On Thu, 23 Jun 2005 12:10:24 -0500, Hax Planx
wrote:

Patrick Conroy says...

What about that magnet thingy that "aligns" the gasoline molecules for more
MPG!?!?!



Oh oh... Here come the black helicopters...

I once picked up a hitchhiker who claimed he knew of a guy who bought a
prototype Chrysler that got 80mpg. Then some guys found him and took
the car back. You see, the oil companies buy up all the patents for
high mileage innovations so they never see the light of day. He was the
most clean-cut and rational of all the three or four hitchhikers I ever
picked up. I stopped picking up hitchhikers before my 17th birthday
some twenty years ago.

The manufacturers really don't seem to be doing too badly, as far as I
can see. I picked up an 05 Ford Focus last week because my van was on
it's deathbed, and it's getting 30-35 mpg with the AC running on max
constantly. According to the owner's manual, it will get up to 51 mpg
under optimal circumstances- and it's got almost no emissions. The
downside is that I opened the hood, and realized that I will probably
never be able to work on the thing- it looks more like some kind of
spaceship than any engine I'm accustomed to.

Nice little car, though. Came with one of those Japan-esque
warranties, too. 5yrs/75,000mi bumper-to-bumper, and 100,000mi
warranty on the drive train.