They showed one family making a new rear fender for an late 40s/early 50s car from the roof of a Caddy by beating it out on the curb! Looked like it fit pretty well too.

I can only imagine how bad those cars must be now 15 years after that Motorworld episode.

I agree with the poster above, take away the gas guzzlers and people will find new ways to pollute or spend their cash. I am a VW Cabrio daily driver and feel certain that if the majority of cars were sub-compacts like mine, we’d be driving faster or further and consuming just as much fuel. Whatever the truth I would welcome more small cars on the roads though.

The Cubans do an amazing job keeping those cars running. There is one mechanic in Cuba who specializes in making rings for I forget which model ’50s American car. I recently saw an NPR documentary (someone loaned it to me) from the early ’00s. Its like Brigadoon. A living museum.

David

I drive a fuel-efficient sub compact hatch (tiny turbo four)…and i burn 100 gallons of gas a month. people have complimented me on my environmentally-friendly choice of vehicle while berating the short-commute hummer owner burning 50 gallons a month. who needs the wrist-slap here?

Pick up your regulations, take your busybody friends, and get the heck out of government.

Your points about Cuba are true, but as you say, it is proof that people can keep cars going for a long time. Governments love to ignore, or pretend to ignore things like that when they make laws to try to solve problems. If they did that ban in the US today, my Landcruiser would start appreciating tomorrow. It would likely be kept running for another 100 years unless the government did something to force it out of it’s owner’s hands.

I agree with your next post completely. It’s similar to what I said. It came to mind that it’s like the whole NIMBY thing. The less you need or want a car, the more you are likely to go along with anti car policies. Today my car, tomorrow your art, coffee, literature, or whatever small luxury you like (toilet paper). The anti-car people should remember that. They like to think they are non-conformists, but in reality they are pushing a conform or die philosophy.

I think Cuba is the wrong example. It’s a very special case. They’ve kept all those ’50s cacheros (Cuban term of endearment that literally translates to jalopies) because it was that or Ladas and their ilk after US imports ended cold turkey in ‘59. It has almost nothing to do with size, although there is a differential there, too. In terms of cachet, the cacheros have it, the Ladas don’t.

Moreover, for most Cubans, buying a new car is beyond the budget, and there aren’t too many used cars for sale. A lot of Cubans own cars only because a cachero got handed down.

But I do agree that if buying big new cars is banned, a lot of people will keep the old ones going. But not with the zeal that Cubans keep the cacheros going. (Frankly, I worry that if we ever resume trade with Cuba, most of the cacheros will get bought up and exported.)

And as I said before, I think the ban is stupid, at least unless there’s a general carbon tax first. So, policywise for the EU, I’m probably in agreement with Landcrusher.

Jon Paul, BuckD and etc I agree with what you’re saying guys… I get you.

That being said, as an American, I share the sentiment that individual liberty is sacred… even if it leads to people doing irrational stupid things with that liberty. Thus, my support for a ban of gas-guzzling vehicles is lukewarm at best.
(U-S-A!!! U-S-A!!! U-S-A!!! Ha! Sorry… couldn’t resist.)

Lastly, I wouldn’t be so dismissive of European policies… as Americans we may find them restrictive but they are really quite progressive. Notice that the average European has a higher standard of living and is happier than the average American yet their rate of consumption is far far less. They’re onto something there no?

Unfortunately, there are lots of those people living in Europe. There are also a lot of people who only occasionally use a car that think anyone who needs/wants a car more than them should sacrifice on their behalf.

I have a bit of a problem with Sir Idiot’s strategy to get rid of “guzzlers”. Heard of a little place called Cuba? They are STILL driving fifties detroit cars down there. Ban bigger cars, and people who want them will just keep them on the road forever. Sorry champ. Could it be your next plan is to then ban their parts supply? And when that fails, you will just come for their cars I suppose. With guns?

Hey it might work, if you disarmed the population.

I dunno, maybe it has to do with the majority of legislation enacted and proposed that targets automobiles while ignoring all other sources of greenhouse gases.

Sweet Jesus, this is the same line of thinking that says anyone who disagrees with American foreign policy hates America and loves terrorists.

Hypothetically suggesting a ban on cars that get less than 35 mpg doesn’t equal a hatred of all cars.

a bit of a generalization there, no? just because they don’t always like the same cars yanks like, well, that doesn’t mean they hate them. and who do you think produces all those wonderful high-end cars that people lust for in the u.s. – you know, the bmws, mercedes and porches.

Not to mention that many Europeans love cheap thrills, i.e. driving the heck out of a compact B-class car as opposed to wallow in the middle lane of a highway, drinking a big gulp with one hand and texting on a cellphone with the other.

Let’s not generalize…many Europeans think Americans can’t drive and don’t like driving anyway, and this is just as incorrect as believing Europeans don’t like cars.

Even Ferrari has decided to go with lower HP but much higher efficiency. I think it’s a great decision, as they will come up with lighter, slicker cars that will remain just as iconic, in phase with the times.

And to all those who equate driving a 14mpg SUV with “freedom” why not ask yourself the reverse question – “why do you hate future generations so much?”.

Thankfully I drive a Jeep that averages 14 mpg!

a bit of a generalization there, no? just because they don’t always like the same cars yanks like, well, that doesn’t mean they hate them. and who do you think produces all those wonderful high-end cars that people lust for in the u.s. – you know, the bmws, mercedes and porches.

Back on topic…I’m not surprised, really. I don’t think anyone hates cars more than the Europeans. Sad, really, considering the tradition.