Screw gas prices, analysts say Americans still want SUVs
This PR Newswire report is almost laughable in its exposition of a report in the upcoming issue of Newsweek that reveals 56% of Americans refuse to downsize their vehicles despite the high price of gas. The point of the report is that while consumers aren't downsizing, they are altering their tastes to include smaller SUVs and crossovers that are often built on car frames and use less thirsty V6 engines.
The article quotes an AutoPacific consultant as saying, We havent turned into wimps overnight, as if people who consider fuel efficiency when car shopping are showing a sign a weakness. It refers to the Hummer H3 as a modest SUV. Perhaps the most odd quote comes from a J.D. Power guy who says, For hybrids to have a double digit market share wed essentially have to run out of fossil fuel. Me thinks a worldwide lack of fossil fuel would put a dent in the sale of hybrids as well as SUVs.
_opt_thumbnail.jpg)
_thumbnail.jpg "2011 Audi A8: Live from Miami")
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 6)
Greg 11:07PM (12/18/2005)
I'm from Europe where gas prices are even higher. Yet I refuse to trade my SUV.
I'm looking at alternatives though such as diesel engines but it's still gotta be a 4wd big ass monster. Once you get used to the comfort and storage space an SUV offers it's hard to get used to smaller cars again.
Reply
Angus Dykman 11:07PM (12/18/2005)
Good call on this one, I can't believe this is the kind of stuff that is being reported in big magazines now. The quote about running out of fossil fuel really angers me. This is craziness.
Reply
Ryan 11:07PM (12/18/2005)
I drive a small car, but don't understand why these other small car drivers are filled with so much HATE towards SUV's? What's it to anyone what the next guy drives? I enjoy seeing what cars people like to express themselves in. I just happen to like small cars, but I do think some SUV's are pretty cool it is just a free choice to make. Without getting to political, the majority of Americans voted in an administration that (from what I can tell) is more "relaxed" in the enviro standards. This corresponds with this news article and shows are the people to hate SUV's to the point of pure bitterness are the minority. Hey you want an SUV, go for it! But I want my small car to, and for some reason I dont think SUV drivers really care I want my small car, just as I should not care they want there SUV.
Reply
Sid Ghosh 11:07PM (12/18/2005)
Ryan - SUV drivers use their size to barge into lanes, take up parking spots, space on the road, tailgate, drive up fuel costs, poullute the environment and whatever else they fancy just because they have a big car which will 'protect them in the event of a crash'.
Why wouldn't people be pissed at them?
Reply
Russell 11:07PM (12/18/2005)
I just don't understand why this continues to make news. Regardless of various supply/demand scenarios, the USA is one of the wealthiest nations in the world with a comparatively small tax on gas... hmmm, guess who's still going to be using more gasoline than the rest of the world? Combine that with urban planning in most of the US that virtually necessitates an automobile and we're always going to be consuming more than our neighboring nations, down to the very last barrel.
Reply
Joseph Willemssen 11:07PM (12/18/2005)
"What's it to anyone what the next guy drives?"
Visibility impairment for lower-slung vehicles (ie, cars), for starters, as well as increased danger. Toss in lower fuel economy and emissions requirements, and people are rightly offended at SUVs in general, since all that waste is there for no other reason 99% of the time simply to feed the selfishness and insecurities of the SUV driver.
"Without getting to political, the majority of Americans voted in an administration that (from what I can tell) is more "relaxed" in the enviro standards."
It's a split electorate, at best, not a mandate.
If you don't care what people drive, then perhaps I'll drive an M1 tank. And if you get in my way, I'll either run you over or blast you off the road. It's all just "personal choices", right?
Reply
poulsbo 11:07PM (12/18/2005)
Sid & Joseph - i'm glad you said it so i don't have to. ;)
Reply
Don L 11:07PM (12/18/2005)
#4 - Based upon more of your unbiased scientific research, of course.
Reply
J Zeke 11:07PM (12/18/2005)
I hate SUVS, BUT
But there are alot of responsible drivers out there in them, some even are friends of mine. The bad press comes from bad drivers which tend to flock towards all manner of fads. There are plenty of people who do what you mentioned Sid, but in minivans, sedans and trucks. In fact I see more sport compact drivers tailgaiting than SUV drivers these days.
The problem is that the Big Three made it very easy to get into a SUV for a low price during the 90s, so theres a glut of the things out there. And thats with remarkable profit margins they put on them! What Id like to see is those profits shrinking as consumers demand more content and quality for the same price in their SUVs.
And has anyone seen the recent GM ads touting Stabilitrack standard? Talk about holding out on the goods, stability control and other computer driving aids are a natural fit for SUVs.
Reply
BF 11:07PM (12/18/2005)
Can't wait to get my new 2007 Tahoe.
Reply
maximumforitude 11:07PM (12/18/2005)
The funny thing is that people with small cars can run people off the road, take up to much parking space, tailgate, drive up fuel costs and whatever the hell they want. Often because they are idiots or have bad habits.
SUV owners and drivers have not cornered the market on foolishness.
Howver-some people are just plain jealous and that's part of the resentment.
As for driving an M1 tank Joe-you know you're not smart enough to do that!
See that's trolling!
Reply
Robert Aitchison 11:07PM (12/18/2005)
I drove bny a user car lot this weekend and it was FULL of late model SUVs and Trucks.
Even when gas is "cheap" in SoCal it's never much below $3/gal so people have figured out fairly quickly that they can't afford to have their 12Mpg SUVs to keep up with the Joneses.
The availability of more crossovers, which are cars dressed up to look sort of SUV-like and marketed as SUVs also helps. It's kind of annoying seeing something like a Freestyle marketed as an "SUV" but I guess if it gets more idiots out of their Expedition it's worthwhile. For someone like me, who has never considered SUVs for safety (I'm not willing to put mi kids lives in jepoardy for a status symbol) and utility reasons (I need my vehicles to be actually useful) they are great because they allow for more options besides minivans.
Car Companies (especially the U.S. Car Companies) are struggling to react to the changing market. There are people who clearly "get it" otherwise vehicles like the HHR wouldn't exist, but I suspect that there are other elements at work who think (or hope) that people will go back to the much more profitable SUVs, of course these are the same people that had tow ratings on cars artificially lowered and helped foster the image of Station Wagons & Minivans being "uncool".
The media for the most part has been the mouthpiece for the auto indistry, I suspect many of them are in denial about the changing realities as well.
Reply
Ryan 11:07PM (12/18/2005)
To #4&5:
I think that is it cool to express your opinons, but honestly it is what the majority of Americans want?! Also my Mom has a Tahoe and she drives fine, ironically I'm more of the "ass" driver. You have to think on the bright side, you can squeeze in and out of those big SUV's on the road, I make a game of it in my Mazda 3. As far as not being able to see around them, yeah kind of a pain but again, the government says it is safe so it's ok right?! (j/k). I usually just "ride the shoulder" to see around them and that works just fine or hell, I usually squeeze by them on the shoulder and pass them! Just enjoy what people want to drive. Really, no need for the bitterness.
Reply
Edsel 11:07PM (12/18/2005)
Dear Sid Gosh,
I suppose you feel the same way about large people too. I'm 6'5", 230# and I don't fit in your tiny ass tin cans.
Short people just need to keep their inferiority complexes quiet.
Reply
sam 11:07PM (12/18/2005)
#12, the VW New Beetle is well known to be favored by tall & fat people... daniel pinkwater was on NPR last year talking about it (he's a children's author, who's paul prudhomme-style fat). All small cars are not "tin-cans".
Reply
Ryan 11:07PM (12/18/2005)
#12
Hey man! My little Mazda is made of the same metal, I'm trying to like you SUV guys throw be a bone!
:-)
Reply
maximumforitude 11:07PM (12/18/2005)
I'm 76 inches tall and wiegh about 260. (I lift a bit.) I spent a year in Iraq-wedged into an armored humvee. I've got to admit, my sister's Prius has more room than my own Blazer-at least up front. Probably roomier than my brother's Camry.
I don't however fit in a Cobalt-at least the 2 door.
Larger SUVs are generally roomier-however that's not always the case. I found the Beetle to be tighter than my Blazer, but not all together uncomfortable.
I'm never getting back into that humvee.
Reply
Joseph Willemssen 11:07PM (12/18/2005)
"howver-some people are just plain jealous"
Straight out of Rush's playbook - it's all "envy".
lol
Yeah, I'm really "envious" of fear-ridden idiots with small penises who aren't ashamed of sharing their insecurities so openly with the world.
Reply
Sid Ghosh 11:07PM (12/18/2005)
No. My point isin't about 'large people' or 'large cars'.
My point is that instead of an SUV buy a smaller crossover, a Wagon vehicle etc. It has space, fuel economy, handling, safety, fun to drive etc. If you're a city dweller, you don't really need a SUV. If you go off-roading, then yeah...get one. Trailer? Sure. But almost 70% SUV owners probably never go off road or anything that you NEED an SUV for. Europeans are as tall and they seem to be getting along just fine without Explorers and Sequoias.
Reply
Edsel 11:07PM (12/18/2005)
Sam(#15)
Ask Pinkwater or Prudhomme to go on a week long roadtrip with their wife and two kids in a VW Bug. Better yet, tell them to take their VW Bug to Home Depot and pickup a couple new trash barrels and a couple rakes.
I want to be there when they load up the Bug.
Reply