Posts by Robin Clark

I honestly can't believe I'm still thinking about this. It’s like my brain just gets stuck on loop sometimes. Anyway, I was looking back at those old discussions from Ludaraba 3—you know, that whole situation? It’s funny how much things change. Just one of those things that stays on your mind. Life moves fast! kaže:
I don't know. Have you actually looked into whether there’s any real difference between registering a vehicle locally versus importing one?
Maybe if you go all-in on an EV, you won't have to deal with half these tax headaches. It’s a pretty solid way to dodge some of that extra paperwork and cost.

Electric cars get a total pass on that special tax, which is pretty sweet. Even RVs get a massive 85% discount now. It's all changing.

You haven't even bought one yet, and you're already trying to play scientist. Honestly, it’s kind of funny. You're acting like if we just stare at the VIN number long enough, we'll somehow uncover some grand mystery or magically detect CO2 levels through sheer willpower. Slow down there, professor!

You really should crunch those numbers before you buy, not after. It's much easier that way.

Nah, that's not how it works. For any new cars manufactured here in the USA, the CO2 levels are already baked right into the Certificate of Conformity. When you go through the import process, you have to deal with the local vehicle certification, but honestly, it’s just a formality. You're basically just copying down what's already written on the COC certificate. It's all just paperwork.
And at the very end, they just log that CO2 number right into the vehicle registration papers when you first register the car.
It’s pretty much automatic at the dealerships once those new cars hit the lot. Everything just flows.
If I were importing a car myself, I feel like I should be the one actually doing the heavy lifting. Just my two cents.

vividraven50 said:If you ask me, you're just acting smart, and people like you... well, they usually end up in a psych ward sooner rather than later.
Sir, those vehicles being imported into the US have to be reported via Intrastat; they have to report the VIN accurately, and based on that specific number, they are required to pay the CO2 tax.
I'm simply suggesting that maybe they didn't pay the CO2 tax based on the price they quoted you... perhaps you were just lucky and they gave you one with a defect, and now you'll be constantly repairing it. You could have gone down there first thing in the morning and waited for them to explain themselves...
If that is the amount they quoted you, then that is the amount you're stuck with...

They didn't pay anything, and neither did I. The dealer just gave me an informal quote, basically saying if I bought it at that price, that's what it would cost.
What does a VIN have to do with CO2 emissions?
The manufacturer sets the CO2 emission levels because the car has European certification or a COC certificate that lists the specific emission data.
Here in the US, when importing, we just copy the info from that certificate. There aren't any actual tests or measurements performed because, again, the car already has its certification—we just transcribe it from the COC.
A specific tax (in this case, at this dealership) was calculated incorrectly by the distributor to the buyer's detriment, and I am 100% sure about that right now.

And please stop spamming. It's pretty obvious you don't get how this works and don't have anything intelligent to contribute.

vividraven50 said:I mean, I don't think you have anything better to do with your time...
He’ll give you the market value, but then he calculates everything based on a catalog price that might not even match what you actually paid...
What that means is they sell you the car at one price, but they are legally required to calculate that special tax based on the catalog value... so, really, don't waste your breath overthinking it.
It isn't the dealer's fault; it's Customs...

Good grief, here I am writing the exact same thing for the second time:

Market value is defined as the value of a used motor vehicle within the American market on the day the special tax base is determined. (this applies to used vehicles)

The sale price is the retail price of a new motor vehicle, including customs and sales tax, but excluding special tax. The sale price also includes the value of any optional equipment installed in the vehicle. (this applies to new vehicles)

Copied straight from the US laws regarding special motor vehicle taxes.

I'm not sure which catalog you're talking about; that's how things work when you buy used cars.

But we are talking about buying a new car here.

And it's not a Customs issue, it's a dealer issue because they handle the homologation during import and then they're the ones calculating the special tax when they sell it.

And something feels off there, since they're calculating a higher amount than what's actually happening.
Knowing how some people in America operate, that extra cushion probably ends up in someone's pocket every time a car is sold.

I really don't want to argue anymore. Please, folks, just read carefully before responding, because the situation here is as clear as day.

Out of 14 posts in this thread, 9 of them are pure spam.

I actually got confirmation on a legal forum that my math was spot on.

I'm going to reach out to the dealer and ask them to walk me through their tax calculations. I need to know why they're coming up with $873 higher totals than what I'm seeing on my end.

Honestly, this is just what we get with the EU.
You’d think importing cars from Europe would make things cheaper—less paperwork, fewer taxes, smoother process—but instead, they end up being even more expensive.
Man, there is just zero logic to it.

Zachary Kern35 said:The sticker price and the taxable amount aren't the same thing.
Technically, the tax base is what the car is worth in the US, and since they use the MSRP, it’s usually way higher than what you actually pay.

If your receipt says 11% sales tax, then it's 11%. If it doesn't say that, there's really no point in overthinking it.

They use the catalog value to set the price for used cars, which is what they call the "market value."

But I'm talking about buying a brand-new car here, where everything is crystal clear. The dealer sets the sale price, and from that, they calculate the tax base plus the CO2 fees.

I don't have the final bill yet—the dealer just gave me an informal quote, and if I pull the trigger, that's the number I'd be stuck with.

My question is, how did they come up with an 11% special tax when my own math keeps coming out to 7%?

Paul White3 said:Wait—whose brilliant idea was it to charge taxes on cars that are already ten years old?!!!

Look, we aren't really talking about sales tax here. It’s that specific vehicle excise tax that got rolled out once we joined the EU.

The whole logic is supposed to be that luxury rides (the pricey ones) and high-emission gas guzzlers get hit harder than the budget-friendly, eco-conscious stuff.

I mean, I try to follow the reasoning, but then they turn around and slap an extra 11% on my little economy car. Makes zero sense.

Total highway robbery.

Zachary Kern35 said:From what I can see, you've got an amount listed on the invoice. Usually, Customs doesn't even look at the actual receipt; they just slap a tax on whatever value they pull from their own catalog. So, even if it’s 7%, it might not be based on your total, but rather on their specific tax base.

The tax base for a sale price of $21829 is actually 1%.
It's right there in the federal tax tables for motor vehicle excise taxes—pretty clear-cut if you look it up.
The next bracket where the tax base jumps to 2% starts at $33333, and the car I'm eyeing isn't even in the ballpark of that number.

Then, you take that tax base from the sales price (which is 1% for me) and add the CO2 emissions tax. My car sits at 130 grams per kilometer (just pulled that straight from the official manufacturer's website), so I look that up under the "gasoline" column in the table, which comes out to 6%.

You just add those two percentages together, and that’s the total rate applied to the vehicle's value.

I'm just trying to wrap my head around how the dealer ended up with 11% when my math keeps landing on 7%. Any ideas?

hiddenpilot3 said:http://www.cbp.gov/tools-help/calculator

This calculator ought to be accurate enough 😁

Actually, the calculator is accurate. I just ran my own numbers and they match up perfectly.

So, why is the shop charging me 11% when my math keeps coming out at 7%?

Total thieves.

So, I’m looking at buying a new car from an authorized dealer, and when they gave me the total price—which already includes sales tax, import fees, and all the extra options from $21829—they tacked on a special luxury tax of $2401 (which works out to about 11% of the sticker price)

The thing is, I actually took some time to dig through the federal tax code for motor vehicles and did my own math for $1528 (which should be roughly 7% of the sale price)

Basically, the dealer is charging me 4% more than what my calculations show

I don't think I missed anything, but if anyone here is good with numbers, could you take a look? Here’s the breakdown for the vehicle:

• Total sale price including sales tax, import fees, and extras=$21829
• CO2 emissions (grams per kilometer) per manufacturer specs=130

That should be enough info to run the numbers

A few extra details just in case:

• Combined fuel consumption (mpg/62 miles)=roughly 40 miles per gallon
• Engine displacement (cc)=1149
• Emissions standard=EPA Tier 3 compliant
• Curb weight (lbs)=2436
• Max power (hp)=74
• Fuel type=Gasoline
• Transmission=Manual

I’m honestly just curious about the logic behind hitting a budget-friendly car that isn't even high-polluting with an 11% special tax
Seems a little steep to me

I mean, I'm probably wrong, but maybe try doing an electrostatic discharge:
-unplug it from the wall
-pop the battery out
-hold down the power button for about a minute
-leave the battery out for now
-plug the charger back in
-try turning it on normally with a quick tap of the button

Based on what you're describing, there's also a chance—this actually happened to me with my Lenovo—that the processor pins melted slightly and aren't making full contact with the motherboard anymore. If that's the case, you'd need to do a CPU reballing, which honestly probably costs more than the laptop itself, so it's usually not worth the money. There is this other option where you pull the motherboard out, stick it in the oven, and bake it at a specific temperature for a bit so the pins melt and reform... it actually works! There are tons of videos on YouTube showing how to do it. Just a heads-up though, I tried it myself and set the temp way too high and ended up frying my entire motherboard. Oops.

Jason Mendoza said:Alright, here’s my take on this one: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0448134/

I just finished watching Sunshine. It wasn't half bad!

Casey Cox2 said:Seconds (1966)
Solaris (1972)
The Man Who Fell to Earth (1976)
Just revisited Demon Seed (1977). Honestly? A total trip. It’s one of those weird, low-budget sci-fi flicks that hits different when you're watching it late at night. The whole premise—this supercomputer getting way too obsessed with a woman—is basically the blueprint for every "AI gone rogue" movie we see now. It’s creepy, it’s messy, and it definitely doesn't hold back on the weirdness. Definitely worth a watch if you're into that retro, slightly unhinged vibe.
Stalker (1979)
Just revisited Altered States (1980)—man, what a trip. It’s one of those weird, heady flicks that sticks in your brain long after the credits roll. It’s got that gritty, late-70s/early-80s vibe that just hits different—kind of messy, kind of beautiful, and totally unhinged. It’s basically about this guy diving deep into sensory deprivation and psychedelic experimentation to find some cosmic truth, only to realize that digging into our evolutionary past might be a terrible idea. It’s trippy, sure, but it also feels strangely visceral. I remember watching this back in the day and feeling like my own perception was slightly off for an hour afterward. Definitely not your typical popcorn flick. If you haven't seen it, give it a shot if you're in the mood for something that actually makes you think—even if what it makes you think about is a little unsettling.
Just revisited *on The Silver Globe*. Honestly? Still trips me out every single time. It’s one of those movies that stays under your skin—not exactly a "fun" watch, but you can't look away. The visuals are wild, even by today's standards. It feels less like a standard sci-fi flick and more like some fever dream you'd have after drinking way too much coffee at 3 AM. Definitely worth the runtime if you're into stuff that makes you question reality a bit.
They Live (1988)

Looks like a solid story. I'm definitely adding it to my watchlist.

Casey Cox2 said:Seconds (1966)
Solaris (1972)
The Man Who Fell to Earth (1976)
Just revisited Demon Seed (1977). Honestly? A total trip. It’s one of those weird, low-budget sci-fi flicks that hits different when you're watching it late at night. The whole premise—this supercomputer getting way too obsessed with a woman—is basically the blueprint for every "AI gone rogue" movie we see now. It’s creepy, it’s messy, and it definitely doesn't hold back on the weirdness. Definitely worth a watch if you're into that retro, slightly unhinged vibe.
Stalker (1979)
Just revisited Altered States (1980)—man, what a trip. It’s one of those weird, heady flicks that sticks in your brain long after the credits roll. It’s got that gritty, late-70s/early-80s vibe that just hits different—kind of messy, kind of beautiful, and totally unhinged. It’s basically about this guy diving deep into sensory deprivation and psychedelic experimentation to find some cosmic truth, only to realize that digging into our evolutionary past might be a terrible idea. It’s trippy, sure, but it also feels strangely visceral. I remember watching this back in the day and feeling like my own perception was slightly off for an hour afterward. Definitely not your typical popcorn flick. If you haven't seen it, give it a shot if you're in the mood for something that actually makes you think—even if what it makes you think about is a little unsettling.
Just revisited *on The Silver Globe*. Honestly? Still trips me out every single time. It’s one of those movies that stays under your skin—not exactly a "fun" watch, but you can't look away. The visuals are wild, even by today's standards. It feels less like a standard sci-fi flick and more like some fever dream you'd have after drinking way too much coffee at 3 AM. Definitely worth the runtime if you're into stuff that makes you question reality a bit.
They Live (1988)

I just finished reading the book. It was actually pretty good! I might end up checking out the movie too.

Casey Cox2 said:Seconds (1966)
Solaris (1972)
The Man Who Fell to Earth (1976)
Just revisited Demon Seed (1977). Honestly? A total trip. It’s one of those weird, low-budget sci-fi flicks that hits different when you're watching it late at night. The whole premise—this supercomputer getting way too obsessed with a woman—is basically the blueprint for every "AI gone rogue" movie we see now. It’s creepy, it’s messy, and it definitely doesn't hold back on the weirdness. Definitely worth a watch if you're into that retro, slightly unhinged vibe.
Stalker (1979)
Just revisited Altered States (1980)—man, what a trip. It’s one of those weird, heady flicks that sticks in your brain long after the credits roll. It’s got that gritty, late-70s/early-80s vibe that just hits different—kind of messy, kind of beautiful, and totally unhinged. It’s basically about this guy diving deep into sensory deprivation and psychedelic experimentation to find some cosmic truth, only to realize that digging into our evolutionary past might be a terrible idea. It’s trippy, sure, but it also feels strangely visceral. I remember watching this back in the day and feeling like my own perception was slightly off for an hour afterward. Definitely not your typical popcorn flick. If you haven't seen it, give it a shot if you're in the mood for something that actually makes you think—even if what it makes you think about is a little unsettling.
Just revisited *on The Silver Globe*. Honestly? Still trips me out every single time. It’s one of those movies that stays under your skin—not exactly a "fun" watch, but you can't look away. The visuals are wild, even by today's standards. It feels less like a standard sci-fi flick and more like some fever dream you'd have after drinking way too much coffee at 3 AM. Definitely worth the runtime if you're into stuff that makes you question reality a bit.
They Live (1988)

I think I'm gonna watch this one tonight.

Casey Cox2 said:Seconds (1966)
Solaris (1972)
The Man Who Fell to Earth (1976)
Just revisited Demon Seed (1977). Honestly? A total trip. It’s one of those weird, low-budget sci-fi flicks that hits different when you're watching it late at night. The whole premise—this supercomputer getting way too obsessed with a woman—is basically the blueprint for every "AI gone rogue" movie we see now. It’s creepy, it’s messy, and it definitely doesn't hold back on the weirdness. Definitely worth a watch if you're into that retro, slightly unhinged vibe.
Stalker (1979)
Just revisited Altered States (1980)—man, what a trip. It’s one of those weird, heady flicks that sticks in your brain long after the credits roll. It’s got that gritty, late-70s/early-80s vibe that just hits different—kind of messy, kind of beautiful, and totally unhinged. It’s basically about this guy diving deep into sensory deprivation and psychedelic experimentation to find some cosmic truth, only to realize that digging into our evolutionary past might be a terrible idea. It’s trippy, sure, but it also feels strangely visceral. I remember watching this back in the day and feeling like my own perception was slightly off for an hour afterward. Definitely not your typical popcorn flick. If you haven't seen it, give it a shot if you're in the mood for something that actually makes you think—even if what it makes you think about is a little unsettling.
Just revisited *on The Silver Globe*. Honestly? Still trips me out every single time. It’s one of those movies that stays under your skin—not exactly a "fun" watch, but you can't look away. The visuals are wild, even by today's standards. It feels less like a standard sci-fi flick and more like some fever dream you'd have after drinking way too much coffee at 3 AM. Definitely worth the runtime if you're into stuff that makes you question reality a bit.
They Live (1988)

On the list.

Casey Cox2 said:Seconds (1966)
Solaris (1972)
The Man Who Fell to Earth (1976)
Just revisited Demon Seed (1977). Honestly? A total trip. It’s one of those weird, low-budget sci-fi flicks that hits different when you're watching it late at night. The whole premise—this supercomputer getting way too obsessed with a woman—is basically the blueprint for every "AI gone rogue" movie we see now. It’s creepy, it’s messy, and it definitely doesn't hold back on the weirdness. Definitely worth a watch if you're into that retro, slightly unhinged vibe.
Stalker (1979)
Just revisited Altered States (1980)—man, what a trip. It’s one of those weird, heady flicks that sticks in your brain long after the credits roll. It’s got that gritty, late-70s/early-80s vibe that just hits different—kind of messy, kind of beautiful, and totally unhinged. It’s basically about this guy diving deep into sensory deprivation and psychedelic experimentation to find some cosmic truth, only to realize that digging into our evolutionary past might be a terrible idea. It’s trippy, sure, but it also feels strangely visceral. I remember watching this back in the day and feeling like my own perception was slightly off for an hour afterward. Definitely not your typical popcorn flick. If you haven't seen it, give it a shot if you're in the mood for something that actually makes you think—even if what it makes you think about is a little unsettling.
Just revisited *on The Silver Globe*. Honestly? Still trips me out every single time. It’s one of those movies that stays under your skin—not exactly a "fun" watch, but you can't look away. The visuals are wild, even by today's standards. It feels less like a standard sci-fi flick and more like some fever dream you'd have after drinking way too much coffee at 3 AM. Definitely worth the runtime if you're into stuff that makes you question reality a bit.
They Live (1988)

I just finished playing a game on the list.

Casey Cox2 said:Seconds (1966)
Solaris (1972)
The Man Who Fell to Earth (1976)
Just revisited Demon Seed (1977). Honestly? A total trip. It’s one of those weird, low-budget sci-fi flicks that hits different when you're watching it late at night. The whole premise—this supercomputer getting way too obsessed with a woman—is basically the blueprint for every "AI gone rogue" movie we see now. It’s creepy, it’s messy, and it definitely doesn't hold back on the weirdness. Definitely worth a watch if you're into that retro, slightly unhinged vibe.
Stalker (1979)
Just revisited Altered States (1980)—man, what a trip. It’s one of those weird, heady flicks that sticks in your brain long after the credits roll. It’s got that gritty, late-70s/early-80s vibe that just hits different—kind of messy, kind of beautiful, and totally unhinged. It’s basically about this guy diving deep into sensory deprivation and psychedelic experimentation to find some cosmic truth, only to realize that digging into our evolutionary past might be a terrible idea. It’s trippy, sure, but it also feels strangely visceral. I remember watching this back in the day and feeling like my own perception was slightly off for an hour afterward. Definitely not your typical popcorn flick. If you haven't seen it, give it a shot if you're in the mood for something that actually makes you think—even if what it makes you think about is a little unsettling.
Just revisited *on The Silver Globe*. Honestly? Still trips me out every single time. It’s one of those movies that stays under your skin—not exactly a "fun" watch, but you can't look away. The visuals are wild, even by today's standards. It feels less like a standard sci-fi flick and more like some fever dream you'd have after drinking way too much coffee at 3 AM. Definitely worth the runtime if you're into stuff that makes you question reality a bit.
They Live (1988)

It's on my list, looks like a solid pair

Casey Cox2 said:Seconds (1966)
Solaris (1972)
The Man Who Fell to Earth (1976)
Just revisited Demon Seed (1977). Honestly? A total trip. It’s one of those weird, low-budget sci-fi flicks that hits different when you're watching it late at night. The whole premise—this supercomputer getting way too obsessed with a woman—is basically the blueprint for every "AI gone rogue" movie we see now. It’s creepy, it’s messy, and it definitely doesn't hold back on the weirdness. Definitely worth a watch if you're into that retro, slightly unhinged vibe.
Stalker (1979)
Just revisited Altered States (1980)—man, what a trip. It’s one of those weird, heady flicks that sticks in your brain long after the credits roll. It’s got that gritty, late-70s/early-80s vibe that just hits different—kind of messy, kind of beautiful, and totally unhinged. It’s basically about this guy diving deep into sensory deprivation and psychedelic experimentation to find some cosmic truth, only to realize that digging into our evolutionary past might be a terrible idea. It’s trippy, sure, but it also feels strangely visceral. I remember watching this back in the day and feeling like my own perception was slightly off for an hour afterward. Definitely not your typical popcorn flick. If you haven't seen it, give it a shot if you're in the mood for something that actually makes you think—even if what it makes you think about is a little unsettling.
Just revisited *on The Silver Globe*. Honestly? Still trips me out every single time. It’s one of those movies that stays under your skin—not exactly a "fun" watch, but you can't look away. The visuals are wild, even by today's standards. It feels less like a standard sci-fi flick and more like some fever dream you'd have after drinking way too much coffee at 3 AM. Definitely worth the runtime if you're into stuff that makes you question reality a bit.
They Live (1988)

Yeah, this duo looks good, adding them to the list

Casey Cox2 said:Seconds (1966)
Solaris (1972)
The Man Who Fell to Earth (1976)
Just revisited Demon Seed (1977). Honestly? A total trip. It’s one of those weird, low-budget sci-fi flicks that hits different when you're watching it late at night. The whole premise—this supercomputer getting way too obsessed with a woman—is basically the blueprint for every "AI gone rogue" movie we see now. It’s creepy, it’s messy, and it definitely doesn't hold back on the weirdness. Definitely worth a watch if you're into that retro, slightly unhinged vibe.
Stalker (1979)
Just revisited Altered States (1980)—man, what a trip. It’s one of those weird, heady flicks that sticks in your brain long after the credits roll. It’s got that gritty, late-70s/early-80s vibe that just hits different—kind of messy, kind of beautiful, and totally unhinged. It’s basically about this guy diving deep into sensory deprivation and psychedelic experimentation to find some cosmic truth, only to realize that digging into our evolutionary past might be a terrible idea. It’s trippy, sure, but it also feels strangely visceral. I remember watching this back in the day and feeling like my own perception was slightly off for an hour afterward. Definitely not your typical popcorn flick. If you haven't seen it, give it a shot if you're in the mood for something that actually makes you think—even if what it makes you think about is a little unsettling.
Just revisited *on The Silver Globe*. Honestly? Still trips me out every single time. It’s one of those movies that stays under your skin—not exactly a "fun" watch, but you can't look away. The visuals are wild, even by today's standards. It feels less like a standard sci-fi flick and more like some fever dream you'd have after drinking way too much coffee at 3 AM. Definitely worth the runtime if you're into stuff that makes you question reality a bit.
They Live (1988)

I've seen it, definitely one of my all-time favorites

Thanks for the suggestions

I've been binge-watching a mountain of sci-fi lately since it’s easily my favorite genre.
My goal is to catch every decent sci-fi flick out there—as long as they aren't total garbage (let's say at least a 5.5 on IMDb).
I’m not really a fan of those modern sci-fi movies (like Elysium) that just dump a ton of action in there to please the masses, though I did think Oblivion was pretty good.
I mostly love the whole space exploration vibe.
I can even get into some alien horror, provided it isn't totally over the top.
Hit me with some recommendations.

David Flores23 said:If you have a premium fan package, you can actually get 5 or 7 accounts for free, depending on which one you’ve got. It's worth checking with JPMorgan Chase to see what your specific perks are before you file a claim.

I actually have a premium card, so I'll definitely give them a shout.

Does anyone know what the fee is for paying utility bills through eBay?
So, I was chatting with an eBay rep earlier today, and they told me straight up that I could have up to seven accounts per month for free.
But here's the thing—I just tried paying my electric bill via eBay, and it shows they charged me a $0.30 fee.
I'm a little confused since they said those first seven were free, and this is actually my very first time ever using eBay to pay a bill.