why GM can’t sell you a $9,800 (and 41.2 MPG) car

[98valk]

so EPA wackos and safety nazi's can keep their jobs and increase their numbers at tax payers expense.

http://ericpetersautos.com/2013/06/04/gms-9800-car-the-one-were-not-allowed-to-buy/

[Super Santa]

Love the last quote in the article.  "Time to find productive work".

[musclehead]

Love the last quote in the article.  "Time to find productive work".

is he saying the governemnt is doing needless busy work? I'd have to concur

[alph]

I've said it before; the worst enemy to the American people is it's own government.

there's a reason why a prescription costs $240 for a 30 day supply "here" and $20 for the same thing just over the border in Canada.  (a quote from a fellow valk rider, also same experience with my parents medical prescription bills)

it's all government regulations that have taken away competition allowing a monopoly to control the price. 

in the automotive industry, it's the impact of EPA, safety, and other government regulations.  remember the ford pinto?  in reality, how many people died because of an inferno of an accident?  a lot more people were killed in other forms of auto accidents that year, but the pinto got the most attention. 

do we REALLY need 10 airbags in a vehicle?  just wait, when government starts outlawing motorcycles 'cause we DON'T have seatbelts and all those air bags!!

[bscrive]

I used to have a picture of a car a buddy of mine took back in 1998.  He was with his car club and they did a tour at the Ministry of Transportation here in Ottawa.  They had a car there made by Mercedes that looked like a tear drop and sat 2.  The car got close to 105mpg.  That is correct 105mpg.  It ran on "clean" diesel and was there for "testing" purposes.  The technician told them that he drove it from Ottawa to Vancouver and it burned about $75 in fuel.  They were also told that it could not be sold in Canada because it did not pass crash tests.  More than likely it was not sold here or the US because it would have killed the big 3 car companies.   

[Varmintmist]

Dont have to look that far. The 80's Dodge Omni got 50+mpg 20 years ago with a carb on a 4 banger.

Of course, with the GM, the only electrical thing that will work reliably after 70K is the check engine light, and that will be in the "on" position only.

[cookiedough]

read reports that GM is now on the list as if not #1, close to #1, in the reliability factor.  I wonder who made up that list?  Maybe the govt. to get back some of bailout money back to have GM sell more vehicles? 

I also once met a guy from Europe somewhere at a gas station and he cannot believe the terrible gas mileage he gets from the cars in the U.S.  vs. his european cars getting near 2x the gas mileage.  I couldn't believe it but he said it was true. 

Heck, we once even owned a 1988 toyota tercel 2 door coupe 4 speed on floor achieving near 50 avg mpg so why can't say a new Corolla now get even 40 hwy. miles????  f'ing govt. if you ask me!

[wiggydotcom]

I also once met a guy from Europe somewhere at a gas station and he cannot believe the terrible gas mileage he gets from the cars in the U.S.  vs. his european cars getting near 2x the gas mileage.  I couldn't believe it but he said it was true. 

Heck, we once even owned a 1988 toyota tercel 2 door coupe 4 speed on floor achieving near 50 avg mpg so why can't say a new Corolla now get even 40 hwy. miles????  f'ing govt. if you ask me!

And I had a 79 gas powered VW Rabbit that actually got 25mpg City and 34mpg Highway. The Diesel ones did better yet. We really haven't progressed that much in 34 yrs,imho.

[WayneH]

All depends on whom you wish to use for your statistics and costs.

http://qz.com/69037/us-plans-to-slash-tailpipe-emissions-are-good-for-the-planet-and-bad-for-chinas-automakers/

[cookiedough]

All depends on whom you wish to use for your statistics and costs.

http://qz.com/69037/us-plans-to-slash-tailpipe-emissions-are-good-for-the-planet-and-bad-for-chinas-automakers/

Interesting article and I find it even more than 50% hate their jobs at least around me.  I understand communication is key amongst employees but if you have a few employees NOT willing to cooperate and do THEIR OWN JOBS CORRECTLY which affects your job, those people should be held accountable for their poor performance but they rarely do.  I see it near daily and have for the past 20+ years and you wonder why most people hate their jobs?   

[cookiedough]

I also once met a guy from Europe somewhere at a gas station and he cannot believe the terrible gas mileage he gets from the cars in the U.S.  vs. his european cars getting near 2x the gas mileage.  I couldn't believe it but he said it was true. 

Heck, we once even owned a 1988 toyota tercel 2 door coupe 4 speed on floor achieving near 50 avg mpg so why can't say a new Corolla now get even 40 hwy. miles????  f'ing govt. if you ask me!

And I had a 79 gas powered VW Rabbit that actually got 25mpg City and 34mpg Highway. The Diesel ones did better yet. We really haven't progressed that much in 34 yrs,imho.

Same can be said about pickup trucks with V8's.  My first new 1988 chevy silverado got 16 hwy miles per gallon and now they get 18-19 tops on the hwy.  What progress is 2-3 more mpg in over 25 years?  They keep increasing safety crap and more hp/torque and make more fancy gizmos on vehicles NOT needed and keep increasing the price to where the common worker cannot afford a new vehicle hardly anymore.