Report: Consumers want cup holders, not fuel economy
Consumers prefer cup holders and heated seats over fuel efficiency, according to CNW Marketing Research. That's right, we all talk about how we want our vehicles to be environmentally friendly and easy on gas, but when it comes down to it, what we really want are things to hold our coffee and keep our derrières warm. On the plus side, General Motors is saying fuel economy is becoming more of a priority to shoppers – it points out that four years ago it wasn't even in the top ten (studies by GM list fuel economy behind styling and value). So, what is it going to take to wake up consumers and make fuel efficiency a priority? Most experts feel that a significant hike in the cost of gas will be the kick that sets us straight. Just don't take away the cup holders.
[Source: Forbes via AutoblogGreen]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 6)
JMC 3 7:40PM (2/20/2008)
Just cupholders?Heated and cooled cupholders.Heated and Air conditioned seats are the only way to go
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J_Troxel 12:34AM (2/22/2008)
I think this makes the exact point: Environmentally green doesn't have to mean ugly or amenity free. Once the AUTO MANUFACTURES take that seriously and start making Green Cars with Gold Standards, we'll all be happy.
Brett- BMW Advo 7:41PM (2/20/2008)
Wake up people and smell the coffee, but at a local Starbucks! We should be looking at efficient, safety and performance when shopping for a car. NOT cup holders and other distractions.
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Whitie 5:51AM (2/21/2008)
Underscores the folly of holding auto manufacturers soley responsible for meeting the 2020 CAFE requirements. The government needs to create strong incentives before people will "do the right thing". Gax taxes and registration fees based on engine displacement come to mind (ex. Europe).
Rocketboy 12:59PM (2/21/2008)
Ya.. let's use the gov't to force people to do things that we want them to... Screw the free market, unless there's a top down control from the fed gov't everyone's doing the wrong thing...
Rocketboy 9:45AM (2/22/2008)
Ah yes, I treasure my low rankings even more than my high rankings sometimes. And this is one of them. The rest of you might enjoy doing what the gov't forces you to do, and want even more control. Me, I'll pass. And I'll buy a car based on driving dynamics, safety, and efficiency. Not so I can make sure that I don't make the flowers sad, but so I'm not spending more on gas than the car itself. When I bought the car that I have now, I could have went for fuel efficiency (and some extra options), or speed/higher gas usage, and no options. I went with speed.
SPF 7:41PM (2/20/2008)
WTF??? Cup holders? Seriously???
Although, I really appreciate heated seats during winter. Cold leather seats suck, they make you want to pee.
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Seoultrain 2:40AM (2/21/2008)
ugh, warm seats make you sweaty and sterile.
Reader 3:10AM (2/21/2008)
What's wrong with sterile? I don't mind lowering the chance of getting someone pregnant temporarily.
Jason Bird 11:24AM (2/21/2008)
It's not the cold seats that make you pee...it's the hot coffee!!!!
Ohso Clutch 7:44PM (2/20/2008)
.....more cupholders?
...The end is nigh.
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cellularcoffee 7:43PM (2/20/2008)
Where was this study conducted? Iraq?
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mike 9:47PM (2/20/2008)
The better question is: Who Paid for It. Sure, with $3 gas and next year $4, I'm worried about my cup-holder, being able to afford the coffee.
iSpec 7:47PM (2/20/2008)
or better yet... someone who holds my derrière and something to warm my coffee
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paul34 7:52PM (2/20/2008)
Ironically, if most of my fellow countrymen/women bothered putting down that doughnut and extra large soda/coffee a few times and actually moving their fatass once in a while, that action in and of itself would improve the mileage of cars *already on the streets* greatly.
Sometimes I wonder whether we "need" bigger engines just to haul the extra girth of most Americans around.
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Ted Kennedy Is My Chauffer 7:53PM (2/20/2008)
This article proves once again just how far out of step we autobloggers are with actual consumers. These are the people that manufacturers must appease to buy their wares, which is why we have the bland, softly suspended sedans that dominate the sales charts.
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3seriesisking 10:38PM (2/20/2008)
Those are wise words my friend. It really is scary to think about what the future holds with the consumer base swaying decisions like this though.
dan 11:00PM (2/20/2008)
3seriesistheking, the future is scary indeed.
The scary part is the complete lack of restraint people have for butting into other people's lives and telling them how they're wrong and what they need to do differently.
The three pages of sanctimonious handwringing and American bashing over other people's private purchases in this thread are a case in point.
If someone else likes cupholders more than fuel economy... you know what, it's their damn car.
Polly Prissy Pants 9:02AM (2/21/2008)
Man, you are dead on. As much as I love Autoblog, the regulars (myself included) are in no way representative of the auto consumer at large. In ways it reminds me quite a bit of Digg where the naive, hard core left-wing reactionaries are in no way representative of the common citizen. I used to think I leaned to the left until I started reading some of the wacky nonsense going on over there and what they believe to be reality. Must be something about the Internet that really appeals to the extremist no matter what the topic.
But back on topic, mileage and safety are equally my #1 concerns but I don't see why I can have cupholdes to go along with that.
Charles S 1:49PM (2/21/2008)
The internet isn't dominated by either the left-wing or wing-wing nutcases, but rather it's the same age-old bias and perception people put onto things they don't like. People who love the status quo would say that "liberals" are ruining it for everyone but yet, if a person get a lemon, they would want to rely on the government to protect the citizens.
"Free market" is reactionary and often result in unpredictable consequences. That model will work in some cases, but it is definitely NOT the ultimate solution.
Even corporations, like our governments, have rules and policies that govern its employees. These rules are enforced to steer the company toward a goal. CEOs are not democratic representatives and likely, many do not subscribe to a pure "free market" ideals that is sold to brainwash the public. Some companies, like automobile manufacturers, rely heavily on government subsidies and special tax exemptions, so they are not all "victims" of left-wing oppressions, but rather an active participant in our government.