U.S. Wants Report Card for Cars [a letter grade from A to D.........]

U.S. Wants Report Card for Cars System Would Rate Fuel Economy, Emissions; Industry Says Government Veers Into Issuing Opinions

WASHINGTON—The government proposed labeling each new passenger vehicle with a letter grade from A to D based on its fuel efficiency and emissions, part of a broader effort by the Obama administration to promote electric cars and other advanced-technology vehicles. Journal Community

The proposed new rules, released jointly Monday by the Environmental Protection Agency and the Transportation Department, would be the most substantial change in 30 years to the familiar price-and-mileage labels affixed to the windows of new cars at dealerships.

Currently, the labels must show how many miles per gallon a car gets and its estimated annual fuel cost. Under the proposed changes, a new label design would carry a large letter grade assigned by regulators.

Under the system, the only cars that would receive an A-plus, A or A-minus would be electrics and plug-in hybrids, the government said.

"Gowrsh, we hicks are just too dumm to figger out them EPA MPG numbers... we need sumpin' simpul!"

This goes along with Cass Sunstein's stated goal, which amounts to limitation of freedom of all Americans: "just limit the choices." If all your allowed to buy is Grade "A" or "B" or "C" cars, why, the problem of the eeeeevil SUVs and trucks just goes away.

I also agree with the poster who mentioned the so-called environmental cost of electricity. What's a few tons of coal between friends?

For the past several years we've had a Dodge Durango and it is fantastic for us!. I WAS a solid MOPAR man, but with the government and Fiat (I used to drive a Fiat X-1/9) there is no way I would get (a new) one. My oldest son bought a Buick Regal LS - 2005 0r '06 IIRC and it is also a wonderful vechicle. I think it compares very well to the XJ-6 and Mercedes I used to drive. But again since the government takeover no way will I buy a GM.

So that leaves FORD for me. I had a brand new '67 Mustang convertable when I was in high school and tricked it up with Koni's, Edlebrock and a carb that was WAY too big for the 289, LOL! But heck I was a kid and it was a babe magnet.

So when it comes time for us to get a vehicle there are sveral we're looking at, including some foreign makes but I won't go into those now, they're not for me, more for Wife.

The F-150's are calling me and I might even be able to downsize a bit to a Ranger because I probably won't need to haul much anymore.

Nowif I decide to get a car I'm pretty sure I'm going back to a 'Stang convertable. On Father's Day this year Wife and I went to a Pirates game (I know...sigh) with a group from one of the Local Watering Holes. A gal there had a beautiful new 'Stang convertable and I was very impressed. At my age I'm willing to trade off the HP and Boy Racer stuff. I want a nice, dependable vehicle I can drive in town and on fairly long trips and still have some fun with.

The Mustang did reverberate with the echos of my one from high school and my leg got a tingle, hehehe!

I'd go with the Mustang.

At one point I had a soft spot in my head - yes head - for Renaults. I had a '69 R-16, several R-5 LeCars and a 1988 R-21 AMC Medallion.

Oh, and then there was the AMC Pacer wagon.....!

One of the absolute BEST cars I've ever had was a 1971 2 door NOVA with the small 6 and 2 speed powerslop. It was when Wife and I were just married and the car I was driving then - a Mazda RX2 with the rotary engine blew up. I paid 300 bucks for the NOVA and it lasted forever!

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