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Comments
Trust me, I too couldn't figure out all of those trucks being sold...until I built a new house, EVERY contractor has a truck, foreman, electrician, plumber, landscaper, architect, County inspector, stone mason, painter, security alarm, roofer, windows, etc...on and on and on. As the housing market goes, so goes the auto market, more specifically the truck market.
TagMan
A CO2 tax would hit the poor more than the non-poor since a bigger portion of their income is spent on fuels.
Sort of like Robin Hood stealing from the poor and giving it to the rich :sick:
And your solution? Using C02 funds for lower taxes and credits for the poor.
C'mon let's get realistic now. Those CO2 funds will most likely end up going to pork barrel type of funding that caters to the needs of anyone but the poor.. Politicians are primarily elected by the middle and upper middle classes and usually those elected ones are lobbied by special corporate interests or affluent groups. No wonder politicians tend to ignore the poor and are lousy in distributing government money like Robin Hood :lemon:
BTW I think politics sucks and we'd be better off with a benevolent monarch. Problem is, what if his successor isn't benevolent?
Best of luck to all!
Houdini
2013 LX 570 2016 LS 460
As opposed to... reward what is good.
That's what everyone needs. More of the government trying to tell you what to do and how to spend the money you earned. If whomever is in power does not like what you are doing... bam! More taxes for you. As if the current tax structure is not convoluted enough people want to add even more layers of muck onto it.
BTW: The poor don't pay squat for income tax in the US. If I'm not mistaken (could be wrong because I have not been poor in a long time) they get refunds for money they don't pay in the form of credits. Also, if you plan things out properly most middle-class people don't pay much in income tax either. You don't really start paying the piper until you hit the AMT zone.
When it comes to income tax, I have always thought a flat tax is the best approach. You make a little or a lot, the same percentage applies to all.
TagMan
Depending ont he construction, it really helps to have a truck so you can actually get there. A lot of sites are mud-pits that could bog down a lot of cars. Also, nothing beats a truck when you have to haul around a lot of big, heavy objects.
There is a legitimate role for government to step in, in a situation like that.
If CO2 is bad, many people won't adjust their behavior merely because it is bad for humanity, because a single individual's contribution to global warming is by itself so small, and gets dispersed from the individual's own backyard. But when you add up 6B individuals, it does matter.
Taxation is actually an efficient way to modify individual behavior, for the greater good.
I'm a Republican on many issues, and even I can see that.
I don't mind revealing that I am a "registered" Republican... very conservative generally when it comes to fiscal matters... but I am clearly not endorsing everything that is happening with the current administration... :sick: , and I tend to be a little more moderate regarding environmental concerns, and a few other issues, that I dare not mention or we'll end up in a political debate on an auto forum... hardly a good idea.
Edit: BTW, I provide a truck at my business for deliveries to clients, so when I need one personally, I've got that problem solved... I just borrow it. One time I needed a really huge truck, so I rented one... it was inexpensive actually, and took care of the need rather well.
TagMan
Sounds like me, so we don't have anything to debate!
TM
I'm not saying by any means that I trust government to make these determinations, either. But when it does decide something that I personally agree with, then why not be supportive of that particular effort?
I am going to replace my 2003 MDX. Today I drove the 2008 MDX, Q7 3.6, and the X5 3.0si. I'll give you guys my thoughts regarding each as they drove.
MDX (sport) - Quick, light feel although much tighter than the old MDX, it really felt like Acura spent time on chassis dynamics. Nice controls and layout, still fake wood, the whole car felt not as substantial as the other two. Electronics interfaces and ease of use seem very good.
Q7 - Much heavier feeling, not quite as quick off the line as the MDX. It gave the feeling of security on the road, it handled well and had great brakes. The interior was high quality and less busy than the MDX, the materials used in the seats, trim, and carpets were better than the Acura and the BMW. Largest overall size by almost a foot in length.
X5 - Handled very well, not as quick as I thought it would be. The interior wood is very nice although the overall look is a bit plain. The exterior looks the most aggressive/sporty but the dealer advises changing to snow tires in the winter - seems strange for an SUV. Best combination of options/packages of the three.
I am very happy with the reliability of the old MDX, I'll assume that the new one is just as good. This car is actually primarily for my wife as she uses it to haul around our dogs and fill it with Nordstrom bags.
I did not drive the Benz, or the Lexus. I am not as interested in them but what do you guys think?
I find it very curious that CR tested the RX350 vs MDX, and the Lexus easily beat the MDX in a lane change maneuver. :surprise:
The Q is for true family use, and it's size may hurt economy, and hinder parking. IF it's just a large runabout, I'd stay in the RX/ML/MDX class.
The controls of the BMW may be a major adjustment from the Acura.
I'd include the Lexus and Benz, and strike the Q.
She may want to wait for the slightly smaller EX35 from Infiniti, due early next year. Or Acura RDX?
DrFill
If it is a BMW X5 with a M Sport Package then it's not strange at all. Snow tires would be helpful assuming you live in a place with White Christmases.
Sounds like you and Syswei have everthing to debate with me.
First and foremost today's Republicans are not fiscal conservatives. The current Republicans policies of Big Government, Big Pork Barrel Spending and Big Fiscal Deficits are contradictions to what Fiscal Conservatism is all about.
Even the fiscal conservative Alan Greenspan no longer feels Republican and his alienation from the Republicans made him say the following quote:
Bill Clinton is the best Republican since Ronald Reagan.
But since I am a Canadian and cant run for the Washington Oval Office I think I will take a pass on this matter.
My quick message made it look like I was in charge of the whole process, she actually was with me all day and drove each vehicle. I think she likes the MDX best.
I have owned 3 Benzes so I have no negative feeling there, I just think the GL is too big and the ML doesn't have the 3rd row seat, we do use it enough to justify it. I have never owned a Lexus yet, she didn't like the RX and the others are too big.
I agree with you on the Q, it may be too big, she has already hit my garage three times with the MDX who knows what will happen with a larger vehicle.
I didn't know that Audi stopped the no charge maintenance program last year, it seems that only BMW continues with this program. It makes the Q a little less appealing.
DrFill
My wife's has been without any issues. And I guarantee it drives much better than the Highlander.
TagMan
I agree with some Republican ideals, including fiscal, but don't necessarily agree with the way Republicans have governed in recent years.
If they wouldn't want to save $10k, or save on gas, than maybe I am talking to the wrong people.
DrFill
TagMan
TM
I think I disagree with that. What I remember is that several newspapers went through all the chads and found that Bush indeed won. Maybe someone from FL will remember better and can comment...isn't hpowders from there?
DrFill
All looks are subjective, I actually think that the X5 looks the best but it has other issues that affect its appeal. I think my wife likes the looks of the MDX best but I can understand why Doc and others don't like it. Also as a disclaimer - my wife thinks that I'm good looking and I have major design and shape issues which seem to get worse each year.
On a side note since we all like Luxury cars, the BMW Dealer is dying to move the 7-Series. Great lease deals as the car is in it's last year of production. After the SUV buy, I will decide on my next car as my A8 lease is up in February.
My last redesign didn't go so well, either. I am American after all! LOL! :P
Or maybe I'm a Lexus GS..... :surprise:
DrFill
If the Range Rover had a 3rd row it would be in my garage!
And you are right that the LR3 is no RR. A good friend bought the LR3 and it has been a nightmare for them. Another good friend has owned quite a few Range Rovers over the years without any major issues... and is about to get another one.
The X5... yes... I simply forgot to mention it... I agree that it's a great-looking SUV.
BTW, February is a decent time to have a lease run out. All the new models are in stock by then, and it's an easy time for dealers to be flexible... last day of the month, however, is typically a good day to buy a car.
So... what's going to replace the A8?
TagMan
It occurs to me that 7 lease deals will be getting super-aggressive, whereas with the S and A8, I can't count on subsidized leases for the foreseeable future.
It's a little strange sometimes, because I remember a couple of times that we went skiing on a Saturday and then went to the beach on Sunday!
But I'll definately be reading the advice you get, just in case I ever decide to drive the sedan up there.
TagMan
On this forum, lack of knowledge and experience is often not an impediment to proffering opinions!
Tahoe is pretty extreme, as I recall they can require chains on 2WD vehicles. We will still have an SUV for ski trips, so the sedan is more for around town, sometimes in snow, with more modest hills.
HA! Very true indeed.
TM
You'll rarely find an A8 in Houston/Dallas, for example.
Anytime I see a Quattro ad, it focuses on abilities in the snow. It doesn't snow in a lot of places, nationally. :surprise:
I say buy a car you love from a company you trust.
DrFill
Doc... somehow, IMO, that has a nice ring to it!... that would make a good tag line in a commercial.
Definately words of wisdom from the Doc on that one!!
TagMan
BTW, everything points to another warm winter coming up due to a strong La Nina forming in the Equatorial Pacific.
Now, if you're talking about a lot of snow or treks into the mountains, well, that's a horse of a different story...
'21 Dark Blue/Black Audi A7 PHEV (mine); '22 White/Beige BMW X3 (hers); '20 Estoril Blue/Oyster BMW M240xi 'Vert (Ours, read: hers in 'vert weather; mine during Nor'easters...)
I don't know a whole lot of companies that can use it, doh.
DrFill
And where I live it snows more than where you are at New England.
My RWD car + Snow Tires has been a non-issue even during the worst snow storms up here.
My wife's AWD car + All Seasons is even better in snow/ice than my car.
As long as a person drives more cautiously during blizzards and snow storms the choice between the two alternatives is quite irrelevant.
BUT I hardly ever go up steep hills during a blizzard and I do know that steep hills in certain parts of New England are quite common.
That sounds like an Audi to me. Audi quattros have been trustworthy for decades and their cars stir a great amount of love behind the steering wheel.
I've done a bit of browsing and ran across this from Audi, on a page where they were offering special pricing on winter wheel/tire packages:
Studies show that winter tires can deliver approximately 25 percent more traction than all-season tires. link title
Now, it seems to me that, if in a situation where the car is applying power to go uphill, (for instance if stopped at a light that is on an uphill, then getting going on green....which happens half of the time for me on the way to work) traction would be 100% better with AWD vs 2WD (4 wheels vs 2), but with snows vs all-seasons (on any car), only 25% better.
Thoughts, anyone? Am I mis-thinking this?
I am considering a new A8, S8, S550 4-Matic, LS460 (I don't know if it comes AWD). As strange as it seems there is not much to choose from in this segment. I really want all-wheel drive as I live outside of Boston and whatever new SUV I buy will be with my wife in Florida for 5 months. I had my share of Benz's & BMW's with RWD and all-season tires before, they did well but I think the Quattro has raised the bar - it really worked well the past two winters. If Cyclone4 is correct about the mild winter I'll just drive my Porsche every day.
What do you think is the way to go? It seems like we have a few guys in the Forum with simliar choices.
You don't sound sold on the A8. Why are other cars being considered, if you are happy with your A8?
DrFill