Cars & Bikes, Driving & Riding

Postby **NTP66** » Fri Jul 30, 2021 10:55 am

They started milling the main road by my house last week (Haymayker) that connects to business 22 and then the parkway/turnpike. They milled it last week, thought they were going to pave it this week.. but nope. I now wonder how long it will take for them to start paving it haha.

That's kind of what I'm afraid of. Great, they started milling, but if they leave it like this forever, it's only slightly better than it was previously.

Postby **mac5155** » Fri Jul 30, 2021 12:03 pm

Speaking of, I read this article yesterday. PennDOT is mostly complete with sucking off the teat of the Turnpike. Which has left the Turnpike with $14B in debt, but at least they can recover now.

https://triblive.com/news/pennsylvania/ ... o-penndot/

My takeaway is that vehicle sales tax will probably increase in the coming years.

I also assume that many more bridge tolls and the like will be implemented soon.

Luckily our registration and gas taxes are already through the roof also.

Maybe they could plop down a few more casinos.

Postby **mac5155** » Fri Jul 30, 2021 12:04 pm

I also heard about a "miles driven" tax. Hah.

Postby **dodint** » Fri Jul 30, 2021 12:06 pm

I also heard about a "miles driven" tax. Hah.

I am actually for this, in lieu of a gas tax. Not that it would work that way.
We talked about it before, rural Tony's think it's unfair that they have to pay more because they drive more.

But it is one of the fairest ways to do it now that electric cars seem inevitable.

Postby **robbiestoupe** » Fri Jul 30, 2021 12:23 pm

There was a PG article about this a few weeks ago. The issue was the per mile tax was going to be something like $.07. And you just know they'd find a way to reinstitute the gas tax a few years down the road so not only will we be paying $800/year in mileage tax, but continue to pay out the wazoo for gas.

Edit: Here's the article: https://www.post-gazette.com/news/trans ... 2107140143

It's actually 8.1 cents per mile

Postby **AuthorTony** » Fri Jul 30, 2021 12:42 pm

I am actually for this

The guy who avoids the turnpike is in favor of a per mile tax. Interesting...

I'm not opposed to a per mile tax if they drop the tax at the pump and the price is reasonable. 8.1 cents per gallon sounds ridiculous though. I get 17 mpg in my Wrangler these days so that would come out to the equivalent of $1.38 per gallon tax. It would be even worse for folks with fuel efficient vehicles. If you get 35 mpg, you'd be up to $2.84 "per gallon" tax.

Edit: I'm on less than 1 hour of sleep and now that I look at those numbers, I wonder if I'm doing something wrong. PA gas tax is what, 60ish cents per gallon currently?

Postby **dodint** » Fri Jul 30, 2021 1:03 pm

The $.081 rate is per mile, not gallon, so I think that throws all your numbers out.

Aside; I'd be more inclined to take the TP now that the money isn't going to **** Pennsyltucky Rt. 98whocares.

Postby **AuthorTony** » Fri Jul 30, 2021 1:06 pm

The $.081 rate is per mile, not gallon, so I think that throws all your numbers out.

Aside; I'd be more inclined to take the TP now that the money isn't going to **** Pennsyltucky Rt. 98whocares.

Yeah. I was just trying to make an equivalency as to how it would compare to a traditional gas tax. But I probably fouled something up. I'm barely functioning today.

Postby **robbiestoupe** » Fri Jul 30, 2021 1:10 pm

You have to figure it this way: If you drive 10 miles in your Wrangler and 10 miles in the 35mpg car, you use .59 gallons of fuel for your vehicle and .29 gallons of fuel for the 35mpg car. Start charging a per mile tax, each pay the same amount.

In that sense, it discourages people to use fuel efficient cars. Even if they still have to pay for fuel, the overall cost will go down (until like I said, they raise the taxes again)

Postby **DigitalGypsy66** » Fri Jul 30, 2021 1:31 pm

Also catch the electric car drivers, too.

Postby **dodint** » Fri Jul 30, 2021 1:35 pm

Yeah, but you lose the out-of-state drivers that are passing through and filling up. It's a neat problem to think through.

Postby **robbiestoupe** » Fri Jul 30, 2021 3:22 pm

yup

At least the article I posted said the 8.1c/mi charge was "Phase 3" of the program. You have to figure they're expecting the electric car market to boom, otherwise there aren't enough electric cars now to make the switch.

Do charging stations charge money? If so, it's easy to add a tax to that. If not, why not charge a fee to whomever is supplying the electricity? Somebody's paying for it, go after them. And if they have to pass that on to the consumer, so be it.

Postby **faftorial** » Fri Jul 30, 2021 3:29 pm

Gas tax for gas cars, mileage tax for electric cars.

Postby **AuthorTony** » Fri Jul 30, 2021 3:31 pm

Gas tax for gas cars, mileage tax for electric cars.

What about hybrids?

Postby **faftorial** » Fri Jul 30, 2021 3:52 pm

Gas tax for gas cars, mileage tax for electric cars.
What about hybrids?

Half and half.

Postby **mac5155** » Sat Jul 31, 2021 9:40 am

Call me crazy but we could also try and cut some of the fat in PENNDOT to save money. The answer doesn't always have to be tax more.

Postby **faftorial** » Sat Jul 31, 2021 1:19 pm

"Waster, fraud, and abuse."

Postby **NTP66** » Sun Aug 01, 2021 10:51 am

Sunday morning car shows on Motortrend TV, and every single show is basically just a running infomercial. There’s more talk about products than anyone actually doing anything on the shows.

Postby **MR25** » Mon Aug 02, 2021 3:58 pm

Have a bit of a dilemma with my car:

Went in for oil change and service today. For what seems like the 4th time in a row, the dealership says something is wrong with the "control arm" and it won't pass inspection and will cost $1200 to fix.

We've gotten this "fixed" about 3 times now, as it has been an "issue" every single time we get the car serviced (2014 Maxima).

Is this a legitimate issue or a way for the dealership to make an easy $1200? There's absolutely no way this thing keeps getting **** up 6 months after getting fixed. I feel like we're either being lied to, or their mechanics are incompetent.

Postby **DigitalGypsy66** » Mon Aug 02, 2021 4:03 pm

I would get a second opinion, preferably not at a dealership, if possible. That sounds fishy.

Postby **NTP66** » Mon Aug 02, 2021 4:12 pm

I would get a second opinion, preferably not at a dealership, if possible. That sounds fishy.

Postby **faftorial** » Mon Aug 02, 2021 4:52 pm

I would get a second opinion, preferably not at a stealership, if possible. That sounds fishy.

Postby **shmenguin** » Mon Aug 02, 2021 5:07 pm

Gas tax for gas cars, mileage tax for electric cars.

How does a mileage tax work? Like…when it’s inspected? Honor system?

We charge our cars at home. I’m not sure what the options are here.

Postby **AuthorTony** » Mon Aug 02, 2021 5:13 pm

Gas tax for gas cars, mileage tax for electric cars.
How does a mileage tax work? Like…when it’s inspected? Honor system?

We charge our cars at home. I’m not sure what the options are here.

I'd assume when you renew your annual registration.

Postby **shmenguin** » Mon Aug 02, 2021 5:16 pm

Glad I can subsidize climate change, then.