10 Reasons why $4.00 Gas is Good for USA

[Glocksman]

The only electric scooter available (the Vectrix) is almost twice as expensive and there are no local dealers.

If there were a local dealer with a good service department, I'd consider the Vectrix, but right now a small motorcycle or maxi-scooter fills the bill.

Trust me, we are busting our asses to try to fill in the map. As far as I know, the only Indiana dealer we have is in Mishawaka, over by South Bend.

Which is 320 miles away at the other end of the state.
Just out of curiosity though, what is the estimated battery life and how much does battery replacement cost?

[Civil War Man]

Which is 320 miles away at the other end of the state.
Just out of curiosity though, what is the estimated battery life and how much does battery replacement cost?

Somewhere around 5 years, 50k miles IIRC. Couple thousand to replace, since we use nickel batteries and nickel is fucking expensive. We're looking at cheaper battery alternatives, which will help bring down the cost of battery replacement and the bike in general. Can't give you a timetable on that, though, partially trade secrets and partially because I don't know. Obviously lithium is a big priority in this regard, but that's not really something that's happening in the near future because of lithium's tendency to overheat and few lithium battery manufacturers being able to build in the quantity we need.

Yeah, as for dealers, you're probably located in a blank space in between a bunch of them. Probably the closest to where you are is either the Mishawaka dealer or the one we have in Louisville, KY.

Even if you lived right next door to a dealer, though, I would definitely advise to be sure that a Vectrix would fit your driving profile before you make the investment. If you have to do a lot of interstate travel, you'd probably be better off with a gas bike, particularly since the Indiana speed limit is what, 70? Wouldn't want to get into that on a bike that tops out at 62. Plus, constant high speeds really sucks up the battery power, so you wouldn't be able to go as far on a lot of highway driving.

[Jade Falcon]

In this time of almost daily increasing petrol prices, the one thing that bugs me is the also ever increasing amount of those obscene stretch Hummer 2's and Limo's on the road. I know practically none of them are privately owned, but for gods sake how much fuel do those mostrosities use.

One company had an ad up for them with the usual Stag/Hen nights, Proms etc and even Airport transfers. So you're going your holiday and instead of getting a normal taxi you're going to turn up in one of those bloody things.

Don't ask me why, but those things just get right up my nose.

[Admiral Valdemar]

Hear, hear. I see a lot of teens using them for proms (something that is getting more common now as we emulate US schools it seems). I can't help but wonder how much they cost to rent now compared to a year ago and whether these guys are breaking even. There are hauliers going bust left, right and centre now.

Another useless extravagance that will die a death soon enough.

[Jade Falcon]

Hear, hear. I see a lot of teens using them for proms (something that is getting more common now as we emulate US schools it seems). I can't help but wonder how much they cost to rent now compared to a year ago and whether these guys are breaking even. There are hauliers going bust left, right and centre now.

Another useless extravagance that will die a death soon enough.

Price quoted on that ad was From£79 per person per half hour. Obviously the H2 will be more expensive and if you're not at full capacity, each individual will cost more.

Honestly, for an occasion like a Wedding, if you wanted something a little extravagant, I'd much rather see something like an older style Daimler. While those are also guzzlers they don't seem to be as common. To me the stretch limos just look trashy. However, at least £80 for half an hour is excessive.

[Darth Wong]

Hear, hear. I see a lot of teens using them for proms (something that is getting more common now as we emulate US schools it seems). I can't help but wonder how much they cost to rent now compared to a year ago and whether these guys are breaking even. There are hauliers going bust left, right and centre now.

Another useless extravagance that will die a death soon enough.

Do you have any idea how much money some of these spoiled teenagers in their McMansions are willing to spend on proms, and then later, on their weddings? They wouldn't give a shit if the price of renting these obscene DickWaver Limos doubled or tripled.

[Jade Falcon]

Do you have any idea how much money some of these spoiled teenagers in their McMansions are willing to spend on proms, and then later, on their weddings? They wouldn't give a shit if the price of renting these obscene DickWaver Limos doubled or tripled.

Can't speak for over there, but as far as I can see, over here the Prom thing is a very recent thing, and at one time Weddings had something with a little bit more taste than those obscene things.

I shudder to thing the MPG those things have, it will probable be more like Gallons to the Mile.

[Darth Wong]

Do you have any idea how much money some of these spoiled teenagers in their McMansions are willing to spend on proms, and then later, on their weddings? They wouldn't give a shit if the price of renting these obscene DickWaver Limos doubled or tripled.

Can't speak for over there, but as far as I can see, over here the Prom thing is a very recent thing, and at one time Weddings had something with a little bit more taste than those obscene things.

I shudder to thing the MPG those things have, it will probable be more like Gallons to the Mile.

There are American teenaged girls who spend thousands of dollars on a prom dress.

[Jade Falcon]

There are American teenaged girls who spend thousands of dollars on a prom dress.

I should be shocked, but I've heard it enough stories of absolute wasteful excess that it's no surprise, but still...thousands of dollars.

The phrase "More money than sense" definitely applies here.

[Darth Wong]

There are American teenaged girls who spend thousands of dollars on a prom dress.

I should be shocked, but I've heard it enough stories of absolute wasteful excess that it's no surprise, but still...thousands of dollars.

The phrase "More money than sense" definitely applies here.

Check out this story from your side of the pond:

Teens sky-high after helicopter hired for prom

WHEN Jake Lay's mum found out there were no limos available to take him and his pals to their school prom – she hired a helicopter instead.

So it was via air, rather than road, that the 16-year-old and two friends made their entrance to Hylton Red House School's end-of-year shindig.

Jake, his cousin Danni Lay, and Ian Canavan, both 16, enjoyed a bird's-eye tour of Sunderland before touching down at the Ramside Hall in Durham.

"It was my mam's idea really," said Jake. "I never thought anyone from Red House Comp would be getting picked up in a helicopter.

"It was the second option really, as all the limos were booked up."

"But it was totally amazing. We got picked up outside Downhill Sports Complex and went up to 2,300 ft.

"The pilot took us round the Stadium of Light and along the seafront.

"When we got to Ramside, everyone was impressed. Everyone was asking all night what it was like. The prom was really good – it was a great night."

Acting headteacher Michael Brady says the annual Year 11 prom is always a glamorous affair.

"It's very high profile. We have a prom fair where people come in and the pupils can look at various dresses and limos, and we have our own hairdressing salon, and staff and pupils were getting their hair done."

But he did not feel the event would be too expensive for less well-off families.

He said: "It's something we plan and give parents plenty of notice about."

"When we found out about Jake's mum's plans I did ask if she'd won the Lottery. But she just wanted something special for her son and thought it was an important milestone.

"She wanted to make it something extraordinary. A lot of the pupils went out to greet the helicopter and said it was an awesome experience."

It's not just Americans.

[MichaelFerrariF1]

One couple showed up to my prom in a rented Ferrari 360. People under 25 aren't supposed to drive an exotic rental, but his father "accidentally left the keys on the kitchen counter."

[The Grim Squeaker]

One couple showed up to my prom in a rented Ferrari 360. People under 25 aren't supposed to drive an exotic rental, but his father "accidentally left the keys on the kitchen counter."

I'm probably overestimating sanity here, but don't you mean "Under 35"?.

There are American teenaged girls who spend thousands of dollars on a prom dress.

Call me crazy, but I could understand spending hundreds of dollars or even a few thousand dollars on a really amazing wedding-dress or business-suit. If you reused it (well, the suit, and passed the dress on). And were buying it out of your own cash. and could afford it "easily" (Say a CEO, company owner, rich and getting wed).
Of course, that's a lot of "ifs". And assumed not spending tens of thousands of dollars on a dress, when you go out and worry about how to keep on with car payments and going into debt to pay for the food at the wedding. (I have known people who ended up like this).

Eeesh, spoiled nutters. I suppose it's too much to hope that this will mean that they'll run out of their parents cash before their 40's? No? Bah .

[Glocksman]

My job consists of operating electrically powered industrial trucks at the local TJX distribution center and from discussions with the PIT mechanic at work, I'm somewhat familiar with the limitations of current (heh. ) technology WRT electrics.

That said, its the battery replacement cost that'd matter to me the most as my commute is about 10 miles each way, and that's all on highway where the official speed limit is 45 MPH, and our local power is coal generated.

The unofficial speed limit is 55 MPH, so that puts the vectrix within shouting range, and if I avoided US 41 (mapquest 'Weinbach avenue 47714' to 3301 Maxx road Evansville IN if you're really interested) altogether, it'd be perfect.

At least until my employer wised up and disconnected the outdoor power outlets beside the bike parking area.

[MichaelFerrariF1]

One couple showed up to my prom in a rented Ferrari 360. People under 25 aren't supposed to drive an exotic rental, but his father "accidentally left the keys on the kitchen counter."

I'm probably overestimating sanity here, but don't you mean "Under 35"?.

http://www.galleriaexotics.com

Actually, 25 was only for the Ferrari. A 21 year old can rent a Gallardo or 911 Turbo.

[The Grim Squeaker]

One couple showed up to my prom in a rented Ferrari 360. People under 25 aren't supposed to drive an exotic rental, but his father "accidentally left the keys on the kitchen counter."

I'm probably overestimating sanity here, but don't you mean "Under 35"?.

http://www.galleriaexotics.com

Actually, 25 was only for the Ferrari. A 21 year old can rent a Gallardo or 911 Turbo.

I wasn't talking about legality, but about sanity.
Parents these days... (Drives off in standard Golf....).
Give someone that age such a good car and he won't even be able to appreciate it, let alone the fact that it'll spoil them for life.

[Jade Falcon]

Actually, 25 was only for the Ferrari. A 21 year old can rent a Gallardo or 911 Turbo.

Over here some of the insurance companies are strict for even less exotic cars. I have a VW Passat 2.8 VR6 (which I'm looking at getting rid of for something more economical and practical), and some insurance companies won't let anyone under 21 drive it.

[SCRawl]

Actually, 25 was only for the Ferrari. A 21 year old can rent a Gallardo or 911 Turbo.

Over here some of the insurance companies are strict for even less exotic cars. I have a VW Passat 2.8 VR6 (which I'm looking at getting rid of for something more economical and practical), and some insurance companies won't let anyone under 21 drive it.

I'm not quite sure how that would qualify as "exotic" at all, except in the nominal sense that it's from another country. I can see why insurance companies would be hesitant to insure, say, 18-year-olds to drive one, though, as it seems rather seriously peppy for a sedan.

[Coyote]

Actually, rental limos don't bother so much; you rent it for a night of rare extravagence and you have to pay the cost and the driver, etc. It's when people buy the stuff to use regularly that I think is stupid.

The overall message, though, is that the high gas prices aren't going to hurth the ones who desperately need hurting. The rich will always ride it out in air-conditioned bubble comfort.

[Jade Falcon]

I'm not quite sure how that would qualify as "exotic" at all, except in the nominal sense that it's from another country. I can see why insurance companies would be hesitant to insure, say, 18-year-olds to drive one, though, as it seems rather seriously peppy for a sedan.

I must have phrased it wrong, I meant that it didn't have to be an exotic to be restricted. Granted it's a biggish engine but I wouldn't have said it was exactly a performance car, then again I've never tried to see what it's top speed is like.