"Doug Kanter" wrote in
:

"Jim Yanik" . wrote in message
.. .

Now, here's a way for the government to get involved only slightly,
and the car makers to make MORE money on SUVs. The government should
find an incentive (bludgeoning, in other words) to get the car
makers to offer the same SUVs, but with power trains which more
closely approach "normal". "Not like a truck", in other words. The
power train design is the PRIMARY reason these vehicles get such bad
mileage. Give customers the same physical, boxy shape they want,
same choice of motors, but with front wheel drive. The car makers
can reduce the price a little, but probably make more, since most
customers have no real idea how much cheaper it is to make a 2wd
vehicle. And, offer 4wd versions for people who explicitly ask for
them. I don't think many will.





Ah,you want GOVERNMENT to engineer autos.
That's really efficient...yup.Sure.

I've trimmed away all but the important paragraph, above. Show me
where I said the government should engineer cars.




You want govenrment to "bludgeon" automakers to make what government
decides they should make. In order for gov't to decide what to force them
to make,they essentailly are"designing" it.

Your words;
Now, here's a way for the government to get involved only slightly,
and the car makers to make MORE money on SUVs. The government should
find an incentive (bludgeoning, in other words) to get the car
makers to offer the same SUVs, but with power trains which more
closely approach "normal". "Not like a truck", in other words.

Gov't would decide "normal",or whatever they think should fit *their*
desires.That is clearly Soviet-style planning.


--
Jim Yanik
jyanik
at
kua.net