America has finally turned the corner....

[theguywiththelongestname]

i'm still keeping the jeep cherokee in the garage: it's still a good car for desert off-road exploration, and for lugging around the bass and guitar amps and other music gear. also, a great car for hauling loads from Lowe's and Home Depot.

i have never been one to have a bunch of recreational vehicles around, but i have been tempted lately to add a Vespa scooter in the garage...it would be awesome to scoot around the neighborhood and travel to work on nice days...

i do still have my bicycle, and i still ride pretty often...

[SmartCard]

Originally Posted by Dunerunner

Unfortunately, along with the ushering in of the fuel sipping european car models, we can all wave goodbye to $2.50 or even $3.50/gal gasoline. Be prepared for fuel costs to climb even further and usage drops.

Actually it works the other way around: when reserves are high and demand is down, the price of oil will drop. Of course the oil companies will have to pass the price reduction along to us - which they eventually will in order to increase demand.

[2smartArizona]

Originally Posted by SmartCard

Actually it works the other way around: when reserves are high and demand is down, the price of oil will drop. Of course the oil companies will have to pass the price reduction along to us - which they eventually will in order to increase demand.

and when is demand going to be down????? It's a world market and we have a rapidly growing middle class in China all buying cars now. Demand will do nothing but increase and increase. Can't get your price for it in one market, you shift it to another. That's why David Hasselhoff sells his records in Germany and not here.

[sharonlee]

We have a guy who writes a car column in the paper and a few days ago he advised keeping the SUV for the big or nasty jobs like hauling garden supplies which we did today. They have their uses. No dirt or garden rocks in my smart puhleeze!!!

[danag]

I won't be getting my smart for a long while yet (unless the orphan list pays off), but even when I do get it I'm not getting rid of my SUV. True it only gets about 15 mpg, but it's in great shape, it's payed for long ago, not too may miles on it and in this market I couldn't get nearly what it's worth to me. Also there are times when I need my big car, like the occasional car pooling kids, trips to the nursery or camping. When I do get my smart I plan on just parking my SUV in the garage and just driving it maybe once a week to keep it healthy or when needed. I have a 98 Isuzu Trooper and as far as SUVs go it's been a great car.

[canon1753]

Originally Posted by GHammerly

The trend has gone up and down but the up swings have been stronger most of the time.
Steady rise since September 2001.
People are gradually adapting to the new reality and considering more efficient vehicles.
The car companies are also forced to adapt and some where already well positioned like Honda, or horribly so like Chrysler.

That's why I have a smart.... DCX made all their cars into defacto SUVs, and Dodge dealers can't sell anything but Calibers and Avengers.....

Maybe that "uncool" Neon wasn't such a bad idea....

(Please let me vent on this) Chrysler's lineup in 1998-2000 would have been the perfect lineup for 2008. The perfect line up for 2000 is what they have now..... (Back to your regularly schedule thread, thanks for your indulgence).

[canon1753]

I suspect that the Suburban will be the last of the big SUVs standing, because they are practical and there are needs and uses for something like that. The midsize and smaller SUVs will absolutely transmorgify into tall stationwagons (heck that IS what they are) built on a car chassis (a la Ford Edge or Taurus x).

[Karl Roth]

Originally Posted by canon1753

That's why I have a smart.... DCX made all their cars into defacto SUVs, and Dodge dealers can't sell anything but Calibers and Avengers.....

Maybe that "uncool" Neon wasn't such a bad idea....

(Please let me vent on this) Chrysler's lineup in 1998-2000 would have been the perfect lineup for 2008. The perfect line up for 2000 is what they have now..... (Back to your regularly schedule thread, thanks for your indulgence).

So much for there clever owners that sold them for less than they paid for them...
karl

[gstreetcomic]

That looks reallly freaky. A cross between a motorcycle and a car? I can hear the Harley riders now.

[portugal33]

i would like to know why werent smart cars sell in the usa before 2008?
ivwould like you to send mi a message to tell mi why?