Can anyone confirm if the gas guzzler tax is still in effect?
12-30-2005, 08:24 PM
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Originally Posted by SD330i' post='215212' date='Dec 24 2005, 08:06 AM
Does anyone know if you purchase a 550i with 6sp or SMG if the $1000.00 gas guzzler tax is still applied?
If you ordered one prior to October 2005, GGT = $1000. If you order after October 2005, GGT = $1300. (I lucked out and saved $300 when I ordered my 550i 6MT in June!)
Wow $1300, that sucks. Test drove a 2004 545 SMG the other day and remarkable. I do not like buying used cars, but I was thinking about it. How do you like your 6sp in traffic?
[/quote]
The 545 6 spd manual is easy to use around town and very easily to drive smoothly. Only downside I find is the lack of sporty feeling...i prefer direct clutch engagement but the 5er 6-spd is definitely nice to drive around town
12-31-2005, 12:46 AM
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Originally Posted by SD330i' post='215212' date='Dec 24 2005, 08:06 AM
Does anyone know if you purchase a 550i with 6sp or SMG if the $1000.00 gas guzzler tax is still applied?
My dealer initially had told me it was 1k, but when we got the order confirmed with BMWNA, he called me back with the news....
12-31-2005, 03:15 AM
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My Ride: 2006 550i Titanium Silver Metallic, Black Dakota Leather, Anthracite Maple Wood Trim, Cold Weather Package, Premium Sound Package, Sport Package, Steptronic, Navigation, Electric Rear Sunshades, Heated Rear Seats, Sirius Radio
Avoid this tax with the Steptronic. I do sometimes miss the SMG I had with my M3. I keep wanting to shift and feel a little idle with nothing to do. On the other hand, the Steptronic is smooth, very smooth. I became fairly proficient with the SMG II over time, but the lurching issue in 1st gear was somewhat of an irritant.
12-31-2005, 03:11 PM
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Originally Posted by darkside' post='217614' date='Dec 31 2005, 07:15 AM
Avoid this tax with the Steptronic. I do sometimes miss the SMG I had with my M3. I keep wanting to shift and feel a little idle with nothing to do. On the other hand, the Steptronic is smooth, very smooth. I became fairly proficient with the SMG II over time, but the lurching issue in 1st gear was somewhat of an irritant.
darkside, can you please explain what are the major differences you feel between the steptronic and SMG?
also, does the lurching issue happen in all SMG equipped bmw's?
12-31-2005, 04:10 PM
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My Ride: 2001 330i, fully loaded, step. In the market for a 5er.
Avoid this tax with the Steptronic. I do sometimes miss the SMG I had with my M3. I keep wanting to shift and feel a little idle with nothing to do. On the other hand, the Steptronic is smooth, very smooth. I became fairly proficient with the SMG II over time, but the lurching issue in 1st gear was somewhat of an irritant.
darkside, can you please explain what are the major differences you feel between the steptronic and SMG?
also, does the lurching issue happen in all SMG equipped bmw's?
[/quote]
I drove a 2004 545 smg the other day at the dealer. it was very nice. I was concerned about the possible "lurching" in auto mode and it really was not that big of a dealer. The SMG is very cool and I am having a tough time deciding if I want it. The GG tax sucks and since you can probably work a better deal on the lot (no SMGs) then having to order, I trying to decide if it is worth it.
12-31-2005, 05:20 PM
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My Ride: '04 545iS 6 spd, bought new via eBay, 11/05; Blk/Gry, Cold, L7, PDC, BMW Rear seatcover for pets.
First "Bumwa" was a new 1971 2002. High performance 5s since 1987. Beamer motorcycles too, currently on an 07 BMW K1200 GT; also a Moto Guzzi 1000 SP III.
Originally Posted by EBMCS03' post='215819' date='Dec 26 2005, 11:46 PM
Why do Sedans get GGT and not SUVs and trucks? Whats the difference? So they say SUVs are used commercially to hull stuff so they dont need GGT? BS! Only if you have registered the SUV / Truck for commercial use then ok... but all the other ones on the road I say should pay GGT also.
CAFE=Corporate AVERAGE Fuel Economy. The assessments are apportioned and set by the CORPORATIONS to meet their average fleet penalties. Thus, they usually penalize the the deepest pockets (read: afficianados), in order to protect high volume market entries (e.g. SUVs)
Kinda stupid when you think about it, since the greedy bastards (generally) are making FAR MORE profits on truck frame sets than anything else, so they could spread the tax among those classes far more painlessly. But what do I know? (Not much other than the view of the law.)
Pay up! (been doing it since 1987)
Ray Hull
12-31-2005, 05:33 PM
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I thought that a number of European car manufacturers feel that the guzzler tax is a backdoor way of making luxury car imports less competitive (this assumes that domestic US manufacturers don't really produce any competitive cars in the luxury sector) ?
Not sure it works though - if your going to drop $60k or more on a bimmer, $1400 isnt going to change your decision.
Not sure it works though - if your going to drop $60k or more on a bimmer, $1400 isnt going to change your decision.
12-31-2005, 05:55 PM
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My Ride: 2006 550i Titanium Silver Metallic, Black Dakota Leather, Anthracite Maple Wood Trim, Cold Weather Package, Premium Sound Package, Sport Package, Steptronic, Navigation, Electric Rear Sunshades, Heated Rear Seats, Sirius Radio
Avoid this tax with the Steptronic. I do sometimes miss the SMG I had with my M3. I keep wanting to shift and feel a little idle with nothing to do. On the other hand, the Steptronic is smooth, very smooth. I became fairly proficient with the SMG II over time, but the lurching issue in 1st gear was somewhat of an irritant.
darkside, can you please explain what are the major differences you feel between the steptronic and SMG?
also, does the lurching issue happen in all SMG equipped bmw's?
[/quote]
I almost never used the auto mode with the SMG in the M3 except when I was eating. Over time I became pretty proficient at using the SMG, and really liked the lightning quick shifts and the incredible downshifts. Like I said, though, it was tough getting a smooth fast launch in 1st gear, particularly on uneven pavement which would jostle your foot on the accelarator pedal.
The main reason I opted for the Steptronic in the e60 is I need my wife to drive this car occasionally. She never warmed up to the M3 due to the SMG. I am impressed with the 6 speed Steptronic in the e60, a significant improvement over the 5 speed automatic I had in my e39 5 series. Very smooth in its shifts. The main advantage I see with a manual or the SMG is that it is a more engaging driving experience. But then again it is nice to just drive and not constantly be dealing with the shifting.
If I end up getting an e90 M3 in the future I will go with SMG.