I don't consider myself an enviromentalist. I would not fit in Greenpeace or the Green Party. In fact, I've been voting Republican all my life. Yet, I don't see a good reason to consume excessively just because I can...
I'm still looking for a sensible reason for driving a civilan H2 and similiar vehichles. "I've got the money" is not a valid reason. William Buffet probably makes sounder investments...
An H2:
- is 50 to 100% larger and heavier than a sedan, putting proportionally that much more wear-and-tear on the roads<
- Crowds the streets 50 to 100% more than a sedan. Very difficult to turn in a median in traffic when a vehicle this size is blocking your view.<
- Gets 8-12mpg, depending. Members in this forum probably get at least three times better FE<
- If payload is a true motivation for driving one, why not a pickup truck or mini-van? I suspect that many could just rent a truck when needed and drive a sedan if they were honest about it.<
Still don't see a problem with an H2 getting a proportionally higher road tax than a Prius or Camary. That seems consistent with the working of a market economy.
I've lost 40 pounds over the last year. If I elected to remain obese, run my bills up and lose days at work, I'd cost private and public health care more over my lifetime. To me, I'd be making others to pick up the tab, just like driving an H2. Some won't agree with this comparison.