if these limits may, at any time, be passed by those intended to be restrained?"
-- Chief Justice John Marshall, Marbury v. Madison, 1803
Jeeps On The Cheap
Is it the end of an era for the SUV?
The smallest cars are making the biggest splash in a depressed U.S. auto market so far this year, with buyers flocking towards better fuel economy and lower sticker prices.
Rising gas prices, and terms like “housing crisis” and “recession” dominating daily headlines have impacted what cars sold in March around much of the U.S. Auto dealers say Lafayette buyers are making the same move from big to small, despite a vibrant oil and gas-based economy.
“We’re seeing many more people coming in with the fullsize SUV and pickups trying to trade out, and the problem is it’s almost like it’s flooding the used car market,” said Pat Tuminello, sales manager of Moss Motors Honda, whose Honda Fit hatchback showed the second largest growth in March sales.“Customers are thinking of total ownership of car, factoring in total fuel costs with the monthly payment and insurance they’d pay.”
According to Cars.com, small cars like the Kia Spectra - up 41 percent - and Toyota Yaris - up 83 percent - had big gains last month, with similar growth for other automakers compact cars. Hybrid sales also grew.In contrast, trucks like Ford F-Series and Dodge Ram were down 24 percent and 31 percent, respectively, as were most large SUVs. Few exceptions included Toyota’s new Sequoia, the Tundra and the Lexus LX 570.
Personally, I think part of the problem with SUV’s was the way they marketed these things-for years we’ve seen commercials of people driving them up mountain roads or other rugged terrain. That is not why people bought them-people bought them to take their kids to school, haul groceries in, and waste gas on the freeway during rush hour traffic jams. Maybe now we’ll see car commercials showing cars doing what people actually use them for.
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We bought our first SUV (GMC Suburban) when our daughter was going off to college. Everyone asked us why we needed one when the kid was leaving home. Our answer was - “That’s why.”
We made many trips back and forth with that thing full of furniture for her. Many years later, we still have it, and still use it to haul furniture, plants, mulch, etc. We plan to down-size soon, all the way to the Tahoe.
I’ve always personally felt much safer in SUVs than in cars-especially when you’re behind trucks on the Interstate. I just hope the hybrid technology catches up with them the way it is with sedans-remember how long it took for Detroit to realize that people were buying smaller cars in the Seventies?
It reminds me of the 70s when brands like Datsun, Honda and Toyota became household names. Only now there are newcomers like Smart (Mercedes A class anyone?), and ultra compacts being offered by nearly every manufacturer.
I drive a gas guzzling SUV, but the funny thing is my neighbor with the Hybrid spends more at the pump then I do. Even at 12 miles a gallon, I’m only filling up about once every 5 weeks, because I chose a career where I can telecommute. If I had to drive to work everyday, I’d be at the Toyota dealership looking at Corollas or at VW looking at the TDI Rabbits.
If gas does get to 8 bucks a gallon, I’ll buy a compact commuter second car, as I can’t see parting with my SUV (unless, of course, they bring the modern oil-burning version of it to the states).
Most SUVs are flashy minivans: seriously! They’ve got the same sort of storage capability, but you don’t have to say “Hey, I own a minivan.”
I owned a Jeep Wrangler for four years, sold it in ‘03, and I loved it. I’d love to get another one, but some lifestyle choices—moving to DC and selling my current car and getting around on public transit—have rendered the possibility of that remarkably small. Maybe, couple years down the line, when they’re dirt cheap, I’ll pick up one for the occasional drive somewhere.
I owned a Jeep Wrangler for four years, sold it in ‘03, and I loved it.
My husband drives a black ~03 Wrangler X with some jacked up aftermarket package with monster tires. He loves it. I drive a PT Cruiser and I get the same shitty mileage. It isn’t fair :( ...
Not that I think that 99% of the truck drivers actually have any use for their truck, but hey, better an over-sized truck than one of those tiny little deathtraps…
I will never buy one of those puny little toy cars....
I’m on my 5th Jeep. A Cherokee after college, and now on my 4th Grand Cherokee.
Man, I wish there were a Grand Cherokee hybrid.
I’m addicted to the up-high driving position in SUVs. I hate driving “regular” cars - my wife’s car, or rentals when I travel.
My husband drives a black ~03 Wrangler X with some jacked up aftermarket package with monster tires. He loves it. I drive a PT Cruiser and I get the same shitty mileage. It isn’t fair :( ..
flogg, here’s some more bad news. I had a 05 PT convertible, it died because of E-10 poisoning, so I went out and got a 07 Mustang convertible. I get better gas mileage with the 4L V6 then I ever did with the 2.3 turbo in the PT. With the gov in Oregon saying that he wants the E-10 used year round, I don’t have to worry about the crap killing this engine, this one burns hot enough for it.
Maybe now we’ll see car commercials showing cars doing what people actually use them for.
We’re seeing it already. I can already think of quite a few commercials where the owner is all jacked up about what great fuel economy he gets.
Not that I think that 99% of the truck drivers actually have any use for their truck, but hey, better an over-sized truck than one of those tiny little deathtraps…
I will never buy one of those puny little toy cars....
Funny, the last accident I saw involved a Dodge Ram folded up like an accordion, and a SAAB that had a ton of cosmetic damage and broken glass, but was still structurally intact.
If you want to feel like a total badass, keep the truck. If you want a car that actually IS safe instead of granting the illusion of safety, get a Volvo or a SAAB. They’re built like tanks.
out here where i live, a good number of the people that own SUV’s and Trucks really do use them.
we even get then dirty,
as for me my 12 year old F-150 has been through hell and back, and still going strong. and yes u do use it.
Volvo - the car preferred by the worst drivers on the planet. SAAB comes in a very close second…
I can talk all day about what sort of asinine dangerous stunts I’ve seen done by Volvo drivers - I think it has to do with the fact that they think that a “safe” car will protect them from being worthless behind the wheel....
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In the wake of these smaller cars sales I will bet the next statistic we hear about is more car accident fatalities, then a congressional committee to investigate the safety of smaller cars.
I might go as low as a mid size SUV but I won’t put my family in a compact. People who drive luxury cars or luxo SUV’s aren’t going to stop driving them because gas is $4 a gallon.