US auto sales up in September 2011 on big trucks

The car-buying public clearly did not get the memo. When gas goes up to $4.00, it seems like people just ride it out because they know eventually, it will come down just like before. I think it would take $5.00 a gallon for people to change their behavior.

 

It's sad that $1.00 more per gallon is what motivates large truck and big suv people to kneejerk - not the initial, constant, high rate of fuel consumption.

 

You drive around europe for a bit & you quickly see how few there are who truly need a land barge. But here, the mindset is, if I can afford it, then it's ok ... rather than considering what's best in terms of conservation.

 

Yep,m but the first time it hit $4 it went way under $3 shortly thereafter. This time? Not happening, it won't get under $3 unless some unbelievably oil find comes along or the economy crumbles (kind like the last time it went under $3 I guess!).

Gas will keep edging up and more fuel efficient cars will keep coming along. More people will realize that paying literally $200-300/month just to drive a pickup to work than a Prius is increasingly insane. Some neighbors close to us have way less money than us but for whatever reason the wife "refused" to own a minivan, so they drive instead a full size SUV. Gas must be killing them, but pride doesn't come cheap.

 

It's not a, "$1,00 more per gallon" issue.
It's the economy. What ever political party is in power, is afraid to do the right thing ... namely strip away the incentives that make U.S. fuel prices lower than true market value ... which in turn, enables affordability of the unnecessary land barge ... be it SUV or pickup. Not only will both political parties refuse to strip away those cheep carbon based fuel incentives (manufacturing, exploring, refining, delivery, etc) both parties have the mind set that, "I'll be damned if OUR party is going to commit political suicide by raising fuel taxes in order to subsidize alternatives.". Nope, both parties would rather let the economy eventually fail, then loose power during their current term in office. Today is all that matters.

 

we as mankind are able to adapt well, easily forget bad memories and unpleasant experiences and feel great transient bursts of joy over little things. case in point

spring 2011; gas on the rise over $3.50 a gallon predicted to be in the mid 4's by summer driiving season people start complaining. downsizing of transpo opts begin.

Summer 2011; prices stop rising prematurely briefly hitting $4 then slowly dropping but only into the high 3's. we dont like it, but acclimation begins to settle our minds anyway

Fall 2011; brief drops of gas prices "near" the mid 3's (case in point. a co-worker happily relating that gas had dropped a nickel and she "only" paid $3.63) and now that has somehow become the new "comfort" point. we immediately go back to the ultra vehicles thinking we can afford it due to the recent gas price drops


and so it goes. we can also change the year to 2009 and set prices in the low 3's or 2007 and set the price in the high 2's or make 2012 and set the price in the high 3's. gas prices have pretty much settled upwards at about a quarter a year and that will continue.

oil companies understand the human psyche enough to know that if they want acceptance of gas prices at $4 a gallon, they only need to sell it at $4.50 a gallon for 3-4 months to gain that acceptance

 

Most large suvs aren't affordable to the average buying public which leads me to believe most SUV buyers choose to be ignorant of their usage costs and then freak out over a mere $1 ppg increase (mere to me at least)..which realistically if you can afford a big suv the extra operating costs shouldn't be that much of a shocking experience, only if you're stupid to begin with in the first place.
Politically, Cash for Clunkers really pissed me off because people who previously bought land barges were essentially "rewarded" for their choice to purchase low mpg vehicles. It still steams me.
I'm all for huge yearly taxes imposed on suvs - up front, not at the pump.

 

Remember this was a jobs program on cash for clunkers, not a program meant to be fair or really kill SUVs or trucks. It did get some really bad vehicles off the road, but there is a regression to mean on truck sales. If you check out the latest figures, it is trucks and compact SUVs that have gained, monstrosity class SUVs peaked in 2004 and those numbers aren't ever coming back.

I'm not sure what that other thread is, but if you are in a long line for fast food drive through, that seems to be more of a problem with Americans than SUVs. No time to sit down and eat, but people can shovel fatty non-nutritious food in their pie hole.

There are huge commutes and lots of traffic in the bay area. Even many that drive prii seem to drive an inordinate amount of miles. The bay area seems really image conscious in their vehicles, and with other cost of living gasoline isn't the main concern.

 

There are way too many "land barge" vehicles. What amazes me is that people drive these vehicles constantly idle the vehicles - impacting their own costs and cost to the environment. There are students drive these jacked up, oversized megatrucks to school as a commute vehicle. The cycle will break at some point and these people will cry and complain thinking they are being taken advantage of (they are), but will have no easily obtainable constructive alternatives close at hand and will not consider living more simply (bicycle, walking, efficiency).

I was at the store yesterday when a women in a Mercedes parked next to me commented about our Prius, "It looks small." I replied, "Yes, but it earns 52 mpg."

 

Didn't notice the thread because it was in Gen II.

When I lived in the bay area many seemed quite image conscious about there cars. Definitely much more so than here, although both places have plenty of nice cars and prii. I'm sure, as you say, it is worse in Southern California.

 

I've been to Austin and LA plenty of times on business, grew up in Dallas, currently live in the bay area after moving from Little Rock, AR...only after moving to LR from the bay area.

I can tell you this, LA (SoCal), Dallas and Little Rock are all very car image concerned it's just not funny. Bay area, some nice cars, but tons of Prii.

 

From rush hour observations: there alot less SUV/trucks in daily mix, then it used to be. Yes people buying them b/c of insane deals, but they are less and less using them as daily drivers, more as a "family room on wheels", when the space needed.

Most of rush hour traffic consist of used small/compact/mid-size cars, YMMV

 

I would have asked that lady if her Mercedes could haul 8ft long lumber!

Around here in N. Dallas monster SUVs and trucks are everywhere. It's a cultural thing, I think.

I'm convinced America is on its way down.

 

Well, they had too. The way the program worked for the CAFE exempt trucks and SUVs was that the credit could only be used for another exempt class vehicle. So the owner of a F350 could trade down to an F250, maybe a F150, but not a Ranger and still get credit. Even if person only needed, and wanted, a Ranger.

While it sucked for those who wanted to really downsize, it did give increase in the fleet economy of those who used those vehicles.