The Challenger and I

[GoldenGirl]

Originally Posted by 68RT/71GTX

I will be really upset if I have to sit in line again to buy it like L.A. in 1970. It would be even worse if I was told the station had noe left. It used to be a big consideration living in California in the 70's if you were driving a muscle car and did not know where your next tank of gas would come from.

And just think, back then we didn't have cell phones to call each other when we found a place that had gas and was open! or the internet to check gasbuddy.com first to see where the cheapest gas was...wow! I sound old talking about how it was back in the day.

That's okay, I like it now better.

[Ragamuffin]

Originally Posted by 68RT/71GTX

It used to be a big consideration living in California in the 70's if you were driving a muscle car and did not know where your next tank of gas would come from.

Right On,brother ! I've been thinking that this "scenario" might/could be happening soon, if not already.I feel like very,very bad and desolete times are approaching{which could be a plan by [some of] the Elite; which I withold for now on follow up} In fact, just last night ,I heard on the news about a guy "running" from police who were chasing him about a 'theft of gasoline' call ! The video shows this fuel bandit exiting [Yes, running] his vehicle. The video ended without seeing ...the End ... but I presume he was caught since the "Gas Thief" apparently left his 5 year boy in said vehicle !!! Ok, now about CAFE,Congress and the President-While Congress has upt the MPG, have they provided the technology to do this ? If they put out numbers then they must lend a hand !!! Yes, I also believe 'big old oil money' is at & still working; perhaps working to enrich their tax-exempt foundations as well as broaden the span of the rich or super rich from people less affluent. For example : to millionares $4-5 per gallon is not hurting them compared to people making $40,000 or less per year ! I am upset with Ragamuffin though for not at least trying to contact this seemingly real smart guy ,whom whenever and whenever [long ago] deveoloped unbelievable MPG engineering/technology. I knew I'd posted here about this and is somewhere in the Challengertalk.com Archives ,but it was awhile back, so it may be unattainable with present Challengertalk.com technology. So I Googled ' 700mpg' and { I found myself; I mean } I found a Challengertalk.com post [ on page 4 of the search results] ...For your convenience : Hemi not the future?? . WARNING - This link is ok but just in case those that did a Google search, I would suggest NOT,repeat Not clicking any others except Challengertalk.com's since any others may have virus and/or other bad malicious-type wares !!! Yes, I speak from past ....

[WO51]

Originally Posted by 68RT/71GTX

I will be really upset if I have to sit in line again to buy it like L.A. in 1970. It would be even worse if I was told the station had none left. It used to be a big consideration living in California in the 70's if you were driving a muscle car and did not know where your next tank of gas would come from.

That was 1973 to be exact... when I was 17; I worked as a night manager at a high-volume Mobil Station. The owner had higher allocations than most service stations in the area -- needless to say, my parents and I never had to wait in a gas line. During this time I had a '65 442 Olds, and sold it to buy a '69 Camaro SS L78 -- my dad had his 1969 Dodge Charger.

I remember this time very well; gas prices sky rocketed from $.35 to $.75 and eventually went over $1.00 per gallon. There was mass hysteria, gas lines were 1 to 3 hours and up to 1/4 mile long. As a night manager, I had 3 to 4 guys working the pumps, I directed traffic, monitored odd even plates, and if people had 1/2 tank or more, I would kick them out of the line... and to assure we had enough gas for the morning shift, the owner instructed me to shut the pumps off no later than 8:00pm... in essence, faking the tanks went dry. Otherwise, we would be pumping gas all night long.

This wasn't an easy task because we had regular customers mixed with just about anyone that would jump into a line if they saw one... knowing there was gas.

I've seen people at their worst during this time...

One night we had a regular customer that must have been in line for 1.5 hours and when he finally reached the pumps, I flipped the mains. I was in the back when I heard the commotion. This guy hopped out of his car and started beating the pump with his fist... cracked the top plastic housing, his face was bright red and he was yelling to the top of his voice, saying: "I'm a salesman and I need gas to make a living."

Damn, that was my first lesson in managing conflict.. I was only 17. I knew I couldn't go in the back and flip the pumps back on with all the onlookers, and a gas line that went clear down the road.

I finally calmed this guy down and assured him we were getting a new load at 2am, and if he came back first thing in the morning, the morning shift would get him to the front of the line so he could start his day...

Remember, that was a day when there was a gas station on every corner ... I can't imagine what it would be like if the same happened today.



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[Someguy]

Originally Posted by RoostKing

Hybrids, a good compromise between fuel and electricity? Not so fast. Battery life is short, something like 5 years and they are expensive and when they expire, then what? Just throw them away?? The good news is you get to pay thousands more for an electric vehicle that you would for a similarly equipped gas vehicle.


Rant OFF!

and to add a bit on the batteries. where do people think all the nickel and cadium, etc. that batteries are made of, come from?? thats right, they come from filthy mines. nickel is one of the worst ones, right up there with coal.

and even hydrogen fuel cell technology. sure the hydrogen burns clean. but making hydrogen sure isnt. they have to heat the heck out of natural gas, and put it through a catalyst. which is just a big drain on a different natural resource.

also, there is electrolysis with water. but wait, you need incredible amounts of power to do this. and where do we get power?? we burn more gas in a boiler to make steam, that can turn power generating turbines.

at this moment in time, there is nothing cleaner, cheaper, or easier to get than oil. when you look at the big picture. oil is not going anywhere, anytime soon.

[StoneLC]

Originally Posted by RoostKing

Hybrids, a good compromise between fuel and electricity? Not so fast. Battery life is short, something like 5 years and they are expensive and when they expire, then what? Just throw them away??

That's just not true. First of all, the batteries are expected to last the life of the vehicle. Secondly, the batteries have a warranty for a minimum of 8 years, so in your fabricated scenario of 5 year failure it wouldn't cost the consumer anything anyways. Finally, hybrid batteries are recycled by the manufacturers. This has been the case for the 200 batteries that have failed out of the 100,000 hybrids sold by Honda since 1999.

I'm not giving any opinions on hybrids here, I just wanted to get the facts straight.

[SRT-6]

There was a story in NY Newsday last week about a company in CA. that created refinable crude from sea algae, they said they will be starting production in about 3 to 4 years I believe.

[jcarver05]

Great thread !!!! We have a 07 Charger with the 3.5L and are averaging 24 in the city, and get 30 highway. Not bad at all !!!!

Gas is expensive, and much like everybody else we've felt the pinch. Both the wife and I are riding our motorcycles to work and back when ever possible. My road king gets 55 MPG, her street bob almost 60. In other words, half the cost of the car !!!!

If somebody can find the name of that comapny, I want to buy stock in it if its public, cause they're going to skyrocket!! Going to be another Potash ( POT ) !!!

[StoneLC]

09R/T_Semper: I also am concerned about fuel economy, and I came to the same decision as you - an R/T with MDS. It's not ideal, but very close. I wish the Hemi engines had aluminum blocks, though. The V6 version is around 200lbs lighter!

I considered the V6, but I decided against it for a few reasons (besides just wanting the R/T and Hemi badges and all that they stand for). First of all, the V6 is only rated at 2mpg better. Along with that, I have read that the engineers don't think the MDS shows its full potential in EPA testing - which means that in the real world the fuel economy of the V8 might be better than what it is rated at. (This concerns the new engine, the one rated at 370hp. Apparently the MDS has been tuned to operate even more frequently). Finally, the kicker - the V6 only has a four speed automatic. If it had a 5 speed I would be torn, but for now the decision is easy. Under light driving, the R/T will have 4 cylinders controlled by a 5 speed transmission, as opposed to the SE's full-time 6 cylinders controlled by 4 speeds. Thinking of it that way, the V8 is almost better. Certainly the better all-arounder.

However I hear they are working on a new generation of V6 called the Phoenix. It should be even lighter, more powerful, and more fuel efficient... and if it's paired with a 5 speed auto (or even a six speed auto!), that would be ideal for me. For now I'll "make do" with my Hemi.

[jcarver05]

Our SXT is decked, has about everything except Nav, therefore costing about the same as the HEMI R/T with NO options on it. SHe wouldnt leather, the roof, heated seats, etc etc etc

Guess who won?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?

[RoostKing]

Originally Posted by jcarver05

Great thread !!!! We have a 07 Charger with the 3.5L and are averaging 24 in the city, and get 30 highway. Not bad at all !!!!

Gas is expensive, and much like everybody else we've felt the pinch. Both the wife and I are riding our motorcycles to work and back when ever possible. My road king gets 55 MPG, her street bob almost 60. In other words, half the cost of the car !!!!

If somebody can find the name of that comapny, I want to buy stock in it if its public, cause they're going to skyrocket!! Going to be another Potash ( POT ) !!!

DANG, Potash up $80 in 4 months! More of what your looking at please!!!