The end of the musclecar???

[Scrambler1]

So now that the new greenie bill about fuel efficiency has passed what do ya'll think the ramifications will be? Are we going to dip into an age of shitty cars like we did in the 70's? I don't see this being a good thing for the Big 3, or for the average American. I personally have NO desire to own a small econobox with no power and no personality. I like big cars that have enough room to carry me and 3+ friends w/o sitting on top of each other, and can carry our luggage w/o towing a trailer. I like big SUV's and trucks, I feel safer driving them. I may buy another vehicle in a few years and hope that technology catches up with the bs govt requirements before it dies.

A couple of articles.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22340556/

http://www.themustangnews.com/fomoco_07/st-1207cafe.htm

The second one is just one guy's opinion but I still find it interesting.

Joe

 

[TNVIPER]

The updated standards are over a decade away...much tech can happen in that time and they will probably adjust the rate as happened in the past...The inheritance tax goes away in 2010 too......yeah, right...:bebored:

 

[Kevan]

As long as there are laws, there will be outlaws.


If the Big 3 aren't able to build muscle cars because of the CAFE rules, small builders who don't fall under those laws will flourish.

Notice how the Big 3 each only have one "flagship" or "muscle car" now?
- Chevy = Corvette (no more Camaro or Firebird)
- Ford = Mustang (no more Thunderbird; GT40 doesn't count as it's MSRP puts it in the super-car status)
- Dodge = Viper (SRT lines are 'packages')
I think Detroit sort of saw all of this coming and adjusted accordingly. Bummer for the Camaro, Firebird, and Thunderbird, but that's how the asphalt crumbles.
As TNVIPER said, we've got some time. And...if I can get 20 mpg out of a 5200 lb. 10-cylinder cinder block, Dodge can get 50 mpg out of a Caliber.

I'm not stressing too hard about it.
I know I'll always be able to find a badass vehicle that runs on whale oil and panda tears.

 

[Hamrhead]

From how I understand it, each company has to average a certain MPG - Fleetwide. So there will still be powerful cars and trucks, maybe just not as many.

Personally, and many others I'm sure feel this way, I like having a 'beater' that gets decent MPG for the everyday chores, and use my gas-guzzlin' fun machine for just that - fun!:burnout: :burnout:

 

[Kevan]

Personally, and many others I'm sure feel this way, I like having a 'beater' that gets decent MPG for the everyday chores, and use my gas-guzzlin' fun machine for just that - fun!:burnout: :burnout:

I feel that way, but I can't AFFORD that way.


(nor do I have driveway/garage space to feel that way. LOL)

 

[Silverback]

From how I understand it, each company has to average a certain MPG - Fleetwide. So there will still be powerful cars and trucks, maybe just not as many.

Personally, and many others I'm sure feel this way, I like having a 'beater' that gets decent MPG for the everyday chores, and use my gas-guzzlin' fun machine for just that - fun!:burnout: :burnout:

If I remember right, Ford loses approximately $3,000.00 on every Escort or Focus (can't remember what they currently produce) they sell so that they can maintain their CAFE ratio. They will not be able to continue with that plan forever.

 

[Scrambler1]

One thing that hurts them this time around is that light duty trucks have to factor into the ratio. That hasn't been the case. The closest thing to a high mpg pickup is a diesel, compliments of increased emissions junk their mileage sucks too. I had a 02 F250 that would get over 22mpg all day on the interstate, now my 06 Cummins does good to average much over 16. These large SUV's and trucks are the Big 3's top sellers, no way those vehicles will get near 35 mpg. They are really going to have to get on the stick with their small cars... Focus, Cavalier/Cobalt, Stratus you couldn't give me one of those.

Joe

 

[ChrisAZ]

The new standards are far off in the future. If anything, the same version of the muscle cars (Vette, Viper, etc.) will be available until 2020, the automakers just won't update them with a new model if the standards are too tough to meet. The truth is, gas prices have a much bigger effect on muscle cars than the Cafe standrds. That is what truly killed the muscle car in the 70's. Gas prices are a big factor in why our truck values are in the toilet and that is also a factor in muscle car sales off the new showroom floor. The bottom line is that the manufacturers will sell anything they can make money on. As long as enough of us are willing to lay down the cash on a muscle car, they will be readily available. It's all about profit.

 

[Annu Kumar]

Lets Protest!!!!!