Guest Post by Eric Peters
When the federal government saves you money, get ready to pay through the nose for it.
As for example “record high” fuel economy, which the government takes credit for delivering unto us via regulations that the car companies must find ways to comply with.
And they do.
It’s why the average cost of a new car has gone up to just shy of $50,000 – an increase of about $15,000 vs. as recently as three years ago. The reason why has to do with what happened about three years ago:
Orange Man out. Biden Thing in.
The latter promised he’d save us gas money by making us pay more for cars that burn less (or even none). He never said the last part – about paying more for the cars – out loud. Instead, the Thing’s minions, such as EPA Administrator Michael Regan say “historic progress” has been made.
He refers to the 1.2 MPG uptick posted by new cars (on average) in 2022.
The bulk of this historic progress has been made by replacing less expensive but larger engines – such as V6 engines – with smaller, more expensive turbocharged four cylinder engines. And by pairing these with less reliable, more expensive to replace automatics transmissions with two and sometimes three overdrive gears. And by adding “technology” that shuts off the engine at every red light that adds expense in the form of shorter battery and starter motor life. 
The most progress of all, however, has been made by using the regs to stealth-force the mass-production of battery powered devices, which are credited (by the government) with being “zero emissions” vehicles and with delivering 2-3 times the MPG equivalent of the gas-burning cars the regs are stealth-forcing out of production.
For example, a battery powered device such as the 2023 Chevrolet Bolt is credited by the government with delivering “120 MPGe.” This being as oilily disingenuous as the government’s characterization of drugs that didn’t prevent people from becoming infected with (or infecting others with) COVID as “vaccines.”
“MPGe” gives a similarly false impression of a battery powered device’s efficiency by not factoring into the equation the inefficiencies of generating and transmitting electricity to the device. If these were honestly factored, the “MPGe” would be much closer to the MPG figures of cars that aren’t devices.
But this gaming doesn’t matter to the government – because it furthers the agenda of the government. Or – rather – the Things that control it. They use it to stealth-force the car companies to produce “zero emissions” vehicles that are credited by the government with returning 2-3 times the mileage equivalent, even though they don’t actually deliver it.
But the credit helps the average.
The more “123 MPGe” Bolts Chevy produces relative to 17 MPG Tahoes, the more credit Chevy gets – in terms of complying with the regulations that require its fleet (i.e., all the models it produces) to average close to 35 MPG – which is the current MPG minimum mandated by the government, to save us money.
But Bolts don’t sell.
Or rather, they cost GM more to produce than can be earned back by selling them at a price that would cover the cost to produce them, plus a reasonable profit on the transaction. So Chevy sells them at a loss – and makes up for it by increasing the cost of vehicles like the Tahoe, that are (unlike the Bolt) appealing enough that enough people are willing to pay what it costs to produce them – plus the cost of producing Bolts and other devices that are only being produced in order to comply with the regs.
The base price of a new Tahoe is now more than $50,000 ($52,600 to be precise). When it goes up to $60,000, how many who’d like one will still be able to afford one?
A new Toyota Camry – shorn of the V6 it used to be available with – will cost you close to $30,000 now, as opposed to $26,320 before. The roughly $4k more the government will force you to spend for the new (and take-it-or-leave it) hybrid drivetrain is the price you pay for the government saving you gas money.
There’s more savings on deck, too.
A Reuters news story blandly notes that “Fuel economy is forecast to increase to 26.9 mpg in 2023.” In fact, government regulatory pressure is about to increase – to just shy of 50 MPG -and that is going to necessitate factoring more MPGe into the mix. That is, the production of more “zero emissions” devices in order to comply with the regs.
Since these won’t sell, it’ll cost you more to buy what you want.
“The EPA said EVs, plug-in hybrid and fuel-cell production rose to 7 percent in 2022 and are projected to hit 12 percent in 2023.”
Italics added. Production, yes. How about sales?
How about costs?
The EPA has “proposed sweeping emissions cuts for new vehicles through 2032, including a 56 percent reduction in projected fleet average emissions over 2026 requirements that it says would result in 67 percent of new vehicles by 2032 being electric.”
Italics added. Proposed – in the context of government – being akin to the way government asks us to contribute to Social Security. And yes, it will result in just what the Reuters story says it will.
Speaking of “zero emissions” . . .
The Biden Thing’s plenipotentiary Michael Regan says that all of this “historic progress” has also “reduce(d) climate pollution and other harmful emissions.” Another oily misdirection. How is the “climate” polluted by the gas that plants must have to live – and which produce the gas we need to breath?
Regan conflates these life-giving gasses – without which the environment would be lifeless – with “harmful emissions” so as to to create the false association that they are just that.
In order to get us to accept the costs of all these savings.
And you can’t take that to the bank.
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Today’s entry in the Words I Never Thought I’d Say category is:
I really wish I had my Pontiac T1000 back.
How badly could you have thought of it if you once chose to own it? It must have had a couple endearing qualities. Did the radio work?
Sometimes we own what we can, not what we want. It didn’t stand up to my old Alfa Romeo 1750 GTV, but it was a better car than its reputation.
I don’t remember whether the radio worked or not. When I’m driving I like to listen to the car and the world, and if I start feeling a bit musically oriented I’ll probably just sing.
My last two new cars were a 90 Ford Aerostar and a 77 T-bird, biggest pieces of crap I ever owned. My current fleet is: 99 528 BMW, 2002 530 BMW, 02 F-250 4×4 Super Duty and a 05 WRX. Bought them all for a total of $5k. They all run and look good too! FJB! Sending Admin a donation today. Merry Christmas everyone!
All 4 for a total of $5,000?!!!
I did build motors for the 530 and the f-250. Except for the WRX I got this year I’ve had the rest for about ten years .I’ve put another $8k all in for the fleet Including the motors. FJB.
Good for you. I’m not looking forward to replacing my wife’s car in the next year or 2.
It’s going to become a national-security issue when the foundations of this country become crippled. Look at the countless people living out of their cars/trucks, and the spiraling cost-of-living increases. This is an intentional and willful assault on private and business transportation, for leftist “reasons” that are pure fabricated nonsense.
So one more way to destroy the country is to lie our way into poverty
Sold my last commercial property in 2022. Fed tax was going to be $70K. So, bought a ’22 Tundra 1794 Edition. 5.7L, twin turbo 386HP for $68K & change.
So, Unk Sam bought it for me. The only good thing he’s done in like forever.
not all of us know how to game the system
The tax code is unfair in that most people cannot fathom how to navigate it. It’s a crime to construct such a system.
When I was in business back in the early 2000’s the first thing I did was find a former IRS agent as an accountant. I knew nothing about business tax strategies but he understood every angle and would tell me exactly what to do. Never once did we encounter any problems and it was because someone who understood their byzantine structures was able to advise me.
The average American couldn’t begin to fathom just how intricate and arcane their system really is. It wasn’t designed to be understood or to help taxpayers, but as an elaborate trap for some and a way to avoid taxation for those who were willing to pay for the best advice. Something like that is intentional, not an accident.
I think it was John Locke who spoke of “a web of bureaucratic regulations so intricate and uniform as to defy penetration by anyone”.
We’ve done been passed that point, IMHO.
Nearly half of Buick dealers choose buyout over investing to sell EVs
In 2022, General Motors gave Buick dealers across the nation a simple choice: invest a significant amount of money to prepare for EVs or opt for a buyout. Over a year later, the brand has reportedly lost nearly half of its dealerships as it prepares to roll out its first electric cars.
Trade journal Automotive News reported that the number of Buick dealers in the United States dropped by about 47% during 2023. At the beginning of the year, the network included 1,958 stores; fast-forward to December and that figure stands at approximately 1,000. More dealers could throw in the towel in the coming weeks, as the publication adds that the buyout program remains open and will continue.
https://www.autoblog.com/2023/12/20/nearly-half-of-buick-dealers-choose-buyout-over-investing-to-sell-evs/
My son wants a car and after looking at them and wondering how he can afford them…I may give him one of mine.
The prices don’t match what people make for a living. Used jap cars like a Corolla are more than new ones from a few years ago. I guess TPTB don’t expect people to drive to work in the future. I’m not sure what the plan is, maybe they figure millions of people will die from the jab or something. then there will be plenty of used cars available.
You can thank Obammy and cash for clunkers. Every car your son could have purchased for $1500 – $2500 was literally destroyed by that communist fuck.
Used corollas and accords from the late to mid teens are bullet proof. They don’t make em like that anymore. get one, just my opinion.
And I’m not a detroit or german snob, just realistic, damn, my favorite car was my 1984 VW Rabbit GTI, 5 speed with the golf ball shift lever. I loved that damn car. Not ‘fast’, but torque city. Hell, do they make standard shifts anymore?
No, TPTB expects people to be living in its stack-and-pack 15-minute cities – no need to drive anywhere.
Did away with the middle class.
I’m from the government and I’m here to help. Ruuuuuuuuunnn.