[Waterthrush]

My previous words - $this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'G')eez, a salary that allows the purchase of two vehicles, a vacation, and a college fund - and that's supposed to be greedy and horrifying

[Pretorian]

SUV is well and alive-- I just filled up mine. $69.99.

[indybrat]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Cashmere', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('pstarr', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('dukey', 'i')f GM dies the economy is finished
doesnt GM have like a million people on it's health care ?

[indybrat]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Pretorian', 'S')UV is well and alive-- I just filled up mine. $69.99.

[joewp]

How fat are these kids that can't sit three across in a car?
$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', '"')I don't want to be labeled as a soccer mom,"

[TreebeardsUncle]

Hi. Ford did a market research study recently and found that most SUV drivers would keep them when gas goes to $4/gallon.
The actually break point for the suv fad (I expect) is in the $8 to $10/gallon range.
It will be a little higher to get the pick-up trucks off the road in great numbers ($12 to $15/gallon). Vans should head off about the same time.
At $20/gallon, people will pick price over safety and get motor-cycles and scooters in large numbers.
At $40 to $50/gallon they will be forced onto trains and bikes. That will bein the 2040s.
Lates.
g

[dinopello]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', '"')I don't want to be labeled as a soccer mom," she said.

[seldom_seen]

I've seen a whole family riding one bicycle in Brazil.

Dad riding, with kid behind, mother on handlebars holding the other kid.

[Madpaddy]

I thought soccer mums are mums who drive SUVs so her arguement stupid as it is is not even correct.

[Gvil]

4$ per US gallon would be here in Europe (Slovenia) translated into 0.6€ per litre and this is still DIRT CHEAP. Here 1 litre of gas costs 1.2 € which would be app. 8$ per gallon and people still drive around like usual (even more). Also you must consider that the average salary here is in the range of 850€ (1275$) per month - I think this is much less than average US salary. Also you can see quite a lot of SUV on the streets. So I think that when the prices in US will be in the 8$ range people will just spend more money on gas and buy less other stuff.
I think that the price in the range 15-20$ per gallon will break the habit. People are not keen to downsize.

[wisconsin_cur]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('joewp', 'H')ow fat are these kids that can't sit three across in a car?

[Rabbit]

Yes, but any one with more than 2 kids is a gross polluter. Breeding must be limited to 2 kids per family or less.

[wisconsin_cur]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Rabbit', 'Y')es, but any one with more than 2 kids is a gross polluter. Breading must be limited to 2 kids per family or less

[ozkrenske]

Alright I don't understand the soccer mum thing either. (It must be regional or something because my image of soccer mum is 4wd driver.)
But she is ferrying 3 kids two who must sit in the back and another she doesn't want in the middle. Ummm .... mmm .... surely there is a passenger seat in front or is that for the handbag or something?
I agree with the fuel price thing. Unless they lose a paypacket they will probably find savings to pay out $150 a week for the commute, before considering the change over. They would eat a loss on the current vehicle and probably pay more then the difference in fuel costs modernising. It is an issue that will only be fixed by rationing or shortage.

[wisconsin_cur]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('ozkrenske', 'A')lright I don't understand the soccer mum thing either. (It must be regional or something because my image of soccer mum is 4wd driver.)
But she is ferrying 3 kids two who must sit in the back and another she doesn't want in the middle. Ummm .... mmm .... surely there is a passenger seat in front or is that for the handbag or something?

[grampybone]

I don't have any sympathy for these people at all. Why did they buy these wasteful vehicles to begin with? Is it my fault they have several kids?
So if these Big vehicle owners want to get somewhere they are going to have to PUT THE GAS IN IT AND SHUT UP. Either that or sell thier SUV for scrap metal because nobody wants it. Then apply that money towards a smaller vehicle. If not then walk.
Tough. Not my problem man.

[cube]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('joewp', 'H')ow fat are these kids that can't sit three across in a car?
...

[TheDude]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('wisconsin_cur', 'I')n some places it is illegal to have small children in the front seat. At the very least we are told not to until the child is around high school age.