Let's review. You claimed they had a high gas milage car today... as in TODAY. You have successfully proven they will have one... which I already knew. You have successfully proven they did have one... which I already knew. (remember I brought it up). Yet you have failed to prove they have one TODAY. So no, it's not better. You still fail.
Andy Andy Andy... they've had different generations of the 4 Cylinder Diesel at VW over and over again. They had them before 2005. They had ones like the 2005 I posted. We looked at either new untitled 2006 or 2007 (sat in them) when my girlfriend bought her 2007 Wolfsburg Edition. They'll have them in 2008. Diesel Jettas are about as rare as telephone poles. If I find someone to over pay and give ya $350 dollars for the 82 Buick will ya buy a Diesel Jetta? I'll order ya one if there's not one on lot near you but bet there is. You can get a new 08 in 08 I promise.
In a free country, should the government be allowed to dictate what is product is brought to market? (Read the constitution)
Absolutely!!! Says nothing in the Constitution about critical energy conservation or national security as it relates to foreign oil. Just like if something is unsafe. Of course it could be regulated. Common sense issue there buddy. Remember slavery was legal at the time of the writing of the Constitution. Sometimes things need to change for good reason Again I say to you... EVOLVE. Don't fear change so.
No, we would not. In fact I'd say that autos would be far better and more technologically advanced than they are now under my system.
Under your system we'd still be driving unregulated Corvairs and Pintos... if you ever even got to that sad technology. Who knows... maybe we'd all be driving the wonder machine THE 1982 Buick.
This is a fundamental flaw of liberal/socialist views. It's the idea that something would not happen if government didn't do something. This is exactly how Albore can claim he had anything at all to do with the internet, because if our wonderful lawyer/politicians group (that are oh so trustworthy) didn't pass bill X or Y, that did such and such, then it would never have happened.
You're silly. Corporations care about sales. They don't necessarily care about the environment or safety or anything else that they can factor in a good risk benefit. We saw it with the Ford Exploder... I mean Explorer tires and a hundred other products. Gas tanks on Pintos... the list is endless.
Bull... auto manufactures have always been trying to get the best mileage possible out of economy cars. Why do you think the Handa 600 was created years prior to CAFE even existing? By your logic, no one would develop high gas milage cars prior to CAFE being created. Not so. In fact, while working at the Caddy dealership, I found promotional material in an attic from the 1960s (I should have asked for them. Might have fetched a good price on Ebay), inside one of the primary selling points on a few models was 'best fuel economy in it's class'. So long before CAFE existed, getting the best MPG possible was important (even to rich Caddy owners).
This ain't rocket science my friend. You must realize there's a difference between looking at having the best fuel economy in a particular class (that only has to be marginally better)as a selling point... and having a dramatic difference in fuel economy and/or safety, dependability and emissions.
Just like, fuel economy would continue if CAFE was eliminated today. The only difference is, people would have more choice. I'm for freedom.
Depends on the cost of fuel to a great extent. And it would NEVER, NEVER move up at a rate as fast as raising Cafe' Standards does. It becomes the mandatory target to hit at a certain point in time. And again I remind you Japans average is 45 mpg and Europe is somewhere in between that and us NOW... as we speak. We can bump ours up 10 mpg, still have nice vehicles and the sky won't fall. Trust me.
However, freedom shouldn't be limited to those who do what the government likes. If someone, for whatever reason they choose, wants to be a full size conversion van with built in fridge Wii and 30' LCD display, that gets 5.5 MPG, I think that should be able to buy that... why? Because what is freedom if not the ability to buy what product you want? If VW comes out with a W12 1,000 HP sports car that gets 10 MPG... they should be able to sell it, and I should be able to buy it. These are the freedoms the Constitution was written for. You support a oppressive authoritarian government, dictating our lives.
Well if you look only at your own selfish needs like you're the only one on the planet I suppose that makes some sense. I mean hell if someone wants to mass produce a car using old USSR plutonium perpulsion... as long as you like it.
The fact is there a environmental regulations for good reason (the nuclear thing was a joke) but you get my drift. To quote Dr. Phil... IT AIN'T ABOUT YOU!
If conservation is demand as necessary (and I think @ $4 a gallon and up it's fair to say we are there) regulation is prudent. Possibly they sell the hogs with the disincentive of a higher gas guzzler tax but still leave them available for a time as technology catches up. Be it is absolutely reasonable to raise standards from time to time and circumstances can speed the need.
Just to see how far mentally gone you are on this path of socialism... tell me, if CAFE was eliminated today, that all cars would suddenly start getting horrible gas milage? You think Honda would suddenly have Civics doing 15 MPG with the next model change because CAFE was removed? Foolishness. All of them would continue to improve gas milage, and likely with better technology, than with an expensive half baked hybrid system that costs you $7000 more to save a few hundred a year in gas.
No I do not. I think they would continue to do just as they did before we raised the Café Standards before and stay pretty much in the ball park they are in with only the outside factor of current fuel prices slightly directing them.
All in all you will not see nearly the increases in more fuel efficient cars until there's a mandate. And once again this is where the foreign auto companies kick our butt. Since they are already building good high quality more fuel efficient cars around the world under tougher requirements. They can focus on the refinement and quality control end of things producing a better and more appealing product.
Dude... keep the 82 Buick forever and pay the price at the pump if ya want.