Wednesday, November 7, 2012

New Mileage Rules Could Price Some Families Out Of Cars

The Obama administration recently finalized rules that will require cars and light-duty trucks sold in the U.S. to get 54.5 miles per gallon by 2025, which is roughly double the current standards. While this mandate has some great benefits (its expected to save drivers more than $8,000 in fuel over the life of a given vehicle and reduce the nation’s oil consumption by more than two million barrels a day), an article in the Auto section of the Spokesman-Review says the new requirements could drive up the price of a new car beyond some families’ reach.

The National Automobile Dealers Association estimates the average car’s sticker price could rise by around $3,000 once the new rules are phased in. Here's the article.

4 comments:

Charles said...

Well if it is possible I think it is a good idea, one big down side is the drop in the fuel tax collected.

SRTC Staff said...

The way I see it is that I'm never going to be able to afford a new car anyway. Have never had one and probably never will. But you're right, that will put a dent in gas tax revenues, which are already down from less people driving.

vanillajane said...

I frankly cannot understand how any family making under 100K with two kids could afford a brand new car or truck.

SRTC Staff said...

Especially if you have a two-car household. Or you're putting kids through college. Or you just have any other expenses. I have friends who pay $500 per month car payments. The mortgage on my first house wasn't that much!


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SRTC is the federally designated Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for Spokane County. Urbanized areas with populations exceeding 50,000 people are required to have an MPO. SRTC was formed to address the county's transportation planning needs. It provides coordination in planning between the public, cities, small towns, the county, the state, transit providers, and tribes.

SRTC offers services including transportation monitoring, transportation modeling, census information analysis, travel demand forecasting, historical traffic count analysis, geographic information systems, and trip generation rates.