[mos6507]

I see future news stories in 2009:
$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'F')ool Me Once... Fool Me Twice...
Joe Sixpack traded in his Escalade for a Ford Focus when gas prices spiked in 2008. When gas prices tumbled back down again, Sixpack took advantage of aggressive discounts by the floundering US auto industry to get back into the driver's seat of another Escalade. "I just loved the thing." Said Joe, "I am a pretty big guy and I have a big family. They just couldn't fit in that little Focus. The Escalade is the right kind of vehicle for me. I figured the speculators cased gas to go up."

Little did he know that he wasn't alone. Gaslone consumption in the US which had dropped by 4% from the previous year rebounded just as quickly. Energy experts blame the increased demand as the key factor in oil's rebound to over $100 a barrell. Now Joe Sixpack has a case of dejavu. "I got rid of my Escalade the first time at a pretty big loss. This time I can't sell it period. You'd think people would see it as a collector's item now that GM has gone bankrupt."

Now the Escalade sits idle in Joe's driveway. He now squeezes himself into an old econobox like Mr. Incredible's."It's a Ford Fiesta. I got it for a couple hundred bucks. At least it has a sunroof. Maybe I can find some rims for it."
Joe Sixpack has learned to make the most of the present and not think too far into the future. Phto (very large)

[AirlinePilot]

I just knew this wouldnt take any time at all. Its too easy to go back to where we are comfortable. Gas below 2$/gal? Everything is fine again..party on Wayne!..party on Garth!!

Stupid Humans....

Hillbillies buyin more SUV's!

[IslandCrow]

But the article talked about most of the sales being of pre-owned SUVs. This is not going to help Detriot much, just moving large gas guzzlers to the new set of mugs:

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'J')erry Martin doesn't know how much gas his newly-purchased Ford Expedition can hold.

"I don't want to know. I don't want to know the mileage either,' Martin said.

[skyemoor]

With extremely low prices, the Big 3 are trying to clear out inventory, so this trend may not last.

[Ayoob]

I sure would like one. A big 4x4 with towing capacity and a winch on the front would be right up my alley. My small farm vision is coming closer to reality day by day and you can use a truck for that kind of lifestyle.

As it is I commute on a motorcycle...

If you can afford to fuel it for your purposes, why shouldn't you buy whatever you wish to have? Should we all content ourselves with a bicycle, a pair of glasses, and a deck of cards? Well, a deck of cards doesn't serve the needs of the Party, so maybe no cards.

[uNkNowN ElEmEnt]

If prices are falling what this could indicate is that hill billies can finally afford what they couldn't before. Even if its pre-owned.

[dukey]

there was an article a month or 2 ago posted about how SUV sales were going up. I forgot to post it. Seems consumers have a pretty short memory. On the petrol price issue, here in the UK, the price of petrol has really declined, down to 89p/litre which is a massive drop.

yeah heres the link $this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'D')espite the down economy, falling gas prices have driven consumers back to the sport utility vehicles they once gave the cold shoulder.

Workers at General Motor's Arlington, Texas, SUV assembly plant began working overtime this month and are scheduled to remain on overtime for the rest of the year.

The plant, which employs 2,500 workers, is now the only GM factory building full-size sport utility vehicles like the Chevrolet Tahoe, GMC Yukon and Cadillac Escalade.

Although sales of the vehicles are still down overall, they have rebounded in recent weeks as gas prices have fallen and cash-strapped automakers have slashed prices. The vehicles have proven to be a solid source of revenue for GM.

[idiom]

The essence of the soft doomer argument. Although we could plan ahead and solve our problems, we never ever will.

The democrats being in power and being about to take ownership of the Big 3 may in fact prevent a return to SUV production.

[vtsnowedin]

Lets see now.. If they take $10,000 off the price the tax is less and the interest is less and at $2.00 per gallon at 15 miles per gallon thats 75,000 miles of free gas. If I needed a solid dependable rig that sounds pretty doable to me.
To bad they now want $7500 down on signing.

[eXpat]

Not only SUV´s: buy one car, get one free!!! (no, is not the aisle of a supermarket)
linky
$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'T')INLEY PARK, IL - Bettenhausen Dodge has announced a new consumer incentive program in attempt to stimulate car sales in the Chicago market, and a first for Dodge vehicles, Buy One Car, Truck or Minivan and Get a Second Vehicle for only $1, effective November 21st .

For the first time ever, the “Buy One Vehicle and Get a Second One for $1” special is available on a total of 10 New select Dodge Vehicles starting November 21, 2008, while supplies last. Customers can visit www.onepricedodge.com to find information or call 1-800-363-4384.

Customers who pay the sticker price of a Brand New 2008 Dodge Charger, Grand Caravan, Ram Truck or Dakota at Bettenhausen Dodge, 17514 S. Oak Park Avenue in Tinley Park, will get a slightly used 2008 Dodge for ONLY $1.

[jamest]

For most people, the most expensive part of vehicle ownership is the cost of the vehicle itself and the insurance, not the fuel. It makes perfect economic sense for them to buy an SUV if the price is heavily discounted.

[vtsnowedin]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('eXpat', 'N')ot only SUV´s: buy one car, get one free!!! (no, is not the aisle of a supermarket)

[mos6507]

That makes me really angry...

[flash width=425 height=344]http://www.youtube.com/v/Tim5nU3DwIE&hl=en&fs=1[/flash]

[Plantagenet]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('idiom', 'T')he democrats being in power and being about to take ownership of the Big 3 may in fact prevent a return to SUV production.

[Plantagenet]

The logical way to convert the US auto fleet from SUVs to smaller cars is for Congress to vote a large tax on gasoline and make sure gas prices are high, the way the Europeans do.

Its crazy for gas to be below $2/gallon. The new Congress should vote a tax to keep gas over $3-4/gallon.

High gas prices are the simplest and easiest way to kill off SUVs....the spike to $4 gallon almost did it, but the Congress doesn't have the courage to vote such a tax, so we'll be treated to more circus hearings with grovelling detroit CEOs and the whining UAW president pleading for money and finally we'll see a bailout that will send billions to detroit in exchange for them building cars designed to specs set by Congressional democrats----

[highlander]

So are these people buying SUV's just to spite their intelligent, eco-friendly neighbors, or might they really have a need for such a vehicle. The Ford explorer and Dodge caravans were top selling models for a reason. Most people that have full size pickups actually do use them to haul stuff that won't fit into a prius. The democrats are not any more likely to tell Detroit to build stuff that people don't want than the repubs were.

[eastbay]

The implication that undereducated or poor Whites residing primarily in Appalachia and in the Ozarks will support the market for SUV's thereby helping boost the Big Three is erroneous and racist.

This bit of news suggests the market for larger personal vehicles is strong across racial and national lines. Arab countries have recently increased their demand for these vehicles as well.

[ROCKMAN]

Plant -- You and I have always agreed about the need to raise fuel taxes to lower consumption. I also agree about the lack of courage by our politician to do so. They couldn't do it when prices were high and now they won't do it with the recession hitting us right between the eyes. The only chance I can see now if for PE Obama to push Congress for a windfall profit tax on the oil companies. Unless the MSM gets on its high horse the public will never understand that the WFT is just another consumtion tax the companies will pass on in higher fuel prices. But now with oil prices dropping I'm not sure he'll try it regardless of how much overall tax revenue is bound to slide in this downturn.

[bratticus]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('AirlinePilot', 'H')illbillies buyin more SUV's!

[Cabrone]

Full marks for this guy's imagination LOL.

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'W')hile the recent economic downturn may have stopped you from traveling in your Hummer to save fuel, a New York-based artist, Jeremy Dean, still does ride in his Hummer H2, but as a symbol of his efforts against the dependence on polluting fossil fuels, has replaced the conventional 325hp engine with one that produces just 1hp.

The artist has completely converted a perfectly good Hummer H2 that was purchased for $15,000 into a cart driven by a horse. The artist explains that if alternate sources of fuel are not available on time, most people will be left with no other alternative rather than to convert their cars to be powered by horses.