Ravenwood - 01/09/03 11:28 AM
While the Commonwealth of Taxachusetts is raising taxes on SUVs to stir up class envy and warfare, the federal government is subsidizing them.
Writing for the AJC, thrifty guru Clark Howard notes that small business owners who purchase SUVs can get a tax break to the tune of $24,000. SUVs are claimed as a business expense, but include such luxury models as the BMW X5, Cadillac Escalade, Mercedes ML500, Land Rover Discovery, and dozens of other models.
Most notably, the models all weigh over 6000 pounds and would thus easily be classified as evil gas guzzlers. (Screw you Arianna Huffington.)
The EPA's "light truck" definition calls for a gross vehicle weight rating of 8500 lb or less and vehicle curb weight of 6000 lb or less. Some of the monster SUVs - the heavier-duty Excursions and Suburbans/Yukons XL - are actually too big to be light trucks and therefore don't count toward corporate average fuel economy. Never let it be said that Detroit doesn't have a clue.
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