[Greenbuilding] Off Topic: What car do you suggest?

[RONALD CASCIO]

We have two 1996 VW Passat TDI (diesel) wagons that we fuel with biodiesel. 
They are good sized vehicles that you could be comfortable in and get about 
37- 47 MPG, best I've gotten was 51 MPG. They also get about 1000 miles per 
thankful of fuel. They are incredible vehicles, which makes them highly 
sought after and they maintain their value better than any other car I've 
ever seen... only 1500 were sent to NA which makes them extremely rare. I'm 
not the only one who believes them to be the most practicle vehicle 
available in the States.

You might also consider a VW TDI Beetle. They are know for accomodating 
folks your size and have a surprising amount of cargo room. Stick with a 
manual and pull down 45-50 MPG HWY.


Ron


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Reuben Deumling" <9watts at gmail.com>
To: "AUSTIN SHEATSLEY" <asheatsley at msn.com>
Cc: <greenbuilding at listserv.repp.org>
Sent: Thursday, May 01, 2008 2:45 PM
Subject: Re: [Greenbuilding] Off Topic: What car do you suggest?


>I can carry all of that on my bike trailers, but not for that many miles a
> week if I wanted to get any work done. Are those 760 miles minimum a
> constant? Might there be a way to reduce that figure substantially? I mean
> in advance of much higher fuel prices which will likely help us all move 
> in
> that direction anyway.
>
> A 1980-'83 VW rabbit/jetta diesel with a five-speed will probably be your
> best bet. They're fairly cheap to buy and you can expect 55 mpg or better 
> if
> you drive slowly. Some even came with a turbo. The rabbit pickup from that
> era was also available as a diesel and is very sought after over here on 
> the
> West Coast at least. You can expect mileage near 50mpg with these.  A 
> Honda
> Civic VX (1992-'95) will get you 60mpg if you work at it, but the seats 
> are
> terrible (this could be fixed, of course, just letting you know).
>
> Reuben Deumling
>
> On Thu, May 1, 2008 at 11:33 AM, AUSTIN SHEATSLEY <asheatsley at msn.com>
> wrote:
>
>> Okay, okay. I know this is wayyy off-topic for this list but this
>> mostly-a-lurker, y'all are type out some of the most interesting stuff I
>> read on the web. So, who better to ask their opinion than the other
>> conscious folks who read this list? The facts: 6'3", 235 pound man, 36"
>> inseam, drives minimum 760 miles around New England each week, requires
>> trunk/stowage area for 3 large toolboxes and telescoping ladder, wants
>> drivers seat comfort, don't care about back seat. Historically, I've
>> driven
>> my previous cars "into the ground" and aiming to keep my next car at 
>> least
>> that long.  It would be great if I could also carry my 16-foot-long kayak
>> on
>> a cartop roof rack but that's not a requirement.
>> Thanks for your (anticipated/hoped for) input.
>>
>> Aus
>>
>>
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