First the germans, now Japan

[DKarvwnaris]

I drive my truck 30 miles to the train station, then ride the train for an hour each way.

That's got to be a kick in the shorts to face every morning. I wouldn't wish it on anyone.

I have become spoiled being self employed, working out of my house has cut alot of the commute headaches I faced before. (Much safer than relying on my motorcycle to cut through the traffic jams, though not as much fun).

 

[Lorenz]

(Much safer than relying on my motorcycle to cut through the traffic jams, though not as much fun).

Oh man you too? I was seriously looking at a used 998 this year. I sided on the "safe" side with my wife, and rack up miles in the Cummin(g)s.



How about this. If you go back I'll do it. Boy I loved riding the bikes I've had, and thank the man upstairs for keeping this knucklehead out of too much trouble on them.



Here's a good summation of the GM debacle. He's gone a little stir crazy on topics like politics, but I still look to him for financial and monetary advise, and insites. MISH's site

 

[Dieselnut59]

If Honda would ever introduce the diesel like they have elsewhere in the world, THAT would be a hot seller! I read an article on it a while back. As much power as their V-6 and better fuel economy than their gas 4 cyl. It is a common rail variable geometry turbo 4-cyl.

 

[rbattelle]

If Honda would ever introduce the diesel like they have elsewhere in the world, THAT would be a hot seller! I read an article on it a while back. As much power as their V-6 and better fuel economy than their gas 4 cyl. It is a common rail variable geometry turbo 4-cyl.

With regard to this, Fukui says:

Q: Are there any diesels planned for North America?

A: Unfortunately, as of now, we don't have the technical methodology to meet the very stringent diesel emissions regulations, both in North America and Japan, at a reasonable cost. But I think in the near future it will become possible.

Thank you very much, EPA.



-Ryan

 

[TowPro]

the train is not bad. Its the SEPTA system. I could take Amtak but they don't stop at the station I use. Amtrak is 100% nicer then Septa and if you buy a monthly pass its the same price.



I live in the country but work in center city Philly. I get on the train at 6:11 am, then take about a 45 minute nap (both ways). In the morning I sit next to the same lady every day and she makes sure I am awake before my stop. On the way home my stop is the last one so the conductor makes sure I am awake. Sure beats driving to Phila! In 5 years of working center city I have never driven there.

That's got to be a kick in the shorts to face every morning. I wouldn't wish it on anyone.

I have become spoiled being self employed, working out of my house has cut alot of the commute headaches I faced before. (Much safer than relying on my motorcycle to cut through the traffic jams, though not as much fun).

 

[DKarvwnaris]

Oh man you too? I was seriously looking at a used 998 this year. I sided on the "safe" side with my wife, and rack up miles in the Cummin(g)s.



How about this. If you go back I'll do it. Boy I loved riding the bikes I've had, and thank the man upstairs for keeping this knucklehead out of too much trouble on them.

Nope, you can't sucker me into that peer pressure deal.

It will be a long long time before I straddle another bike. I'm too old for a crotch rocket anymore. Not to mention way too young and in shape for a road hogging full dresser. I'll happily skip the middle models thanks. My back can't take the Dual Sports or the Crotch Rockets I used to ride, so I'm holding on to a steering wheel for a few more years.

The only middle of the road solution I have seen is a T Rex, http://www.ihot.us/Motorcycle_Photos.cfm?PID=75

I drove one at a car show this past summer that was for sale. I was WAY TOO CLOSE to buying it on the spot, it scared my wife to death when I pulled back in the parking lot. She know's that look of," I'm taking this one home" all too well. Luckily sanity returned when I looked down at my son and started thinking of him wanting to ride in it, (which is out of the question in the toilet bowl town I live in now). I've never seen so many wrecks in my entire LIFE than what I've witnessed firsthand since moving here this past spring. I would rather be on the I-405 in LA on a unicycle juggling china at rush hour with BUSH CHENEY tattooed on my bare back than drive anything but my dodge in this town.

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

The only middle of the road solution I have seen is a T Rex, http://www.ihot.us/Motorcycle_Photos.cfm?PID=75

I drove one at a car show this past summer that was for sale.



That thing really looks neat - wonder what it's based on for running gear? A shaft driv water cooled one would be a real kick - like a Honda Goldwing...



What price class are they?

 

[DKarvwnaris]

The only middle of the road solution I have seen is a T Rex, http://www.ihot.us/Motorcycle_Photos.cfm?PID=75

I drove one at a car show this past summer that was for sale.



That thing really looks neat - wonder what it's based on for running gear? A shaft driv water cooled one would be a real kick - like a Honda Goldwing...



What price class are they?

I've seen them in the mid $20,000. 00 range, but alot of dealers are listing them for nearly twice that. At $20,000. 00 I was still interested, but only because I knew I could not build the thing for that. The engine is a 1200 CC race bike engine. The construction is all custom and very well designed, everything on this trike is brand new. (engine included), that's hard to find without buying a production bike and stripping it for parts yourself.

It doesn't care which gear you start out in, it just goes.

A goldwing would not be a good candidate for this trike. It is a full on race car on three wheels, which a goldwing could not satisfy the power and speed requirements this thing is capable of. I had the one I drove up over 130 mph in the distance of around a 1/4 mile, it was just as stable at that speed as 55. There was PLENTY left to go when I backed out of it. Mortality is a funny thing, I realize it more and more with each passing year after 30



This is the actual website for the manufacturer:



http://www.go-t-rex.com





If you're interested, here's the specs:



tubular steel chassis frame.



Engine: 1164cc Inline 4 cyl. , DOHC, with Ram-Air.



Transmission: Sequential 6-Speed close ratio gear box, purpose designed reverse gear, rear wheel torque damper.



Front suspension: Unequal opposed triangular arms, adjustable dampers with coil overs, sway bar.



Rear suspension: Swinging arm, dual adjustable dampers with coil overs.



Steering: Rack and pinion (2. 25 turns lock-to-lock), leather steering wheel.



Brakes: Front discs: Cross-drilled discs, 11in. (280mm) diameter, 4-piston aluminum calipers.

Rear discs: Cross-drilled disc, 10in. (254mm) diameter, 2-piston aluminum caliper.



Wheels and Tires : Aluminum 7"x16" front, 11"x17" rear, 195/50/ZR16 front tires, 315/35/ZR17 rear tire.



Body: Reinforced fiberglass plastic-sandwich construction, carbon fiber windscreens and headrests.



Cockpit: Side-by-side 2-person seating, adjustable backs, adjustable foot-pedal box, 3-point retractable safety belts.



Dimensions: Wheelbase: 90in(2286mm);

Width: 78in. (1981mm);

Length: 138in. (3500mm);

Height: 42in. (1067mm);

Dry Weight: 900lbs (410kg).



Fuel Capacity: 7. 5 US gal. (28L).



Performance: 0-60 mph: 4. 1 sec.



Top speed: 140 mph.



Lateral acceleration:1. 9g.





(the listed top speed is very very modest to say the least, I was keeping up with several 750 and 900 cc sport bikes with no problem).

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

Thanks for the additional info!



Dunno which is scarier - the performance, or the price! :-laf



But that's a neat idea for a platform to base a homebuilt on...

 

[DKarvwnaris]

Thanks for the additional info!



Dunno which is scarier - the performance, or the price! :-laf



But that's a neat idea for a platform to base a homebuilt on...

I doubt I could get the design and project to turn out as well on a homebuilt. definitely not enough to ever test the throttle.



I'd rather spend the money on the T-rex than a "Hardley Davidson" hack job trike. At least I can count on getting back from the trip under my own power and not have a chase vehicle in my mirrors just to make sure my kidney's don't fall out. Going by the part's stamping on a friend's new Harley, I don't if they are still entitled to made in the USA rights, over half of it said JAPAN on the stamping codes. The T-Rex also puts the widest point in the front which eliminates you having to remind yourself of a set of 3-4 ft wide fenders behind you in a narrow passage point.



The performance of the T-rex is something I will never forget. I used to race amateur class with my '94 750 GSX WR model and a '92 GSXR 750 with an 1100 engine struffed in it. With few exceptions, I can't remember being as white knuckled as I was in the T-rex. Alot of this I think is due to my now stable home life with something worth living for. :-laf (something the NAVY never really promoted while I was on ship and riding on weekends).

 

[fj40charles]

I try to buy made in America as much as I can. However, after my experience with GM, Ford, I will not never buy their passenger cars again. I've never bought a DC product until I bought my Dodge. If DC, puts a mercedes engine the Dodge truck, then I'll be looking for something else.



GM did it to themselves. Assembly line workers and union employees makes these cars too cost prohibitive and the quality is not there. GM needs to smell the coffee and start making better cars.



I can't believe GM would make a butt ugly Pontiac Aztec and the Chevy Avalanche. Can you say freaking butt ugly?????

 

[KCJackson]

From Automotive News 12/1/05:

---------------

In November, Ford Motor sales dropped 15. 0 percent to 200,474 units, and GM sales dropped 7. 7 percent to 276,777 units. Both automakers saw double-digit drops in truck sales for the month.



DaimlerChrysler sales for November dropped 2. 7 percent from a year earlier to 178,202 units.



Meanwhile, Japanese rivals Toyota Motor Sales U. S. A. Inc. and American Honda Motor Co. posted sales gains of at least 10 percent. That made November a record-setting month for both automakers.



Toyota's sales, which include Lexus and Scion, rose 10. 0 percent to 169,665 units in November. For the year to date, its sales are up 9. 9 percent to 2,057,017 units.



A 10. 8 percent jump in American Honda's sales, which include the Acura division, puts the November tally at 105,860 units. For the year to date, the automaker's sales are up 5. 8 percent to 1,329,672 units.



Sales at the Hyundai Group, which covers Hyundai Motor America and Kia Motors America Inc. , rose 0. 9 percent from November 2004 to 53,474 units this November. After 11 months, group sales stood at 669,075 units, up 6. 0 percent.

---------------------

The GM tally includes US sales of Saab.

The Ford tally includes US sales of Aston Martin, Jaguar, Land Rover, and Volvo.

The DC tally includes US sales of Mercedes Benz.

 

[KCJackson]

The big 3 full size trucks:

... ... ... ... Nov 05 | Nov 04 | % +/- | CYTD 05 | CYTD 04 | % +/-

------------------------------------------------------

F-Series... . 62,878 | 66,477 | - 5. 4 | 811,972 | 844,119 | -3. 8

Silverado... 37,633 | 39,982 | - 9. 6 | 637,211 | 614,989 | +3. 6

Ram... ... ... 25,667 | 28,862 | -15. 0 | 369,565 | 392,508 | -6. 0

Sierra... ... 11,783 | 13,662 | -17. 2 | 208,157 | 190,341 | +9. 4