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| Version | User | Scope of changes |
|---|---|---|
| Apr 21 2009, 6:56 PM EDT | z_warrior | 854 words added |
| Apr 21 2009, 5:59 PM EDT | SkipNChurch |
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Key: Additions Deletions
First of all i know that i am going to catch hell for this but please just read the page before you bash it or otherwise. As the title clearly states anything with a motor will be pointless in a post Z-Day world. This page isn't meant to bash the vehicles now or during the early stages of an outbreak, but rather to raise points that i am continuously arguing with myself about posting. It has gotten to the point where there are just so many people saying the same thing that i am going to need a page of my own to get the message across.
First- fuel. Fuel is heavy, costly to stock up on, dangerous, and most of all inaccessible once the shit hits the fan. Gas, diesel, even kerosene that are stored at gas stations are pumped electrically. So no power, means no raiding a gas station for fuel. You will be stuck with what you have when the lights go out. And before attempting to just get it out of the holding tank under the station, you should know that that is a one-way hose. One hose fills the tank and one hose empties it; you can't take the gas out of the same hose used to put it in. Even if you had the financial ability to buy large quantities of fuel before loosing power and you had the means to store it, you still don't have forever. All fossil fuels break down over time and using old gas to run an engine will cause a lot of extra problems such as noise not to mention reduced mileage and eventually your engine will stop working because of build up of gunk in the pistons. Which brings me to number two...
Second- Maintenance. On top of the myriad of mechanical parts in an engine, most (and by most i mean anything apart from a boat motor) have computer systems that control so much that a problem with something a small as a sensor can cause huge problems. Even if you're Billy Jim Bob and can fix any problem with the most basic of tool kits, at some time a part is going to break beyond the point of repair. If your strut snaps in half you aren't going anywhere...at least for long...because your tire will pop and there is no calling AAA and once you don't have a spare its a long walk back home. And good luck finding parts. Sure, in the early stages it may just be a case of find another car of that type and scavenge them, but you have to get the car to somewhere you can work on it safely, then you have to have the tools, and in later years you have to worry about rust and overgrow making savaging nigh on impossible.
Third- mobility. Unless you have a dirtbike, ATV, or other vehicle actually designed for off road travel, you are going to be stuck in what can only be described as a 24 rush hour (i know that doesn't sound right). Those SUV's, Jeeps, and even Hummers are not actually meant to go off-road despite what the commercial depicts. So for the most part if you have four-wheels you're screwed for getting anywhere. But motorcycles and dirtbikes are not to be left out. these are extremely dangerous to ride already, throw in a mob of zeds chasing you and you make it boarder-line suicidal. You stand a better chance of surviving if you walk of ride a bicycle (no motor and easy to repair) to o do whatever it is you are doing, be it raiding or scouting. Think about it, what will hurt your group more...time, or a severely injured or possibly dead team member who could have helped with group defense had they still been able/alive.
Fourth- noise. As if all of the problems I've already stated aren't enough there is the most dangerous problem of all...noise. Have you ever wondered why we have sound barriers on our highways, its because cars, trucks, and motorcycles and as loud as all hell. Just one engine, even in good shape lets off more noise than walking ever could. I'm not a genius or anything, but isn't the point of surviving to not attract what is trying to kill you. It just seems to me that anything that worsens you chance of survival isn't worth it no matter how much faster you can travel or how much more you can carry. Walking is healthier anyways. Plus if you come upon some raiders good luck hiding a bright shiny metallic object in the woods. If you're on foot you can move from cover point to cover point, how the hell are you going to do that on anything else without drawing attention to yourself.there more there is to be seen, the greater the chance of being seen.
look...I'm open to suggestions, but honestly the only upside i can see for motor vehicles is for barricade use (unless you drop the motor off of an outboard boat then you can drift or paddle)
First- fuel. Fuel is heavy, costly to stock up on, dangerous, and most of all inaccessible once the shit hits the fan. Gas, diesel, even kerosene that are stored at gas stations are pumped electrically. So no power, means no raiding a gas station for fuel. You will be stuck with what you have when the lights go out. And before attempting to just get it out of the holding tank under the station, you should know that that is a one-way hose. One hose fills the tank and one hose empties it; you can't take the gas out of the same hose used to put it in. Even if you had the financial ability to buy large quantities of fuel before loosing power and you had the means to store it, you still don't have forever. All fossil fuels break down over time and using old gas to run an engine will cause a lot of extra problems such as noise not to mention reduced mileage and eventually your engine will stop working because of build up of gunk in the pistons. Which brings me to number two...
Second- Maintenance. On top of the myriad of mechanical parts in an engine, most (and by most i mean anything apart from a boat motor) have computer systems that control so much that a problem with something a small as a sensor can cause huge problems. Even if you're Billy Jim Bob and can fix any problem with the most basic of tool kits, at some time a part is going to break beyond the point of repair. If your strut snaps in half you aren't going anywhere...at least for long...because your tire will pop and there is no calling AAA and once you don't have a spare its a long walk back home. And good luck finding parts. Sure, in the early stages it may just be a case of find another car of that type and scavenge them, but you have to get the car to somewhere you can work on it safely, then you have to have the tools, and in later years you have to worry about rust and overgrow making savaging nigh on impossible.
Third- mobility. Unless you have a dirtbike, ATV, or other vehicle actually designed for off road travel, you are going to be stuck in what can only be described as a 24 rush hour (i know that doesn't sound right). Those SUV's, Jeeps, and even Hummers are not actually meant to go off-road despite what the commercial depicts. So for the most part if you have four-wheels you're screwed for getting anywhere. But motorcycles and dirtbikes are not to be left out. these are extremely dangerous to ride already, throw in a mob of zeds chasing you and you make it boarder-line suicidal. You stand a better chance of surviving if you walk of ride a bicycle (no motor and easy to repair) to o do whatever it is you are doing, be it raiding or scouting. Think about it, what will hurt your group more...time, or a severely injured or possibly dead team member who could have helped with group defense had they still been able/alive.
Fourth- noise. As if all of the problems I've already stated aren't enough there is the most dangerous problem of all...noise. Have you ever wondered why we have sound barriers on our highways, its because cars, trucks, and motorcycles and as loud as all hell. Just one engine, even in good shape lets off more noise than walking ever could. I'm not a genius or anything, but isn't the point of surviving to not attract what is trying to kill you. It just seems to me that anything that worsens you chance of survival isn't worth it no matter how much faster you can travel or how much more you can carry. Walking is healthier anyways. Plus if you come upon some raiders good luck hiding a bright shiny metallic object in the woods. If you're on foot you can move from cover point to cover point, how the hell are you going to do that on anything else without drawing attention to yourself.there more there is to be seen, the greater the chance of being seen.
look...I'm open to suggestions, but honestly the only upside i can see for motor vehicles is for barricade use (unless you drop the motor off of an outboard boat then you can drift or paddle)
