Re: Higher Gas Prices - I really think I am seeing lots more small cars

[leftyladyfrommo]

out there on the road. And maybe its because I am just noticing because I just traded in my gas guzzling jeep for a Toyota Yaris. But I have been really paying attention lately. I think there are a whole lot more small cars out there.

Still quite a few SUV (but more of the smaller ones than the huge ones) and still some big trucks.

But I think people are starting to make the shift over to the better mileage vehicles.

I don't believe for a second that these higher prices aren't affecting people's driving habits.

[GreenPartyVoter]

1. Lots of SUVS for sale in yards in my area

and we got rid of ours and swapped it for a subaru forester.

[leftyladyfrommo]

3. That is what my brother has - he just loves it. n/t

[OlderButWiser]

2. I think you are just now noticing...

...the smaller cars. It's not like everyone had a small car tucked away in their garage and fired it up now because of the recent gas price surge.

[leftyladyfrommo]

5. Maybe so. But I think we will see more and more people trading

in their gas hogs for the cars that get a lot better mileage.

I think that Americans can be very pragmatic when it comes to stuff like this. And who wants to give these crooked oil companies any more money. They are raping us all.

I would ride a bike if I could.

[Double T]

4. The high gas prices are affecting almost everyone except..........

the top 20%; commander idiot and evil dick along with the former rethug controlled congress have THEM covered with their HUGE tax cut. 'WE' must give up our modest lifestyle to preserve their greedy, excessive palatial lifestyle.

[leftyladyfrommo]

8. Oh, I agree!

But I'm hoping that having a little car will get to be the "in" thing here pretty soon.

I know that Toyota is having trouble keeping Prius on their lots. Lots of people (who have more money to spend than I do) are rushing in to buy those. But they are kind of a status symbol.

[Double T]

17. I will be purchasing a high mileage motorcycle or scooter..........

that gets between 50-75 miles/gallon depending on engine size (250-500cc class). I just picked up the motorcycle learners permit paperwork this morning. I'd be interested to know if any DUers have owned the following 'bikes': Honda Reflex Sport, Honda Big Ruckus, Suzuki Burgman 400, Yamaha Majesty, Kymco Xciting 250 or 500 or classic motorcycles in this engine size range. I'm looking for recommendations.

[CountAllVotes]

6. I have no plans to buy a new/smaller car

I have a Honda Accord 4-cylinder. It gets 30+ MPG on long trips and about 25 or a bit less around town.

It is not worth it for me and I own just the one car and I cannot afford to buy a new little tiny car. Very small cars are not realistic for some people, like myself who almost got hit by a passing vehicle trying to get out of my old car which was a Civic. I traded it in for the Accord because it is higher up off the ground, that was my main reason.

As you age, you cannot jump, hop, etc. as fast and when it comes to traffic coming by, good luck where I live. Yikes!

:kick:

[leftyladyfrommo]

9. Well, you already have a cute little car that gets pretty good mileage.

No need to trade.

[TlalocW]

7. Actually, this week when gas prices went over $3.00

I put the Nissan Sentra in the garage and have been driving my Ford E250 Cargo Van (which I bought for my side business).

The reason being that the Cargo Van runs on natural gas, which along with burning cleaner than gasoline has the added benefit of being 94 cents a gallon here in Oklahoma. :)

TlalocW

[leftyladyfrommo]

10. Wow! I have seen some of those vehicles around here - but

they are pretty rare.

[TlalocW]

15. They're pretty rare in Tulsa as well

Although I do see a lot more now that I have one - mainly Oklahoma National Gas trucks. :) Apparently some of the suburbs of Tulsa have natural gas buses, and when I filled up yesterday, there was a bus somehow associated with one of our sports teams filling up as well. The only problem is that pumps are few and far between according to the lists I've found. I could make it to Dallas all right with a stop for a refill in Oklahoma and refill in Dallas but wouldn't want to go too much further south. And unfortunately, unless I get another tank put on it, I wouldn't be able to make it to the Wichita area, which I'd like to do to show my family the van after I get my logos put on it. There's one natural gas filling station in Kansas, and it's privately owned.

TlalocW

[joefree1]

11. I want the gas prices to go higher

Higher gas prices = alternative fuels become more attractive
Higher gas prices = people get mad at bloated oil coporations
Higher gas prices = more people take public transportation
Higher gas prices = Less driving = less pollution

[Clark2008]

14. You do realize that public transporation isn't available (or

isn't up to par) in most American cities, don't you?

I'm not driving much now as I'm at home waiting to give birth, but I really don't have an alternative but my car when I go back after my maternity leave is over.

[Sherman A1]

12. I am looking at one of those myself

I have to wait until I see how our contract negotiations come out at work. We did a 25 day sabbatical in 2003 so no major purchases right now, but hopefully soon.

[stubtoe]

13. I am convinced I'm seeing fewer cars in general on the road

I live near a major Interstate Hwy and the traffic just looks lighter to me than it normally does this time of year. In town, I seem to see fewer "older folks" (fixed income) driving than before, and traffic is lighter there too.

[RebelOne]

16. Not where I live here in North Georgia northwest of Atlanta.

The roads are full of SUVs and pick-up trucks.

[Captain Hilts]

18. People aren't driving more slowly. nt

[Arkansas Granny]

19. I've been watching out my window for a few minutes and mainly

see pickups and SUV's with a sprinkling of smaller cars, full sized cars and mini-vans. I don't notice more small cars than usual.

[SheilaT]

20. It might be a matter of what you're

paying attention to. Every time I buy a new (replacement) car, which isn't all that often, during and for a couple of months after the buying process I really notice whatever makes and models I'm looking at or have bought. There are also certain differences in different parts of the country. When we lived in Boulder, Colorado, it was the North American Mecca for Subarus. In Minneapolis you see LOTS of Volvos. Not a lot of Japanese cars in Detroit. In Phoenix I'd regularly see Rolls Royces. Here in the Kansas City area there are tons of huge SUVs, including more Hummers than are conscionable.

I currently drive a Honda, and I really notice lots of Hondas.

[ellie]

21. This is purely

anecdotal on my part, but I have seen a lot more people waiting at bus stops for the bus.