WTF? Dodge says Magnum wagon is a truck (for CAFE fuel reasons); Chrysler 300 gets all-wheel drive

[WinkOsmosis]

Originally posted by: Demon-Xanth
There was a consumer push for more fuel efficent cars that led to the continued increase in fuel efficency. When a consumer drive happens, the market usually moves like it's a trailer.

Consumer's don't care about efficiency now, but does that mean that we should move backwards? That's nonsense.

 

[WinkOsmosis]

Originally posted by: mAdD INDIAN
wat difference does it make as to how its classified to the consumer anyway??

The difference is that automakers have to meet a certain average for all their trucks, and another average for their cars. Classifying this as a truck, while it gets car level mileage, allows them to have less efficient trucks. Or, if its mileage really is that bad, it prevents them from having to make it more efficient. Same with the PT Cruiser. It gets car gas mileage, but is classed as a truck, so Chrysler is allowed to make less efficient trucks that are averaged out.

 

[vi edit]

Oddly enough, they may be classified by trucks by automakers, but the state won't call it a truck because they can hammer you with 1000% higher taxes if it's a commuter vehicle.

Trucks pay a flat fee of $50 a year for registration in Iowa. A $40,000 SUV based off of said truck would pay $500 a year.

 

[iamwiz82]

There was a Magnum outside of Quizno's today when I went to lunch. I still think it's a nice looking wagon.

 

[Demon-Xanth]

Here I go defending something I said THREE MONTHS AGO. We ARE moving backwards. That's why you have f'ing compact cars with 180HP getting 25MPG city and trucks still get 8-10MPG, just like in 1978. Unless you're into diesels, hybrids, or cardboard boxes gas milage stopped going anywhere a long time ago. What IS happening is better HP for that. The Hummer and H2 get knocked by thier owners for having poor fuel economy. The market is keeping them from just cramming a 502 in it and calling it fixed. They need a good diesel.

Look at the used truck market, V10s are common. What isn't so common are the diesels. Why? People buy the V10, get sick of getting poor gas milage, and get a diesel. The guys with a diesel stay with it. There was an article on Dodge's new '600', which said that 73% of the heavy duty buyers opt for the $5k option and very few regret it. 20MPG in a 3/4 ton 4x4? No, there isn't a hemi in that thang.

 

[Demon-Xanth]

Originally posted by: vi_edit
Oddly enough, they may be classified by trucks by automakers, but the state won't call it a truck because they can hammer you with 1000% higher taxes if it's a commuter vehicle.

Trucks pay a flat fee of $50 a year for registration in Iowa. A $40,000 SUV based off of said truck would pay $500 a year.

California's the opposite.

My Dakota has to have a commercial plate and there's a weight fee that must be paid bumping the registration fee up an extra $60. If I had a Durango, I wouldn't have either of the fees.

 

[Vette73]

Just to show you where we have come from and where we are going.....

What gets better gas milage, a Ford Model T or the overall average gas mialeg of all ford vehicles??

Answer. Model T
I think it got like 28mpg and ford is averaging like 24mpg ?

The loopholes NEED to be closed. But bush (and republicans in congress) juts opened it up bigger with the tax write off if the vehicle weighs at LEAST XYZ and you use it for business at least XX% of the time. So H2 sales have gone up INSTEAD of impalas, accords, camrys, etc....

 

[Demon-Xanth]

Marlin: the model T had only around 20HP and topped out at 40MPH. It's not really a fair comparison. One thing about the whole fuel economy worth noting is that the safety side of the whole deal made cars a LOT heavier. 2004 VW Beetle: 2750LBs. 1964 VW Beetle: 1650LBs.

 

[Vette73]

Originally posted by: Demon-Xanth
Marlin: the model T had only around 20HP and topped out at 40MPH. It's not really a fair comparison. One thing about the whole fuel economy worth noting is that the safety side of the whole deal made cars a LOT heavier. 2004 VW Beetle: 2750LBs. 1964 VW Beetle: 1650LBs.

But in that TIME and that PLACE that was the average power per vehicle. Today that would not be enough, but at the same time the model T did not have F/I, computers, etc....

My point is average HP and reliability have gone up, BUT Gas milage, on average, has not.

 

[Demon-Xanth]

Marlin: You're also comparing the most economical car in Ford's lineup with Ford's entire lineup. Care to factor in a Model A w/ a flathead?

 

[Howard]

Nice work with the Hemi, Chrysler.

 

[maziwanka]

is there really that much news about cars

 

[Ornery]

Good. I can blame the government for the plethora of econoboxes instead of idiot consumers trying to save a few bucks on fuel. Gotta love CAFE standards!

Thank God we've got ways around it!