New rules for automakers

[adallak]

So, what do you think about it? The good and the bad, as always.

[Marika]

So, what do you think about it? The good and the bad, as always.

Obama is a car salesman, period. What's being done is for the sake of selling cars and more importantly, keeping people in debt to banks since very few people can buy a new, expensive car and pay cash for it. BO talks about "$2,800 increase in price will pay for itself in three years". Oh really? He forgot one important factor from the equation, CAR INSURANCE. The more expensive a car is, the more expensive it is to repair, the higher the costs, the higher the insurance premiums. The reality of the situation is this: There will be NO savings and only deeper and worsening debt for Americans.

Don't blame me, I voted for McCain.

[BodybyFisher]

With a 35 mpg average required, we are going to see small light underpowered vehicles, the Cadillac's of old I believe are going the way of the LP record albums, beepers and typewriters.

[Marika]

With a 35 mpg average required, we are going to see small light underpowered vehicles, the Cadillac's of old I believe are going the way of the LP record albums, beepers and typewriters.

Sorry to disappoint you Mike but LP vinyl is still hot and still being manufactured, just check out Amazon.com and see NEW vinyl for sale; beepers are still used by many, just check out the USAmobility website, and typewriters will never disappear so long as there are lawyers around because no matter how computerized your office is, there is always a time when you will NEED a typewriter for some reason or another. Me, I happen to LOVE my old Super-silent Smith-Corona manual typewriter.

[BodybyFisher]

, I hear you, I have 800 LPs of my own

But, think what will happen to MY Deville if it needed to get 35 MPG, it would be reduced in size, weight and power, think MINIHAHA,

[Marika]

, I hear you, I have 800 LPs of my own

But, think what will happen to MY Deville if it needed to get 35 MPG, it would be reduced in size, weight and power, think MINIHAHA,

The MINI cooper gets about 35 mpg now, as a stock vehicle. Their MINI D, diesel version gets nearly 70 mpg which basically renders moot the entire hybrid fiasco and it's probably the reason why the US government won't allow the MINI D into the USA, it would pretty much wipe out the hybrid scam in its entirety. It's also surprisingly heavy for it's size and has more than enough horse power to get you to and from work and around town running errands. It's also amazingly comfortable and it's size is deceiving from the outside.

I don't think they will require YOUR Caddy to get the same performance but they will probably require future Caddy's to either live up to the standard or no doubt, there will be a "massive surcharge" (READ: TAX) attached to the purchase of a car that can't meet the standard. However, you can bet that the states will be gunning to get "older" cars off the roads since they don't make money from registration fees, they make their bread and butter from SALES TAX. Insurance companies prefer to insure new cars as well simply because it's more money in their pockets.

Our government works very hard to ensure that Americans endure a lifetime of slavery in the form of taxes and debt to banks. I'd say they're doing an excellent job.

[Ed Hall]

As socialism gains its tenacious grip, the middle class as we know it today will deminish and big cars will only be only for the select few.

[Marika]

Psychologically, this government is doing one hell of a good job of emasculating this country. There's a lot of psychological warfare behind what this government is doing to its people.

[Texas Jim]

Psychologically, this government is doing one hell of a good job of emasculating this country. There's a lot of psychological warfare behind what this government is doing to its people.

I would tend to call it just plain old BRAINWASHING.and INDOCTRINATION, but then, I am not very PC.

[KHE]

The carmakers are struggling to survive and the morons in government just keep adding more constraints and expense....

[Texas Jim]

Get ready for the new Cadillac OTC.

We have had the ETC... El Dorado Touring Coupe.

We have had the STS... Seville Touring Sedan.

We have had the DTS... DeVille Touring Sedan.

Now...(great fanfare)....straight from OMC...(Obamo Motor Company)...comes...the ...

OTC...The Obama Touring Coupe.

(Please don't tell anybody it is just a rebadged Aveo.)

[adallak]

I am afraid smaller cars will increase injury and fatality rates. Masstransportation is the solution.

[Marika]

The Obama special, the poor man's Rolls Royce. :lol:

[Texas Jim]

I am afraid smaller cars will increase injury and fatality rates. Masstransportation is the solution.

Mass transportation may be OK for you....I don't want anything to do with it.

It will be a cold day in you know where, before I will ride buses.

I ain't rode a bus in close to fifty years and I don't plan on starting now.

[OynxSTS]

You guys are funny...

My 7 year old, 4000 pound, 300 HP, V8, 4 speed auto, 3.71 diff ratio, Caddy regularly gets almost 30 MPG on the highway.. The numbers don't look all that hard to meet to me. Take my car, make it 3500 pounds (aluminum subframe and doors), give it a 2.71 diff ration and a six speed auto (both of which GM have on the shelf) and I would bet even with a 300 HP v8 I would be getting 35 MPG highway... Swap the V8 for a 300HP DI V6 and add a battery assisted start system and maybe regenerative braking and I'm probably in the high 20's/low 30's in city... and this is in a full sized, 300HP car.

Need I remind everyone that companies that have consistently produced "good" cars that beat CAFE are the ones that continue to post profits (Honda,Hyundai, VW) and companies that "squeak" under the bar ( Chrysler, GM, Toyota) are either dead, dying, or posting large losses.

Ya I know, Car Guys hate these POS efficient cars... but the reality is, Ma and Pa America can't get enough of them.

I don't know what its like were you drive, but on the west coast my Caddy is the big whale in a sea of Civics, Corollas, IS250's Cobalts, and those goofy "smart" cars... (that my kids call "stupid cars" )

The public have been demanding and BUYING these cars for years, decades even, Washington is not driving this, they are yielding to public pressure.

[Ranger]

With a 35 mpg average required, we are going to see small light underpowered vehicles, the Cadillac's of old I believe are going the way of the LP record albums, beepers and typewriters.

I agree. You young guys better by some Caddies and store them. Sure a Cooper or Smart Car get 35+, but who want's to drive one. NOT ME. I want a big, soft, safe comfortable car, not an econobox. I'm sure the presidential Limo won't be getting 35 MPH.

[Marika]

With a 35 mpg average required, we are going to see small light underpowered vehicles, the Cadillac's of old I believe are going the way of the LP record albums, beepers and typewriters.

I agree. You young guys better by some Caddies and store them. Sure a Cooper or Smart Car get 35+, but who want's to drive one. NOT ME. I want a big, soft, safe comfortable car, not an econobox. I'm sure the presidential Limo won't be getting 35 MPH.

Congress is also thinking of raising the ethanol level in fuel from it's current level of 10% to 15%. Unless you have a FlexFuel engine, this might be harmful to current engines that are designed to run on NO MORE than 10% ethanol, it will also LOWER fuel economy further for most cars. So while congress expects cars to get 35 mpg the fuel is designed to come no where near that type of efficiency. Do these morons in Washington DC have ANY clue of what they are trying to accomplish? (other than the usual freebie give aways to their special interest groups) and force everyone into buying a new car, with an increase of personal debt, of course.

[SPreston2001]

Lol I hate when people try to act like they know more about running the country than the people in office. Trust me theres alot more things to consider than whats being said on CNN. The government has ALOT of things to worry about and when something doesnt seem to make sense to us, they have a reason for doing it. The government has alot of intelligence and top notch people working for them. They have things going on that the public isnt even aware of. Fact is, BUSH left this country in the worse shape EVER, so save your political rants for another forum.

[Jan Olsson]

It will end up like here in Sweden. The average taxpayer here pays 2/3 of his wages in taxes. 1/3 is income taxe, from the money you have left when you have payed that goes 1/5 to an extra fee everytime you buy something (25% of the stated price added..it is called MOMS). Then you'll have "environmental taxes" on the gasoline for instance and yes you'll have to pay MOMS on the tax too... If you add up all the taxes all you really get is 1/3 of your wages. No wonder that everyone get their cars, houses, tv:s etc etc with a loane.

Then they'll build up a system where you receive money from the government just to make you get by. For instance when you get kids you'll recieve an amount of money to help you afford it...etc etc. No wonder the socialists always wins in the elections. That is simply because people are depending on the system.

[Jan Olsson]

In my case for instance I have to travel 160 miles/day to get to the office where I'm occupied for now. Because the company doesn't pay anywhere nere what a car truly costs/mile I travel the first 15 miles by bus and then take a VW (companys choice of car...) to the office. If I had to take my own car I would loose over $120/week for trips between the company offices (just because they don't pay enough for the expenses).

Need I have to say that they follow the government guidelines for paying the expenses? The same guidelines says that a car costs 25 SEK/10 kilometers. My car costs 35 SEK/10 kilometers and most cars costs about 50 SEK/10 kilometers. If it wasn't for the taxes on gasoline I would use my own car instead..15 of the 35 SEK/10 kilometers comes from gasoline in my case...

Well this went kind of topic..But you see..buses, VWs, taxes etc. is what we all have to deal with here everyday...seems you'll be next

[manowar77]

I agree with Jan Olsson...they let us keep enough money to get through...its not right

[BodybyFisher]

Lol I hate when people try to act like they know more about running the country than the people in office. Trust me theres alot more things to consider than whats being said on CNN. The government has ALOT of things to worry about and when something doesnt seem to make sense to us, they have a reason for doing it. The government has alot of intelligence and top notch people working for them. They have things going on that the public isnt even aware of. Fact is, BUSH left this country in the worse shape EVER, so save your political rants for another forum.

Please don't take this personal, but this is the most ridiculous statement I have seen in 10 years on this forum, CNN?, they are part of the problem, who actually listens to them?

If you can not admit that this country is going through a transition where government is taking control of EVERYTHING, and THAT is a bad thing, then you are dilusional.

And for your information, the current administration DOES NOT have TOP NOTCH people working for them, Geitner?, how about the press secretary deer in the headlights Gibbs?, how about Pelosi?, how about Reid?, how about Napolitano (Janet Napolitano apologized Thursday after some veterans groups were offended by a department report about right-wing extremism)

ARE YOU KIDDING ME? Read Jan's comments, we are headed in the wrong direction. We produce NOTHING, our education has been watered down, we export jobs, and NO ONE has addressed this, LETS JUST TAX THE RICH class warfare and demonize corporations is the answer!!!!

We will be a third world country soon

[SPreston2001]

Lol I hate when people try to act like they know more about running the country than the people in office. Trust me theres alot more things to consider than whats being said on CNN. The government has ALOT of things to worry about and when something doesnt seem to make sense to us, they have a reason for doing it. The government has alot of intelligence and top notch people working for them. They have things going on that the public isnt even aware of. Fact is, BUSH left this country in the worse shape EVER, so save your political rants for another forum.

Please don't take this personal, but this is the most ridiculous statement I have seen in 10 years on this forum, CNN?, they are part of the problem, who actually listens to them?

If you can not admit that this country is going through a transition where government is taking control of EVERYTHING, and THAT is a bad thing, then you are dilusional.

And for your information, the current administration DOES NOT have TOP NOTCH people working for them, Geitner?, how about the press secretary deer in the headlights Gibbs?, how about Pelosi?, how about Reid?, how about Napolitano (Janet Napolitano apologized Thursday after some veterans groups were offended by a department report about right-wing extremism)

ARE YOU KIDDING ME? Read Jan's comments, we are headed in the wrong direction. We produce NOTHING, our education has been watered down, we export jobs, and NO ONE has addressed this, LETS JUST TAX THE RICH class warfare and demonize corporations is the answer!!!!

We will be a third world country soon

Wow a third world country thats a joke! I guess you would be a better candidate in office huh? Everybody claims they have the answers for fixing the country but the fact is, its alot harder than its seems. I was only using CNN as an example of the news and where a vast majority of the public gets its perception of the country. Why dont u run for mayor or somethng and see how far u get! Are you more qualified than any of the people you mentioned above? Probably not.

[OynxSTS]

If you can not admit that this country is going through a transition where government is taking control of EVERYTHING, and THAT is a bad thing, then you are dilusional.

We will be a third world country soon

This is true, but as an interested, albeit confused Canadian, I can not for the life of me tell the difference between "now" and "then"... When the other guys were running the show, the Government took control of Freddy, Fanny, AIG, Citi Bank, WaMu, and bought up big (and I mean really BIG) chunks of Fargo, Bank of America, JPMorganChase, Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, and dozens of others. At that time the US government had (still has?) control of something like 80% of all of the private home mortgages in the entire country. More then the USSR had at the height of Communist power in the Soviet Union. And those were the "free enterprise", "Conservative" guys.

Now, the "change guy" is buying up GM, Chrysler...

Change? Sure looks the same to me... I too am somewhat afraid of what I see... But "buying up stuff" seems to be one thing that both sides of the house are in agreement on. There doesn't seem to be any way to stop this...

[adallak]

This thred was supposed to be rather technical!!!