UltimateX

Most test drivers seem to have heavy feet and new cars that are not broken it yet. A bad combination for determining real world fuel economy.

Because in Europe they collect VAT on all new cars, which is basically how the corporations pay taxes, but when they export they get a full VAT credit. This effectively making all exported vehicles tax free to the corporation. Europe basically has a consumption based tax system, where as in the US we tax based on income. Because of the US tax structure we are actually at a disadvantage exporting to foreign countries. They have also been absorbing the cost of the dropping dollar, but apparently have reached a point where they can no longer do it, so expect to see a price increase on European cars in the very near future.

I was just looking at the Ford web site, and the Sync system is now standard on the Limited. Of course the base price on the Limited went up by $385 which is $10 dollars less than the MSRP price for the Sync as a separate item. I ordered mine back in May with Sync so I have been watching it very closely, and it Looks like I might have to pay an extra $10 if the invoice comes in based on my original order. I hopefully I can take delivery of my new vehicle by the end of the month. BTW: I was formerly 2000SableWagon, it was time to change my logon to something more appropriate.

Lets not forget that the dollar seems to be in free fall, and oil for the most part is an import. Seems the dollar is barely worst the paper it is written on these days. This is at least true on the international markets.