Unintended Consequences

Reader comment on: How Regulation Killed the Station Wagon and Created the Minivan

Submitted by David W. Pennington, PE, Jul 5, 2019 21:29

Excellent example of how playing by the rules produces unintended consequences...in this case, as in many others, consequences the legislative body involved richly deserves.

Another that I would bring to your attention is that of the fuel economy standards. While numerous others have pointed out the reduction in occupant safety that results from smaller and lighter cars, I would point to another consequence. Manufacturers do not produce the most fuel efficient vehicles they could, because exceeding the standards would only result in more stringent standards. Manufacturers have to keep something in reserve against the day Congress decides to up the standards on its own. If standards were abolished at this point, fuel economy could become a competitive feature.

Anecdote: In the '90s, a friend of mine bought a Ford pickup with 4-door cab, extended bed, and dual rear wheels. It had the trailering package and a large diesel engine. He told me that a friend at Ford had given him a replacement chip for the computer. Truck alone, he got >25 mpg highway.


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Title By Date
I hate my minivan [80 words]Judith BeesingJul 22, 2019 18:54
I Want What This Guy Is Smokin' [84 words]Bart LoganJul 7, 2019 19:14
Freedom has become un-American [55 words]MrLibertyJul 7, 2019 17:42
False article premise--Station wagons survived for many years after advent of minivan [71 words]KillaBJul 6, 2019 20:38
Regulation [69 words]NorthernCal_RickJul 6, 2019 19:25
Better Gas Mileage [27 words]Cosmic DogJul 6, 2019 16:46
totally false [88 words]jason wongJul 6, 2019 13:38
Not Wrong [27 words]MikeJul 7, 2019 16:50
False [7 words]Adolfo BaconJul 6, 2019 13:22
First Minivans [97 words]MikeJul 6, 2019 12:54
Article Is Wrong [70 words]PeterJul 6, 2019 12:29
Guess vs Reality [23 words]F. Stephen MasekJul 6, 2019 12:21
Minivans have been around since the 40s [62 words]ElmerJul 6, 2019 11:49
Regulations [8 words]Dr Albert GortenbullJul 6, 2019 10:52
Three Cheers for the Station Wagon [18 words]Robert E. SchoenleJul 6, 2019 10:36
Sorry, they are not gone [69 words]Sam on left coastJul 6, 2019 18:39
Government Screws Up Everything It Touches [34 words]Tim KuehlJul 6, 2019 09:32
The actual effects of most regulation by the new plantation lords. [82 words]Jim WhiteheadJul 6, 2019 09:09
i miss the full bench seat [13 words]gary the hairyJul 6, 2019 08:56
government knows best [97 words]Irwin ChusidJul 6, 2019 08:36
Our size preferences over the decades are the same [41 words]mta3000Jul 6, 2019 10:37
BS [53 words]BGJul 6, 2019 08:13
Beer can metal and plastic [16 words]Jonathon RichardsonJul 6, 2019 07:55
Economy vs. emissions [43 words]DennisJul 6, 2019 07:52
You're wrong about fuel economy [32 words]RickJul 6, 2019 07:17
"minivans" [47 words]Steven RobbinsJul 6, 2019 06:52
obsolescence [20 words]willis forsterJul 6, 2019 06:25
Wagons are coming back [12 words]Daniel B HookerJul 6, 2019 20:18
Wagons Roll On In Europe [42 words]Mike_in_KyivJul 6, 2019 02:24
Regulations or the Market caused Changes? [53 words]bea frankJul 6, 2019 00:50
Station wagons [12 words]JohnnyGJul 6, 2019 00:39
Tariffs by a Democrat? [22 words]bea frankJul 6, 2019 00:35
Glad Wagon Went Extinct [17 words]DaveJul 5, 2019 23:34
Regulations are Abominable [64 words]Boris BlankJul 5, 2019 22:29
The Road To Hell Is paved With Good Intentions [14 words]2VWJul 5, 2019 22:08
Government is the problem [16 words]SeamusJul 5, 2019 21:50
Station Wagons [51 words]TSFJul 5, 2019 21:43
⇒ Unintended Consequences [173 words]David W. Pennington, PEJul 5, 2019 21:29
Fuel Standards [40 words]Tom SundayJul 5, 2019 21:00
Invent minivan? [41 words]Lee WelterJul 5, 2019 20:31
Japan was making minivans years before Chrysler [26 words]Ron millerJul 6, 2019 13:15
What else was new? [32 words]Lee WelterJul 7, 2019 01:00
Ford Flex [156 words]ANJrJul 5, 2019 20:25
regulation killed the wagon, I dont think so [19 words]yarposJul 5, 2019 20:19
Control addicts [114 words]Larry PiersonJul 5, 2019 19:58
and what were the regs that a wagon couldn't fit?? [23 words]Liz SnyderJul 5, 2019 19:57
CAFE is the problem. [464 words]JamesJul 6, 2019 18:33
Government STUPIDITY! [14 words]Shannon TannenbaumJul 5, 2019 19:34
Always an out [30 words]Chris HalasJul 5, 2019 22:50
Another Government ScrewUp [45 words]Maud St JamesJul 5, 2019 19:19
Soup by Committee [73 words]Bartholomew NillsonnJul 5, 2019 19:13
Government workers would otherwise be unemployed [175 words]Ole DadJul 5, 2019 19:08
Still have wagons [22 words]FutureUserJul 5, 2019 18:49
Still have mine [11 words]DIANEJul 6, 2019 03:28
Adam Smith would be ashamed of you [114 words]ArtMofoJul 6, 2019 04:04
Another Reason to Keep government out of the market. [24 words]FernandoJul 5, 2019 18:39
Stupid is as Stupid Does [11 words]John LewisJul 5, 2019 18:18
Regulation Killed More than Stationwagons [47 words]jefJul 5, 2019 18:13
The new station wagons [74 words]JordanJul 6, 2019 13:01
Ford's recent move toward all SUVs? [16 words]LarryJul 5, 2019 18:12
Re: Ford [25 words]Paul PatzerJul 5, 2019 23:08
FORD'S
[w/response] [33 words]
Steven RobbinsJul 6, 2019 14:23

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