I bet this is really great in the rain, ice, snow, and cold weather....not.
The Original Gay Porn Community - Free Gay Movies and Photos, Gay Porn Site Reviews and Adult Gay Forums
-
Welcome To Just Us Boys - The World's Largest Gay Message Board Community
In order to comply with recent US Supreme Court rulings regarding adult content, we will be making changes in the future to require that you log into your account to view adult content on the site.
If you do not have an account, please register.
REGISTER HERE - 100% FREE / We Will Never Sell Your InfoTo register, turn off your VPN; you can re-enable the VPN after registration. You must maintain an active email address on your account: disposable email addresses cannot be used to register.
The XL1
- Thread starter EddMarkStarr
- Start date
I wouldn't be surprised, given how expensive car ownership is becoming. I also wouldn't be surprised if car ownership doesn't go back to the old model of families having just one car. If there was decent public transportation, using a mix of one car with bus service could be a very good solution. My parents did this when I was young, and it apparently worked well--actually, better than having two cars. It didn't work so well when we moved, however, to a new city that had limited bus service.
A total loss of private cars would nicely fit the goal some of the super rich has for us peasants: to "own nothing and be happy." (Of course, the rich will be exempt--they'll be able top keep their private jets, mansions, and cars with V12 engines.)
As i look at that XL1 diagram, I wonder it could be sold here in the US. Could it meet safety standards, given that it's apparently carbon fiber?
One thing I have heard: the safety standards have forced heavier cars. Cheap economy cars could get good gas mileage once with a simple engine simply becaues they could be lighter than a car could be now. I recall, too, reading that a Mazda MX5 redesign posed this same problem of balancing low weight with current safety requirements.
I also wonder how well the XL1 will age. I've heard YouTube mechanics say hybrids can be a problem as they age--battery replacements, complexities of repairs that conventional cars don't have, etc. Then, this car is a VW, and VWs don't seem to age well.
One thing I have heard: the safety standards have forced heavier cars. Cheap economy cars could get good gas mileage once with a simple engine simply becaues they could be lighter than a car could be now. I recall, too, reading that a Mazda MX5 redesign posed this same problem of balancing low weight with current safety requirements.
I also wonder how well the XL1 will age. I've heard YouTube mechanics say hybrids can be a problem as they age--battery replacements, complexities of repairs that conventional cars don't have, etc. Then, this car is a VW, and VWs don't seem to age well.
Other mechanics will say the opposite, the engine in a hybrid has a very easy life, and it will never wear out. Bad drivers can't spank the motor, the computer won't allow it. The big problem that remains is that if you do need to change the traction battery, they are a lot of money.
More like a "when" than an "if" from my understanding. Then, some have an expensive motor/generator assembly. I remember one video talking about this, and saying the mechanic had done informal study that involved calling Toyota dealers and saying: "I have a Prius to sell." IIRC they'd get excited...until he mentioned that he'd been "told" the $$$$$ part was bad. At which point, they apparently no longer were interested in expressing interest.
All this said, a lot hinges on the buyer and the buyer's needs. A Prius probably won't last as long as 1990s Camry, but for Uber drivers in a city, a Prius with its MPG can be a good choice.
A person who buys new and replaces well before 200k miles might not ever have to worry about $$$ battery jobs.
Meanwhile, poor white trash--like me--who can only hope to afford an old/high mile car is probably better served a plain gasoline economy car that has a track record of being viable 200k+ miles.
Of the 250 cars built in 2013, Volkswagen sold 200 XL1's in Europe Only. Like you mentioned, there were vehicle standards the XL1 could not meet for US sales.
It proves 'something' about the differing attitudes on either side of the ocean that the harmless innocuous little VW is not allowed in the States but you are allowed to drive the grotesquely dangerous Cybertruck, which is banned on British roads.
For US customers, our own vehicle standards can limit vehicle selection from "acceptable" to "questionable"; sometimes from the same manufacturer!
One thing about US standards that I've wondered is how much increasing demands have helped push the price of cars up, making them more difficult or impossible to afford--both up front (because new features add cost), or long term (because the technology will act up at some point, requiring repairs).
Blessing or curse - vehicle standards have eliminated the affordable, entry-level automobile. The 1971 Toyota Corolla became many a young man's first new car, a graduation gift for the college bound, or a second/third family car; because of the Price!
By 1972, the Corolla had taken over the USA, so much so that the New York Times ran a story about how Toyota can offer cheap transportation that holds up well needing few repairs.
US vehicle standards are pushing car prices ever higher, and now used car prices are climbing fast too.
It always feels strange when I see reminders of what cars like the Corolla (and the Honda Civic) were like in the 70s vs. now!
Then, not too many years later, a big appeal was gas mileage.
I remember a story about someone with a work connection to my father. I think he bought a Japanese car because of gas mileage. Then, years later, he and his wife realized the car had given far, far less trouble than any car they'd ever owned before. I have a feeling when that realization hit they might well have decided "we're done with Detroit."
Then, a Detroit diehard made some comment about how my father bought nothing but Japanese cars a couple of years ago. Her views of Detroit vehicles have merit for her particular situation; however, with my father I think it was entirely about wanting something practical that causes little trouble. He did have occasional fantasies about what he could buy someday...but when he did buy the last car he bought for personal use, those fantasies were forgotten in favor of a Honda--partly chosen because he owned a Honda product that lasted more than 15 years and nearly 300k miles.
Then, not too many years later, a big appeal was gas mileage.
I remember a story about someone with a work connection to my father. I think he bought a Japanese car because of gas mileage. Then, years later, he and his wife realized the car had given far, far less trouble than any car they'd ever owned before. I have a feeling when that realization hit they might well have decided "we're done with Detroit."
Then, a Detroit diehard made some comment about how my father bought nothing but Japanese cars a couple of years ago. Her views of Detroit vehicles have merit for her particular situation; however, with my father I think it was entirely about wanting something practical that causes little trouble. He did have occasional fantasies about what he could buy someday...but when he did buy the last car he bought for personal use, those fantasies were forgotten in favor of a Honda--partly chosen because he owned a Honda product that lasted more than 15 years and nearly 300k miles.
The first automobile was a motorized four-wheeled bicycle. Light in weight with simple components.
As a child, I loved the stories my teachers would tell about how "one day", the automobile will return to a simple light-weight conveyance with a powerplant the size of an egg.
As a child, I loved the stories my teachers would tell about how "one day", the automobile will return to a simple light-weight conveyance with a powerplant the size of an egg.
Well, well! Talk about timing.
Volkswagen's all-new "affordable" electric car has made it's global rollout. Introducing the ID. Every1.
Small, lightweight, sustainable, affordable . . . not certified for sale in the United States.
Volkswagen's all-new "affordable" electric car has made it's global rollout. Introducing the ID. Every1.
Small, lightweight, sustainable, affordable . . . not certified for sale in the United States.
Vannie
Stuffer
- Joined
- Jul 20, 2014
- Posts
- 16,498
- Reaction score
- 4,283
- Points
- 113
In the early 90s I started catering for all the airports in a Chevy Caprice station wagon. It was like driving a boat. But held a lot of catering trays with all the seats down. And it was fully loaded power everything so it was nice to drive.
I always had a thing for square-ish cars for whatever reason. The Escort station wagon and I loved the Volvo station wagon at the time as well.
I forgot what a Mazda looked like I need to see.
I can't remember. The Mazdas I remember were mostly trunk or hatchback models.
With the Mazda based Escort, I'm pretty sure the surface level appearance was Ford. Some stuff like engines was also Ford at some levels.
I'm not surprised. My impression of the Caprice was that it was very much a traditional American car.
Part of me sometimes thinks it might be interesting getting something like that just to experience such a car while it's still possible. Plus, as I get older, comfort does sound more and more appealing.
Ford sold a huge number of different sized wagons over the years but most had standard passenger car suspensions which limited the payloads. Heavy duty suspensions, available at extra cost, made the wagons more capable but you lost that smooth, quiet ride that Ford was famous for. Wagons are still the most practical vehicles but SUV's rule the roads of America today.
SUVs defiitely rule the road now in general. I don't get it--I view cars as a better choice in general, and I'm old enough to think of SUVs as something that people who go into the wilderness will buy. Not something that someone buys who'll only keep it in the city, and use it for trips to the mall.
Although, even before SUVs became hot, station wagons had become rarer than was once the case, thanks to minivans. The 1980s started with a wide range of station wagons, and the 1990s started with much fewer choices.