[lacrew]

Because of CAFE, they will have to sell the small cars at almost no profit...and tack on a huge prmium to the larger vehicles.

I have long thought that the higher CAFE had the INTENDED consequence of making it harder for Joe Siz Pack to own a pickup truck. With a truck, you can do crazy things, like start a small (non-union/non crony capitalism) business....and in general have way too much independence.

[bmwcyle]

Yes, regulation makes the big boys too big to fail.

[GonzoGOP]

"I have long thought that the higher CAFE had the INTENDED consequence of making it harder for Joe Siz Pack to own a pickup truck. With a truck, you can do crazy things, like start a small (non-union/non crony capitalism) business....and in general have way too much independence."

I wonder if there is a way to get around this by using "Kit" cars. In the same way that Scaled Composites got around the FAA's punitive restrictions on light aircraft manufacturers by selling the VariEze as a kit. The car companies sell an engine, 4wd transmission, bolt together body panels and a frame in separate easy to assemble in a garage crates. It isn't a "Car" so it doesn't count against their mileage standards.

Most guys who need 4wd vehicles for a business have some basic mechanical skills, or at least have some friends who do.