Goodbye SUV, hello small cars: Surge in gas prices leads to scaling down of the vehicles Americans

Discussion in 'Prius, Hybrid, EV and Alt-Fuel News' started by cwerdna, Apr 28, 2008.

  1. cwerdna

    cwerdna Senior Member

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    Americans are switching to smaller cars from SUVs - Apr. 25, 2008

    Goodbye SUV, hello small cars

    Surge in gas prices leads to scaling down of the vehicles Americans drive.

    Last Updated: April 27, 2008: 10:07 AM EDT
    DETROIT (AP) -- Scott Piechocinski roamed the rows of a CarMax dealership in Charlotte, N.C., on a recent afternoon, searching for something small to replace his son's 2001 Nissan Pathfinder sport/utility vehicle.
    He's not alone: As gas prices marched higher and now top $3.50 per gallon across the nation, car buyers across the country increasingly are abandoning SUVs and pickups in favor of smaller crossovers and cars.
    "Fuel is money," Piechocinski said. "You have to be realistic."
    The trend also is showing up globally and could rival the industry upheaval that followed the last big oil price shock in 1980. That earthquake caught Detroit automakers lacking in the fuel-efficient models buyers were demanding and set the stage for the rise of Asian competitors such as Toyota Motor Co. (TM) and Honda Motor Co. (HMC)
    General Motors Corp., (GM, Fortune 500) Ford Motor Co. (F, Fortune 500) and Chrysler LLC rebounded in the 1990s when fuel was relatively cheap and they piled up big profits selling SUVs and pickups. But now history is repeating itself - with a vengeance.
     
    #1 cwerdna, Apr 28, 2008
  2. Godiva

    Godiva AmeriKan Citizen

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    Re: Goodbye SUV, hello small cars: Surge in gas prices leads to scaling down of the vehicles America

    Unless there's a summer gas tax holiday, in which case sales of SUVs will soar this summer.
     
    #2 Godiva, Apr 28, 2008
  3. TonyPSchaefer

    TonyPSchaefer Your Friendly Moderator
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    Re: Goodbye SUV, hello small cars: Surge in gas prices leads to scaling down of the vehicles America

    Nerfer has a spreadsheet where he tracks the average gasoline price (in Chicago) as well as monthly hybrid sales. As you can imagine, when the price of gas goes up, the hybrid sales go up in near-perfect harmony. Likewise, when the price of gas drops, Godiva is proven correct.
     
    #3 TonyPSchaefer, Apr 28, 2008
  4. qbee42

    qbee42 My other car is a boat

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    Re: Goodbye SUV, hello small cars: Surge in gas prices leads to scaling down of the vehicles America

    American consumers have very short memories.

    Tom
     
    #4 qbee42, Apr 28, 2008
  5. Austin50mpg

    Austin50mpg Prius Driving Right Winger

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    Re: Goodbye SUV, hello small cars: Surge in gas prices leads to scaling down of the vehicles America

    I remember not being able to count to 5 without seeing a full size SUV on the interstate I drive daily. Now I see maybe one or two total on the 1 hr + daily drive. A lot more sedans and coupes out there. I was blessed in that the lease on my mid size SUV (Pathfinder) expired last month and I was able to get a Prius without much wait.
     
    #5 Austin50mpg, Apr 28, 2008
  6. tripp

    tripp Which it's a 'ybrid, ain't it?

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    Re: Goodbye SUV, hello small cars: Surge in gas prices leads to scaling down of the vehicles America

    That'll do nowt. The fed tax is what $0.184/gal? They'd have to pay a rebate beyond that encourage fuel use.
     
    #6 tripp, Apr 28, 2008
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