Re: Transport: Planes, Trains, Boats, and Autos
Posted: Mon Oct 26, 2015 5:27 pm
Another day in the Universe
https://www.onthenatureofthings.net/forum/
https://www.onthenatureofthings.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=177
The C919 -- a twin-engine, narrow-body aircraft seating up to 174 people -- is similar in size to the Airbus 320 and Boeing 737 series of jets, long the workhorses for airlines around the world.
With a flying range of up to 5,555 kilometers (3,451 miles), it is designed to compete head-to-head with its Airbus and Boeing rivals, and said to easily cover popular business and leisure routes from China such as Shanghai to Singapore and Beijing to Bangkok.
Good for China. The LEAP engine developed by U.S. and French engineers, to be assembled in China and to be operated in a joint venture with Ryan Air.Heracleum Persicum wrote:.
C919
The C919 -- a twin-engine, narrow-body aircraft seating up to 174 people -- is similar in size to the Airbus 320 and Boeing 737 series of jets, long the workhorses for airlines around the world.
With a flying range of up to 5,555 kilometers (3,451 miles), it is designed to compete head-to-head with its Airbus and Boeing rivals, and said to easily cover popular business and leisure routes from China such as Shanghai to Singapore and Beijing to Bangkok.
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Nonc Hilaire wrote:.
What family car would you buy for under $30k ?
If you want to help save the planet, don't buy a hybrid, but what Americans call a "compact" with one of the new high performance small petrol (gasoline) engines. Both Ford and VW have brought out over here models (Focus, Golf) with 1 litre 3 cylinder engines, which are supercharged and turbocharged, fuel economy pretty much as good as a hybrid and better performance and handling ( I always thought that the Prius was a bit of a dog).Nonc Hilaire wrote:Who is making the best cars under $30k these days? Mrs. Hilaire wrecked her Prius. We're thinking maybe a Prius V, but have not been following except to note that electric cars don't seem scheduled for prime time until 2017.
What family car would you buy for under $30k?
I liked my 205 Ford, but the metal was too thin. It accumulated dings constantly. The nice thing about the Prius was that it only fueling once a month.Torchwood wrote:If you want to help save the planet, don't buy a hybrid, but what Americans call a "compact" with one of the new high performance small petrol (gasoline) engines. Both Ford and VW have brought out over here models (Focus, Golf) with 1 litre 3 cylinder engines, which are supercharged and turbocharged, fuel economy pretty much as good as a hybrid and better performance and handling ( I always thought that the Prius was a bit of a dog).Nonc Hilaire wrote:Who is making the best cars under $30k these days? Mrs. Hilaire wrecked her Prius. We're thinking maybe a Prius V, but have not been following except to note that electric cars don't seem scheduled for prime time until 2017.
What family car would you buy for under $30k?
I presume that they are available in the US. A new Focus with their Ecoboost engine is around £17K ($25K) here, and cars tend to be cheaper in the US. I drive a Focus myself, an excellent car, but with a conventional 1.6 litre 4 cylinder engine.
Nonc Hilaire wrote:I liked my 205 Ford, but the metal was too thin. It accumulated dings constantly. The nice thing about the Prius was that it only fueling once a month.Torchwood wrote:If you want to help save the planet, don't buy a hybrid, but what Americans call a "compact" with one of the new high performance small petrol (gasoline) engines. Both Ford and VW have brought out over here models (Focus, Golf) with 1 litre 3 cylinder engines, which are supercharged and turbocharged, fuel economy pretty much as good as a hybrid and better performance and handling ( I always thought that the Prius was a bit of a dog).Nonc Hilaire wrote:Who is making the best cars under $30k these days? Mrs. Hilaire wrecked her Prius. We're thinking maybe a Prius V, but have not been following except to note that electric cars don't seem scheduled for prime time until 2017.
What family car would you buy for under $30k?
I presume that they are available in the US. A new Focus with their Ecoboost engine is around £17K ($25K) here, and cars tend to be cheaper in the US. I drive a Focus myself, an excellent car, but with a conventional 1.6 litre 4 cylinder engine.
We will look at the Focus. I like the simplicity of the electric, and living in Florida there is lots of sun but this seems like exactly the wrong time to to go electric. The tech will be so much better in 2018/19 the current crop may depreciate too quickle. A low cost conventional car seems like the car for the times if it is comfortable for a big driver.
.
A few years ago, I had a rental Austin Mini Cooper in Chicago.Heracleum Persicum wrote:Nonc Hilaire wrote:I liked my 205 Ford, but the metal was too thin. It accumulated dings constantly. The nice thing about the Prius was that it only fueling once a month.Torchwood wrote:If you want to help save the planet, don't buy a hybrid, but what Americans call a "compact" with one of the new high performance small petrol (gasoline) engines. Both Ford and VW have brought out over here models (Focus, Golf) with 1 litre 3 cylinder engines, which are supercharged and turbocharged, fuel economy pretty much as good as a hybrid and better performance and handling ( I always thought that the Prius was a bit of a dog).Nonc Hilaire wrote:Who is making the best cars under $30k these days? Mrs. Hilaire wrecked her Prius. We're thinking maybe a Prius V, but have not been following except to note that electric cars don't seem scheduled for prime time until 2017.
What family car would you buy for under $30k?
I presume that they are available in the US. A new Focus with their Ecoboost engine is around £17K ($25K) here, and cars tend to be cheaper in the US. I drive a Focus myself, an excellent car, but with a conventional 1.6 litre 4 cylinder engine.
We will look at the Focus. I like the simplicity of the electric, and living in Florida there is lots of sun but this seems like exactly the wrong time to to go electric. The tech will be so much better in 2018/19 the current crop may depreciate too quickle. A low cost conventional car seems like the car for the times if it is comfortable for a big driver.
.
Gas now less than $ 2 a gallon, probably will go lower and stay there for some time
QX50, a crossover, Quatro, V6 aluminum engine block, 375 HP .. in Canada C$ 35,000 (U$ 25,000)
Small cars good for Europe, in US you need a tank
.
I'm too big to drive a mini, but I did give my future ex-wife her first orgasm in the back of one back in the seventies. There's a lot to be said for leg power and cramped spaces.Typhoon wrote:A few years ago, I had a rental Austin Mini Cooper in Chicago.Heracleum Persicum wrote:Nonc Hilaire wrote:I liked my 205 Ford, but the metal was too thin. It accumulated dings constantly. The nice thing about the Prius was that it only fueling once a month.Torchwood wrote:If you want to help save the planet, don't buy a hybrid, but what Americans call a "compact" with one of the new high performance small petrol (gasoline) engines. Both Ford and VW have brought out over here models (Focus, Golf) with 1 litre 3 cylinder engines, which are supercharged and turbocharged, fuel economy pretty much as good as a hybrid and better performance and handling ( I always thought that the Prius was a bit of a dog).Nonc Hilaire wrote:Who is making the best cars under $30k these days? Mrs. Hilaire wrecked her Prius. We're thinking maybe a Prius V, but have not been following except to note that electric cars don't seem scheduled for prime time until 2017.
What family car would you buy for under $30k?
I presume that they are available in the US. A new Focus with their Ecoboost engine is around £17K ($25K) here, and cars tend to be cheaper in the US. I drive a Focus myself, an excellent car, but with a conventional 1.6 litre 4 cylinder engine.
We will look at the Focus. I like the simplicity of the electric, and living in Florida there is lots of sun but this seems like exactly the wrong time to to go electric. The tech will be so much better in 2018/19 the current crop may depreciate too quickle. A low cost conventional car seems like the car for the times if it is comfortable for a big driver.
.
Gas now less than $ 2 a gallon, probably will go lower and stay there for some time
QX50, a crossover, Quatro, V6 aluminum engine block, 375 HP .. in Canada C$ 35,000 (U$ 25,000)
Small cars good for Europe, in US you need a tank
.
Great fun to drive, very convenient with regards to parking compared to the canonical SUV tank wannabe.
QX50 is $35k US. I will look at them, though. I'm really trying to avoid financing though. Who makes Infinity? I know Lexus is Nissan and Accura is Honda but forget about Nissan.Heracleum Persicum wrote:Nonc Hilaire wrote:I liked my 205 Ford, but the metal was too thin. It accumulated dings constantly. The nice thing about the Prius was that it only fueling once a month.Torchwood wrote:If you want to help save the planet, don't buy a hybrid, but what Americans call a "compact" with one of the new high performance small petrol (gasoline) engines. Both Ford and VW have brought out over here models (Focus, Golf) with 1 litre 3 cylinder engines, which are supercharged and turbocharged, fuel economy pretty much as good as a hybrid and better performance and handling ( I always thought that the Prius was a bit of a dog).Nonc Hilaire wrote:Who is making the best cars under $30k these days? Mrs. Hilaire wrecked her Prius. We're thinking maybe a Prius V, but have not been following except to note that electric cars don't seem scheduled for prime time until 2017.
What family car would you buy for under $30k?
I presume that they are available in the US. A new Focus with their Ecoboost engine is around £17K ($25K) here, and cars tend to be cheaper in the US. I drive a Focus myself, an excellent car, but with a conventional 1.6 litre 4 cylinder engine.
We will look at the Focus. I like the simplicity of the electric, and living in Florida there is lots of sun but this seems like exactly the wrong time to to go electric. The tech will be so much better in 2018/19 the current crop may depreciate too quickle. A low cost conventional car seems like the car for the times if it is comfortable for a big driver.
.
Gas now less than $ 2 a gallon, probably will go lower and stay there for some time
QX50, a crossover, Quatro, V6 aluminum engine block, 375 HP .. in Canada C$ 35,000 (U$ 25,000)
Small cars good for Europe, in US you need a tank
.
Maybe eventually. I really just need a car to go ten miles a day, and fuel cells are still pretty far out there.Typhoon wrote:If I had to bet, I'd probably bet on fuel cells rather than batteries for electric cars in the future.
The energy density situation for batteries is little changed at the beginning of the 21st century from that at the beginning of the 20th century.
Indeed.Nonc Hilaire wrote:I'm too big to drive a mini, but I did give my future ex-wife her first orgasm in the back of one back in the seventies. There's a lot to be said for leg power and cramped spaces.Typhoon wrote:A few years ago, I had a rental Austin Mini Cooper in Chicago.Heracleum Persicum wrote:Nonc Hilaire wrote:I liked my 205 Ford, but the metal was too thin. It accumulated dings constantly. The nice thing about the Prius was that it only fueling once a month.Torchwood wrote:If you want to help save the planet, don't buy a hybrid, but what Americans call a "compact" with one of the new high performance small petrol (gasoline) engines. Both Ford and VW have brought out over here models (Focus, Golf) with 1 litre 3 cylinder engines, which are supercharged and turbocharged, fuel economy pretty much as good as a hybrid and better performance and handling ( I always thought that the Prius was a bit of a dog).Nonc Hilaire wrote:Who is making the best cars under $30k these days? Mrs. Hilaire wrecked her Prius. We're thinking maybe a Prius V, but have not been following except to note that electric cars don't seem scheduled for prime time until 2017.
What family car would you buy for under $30k?
I presume that they are available in the US. A new Focus with their Ecoboost engine is around £17K ($25K) here, and cars tend to be cheaper in the US. I drive a Focus myself, an excellent car, but with a conventional 1.6 litre 4 cylinder engine.
We will look at the Focus. I like the simplicity of the electric, and living in Florida there is lots of sun but this seems like exactly the wrong time to to go electric. The tech will be so much better in 2018/19 the current crop may depreciate too quickle. A low cost conventional car seems like the car for the times if it is comfortable for a big driver.
.
Gas now less than $ 2 a gallon, probably will go lower and stay there for some time
QX50, a crossover, Quatro, V6 aluminum engine block, 375 HP .. in Canada C$ 35,000 (U$ 25,000)
Small cars good for Europe, in US you need a tank
.
Great fun to drive, very convenient with regards to parking compared to the canonical SUV tank wannabe.
Infiniti is Nissan.Nonc Hilaire wrote:QX50 is $35k US. I will look at them, though. I'm really trying to avoid financing though. Who makes Infinity? I know Lexus is Nissan and Accura is Honda but forget about Nissan.Heracleum Persicum wrote:Nonc Hilaire wrote:I liked my 205 Ford, but the metal was too thin. It accumulated dings constantly. The nice thing about the Prius was that it only fueling once a month.Torchwood wrote:If you want to help save the planet, don't buy a hybrid, but what Americans call a "compact" with one of the new high performance small petrol (gasoline) engines. Both Ford and VW have brought out over here models (Focus, Golf) with 1 litre 3 cylinder engines, which are supercharged and turbocharged, fuel economy pretty much as good as a hybrid and better performance and handling ( I always thought that the Prius was a bit of a dog).Nonc Hilaire wrote:Who is making the best cars under $30k these days? Mrs. Hilaire wrecked her Prius. We're thinking maybe a Prius V, but have not been following except to note that electric cars don't seem scheduled for prime time until 2017.
What family car would you buy for under $30k?
I presume that they are available in the US. A new Focus with their Ecoboost engine is around £17K ($25K) here, and cars tend to be cheaper in the US. I drive a Focus myself, an excellent car, but with a conventional 1.6 litre 4 cylinder engine.
We will look at the Focus. I like the simplicity of the electric, and living in Florida there is lots of sun but this seems like exactly the wrong time to to go electric. The tech will be so much better in 2018/19 the current crop may depreciate too quickle. A low cost conventional car seems like the car for the times if it is comfortable for a big driver.
.
Gas now less than $ 2 a gallon, probably will go lower and stay there for some time
QX50, a crossover, Quatro, V6 aluminum engine block, 375 HP .. in Canada C$ 35,000 (U$ 25,000)
Small cars good for Europe, in US you need a tank
.
Not a recommendation. Just a comment on the current electric battery car fad.Nonc Hilaire wrote:Maybe eventually. I really just need a car to go ten miles a day, and fuel cells are still pretty far out there.Typhoon wrote:If I had to bet, I'd probably bet on fuel cells rather than batteries for electric cars in the future.
The energy density situation for batteries is little changed at the beginning of the 21st century from that at the beginning of the 20th century.
Looks like this year's model is jazzed up a bit.Nonc Hilaire wrote:The car search is leaning towards the Subaru Legacy. AWD, cool optical safety suite, boxer engine and substantial build quality. Free lifetime synthetic oil changes, too.
The optical sensors automatically throttle the engine down if you approach an object too quickly and sound a warning, then apply the brakes. Blind spot detection. Other warnings and steering assist if you drift out of your lane.You get that plus AWD for the price of a standard FWD midsize car.Typhoon wrote:Looks like this year's model is jazzed up a bit.Nonc Hilaire wrote:The car search is leaning towards the Subaru Legacy. AWD, cool optical safety suite, boxer engine and substantial build quality. Free lifetime synthetic oil changes, too.
It is interesting how what would have been optional features on a high end luxury car in the past are now standard features on a good affordable workaday car.Nonc Hilaire wrote:The optical sensors automatically throttle the engine down if you approach an object too quickly and sound a warning, then apply the brakes. Blind spot detection. Other warnings and steering assist if you drift out of your lane.You get that plus AWD for the price of a standard FWD midsize car.Typhoon wrote:Looks like this year's model is jazzed up a bit.Nonc Hilaire wrote:The car search is leaning towards the Subaru Legacy. AWD, cool optical safety suite, boxer engine and substantial build quality. Free lifetime synthetic oil changes, too.
Not exciting or luxurious, but I think Subaru has trounced the competition in practicality and value.
They claim the self-driving car is about three years off. That would be great for interstate road trips and rush hour traffic.Typhoon wrote:It is interesting how what would have been optional features on a high end luxury car in the past are now standard features on a good affordable workaday car.Nonc Hilaire wrote:The optical sensors automatically throttle the engine down if you approach an object too quickly and sound a warning, then apply the brakes. Blind spot detection. Other warnings and steering assist if you drift out of your lane.You get that plus AWD for the price of a standard FWD midsize car.Typhoon wrote:Looks like this year's model is jazzed up a bit.Nonc Hilaire wrote:The car search is leaning towards the Subaru Legacy. AWD, cool optical safety suite, boxer engine and substantial build quality. Free lifetime synthetic oil changes, too.
Not exciting or luxurious, but I think Subaru has trounced the competition in practicality and value.