Legislation Aganist Muscle Cars
Thread Starter
Bullitt Member
Joined: November 1, 2006
Posts: 231
Likes: 0
Legislation Aganist Muscle Cars
Latest News » Featured Member 
Email Article 
Print Article Legislation Goes Up Against Muscle Cars
Feb 22, 2008 By: All Ford Mustangs News Desk As the deadline for gas friendly vehicles looms in the future, many states are taking the opportunity to pass legislation against muscle cars such as the Ford Mustang. It is bad enough that the V8 engine may be virtually outlawed thanks to new regulations, but states are also working to discourage drivers from keeping their existing muscle cars on the road.
Several states are considering passing high tax surcharges on vehicles that do not meet the upcoming standards for pollution levels. Even if you have an efficient V8, you may still end up getting penalized for it. Some states are planning a $2500 tax that will be in addition to any extra taxes passed at the Federal level. This could mean disaster for many muscle car owners who simply cannot afford to swallow that high of a penalty.
Hawaii recently announced that they are working on legislation that will feature a progressive sliding fee schedule that will be directly related to the size of a car’s engine. The more power you have under your hood, the more you can expect to pay the state if you want to keep driving it. Not only would fees be payable when you purchase the car, but they would also be due when you relicense it each year. This could quickly add up for many car owners.
The planned increases will be in addition to the federally mandated fees that are due upon registration. If your engine is greater than 200 cu CM, you can expect to get hit with this fee if you live in Hawaii.
New York residents will also have something to complain about. Currently, the state legislation is working on a bill that would enforce a special surcharge on vehicles at the time of their purchase. The larger the engine, the more you will have to pay in order to purchase the vehicle of your choice. It is possible that vehicle owners would be required to fork over up to $2500 in additional fees under this program.
The state plans to use the funds that will be collected under the new program to help fund special discounts that will be given to those who decide to purchase “green” cars instead. This could be the final kicker for many who just can’t afford that extra surcharge tacked on to the purchase price of a vehicle.
Last but not least, is Washington State, where they are considering taxing by emissions. They plan to set up two different progressive fee scales for drivers of muscle cars, based on the size of their engines as well as the amount of emissions that the cars produce. Once again, the extra fees would be due when the car is purchased and then again when the license is renewed.
Experts estimate that this could mean an additional $600 in fees at the time of purchase and then another $600 per year every time the car is renewed. Smaller engines might even be taxed under this new plan. It is not clear if any of these states plan to make a distinction for truck engines.
Email Article Print Article Legislation Goes Up Against Muscle Cars Feb 22, 2008 By: All Ford Mustangs News Desk As the deadline for gas friendly vehicles looms in the future, many states are taking the opportunity to pass legislation against muscle cars such as the Ford Mustang. It is bad enough that the V8 engine may be virtually outlawed thanks to new regulations, but states are also working to discourage drivers from keeping their existing muscle cars on the road.
Several states are considering passing high tax surcharges on vehicles that do not meet the upcoming standards for pollution levels. Even if you have an efficient V8, you may still end up getting penalized for it. Some states are planning a $2500 tax that will be in addition to any extra taxes passed at the Federal level. This could mean disaster for many muscle car owners who simply cannot afford to swallow that high of a penalty.
Hawaii recently announced that they are working on legislation that will feature a progressive sliding fee schedule that will be directly related to the size of a car’s engine. The more power you have under your hood, the more you can expect to pay the state if you want to keep driving it. Not only would fees be payable when you purchase the car, but they would also be due when you relicense it each year. This could quickly add up for many car owners.
The planned increases will be in addition to the federally mandated fees that are due upon registration. If your engine is greater than 200 cu CM, you can expect to get hit with this fee if you live in Hawaii.
New York residents will also have something to complain about. Currently, the state legislation is working on a bill that would enforce a special surcharge on vehicles at the time of their purchase. The larger the engine, the more you will have to pay in order to purchase the vehicle of your choice. It is possible that vehicle owners would be required to fork over up to $2500 in additional fees under this program.
The state plans to use the funds that will be collected under the new program to help fund special discounts that will be given to those who decide to purchase “green” cars instead. This could be the final kicker for many who just can’t afford that extra surcharge tacked on to the purchase price of a vehicle.
Last but not least, is Washington State, where they are considering taxing by emissions. They plan to set up two different progressive fee scales for drivers of muscle cars, based on the size of their engines as well as the amount of emissions that the cars produce. Once again, the extra fees would be due when the car is purchased and then again when the license is renewed.
Experts estimate that this could mean an additional $600 in fees at the time of purchase and then another $600 per year every time the car is renewed. Smaller engines might even be taxed under this new plan. It is not clear if any of these states plan to make a distinction for truck engines.
Bullitt Member
Joined: July 8, 2006
Posts: 254
Likes: 0
Closet American
Joined: July 17, 2005
Posts: 5,851
Likes: 1
From: Vancouver, BC (Hollywood North)
Not surprised to see this. The ecomentalist movement has infiltrated the political process and government has decided to target the automobile first and foremost, because it's a lot tougher to regulate industry (especially when lobbyists fund your campaign and give you payoffs) than it is to go after Joe Consumer. Sh*t flows downhill...and the little guy always gets screwed first.
I fully expect them to take these cars away from us if they can, and the new muscle car wars will end even before they've begun. I doubt Challenger and Camaro will be around for more than their initial 4 year production run before being killed off (unless Dodge and Chevy figure out how to use new tech V6s).
Expect high horsepower V8 Mustangs to be a thing of the past within a few years. All existing plans for powerful versions of these cars over the next several years are doubtless being scrapped in the offices of Mahogany Row as we speak, as automakers scramble to revamp all their plans.
On a larger scale, the movement towards killing off high horsepower cars appears to be underway right across the board.
We'll all be driving Fiestas and garbage-hybrid powered battery econoboxes in a few years.
Or something like this >>
I fully expect them to take these cars away from us if they can, and the new muscle car wars will end even before they've begun. I doubt Challenger and Camaro will be around for more than their initial 4 year production run before being killed off (unless Dodge and Chevy figure out how to use new tech V6s).
Expect high horsepower V8 Mustangs to be a thing of the past within a few years. All existing plans for powerful versions of these cars over the next several years are doubtless being scrapped in the offices of Mahogany Row as we speak, as automakers scramble to revamp all their plans.
On a larger scale, the movement towards killing off high horsepower cars appears to be underway right across the board.
We'll all be driving Fiestas and garbage-hybrid powered battery econoboxes in a few years.
Or something like this >>
GT Member
Joined: July 27, 2006
Posts: 180
Likes: 0
From: South Florida
Closet American
Joined: July 17, 2005
Posts: 5,851
Likes: 1
From: Vancouver, BC (Hollywood North)
It's generous of you to make them that offer, but in this case I think they want to be on the giving end of that equation - not the receiving end - meaning we'll all be bending over to take the government C$%&.
The automakers will probably keep building these high horsepower cars and shipping them to China instead, where the market is large and growing, and they have no environmental standards.
I don't even want to think about the Mustang community disappearing from North America only to be reborn in China. Talk about outsourcing...
As to the environment, removing a few high horsepower cars from the world (which amounts to a relatively small percentage overall) will do nothing to save the planet.
Population explosion is the real problem. 'Course next they'll probably introduce a rutting tax.
The automakers will probably keep building these high horsepower cars and shipping them to China instead, where the market is large and growing, and they have no environmental standards.
I don't even want to think about the Mustang community disappearing from North America only to be reborn in China. Talk about outsourcing...
As to the environment, removing a few high horsepower cars from the world (which amounts to a relatively small percentage overall) will do nothing to save the planet.
Population explosion is the real problem. 'Course next they'll probably introduce a rutting tax.
Mach 1 Member
Joined: May 18, 2007
Posts: 830
Likes: 0
I honestly cannot see something of that nature passing. SEMA I know at a minimum will fight it to the bitter end. It is not the first time they have tried stuff like this. It won't be the last. This one seems too drastic. Will they try to trickle stuff in maybe, but I'm going to back the major lobbying powers and have some faith that big time legislature such as that will never just pop in like that.
Legacy TMS Member
Joined: May 16, 2004
Posts: 5,206
Likes: 18
From: Bristol, TN
This is part of whats so frigg'n wrong with the country. Interesting fact, our tax code is filled with about (no joking) 1 trillion dollars worth of the same sort of thinking.
Team Mustang Source
Joined: May 19, 2004
Posts: 964
Likes: 0
From: Bauhston
+1 on the, think about who you vote for!!!! We need more laws like I need to soon be paying $4 or $5 for a gal of gas. Gas prices + guzzler tax are impacting the auto industry now. This is why they continue to find ways to improve emissions and mileage. I just hope that we will be able to covert these engines down the road to whatever fuel alternative is the cheapest. This is one of those few times where having lobbyists is a real good thing.
Closet American
Joined: July 17, 2005
Posts: 5,851
Likes: 1
From: Vancouver, BC (Hollywood North)
those
politicians, pieces of
the 
in the *!!! **** them all!
Mach 1 Member
Joined: January 30, 2008
Posts: 721
Likes: 4
From: Pacific NW USA
Not to hijack your thread but Washington state is on the bandwagon too…
Vehicle License Fee Bill SB6900
There is a bill that the Washington State Legislature is trying to pass in Olympia that, if successful, will directly add huge costs to our vehicle license fees. Everyone needs to know about so this situation so that you can contact your representatives and voice your objection.
The bill is SB 6900 and it adds an "engine displacement" fee to the vehicle license tabs upon renewal.
The fee has a varied amount depending on the size of the vehicle's engine:
Engine Size (liters) Rate Schedule
Up to 1.9 $0
2.0 - 2.9 $70
3.0 - 3.9 $225
4.0 - 4.9 $275
5.0 - 5.9 $325
6.0 - 7.9 $400
8.0 or over $600
For each car & truck that you own, calculate the rate by matching the engine size in liters to the dollar amount. Add the amounts for each vehi cle and you'll see that the average two car family will be paying $500+ every year in "displacement fees" on top of the normal license fees. If you have three vehicles, you'll be paying even more.
The average family is already struggling with the high cost of gasoline, electricity, food and everything else, and our lawmakers want us to pay more, thinking we have unlimited deep pockets. This will do great damage to the budgets of retirees on fixed incomes as well.
Now is the time to be very vocal against this bill.
I have contacted all of our representatives, and I would encourage everyone reading this to do the same.
Here's the web page for the bill where you can read the text:
http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.a! spx?bil l=6900&year=2007
Here's the link for contacting your representatives:
http://apps.leg.wa.gov/DistrictFinder/Default.aspx
If we don't threaten mass rebellion over this, they'll pass this bill and we'll be paying huge fees every year on top of their increase in the gas tax. They have to know that we won't stand for any more taxes or increase in licensing fees.
I've told my representatives that I will actively work to see that any lawmaker that supports this bill is replaced at election time.
Please contact your legislators, then copy the text of this e mail, and forward it to as many people as possible that you know in Washington State, and encourage them to contact their representatives and strongly voice their objection to this bill.
There is a bill that the Washington State Legislature is trying to pass in Olympia that, if successful, will directly add huge costs to our vehicle license fees. Everyone needs to know about so this situation so that you can contact your representatives and voice your objection.
The bill is SB 6900 and it adds an "engine displacement" fee to the vehicle license tabs upon renewal.
The fee has a varied amount depending on the size of the vehicle's engine:
Engine Size (liters) Rate Schedule
Up to 1.9 $0
2.0 - 2.9 $70
3.0 - 3.9 $225
4.0 - 4.9 $275
5.0 - 5.9 $325
6.0 - 7.9 $400
8.0 or over $600
For each car & truck that you own, calculate the rate by matching the engine size in liters to the dollar amount. Add the amounts for each vehi cle and you'll see that the average two car family will be paying $500+ every year in "displacement fees" on top of the normal license fees. If you have three vehicles, you'll be paying even more.
The average family is already struggling with the high cost of gasoline, electricity, food and everything else, and our lawmakers want us to pay more, thinking we have unlimited deep pockets. This will do great damage to the budgets of retirees on fixed incomes as well.
Now is the time to be very vocal against this bill.
I have contacted all of our representatives, and I would encourage everyone reading this to do the same.
Here's the web page for the bill where you can read the text:
http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.a! spx?bil l=6900&year=2007
Here's the link for contacting your representatives:
http://apps.leg.wa.gov/DistrictFinder/Default.aspx
If we don't threaten mass rebellion over this, they'll pass this bill and we'll be paying huge fees every year on top of their increase in the gas tax. They have to know that we won't stand for any more taxes or increase in licensing fees.
I've told my representatives that I will actively work to see that any lawmaker that supports this bill is replaced at election time.
Please contact your legislators, then copy the text of this e mail, and forward it to as many people as possible that you know in Washington State, and encourage them to contact their representatives and strongly voice their objection to this bill.
Closet American
Joined: July 17, 2005
Posts: 5,851
Likes: 1
From: Vancouver, BC (Hollywood North)
If we don't threaten mass rebellion over this, they'll pass this bill and we'll be paying huge fees every year on top of their increase in the gas tax. They have to know that we won't stand for any more taxes or increase in licensing fees.
I've told my representatives that I will actively work to see that any lawmaker that supports this bill is replaced at election time.
Please contact your legislators, then copy the text of this e mail, and forward it to as many people as possible that you know in Washington State, and encourage them to contact their representatives and strongly voice their objection to this bill.
I've told my representatives that I will actively work to see that any lawmaker that supports this bill is replaced at election time.
Please contact your legislators, then copy the text of this e mail, and forward it to as many people as possible that you know in Washington State, and encourage them to contact their representatives and strongly voice their objection to this bill.
If you've been following the great global warming debate, you may know that the United States recently agreed to binding emissions cuts...
The United States has softened its hardline stand on climate change action, with key Bush administration advisors saying they would agree to binding targets to cut greenhouse emissions as part of a new UN climate agreement.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7268048.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7268048.stm
Tasca Super Boss 429 Member
Joined: January 4, 2006
Posts: 3,904
Likes: 32
As I'm sure you well know, muscle and high performance car enthusiasts represent a relatively small percentage of the car buying public, so any such effort you mount - even if you could get ALL enthusiasts on board - is going to be pretty much like p!ssing in the Grand Canyon.
"This will do great damage to the budgets of retirees on fixed incomes as well."
There ain't no way in heck my dad is giving up his 4.6 in his Panther platform.
Those are the guys that can kill this.
(Note: my state won't do this crap anyway because our legislators are mostly over 65 already.)