Ford Says Gas Prices Hurting Large SUV Sales - Gee, ya think?

[hatrack]

DETROIT — "High U.S. gasoline prices are hurting the sales of one of Ford Motor Co.'s highly profitable sport utility vehicles, the automaker said Wednesday.

Sales of the Ford Expedition, a full-sized SUV that gets about 16 miles per gallon, fell 23 percent in August and are down nearly 13 percent year-to-date despite heavy consumer incentives. Ford offers $4,000 cash back on the SUV, which received a major make-over two years ago. "Expedition, of course, is down," said Ford Division President Steve Lyons. "By and large I think that is a by-product of fuel prices."

While Lyons only referred to the Expedition, sales of other big SUVS have also been disappointing this year. Sales of the gas-thirsty Ford Excursion — a lightning rod for criticism from environmental groups — fell 44 percent last month and are down 20 percent year-to-date.

Sales of General Motors Corp's bulky, gas-guzzling Hummer H2, which gets about 13 miles to the gallon, fell 11 percent in August, meanwhile, and are down 21 percent year-to-date. The aging Chevrolet Suburban SUV, also from GM, saw its sales fall nearly 33 percent in August. "Overall there has been a little pressure on the industry," Lyons said, referring to the high gasoline prices."

EDIT

http://www.enn.com/news/2004-09-09/s_27024.asp

[phantom power]

1. Not to worry, hybrids will never be more than a niche market.

"I think there is a world market for maybe five computers."
-- IBM chairman Thomas Watson, 1943

[judge_smales]

2. Atnd at my local Toyota dealer they told me that if I put down a deposit

on a Prius today I could'nt actually get the car untill March of '06.

What's wrong here?

[StClone]

3. Hog Hummers should have never been widely available

But a loop hole in the tax laws gives buyers a credit of thousands of dollars to "invest" in one.

[midnight armadillo]

4. I think they're cancelling the Excursion

Wasn't it slated to be cancelled for slow sales anyway?

[7 Lazy P]

5. People are just plain dumb

It has taken people a lot longer than I thought it would to figure out that a 3 ton, 20 foot long vehicle does not make for a very efficient daily driver. Not to mention not very handy to park or maneuver.

It was only a matter of time. A couple of fill-ups at $75 a tank gets your attention. My F250 takes 38 gallons to fill. Talk about sticker shock. Fortunately I can afford to leave it sit idle 95% of the time and use it only when the hauling capacity is needed.

[Lost147]

6. SUV's are usless

We all know the SUV is on the way out, my family who has been an SUV family for over a decade now wants to switch to a fuel efficent car.

I believe reading somewhere that the sportswagon is the next up and coming design for a car which should be a nice change.

[Lost147]

7. SUV's are usless

We all know the SUV is on the way out, my family who has been an SUV family for over a decade now wants to switch to a fuel efficent car.

I believe reading somewhere that the sportswagon is the next up and coming design for a car which should be a nice change.

[phantom power]

8. Behold, the return of.....

The Family Truckster!