Got to love the way taxes work...used hybrid

[biosurfer1]

I just bought a new commute car, a 2008 Camry Hybrid. Loving it so far. Faster, quieter and actually better MPG's so far than my old Civic, plus it has 4 doors and lots of fun options.

One gripe I have is it frustrates me to no end that the government has no problem collecting sales tax over and over again as a car is sold, yet the tax credit for buying a hybrid is only for new cars.

I did not buy the car hoping for a tax credit at all, just think its funny how it only seems to work one way

[widebody911]

Originally Posted by biosurfer1

yet the tax credit for buying a hybrid is only for new cars.

The way I see it, with the popularity of hybrid cars, I don't think they should get a tax credit or HOV privileges. The tax credit and HOV privileges were originally intended as a 'bribe' to get people to buy into a new technology.

[biosurfer1]

They don't get HOV privileges any more, and haven't for years. Only electric and transitional hybrids (ones that can run 100% electric like the Volt) get HOV now. Hybrid HOV stickers expired years ago and they should be ticketed if they still use them, but of course they don't.

[kaisen]

Slodave now has an older Camry Hybrid (2007?) and gets significantly better fuel economy than he did with his Corolla. Impressive for difference in size and performance.

[biosurfer1]

so far (and its only been a week) I have been averaging more than the claimed MPG's...about 40 hwy/35 city

[cstreit]

Think of their motivations:

1) They've already encourage the car to get on the road with the initial incentive. What's done, why do they need more incentive?
2) However they also need the money, so double jeopardy tax? No problem!

[Hugh R]

Bought an 08 Camry hybrid new, not one issue. 90k miles I get about 36 mpg in LA. In NYC they have cabs with 300k miles on the original hybrid batteries. When parked you can't rev the engine.

[sammyg2]

Originally Posted by biosurfer1

I just bought a new commute car, a 2008 Camry Hybrid. Loving it so far. Faster, quieter and actually better MPG's so far than my old Civic, plus it has 4 doors and lots of fun options.

One gripe I have is it frustrates me to no end that the government has no problem collecting sales tax over and over again as a car is sold, yet the tax credit for buying a hybrid is only for new cars.

I did not buy the car hoping for a tax credit at all, just think its funny how it only seems to work one way

I agree that it doesn't make sense, we need to eliminate ALL tax credits associated with these cars. New or used.

[legion]

I guess to me, a used hybrid is like a used condom.

Those battery packs are expensive, and you have no idea what their condition is.

[biosurfer1]

True, but I don't see the battery packs like an engine. 20,000 miles on an engine can be 20,000 of regular to work/home miles or they could be 20,000 miles from one of these rice rocket teenagers who know two speeds, WOT/Stop.

With batteries, is there anyway to abuse them like you can with an engine? And if someone were like that, seems like a hybrid would be the last car they would want to buy.

[red-beard]

Aurel is the battery expert!

A lot goes into the battery life equation

Charge and Discharge current
How deep the cycle
How many Cycles
Temperature

[kaisen]

Originally Posted by biosurfer1

With batteries, is there anyway to abuse them like you can with an engine?

Not really. The controller's algorithms are set by the manufacturer (Toyota) to control the variables Red Beard mentioned. It won't allow a complete discharge, or a rapid charge past nearly-full, etc. About the only big variable in a smaller hybrid (Camry, Fusion, etc) would be temperature or lack of use.

Anecdotally, they last decades with normal use. Even if they fail, there are decent used batteries available for less than the cost to repair a failed wiring harness of a late model German car.

[jyl]

Yes, and buying a used conventional car has never yielded a lemon.

Take used hybrid to dealer, run checks on battery, call it the next-gen PPI.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Sales tax on used cars is total BS. Infuriates me every time that I have to pay it.

[Tobra]

I would not feel so bad about it if I thought they would spend the money wisely.

Lot of business "taxes" here too, though a lot are called "fees" instead, as that allows a little legislative prestidigitation to be performed to avoid the law. I paid two fees in Texas, my professional license which is 900 and the DPS narcotic license that is like 25. Here, I pay the license, which is about twice as high, there is a business license, x ray machine license, x ray operator license, property taxes on everything at my office, and almost certainly other stuff that does not come to mind. This is annually.

I would be interested in a video of them standing in the Senate or Assembly chamber, chanting, "We're number 50, we're number 50!" Hilarious

[Por_sha911]

Wait till there are enough hybrids on the road for the govt to start taxing you extra because you aren't using as much gas and they need the money you would have spent in gas tax to "fix the roads and bridges".
There is no end to tax and spend with a certain group.

[aschen]

wait is there a tax credit for a plain ol regular hybrid? I thought it had to be extended range plug in variety. Maybe that explains why everything seems to be a hybrid these days.

[aschen]

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

Sales tax on used cars is total BS. Infuriates me every time that I have to pay it.

Same here, more infuriating is that you dont have to pay for the "difference" in trade in for dealers. It gives the dealers one more advantage for screwing customers on trade ins.

[island911]

Well, yeah. Some 'animals on the farm' are more equal than others.

[vash]

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

Sales tax on used cars is total BS. Infuriates me every time that I have to pay it.

You've financed small wars!


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