Stupid carbuyers pile back into SUVs
Filed under: Transportation
As our elected officials look for ways to dig us out of the current economic mess, there's one factor that isn't getting enough attention: If Americans continue to be stupid, no amount of economic stimuli will solve anything.Case in point: The USA Today reports that now that gas prices have come back down, people are showing a preference for bigger cars. Chrysler President Jim Press says that the full-size Dodge Durango SUV is the company's most in-demand car and AutoNation has been canceling orders for small cars and stocking up on big trucks instead.
The problem is that gas prices could -- and according to most experts, will -- go up again, maybe even soon. But by picking cars with all the foresight of a 3-year old in the grocery store toy aisle, consumers are making it difficult for car companies to deliver the products that will meet demand. Predicting the short-term gyrations of the commodities market is essentially impossible, but that seems to be the major factor in how Americans buy cars.
Last summer when gas prices were over $4 per gallon, everyone was trading in their SUVs and pledging a new lifestyle of green friendliness. Now we know what those people really were: posers trading down because they couldn't afford gas.
For now, environmentally-friendly driving appears to have gone the way of the Hula Hoop. But when gas prices are back over $3 per gallon, today's SUV buyers will be back looking for a new Prius -- and they'll really mean it this time, they swear.
If you're interested in transportation, you may like
these related sites for: Maps, Driving Directions, Travel, and Cars.
Subscribe to Walletpopthese related sites for: Maps, Driving Directions, Travel, and Cars.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
1-28-2009 @ 4:07PM
dan said...
Hey, they elected Obama as president of the United States and let the left wing media destroy the economy for the past year so we could lose millions of jobs.
........now that's stupid.
Reply
1-26-2009 @ 7:53PM
AngryGorilla said...
Hilarious article. So true.
Reply
2-10-2009 @ 12:07PM
Kevin said...
You sir, are the idiot. I will never get the two minutes of my life back wasted by reading what I will generously call an article. If you cannot write in a manner that at least mildly attempts to mask your leftist, everyone drive a prius agenda, then please go back to work at McDonalds.
Reply
1-27-2009 @ 8:52AM
limobarbie said...
These people are stupid. Gas is going to go back to $3-$4 a gallon and these people are going to be sorry they bought their gas hogs although it was good for the car companies to get rid of their dinosaurs. I got rid of my Lincoln Town car and bought a much smaller car and even though gas prices are hovering around 1.89/gal where I live, only the stupid are buying inefficient cars. The reason gas dropped in price was because we all started carpooling and conserving fuel and I am watching the prices climb every week now that people are going back to their old bad habits.
Reply
1-27-2009 @ 9:33AM
luisa said...
There is no need to that kind of language.
Reply
1-30-2009 @ 12:42PM
MzCC said...
A lot of people started buying the big gas guzzlers because the car dealerships became inudated with them when everyone decided to trade them in for something more economical. Here where I live the dealerships were practically giving them away.
Reply
1-30-2009 @ 1:29PM
kim said...
Actually, stupid would be driving a Prius or a Smartcar in a state that gets 90 inches of snow per year. Did you ever think that some people actually need trucks & SUV's. Tell me how a person with 4 kids is going to get them to school, soccer practice, etc... in a Smartcar.
Reply