Something about engines, horsepower, and emissions.

[jleemero]

"WE NEED TO STOP USING OIL COMPLETELY!" she shouts on her cellphone.

[vskid]

Planning to twin-turbo my DOHC v6 this summer if all goes well. 320HP here I come!

Turning it into a VR-4? That'll be pretty sweet, you'll be able to blow away most other cars without even trying. Be prepared to get some speeding tickets.
I really want a Volvo 850, but they are pretty rare, few are wagons and even fewer are turbo'd. I'm thinking I'll have to find one out of state and fly there to buy it and drive it back. Lack of funds keeps me from doing that, so by the time I have money, there'll hopefully be one available locally.

[RockNRoll!]

Today I found out something that pisses me off.

Fuel efficiency means people are buying less gas. That means that the government makes less money from gas taxes so they try to get money using other (much more evil) means.

By 2010, the government wants car makers to put a GPS system in every car so they can track where you're driving, when you're driving, and how fast you're driving so they can tax you based on your driving habits. They also want to be able to remotely stop cars in cases of car theft, which will inevitably be badly abused to stop speeders or anybody they want to stop. (I read about the remote stopping earlier but the rest is news).

This pisses me off on so many levels.
First, I hate taxes.
Second, this is pretty much the definition of big brotherism.
Third, this will further hurt the already hurting car industry because 1) cars will be more expensive to build to include this technology, and 2) nobody wants to buy a new car if that means being tracked by the government and taxed. If this legislation passes, I will never buy a car made after this year.

It sounds ridiculous, but completely possible with this new administration. When your new car sends all your driving information to the government so they can tax you, you can thank hybrids and the people who support them.

[Twilight Wolf]

I've heard about that. Socialism taken to a new extreme. Good thing the only cars I really want to own are several years old already.

Think about it, though: what's the next logical step? A standardised, government-issued car that breaks down constantly because it's manufactured so cheaply, and absolutely illegal to modify in any way, shape, or form. Hooray!

[Kurt_]

There's room in Canada for y'all if that ever happens. If it does happen, even I'd be pissed.

But it's not going to pass. That probably violates so many human rights.

[Rekarp]

Think about it, though: what's the next logical step? A standardised, government-issued car that breaks down constantly because it's manufactured so cheaply, and absolutely illegal to modify in any way, shape, or form. Hooray!

Hmm with all the money the government is lending the Auto industry there could be some truth. 10 years down the road the auto industry can't repay its loan thus becomes part of the US government.

[Skyone]

If that would be true and I wanted a foreign car (sure as hell not gonna get any of this local crap), I'd boat my ass to Japan and bring it back.

[Triton]

If that would be true and I wanted a foreign car (sure as hell not gonna get any of this local crap), I'd boat my ass to Japan and bring it back

Thats the kicker, you CANT. unles its a previously DOT approved and tested car you cannot legally import foreign cars. for example the european model ford focus (less ugly, lighter and faster and more fuel efficient than the USDM model) and the nissan skyline R33(iirc) cant be imported to the US AT ALL because they havent undergone proper DOT approved crash testing

[Skyone]

So some cars are able to be imported? Regardless, I'll just move my ass to Japan.

[Rekarp]

You know they probably won't even pass this silly law anyways. I wouldn't worry about it.