Built like a Mercedes (?)

What you don't appear to accept is the premise that there is a role for

False. Rail can be part of a well designed freight distribution system on
almost any level. Have you missed the TOFC service, container service, and
other intermodal types that are part of the new wave of rail use? Have you
missed the express service offered by almost every railroad in the states?
Did you realize that many railroads are experiencing a growth cycle unheard
of in industry for over a decade? If everything from UPS packages to bulk
commodities to passengers can be moved by rail, the only limit is how many
trains will fit on each route.

False. Lines were closed because rail networks were triple and quadruple
redundant in some places. In others, businesses closed or moved. When
trucking was deregulated in the 70's, railroads were strangled by the
continued regulation from the government. Since then, the regulation has
been removed, and rail usage is increasing at a rate beyond that which was
expected.

I have no idea what you are talking about in those countries. I'm speaking
about rail use in the States, not Europe. Whether or not railheads were
closed has nothing to do with the efficiency of rail transport compared to
highway transport. Thus, your question is irrelevant, since it is not a
cause of rail efficiency, nor a detracter thereof.

Freight from Butte to Rochester is easily done. If you require a rate, I
suggest you contact BNSF or Union Pacific in the Butte area, and Norfolk
Southern or CSX Corporation in the Rochester area.


--
Max

"There are four boxes to be used in defense of liberty:
soap, ballot, jury, and ammo. Please use in that order."
-Ed Howdershelt (Author)

 

Not popular to have a policy ! LMAO Your leader seems to have one !

You'll have to stand by while I laugh hysterically at GWB's hydrogen induced
euphoria that he likes to call a policy.

GWB's policy is based on the fact that petrol, NG and diesel are of such a
price that capitalist enterprise will open up new markets of energy. While
its true that it will happen, its not a proactive policy if one simply
stands back and allows something to happen without solving the problem.


--
Max

"There are four boxes to be used in defense of liberty:
soap, ballot, jury, and ammo. Please use in that order."
-Ed Howdershelt (Author)

 

You want to REALLY abuse a car??
Take a little car like a 1967 204 Peugot wagon, put 4 full sized
adults in it (2 big men, one scrawny Limey runt, and a 5'8" young
lady) and 1000 lbs of supplies,as well as 2 jerry cans of gasoline
strapped to the roof then chase it from the southern tip of
Zambia(Livingstone/Victoria Falls) to the northern tip ( Mbereshi -
almost the Kenyan border) in the middle of the rainy season. The Great
north road wasn't bad in the seventies, but from the Copperbelt up
through the pedicle of Zaire, and the rest of the way into Luapula
province, the roads were very poor gravel with lots of washouts. You
either drove under 30mph or over 60, and we didn't have 2 weeks to do
the trip, so it was hit one bump and fly over the next 6 or 8. Every
couple hours it was time to get out the hammer and pound the rims back
into shape. That's what Michelin Air-Stops are made for - tubeless
would not have lasted 10 miles. We did the trip in 3 days each
direction. One drive axle seized solid in my driveway when I got back
to Livingstone.

Or try rallying. The 1972 Renault R12 took an awful beating for 3
seasons - and it was a "non-prepared" car. Totally stock, no
re-enforcements whatsoever, and it NEVER broke on a rally. We chased
that poor car all over Ontario from Windsor to Tamagami to
Peterborough every weekend from may to labour day.

That said, for long distance trans-continental (American / Canadian)
cruising there's nothing like big American iron, like a '53 Hemi
Coronet or a 73 Ambassador wagon, or even a 69 Dart.Or an Aerostar, or
Pontiac TransSport.

But no way would I take ANY of those from Livingstone to Luapula in
the rainy season, or Rally them.

You also have to see a Burkina bush taxi to believe what you can do
with a 35 year old Peugot 404 wagon.I was in Burkina Faso in '01.
Stuff piled 8 feet high on the roof, with 6 people inside, and driving
into a village 3km past the end of the road over roads I crawled over
at about 5MPH with the Toyota Prada(Land cruiser 90) or the Mitsubishi
4X4, and was very carefull running with the Elsinore. They made it in
and did not leave any parts behind. And they made it back out again. I
would not attempt those roads with any American passenger car. Then
again, I wouldn't drive that old Peugot from Kitchener to Toronto on
the 401 - it would be pulled off the road by the first cop to lay eyes
on it.If It could be held on the road at all.

Different ponys for different tracks, as they say. Not to say one is
better than the other, but they sure are as different as a Welsh coal
pony and a Clydesdale, or Arabian.

 

Ed, now you stop that. Posting facts will just confuse the issue.

 

Either you need to learn how to post, or you have no clue about how
poor Haiti really is.

*************************
Dave

 

No, we are able, but we don't care for those uncouth individuals of
europe doing so in jealousy.

Debate about an issue is fine, but the comments from a lot of
europeons today is unbecoming.

*************************
Dave

 

What you don't appear to accept is the premise that there is a role for

False. Rail can be part of a well designed freight distribution system on
almost any level. Have you missed the TOFC service, container service, and
other intermodal types that are part of the new wave of rail use? Have you
missed the express service offered by almost every railroad in the states?
Did you realize that many railroads are experiencing a growth cycle unheard
of in industry for over a decade? If everything from UPS packages to bulk
commodities to passengers can be moved by rail, the only limit is how many
trains will fit on each route.

False. Lines were closed because rail networks were triple and quadruple
redundant in some places. In others, businesses closed or moved. When
trucking was deregulated in the 70's, railroads were strangled by the
continued regulation from the government. Since then, the regulation has
been removed, and rail usage is increasing at a rate beyond that which was
expected.

I have no idea what you are talking about in those countries. I'm speaking
about rail use in the States, not Europe. Whether or not railheads were
closed has nothing to do with the efficiency of rail transport compared to
highway transport. Thus, your question is irrelevant, since it is not a
cause of rail efficiency, nor a detracter thereof.

Freight from Butte to Rochester is easily done. If you require a rate, I
suggest you contact BNSF or Union Pacific in the Butte area, and Norfolk
Southern or CSX Corporation in the Rochester area.


--
Max

"There are four boxes to be used in defense of liberty:
soap, ballot, jury, and ammo. Please use in that order."
-Ed Howdershelt (Author)

 

What is An F450 Super Duty rated at Max? You can take one off the
dealers lot with a pickup box factory installed.

The difference in Europe is there are VERY few pickups, comparatively,
and they tend to be 1/4 ton Vannettes for the "gentleman farmer" or
medium duty commercial vehicles for use by tradesmen or for commercial
cartage.

Aussie sees more "Utes" of the 1/2 ton variety.

Africa sees mostly the little 1/4 tonners and 1/2 - 1 ton Asian
pickups like Nissan Hardbodies, Totota Hilux, Mitsubishi Raiders etc,
and the 1 ton and up Dynas etc, which are really more like our medium
duty trucks (GM Forwards, Fusos, etc) as well as a host of "medium
duty" euro "Lorries" in the 5-10 ton range.
And a WHOLE LOT of ancient Euro "Heavies" - MAN. Dubrava, Leyland,
Mercedes, and a host of other French, eastern block, Chinese, German
and British museum pieces.Or 4X4s. And some of the old "Heavies" are
all wheel drive too.

 

Remember the FORDS of the same vintage?? A friend's 3 year old Montego
had the seat mounts rust/pull right out of the floor in 3 years. And
Torinos that the mirrors fell off, complete with a large patch of
metal in 2 years, or the door handles fell out, and there was nothing
left to fasten them to???????
And Pintos that rusted through the firewall where the inner fenders
fastened?
Wasn't just the Japs and Brits and Fiats that rusted away in no time
back then.But they did seem to rust faster for a longer period of
time. They were not designed to handle the salt on the roads in
"middle America"

I DO like American iron in many ways, but dollar for dollar I'll take
a Toyota, or a Honda over most of what "America" has to offer
today.And most of them will be built closer to my home than most of
the socalled "American" models.

If I want a BIG car, I'd buy a DC product made in Brampton. Or
possibly a Crown Vic from Tilbury. If I want a small car, a Corolla
from Cambridge or a Honda from Alliston. For a small sport Ute, I'd
consider the new (mostly Suzuki based) stuff coming out of CAMI down
at Ingersol with the GM badge, or the Matrix from Cambridge. But
right now I'm not in the market - the "Mercury Mistake" clone of the
Mondeo only has a bit over 100,000km on it at 10 years of age, and
will likely last the wife another 5 years - and it doesn't get much
long highway driving.
The 12 year old Trans Sport has 333,000 plus KM on it and will likely
do me for another few years too unless a deal comes up that is "too
good to pass up". Regardless, my next car will be another used one -
whatever seams to stand up reasonably well and is cheap.

But bigger engines, not worked as hard, tend not to overheat as
easily. A lot of the smaller "american" and european engines do suffer
from heat on long hard runs. Even some of the Jap stuff has problems
with "coking" and sticking rings, as well as lubrication breakdown
(running that thin 5W20 oil). Lots of head gasket and intake manifold
problems, even on some "american" engines due to heat (and poor
design) With the "world market" lots of our "American" engines are
euro, asian, south American, or Aussi in design. And lots of our
"American" small cars are asian designed , and even asian built
(Daewoo is GM in Korea - and sold here with a "bow tie")

Lots of these problems show up here, while the cars are the model of
reliability in europe and elsewhere. Our conditions CAN be severe.
They ARE different than most of the rest of the world.

Get over it.

And if you drive down the 401 (major highway across Ontario) at less
than 130Kph you almost get pushed off the road. Talk about a
"universally ignored" speed limit.
I've personally shot across large expanses of the American Mid-West at
well over 100MPH (160KPH), and it didn't take an $80,000 dollar car to
do it.

Generally true.

Agreed. Yet DC is building big American Barges and making money doing
it. Ford and GM can't seem to build decent small cars, except for
their euro/asian influenced/designed stuff. Chrysler has had a
reputation for not standing up too well over time, mostly little stuff
like shedding cheap trim etc - but the old "K" cars just don't quit.
Lately GM can't seem to fix ANY of their design problems - the 3.8
problems continued for years, and now the 3.4s as well.

 

Try west African roads - paved roads with potholes big enough for a
pig to dissapear into. Make that 2 pigs. 2 BIG pigs
Or east african roads where you could lose a VW beatle in the rainy
season.

Pensylvania highways are BAD, but not that bad.

 

Not true here in Canada. The parts for my GM and Ford cost more than
the same parts for Toyota and Honda - and are needed more often.
And Hyundai parts are even less expensive and they come farther.

 

Ever see a Dodge MegaCab? Pickup truck with a bigger cab than most
large sedans. 2 door pickups are becoming the minority over here.

An F150 with a cap or toneau gets as good mileage, if not better, on
the highway, than a Ford Taurus.

 

And the surprising thing is they generally do. Unlike many Euro cars
that can not be ignored (and some that just keep on going like the
energizer bunny)

Or REALLY on the rocks. A new car every 15 years would not keep the
factories going at capacity.

 

Many do. But you don't want to see what oil looks like after a hard
run from Toronto to Calgary and back in the dead of winter (42 hours
virtually non-stop) --. You would not want to do that 2 or 3 times on
a change. Not in a Mercedes or a Vauxhaul or a Toyota or a Dodge.

And the oils are different too.

 

Try the back country of west virginia or the coal country of
Pensylvania, or the hills of New York. Try to get through the hills
and hollers of outback kentuky or tennesee. Try the mountain passes of
idaho. Or try running across kansas and oklahoma in august. Drive
through the upper peninsula of Michigan, or Wisconsin, or north Dakota
in the winter.Or try death valley. Or drive from bakersfield to Vegas
in August.

If you want to REALLY see America, do Route 66 - end to end..
Try out the Alcan highway, or any of the many other highways in
Alaska. At ANY time of the year.

Or come on up to Canada. I'll show you roads and driving conditions
from the best you'll see in Europe to as bad as you will find in
Africa or India, and everything in between.

Yes, on the whole African roads are MUCH worse, I've driven MANY miles
on them - both main roads and back trails. But the RANGE of roads and
conditions in North America covers just about the full range,
particularly if you include Mexico.

 

They wanted the "scum" dead. Not blonde blue eyed aryans? Not worth
living. So all of europe would be german speeking.

 

When they are working 40 hours a week, 50 weeks a year and getting 2
weeks paid holidays, they are being paid for 2080 hours a year. Not
too many Auto Assembly workers make much less than $30 per hour -
which is $62,400 per year - plus they get pension contributions and
paid extended health coverage etc that adds up to several dollars an
hour more.

Also, many put in considerable overtime.

I've had a health plan for a total of 15 years of my almost 40 working
years. No company pensions. No stock options.

 

I know, I know. Don't let the facts get in the way of a good story.

Budd won't have the guts or the maturity to admit he's wrong. Just
like every other two-bit usenet blowhard.

E.P.

 

The 'scum' came in useful for slave labour though.

Graham

 

Huge amounts of salt being spread on British roads as well.
I think it was the high price of steel at that time that made it attractive
to recycle scrap iron which resulted in poor quality bodies. I hope
standards are kept high today as the price of steel over the past twelve
months has been just as high historically speaking.

American models apart from Jeep have never sold well in Europe. In the UK
Chrysler is now marketting their rather nice looking 300C and might well
sell it well. The specification, looks and the drive is good and the
availability of the superb V6 diesel engine [Which NA and Canada might not
get] is a big plus point.

From your email address I thought *you* were the wife. LOL

Surely not in Canada.
Many posters on the Toyota and Honda group from Florida and all over the
USA. Never heard of an issue with overheating. Big engines are just as prone
to overheat as it is just a symptom of an inadequate or defective cooling
system, nothing more.



Even some of the Jap stuff has problems

Well there you go.



With the "world market" lots of our "American" engines are

They have a lot of heat in those countries.
Daewoo is now rebranded as Chevrolet in most of Europe today. LOL

My friends in Canada have no problem with Summer heat but do mention Winter
cold.

No it doesn't. Almost any small family car can cruise indeffinately at over
100mph.

There's more money to be made from big cars and the consumer is a fickle
creature. One minute he wants big cars and bigger SUV's then when the
inevitable fuel price increase occurs he wants to downsize. The car
manufacturers cannot win in that situation unless they mainly target smaller
car markets to start with.



Ford and GM can't seem to build decent small cars, except for

The Ford Focus and Mondeo they produce over here are really top class cars.
They have given up trying to sell Ford brand cars any bigger and they have
bought premium brands to fill this sector.


Chrysler has had a

Their European cars are OK and that's it. A few Corsa are sold to private
owners but most Astra and Vectra go to fleets. Their drivetrains are pretty
good but apart from one or two models they are not 'desireable' cars. Their
latest diesel engines are built to Fiat design.

Huw