Bill Gates' Porsche 959 to become enemy of the state
The "Show or Display" exemption that was enacted under Bill Clinton's tenure as president has been a godsend for collectors and enthusiasts who love certain European and Asian vehicles that were never officially certified for U.S. road use, cars like the McLaren F1, Bugatti EB110, Jaguar XJ220, Maserati MC12, Mercedes-Benz CLK-DTM and GTR, and the Porsche 959. These are incredible cars that were never designed for American roads, and in turn needed some official "help" to get to these shores.
Some wealthy owners had taken it upon themselves to import these cars for their own collections even before the Show or Display legislation went into effect. Jerry Seinfeld was one of the first people to get a Porsche 959. He was joined by Microsoft partners Paul Allen and Bill Gates. Gates, in particular, was glad when the Show or Display went into effect so he didn't have to worry so much about blasting around Seattle in his Porsche supercar. Well, his days of no motoring worries may be over.
As part of an "environmental crackdown" in his home state of Washington, the Show or Display vehicles may lose their exemption. Governor Chris Gregoire is looking at ways to cut pollution and a prime target are catalytic converter-free cars like these exempted vehicles and their "gross emissions." Although Gates had recently joked that, "my Porsche days may be coming to a close," that was due to his wife Melinda's concerns more than any foreseen legislative problems. According to this Australian IT article, Bill's friends seem to think "he will not surrender his right to drive the 959 without a fight." Having seen a few of these in action over the years, we hope that cooler heads prevail and they work out a compromise.
[Source: Australian IT via Digg]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Quattrofan 1:49PM (3/15/2008)
Ban leafblowers instead. How about if tens of thousands of idiots (are you one of them?) started to use rake again? Radical thought huh? Well, as for me, I'd rather hear Bills 959 wailing through my neighborhood, then my neighbors' 40cc Stihl jetpack.
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John P. 4:13PM (12/18/2006)
Send them all to the crusher I say! Give them state sanctioned 60lb single speed bicycles, football helmets and shoulder pads, and day-glo orange for safety, and free bus tickets for those too poor for a bicycle.
Campaign speech 2008 if we keep heading this direction.
Bah!
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JZeke 4:25PM (12/18/2006)
Considering how few miles supercars like these would get driven even if they were free to roam the roads its amazing that politicians honestly believe they are a worthy target.
You take one panamax container ship off the sea and you will reduce emissions more than you would removing all supercars from the state of washington.
But you wouldnt want to stop international commmerce now, would you?
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Johnny 4:26PM (12/18/2006)
That 959 was so ahead of it's time.
Beautiful!
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Spule4 4:26PM (12/18/2006)
Yes, crushing the 12 or so non compliant grey market cars will solve the problems of pollution, it has nothing to do with heavy trucks or the scads out-of-tune cars with cats on them on the road with their check engine lights aglow......
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Johnny 4:30PM (12/18/2006)
I believe there are more cars that have been made illegal through aftermarket tuners than there would be of these supercars.
Let them run-around. They are amazing and they are way more fun to drive around than the stupid a$$ Prius!
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John P. 4:39PM (12/18/2006)
exactly, this is purely a dumb political move to make the masses feel like they are sticking it to those wealthy enough to afford some fun.
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Car videos & Motorcycle videos 4:41PM (12/18/2006)
These cars are work of art and they should not be viewed as a regular car, they should be treated like classic cars which are exempt from almost everything.
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John 4:46PM (12/18/2006)
WTF? Creating tougher emissions standards for trucks and SUVs will yield much better results than this BS. As an earlier poster said, I'm sure the 12 cars or so that'll have their exemption revoked will make SOOO much environmental difference.
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scopkins 4:57PM (12/18/2006)
Anything we write here is preaching to the choir, but...
Even in states requiring vehicle inspections for plate renewal there are probably thousands of vehicles driving about with fouled emisions sensors and systems. These may go for months without proper treatment due to financial concerns or apathy. The more conplex the system the worse the polution when it fails as I discovered with my VW Jetta. When the O2 sensor failed thing dumped soo much soot I thought I'd bought a diesel. The catalytic converter did little to nothing in that situation except fail.
Tell me with a straight face that a meticulously maintained supercar that just happens to have no catalytic converter and is driven less than 500 miles per year (it's an investment vehicle afterall) is going to polute as much as even one car with a damaged emissions system. Then show me the numbers of under-maintained passenger cars vs. well-maintained supercars and convince me that this is a legitimate environmental concern.
The desire for care for our environment is good, but it is being politically manipulated here. Those doing the greatest poluting are also the ones with the most votes and they are being made to feel good about hating the rich for having something they can't.
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John P. 4:59PM (12/18/2006)
Actually, if you want to save the planet, ban cows. They emit more greenhouse gases than cars, planes and all other forms of transportation put together, mostly through belching and farting.
I think politicians were exempt from this study as I'm sure they would have skewed the percentages from the sound of this lame idea.
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akatsuki 5:19PM (12/18/2006)
While I agree it seems somewhat futile to try and aim for these very rare cars, I think there is always an easy compromise. Let them buy pollution credits or pay fees (they amount to the same thing really) to cover their increased emissions.
In fact, why not let everyone decide how much to pollute and pay for their own mess anyway? Set the cost at what it actually costs to remove that amount of contamination from the air, and it seems pretty fair.
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Johnny 5:28PM (12/18/2006)
akatsuki has a good idea.
Here in colorado we pay registration costs based upon cost of the vehicle and weight. Add in emissions up to a certain limit....
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chewy 5:31PM (12/18/2006)
Millions of cars FOR America (and American made) that spew out pollution (most of them are gasoline powered)are the real problem, not a few collector cars.
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Jaymez 5:48PM (12/18/2006)
"10. Actually, if you want to save the planet, ban cows. They emit more greenhouse gases than cars, planes and all other forms of transportation put together, mostly through belching and farting."
I do my part every week by EATING at least one cow.
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I'm with Bill 4:17PM (1/31/2007)
This is the only time I hope Bill Gates will win in court...lol Bill, Use your $ and power to fight for us!
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Stoneman 5:52PM (12/18/2006)
It's passion vs environmentalism. I vote for passion, but heck, one day even that will be out of style. I'm just glad I can drive; not everyone can afford to or is not able to.
Merry Christmas everyone.
Stoneman
http://www.stonemanautoreview.com
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RR 5:59PM (12/18/2006)
For 1988, the 959 was 10 years ahead of everything around. Now though, 18 years later, it's just a relic. A standard 997 Turbo will blow the 959 away these days. I drove a 997 Turbo on an Autobahn last week and had driven a 959 about 6 year ago. There's nothing in it in terms of performance.
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Evan Brom 6:40PM (12/18/2006)
Bill just needs to threaten a MS pull out from washinton to say bangalore and that could change a few law makers minds.
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bepsf 6:12PM (12/18/2006)
Good Grief--
Who is she kidding? These cars don't get driven to the Safeway and up & down the hills every week like some homeless mother's clapped out Dustbuster Minivan...
...get them off the streets first - and repair the Monorail in Seattle so that tourists arent taking so many beat-up taxi's across town - then we'll worry about Bill Gates' 959...
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