Rising gas prices make buyers think small(er)

[RamboLiberal]

Source: MSNBC

Soaring gasoline prices may not be causing a mass stampede away from gas-guzzling pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles, but they do appear to be sending consumers toward smaller versions of those vehicles, according to new research.

Refinery outages and tight supplies have sent pump prices soaring in recent weeks, with the national average price of regular gasoline rising this week to a record of nearly $3.20 a gallon, according to AAA.

At the same time, owner loyalty in the large pickup and midsize and large SUV segments has dropped, according to the Power Information Network, a division of industry tracking firm J.D. Power and Associates, which tracked the percent of owners who traded in their vehicles for another in the same segment during February and March.

“What we are seeing is a gradual shift toward smaller vehicles,” said Tom Libby, senior director of industry analysis at the Power Information Network.

“It’s not a traumatic, sudden lurch, but a steady movement that has been going on for some time,” he said. “During periods of high gas prices over the past two years, we’ve seen movement from larger to smaller SUVs.”


Read more: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18780635/

[SKKY]

1. I live in Spain where gas is well over $5.00 dollars a gallon...

...and people here get buy with much smaller cars or even diesel engines. I was in Sevilla once and witnessed an accident between a Citroen Xara and one of those Smart cars. The Citroen broadsided the Smart at about 30-35 mph, wich bounced, and rolled twice, but the driver got out, surveyed the damage, and drove the thing away. Just because its small, doesn't mean it's more/less dangerous.

[silverojo]

7. Oh, yeah, we really need more diesel engines

We don't have enough of the smelly things belching out pollution right now.

BTW, just because there were no fatalities when two rollerskates hit each other, doesn't make either of them safe. Let's see what happens if either of them hits a stationary object, like a telephone pole.

Three words: Jaws of life.

[Psephos]

8. Your view is a bit behind the times

As of last fall, diesel fuel is now mandated to be essentially sulfur-free, leading to drastic reductions in sulfur dioxide aerosols and other harmful chemicals. Particulate carbon (the black cloud traditionally associated with diesel exhaust) is also under regulation and has previously been dealt with in diesel cars.

Diesels are more efficient at extracting energy from the fuel they burn than gasoline engines, which means less carbon dioxide emitted per unit of energy delivered to the wheels.

The engines are made stronger than gasoline engines, to deal with the stresses of higher compression, and are famous for lasting for 200,000 or 300,000 miles with decent maintenance. Not only does that mean cash in your pocket, it also means less energy wasted in manufacturing plants to build replacements.


You might also notice that diesel fuel is currently selling for about $2.75/gallon, vs. $3.65 for gasoline. No refinery bottleneck there. A diesel VW Beetle gets 50 MPG on gas that costs 30% less.

In other words, diesels are a green choice. They are extremely popular in Europe.

[raouldukelives]

2. They are making this buyer think bicycle. nt

[freesqueeze]

3. Larger to Smaller SUVs?

Oh brother. Sounds like the adicts are cutting back on the Smack and calling it recovery.

I love my new compact. 38 mpg...not hybrid numbers but not hybrid price either.

[kimmylavin]

4. Yup!

I got myself a Yaris in December.
Getting between 36 and 40 mpg.
LOVE IT. :)

[CatholicEdHead]

5. Might be dumping my small SUV for a compact soon

I have an older CRV with 24mpg overall. I may need to get one with 35+mpg soon. I do not want to loose my AWD though, it goes through snow really easily. After 1-2ft dumpings I can still be on the road.

[TheFarseer]

6. HA ha HA ha HA ha HA ha HA ha

screw that. I want to sit up high so I can see everything. Also, my kid's carseat is so big I need a Suburban, and also my wife drives like sh*t so when she gets in wrecks I like to have her surrounded by alot of steel. Hopefully, my SUV is so high off the ground the other driver will be decapitated and he'll think twice before he gets in her way when she's running a red light and speeding while illegally changing lanes. I can afford it because I just work some overtime when I need more money. No matter if the company has work for me to do or whatever. I just sit and play on the internet and take the company's money, cause Merikans like me work for a living! Supply and Demand BITCHES!!! :sarcasm:

[roseBudd]

9. If I didn't live on top of such a steep hill I would be biking...

I can count on one hand the bikes I've seen being pedaled up that hill