News for hackers. Stuff that matters.
Re:Bigger vehicles are directly resulting in more deaths of ... by tbihl on Sunday August 22, 2021 @07:24PM (#28270705)
They do tax cars based on weight (in the US). If your car weighs too little, it's a personal vehicle. If it's heavy enough to be "transportation equipment" (large SUV) you can get effective tax breaks by deducting its cost from your income to a much greater degree than for reasonable passenger vehicles[0].

[0]https://bradyware.com/business-vehicle-deductions-2020/ (not a primary source but it should give an idea.)

Re:Bigger vehicles are directly resulting in more deaths of ... by ruddct on Sunday August 22, 2021 @08:43PM (#28271171)
For those surprised by this (as I was when I first heard about it), this is talking about Section 179, which allows someone to fully deduct the purchase price of heavyweight vehicles (e.g. a Ford F-150) if it’s used for business. These vehicles are also not subject to the pedestrian safety requirements that 3-box vehicles (sedans, etc) are in the US.
Re:Bigger vehicles are directly resulting in more deaths of ... by IncRnd on Sunday August 22, 2021 @09:35PM (#28271496)
> of heavyweight vehicles (e.g. a Ford F-150)

I don't think a heavyweight vehicle has been built since the 1930s, when they started building lightweight vehicles. Today, if you see a passenger vehicle referred to as heavyweight that is likely due to a marketing spin on how well it performs or the load it can carry. Even in that sense, a Ford F-150 is marketed as a lightweight and F-250 is a medium.

Re:Bigger vehicles are directly resulting in more deaths of ... by bratcomplex on Monday August 23, 2021 @01:05AM (#28272491)
150 from f150 refers to its carting and load capacity.. not its actual weight. the weight difference between a 150,250,350 is not a very significant one.

This issue is a 150 is being used outside its original use case. And dose the job a Corolla is intended for. But with twice the weight and size.

Re:Bigger vehicles are directly resulting in more deaths of ... by IncRnd on Monday August 23, 2021 @01:21AM (#28272557)
Thank you. I know what the 150 stands for. But, it is not a heavyweight vehicle. That term refers to a type of vehicle that hasn't been made since the 1920s-1930s.

The conversation I replied to was about deducting "the purchase price of heavyweight vehicles (e.g. a Ford F-150)". A Ford F-150 is not a heavyweight vehicle.

Re:Bigger vehicles are directly resulting in more deaths of ... by 1a2a3agg on Monday August 23, 2021 @04:20PM (#28281385)
I think in the context of this discussion heavyweight is defined by Section 179 as having a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating greater than 6000 lbs. While the curb weight of a F150 is less, the GVWR is 6,010 to 7,150 lbs.
Re:Bigger vehicles are directly resulting in more deaths of ... by IncRnd on Monday August 23, 2021 @05:42PM (#28282362)
That makes sense. Thank you.
Re:Bigger vehicles are directly resulting in more deaths of ... by elihu on Sunday August 22, 2021 @10:48PM (#28271857)
To add to that: light trucks imported from other countries are also subject to a 25% tariff known as the the "chicken tax"[1], and if I understand correctly, light trucks are subject to more stringent MPG standards to the point that auto manufacturers won't make them. Whether this latter is "environmental regulation gone too far" or just a matter of regulatory capture by an industry that doesn't want to compete in a market where small, cheap trucks are a thing that exists is a matter of interpretation, I suppose. I lean towards the regulatory capture interpretation myself.

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicken_tax

Re:Bigger vehicles are directly resulting in more deaths of ... by BoorishBears on Sunday August 22, 2021 @11:37PM (#28272109)
I don't think anyone can look at what F150 sales do for Ford and interpret it any other way...