To quote Steve...However, the government created a tremendous loophole in classifying minivans, pickups, and SUVs as trucks exempt from those regulations even if people use them as cars (the spirit of the law instead of the letter of the law). And everyone pays pretty much the same in road taxes whether they're pounding the roads with a three-ton-plus Lincoln Navigator or a one-ton Nissan Sentra. Everyone's insurance has gone up because of increased damage claims made by people in cars who've been hit by a truck or people who don't know how to drive trucks to begin with. There's nothing proportional about that................... Our government has really fumbled the ball here, and after so many years has yet to rectify this situation. I suspect they are trying to protect the remnants of the American auto industry.. I believe we should be far more united with Europe in protecting the environment - that their approach is more balanced and fair.. We have a government that responds too easily to the pressure groups rather than the people in general. The environmentalists and their supporters are probably the single strongest pressure group in Washington and many state capitols as well. I feel that national interests are more important; that we must no longer continue to be dependent on Islamic oil.. One of the solutions to this problem is the Diesel and a much higher standard for fuel economy...

****We do, of course, have plenty of 15 mpg SUVs that meet all U.S. emission specs, but a 50 mpg diesel can't. There's something wrong there.**** The new BLUTEC diesels are 50 state legal as far as emissions go. They pass the California emissons laws. They are as clean as any other engine. And the Jetta with the new engine gets 44 MPG real world. No batteries, no regenerative systems to fail, no paying the tech for schooling, Just a good old fashioned engine that you can take to the local guy for repairs. But let's get some facts straight on the evil oil companies shall we? Exxon does not get one DIME for the oil from the Arabian Gulf. The Shieks get all the money, and pay the companies to do the dirty work. But that's different here in the USA. If you strike oil in your backyard, that oil money is all yours. So Exxon buys the land and spends the money to explore for the oil. They spend the money to extract the oil. They work the logistics to get the oil from the site and have it all in place before they get paid for it. Then they have to refine it. THEN they get paid. Big evil oil made an average of 8.2 CENTS per dollar in sales last year. EIGHT CENTS! The Government made TWICE AS MUCH on that same oil! And yes, EXXON may own wells here in the US and they made an OBSCENE profit of TEN CENTS per dollar earned! Yes, they earned 36 Billion last year in profits. But they had to sell 360 Billion gallons to do it! But it's estimated that 42% of Americans get money from those profits via 401Ks or company pension plans. Because those plans are indeed buying oil stocks every day. Wouldn't you? Now the land in the Gulf of Mexico is not private land. So I feel the Government should call it Federal Land just like out west and get all the oil money from the wells as is done in the Arabian Gulf. Pay the companies just like the Arabs do. The Treasury will fill up and we'll have our own oil.

RE: Help in choosing a large SUV Posted by: beaglebuddy (My Page) on Mon, Mar 13, 06 at 21:59 Could an attorney please step in and explain this to johndeere ? If the person hit is injurded and is in the Hospital for a long period of time and has surgery and then needs Thearapy.Has to take medication for the rest of his life.Then his pain and suffering and lost wages and can not pay his bills.Who do you think pays?Just because your insurance pays $10.000 per victim medical and you have say a $600.000 Liabilty.Does not mean your off the hook.Just because that is all they will pay.Because chances are that will not cover it. If the victim dies.Your not going to get off cheaper.Because a funeral is cheaper then if they lived and had huge medical bills.Say the victim is 40 years old and made $50.000 per year.The family would recieve a minimum of $50.000 x until his kids are grown.Not counting pain and suffering. Insurance Co.Cover there rearend and will only pay so much.You pay the remainder and that very well could be the larger portion. Could a Dr. please step in and explain this to beaglbuddy?

Someone ran into me back in Nov and totaled my 2008 ES 350 Lexus, and I purchased the the 2016, same model, shortly afterwards. I didn't test drive any other car! I love the way it sits, not too high or too low, as with many of the new models. It has every option known to man, a very generous trunk, and spacious back seat. I've had a couple of 'altercations' with heavy truck treads on the road, which caused absolutely no damage to the under carriage. DD has a Kia and had the same thing happen,and did cause damage and a part needs replacing. It also feels heavier than most cars I have ridden in as a passanger. Also free car wash any time I need/want. ;)