why doesn't the government make hybrid vehicles

[robphelan]

we've all heard the stories about it taking x years of owning a hybrid car, purchased at MSRP(or over), to realize any amount of $$ savings in gas compared to buying a normal internal combustion vehicle at a substantially discounted price.

why doesn't the gov't make all hybrid vehicles imported to the US, free from duties?

I believe the US slaps several thousand dollars on each vehicle imported to the US to make GM/Ford more price competetive with overseas carmakers.

This would instantly create a greater market for hybrids at prices more people could afford.

 

[Amplifier]

Because we're being protected from these evil foreign cars.

 

[FoBoT]

that isn't the governments job

there isn't a section of the constitution where the founding fathers said

"the federal govt. shall pursue new transportation technology with public funds to make cheap/low fuel vehicles for the people"


it isn't in there

 

[GeneValgene]

Originally posted by: robphelan

we've all heard the stories about it taking x years of owning a hybrid car, purchased at MSRP(or over), to realize any amount of $$ savings in gas compared to buying a normal internal combustion vehicle at a substantially discounted price.

why doesn't the gov't make all hybrid vehicles imported to the US, free from duties?

I believe the US slaps several thousand dollars on each vehicle imported to the US to make GM/Ford more price competetive with overseas carmakers.

This would instantly create a greater market for hybrids at prices more people could afford.

tehre are already very generous tax deductions associated with purchasing a hybrid

 

[jagec]

Originally posted by: FoBoT
that isn't the governments job

there isn't a section of the constitution where the founding fathers said

"the federal govt. shall pursue new transportation technology with public funds to make cheap/low fuel vehicles for the people"


it isn't in there

There isn't a section on income tax, either.

 

[desteffy]

they'd lose income from taxes, and oil companies would sell less oil. its a lose lose situation for them.

 

[Amplifier]

Originally posted by: FoBoT
that isn't the governments job

there isn't a section of the constitution where the founding fathers said

"the federal govt. shall pursue new transportation technology with public funds to make cheap/low fuel vehicles for the people"


it isn't in there

The OP is asking that the government stop using public money to support Ford/GM via tariffs. Let the freemarket decide if hybrids thrive.

 

[robphelan]

Originally posted by: FoBoT
that isn't the governments job

there isn't a section of the constitution where the founding fathers said

"the federal govt. shall pursue new transportation technology with public funds to make cheap/low fuel vehicles for the people"


it isn't in there

there are a lot of things not in the Constitution that the gov't does.

 

[swimscubasteve]

Originally posted by: FoBoT
that isn't the governments job

there isn't a section of the constitution where the founding fathers said

"the federal govt. shall pursue new transportation technology with public funds to make cheap/low fuel vehicles for the people"


it isn't in there

Pretty much everything the government does has no direct relation with what the founding fathers said. This should be obvious...

 

[b0mbrman]

Originally posted by: robphelan

we've all heard the stories about it taking x years of owning a hybrid car, purchased at MSRP(or over), to realize any amount of $$ savings in gas compared to buying a normal internal combustion vehicle at a substantially discounted price.

why doesn't the gov't make all hybrid vehicles imported to the US, free from duties?

I believe the US slaps several thousand dollars on each vehicle imported to the US to make GM/Ford more price competetive with overseas carmakers.

This would instantly create a greater market for hybrids at prices more people could afford.

Why hybrids specifically?

There are many cars that get better mileage than the hybrid versions of the Accord, Escape, and the Lexuses...

Now, if you want to make all imported cars duty free, I'd be fine with that.

 

[robphelan]

Originally posted by: GeneValgene

Originally posted by: robphelan

we've all heard the stories about it taking x years of owning a hybrid car, purchased at MSRP(or over), to realize any amount of $$ savings in gas compared to buying a normal internal combustion vehicle at a substantially discounted price.

why doesn't the gov't make all hybrid vehicles imported to the US, free from duties?

I believe the US slaps several thousand dollars on each vehicle imported to the US to make GM/Ford more price competetive with overseas carmakers.

This would instantly create a greater market for hybrids at prices more people could afford.

tehre are already very generous tax deductions associated with purchasing a hybrid

such as? Federal or State? does it offset the extra cost of a hybrid?

 

[CVSiN]

Originally posted by: robphelan

we've all heard the stories about it taking x years of owning a hybrid car, purchased at MSRP(or over), to realize any amount of $$ savings in gas compared to buying a normal internal combustion vehicle at a substantially discounted price.

why doesn't the gov't make all hybrid vehicles imported to the US, free from duties?

I believe the US slaps several thousand dollars on each vehicle imported to the US to make GM/Ford more price competetive with overseas carmakers.

This would instantly create a greater market for hybrids at prices more people could afford.

heh becasue half of them are showing less and less milage improvement over other cars in the same class... its all a marketing gimic..

 

[GeneValgene]

Originally posted by: CVSiN

Originally posted by: robphelan

we've all heard the stories about it taking x years of owning a hybrid car, purchased at MSRP(or over), to realize any amount of $$ savings in gas compared to buying a normal internal combustion vehicle at a substantially discounted price.

why doesn't the gov't make all hybrid vehicles imported to the US, free from duties?

I believe the US slaps several thousand dollars on each vehicle imported to the US to make GM/Ford more price competetive with overseas carmakers.

This would instantly create a greater market for hybrids at prices more people could afford.

heh becasue half of them are showing less and less milage improvement over other cars in the same class... its all a marketing gimic..

believe you want...my gf and i getting 63 MPG on her 2003 honda civic hybrid purchased at 18K back in early 2004 are doing just fine

 

[GeneValgene]

Originally posted by: robphelan

Originally posted by: GeneValgene

Originally posted by: robphelan

we've all heard the stories about it taking x years of owning a hybrid car, purchased at MSRP(or over), to realize any amount of $$ savings in gas compared to buying a normal internal combustion vehicle at a substantially discounted price.

why doesn't the gov't make all hybrid vehicles imported to the US, free from duties?

I believe the US slaps several thousand dollars on each vehicle imported to the US to make GM/Ford more price competetive with overseas carmakers.

This would instantly create a greater market for hybrids at prices more people could afford.

tehre are already very generous tax deductions associated with purchasing a hybrid

such as? Federal or State? does it offset the extra cost of a hybrid?

federal...in 2006, you get a tax credit of up to $3400...that's a tax credit, mind you, not a deduction

 

[b0mbrman]

Originally posted by: robphelan

Originally posted by: GeneValgene

Originally posted by: robphelan

we've all heard the stories about it taking x years of owning a hybrid car, purchased at MSRP(or over), to realize any amount of $$ savings in gas compared to buying a normal internal combustion vehicle at a substantially discounted price.

why doesn't the gov't make all hybrid vehicles imported to the US, free from duties?

I believe the US slaps several thousand dollars on each vehicle imported to the US to make GM/Ford more price competetive with overseas carmakers.

This would instantly create a greater market for hybrids at prices more people could afford.

tehre are already very generous tax deductions associated with purchasing a hybrid

such as? Federal or State? does it offset the extra cost of a hybrid?

Why should they?

If the benefit to society is the gas savings, people should buy them based on the money they save.

If the difference is significant enough, it should be able to stand on its own.

 

[CPA]

Originally posted by: Amplifier

Originally posted by: FoBoT
that isn't the governments job

there isn't a section of the constitution where the founding fathers said

"the federal govt. shall pursue new transportation technology with public funds to make cheap/low fuel vehicles for the people"


it isn't in there

The OP is asking that the government stop using public money to support Ford/GM via tariffs. Let the freemarket decide if hybrids thrive.

The Constitution does provide the Feds to protect our national interests, though.