joelja commented on Invisible, Near-Weightless Nanotubes Could Support Humans, Buildings, Space Elevators

"@The Lab: Not to mention the speed at which the elevator would have to travel to get you to space in less than a week and while you are waiting outside the protective atmosphere you are geting bombarded with radiation so you'd need shielding which adds weight which needs a thicker rope which weight more.... Well."

joelja commented on Chrysler Sebring, Dodge Avenger To "Fight Back" With Better Trim, Smaller Engines

"@Streetking: Chrysler could build a better car than the Camry. Maybe they could but they haven't or aren't. dodge has built some decent vehicles since 1914..."

joelja commented on 2010 Chevy Cruze To Get 45 MPG, Fight Prius With One Powertrain

"@Dollarbill4: We seem to judge our domestics more harshly, as if by a different standard. What does one notice about this list? Least reliable Vehicles listed in scoring order, starting with the worst score. SMALL CARS: Chevrolet Cobalt, Nissan Sentra (2006), Volkswagen Jetta (5-cyl.), Chevrolet Aveo. FAMILY CARS: Volkswagen Passat (4-cyl.)* UPSCALE/LARGE CARS: Jaguar X-Type, Chrysler 300 (V8), Saab 9-3. LUXURY CARS: Cadillac STS (V8), Mercedes-Benz S-Class (2006), Mercedes-Benz CLS*, Mercedes-Benz E-Class Sedan, BMW 7 Series, Jaguar S-Type. SPORTS/SPORTY CARS: Pontiac Solstice*, Mercedes-Benz SL, Mercedes-Benz CLK, Mercedes-Benz SLK (V6), Chevrolet Corvette, Porsche 911, Carrera, Ford Mustang (V6). WAGONS/MINIVANS: Buick Terraza, Chevrolet Uplander, Saturn Relay, Nissan Quest. SMALL SUVS: Kia Sportage. MIDSIZED SUVS: Mercedes-Benz M-Class*, Land Rover LR3 (V8), Cadillac SRX (V8), Mercedes-Benz R-Class*, Volkswagen Touareg, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Hummer H3*, BMW X5 (V8, 2006), Volvo XC90 (6 & V8), Ford Explorer (V8), Mercury Mountaineer (V8). LARGE SUVS: Nissan Armada, Infiniti QX56, Lincoln Navigator, Hummer H2. PICKUP TRUCKS: Nissan Titan, Ford F-250 (TurboDiesel), Dodge Dakota (4WD), Cadillac Escalade EXT (2006). [autos.msn.com] Could be the 10 GM products."

joelja commented on 2010 Chevy Cruze To Get 45 MPG, Fight Prius With One Powertrain

"@damnElantra: semantics! ;) I was going to say 1/3 of an average american but I think that's a bit high even for my fellow large countrymen."

joelja commented on 2010 Chevy Cruze To Get 45 MPG, Fight Prius With One Powertrain

"@damnElantra: thats like what, the weight of a 2 children? or a bit less than half an american adult... @SmaartAasSaabr: well no, weight only sucks gas on accel. In the hybrid obviously some of the cost associated with acceleration of the ice is offset by the electronic motor. However, you're not honestly trying to say that the mass of a vehicle has no effect on fuel consumption during continuous operation, because it does."

joelja commented on 2010 Chevy Cruze To Get 45 MPG, Fight Prius With One Powertrain

"just some data points... The prius is larger (106" wb vs 103") than the cobalt. the prius has signficantly higher internal volume. the prius weighs about 300lbs less (curb) than the 4 door cobalt. The cobalt is competive with the yaris/xA/xB/honda city."

joelja commented on 2010 Chevy Cruze To Get 45 MPG, Fight Prius With One Powertrain

"@damnElantra: but without the heft of the batteries in said hybrid, could it not do better on the highway? the battery pack in the prius weight 53.3kg..."

joelja commented on Honda's New Hybrid Prius-Fighter Caught Desert Testing, Listening To "Eye Of The Tiger"

"Print it out and hold it up to the prius profile. [automobiles.honda.com] It's the fcx clarity body..."

joelja commented on 2009 Honda Civic Hybrid Sedan Gets A Face Lift

"@sample032: But it's still sporting some of the ugliest rims I've ever seen. nah there's way uglier rims out there... [jalopnik.com] Some concession to aerodynamics is order (thing has a .27cd)."

joelja commented on 2009 Honda Civic Hybrid Sedan Gets A Face Lift

"@BreakMyWindow: I guess I am looking for a more technical response, so if you know more please enlighten me. In the toyota and honda systems there are two approaches used... The batteries in their enclosure are isolated from the chassis. The SRS ecu drives a set of relays that open the high voltage bus and isolate the batteries from the drivetrain in a circumstance where srs systems are deployed. Cutting the negative 12volt cable or removing the 12 volt battery will cause the relays to open by themselves."

joelja commented on 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8, Part Three

"working stiffs are currently buying ford focii and honda fits... re-evaluation of suitability criterion categories in the face of abundant economic evidence out to be worthwhile."

joelja commented on The i8510: Samsung's 8 Megapixel S60 Slider

"@shinchan: 800x480 isn't totaly useless on that size screen, rather it's about 250ppi. 320x240 is around 100. to note something else. 200mah @ 3.7 volts is .7 watt hours..."

joelja commented on Are Cars Getting Uglier?

"oh jesus... current cars are just heinous... If I see one more vehicle with a hood scoop/turbo hump/fender portals/ground effects kit that does not in fact need them I'm going to be sick... The infiniti g35 and lexus is250 actually do a fairly good job in stock form of not having a bunch of unecessary superficial adornments, extra angles and random car shit that's supposed to remind of some previous model... The tendency of US automakers to try to invoke 40-70 year old styling queues or make everything butch is just so obsolete garbage... cars are just 4 wheel and engine and a cockpit ."

joelja commented on New Toyota Prius To Get Solar Panels As "Symbolic Gesture"

"@FuzzyPlushroom: I know the compressor's belt-driven, but come on, guys."

joelja commented on New Toyota Prius To Get Solar Panels As "Symbolic Gesture"

"@BreakMyWindow: M3's for the win, over 12inch wheels."

joelja commented on New Toyota Prius To Get Solar Panels As "Symbolic Gesture"

"@gotsmart: @gotsmart: I'm still surprised that the Prius doesn't have heated/cooled seats. Wurrently that's a rather highend feature in autmobiles (your lexus gs450h will have those)."

joelja commented on Car Industry Carnage: US Auto Sales Down 18.8% For June

"@MadMikeBeliso: How about Bugatti sales?"

joelja commented on MyGallons Introduces Service To Let You Lock-In Gas Prices At $4 A Gallon

"Generally the wrong time to lock-in prices in a futures market is when they are are high..."