Ford Counts Backward
Ford gets worse miles than ever in its new SUVs -- contrary to its pledge to raise the fuel economy of its SUVs by 25 percent between 2000 and 2005. This doesn't stop William Clay Ford from paying lip service, in a New York Times article, to the environment and the friends and families of soldiers: "But I do reaffirm our commitment to continue to work toward improving the fuel economy of our S.U.V.'s and, indeed, to cutting greenhouse gas emissions across our entire range of vehicles." Yeah, yeah, yeah...
But, Bill...you've already raised fuel efficiency...and safety -- time and time again -- as have the other car companies. Yes, you've done it every time you've produced a new mini-van. Mini-vans are highly fuel-efficient, highly safe vehicles with a low center of gravity and a wide wheel base, making them very tough to roll over. See...you car company boys can build them safer and less polluting -- if and when you want to.
To anybody considering investing in a road-hogging, gas-guzzling, gigundo new Ford SUV: If you can afford a brand new SUV, you can afford an Insight or a Prius, or one of an increasing number of hybrid cars on the market. Just remember what to ask yourself if you do buy an enormo SUV: What's the MPG? As in -- how many dead Marines Per Gallon to fill the tank on that thing?
(NYT reg. required)