My Gas Guzzling Woes

I do hate being labelled a Gas Guzzler. Because I’m a bit of an environmentalist at heart, I did actually feel guilty about the fact that my car was a thirsty beastie, plus my wallet never really forgave me.

This was bad enough but during the past couple of years the press, helped by our loving government (please read as much sarcasm into those words as you wish) have increasingly labeled me a gas-guzzler and an environmental menace simply because I drive a 4 by 4 vehicle.

Am I? Well yes, apparently, as a man who drives an eight-seater vehicle that does 25mpg I am a gas-guzzling yob. Fortunately others seem to have merrily avoided this dogma. For instance:

• Executive cars doing between 12 and 18 mpg with their 4 litre plus petrol engines are apparently exempt from inclusion in this category
• So is the mayor with his 6 litre Daimler
• Anyone with a sports car capable of hauling half a supermodel and a toothbrush at 200 mph with an engine the size of a small town
• And finally those oh so green buses that we’re all encouraged to ride as they burn diesel at a rate of 4 to 5 mpg and sit revving their engines whilst between journeys.

So it seems I am the gas guzzler… Though before I get off my soapbox and start being a little more sensible again, ask yourself this... which of the cars to the right are the beloved leaders of this country most likely to drive? I know, I just being a cynical gas guzzler...

Kiss My Axel

However, since my car now runs on vegetable oil, a much greener fuel, it's carbon neutral. It barely gives off any emissions and in the unlikely event of my spilling any cooking oil, it's biodegradable. So given this, who're the real gas guzzlers?