questions about gas and government

[elijahboy]

maybe i am making up things in my head but im baffled

ok it seems to me that i can buy a car from the late 80s to early 90s and easily get 40 mpg right well

you can buy a brand new explorer and get 30mpg for about 45/50k or you can buy a ford focus (1/2 the size of an explorer) and only get 29 mpg

why does it seem that when we didnt need such effecient cars, they were everywhere and noone even cared about gas prices in the 90s

now that EVERYONE is concerned about gas useage it is almost impossible to get a car with the gas mileage of the 90s without paying an outrageous amount of money

example...the cruze is 40k for a fricking car and gets 45 mpg

 

[moolie]

Oil prices have risen sharply in the 2000s since 9/11--it's just a case of uncertainty in the market.

Emission controls came to North America in the 90s and have become more stringent over time (at least in Canada--I don't know anything about US regs) but were very common in Europe 20 years before that.

Not sure what kind of correlation you're trying to draw between the two? We talk about gas prices because they are higher than they used to be, and more volatile than they have been since the 70s. We talk about mileage because gas prices are high, and because vehicles don't get the same mileage with emission controls that they did without them. You may just notice these trends more because you are directly affected by them, if you were young like I was in the 70s and less personally affected.

 

[MyKidLuvsGreenEgz]

In my humble opinion, the car manufacturers (and gubmnt?) don't want us to get good gas mileage; keep us paying for gas! Just look at how technology has improved: space station, tiny computers, gps, nano-surgeries ... and more. We are capable. Just, I think, not allowed to.

 

[FarmerChick]

eh, they all want your money. now that 'gas is higher' the 'high priced' great gas mileage cars are out there to part you with your hard earned cash

like anyone they capitalize on people's misery. if water was sightly contaminated all over the earth a 24 pk of filtered water would be $1000, and on down the line.


we are capable of higher mileage from the tank. I see those websites with those UGLY fancy one seater cars that get 245 miles per gallon and YET THEY CAN'T seem to come up with a 'decent REAL looking and useful car' for in between that can get 80-90 and put that out for sale? who they kiddin'

 

[dfr1973]

I've asked this question many times over the past two years, when I first started looking to replace my (now recently totaled) 2000 Ford Escort, which would get 30-33 mpg in city driving and up to 39.5 mpg on the highway. The answer I have always gotten for the difference over the past decade is #1 - safety standards, and #2 - emissions standards. What is TRULY frustrating is European models routinely get 40-50 mpg for petrol (gasoline) cars and over 55 mpg for diesel cars ... and not one of them can be sold here in the USA due to safety and emissions standards.

 

[moolie]

... and not one of them can be sold here in the USA due to safety and emissions standards.

We can buy most European cars here in Canada--it's not safety or emissions that's keeping them out of the US, but rather the US auto makers

If you want to blame your government for anything, blame it for allowing the lobbyists and big business/manufacturing to make the rules to suit their own purposes. Gas/oil prices are high the world over, that's an economic reality driven by many complicated factors--you can't blame that on the US government.

 

[Wannabefree]

There appears to be an unspoken code between the "haves" against the "have nots" in this country. Things DO appear to be designed to keep the poor people poor, while the rich keep stacking cash. I'm not sure if it just appears that way(optimist side of me) or if it really IS that way, but it sure looks like a duck from certain angles, and sometimes I swear I hear quacking....though I have never found where it's coming from I think it's pretty crappy that the cars that get the best fuel efficiency cost the most, and are out of range of half the population...but I'm not a conspiracy theorist. I'll just drive a horse if it gets too bad I might not be able to grow oil, but I can grow grass like a crazy woman!!!

 

[Denim Deb]

I'd love to be able to convert a truck to run on horse poop! I have an unlimited supply of that! I know you can do it, I just don't know how.

 

[dfr1973]

We can buy most European cars here in Canada--it's not safety or emissions that's keeping them out of the US, but rather the US auto makers

Each of our (so-called) "US" automakers make European versions that they sell in Europe that attain European mileage. We have plenty of US-version Volkswagens, BMWs, Lexuses, Toyotas, Hondas, Nissans, Hyundais, KIAs, Subarus (and the list goes on ...) so I doubt it's that. Chrysler used to be owned by Daimler, now owned by Fiat, so I don't consider them to even be a US automaker anymore.

The US safety standards are so silly that apparently it is impossible to buy a vehicle made after 2009 that doesn't lock the doors for you when put into gear! When I asked for one without that feature, I was informed it is federal law for them to have. I *HATE* it when hubby's truck does that ...

 

[moolie]

Ah, so I can blame America for that stupid little "feature" on some cars. I hate it when a car locks my doors for me, and won't buy one that does.

I actually think that's more UNsafe than leaving the doors unlocked. What if you get into an accident and can't get out because the stupid electronic locks won't open because the electrical system is damaged?

I don't personally think any of it is any sort of conspiracy, certainly not the "rich getting richer, poor getting poorer" big--life has always been that way throughout history. It took the Industrial Revolution to create the middle class, and they've been beating us down ever since.