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Originally Posted by hat_man
IMHO I think the auto industry, the oil industry, and the gov't are in bed with each other. As long as cars aren't as fuel efficient as they could be then the fed. and state gov'ts can collect $$$'s in fuel taxes and use them wherever they want...
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Really? You find it more probable that some massive conspiracy exists between the many thousands of people involved in government, oil, and the auto industry, instead of manufacturers simply building the vehicles they believe the consumer wants? "The Man" developed technology it never intended to use, but releases it only when forced by market conditions?
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Do we really need 220+hp in our cars? Do we need incredible 0-60 times?...
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We don't "need" these things, but how many people live their lives based on consuming only what is absolutely necessary? If need was the measure by which we live, then why own a computer? We should all be living in caves and forage for berries.
If fuel were $1/gallon like it was when I started driving in '98, I would drive a 350hp car. Striving for powerful cars is fun; just as striving for fuel efficiency is fun. Neither is necessary.
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Originally Posted by niky
...It's up to the US market itself to cooperate and latch on. But what are you going to do with a population that wants nothing but big, bigger and even bigger cars? ... but look at the US and see how, even with the gas guzzler tax and various incentives, buyer preference still trends towards cars with larger footprints and displacement than anywhere else...
You're blaming companies for selling products people will buy. Blame the people for buying those products! Blame the people who buy yet another CamCord or TrailExplorerRango when all they need is a Fit
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Exactly! I was waiting for a rational comment.
Coming up with conspiracy theories is easier than accepting that human nature is irrational. We blame the government and Wall Street for the housing bubble and financial crisis when we (consumer/investor) played our role in the insanity. The truth is, we (collectively) deserve what we get. We deserve our Obamas, our Bushs, our irresponsible banks, and our gas-guzzling autos. We got nothing less than what we demanded.
*Speaking from a U.S. perspective, but the point stands elsewhere.