Because there's always a relevant XKCD: [xkcd.com]

I'm not sure "less power than an MS3" is really a valid complaint. We're talking about FWD cars, here. The MS3 is a handful; even if you're happy with the way it puts power down, you have to admit it's pushing the limit of good sense. Horsepower wars are fun in RWD and AWD platforms, and even then you get cars like…

"Your point about Turbos is a little off, they had been used in airplane engines back before WWII... WWII really refined the basic turbo charger. and 30 years ago many cars shipped with turbos."

Yes, for the moment. There's currently a huge push to change, but there are some peculiarities of aircraft engines that make it difficult. I'm not a metallurgist, but I think it comes down to not having hardened valves or valve seats, and some interaction with unleaded fuel causes very rapid wear of the valves. The…

I have a hard time agreeing about CAFE regulations. They definitely contributed to increased prices, but they've also had some serious benefits. Since the rules were made stricter in 2006, we've seen consistent increases in economy. Sure, under the 2011 rules (based on vehicle footprint), some manufacturers will…

While I don't disagree with your general concept, you do have one point wrong. The Prius uses an NiMH battery pack. It contains no lead whatsoever, and while there's some strongly alkaline potassium hydroxide electrolyte, it's a smaller quantity and less dangerous than the sulfuric acid in a lead-acid battery.

So, to clarify:

People give the giant hybrids like Escalade and Suburban a lot of crap, since they still only get like 20 MPG. But actually, that's a greater percentage fuel saving than adding hybrid drive to any midsize sedan. The number is less impressive, but the actual fuel savings are tremendous.

A Chrysler Crossfire, sometime around 2007.

Maybe this?

Of course the guns all start out at licensed dealers; gun manufacturers don't sell directly to anyone but dealers and the military. Short of breaking into the factory and stealing them, there could be no other source.

Guns Do Not Work That Way.

Of course most guns used in crimes are locally-sourced. They are, as you say, available. But what if they weren't? Why are you so sure the import market wouldn't just expand to compensate?

I don't think anyone is under mistaken impressions regarding hydrogen power. It's not a substitute for fossil fuels, it's a substitute for batteries. In both cases, you put in more energy than you can take out, but it's something you can't avoid if you want to get the local efficiency, light weight, and hilarious…

"The amount of gas that Dodge ram would use is INSANE."

True, but I can see Machiave11i's point. It could just as easily have been saved with ONE V8, and would have been a lot more useful for it. And if you need more power, well, forced induction weighs a lot less than a second engine. . .

Mine's white with a small spot of rust on the hatch, and got hit hard enough in the August hail storm to look a bit like a golf ball. I rarely venture north of Dodge, though. Your car's pretty distinctive; I'll wave if I ever see you.

Too fast for traffic in the area, yeah. Also rides a bit hard for the roads in the area, but we make sacrifices for our toys.

I love my Protege5. I think it's a fairly attractive car without really calling attention to itself, and it's economical and practical. And it just happens to be one of the best-handling FWD cars I've ever driven. More fun even than a lot of RWD cars - I think the only things I've liked better were an MR2 and a…

This is something I've always intended to do if I ever buy a factory-new car, especially if it's something cool. Of course I'm buying with the intention of driving the car for as long as it'll hold together, but things change. Completely aside from the geek amusement factor, I have to think it'll do some good for…