Get ready to be penalized, or given a bonus, depending on your decision
Oil prices are sky high and consumers are continually being hosed at the pumps. Accordingly, the minds of the masses are starting to look to the long term with regard to future availability of fuel for our vehicles. There is a finite amount of oil in the ground to create gasoline, and a finite amount of refineries, people and hardware to turn that oil into the fuel we put in our tanks.
With talks of global warming, prices at the pumps and the environment, the idea is that something should be done to help keep some of that oil in the ground.
Accordingly, the government has stepped in and consumers may be rewarded or penalized for choosing a certain type of car over another- depending on how responsible that particular model might be for depleting the planets supply of crude.
In effect, the government calculates a weighted average of the vehicle's fuel consumption based on city and highway driving, and adjusts the rebate or penalty according to which economy bracket the vehicle fits in.
Let's look at two examples. From opposite ends of the gas-guzzler spectrum are two machines- one from Chrysler, the other from Saturn.
Chrysler 300C SRT8
Chrysler's original HEMI powerplant might be considered the granddaddy of all gas-guzzlers. Back then, gas was plentiful and cheap, and it didn't matter so much if your ride burned a tank of fuel faster than a rocket engine.
That's why nowadays, a machine like the 300C SRT8 might feel slightly out of place. It's got a 6.1 litre HEMI V8 cranking out 425 horsepower while pushing around well over 4000 lbs of American steel. It does 0-60 in 5 seconds, and gets about as many miles per gallon when pushed hard. For that reason, if you buy one, you'll pay the tax man an extra $1,000 when you sign the dotted line.
Its SUV brother, the Grand Cherokee SRT8, gets a $4,000 levy!
But really, in its defense the 300C SRT8 still gets over 25 MPG on the highway when you drive gently, and with 5 roomy seats you can carpool to offset your carbon emissions. The standard HEMI engine on regular models is a 5.7 litre mill which can selectively de-activate cylinders to help save on fuel- so it isn't taxed.
Oil prices are sky high and consumers are continually being hosed at the pumps. Accordingly, the minds of the masses are starting to look to the long term with regard to future availability of fuel for our vehicles. There is a finite amount of oil in the ground to create gasoline, and a finite amount of refineries, people and hardware to turn that oil into the fuel we put in our tanks.
 |
With talks of global warming, prices at the pumps and the environment, the idea is that something should be done to help keep some of that oil in the ground.
Accordingly, the government has stepped in and consumers may be rewarded or penalized for choosing a certain type of car over another- depending on how responsible that particular model might be for depleting the planets supply of crude.
In effect, the government calculates a weighted average of the vehicle's fuel consumption based on city and highway driving, and adjusts the rebate or penalty according to which economy bracket the vehicle fits in.
Let's look at two examples. From opposite ends of the gas-guzzler spectrum are two machines- one from Chrysler, the other from Saturn.
Chrysler 300C SRT8
Chrysler's original HEMI powerplant might be considered the granddaddy of all gas-guzzlers. Back then, gas was plentiful and cheap, and it didn't matter so much if your ride burned a tank of fuel faster than a rocket engine.
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| 2007 Chrysler 300C SRT8 |
That's why nowadays, a machine like the 300C SRT8 might feel slightly out of place. It's got a 6.1 litre HEMI V8 cranking out 425 horsepower while pushing around well over 4000 lbs of American steel. It does 0-60 in 5 seconds, and gets about as many miles per gallon when pushed hard. For that reason, if you buy one, you'll pay the tax man an extra $1,000 when you sign the dotted line.
Its SUV brother, the Grand Cherokee SRT8, gets a $4,000 levy!
But really, in its defense the 300C SRT8 still gets over 25 MPG on the highway when you drive gently, and with 5 roomy seats you can carpool to offset your carbon emissions. The standard HEMI engine on regular models is a 5.7 litre mill which can selectively de-activate cylinders to help save on fuel- so it isn't taxed.