http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll...606200337/1148

 

Thus the beginning of the end of the horsepower wars?

 

You know... I don't have any problem with them raising the CAFE standards in 10 years. A decade should allows manufacturers time to find new ways to increase milage without sacrificing power.

Now, that said, I think a nearly 30% mandated increase is a little absurd. Instead of mandating a 25.4 to 35 MPG avergae, maybe something a little more realisitic would be called for. Say an increase to a 28, maybe 29 MPG avg.

 

It's ten years away. Who knows, GMs Gen5 V8 might get 35mpg and 400HP in a 2017 C8 Corvette.

 

CAFE is just the wrong way to do this.

 

It's just calling for the average to be 35... the real question is at what MPG would the gas guzzler tax take effect? Surely it wouldn't be 1 MPG below average.

 

Like a 35 mpg average is no big deal?

If people are willing to pay for it and demand it, the market will supply the goods.

CAFE manipulates the supply side without affecting the demand side. It is absurd in principle (regardless of the final number).

 

Would a better system be a multi-tiered tax system where cars are classified based on how many MPG they get and the the customer pays a specific tax basedon the tier?

 

Maybe we need to propose our own changes for CAFE by '17.

First suggestions?

 

How about a GG tax on all vehicle to make small cars more attractive.

these are combined milages in 2017

30 > no tax
29-25 = $500
24-20 = $1000
20 < = $3000

tax should go to some group that will help develop clean and new energy technologies, like NASAs mission to Mar program.

 

Time to make the cars a lot lighter, which probably means smaller.

 

Liberals.

 

we all know light weight = better MPG

but it doesn't help that the car manufacturers are getting bullied multiple ways. on one side you want people wanting better MPG.. which is EASIEST by making the car lighter. however, you can't always do that because safety standards are getting harder and harder to meet. they meet these requirements by adding MORE weight via airbags, and more reinforcement

you can't have both, really. there's no magical solution for both. Sure, they can make vehicles that get an absurd amount of MPG and are also very safe.. but at some point so much money is put into the car that it's unrealistic to buy, or it's just ridiculous by standards.

IE: the smart car.
Nobody really wants a SMALL car. atleast not in america.

PS: What about trucks? Are trucks going to still bypass all legal requirements like they do now? sheesh.

 

30 > no tax
29-25 = $2000
24-20 = $5000
20 < = $15000

lets make the taxes actually affect ppl's decision making...

i like the idea, i think 11 years will give ample time for the technology to be made applicable so that we can have the same power as today with 30%+ higher fuel economy ratings... all we need is to make the car companies do it - what interest do they have in doing it otherwise?

edit: on the tax things, work trucks (actually used for work) should be given a tax credit, so this huge gas guzzler tax doesn't kill them - some ppl actually need trucks... some

 

Gas guzzler tax is stupid, you already pay a car tax, and pay tax on the gas you buy!

So gas gets expensive and instead of fixing the prices they just say "hey car makers, get more out of our product!"