Comments on: Auto Executives Expect Rising Gas Prices

By: Brian Carr

Brian Carr — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 16:39:26 +0000

What’s old is new again!

By: Steve T

Steve T — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 16:34:12 +0000

Oh well, I guess “the in thing to do” doesn’t necessarily have to make sense.

Maybe I should finally throw that Pet Rock out and give my parachute pants to GoodWill….Nah, they’ll come back in style soon I can feel it.

By: Brian Carr

Brian Carr — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 16:07:41 +0000

Johnny – I agree, it wasn’t exactly the world’s best analogy.

By: Brian Carr

Brian Carr — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 16:05:47 +0000

Steve – I agree that most people who purchase SUVs – especially the Suburbans and Expeditions – probably aren’t too concerned with getting great gas mileage.

That being said, some hybrid owners aren’t doing it to make an environmental statement, rather they’re doing it because it’s the in thing to do. For example, 1 out of 4 people who own hybrids also own an SUV:

http://www.dailyfueleconomytip.com/?p=226

By: Steve T

Steve T — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 15:17:40 +0000

Sorry, change that Escape to Expedition.

By: Steve T

Steve T — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 13:16:14 +0000

Mr. Carr you are correct that if people would change their driving habits, even H2′s would be for fuel efficient. The real time fuel consumption screen on my Prius is an incredible tool that I use every day and it has really changed the way I drive. I have also started checking the air pressure on my tires much more often, and I notice the increased fuel economy immediately.

However, I purchased my Prius for a very different reason than someone else purchased their H2 or Ford Escape. I cannot see those who purchased their SUV for whatever reason being at all concerned about fuel economy. Now there may be individuals out there who can prove this is not always the case, but they are the exception, not the rule.

I’m being a real downer here, but I’d venture to guess that if Ford were able to make an Escape hybrid, it would tank miserably and Ford would lose their shirts on the venture because people do not buy Escapes to make “that kind” of statement.

By: Johnny

Johnny — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 12:33:51 +0000

Imagine that – being hit with an oversized bra at 60 mph and using a shoulder pad for protection. This is what GM sees as valid comparison to 4 tonne SUVs.

By: Brian Carr

Brian Carr — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 01:46:04 +0000

VR and Steve T – thanks for the comments. While we currently may not have ALL of the wide variety of fuel efficient vehicles available to us in the US, we certainly have plenty of choices.

Plus, if we would all try to adjust a few of our driving habits, ALL of the vehicles on the road would be more fuel friendly!

By: Steve T

Steve T — Tue, 27 Mar 2007 23:14:21 +0000

The free market does not exist in the American Auto Industry. If it did, every one of the Big 3 would be nothing but a memory. Hundreds of millions in lobbyist cash, corporate welfare handouts and massive bailouts with our tax dollars are not how a free market system works. The industry still likes to call it a free market system, just like Microsoft likes to call the desktop pc market “competitive”, but that does not make it so.

By: VR

VR — Tue, 27 Mar 2007 16:21:04 +0000

Nobrainer:

Not true.

Consumers have not had much of a choice the last couple decades, as the small fuel efficient cars were NOT EVEN OFFERED FOR SALE in the USA. There are MANY small high mileage cars that are available in Europe or even Canada that I and many friends would buy – but WE CAN’T BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT SOLD HERE.

So how can we “speak” when our voices won’t be heard?

Volkswagen sells a crapload of TDI cars because they were the most fuel efficient in the USA for a decade.

Now other small efficient models are starting to trickle in, but companies still sell 25 models of huge SUVs.

There are even some high mileage diesels that are assembled in the USA and shipped to Europe to sell…

Right now, I would kill for the new diesel Mini… But there is no word whether it will be offered in the USA.