Gas Guzzler Tax ???

[Copper Top]

Went to my local Chevy dealership today and spoke with a salesman about the New ZL1. He informed me of the same basic information as this web-site but added he felt there would be a gas gluzzer tax added to the sticker price once the vehicle hits dealerships next year. He said the gas gluzzer tax is based on the horsepower to weight ratio and felt the ZL1 would fall into this catagory. The current gas gluzzer tax on the ZR1 Corvette is $3000. He said depending on the final weight of the ZL1, he felt the Gas Gluzzer Tax would be $2500 - $2700. Anyone hearing this rumor?

[robertway]

Don't think it has anything to do with power to weight bit what the final combined mpg rating is after the EPA testing done, depending upon how far the rating falls below "the threshold" determines the amount of the tree-hugger tax. Never heard of the power having any impact on that.

The ZR1 gets 14/20 so around 17 combined which is why it gets slammed with the guzzler tax

[Mr. Wyndham]

The CTS-V gets hit with a $1300 gas-guzzler tax with the manual transmission, and a $2600 GG tax with an automatic.

That's because it's fuel economy, like Robert said - falls below the EPA's "minimum" (which they use a formula based on non-sticker fuel economy numbers to determine...). The GT500 escaped the tax for the first time this year by squeezing out a 15/23. Even a half mpg less, and it would have been nailed.

I imagine Chevy wants to avoid that if they can. It's certainly not a selling point versus a car that doesn't incur the tax...We'll see though - fuel economy numbers haven't been released, yet, so we don't know.

[Shurenuff]

I'm definitely budgeting with a GG tax in mind.

IMO, look at the CTS-V to get a good idea of what that tax will be for the M6 and auto versions of the ZL1. That number the salesman quoted sounds pretty close to what the auto CTS-V gets taxed as far as I can recall. The M6 is a little cheaper, something around $1500.

[OldJedi]

This would come under the heading of;

The Gas Guzzler Tax does not have anything to do with power to weight ratio.

[Blackdevil77]

The Z06 has 505 horse power and has no tree huger tax. It gets "acceptable" mileage because it's light weight. It all has to do with the mileage over anything else. Something could have 200 horse power and get terrible mileage, so will still get hit with the gg tax

[slick rick]

Does the manual CTS-V have CAGS?

[Beechdoctor]

Originally Posted by Blackdevil77

The Z06 has 505 horse power and has no tree huger tax. It gets "acceptable" mileage because it's light weight. It all has to do with the mileage over anything else. Something could have 200 horse power and get terrible mileage, so will still get hit with the gg tax

Except the Z06 does not have parasitic drag from the S/C...especially costly on the highway.

ZR1 lowered its GG tax this year from $1300 to $1000 with a revised gearbox ratio.

I'm expecting about a $1200 to $1500 GG on the ZL1....it will likely have a very tall overdrive gear to do its best on the highway

[KLR ZL1]

Yea, look at trucks even though they are under different fuel constraints. My 2011 Ford F-250 work truck only gets 16 on the freeway and about 12 in the city. So they they can't base it on weight.

[-Trigger-]

ok here you go read away People
http://www.epa.gov/fueleconomy/guzzler/420f11033.pdf

[shockandawe]

That guzzler tax may knock me out of buying the ZL1.

[robertway]

Originally Posted by shockandawe

That guzzler tax may knock me out of buying the ZL1.

The gg tax on the automatic CTS-V is $2600 so that is what I would think to be the worst case scenario on this car. I think GM would have missed the mark BIG TIME if this car comes in over that and to be honest I would think they would want to come in much less than that.

With the auto tranny apparently tuned for 2nd gear starts under normal driving conditions and maybe a really tall 6th gear which should be no problem for this torque monster maybe GM can get it to come in at $1300-$1700.

Even if it were $2600, that is going to be less than 5% of what the "out the door" price on this car is gonna be. Maybe if one were to sign an agreement at the time of purchase agreeing to hold ones breath while driving to offset the car's carbon emmisions the feds would wave the tree-hugger tax.

It does create a pain point for those of us looking at an auto tranny, probably $1000-$1300 increase for the tranny and the possible $2600 for Ceasar really does make it start to add up.Plus 7% sales tax here in Jersey, 18 cent fed excise tax plus 33 cent state excise tax on gas, plus... you get the point.... I better stop

[robertway]

Originally Posted by CamaroMiami

Word to the wise guys/gals,
I'm saving the extra money now for the GG Tax by buying the wife a half dozen of flowers instead of the usual dozen, I treat her to my cooking a little more often rather than taking her out to diner, I car-pool with her two or three time a week to work, I cut my own yard now rather than paying a lawn service. I fuss when there are lights on in a room and no one is in there. The list is long......

Do everyone get my drift?

Much better to just plan for the worst case the go like this when it "unexpectedly" shows up on the invoice.... By the way, my austerity program is very much in line with yours. My wife started to get concerned when I started a rotating schedule that defined which kids were allowed to eat at which meal throughout the day

[Grimelock2009]

I know that the new 2012 GT500 no longer has a gas gas guzzler tax, so I hope the ZL1 is the same.