Proud Oshawa mayor and his Camaro SS ruffle some feathers
2010 Chevrolet Camaro – Click above for high-res image gallery
The hot-selling 2010 Chevy Camaro is made in Oshawa, Canada. The mayor of Oshawa, John Gray, drives a spanking new red Camaro SS with a white racing stripe, just like the one that introduced the bowtie muscle car to the Middle East back in June. Supporting locally made products sounds like a shrewd move for any politician, especially when the city is footing the bill for your ride. A free Camaro is a great job perk, but one Oshawa resident – Bill Steele – doesn't agree.
Steele says the mayor is "flaunting this gas-guzzling vehicle all around town... and I don't like that I'm paying for part of a sports car that gets 17 miles to the gallon." Steele serves up the city's high tax rates as a reason why the mayor shouldn't be driving a Camaro. Of course, without over 400 Camaros being built in Oshawa per day, there would likely be thousands fewer tax payers to help pay those already high taxes. Mayor Gray knows there are a few citizens who don't like his pricey, thirsty pony car, but that thankfully isn't stopping him from driving it. Thanks for the tip, Alan!
[Source: MSN Autos]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 7)
mapoftazifosho 3:04PM (8/13/2009)
Nice to know that Canada has the same, bitch about nothing, idiots that the US has...
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campasini1 5:53PM (8/13/2009)
i was thinking the same thing.
Nozferat 4:11PM (8/13/2009)
So I take you liked to be fked by your local politicians too huh? Now we know why the government in THIS country is treating fellow tax paying citizens like the useless, fuzz-less, wankers that they really are.
Chris 4:59PM (8/13/2009)
@Nozferat
Get over yourself, the guy in this article is bitching about his tax dollars contributing to a (discounted?) sports car that starts at what... $30k? On the scale of tax dollars it sounds like a drop in the bucket to me. You really think that if the mayor wasn't drivnig a Camaro that he'd be driving... a cobalt or something? Of course not, he's the mayor, probably a taxpayer funded tahoe somewhere too(police issue?).. you going to bitch about that? Mayors have cars, despite being flashy a Camaro is probably cheaper than the alternative. He's showing support for the plant that very likely is responsible for whatever condition Oshawa is in... there are bigger problems in the world and he's bitching about something insignificant(particularly bitching about the gas mileage).
I live in Metro Detroit and we have to pay tax dollars to keep the zoo open because Detroit can't get their crap together. I imagine that costs a hell of a lot more than a Camaro for 3 years... and I doubt I'll even notice it in the myriad of other things I am paying taxes for.
The OP is just pointing out that this guy has a clear case of 'life is too easy' if he has time to sit around and bitch about what the Mayor drives. No need to turn this in to some sort of political 'I'm superior to everyone else in my country' statement. You're not. You just have your panties in a bunch because he didn't buy a Prius.
mayflyripper 5:04PM (8/13/2009)
Most mayors in the province don't get a personal car; they get a car from the city's fleet (Mississauga, Brampton, Toronto) or pay for it out of an allowance. The issue here is that John Gray drives a car paid for by the city and an allowance which is replaced every 3 years and is not so much that it's a Camaro but more about the expenditure itself.
Nozferat 5:34PM (8/13/2009)
@ CHRIS:
Who cares if it's a drop in the bucket or not. Every single bit counts...in case you didn't notice...it's the culmulatiev effect of taxes that screws us.
When it comes time to nibble away at your so called "freedoms"...you all do sure get bent out of shape. what the hec is wrong with you people? Instead of acting like freaking tax paying, voting citizens, you encourage this sh6t and then wonder why you're the one on the raw end of the stick.
Honestly you folk deserve to get shafted.....
the4thheat 6:52PM (8/13/2009)
I think it's BS that the mayor gets a free car at all though, why don't politicians pay for their own f'ing cars like the rest of us? It's like those morons in California all driving government purchased luxury cars for free.
Rich 7:15PM (8/13/2009)
I tend to agree with Nozferat. If this guy pays for his Camaro out of his own pocket, there's nothing to complain about. But he's claiming fuel expenses on that thing.
Granted, fuel expenses are the same whatever you drive, but here's the thing -- if there weren't so many toy cars being driven by public officials with taxpayers picking up the tab, the expense/mile wouldn't be quite so high -- and we'd gain something by not having to pay as much...
Do you get it yet?
When you're elected, you're in a position of responsibility. You're supposed to be a model citizen -- not a bloody showoff loudmouth bawling prick.
Judy Zik 9:37PM (8/13/2009)
He is the Mayor. Given how much driving he would be doing on city business it is probably cheaper to pay for a car than pay mileage. Besides being Mayor of Oshawa these days has to be a pretty crappy job. He should at least get to drive a Camaro. If he was a politician worth his salt though he would have negotiated a discount from GM's Canadian Head Office (in Oshawa). If he drove a Camry the locals would be pissed and it is a bit more exciting than an Impala or a Buick.
Scott 12:46PM (8/15/2009)
I totally agree. People with nothing better on thier minds then to bitch about most likely they can't afford and are more jelous then worried about the enviroment. Good on ya Mayor. I think he should take it to a drag strip and really piss them off by lighting up the rear tires and just see how fast it will go in the 1/4 mile...lol.
Alex 3:06PM (8/13/2009)
The political approach would be to purchase the Camaro yourself. Then you just expense all the miles. Its looks better this way.
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Mr.K 3:19PM (8/13/2009)
I imagine he did buy it himself, but just gets paid by the people's taxes. Maybe I missed something =S
John 3:19PM (8/13/2009)
That's the American way.
The Other Bob 3:07PM (8/13/2009)
Mr. Bill Steele:
You are a moron. Would you prfer he drive an imported Prius?
Mr. Mayor:
Way to go driving a locally-built product!
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petee209 3:11PM (8/13/2009)
+1
Why do people come up with this crap?
83gtragtop 3:08PM (8/13/2009)
People like this just need to go away!
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Jason 3:13PM (8/13/2009)
Man, people cry about anything.
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MeiSooHaityu 3:13PM (8/13/2009)
I can see Mr. Steele's point somewhat, however I do not agree with it.
I think it is good that the Mayor is supporting the local business by getting one. I do have one criticism though. I think, since the city is footing the bill, it should have been a V6 Model. They are still quick with 300 ponies, but it would have been far more economical, and still sent the same message.
Overall, I applaud the gesture.
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Epyx 3:25PM (8/13/2009)
...and saved the City what about a $1000 a year? It is an irrelevant sum either way.
15K miles @ $3 per gallon at 15mpg = $3k
15K miles @ $3 per gallon at 25mpg = $1800
And these numbers are not even accurate, the real difference is even less. It is a non-issue ANY way you slice it. It is much ado about nothing.
bdizzlefizzle 3:47PM (8/13/2009)
I totally agree. He should have gotten the V6 for a number of reasons. It's cheaper up front and cheaper on gas. Epyx, you're totally wrong. Since this is public money, not spending it means that it would go into budgets for things like schools, road repair, etc. Every dime matters - especially in this economy where local government is getting less support from states or federal funders (not for stimulus work like building a highway, but for operating expenses), so they are cutting programs and laying people off. If you're doing that, you should try to save where you can. Now, let's say he saved $5k this year between the cheaper car price and the lower gas consumption - not enough to really change the game for layoffs or spending cuts, but it certainly sends one crappy message if you're asking people to go without things they need while you get a top of the line sports car on their dime when you could have bought something a little cheaper.
It's very common for mayors to get cars. They typically get things like Crown Vics and Impalas outfitted with police radios. It's also very common for towns to agree to buy cars from a manufacturer to get a plant in their town (Mercedes got the mayor to buy an E-Class on the town treasury when they moved to Alabama), so this may have been part of the deal to secure Camaro production in Oshawa.