American Drivers Can’t Complain About Gas Prices
Gasoline prices get a much needed respite and guess what happens?
GM sells twice to three times as many Chevy Tahoes (17mpg), Suburbans (17mpg), and Cadillac Escalades (15mpg).
Ford Expedition (16mpg) and Lincoln Navigator (15mpg) sales increased 40% in October.
Chrysler sales of Jeeps (Wrangler, 18mpg) spiked 29%.
Sales of Chevy Aveos (30mpg) and Cobalts (28mpg) fell 31% and 43% respectively.
Toyota sold 8.6% fewer Priuses (sp?) (55mpg).
So, the next time Americans complain about gas prices, I’m going to complain about American stupidity.
Source: CNN Money
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Tags: Cars, Chevy, Chrysler, Ford, Gasoline, GM, TOyota
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There are 36 comments, add your thoughts now!
I agree completely. When gas prices were $3.50 per gallon, I didn’t notice any fewer cars on the road than when it was $2.00 per gallon.
My conclusion from that, since for most Americans there are viable transportation alternatives, is that the cost of gas isn’t particularly difficult for Americans to absorb.
AMEN!
hehe, too funny
I’m not going to argue that your’re wrong, because there is definetely a bit of truth there. However, isn’t it also possible that the threat of winter and snowy/icy roads has something to do with it as well?
In addition to the impending winter, there’s also this:
The Wrangler redesign just came out. Same with the new GM full-size SUVs. Brand-new vehicle, sales increase.
These are year-over-year numbers, so seasonality shouldn’t play a role (i.e., October 2006 is being compared to October 2005).
Hmm, I’m an American, and I don’t like paying high gas prices. My cars are Hondas (but not hybrids), which is reportedly one of the highest gas mileage producers, and I’ve never owned an SUV nor do I ever plan to buy one.
I’m not ready to buy a hybrid, mostly because a) I’m not planning to buy any new car, I’d probably buy used if/when my current vehicles need to be replaced and b) I’m not convinced current hybrids will last long enough to make a used one worth buying.
I’m interested to see what happens to a hybrid’s value when the batteries start failing. For people who buy or lease new cars and replace them every 3 years that might not matter, but I’m more the type that keeps a car for 10 years or more, and I don’t want my car to need a repair in year 7 that costs more than the car is worth.
“for most Americans there are viable transportation alternatives”
I don’t think that’s necessarily true, even in a general sense. I live near Chicago, and I take the train downtown when it will get me where I need to go, but there are a *lot* of places in and around Chicago that I can’t get to in any reasonable time frame unless I drive.
Believe me, I’d rather commute on a train than sit in rush hour traffic, but if that means I walk a few blocks, take a bus, then a train, and then another bus and walk, and the trip will take 3-4 hours instead of 1 hour driving, I don’t call that a “viable” alternative. Even taking the train downtown for me takes probably twice as long as driving would at most times of the day, and I only live a few blocks from the station. 5 minute walk, 10 minute average wait, plus 20-30 minute ride, vs. a 15-20 minute and 5 minutes parking. I take the train to save money and enjoy the trip more, but if I was in a hurry, I’d drive.
Time has value.
I don’t think that’s atypical either–if you live anywhere except a dense urban area (and have a job and lifestyle that keeps you there), I think most people generally do need a car to get where they need to go. Most American cities were not designed to provide time-efficient and comprehensive public transportation, and as they expand outward it just gets worse.
Okay I’ll admit to it…I bought a new Jeep Liberty in October. BUT the reason was not the lower gas price but the fact that Chrysler was the only loan company to offer me 0% interest and it was worth it for me over the gas prices. I’m also not in one of the areas of the country with prices that have gone as high.
Maybe it’s a good time to start looking into buying/leasing a hybrid. Those 6 month waits for the Prius were (are still?) kind of ridiculous.
I don’t think we can blame the Cobalt and Aveo sales dips on low gas prices. I think we can blame them on the fact that they are both horrid, atrocious vehicles. Compare either car to their Toyota or Honda counterparts - they are so far outclassed, they don’t even belong on the same playing field.
I’m a domestic fan through and through, but vehicles like this are simply awful, and there is no excuse for them to be so bad.
Case in point - the Honda Civic. Sales have been on fire since the 2006 redesign - they haven’t slowed down yet to my knowledge. Yes, gas prices are down, but this is a stylish, high quality, high value vehicle. It is immune to gas pricing issues. If Chevy could finally figure out how to make a similar vehicle, they could sell small cars in volume.
I’m waiting for a jeep hybrid, I need my cherokee for hauling things,mainly my 3 big dogs.I’ve had them most of my life, I like em(jeeps). I’d like to have a better mileage vehicle,but we don’t fit into a sardine can.Together,they weigh240lbs,and I don’t see it happening,BTW they are all rescues, not breeders,high dollar or anything.Just good old Bloodhound mix ,lab mixes.And I haul to and from my house I’m renovating. Anyone got any ideas? And,I agree with Mike, I keep a vehicle for at least 10 years,I don’t promote buying every 2.
Get a diesel jeep. The 2007s are going to have a Mercedes Benz diesel in them that will be one of the cleanest ever.
Like I said on Nickel’s website, part of this is confusing market signals. After Katrina, there was a rush on econoboxes and hybrids, that naturally abated after it became clear that prices weren’t heading toward $10/gal, as some Chicken Little types suggested. And most people who buy fuel-efficient cars aren’t going anywhere near GM offerings when they can buy better Japanese cars.
As for hybrids, they are up 10% YOY.
If lower gas prices are indeed the sole reason, then this is an ultimate example of short-sightedness. I will certainly back you up when you complain about American stupidity in buying 15 mpg vehicles.
For people buying $50K+ SUVs, gas prices are not much of an issue, unless they actually do go over $10/gal. Even the ones buying expensive hybrid SUVs are buying them more to show off their “green conscience” than to save money. With tax credits and things like free toll-crossings, some hybrids can make money over a few years, but most won’t.
I agree… most people just cut back on other items and kept driving the same amount…
we are to blame ourselves
I usually pour an extra gallon of gas on the ground when I’m filling up just to show my patriotism.
Note necessarily true. I’m pretty much locked into my long commute to work. Jobs are more difficult to find closer to home. I do 95% of my errands on my way home from work. I could cut out my 3 mile drive into town on Saturday and Sundays. Not much of a savings for me! Re-think your conclusions please! Thank you!
I don’t have a lot of room to cut back. I have a long drive to and from work — do 95% of my errands on my way home — and have little room to cut back on gas — I get about 38 mpg from my Saturn SL — NO MORE trips to Walmart!
The cuts CAN’T come from my gas budget!
dON’T TALK TO BE ABOUT BLAMING OURSELVES! Are you saying we should bleme outselves for going to work! Come on! You’ve GOT to be kidding!
The only blame we have is by NOT complaining to our Senators and Congressmen. My salary goes up by 3% and my expenses go up by 35% — DO YOU CALL THAT FAIR?????
Re-think your opinion please!
Wake up America!!! It’s time to realize that complaining to each other here, at work or on the phone about high gas prices does absolutely no good. If enough people would complain to their Congressman and Senators with the threat of voting against them in the next election…this would most assuredly get them to take action. It is funny to me that the price of engine oil in the parts stores does not change on a daily basis as gas prices do. When it comes from the same barrel of oil that crude oil does. If you want action do as I am doing…contact your leaders and let them know that you are not happy and come election time you will be voting against them and helping their opponent as long as they will agree to do something about the gas prices!!! I too own an older SUV, but my family does not allow for me to have one of those LITTLE vehicles that get great gas mileage, therefore you think I don’t have the right to complain…WRONG. I work and pay taxes just like everyone else and it is just as unfair to me to have to pay high prices as it is for everyone else.
SO LET’S GET TOGETHER AND DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE HIGH PRICES!!!
I agree with Tracie we need to contact our elected officials and do something about this. America is an apathetic nation and oil companies prey on that. Guess what? Gas prices going up are not just in your tank, it is on the shelf of your grocery store, it is on that rack at your clothing store, it is in that bag of dog food or through the door every time you drop off your child for daycare.
I’m tired of gas companies raising prices and acting as if they can’t build more refineries to produce more gas to meet the needs. Again, Exxon has the highest profit ever 40 (something) billion dollars. That is ridiculous!! Pockets are being lined and filled to the rim somewhere - gas prices could come down based on those earnings. We are going (or are already in) a recession because we don’t have the money to put into the economy. Why? Because what little extra money we did have to spend for extras or basic necessities is now spent on gas! Personally, for me I don’t buy my gas from Exxon or Citgo. But, regardless we have to buy it somewhere.
When an opening comes available I’ll be trying to transfer my job to a different location, if prices don’t decline - that way I can carpool with my husband. I like my current job and the people there, it is a good atmosphere. The other location doesn’t have as good of a reputation. It is a difficult decision to make. But, if it comes down to it - I guess I’ll have to move over to high stress job just to save money on gas.
Contact your congressman and let’s do something about this! It just isn’t right.
I don’t what everyone is thinking,but the gas prices continously going kind of scares me. I have a family to take care of. Fortunately, I make a good income, but if it reachs $6.00 a gallon I don’t know what we will do. Analyst say we will be coming out of this recession at the end of the year, but I think they are incorrect. The United States used to be one of the richest countries, but we are going to be the poorest in a couple of years. President Bush needs to focus on helping his own country rather than rebuilding another one.Analyst say to invest, but if the extra money isn’t there to invest how is that going to happen?
Heck, it isn’t just the gas prices thats the problem, have you went to the grocery store lately. $5.00 for a gallon of milk is rediculous or $8.00 for coffee. Just think of the profit made on that.And to think the coffee growers in other countries don’t even make a dollar and hour. President Bush is going to cripple our country! Hey, he don’t care he just getting a fatter pocket from his dealings with the oil industry. The only choice we have is to pray with God to help us to survive through all of this.
Do think a bout this, gas prices go up - shipping charges go up (even the price of stamps - which will go up in May) - Shipping Charges go up - merchants raise prices of products they sell. Cost of living raises are unheard of and the cost to keep my children as a single parent has become over whelming. Should I trade them in for hybrids? They are not fuel efficient and the older they get the more the eat?
However the American car companies have been makeing gas guzzlers since the beginning. And, the government has always kept our prices low, Until a President in the oil business came into power. The American consumer is Not to Blame. We are Americans! Consumers do not buy big SUVs because they want to guzzle gas, but we are SUV and Truck people. The people to blame are the Economists, Car Manufactuers, and the Govenment. They should have seen this coming way ahead of time. Now they throw their mistake at the public and starve the working man and young families. Only the rich can keep moving with prices like this, it is a complete punch in the stomach to the lower income or new families. And those families are not to blame if they need a big car, it is the decision makers to blame for making their cars guzzle so much gas and not forseeing and correcting this problem
I live in a small town and to get to next large town to work I have to drive 30 minutes each way. I have a Honda Pilot and while it is decent on gas I am filling up 1 time a week at 75.00 per fill up. I live 2 miles from Wal Mart so it is not running there that does the damage. I have to go to work and I dont think hard working Americans that are just trying to hold it together should have to pay 5.00 a gallon for gas. I really am concerned about the people who make minimum wage. How in the world are they supposed to make it. All of this is going to turn the middle and low class people into people living off the government because it is cheaper than working. That is SAD!!! And no I dont drive a Pilot because I love sporting a huge vehicle, I have 3 children I have to haul around. Maybe the election will make things turn around. That is my hope.
RALPH has made the truest statement that I’ve seen so far in this blog! People are so naive, believing the B.S. that the media is told to feed us. If you guys believe for ONE SECOND, that gas prices are high because of SUV’s, you couldn’t be FURTHER from the truth. Anybody know what Bush, Chainey and Rice were doing before they got into the White House? You guessed it-OIL. Now it’s a HUGE coincidence to me that since Bush has been in office, gas prices have QUADRUPLED. Long gone are the days gas was .89 cents a gallon. Bush is lining his pockets so good, that his next ten generations will not even know what a job is. You guys can sit there and believe the lies the media is forced to tell you if you want. One minute, it’s hurricaine Katrina that “drove the prices up”. The next mext minute, it’s the “higher demand for gas” during the summer. This is SUCH BULL. People fought and made statements about this in 2005. Prices went down. But now, people have given up, and Bush makes any excuse in the world to rise up gas prices. Ask yourselves this, people: When Clinton was in office, did we not have hurricaines Andrew and Hugo? Those hurricaines caused MASSIVE damage and gas prices didn’t do up ONE CENT. And are you telling me people didn’t travel as much as they do now and have SUV’s when Clinton was in office? But as soon as we get that greedy, war criminal in office, someone sneezes and the price of gas goes up. People, we are getting GOUGED; that’s all there is to it. Bush is on his way out, and he is getting all he can while he cripples his own country. And as long as we sit back and let him do it, he’s going to bleed us dry. You can’t tell me that the so-called richest country in the world has no control over making these oil companies explain their need for gas being this damn high. Especially when we have something as powerful as the I.R.S. that can audit you, and demand you show proof of income and if your explanation isn’t up to par, they have the power to SHUT YOU DOWN. I’m talking levys, taking control of everything you own to see to it that the government gets his, but these oil companies have taken OVER our economy and there’s nothing no one can do? I just won’t buy that. We are getting BLED DRY and as long as no one asks, Bush is going to continue to okay the rising cost of gas, simply because he can get away with it. So while you guys have stopped thinking for yourselves and have become brainwashed enough to believe and accept the “BUSHit” about why these prices are up and up and up, the Bushes and his buddies over at the oil companies are laughing at how stupid we’ve become. It’s a travesty. Think for yourselves and take action. A few persons can’t fight alone. We have control most of us aren’t even aware of. I guarantee if we ALL stayed home ONE weekend; just ONE, they will FEEL the hurt just as we have. Think about it. That’s all I’m saying.
I believe that the reason gas prices are high and going higher is because the american people focus on buy “lil economy CRAP boxes” because they get 30 miles to the gallon. so the oil producers hear things like “by the year 2010 we need to have ALL vehicle manufactures producing “CRAP” vehicles that get 35 MPG. I personally drive an AMERICAN VEHICLE that gets 14 MPG city and 20 MPH Highway…So! my point is “PEOPLE keep buying those CRAP BOXES” so GAS PRICES an continue to rise. Thank You
Jim,
I respect your opinion because we are ALL entitled to them, but people have been talking about Hybrid cars for the last 15 years. And the sales of SUV’s are INCREASING, so you may want to rethink your theory. To check these facts, you can either google them, OR go to consumer reports.com. There you will find the FACTS that over powers ALL our opinions.
Someone somewhere needs to step in and kick the car manufacturers butt to force them to STOP making these POS gas suckers. I myself drive a car that gets 34+ MPG and the gas price of today is making it seem like i am driving one of those POS gas whores.
and another thing is WTF is up with having diesel fuel way more then the highest grade gas, if people dont know is that diesel fuel cost less to manufacture then the lowest grades of gas you can find. the price of fuel is making everything we buy more expensive. ( someone told me its supply and demand) but still there is more gas powered cars/trucks/whatelse in the world then there are semi or diesel fuel powered cars/trucks. can you guess what one uses more per day/week/year.
And what do you mean i can’t complain about gas prices, i am not the one that gave the car manufaturers the plan to build those mamoth POS SUVs only getting 10MPG (which is causing more gas consumption, which its making the gas companys more money hungry).
like i said i own a small mazda that gets 34+ MPG and the price of gas/fuel makes me feels like i am driving my moms old 78 caddy.
all it is is money hungry gas/oil companys wanting to make more money, so they raise the price of gas/fuel to line there pockets. it needs to stop and it is going to take boycotting of epic perportions to see any effect. if people will only realize that this is not right, and its not OK to take it up the ass. people need to get overthemself and stand up and fight
HELLO!!!! I am not one that has bought a gas guzzler, but I can understand why Americans would….Americans are having large families or some are having to car pool other children around. Americans are getting more involved with their Children and Activities….
Having to haul more people around in your vehicle, requires a Larger Gas Guzzler, to do so…
So should we as Americans be punished with rising gas prices because we want to get our Children involved in Outdoor Activities or because we take more family trips????? Do we sacrafic our Family Time because we simply cant afford to fill our Tanks up?????
Alledgedly, the gas companies operate on a “fixed” profit of 0.08/gallon. Yet, with American oil consumption down 6-10%, oil companies continue to see record profits.
I am struggling to understand how less = more with a “fixed” profit.
So, who do we call? What do we do?
Is it time for another Boston tea party?
You know this is what kills me about gas. On TV they are showing ads saying that we get 80% of the oil from the US not overseas from the Arabs they say we are self sufficient could’ve fooled me at 3.99 a gallon. Well ok if we buy most of the oil from here why are we paying $140 bucks for a barrel. Who cares what OPEC says sell it cheaper to our on people and sell to everybody else for $140 a barrel I bet they would still make money and lots of it. Have they even spent any money on finding better and cheaper more efficient ways to refine crude oil probably not. Lets see refining oil for over 100 years should have it down to a T. Oh and lets see the president gets a paycheck from whom each month an oil company wow no wonder the oil companies don’t have investigations on why they profit so so much. Don’t let him lie to you what was daddy and he before they were governors and presidents oil men. I would say impeach him but I don’t know if number 2 is any better since guess what he is an oil man too. Now this will probably sound a little conspiracy theorist to some. Can anyone tell me how many patents do the Oil Companies have on products and devices that will get us better gas mileage than what we get on the hybrids say 50mpg or better. Somebody that gets paid more money and has more time than I do needs to look into that. They might find a whole bunch and the oil companies say it would not be worth the price it cost to put things like that on cars and trucks. Well lets see I have a cheap way of increasing gas mileage(this is not a an ad for me either) Well lets see coffee can, purified water, baking soda, a few wires and a toggle switch and you have extra gas mileage up to 30% better a tank. Wow 35 dollars and instead of 400 miles to a tank you get around 520 and lets see to run it after its installed about 1.00 or less a tank. (Sorry just getting a point across). Bad thing is it was probably found by an 8th grader with a C- wanting a better grade and his/her science project not a high paid scientist. What’s even worse about that is, a farmer can make gas out of corn and that was made before they even had cars. Bet he wasn’t a scientist and probably didn’t even have a 3rd grade education.
Now lets move to the car companies since I picked on the oil companies. I won’t rant to long I hope. Lets see they have been making cars for over 100 years they have gotten a lot of advancements except gas mileage. Lets see the 40’s, 50’s, 60’s and 70’s cars got about 17 miles to a gallon more or less just an average. Let’s see late 70’s early 80’s cars started getting a lot better. Lets just say since recently I read a 1981 Honda Civic Ad guess how much it got per gallon? 34. Yep that’s right 34 what does the new 2008 Honda Civic get? 34. Yep that’s right also 34. Kinda scary huh? Lets pick on VW 1981 VW small diesel boast 51mpg lets see 2008 small diesel gets 38mpg. Wow they jumped backward on that one. ( These are estimated mileages not exact.) I think back in 1981 the average mpg for a car was 23.1 in 2007 I think it was around 25.1(again estimates) What is that 26 years and the average mpg has increased 2 gallons per mile. Wow now thats something to brag about. Let’s also see; the average gas price in 1979 was .85 cents a gallon 2008 $4.00 a gallon and most of the rise in cost is because of who would have guessed it OPEC. Coffee warmers and Drink Coolers in the cup holder, they can tell you where to buy the gas and how to get somewhere and even come get you if your broke down but only 2 miles extra a gallon average in 26 years. They say they make better cars average car last 10 years on the road or less today; 1960’s, 70’s I still see on the road today. ( Now they have had some work) Lets see how many 1980’s vehicles are stil on the road almost none that I see.(estimate) Now I do buy American GM myself but I am still mad as hell at all the manufacturers for screwing us like that. They get fat checks from the oil companies and keep the mpg’s low so that gas companies make tons of money. (Speculation but good Speculation I’m sure most will agree) Now don’t get me wrong I like most of the import cars but I like knowing that when I buy a car that an American worker gets a pay check and can feed his/her kids. (I don’t think that’s racist just job security for the American People and nowdays jobs are hard to find)
Now if the owner of the website would put this in a few big newspapers and lets see how many car manufacturers and oil companies get pissed off. Not because it’s a lie but because they know it’s true.
And Heath I almost agree with you but if we did that the EPA would be after us the FBI, who knows how many other 3 letter agencies not to mention the oil company. Last one I don’t really care about but the 3 letter agencies do tend to rattle me a little.
Anyone who reads this and has better penmanship than I needs to start a Bill that would make the oil companies, car manufacturers, or anyone for that matter that have patents on anything that would increase gas mileage shall have to give it up to the people.
Also write another stating the US will not allow OPEC to have any control over the oil that is drilled in our country, province, or any land the US controls or is the military power in said country. Some would say we can’t do that, hell the government does just about anything they want to do anyway why not. Look at where we’re at right now. (Iraq)
For whomever reads this Thank You for taking the time.
i have said it all along we are being screwed by the oil companies via g.bush and company, gas goes up at a threat of a storm yet when a barrel of gas goes down we hardly see a dent in price reduction. we have a president with the lowest approval rating in the history of our country and he wants us to put another republican back in there, are we nuts. belive it or not im a republican, but damn if obama is begining to gain my support if nothing else out of fustration over this administration.
IF the media would shut up !!1 and stop this speculating all the time, alot of this gas gouging would stop. !!!
The stupid government doesn’t care that most americans are struggling because of gas prices. I have seen many many hurricanes where I live, and only since katrina has this gas hike started. I don’t remember gas going up with Hugo, or others.
If we Americans would have put our foot down after Katrina and sat at home instead of running all the time, just go to work and places we have to, instead of all of these sports events and hellholes, we could have put a stop to this. but NO, we just kept paying more and more. It went to $2, and we just kept driving, it went to $3 and we just kept driving.
Even I did it, and then I finally had to tell my girl to choose between marching band or softball, cos I am a widow that is an american citizen who is living off of $16,000 per year, and there are no jobs where I live.
LEt them eat that gas, and let’s put a stop to it. Just do the necessary running and we will see if that works. and if that doesn’t work, lets all take one more trip to Washington and pay some congressmen and women a visit. they get paid to represent us but they are too busy sinning to pay any attention to us. what are they going to do. Lock us all up. ?
and we need to do something about all of these illegal criminals from mexico sucking the welfare system dry, that money should go to AMERICANS . We are the ones that put into the system. I am sick of all of this mooching off america. I’m ready to slap the crap out of someone.
Also the media. stop trying to ram your liberal ideas down my throat, i am not stupid.
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