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

[JOHN SALMEN]

I second this. Living in Canada we can bring in 15 year old vehicles and I
have a little 15 year old 3 cylinder truck from japan that gets 50mpg (I
checked it). I also have a larger Japanese mitsubushi diesel 4wd van that
there is no N.A. equivalent for.

The little truck is a miracle. Simple, dependable. More often I'm carrying
more in it than most trucks I see on the road (I could fit the truck on to
the bed of most other trucks). This is the type of vehicle that should be
servicing construction in N.A. as they do in large parts of the world. 

Vehicles like this are becoming popular here. Unfortunately Canada is being
pressured to adopt the American 25year import law.

I have nothing kind to say about v.w.'s after decades of ownership and
grief. Technically interesting, functionally incompetent. 

JOHN SALMEN ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN
4465 UPHILL RD,. DUNCAN, B.C.  CANADA, V9L 6M7
PH 250 748 7672 FAX 250 748 7612 CELL 250 246 8541
terrain at shaw.ca

-----Original Message-----
From: greenbuilding-bounces at listserv.repp.org
[mailto:greenbuilding-bounces at listserv.repp.org] On Behalf Of Alan Abrams
Sent: May 2, 2008 4:51 AM
To: 'Norbert Senf'; greenbuilding at listserv.repp.org
Subject: Re: [Greenbuilding] Off Topic: What car do you suggest?

Rhetorical question:

Why haven't manufacturers given us similar options for economical light
trucks?  Why are no small diesels (readily available in EU countries) on the
market here?  Why is there no open bed version of the Escape hybrid, just
big enough for a rack that could haul a few dozen studs?  I've got a 2000
Mazda B3000 (aka Ford Ranger) with a good body and frame--and horrible
engine which gets wretched mileage (and has a low end knock)--but would be
perfect for a little 4-banger diesel--anyone out there have experience with
engine swaps?

-AA

Alan Abrams, AIBD
Abrams Design Build
a sustainable approach to beautiful space
alan at abramsdesignbuild.com
www.abramsdesignbuild.com
202-726-5894 o
202-291-0626 f

>At 02:33 PM 5/1/2008 -0400, AUSTIN SHEATSLEY wrote:
>Okay, okay. I know this is wayyy off-topic 


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