For this mileage:

Manual: 17 mpg / 29 mpg Automatic: : 16 mpg / 21 mpg

This is according to a review of the car by Edmunds
http://www.edmunds.com/new/2004/pont...ightbanner.1.*

in which the only option listed is a $1000 gas guzzler tax

Good thing they haven't caught on to the RX-8's mileage yet

 

Interesting. I had no idea this was still around. Good info on the gas Guzzler Tax here.


What is the Gas Guzzler Tax?
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The Energy Tax Act of 1978 established a Gas Guzzler Tax on the sale of new model year vehicles whose fuel economy fails to meet certain statutory levels. The gas guzzler tax applies only to cars (not trucks) and is collected by the IRS. The fuel economy figures used to determine the Gas Guzzler Tax are different from the fuel economy values provided on this web site and the Fuel Economy Guide. The tax does not depend on your actual on-the-road mpg, which may be more or less than the EPA published value. The purpose of the Gas Guzzler Tax is to discourage the production and purchase of fuel inefficient vehicles. The amount of any applicable Gas Guzzler Tax paid by the manufacturer will be disclosed on the automobile's fuel economy label (the window sticker on new cars).

GAS GUZZLER TAX
Unadjusted MPG(combined)* Tax
at least 22.5 No tax
at least 21.5, but less than 22.5 $1000
at least 20.5, but less than 21.5 $1300
at least 19.5, but less than 20.5 $1700
at least 18.5, but less than 19.5 $2100
at least 17.5, but less than 18.5 $2600
at least 16.5, but less than 17.5 $3000
at least 15.5, but less than 16.5 $3700
at least 14.5, but less than 15.5 $4500
at least 13.5, but less than 14.5 $5400
at least 12.5, but less than 13.5 $6400
less than 12.5 $7700

* The combined fuel economy MPG value (55 % city, 45 % highway) is used to determine tax liability. The MPG value is also adjusted slightly to account for differences in test procedures made since the base year. The MPG value is not adjusted for in-use short fall. The unadjusted combined MPG of a vehicle can be approximated from the city and highway values provided in the Fuel Economy Guide and on this website by the following equation:

(1/(.495/city MPG + .351/highway MPG))+.15


Since this is an approximate calculation, the actual gas guzzler tax may be off by one tax bracket.

 

That sucks for the people who purchaced the Doge SRT10 pick up with the Viper motor in it. That thing gets 9mpg!

 

What's crazy is does the Carrera GT!! I always thought they'd be more fuel effecient, but nope..

 

No. What sucks is that trucks are exempt from the gas guzzler tax. Plus there is a tax break for owning a truck over 6,000 lbs. More than 50% of vehicles sold in the USA are now trucks. Amazingly, people still bitch about the price of fuel.

 

Trucks and SUVS exempt to more, like emissions. Some are classified as "agricultural vehicles" and thus don't have to meet emissions regulations.

 

In the Edmunds article it lists that you only pay the gas guzzler tax if you get the automatic transmission.

If you get the manual, the mileage is high enough that you don't pay it.