Bailouts and such.

[lithera]

http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2008/12/12/the_future_of_the_auto

That sums up where I'm at on this whole auto thing pretty well.

Comments

I'm halfway with him...

[bmessina.livejournal.com]

I started typing a huge long diatribe, but I have to finish up here and go home.

Simply put - Drivetrain efficiency = better mpg = less pollution. I would agree that there are efficiencies to be found in lightening a car, especially considering my 1972 wagon weighs less than most cars rolling off the assembly line today (2800lbs). Aerodynamics as well... But to discount the drivetrain as not "sustainable and environmentally sound" is, as he put it, blatantly false.

Definitely agree that the country needs to step in and do something, though I'm having a hard time seeing the path as anything other than ridiculously strong federal oversight from several organizations. The bureaucracy would be a nightmare.

Oh, I did love his point about the Chinese car design influences. When I think about it, there are common design elements within all the manufacturers he mentioned... When I think of American cars, the only commonality that comes to mind is "blah."