‘Green’ is a buzzword that has been gaining steam over the past decade. Anything ‘green’ refers to a product, service or concept that is environmentally friendly and often has to do with reducing waste, pollution and fuel consumption. In urban settings, going green can also mean creating environmentally-friendly buildings that include the use of recycled materials, vegetation and energy-efficient heating and cooling to reduce the carbon footprint. A recent New York vehicular sighting had me scratching my head, however. I can only assume that this ‘Ecotone’ company is involved in building or renovating urban buildings to be more green and natural, what with their ‘Urban Natural Building’ tagline. Their choice of company vehicle, however, may need to be rethought. This ‘Ecotone’ sticker was stuck on the back of a 1980’s Chevrolet Suburban ‘Scottsdale 20’ 6.2L monster! The 30+ year old Suburban had seen better days, and it seemed that perhaps it was trying to recycle itself in the name of ecology! Large patches of steel on the doors, fenders, rocker panels and rear gates were turning into oxide and flaking off, seemingly eager to rejoin the earth. The Suburban was even painted a light shade of green, perhaps to help it blend into a natural urban setting like a park or greenspace? If Ecotone wants my advice, they might try starting with a less conspicuous vehicle than a rusted 80’s ‘Burb for their next company vehicle, though! As much as I like this vintage type of SUV, especially in stump-pulling 6.2L format, it simply doesn’t give off the ‘green’ vibe they’re looking for. Or perhaps this vehicle is a tongue-in-cheek commentary on the green movement? Looking at it another way, keeping an older vehicle on the road longer means a new vehicle doesn’t have to be produced. Manufacturing a new vehicle involves consuming materials, electricity and other resources and creates pollution at the factory and during transportation. Might the ecological footprint of this gigantic Chevrolet Suburban be smaller than I think, relatively speaking? In the end it doesn’t matter to me which type of vehicle a company chooses to use. I’m actually a big fan of these large 80’s vehicles and think a 6.2L Suburban would make a handy vehicle to tow old cars and haul parts for an automotive restoration project. My first modification, however, would be to cover up ‘Urban Natural Building’ with a more suitable and accurate sticker for a 6.2L V8 diesel Suburban… how does ‘Rollin’ Coal’ sound?
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AuthorWelcome! My name is Paul, and I am an old-fashioned, low-pressure, low-buck car fan with lots of automotive stories to tell! Archives
February 2020
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