Try Chicago now for tolls every 10 mi.

"Should have lived in NJ 15 - 20 years ago. Every 10 miles was a tool booth. It was HELL driving down the tnpk."

Actually, that was the Garden State Parkway. The NJ Turnpike has always had toll booths only at exits, whereas the GSP uses toll barriers across the roadway. There are fewer of them than there used to be, but the GSP still uses toll barriers.

"Should have lived in NJ 15 - 20 years ago. Every 10 miles was a tool booth. It was HELL driving down the tnpk."

I did it a couple of times, then decided to use I95. Traffic at the Delaware Memorial Bridge sometimes backs up into Maryland. You only have to sit there for 20 minutes if you follow I95 rather than taking the bridge, which could cost you another hour.

The Beatles were all over this!

Remember Taxman ?

Let me tell you how it will be
There's one for you, nineteen for me
Cuz I'm the taxman, yeah... I'm the taxman

Should five per cent appear too small
Be thankful I don't take it all
Cuz I'm the taxman, yeah... I'm the taxman

If you drive a car, I'll tax the street
If you try to sit, I'll tax your seat
If you get too cold I'll tax the heat
If you take a walk, I'll tax your feet

Taxman!
Cuz I'm the taxman, yeah... I'm the taxman

Taxman!

P.S. How many of you get the melody going right in your head when you read the words?

because why do you need a v8 just to commute to work??
Some people need it. Contractors, Farmers, those with livestock, etc.

A while back there was a car commercial here in the midwest that showed a perfectly good reason to have a midsized or large V8. A family of 6 was driving down the highway in their Tahoe or whatever it was. Next to them was a different family of 6 with suitcases and such as if going to spend holidays elsewhere. They were in 3 seperate cars. I do not own an SUV but there are times a family needs one.

just because you have a big car,you dont have to have a big engine,a lot of larger vehicles in the uk have turbo-diesel engines,and the amount of torque they produce is amazing!the latest vw tdi 2.0 litre,produces 170 bhp,and 260 pounds of torque,yet can do over 40mpg,perhaps diesels are the way forward in the usa??

The point is not everybody can get by with little straight 4 cylinders.

And some of us here in the USA have been wanting diesels in a wide array of vehicles ever since Moses crossed the Red Sea. But they simply are not offered. I would love to have one.

There are a number of 4 cylinder diesels in the works. All Japanese makers offer diesel overseas, and they are now preparing them for over here. Ford has just received an $80 million grant from the Canadian government to build diesel engines in Windsor, just across the border from Detroit.

Generally speaking, taxes are the source of income for people who do no productive work for a living...The 35-400 progression is just another way of "soaking the rich", the only people who drive/own V8 powered cars in GB....

Caddyman, like you I am against taxing things that really don't need to be taxed. However, there are several reasons why European countries tax large cars and big engines; the very congested streets, narrow highways, the environment (greenhouse gasses, pollution), and the country's balance of payments.

In the past Britain was a net oil importer, hence the gas guzler tax. It is about to beome a net oil importer again.

In another post some time back, I speculated that if global warming and air pollution were not an issue, the US was a net EXPORTER of oil, and infrastructure costs were not important, we would not need any gas guzzler taxes.

Unfortunately, Boone Pickens recently pointed out, the oil and oil products import bill is in process of undermining the US dollar, creating an unheard-of trade deficit, and giving great economic power to unreliable and often hostile countries.

The next guy in the White House will have to address this issue, and you will likely see higher gas guzler taxes, even stiffer CAFE standards, etc. to address this problem. The silver lining in this will be very efficient and lighter cars, new technology in propulsion systems, and a wider choice of vehicles. It's just that the Suburban and F350 pickup will be much more expensive for private owners. Busineses will just pass on these expenses.