Auto Industry's New Fuel Economy Rules

[Steel2686]

Interesting read on new standards set to kick in for light trucks and SUV's in 2008.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060329/...e/fuel_economy

[Joe 1320]

I applaud the efforts to raise fuel economy standards. The problem is there are too many loopholds. It has been proven many times over the last 20 years, every time the standards get tighter, the public buys more of the models that aren't included in the computations. The general public likes their large gas guzzling vehicles and until all vehicles are grouped together using the same standards, the public will still buy those items that are exempt.

[Dave-S]

Here's my suggestion. Based on the EPA ratings of each vehicle, levy a surtax to be paid annually by the owners as long as they own them. The best EPA rated cars get no surtax while the guzzlers get hammered! Make that surtax mileage based as well (based on how many miles you drive each tax year), and the problem will get solved pretty quickly.

[wolfdogs]

i worked with EPA on these. have not said anything yet about it..but .. they finally realize that the numbers, just like Uniform Tire Quality Grading, (UTQG) dont mean squat........ because they were not real life.....

what this will do is jack the prices up, or bring the hp and power down..cause its going to be tough for OE to meet them without paying fines for the gas drinkers..

[Rhode Island Red]

i worked with EPA on these. have not said anything yet about it..but .. they finally realize that the numbers, just like Uniform Tire Quality Grading, (UTQG) dont mean squat........ because they were not real life.....

what this will do is jack the prices up, or bring the hp and power down..cause its going to be tough for OE to meet them without paying fines for the gas drinkers..

your reminding me of the anemic 80's again . Luckily we have technology on our side

[KnightFire]

Here's my suggestion. Based on the EPA ratings of each vehicle, levy a surtax to be paid annually by the owners as long as they own them. The best EPA rated cars get no surtax while the guzzlers get hammered! Make that surtax mileage based as well (based on how many miles you drive each tax year), and the problem will get solved pretty quickly.

This is already done in effect...every time you tank up (a gas guzzler or any other vehicle) you pay state taxes for every gallon you pump (and most of what your paying at the pump IS taxes!). So obviously, if you have to fill up more often due to poor mpg, you are paying more in taxes than vehicles with superior mpg ratings.

[Dave-S]

This is already done in effect...every time you tank up (a gas guzzler or any other vehicle) you pay state taxes for every gallon you pump (and most of what your paying at the pump IS taxes!). So obviously, if you have to fill up more often due to poor mpg, you are paying more in taxes than vehicles with superior mpg ratings.

That's true, but an additional tax that has to be paid as part of your federal income tax return would be another reminder that you are driving a guzzler.

[ryan34]

That's true, but an additional tax that has to be paid as part of your federal income tax return would be another reminder that you are driving a guzzler.

Most people don't really enjoy being taxed twice. I mean how would you feel if your $500 tax refund was suddenly cut to $350 because of taxes. People wouldn't take too kindly to that.

[Joe K. 99 Zeee!!]

Most people don't really enjoy being taxed twice. I mean how would you feel if your $500 tax refund was suddenly cut to $350 because of taxes. People wouldn't take too kindly to that.

It's done all the time...check out your pay stub. I just had to change my residence. I didn't pay state income tax in Florida. That's all changed in Virginia.

[Jeff_in_Atl]

Does anyone believe that the automakers can wave a magic wand and make a pickup truck get better gas mileage? If so then you believe that they can do something now to make them get better mileage but that they are not doing it for some unknown reason. Do you think that if a car manufacturer could make their truck get better mileage than another manufacturer that they wouldn't do it? They could say hey mine gets better mileage than theirs. What a selling point that would be. Right now there is one way to make them get better mileage and that is to make them put out less horsepower through several different methods like dropping cylinders or just making the motors smaller. But the market doesn't want that or they would be buying smaller motors now. Go to the car lots and see what people buy. Most people want a V8 in their truck and do not want a V6 in it. The V6s don't have enough power to tow or haul. What's going to happen is the manufacturer is going to not put as many V8s in their trucks trying to comply with CAFÉ rules. There will be a shortage of V8 trucks which will drive the prices up and there will be a glut of V6s which nobody wants. So the ultimate conclusion of this is it's going to drive the price of trucks up and make them hard to find. So who wins here? The echo wackos.

[ryan34]

It's done all the time...check out your pay stub. I just had to change my residence. I didn't pay state income tax in Florida. That's all changed in Virginia.

Thats a different tax though, one's state and the other is federal. State taxes pay for different things then federal taxes. If your federal tax return got taxed, the that would be a double tax.