10 mpg and incredible in the Maine snow. We do not salt the roads in Downeast.
Posted on 08/01/2007 11:43:46 PM PDT by Rick_Michael
Barack Obama wants you to drive a car that gets over 40 miles per gallon, but it's a case of "do as I say and not what I do."
Obama was one of the 65 senators who voted in late June to raise federally mandated Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards for cars, minivans and SUVs to 35 miles per gallon.
In a May speech to the Detroit Economic Club, the senator said his goal is "to help bring [the auto industry] into the 21st century." He proposed requiring automakers to increase their fuel economy standards by 4 percent -- approximately one mile per gallon of gas -- per year starting in 2009.
You might expect that Obama already drives a hybrid car that gets great gas mileage to show he's doing his part. You'd be wrong. Obama owns a Chrysler 300C. The 2006 model gets 17 miles per gallon in the city and 25 miles per gallon on the highway.
The Chrysler 300C is a very nice car with a powerful engine and lots of comfortable legroom for a man of his size. I don't fault him for his choice. It is, after all, his choice.
I choose to drive a Suzuki Grand Vitara. It gets me 18 miles per gallon in the city and 22 miles per gallon on the highway. I need an SUV because my job as an environmental contractor requires me to carry both equipment and people to building sites. I can't do that in a hybrid Honda Insight.
Besides, I can't even buy a Honda Insight anymore. Honda discontinued it last year due to poor sales, and it just announced it is discontinuing its Accord hybrid for the same reason.
Whether it's for work, safety or family needs, Americans like larger vehicles. Of the top-selling cars in 2006, according to Automotive News, three of the top four are pick-ups.
A family with several young children may have to buy an SUV or a minivan, not just because they have a ton of soccer equipment to haul around, but also because state child-safety seat laws essentially require them to have something with more carrying capacity than most sedans.
Already, safety has been compromised to meet existing CAFE standards. According to a 2002 report from the National Academy of Sciences, approximately 2,000 deaths per year since 1975 can be attributed to smaller vehicles that were downsized to increase their fuel efficiency.
Raising fuel economy requirements again will make the reincarnation of a car-safety blunder like the AMC Pacer almost a certainty.
Then there are the economic implications. Automakers can't just flip a switch and make more fuel-efficient cars. The process of retooling will be long and expensive -- particularly for American automakers that have been serving America's demand for bigger vehicles.
Obama's legislation would give $3 billion to the Big Three American automakers (Ford, Chrysler and General Motors). That's a start, but it is estimated that retooling costs might actually hover at around $85 billion. Seeing as the American auto industry is already in financial jeopardy, increased CAFE standards may be a death sentence.
Alan Reuther, legislative director of the United Auto Workers, testified in the Senate on May 3 that "something will have to give."
He makes a dire prediction for the future of the American automotive industry: "The most likely result is that these companies will be forced to shutter more facilities, destroying jobs for tens of thousands of additional workers and weakening the economic base of many communities across this country. They will also be pressured to reduce or completely eliminate health insurance coverage for their 550,000 retired workers and their families."
Less choice, less safety, fewer jobs and no health care. Yet 65 of our elected officials in the Senate thought raising CAFE standards is a good idea. I hope the House of Representatives is a little more prudent, or President Bush might get out his veto pen if Congress can't think logically.
When it comes to leading by example, Obama came up short in his personal life. But he apparently believes it is important to show his support for wise automotive choices when the cameras are rolling. His presidential campaign has reportedly leased an environment-friendly flex-fuel hybrid.
Remember, it's do as I say and not as I do.
It had the 390 block which could be a pretty good performer, but the propane lowered the power a lot.
and it was hard to find fuel that they would dispense into an auto, or the places that had the fittings to dispense auto taxed propane.
You have to do some planning for that, but it wasn’t all bad.
As far as the rest, they are deluded in believing that doing even more of what has ruined the heavy industrial base of this country will magically improve America and make the birds sing and the Sun shine more brightly.
Namely, more regulation.
In that event, say goodbye to most of the auto business in America, and start buying the Chinese cars that are waiting in the wings.
Ping!
Don’t forget Russian built cars, which now dominate Europe...
I’m glad to see the auto workers are finally realizing that the American automakers are in trouble. Better late than never, I guess. Too bad they don’t also recognize the reason.
10 mpg and incredible in the Maine snow. We do not salt the roads in Downeast.
Go diesel - all the torque - more efficiency (mileage).
Is that how you "scoooched" the left front bumper? hee hee
A large family may be more efficiently carried in a minivan or sportute than two or three passenger cars, which can only hold two children each thanks to rules restricting children to the back seat and laws requiring car seats for children up to 4'9".
My sportute is my tool, to take my children places, to carpool, pick up extended family, to get groceries, carry supplies, drop off at goodwill, etc., etc., I need and use a sport utility vehicle and I WON'T GIVE IT UP WITHOUT A FIGHT.
Brilliant. Force U.S. auto makers to build cars that Americans don't want, and then force the people who don't want them to pay for them whether or not they even drive them. Unless you're a member of the political class, in which case my tax dollars will continue to pay for you to travel in your armored Suburban.
Huh? I don't think I've even seen a Russian-built car outside of pictures and movies.
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