A friend called my old truck a 'rolling coal machine' and it stung

I used to drive a lifted diesel pickup, you know the kind. I loved the power and thought the emissions stuff was just a hassle. Then a buddy who works on electric cars looked at it and said, 'Man, you're driving a rolling coal machine. That thing is pouring out black smoke for fun.' It really got to me. I started looking up the actual numbers on diesel particulate matter and what it does to air quality. So I sold it. Now I drive a used hybrid for my commute and use a small, efficient van for hauling tools to jobs. It's not perfect, but my fuel bill is way down and I don't feel like a hypocrite when I talk about clean air. Has anyone else made a big switch with their vehicle because of something someone said?

3 comments

3 Comments

taylor_mitchell801mo ago

Well shoot, that's a pretty big swing from one comment. I gotta ask wood.zara - do you actually think a little bit of black smoke is harmless, or is it more that you just think one person's choice doesn't matter much compared to bigger polluters? Because it sounds like the original poster was already kind of bothered by the truck, and the joke just pushed them over the edge. Lots of people get stuck in a habit they don't fully agree with until something makes them look closer.

wood.zara2mo ago

Gotta be honest, that seems like a huge overreaction to one comment lol. Trucks have their purpose, and a bit of smoke never killed anyone right away. Feels like you got guilt-tripped into a major life change over something that's a drop in the bucket compared to big factories or cargo ships. Hope the new ride works out, but selling a truck you loved over a single joke is wild to me.

singh.jessica2mo ago

Ever think maybe the comment just made them see their truck differently? Sometimes it's not about one joke but realizing you don't need a big gas guzzler after all. Good on them for actually doing something about that feeling.