tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17206839.post7991946378883045734..comments2023-09-09T09:26:22.175-04:00Comments on Andrew Samwick's Blog: Don't Linger in this CAFEAndrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13514024573333057559noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17206839.post-81611785570411216572005-08-25T11:48:00.000-04:002005-08-25T11:48:00.000-04:00Andrew --Just to drive your point home, your Outba...Andrew --<br><br>Just to drive your point home, your Outback only qualifies as an SUV for CAFE standards if it is a 2005 (or later) model. Before the last product redesign, the Outback did not meet the light-truck standard so you are only party to Subaru's CAFE-dodging design if you bought your Outback recently. Subaru took some flak in the press from its liberal New England base on getting the Outback reclassified as an SUV for CAFE regulations. I expect that its conservative New Enlgand base just sighed about the inefficiencies of regulations that set standards instead of modifiying prices.<br><br>The 2005 model looks quite similar to my 2004 Outback. One key difference for regulatory purposes is the slightly higher suspension for the 2005. However, these modest differences matter when it comes to regulatory line drawing.Bill Gentrynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17206839.post-62619157138344239442005-08-25T16:42:00.000-04:002005-08-25T16:42:00.000-04:00"Keep it simple. Scrap CAFE, set a higher gas..."Keep it simple. Scrap CAFE, set a higher gas tax"<br><br>The problem with that is they tried that to begin with, and it became clear the voters didn't want it and weren't going to stand for it. Thus CAFE was created instead.<br><br>So there's a fourth problem with CAFE standards -- they are anti-democratic, a (highly inefficient and costly) way around the voters' will.JGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11164150812219689611noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17206839.post-81035723999846781792005-08-25T17:44:00.000-04:002005-08-25T17:44:00.000-04:00Thanks for the information on the new Subaru.Our 1...Thanks for the information on the new Subaru.<br>Our 1999 for sure should not be classified as a SUV. My SUV's are two Dodge one ton dually pickups. Now these are SUV's. The 2001 diesel 4x4 auto gets 10 mpg but is carrying 2700 lbs of camper and pulling about 5000 lbs of horse trailer and horses. Remove the trailer and it gets 11 miles per gallon. That is uphill downhill sideways, whatever. The 1990 diesel 2x4 (empty) gets about 20 mpg around town and about 25 out on the freeway or about the same as the Subaru. No SUV driving socker mom will challange me at the 4 way stop signs when I am in the Dodge but everytime when I am in the Subaru.<br>The wife and I were wondering how high fuel prices would have to get to before we change our lifestyle. She suggested we would cut back on sailing our 12 foot yatch and I pointed out that everything related to horses had a fuel cost component to it. If fuel cost go high enough there will be a lot of cheap horse and cow meat for sale but milk will be expensive. I expect 10 bucks a gallon would get our attention.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17206839.post-84359748834959487932005-08-25T23:09:00.000-04:002005-08-25T23:09:00.000-04:00The CAFE should be scrapped -- let the market de...The CAFE should be scrapped -- let the market deal with this issue.<br><br>If the government must interfere in this market, it should either tax gas or tax vehicle weight (at time of original sale).Zephyrnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17206839.post-85565905842586028752005-08-25T23:55:00.000-04:002005-08-25T23:55:00.000-04:00Another problem with CAFE is that it has no impact...Another problem with CAFE is that it has no impact on current fuel use and prices. No matter what happens, the model mix that the manufacturers will produce is set for the next 2 years at least. The lead time for a new model is at least two years and can run as long as 5 years.<br><br>Even when new models are available they will not be the only cars on the road. The average car lasts about 17 years in service. So the fleet turns over at the rate of about 6%/yr.<br><br>If the Government increased the CAFE standard to 40 mpg, it would be decade before there was a notable change and 20 years before the fleet was replaced.Fat Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05131003998982897093noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17206839.post-17635979399780584232005-08-26T11:15:00.000-04:002005-08-26T11:15:00.000-04:00CAFE is indeed a lame idea.But Washington, DC is n...CAFE is indeed a lame idea.<br>But Washington, DC is not a uniform spherical center of good policy: it is the land of second- (or twelfth-)best. Does anybody really think that a gas tax is politically feasible?<br>Repealing CAFE is politically feasible. Is nothing better than CAFE? That is our opportunity set in the real world, with perhaps a marginally stronger CAFE if the Dems get into power. For all of CAFE's stupidities, I don't think that nothing is better than an ugly something.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17206839.post-67189406189255439502005-08-26T14:04:00.000-04:002005-08-26T14:04:00.000-04:00I guess I just don't think CAFE is good enough...I guess I just don't think CAFE is good enough to rate as a something--it gives the appearance of a something, but the results (it seems) of a nothing.<br><br>What is politically feasible? Just about anything, with the right leadership. Just about nothing, without it.Andrew Samwickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13514024573333057559noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17206839.post-3449665236684543062005-12-30T13:06:00.000-05:002005-12-30T13:06:00.000-05:00This post has been removed by a blog administrator...This post has been removed by a blog administrator.OHenrynoreply@blogger.com