October 04, 2005

SUV Drivers' "Freedom" is an Albatross!

Check out today's WSJ, where Gina Chon reports:

...falling resale values for traditional SUVs are making it harder for car owners who want to trade for less gas-thirsty vehicles.

[...]

The prices of used sport-utility vehicles have fallen by roughly 10% in the past few months, leaving many consumers stuck in rides they can't profitably trade in.

According to Kelley Blue Book, the value of a 2004 Ford Expedition fell by 9.8% to $22,200 from January to October, while the price of a 2004 GMC Yukon fell by 6.9% to $25,700 in the same period. The 2004 Hummer H2 was worth $41,700 in January but is now valued at $39,000.

[...]

"We've heard from a number of dealers that say they aren't taking SUVs as trade-ins any longer," Mr. McCready said. "Dealers see themselves in a risk position now because they already have a number of SUVs on their lot."

It must be getting a little stuffy in that big, slow and stupid SUV. $100 for a tank of gas. Lowering trade in value. Ha! SUV Owners of America, your so called "basic right to own and operate the vehicle of...choice and to use it for whatever transportation purpose" is more of an albatross than freedom!

December 08, 2004

DC Raises Fees, Taxes on SUVs; Lowers Them on Hybrids

The Washington Post reports:

The D.C. Council approved legislation yesterday that will require District owners of large, luxury sport-utility vehicles to pay a higher excise tax and registration fee next year, after concluding that the vehicles contribute to air pollution and street damage.

But under the new legislation, residents with clean-air hybrid cars will no longer have to pay an excise tax and will have their vehicle registration fees cut in half...

The new excise tax on large SUVs would increase from 7 percent to 8 percent of the vehicle's market value. An owner whose SUV has a sticker price of $60,000, for example, would pay an excise tax of $4,800, an increase of $600. The excise tax is a one-time payment made when an owner registers the vehicle.

The vehicle registration fee on SUVs also will increase, from $115 to $155.

September 15, 2003

New Anti-SUV Bumper Stickers Have Arrived

"SUVs: Roll Over And Die" stickers have just arrived, in time for a new report on SUVs that is covered in this New York Times story.

They measure 3x5", and are made of real bumper sticker material (whatever that is). It depicts a overturned Chevy Blazer SUV with an exhortation to SUV owners everywhere: ROLL OVER AND DIE!

If you'd like one, send me a SASE. They are FREE!
Chris
PO BOX 53357
Washington, DC 20009

Note that the report covered by the New York Times was not written in conjunction with government agencies, because doing so would trigger openness requirements. It's hard to trust a report written in secrecy, especially one that is provided weeks in advance to the regulated industry before being released to the public.

August 29, 2003

Move to the City, Fatty!

The Washington Post reports: Suburban sprawl appears to be contributing to the nation's obesity epidemic, making people less likely to walk and more likely to be overweight, researchers reported yesterday.

June 21, 2002

Screw Your SUV.

Send me a SASE, and I'll send you a "Screw Your SUV" or "Fuck Your SUV" sticker. Update: I am out of stickers! Sorry everyone. I'll come up with a new one soon.

May 13, 2002

Tom Paine on SUVs

Just when you thought that all the reasons to hate SUVs were well-documented, Tom Paine Publishes Another….