Big Brother is watching you, or he will be, at least.

On Capitol Hill, members of Congress are throwing support behind a new piece of legislation that will swap the gasoline tax for a mileage tax, allowing the government to tax drivers based on the number of miles they drive rather than the amount of fuel they consume. According to proponents of the plan, the demand for higher fuel-efficiency and the sudden influx of hybrid cars are in danger of stymying the flow of revenue reaped from the gasoline tax. Specifically, Congress is concerned that the nation’s bridges and roads will fall into a state of neglect without the gasoline tax to fund new projects. Fearing that the jobs of countless municipal workers standing around smoking Marlboro’s and jabber-jawing might be in jeopardy, Congress has proposed levying a mileage tax to ensure a “more reliable source” of funding. The devil, however, is in the details.

While a mileage tax would theoretically level the playing field between different types of vehicles, opponents of the plan cite a host of potential problems, chief among them the stark violation of privacy. Currently, the only successful method by which to monitor and record a vehicle’s activity from a satellite location is via GPS device, which would allow the government to constantly monitor a vehicle’s every move. Although White House spokesman Robert Gibbs firmly stated that a mileage tax “is not and will not be a policy of the Obama administration,” staunch supporters of the tax like Rep. James Oberstar (D-Minn.) appear ready to go head-to-head with their own party in favor passing the tax. In response to Gibbs’ immediate dismissal of the suggestion, Oberstar reportedly said, “I have news for you, transportation policy is not going to be written from the press room of the White House.”

Source: Detroit Free Press

Still the review must be tough news with Tesla CEO recently claiming to need a government bailout of 350 Million to continue production of the fuel saving sports car. Although tax payers are scratching their heads as to why a car for rich guys (109k that’s all who can afford it) needs such a hefty tax credit.

Sébastien Loeb  is the Champion of Champions, for the 4th time after winning the Race of Champions today. In the race, drivers from NASCAR, FQ, WRC, and DTM face off in evenly matched cars on a twisty course in Wembly Stadium, London U.K.  Loeb came out victorious in the challenge of skill by .3 seconds.

For those who have been treating Audi cars as functional, reliable and offering usual road performance, it time to face the truth, the new Audi R8 V10 is about speed and great road performance solely. R8 V 10 will debut at the Detroit Motor Show next month and it can be already named the fastest production R8 yet.

The main feature of the car is its 5.2 liter engine offering 528 hp, the same as in the Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4. The R8 has unusual LED headlights and daytime running lights. The car features fewer slats on the front bumper in order to make air flow better. The back of the car looks completely different since there appeared a new rear diffuser to generate more downforce. The top speed is 315 km/h.

Here you can choose from either a six-speed manual gearbox or an R tronic semi-auto. The R8 V10 will cost 121,800 pounds in the UK (140,800 euros). The car is a must for those who are crazy about buying high end sports cars.

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Although it isn’t bad everywhere.  In Qatar the persuit of luxury cars is still moving full speed head.

“As a Qatari banker I have some apprehensions about the global financial downturn, but I think Qatar should do fine and we are relatively safe here,” he observed. The auto lover agreed that cost is a factor when considering a new car. “I am hoping to negotiate a lower price,” he said.
Source: Quatardealers.com – Qatar’s car buffs are unfazed by meltdown

For better or worse, the Scion xB has from its inception been an inexpensive, attention grabbing, cubist dream car.  So as a follow up to the first generation version, Scion has done some rather unpopular things to the xB for 2009.  Specifically, raising the price and smoothing out the edges.

Cavernous xB Interior

Without a doubt, the new xB will be more attractive, if only marginally, to those turned off by the previous version’s “designed only with a ruler” styling.  Unfortunately, the slightly more curvaceous 2009 xB comes with a significant price increase to a base price that is over ,000 as well.  Even so, the xB is still relatively inexpensive and does not seem overpriced.  Besides the rounding off of the corners, the xB is also bigger, and more powerful than the original.  Only one engine is offered for the 2008 Scion xB, a 2.4-liter 158 horsepower in-line four cylinder.  With more power, the xB has unfortunately lost some fuel efficiency. The EPA rates the xB at 22 miles per gallon in the city and 28 mpg on the highway.  Weight has increased by about 600 pounds which does not help its fuel economy.  Additionally, the xB’s new engine is still as noisy as its predecessor, which adds to the wind, tire and transmission sounds that are at least partially the result of the stilll-boxy aerodynamics.

On a positive note, the interior is spacious inside the deceptively small-looking xB.  Naturally the general shape lends itself to a generous amount of headroom and seats four passengers in relative comfort and five in a pinch.  Not surprisingly the Scion utilizes mostly plastic materials, inside, but Toyota has mastered the art of making them feel at least marginally upscale.  One of the draws for Scion owners is vehicle upgrades and customization.  Even so, the list of standard equipment includes a six-speaker stereo system with a standard auxiliary input jack and a second input jack specific to iPods, audio controls on the steering wheel, power windows, and remote keyless entry.  To keep the cost down, most other things, including GPS, can be added at the dealership or through aftermarket means.  Perhaps most importantly, the interior provides a large amount of interior space, almost 70 cubic feet of room with the rear seats folded down in which to utilize for hauling cargo.  In the final analysis, even as a slightly quirky, noisy and more expensive vehicle, the xB is deserving of consideration for inexpensive and practical basic transportation.

1. How often will you be driving the car. Just weekends? Only in the summer? Or everyday? This is another large factor. Know that in the event that anything goes wrong, your insurer will check the the mileage. Deliberate over-use on a light policy could nullify your policy, and fixing these cars out of pocket isn’t cheap. Most insurers offer packages ranging from 1,000 to 6,000 annual mileage.
2. The type of vehicle. is it an antique, Custom, Exotic, Street Rod?
3. Membership to a prestige car club. Believe it or not, many insurers give discounts based on membership to a car club. As far as their actuarial tables are concerned, it shows an added level of responsibility and commitment to taking care of the asset.
4. The type of coverage that the insurance company specializes in. A broad market insurance company may use high prices to discourage customers from taking luxury policies that they are not equipped to manage. Look for an insurer who specializes in your type of vehicle. Most of the insurance companies who handle classic and collectible cars provide service for new exotics. Luxury car insurance rates typically run about 20% more than traditional policies.
5. An agreed upon value. This is unique because traditional insurance policies provide coverage on the Kelly Blue Book listed value, which does not consider the value of antiques, after market modifications, expensive stereo system, and a variety of other attributes that make your car more valuable than the standard tables are capable of estimating.
6. In addition to standard insurance options (like uninsured motorist, bodily injury, PIP, etc.), your luxury coverage may also include:

• Glass coverage is also very important windshields are prone to cracking, and can be very expensive to replace given the scarcity of parts with collectibles and exotics.
• Accessories should also be included. It may not sound like much, but car covers can be stolen easily and are surprisingly expensive to replace.
• Speaking of things being stolen – having a good security system will also improve your rate

Where to find Luxury Car insurance? Start with your auto dealer.  Then check out the back of Car & Driver, Hemming’s Motor News, or the Robb Report, where they typically advertise. There are a bunch of websites that claim to offer it as well, as always you should exercise caution before submitting any personal information online.

Drive safe and have fun!

Additional links on this topic:

http://www.carinsurancerates.com/news/331-insuring-your-luxury-car.html

http://automotive-insurance.suite101.com/article.cfm/buy_antique_auto_insurance
http://www.heacockclassic.com/site/
http://www.classicautoquote.com/

http://carinsuranceassist.blogspot.com/2008/04/3-tips-to-buy-luxury-car-insurance.html

The latest Italian stallion smacks of the marketing men but it’s still a thriller, writes James Mills

Larry, we’re watching you!

Source: TMZ