White House lowers 2025 CAFE target

http://green.autoblog.com/2011/07/26/report-white-house-lowers-2025-cafe-target-to-54-5-mpg/



These kind of numbers just seem so unreasonable to me. I drive a Dodge Caravan mini-van currently that I'm told should be getting 17 city and 24 highway. Not even close.

Alright, if I'm on the open freeway,using the cruise and keeping my RPMs right @2000 I can get near the 24 mpg promised (of course the speed limit is 70 and I'm doing @62). City really doesn't come close. Most of the time I average around 12 to 14 mpg. I do all the tricks. Easy acceleration, don't dash from red light to red light, and keep engine well maintained. To get anywhere near a number like 54.5 is just unfathomable to me.

And as the article explains this is after lowering the number from 62. Of course the automakers have lobbying groups that are pushing hard to get this number even lower. They even realize that these kind of numbers are near impossible. That's asking for a 5% increase every year according to the article.

The Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) are regulations in the United States, first enacted by US Congress in 1975,^[1] and intended to improve the average fuel economy of cars and light trucks (trucks, vans and sport utility vehicles) sold in the US in the wake of the 1973 Arab Oil Embargo.

$1 gas price rise cuts SUV value 13%, ups 'econobox' 10% - Drive On: A conversation about the cars and trucks we drive - USATODAY.com

$1 gas price rise cuts SUV value 13%, ups 'econobox' 10% - Drive On: A conversation about the cars and trucks we drive - USATODAY.com


Where do us mini-van drivers stand? Not that it truly matters cause I manage to get the most use out of a vehicle before trading it in as automobile possible. Seriously.

The mileage on one of my retired vehicles is always well into the 300,000 mark. Granted I take excellent care of it. I maintain a clean interior, don't allow back seat smoking, and car washes every couple of days. Under the hood I try to do oil changes right at or just under 4000 miles but sometimes I miss the mark. Tires are rotated regular. Replaced as needed. Anything else that goes wrong is always replaced with new parts, no second hand refurbished or salvaged parts. Can't afford a second break down time loss.

So when I do a trade-in I get high marks for condition, but that's offset by low marks for high mileage. I get about fair condition market value the way it is now. My concern on this matter is for more of the everyday casual driver. If they maintained their vehicle like me, but had the much lower mileage how would they fair in resale? That's why reading such articles is so enlightening.

Uncle Sam Tries to Drive Us Bonkers

Uncle Sam Tries to Drive Us Bonkers

Woman says TSA hair search amounts to racial profiling - The Hill's Transportation Report

Woman says TSA hair search amounts to racial profiling - The Hill's Transportation Report


So this is how far the TSA has gone. They actually want to search hair. Undoubtedly the victim in this case is right. TSA racially profiled her. Some of the comments posted  to this story are truly unbelievable. (e.g.)

You know what they say, if the hair fits, search it.

President Obozo probably put this woman up to screaming racism so that it would distract from the 9.2% national unemployment rate announced today.

Anytime you search an African American, it "seems fishy to them." 

I had rather have my hair searched than find someone with a bomb in their dreadlocks sitting next to me on a plane.

What will it be next. Because someone black gets a seat assignment in the back of the plane, that will be racism as well.

All these kinds of complaints come from the fact that President Obama had done more to hurt race relations in this country than to help them.

Let's call it like it is and stop playing around because we are afraid to speak out candidly about race for fear of being labeled a racist.

TSA, search hair, cracks, mouths and eyebrows on everyone, regardless of this racial screaming. Better safe than sorry.BY IF THE HAIR FITS on 07/08/2011 at 14:47


This kind of reaction is a bit over the top I think. Obviously this person is not a frequent flyer who has had his/her personal self assaulted by the TSA. Far to many horror stories from America's airports by far too many people for this kind of unsympathetic thinking. The story should be read as it is meant; the TSA like Homeland Security are far overstepping the bounds of our civil liberties. It's time we, the people, stop this kind of communistic onslaught by our government.  I say hip-hip-hooray to the lady who spoke up and called it like it was.