It's not like there aren't ways to gauge the market - the automakers probably have much better tools than you to determine how many Americans want manuals, and which models would make sense manual.
What's your point? You weren't arguing that it was the auto manufacturers determining how many Americans want manuals, so don't try and change my argument to fit your response.
The only problem I have with driving an auto is the now involuntary action of pushing a clutch at start up/coming to a stop.
I find it difficult to drive automatics because I let off before I would naturally shift, which often ends up confusing the car. I have also nearly slammed on the brakes a few times, but realized what I was doing.
So germany today allowed the so called dieselfahrverbot wich basically means citys now can lock out older diesel cars i have to say its a stupid idea the only ones who profit from that are car makers just because they now can sell more new cars
I mean thats pretty much the idea, London was even less subtle charging specifically pre 2006 diesel cars. Its another thing that nobody but the people who can make money from it care about but the general population are made to care when they are suddenly forced to pay some wanker £10 per day to drive the same car in the same place they did for free last week. its just another money making scheme that ignores the problem and instead profits from it.
Cheaper cars in Germany means cheaper cars in countries which import cars from Germany and for buyers who weren't really planning on much urban driving. On my side of the border, woo Dieselfahrverbot!
For me too as i dont live anywhere near there but i still think its a stupid idea and the most poluting vehicles arent even the normal cars its the buses
By one bus vs one car, yes. But considering a bus carries some 20 cars' worth of people, I doubt your conclusion, especially that a large majority of the scientific world disagrees.
Wonder how much solar power you could get off a bus versus how much energy they need to move, I somehow doubt solar gives neatly enough and it would be weather dependent, but still an interesting thing to think about to me
Buses have huge roofs, so solar panels on the roof + traditional regenerative braking (buses stop a lot) might produce quite an amount of energy.
But they're also heavy, solar isn't hugely powerful. Got to remember, rooftop installations in houses usually can't rival the standard mains, and in UK at least, standard mains is a mere 20kw which is only 26-27hp. Can probably fit more power on the bus, but I still don't foresee it being hugely powerful. Some point I'll sit and do maths maybe
I think it's best to leave the electricity generation to the big power stations. As many little stations could have less efficient inverters and charge controllers. For example, having a generator running in each house would cost more and be less efficient than one state of the art machine.
Dunno if you're quite getting the point of solar there. Namely, not having a generator in each house, just having some panels on the roof
