Car peeps are gonna have a stroke...

[hemas]

Obama is going to take away their manhood (ie. big muscle car)!!1!!!

http://www.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idUSTRE50P0CL20090126?sp=true

[1080Rider]

That's okay, my inline 5 makes 300 hp w/ a little help from the plumbing. You'll still be able to get high hp cars, just smaller displacement.

[mr_gyptian]

if by car peeps, you mean US taxpayers you are correct.

Apparently the 17 billion we just gave GM and Chrysler was deemed to little. now we are going to force them to make more vehicles consumers don't want and lose money doing so.

brilliant.

[jon turner]

low emissions does not necessarily mean lower power. If the car is designed well, you can still have a plenty fun car and still meet emissions requirements. it sucks for older cars that are hard to keep up to emissions, but I actually like this as it will get car makers to start designing their cars well, so they are more efficient and have lower emissions.

[hemas]

low emissions does not necessarily mean lower power. If the car is designed well, you can still have a plenty fun car and still meet emissions requirements. it sucks for older cars that are hard to keep up to emissions, but I actually like this as it will get car makers to start designing their cars well, so they are more efficient and have lower emissions.

Ding ding...

Instead of having a 100 hp 5.7 liter V8, one can actually maybe even get a 2.5 l 300 hp straight 6.:p

Sorry to say mösjöö Gyptian, but most of 'murican cars are actually pretty arcane. There are a few that are good... but most of those models are actually designed to foreign markets.

[mr_gyptian]

That's because Ford charges almost $30k for a focus in Europe and is wildly profitable. we scratch and claw to sell the same car here for less than $15k in most cases and is wildly unprofitable.

Americans simply don't want compact cars for everyday life.

our money would be better spent devising more economical drivetrains for SUV's/Crossovers/Trucks.

Our emissions laws are destroying the diesel market as we speak. all three manufacturers are failing miserably making a more efficient diesel truck powertrain.

hopefully some of the carmakers that offer diesel enjoy some success. those new BMW's look great.

[hemas]

That's because Ford charges almost $30k for a focus in Europe and is wildly profitable. we scratch and claw to sell the same car here for less than $15k in most cases and is wildly unprofitable.

Ywa, unfortunately Ford has to sell it at the same price to every country in Yurp... Which for countries like Finland, Holland and Denmark with their retarted automotive taxation laws means... that the Focus (Estate) is sold for less than 9000 bucks to the shops. Me thinks, Ford isn't makin' a lot of money with them.


But you do have a point... The far easier way to direct people to get more efficient cars is not by creating regulations (which the new ones in Yurp are BTW even more strict than the ones in CA or in anywhere in US... even when talking about the new laws BO is proposing.... Yet, there are highly efficient lorry diesel motors that do comply to those regulations...).

But simply slappin' a hefty (say 200 %) tax on gas (and just gas, not heating oil etc.).

Should create an instant demand for reasonable vehicles... or at least get most from driving those highly inefficient beasts 1 mile to Walmart to buy a gallon of milk.

Will it hurt, you bet. But everyone knows that it will happen now or later. At least right now there would be some control over the "change".

[advres]

But simply slappin' a hefty (say 200 %) tax on gas (and just gas, not heating oil etc.).

Should create an instant demand for reasonable vehicles... or at least get most from driving those highly inefficient beasts 1 mile to Walmart to buy a gallon of milk.

Will it hurt, you bet. But everyone knows that it will happen now or later. At least right now there would be some control over the "change".

That makes a lot of sense. I was watching a car show this weekend on TV that had all the newer cars coming from car companies around the world. One of the people at a major US companies display basically echoed that statement.

He was saying with the gas prices the way they are now, it is hard to sell a hybrid or even push toward a more economical car. A year ago, everyone was concerned due to the prices. Now that the price of gasoline is low again, the consumers don't care about efficiency.

[nealric]

we scratch and claw to sell the same car here for less than $15k in most cases and is wildly unprofitable.

The euro focus is not the same car mechanically. It's much better than what we get. Especially the RS version.


Americans simply don't want compact cars for everyday life.

That's because we have not created the conditions that would make them want it. $8 gallon gas (from a high gas tax) would create pretty strong demand for small cars.

[hemas]

That makes a lot of sense. I was watching a car show this weekend on TV that had all the newer cars coming from car companies around the world. One of the people at a major US companies display basically echoed that statement.

He was saying with the gas prices the way they are now, it is hard to sell a hybrid or even push toward a more economical car. A year ago, everyone was concerned due to the prices. Now that the price of gasoline is low again, the consumers don't care about efficiency.

Yup, economic incentive is a lot easier to direct masses than lame-o laws and regulations...

And to top things, it would actually boost domestic car sales in US (provided Ford would start actually producing stuff like Focus, Focus Estate and naturally the Fiesta... Heck, even GM brands have reasonalbe small to medium sized cars... Alas, Chrysler would prolly bite the dust, but it's not like they are doing so hot right now anyway). Good for 2 of Denvers Big 3...


Would prolly suck though for car shops, which are already filled with bad economy ridiculous hudge ass SUVs that don't sell (unless gas is nearly free).

This would prolly start a major shift in how people do stuff though (living closer to work and not spending hours on freeways on stuupid commutes, using public transport... or heaven forbid biking, running or simply walking to work:eek::eek::eek::eek:).