High Gas Prices Drive Car Sales: “Fuel Economy Is Top of Mind,” Ford Exec Says

[Playinghardball]

Consumers are buying new cars at record rates this year, even as gasoline prices creep upward and the economic recovery remains uncertain. Ford Motor (F), the No. 2 U.S. automaker, posted it strongest sales numbers for March in five years. The company sold a total of 223,418 cars last month, up 11 percent from February.

The success of the top-selling fuel-efficient Focus hybrid has proved a surprise for the car maker best known for its gas-guzzling trucks. Nearly 95,000 Focuses have been sold since January and Focus sales increased 78 percent in the first quarter alone. Ford continues to nip at the heels of Toyota (TM), maker of the popular Prius hybrid.

At this week's New York International Auto Show at the Javits Center, Ford's electric vehicles and fuel-efficient technologies dominate its showcase space, an obvious move by Ford brass to emphasize the company's intention to woo and seduce eco-friendly consumers. Visitors can touch, sit in and pretend to drive five hybrid and electric cars, including the Fusion plug-in hybrid and the 2013 C-Max hybrid.

Mark Fields, president of Ford Americas, says "fuel economy is top of mind for consumers" and Americans have been dumping their aging cars in favor of new vehicles that offer better fuel mileage. In an interview from the auto show, Fields points out that one-third of Ford vehicles get at least 40 miles per gallon and the Detroit automaker's strategy over the past few years has been to "be the best or among the best in fuel economy [in] every segment that we're in — from small cars all the way up to large trucks."

http://finance.yahoo.com/blogs/daily-ticker/high-gas-prices-drive-car-sales-fuel-economy-173258043.html

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Maybe high fuel prices are a good thing....

[taterguy]

1. High fuel prices are only good for oil companies

For the rest of us it means less money to spend on stuff we enjoy, instead of stuff we need to get to work. (If we're lucky enough to have a job).

[taterguy]

4. There are ways to promote conservation that don't screw people

[taterguy]

7. Taxes get collected instantly. How long does it take to buld the infrastructure?

And infrastructure isn't really the problem.

The problem is that we choose to live as far away from each other as possible. And people who do live close to things choose to drive, because, well, it's always too hot or too cold, or something like that.

[Initech]

3. If new cars weren't so expensive Id buy a 2012 Focus in half a second.

Detroit made and gets 37 MPG on top of that - plus reviews I've read give it higher quality marks on initial materials used than it's Audi and Hyundai equivalents. I almost bought one and would have if it weren't for the down payment being way more than I could afford.

[NNN0LHI]

5. This retired Ford worker agrees

We needed a new car several years ago and with our property taxes increasing and my pension decreasing I don't see myself ever being in the position to purchase a new car.

Don

[Brickbat]

9. We've had two Focuses and they're awesome.

[Initech]

10. I love the 2012 model - it's one of the nicest cars I've driven yet.

[moparlunatic]

8. Too many people

fool themselves into buying a new car thinking it will save them money with increased gas mileage. My car was paid off many years ago, getting myself into a car payment wouldn't save me anything for many years. My old clunker maybe gets 20mpg, even getting something that gets double the mileage wouldn't be worth it even if wanted to. With the average price of a new car at what maybe $15k, that would buy a lot of gas.