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If it were otherwise, someone can explain to me why a ten year old F150 supercab with a 2.5 ton truck 4 speed and a carbuerated 351 gets better MPG than a standard cab F150 with a 5 speed with overdrive and fuel injection and a 302? New ain't always better.

That's a pretty good question, and since I'm a spaz for minor details, I went looking for the answer at Edmunds.com. According to them:

2002 Ford F-150 Fullsize Crew Cab Truck
4.6L V8
231 hp @ 4750
293 ft-lbs. @ 3500 rpm
Estimated milegage (city/highway) 16/20 mpg (with automatic transmission)
Source: http://www.edmunds.com/new/2002/ford/f150/4drsuper crewkingranch2wdstylesidesb46l8cyl4a/specs.html?id =lin0018

1992 Ford F-150 Fullsize Extended Cab Truck
(I couldn't find "supercab," I figured this would be close enough)
4.9L straight 6
145 hp @ 3400 rpm
265ft-lbs. @ 2000 rpm
No mileage data posted here
Source: http://www.edmunds.com/used/1992/ford/f150/2drxltl ariat4wdextendedcablb/specs.html?id=lin0066

I was able to get mileage data for the 1991 model year, and it was 16/20 city/highway for the 4.9L 6-cyl. So, given those numbers, newer is better.

As for the new 7-series, I like it. Even the wierd rear end is growing on me. I had the opportunity to take a ride in one back in January, and I was pretty impressed. Regardless of the gadgets and gizmos, I don't think another sedan in the class can touch it in terms of driving fun.

If it were otherwise, someone can explain to me why a ten year old F150 supercab with a 2.5 ton truck 4 speed and a carbuerated 351 gets better MPG than a standard cab F150 with a 5 speed with overdrive and fuel injection and a 302? New ain't always better.

That's a pretty good question, and since I'm a spaz for minor details, I went looking for the answer at Edmunds.com. According to them:

2002 Ford F-150 Fullsize Crew Cab Truck
4.6L V8
231 hp @ 4750
293 ft-lbs. @ 3500 rpm
Estimated milegage (city/highway) 16/20 mpg (with automatic transmission)
Source: http://www.edmunds.com/new/2002/ford/f150/4drsuper crewkingranch2wdstylesidesb46l8cyl4a/specs.html?id =lin0018

1992 Ford F-150 Fullsize Extended Cab Truck
(I couldn't find "supercab," I figured this would be close enough)
4.9L straight 6
145 hp @ 3400 rpm
265ft-lbs. @ 2000 rpm
No mileage data posted here
Source: http://www.edmunds.com/used/1992/ford/f150/2drxltl ariat4wdextendedcablb/specs.html?id=lin0066

I was able to get mileage data for the 1991 model year, and it was 16/20 city/highway for the 4.9L 6-cyl. So, given those numbers, newer is better.

As for the new 7-series, I like it. Even the wierd rear end is growing on me. I had the opportunity to take a ride in one back in January, and I was pretty impressed. Regardless of the gadgets and gizmos, I don't think another sedan in the class can touch it in terms of driving fun.

This is what will happen to software if similar laws are applied to software.

http://www.edmunds.com/news/conceptcarspotlight/ar ticles/48694/article.html

It may be interesting to some of you that Honda is releasing (for its 2003 model year) a hydrid version of its Honda Civic, named Honda Civic Hybrid. It is a four-door sedan with gas mileage in the upper-40s / lower-50s.

This proves that electric hydrids are not only available technologically-speaking, but that they are commercially viable. Now imagine what would happen if a tax break (perhaps coinciding with George W. Bush's huge breaks) were offered for electric hybrid vehicles. It would stimulate the economy _and_ lower taxes. Of course, the oil industry wouldn't be too happy because of lower profits. Boo-hoo. Gas mileage has been going _down_ since 1986, when it peaked in the upper-20s (about 29).

BTW, you might want to read a review of the Honda Civic.

I personally know "real men" who drive the New Beatle. It's a cute little thing, and a lot of guys like stylish products.
Personally I drive what people refer to as a Squashed New Beatle and I do own an iBook. I love both machines :-) I barely even touch my x86 workstation (tough it has an LCD panel, which I paid big bucks for 1.5years ago) Nobody ever called me a fag, because I like style over function.

Viewsonic VP230mb

ViewSonic proudly introduces the 23.1" VP230mb LCD display with 170 viewing angles and a 1600 x 1200 native resolution

As for some new cars: here's a good place to start :)

There's a reason why tall, narrow SUVs roll over all the time, and why Corvettes never do. Can you guess what that reason is?

Ah, I see. So the Corvette is by far the most likely of all of these vehicles to roll over, right?

• Hummer: 86.5 inches
• Excursion: 79.9 inches
• Suburban: 78.8 inches
• Expedition: 78.6 inches
• CART/IRL cars: 78.5 inches
• Park Avenue: 74.7 inches
• 5th-gen Corvette: 73.6 inches

Hint: it's not the width, it's the ratio of CG height to width. Wider is not *always* better...

There's a reason why tall, narrow SUVs roll over all the time, and why Corvettes never do. Can you guess what that reason is?

Ah, I see. So the Corvette is by far the most likely of all of these vehicles to roll over, right?

• Hummer: 86.5 inches
• Excursion: 79.9 inches
• Suburban: 78.8 inches
• Expedition: 78.6 inches
• CART/IRL cars: 78.5 inches
• Park Avenue: 74.7 inches
• 5th-gen Corvette: 73.6 inches

Hint: it's not the width, it's the ratio of CG height to width. Wider is not *always* better...

There's a reason why tall, narrow SUVs roll over all the time, and why Corvettes never do. Can you guess what that reason is?

Ah, I see. So the Corvette is by far the most likely of all of these vehicles to roll over, right?

• Hummer: 86.5 inches
• Excursion: 79.9 inches
• Suburban: 78.8 inches
• Expedition: 78.6 inches
• CART/IRL cars: 78.5 inches
• Park Avenue: 74.7 inches
• 5th-gen Corvette: 73.6 inches

Hint: it's not the width, it's the ratio of CG height to width. Wider is not *always* better...

So if you're driving an older car ... you're helping save the enviorment.

Um... don't older cars get worse gas mileage than modern ones (especially the hybrid beasts with their 65+ mpg), therefore are more damaging to the environment?

Isn't that like flicking your cigarette butt out the car window so your ashtray doesn't get full?

It's the 2002 Subaru Impreza WRX!!!

To go to a good colledge (really good one) will cost you around $30,000 a year.

If only! I see that the cost now to attend Harvard is $35000 + travel expenses. MIT weighs in at about the same. Stanford is $1k cheaper (Bargain!), and you pay a meager $30,000+ for a year at CalTech.

No wonder going off to college feels like an Expedition - they cos t about the same! Makes me thankful for the "paltry" $10K/yr I paid a decade ago (compare at $20,000 for Stanford).

Of course, $20,000 to $35,000 in 10 years is only 6% per year, or twice the rate of inflation. If the stock market keeps growing at 15% like it has for the last decade, the $125,000/year our kids will feel like $5500 today. That's only a little bit more than my freshman tuition was. Go, bull, go! ;-)

First off I've got to reiterate that you need to check out Edmunds. An amazing resource.

I used www.autoweb.com a few years ago to find a used Miata. The ability to basically grep the classifieds is very cool. I found a long list of the exact car I was after and the price was fair.

More recently I tried www.autoweb.com and www.autobytel.com to find a new car. Within a few months I was looking at Honda Civic hatchbacks and Volkwagen Beetles and simply had a terrible time using both services. None of the local dealers that I was asssigned to ever contacted me. After a few days I would always get a note from the corporation asking if I'd been satisfied with the service. I always wrote back explaining that I hadn't heard anything and even then never was able to hook up with a dealer that was any help. Based on my experiences I passed on their stock when they both went public.

I saw CarsDirect.com at Comdex and it sounds like a good deal. They don't have to dump you in the hands of a local dealer, they control the entire process. I plan on giving them a shot next time I'm in the market to buy a car.

I'll second the Edmunds advice. I also used Kelly's blue book when I bought my car

Most dealers are onto the internet. That is they know that you know their price. Some (but by no means all) have realised that you know their fair profit and try to get things done quickly at a good price. After all, if you know their numbers they have to haggel different.

Two days ago I test drove a '95 S10. I liked it, so I drove it home, hit the internet and looked up the values. I then walked into the dealer with the knowledge of what they paid and what they expected to get it for. Since I knew my trade in better then them I was able to make them an offer that included a fair profit for them and a good price for me. I was out in an hour (and it only took that long because my trade-in was in my dads name yet, so I had wait for him to get that paperwork)

I would recomend using your local dealer first. That is do the research on the internet, and then walk into the lcoal dealer and make a fair offer. If they don't take it walk - if they don't call back in a day changing their mind (This is a common practice) check the internet. Although dealers are big buisness, they are local, and I like to support the local guy if possibal.

Though you can't actually buy a car there, edmunds.com has lots of great information available. They may have more info about buying online now, I haven't been there since I bought my car last year.