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Joe Mattiello
Joe Mattiello Member Posts: 709
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<div id="titleHeader" class="blue_giant"><b><a
href="http://www.taco-hvac.com/news.html?News=246">Taco's
Johnny White Drives Smart Car</a>



</b>Cranston, RI, July 16, 2008 - It's a sure sign that gas
prices are
affecting Americans when Taco President and CEO John Hazen White, Jr.
opts for a Smart car. Tired of rising gas prices and his Mercedes'
mileage rating, White now commutes to and from work on most days in his
new <b>2008 Smart fortwo</b>, which gets between 38-41
mpg. on the highway.




A regular visitor to Europe, he spotted the Smart car several years ago
on narrow Swiss streets and immediately wanted one; the only problem
was that they weren't available in America back then. They are now,
through Mercedes-Benz, but getting one involves a waiting list.



In addition to its zip and comfort (the 6 ft. 1" CEO credits its ample
head and leg room), White also believes in the statement the Smart
fortwo car makes. "We're a green company at Taco in our operations and
product offerings like our energy efficient LoadMatch single pipe
system, so a Smart car with its small carbon footprint is part of that
effort," he says. He's got several more Smart cars on order for Taco,
which the company will use for local and area business runs.





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<img src="http://www.taco-hvac.com/images/TacoSmartCar_JHW.jpg"
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Tired of rising gas prices, Taco, Inc.

CEO John Hazen White, Jr.

opts
for a Smart car.



For the<a href="http://www.taco-hvac.com/en/news.html">
latest Taco news</a>, visit <a
href="http://www.taco-hvac.com/en/index.html">www.Taco-HVAC.com</a>
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Joe Mattiello
N. E. Regional Manger, Commercial Products
Taco Comfort Solutions

Comments

  • Saw one of these,

    at a supply house here. The driver was trying to get a case of filters into it's rear cargo area. No go on that action. ;)
  • jp_2
    jp_2 Member Posts: 1,935
    would be nice

    to see an American CEO driving an American vehicle these days.....

    Or should just use foreign heating components?
  • Andrew Hagen_2
    Andrew Hagen_2 Member Posts: 236
    Taco

    I feel a little spammed too.

    I really like nearly all of Taco's offerings these days, and I think they are really stepping things up to compete with the European stuff. However, I feel like there is a gap in the circulator offerings to compete with the Grundfos 15-58.

    Unfortunately, no American car company has stepped up to compete in the auto industry like Taco has been stepping up to compete in the hydronics industry, so Johnny white has to drive a European car. I have to say I would be very nervous on American highways in a Smart car. Butte has some potholes that might high-center one.
  • bb_10
    bb_10 Member Posts: 29
    would be even nicer

    if Amercan car companies could make a car that got this good mileage at a reasonable price!
  • jp_2
    jp_2 Member Posts: 1,935
    price?

    whats a reasonable price?

    andrew, I sort of agree. but vehicle sales drive the market. so we will see what the Volt does?

  • Andrew Hagen_2
    Andrew Hagen_2 Member Posts: 236
    Volt

    Obviously this is off topic, but I do feel it is somewhat related to the state of the hydronics industry in general.

    From what I can tell, the Volt does very little but sit on showroom floors and make promises it can not deliver. The sad part is, I know we have the engineering capability in America to design a car like the Volt. The problem is that GM does not see enough value to put an honest effort toward building it. The profit margin is probably not as good as trucks.

    Yes, they build what we buy, but we also buy what they build. With no real alternative currently available other than foreign cars, I guess it will be a while before we find out.
  • jp_2
    jp_2 Member Posts: 1,935
    maybe

    we all ready know the answer? if these little foreign cars sell like hot cakes GM missed the boat?

    my guess is look at the size of these companies, the bigger they are the slower they seems to move.

    the poor internal combustion engine can only do so much. we need a better power plant.

    added: i bet they still sell more Hummers than volts!
  • bb_10
    bb_10 Member Posts: 29
    Smart Car

    list prices.

    Start @ $ 13,235.00 for the basic model. With all options just under $15K.

    Mid model: $13,999
    cabriolet: $16,999

    bb
  • John F
    John F Member Posts: 29
    Hydraulic-biodiesel hybrid cars

    In Loveland, Colorado there is a company called Lightning Hybrids which is an automotive research and manufacturing company that has designed two 100 MPG hydraulic-biodiesel hybrid cars with sports sedan performance (0-60 in 5.9 seconds) and visual appeal. The cars are slated to be available in 2010 and will sell for $39,000-$59,000. They will be showing a prototype at the Denver Auto Show in April.

    From their press release the say:
    The car, a four-seat sports sedan, will average 100 miles to the gallon (biodiesel) and will be able to go
    0 to 60 in under six seconds. It has a unique clamshell door that opens upward to allow for superior
    aerodynamics. In addition to an innovative hydraulic biodiesel hybrid drivetrain, the Lightning Hybrids
    car has other futuristic innovations like using cameras and screens in place of rearview external mirrors
    to reduce drag and increase safety. The car will also be available in a three-wheel four-seat car, and
    the drivetrain is available in a retrofit kit suitable for fleets as well.


    www.lightninghybrids.com
  • R Mannino
    R Mannino Member Posts: 440
    Orange???

    I would have thought he would have a green one.
  • Andrew Hagen_2
    Andrew Hagen_2 Member Posts: 236
    GM

    General Motors will likely soon no longer exist as we know it. Wait until it's Tata-Chevrolet and see if Americans start to really understand what we have done to our country at that point?

    Obviously these little cars will never sell well. They have an unappealing style and no machismo at all. Faced with this and the new Dodge Challenger, I have to admit I wouldn't even take a second look at the Smart and I wouldn't tell anyone else to do differently. The Volt looks decent, but as far as I know it still won't drive, which is something I tend to take for granted in a new car.

    It will be interesting to see what is left of the American automobile industry in a few years. The saddest part is the jobs that will be lost in the process.
This discussion has been closed.