this willingness to tell others how to spend their money as scary?
kballs says: That's right, you can choose to be wasteful ifn you damn well fcuking please. People who think they are being told what they must drive should wake up, the world doesn't revolve around you OR tell you what to drive... or do you feel that guilty?Most statements are of more of a "reevaluate your needs" nature than saying "everyone must drive a Prius, SUVs should be illegal". There are people who use their big trucks and SUVs to capacity for a majority of their miles driven. But there are a lot of people who commute daily in their big gas hogs, completely empty... their reasons for "choice" are along the lines of "I like the space, which I never stretch out in because I'm always behind the wheel", "It can haul stuff, which I rarely do, but it's cool, unlike a minivan or wagon", or "It's safe because it's big and heavy and I 'win' in collisions by killing and maiming the other people." So you're welcome to choose to be wasteful. In fact, I'm going to freely express my god-given freedom and patriotic right to be wasteful by buying a Prius, and all the gallons of gas I save over a Suburban I'm going to set on fire for all to watch. I have a right to impact the environment and it's future effects on our race to the full extent of everyone else even if I don't need to, because it's about choice, not needs, practicality, or moral obligation.
"Most statements are of more of a 'reevaluate your needs' nature. . ."??? Yeah, the last time somebody swore at me with the f-bomb, he was just trying to convince me to "reevaluate my needs." Thanks for the clarification.