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, Tue, 10 Jun 2008 06:42:19
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As someone who loves to drive, and enjoys fun cars, the higher gas prices have really made my hobby more of a "wash and polish" as opposed to a "wash and polish and drive" hobby!
Europeans have been dealing with higher prices for years, and it has forced them to look at different car choices. Lots of smaller turbo diesel engines, a definition of the family car being a Ford Focus or Peugeot 207/308 hatchback instead of a 15 mpg SUV, and becoming the primary transport for most. Watching London traffic last week, you see 2 liter diesel 320d's, not 335i's driving around, thanks to the 50+mpg and similar road feel, handling and quality. Same with Mercedes S Class. Almost all of them are S320 CDIs, with the diesel, and no S550s. I think we can learn to live with those!!
It also makes you realize how much we waste from an oil usage perspective compared to other nations.
I think you'll see people realize that 35 mpg is more important than 0-60 times, and performance, which has been a core part of our desire for cars will wane a bit. Just look at the current demand for 10.5 sec to 60 Priuses, which are now selling OVER sticker. There's no performance or fun in a Prius...but it's amazing how people adapt to it.
I think Ford and GM are in big trouble, as they have milked the profit out of their truck/SUV lines for too long and haven't thought creatively about what to do if prices went up. Their only saving grace will be to start sharing more efficient European models with us. I think many Americans would be happy with a 30+mpg Ford Mondeo wagon over a 16 mgg Explorer as a family hauler. If European families can get around in them, why can't we? Our families aren't any bigger. I read Ford is now going to bring the Fiesta in 2010...they should seriously think about cars like the Kuga, S-Max and others. GM similarly should think about Corsa, new Insignia and other efficient models.
You are already seeing a lot of employers offer telecommuting. In LA, we are already seeing more people carpool more (which makes sense!). I think you will see people start to buy and do more locally...luckily, I live in CA and we get farmer's markets that provide us with local food throughout the year, and I try and buy almost exclusively from them. I did the same when I lived in Boston...buying local produce from June until October/November.
We will adjust....we have no other choice!
Just my $0.02 (adjusted to a real value of $0.015 thanks to the weak dollar)
Cheers,
Paul H.
posted by 76.214.1...
, Tue, 10 Jun 2008 06:42:19
, Tue, 10 Jun 2008 21:03:12, Tue, 10 Jun 2008 14:22:34
, Tue, 10 Jun 2008 13:27:01, Wed, 11 Jun 2008 01:28:56, Wed, 18 Jun 2008 07:40:43, Tue, 10 Jun 2008 09:35:38
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