From: rocko@ireland.ssc.gov (Rick O'Leary)
Newsgroups: alt.autos.antique
Subject: Re: Old Car Emissions (Update)
Date: 13 Oct 92 17:25:36 GMT
Organization: 8-Track Museum of Technology

In article <1992Oct13.125344.19075@Princeton.EDU>, farber@triumph.Princeton.EDU (Henry S. Farber) writes:
|> 
|> 
|> In article Mark Shaw writes:
|> 
|>   It's time we started to discriminate old car collectors
|>   from those who simply exploit older cars to avoid local taxes,
|>   higher insurance costs, tougher emissions tests, or save a buck.   
|>   
|>   
|> People who actually use older cars because they cost less are NOT
|> "exploiting" anything except relatively low prices.  This is what we all
|> do when we look for a bargain.  I never buy a new car.  It is
|> ridiculously expensive in all dimensions (purchase cost, insurance,
|> etc).  There is nothing wrong with this.
|> 
|> If there are societal costs of using older cars that the prices do not
|> incorporate, then the prices should be fixed (with taxes) so that we
|> face the right set of incentives when we make our car choices.  For
|> example, older cars could cost more to register.  Regular users of older
|> cars would pay (perhaps much) more for plates to compensate the rest of
|> us for the pollution.  Occasional users of older cars could get antique
|> plates with restricted driving rules for not much more than regular
|> plates.  This would neatly discourage regular use of older cars and its
|> concommitent pollution without punishing the collector.
|> 
|> However, tarring the current regular users of older cars as exploting
|> anything is harsh and misleading.  We all respond to relative prices. 
|> In fact, the proper functioning of our market economy (if it really is
|> functioning properly!) relies on this.
|> 
|> (Now maybe I should zip up my flame suit!)
|> 
|> My gripe about older cars has to do with the new collectors who know
|> nothing about their cars (don't work on em, don't drive em much) but
|> have money and bid up the price until out of reach of the rest of us.  I
|> really have no philosophical problem with this, as people ought to be
|> free to buy what they want.  However, it does sadden me.
|> 
|> For your purusal, here are my family's cars so you can see where I am
|> coming from:
|> 
|> Everyday Cars:
|> 
|> 1983 Mercedes 300TD (125K miles, purchased at 90K miles)
|> 1986 BMW 325 (65K miles, purchased at 50K miles)
|> 
|> Fun cars:
|> 
|> 1960 Triumph TR-3A
|> 1973 BMW 2002tii
|> 
|> Dry weather commuter:
|> 
|> 1982 Yamaha 650 Maxim
|> 
|> The total value of this collection is probably about the same as the
|> cost of a pair of new relatively "nice" Japanese cars.  (Toyota Camry,
|> etc), and it is a heck of a lot more fun. 
|> 
|> Hank Farber
|> farber@princeton.edu
|> 

Please forgive to inclusion of Hank's entire article. It is SO WILDLY

!!!!!!! FLAMABLE !!!!!!!

(Good move putting on the Flame Suit (Tm))

Mark/Hank,

Rest easy. No need to worry if you've abused this group or wasted the time
of the very special people that post here...... I will take that to a new
level.

Facists like your selves needn't post about these many and diverse subjects.
The Ruler Supreme ROSS will soon cut this and all other car related issues
down to size. I am voting for Ross (for this and other reasons) because he
has the gutts to ask for FARE and REASONABLE tax increases on gas. This will
give us a great tax base to rebuild our dying highways and bridges with. I
happen to own a 1969 Chrystler New Yorker with a 440 ci engine. It weighs
4400 lbs. and is as aerodinamic as Ross's big ol' ears. I love it and I'll
drive it till one of us dies. A $300.00 car that gets less than 13 mpg isn't
a good finanial move when gas is $1.50-$1.60-$1.70-$1.80-$1.90-$2.00 over 5
(five) years.

I can hang. Can you?

People that don't like old cars and the pollution they produce will be happy.
	(less people will drive them 'cuase of the gas prices)
Peolpe that like nice, well maintained highways will like it.

People (like me) that love the cars the DETROIT made (and made well) will
still drive the best built cars. They will continue to keep them shiny and
pretty and motoring, some day, will return to the glory days when ride in
the New Yorker was as spacious and pleasent as watching Lucy in your living
room.

P.S.
Hank,
Get a REAL car and a REAL life. BUY AMERICAN. If you don't like new american,
buy old AMERICAN !!!!!!!!!



love and kisses,
Rocko