Getting any power out of a very cold (eg -10c or colder)  engine results in very poor fuel efficiency and lots of pollution. Idling the engine for 2-3 minutes then driving (carefully) will result in better overall economy and less pollution.

Cheaper and longer lasting. 

People complain how solar panels fluctuate in power output.  Yet it seems in places like california and australia peak demand occurs when its really freakin sunny !  12 hours of clear skies, and a high sun angle makes for some good solar power.

I go to Starbucks maybe twice a year, of course I am clueless, cut me some slack.

Hmm. Canuck here who lived in the USA for a while. Grain of truth in that but sometimes the American friendlyness is a BS facade.

Got to disagree with you on the snow clearing. Toronto comes to a stop with a few cm’s. Montreal neighbour moved to Calgary and she said they just wait for the chinook. Vancouver, forget it. Seattle even worse, if thats possible. I heard the same for Portland. The snow crew for the Sierras in California talk like they…

You need a Hyundai Pony, worn stock michelins, and some snowy parking lots and roads. Easy.

You get a combo of wet snow then colder temps. A layer of icy snow forms on the car. You can’t srape it off, you dont want to scratch the paint. With the heat of the car interior and bumping down the road the sheet of icy snow gets loose. You step on the brakes and then you get an avalanche down your windsheild.

Will it be a rust bucket like other mazdas ?

I want the leather wrapped vent slats marked “Hybrid” option on mine.  That will be about $1500.

Gas is taxed like crazy in Germany.  I’m sure there is some ecotax or carbon tax on the price of gasoline.  Drive fast, use more gas, pay more ecotax.

The idiots mantra 25 years ago was “Its not really happening”, now the idiots chant “Its not caused by humans”.

Just make an extended bed pickup of the transit connect. Maybe beef up the rear subframe and suspension. Use the same 2l NA engine and lower the first 4 gears of the 8 speed tranny.  If someone wants something more heavy duty or more powerful there are plenty of choices out there. 

Is Colorado one of those stupid states that have the “chains or 4wd” when it snows ?  Like California ?

I do the black duct tape thing on the upper grill in the winter. Better aero and the engine bay seems to stay warm a little longer when parked.

Try out the back seats.

Many years ago, 80s - 90s, one retired neighbour did just that. For him it was a hobby. He didn’t ask or knock on the door, but at 10:30 pm you would hear him attacking our driveway. Then he would go work on some more random driveways. Not everytime it snowed but I guess whenever he felt like it. 

Whenever anyone asked my Dad wether he had a snowblower or was going to buy one he just pointed at me.

Its not realy more expensive than a rockys/west vacation. And in France they offer a ‘carte blanche’, which for about $5 a day it gives you insurance.

I have offgrid solar and wind power for my home, a clothesline.  Alas, its legality is under dispute in many places too.