[MICAH1]

Originally Posted by RallyBob Ironically the answer is pretty simple. Reduce vehicle weights. But we dug our own graves here, as Americans we want it all...performance, cheap prices, luxury....all the accoutrements. Well with that comes weight, so we need more power, more sound deadening, more electronics, etc. Oh, and if you want to live when that 5500 lb SUV runs into your VW Golf, we'd better make the Golf weigh 3000 lbs then.... Even 'small' cars weigh a lot here...Honda Civics weigh over 2900 lbs now! If we all drove lighter weight vehicles then the threat from other vehicles hitting us would be lowered, so we wouldn't have to build everything like a tank. If we drove lighter vehicles they'd be faster...a LOT faster in every regard. With lighter weight comes the need for smaller engines, smaller brakes, smaller everything. Less resources consumed all around. Europe has know this for years, cars with 40-50 mpg are not that uncommon. :

You are right Bob......... unfortunately the auto industry dangled the carrot, and we being the rabbits take the bait each time. Got to have those whistles and bells!!!!