[KeithO]

The supposed standards about to be enacted might make performance cars more difficult to get for a while. I am wondering if we aren't looking at new-car performance similar to what we saw from 1973 through around 1987...

This is just more motivation for me to maintain my f-body.

Do you guys think that we will be able to achieve this? Regardless, how slow do you think new cars will get before performance returns?

[trackbird]

I think you'd be farther ahead to implement a yearly gas guzzler tax. I'm not suggesting that I'm in favor of this, but raising fuel taxes will kill the trucking industry (maybe Andy J will drop in here with more on this). But taxing the "idiots" (like me) who drive a 12 mpg 1 ton to work in downtown everyday would have an effect. Now, I need my truck to tow, and my post divorce budget won't really support a second vehicle for commuting and the insurance to go with it (that cuts into the already slim racing budget), so I drive my truck. But, if they taxed us based on use...

12,000 miles a year @ 12 mpg is 1,000 gallons of gas. The difference between $2.50 a gallon and $5.00 a gallon is $2.50 (duh). That's $2,500. A $2,500 tax would surely reduce the chances of me driving a 1 ton truck daily. However, to do it properly, you need to GPS the actual mileage of the vehicles (like CA has proposed) and tax you on your actual use. Or, do a once a year mileage inspection where you drop by and they log the mileage against the odometer reading from last year. WV state inspection already logs the mileage on the car at each inspection. It would be easy (in that state, and probably many others) to just log it and bill accordingly. If you tow 50k a year, bring your visa card. If you only tow to local events (50 miles or so) a few times a year, you probably won't really notice the tax. Exempt the trucking industry and businesses (Joe's lawncare will likely go under if they have to pay that on their fleet, and it will hurt utilities pretty bad as well). At that point, I'll just register my truck to frrax and make racing a business (as will many others)...

With all that said, I think it makes far more sense than taxing fuel to $5.00. And, I'd be PISSED if they were to implement it. But if you want to force a fundamental change in the way people use their vehicles, that would surely do it. And, it would do it with far less harm to the cost of goods and services than a straight fuel tax.

That was easy, what other world problems should we fix while we're here? (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)

[bubba353z]

I'm not suggesting that I'm in favor of this, but raising fuel taxes will kill the trucking industry

Really the major effect will be on the owner operators, who don't get a 100% pass-through on the fuel surcharges that the carrier charges. Back when diesel was $4.50+ per gallon, surcharges were running us 40%+ above the base rate on a shipment. The less than honorable brokers were skimming some/most of that extra charge and not passing it along to the people that were actually buying the fuel.

Ultimately we'll pay for it in higher cost of goods - however they decide to collect the $.