Big Is Back: As Pump Prices Plunge, SUV Sales Surge

[Purveyor]

Source: NEWPORT NEWS

By Adrianne Jeffries | Special to the Daily Press
December 30, 2008

NEWPORT NEWS - It looks like the Highlander is in and the Prius is out — for now at least.

Trucks and sport utility vehicles will outsell cars for the first time since February, according to a December report by Edmunds.com, which tracks industry statistics.

"Despite all the public discussion of fuel efficiency, SUVs and trucks are the industry's biggest sellers right now as a remarkable number of buyers seem to be compelled by three factors: great deals, low gas prices and winter weather," said Michelle Krebs of AutoObserver.com, a division of Edmunds.com, in a prepared statement.

"It was this summer that customers were concerned about the gas mileage. It hasn't been a topic of conversation lately," said Dave Lawson, the general sales manager at Pomoco Chrysler Jeep Dodge in Newport News. The majority of Pomoco's inventory is SUVs, and its best-selling models are minivans.

--CLIP--
"This month has definitely been a little bit of a better month than most, and hopefully that will carry into the new year," Lawson said. "We're very positive down here."

The surge in SUV and truck sales suggests that the issue of fuel efficiency has faded in the minds of many consumers.

Toyota has already slowed production of the industry's flagship hybrid vehicle, the Prius, due to lack of interest and a growing inventory of the once best-selling model, Edmunds.com reported.


Read more: http://www.dailypress.com/news/dp-local_suvsales_1230dec30,0,3236578.story

[LisaM]

1. While I strongly support fuel-efficiency standards

This is proof that the American car companies were, in fact, building the cars that many Americans wanted.

[notesdev]

7. Is that indeed the case?

Or are these vehicles just selling because they are being discounted by unprecedented amounts?

[Andy823]

9. I think you hit the nail on the head!

I got a great deal in August on a used 4x4 pickup, I need it for plowing in the winter and hauling things during the rest of the year. I have seen all kinds of SUV's marked "way" down, and since gas prices dropped the care dealers are able to get rid of a lot of them because they are cheaper than the other models. Now I love a good deal, but I am no fool. Prices will go back up and then those who bought the SUV's for their family care will be hurting big time! For those of us who need a pickup, it's a great time to buy, even though we know the price will go up for fuel in the not so distant future. I have a ford focus, family car, that gets 35 mpg on the highway, and it feels great to fill it up for around $23 right now compared to around $58 during the summer!

[Turbineguy]

14. A friend in Florida just bought

a Ford F350 pick-up for $40,000. Turbo-diesel, FWD, 4 door, all the options and extras. It was the discount. He doesn't drive much, so fuel costs are not an issue one way or the other.

[TheCowsCameHome]

40. Just the ticket for the mountainous terrain and winter driving in Florida

and only $40K.

Cheaper to buy a lifetime supply of Viagra...............

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[Lorien]

46. Lol! So true.

:rofl:

[Turbineguy]

55. I could almost

park my VW Jetta underneath.

[TheCowsCameHome]

65. Hmmm. On the plus side,

it would be like having a two-level parking garage, but requiring only one space.

Score one for the environment, courtesy Ford Motor Co.

[knixphan]

71. that's hilarious-

:rofl:

[pasto76]

41. it feels great to fill it up for around $23 right now compared to around $58 during the summer!

WORD.

SGT PASTO (suzuki SX4 driver)

[Kutjara]

36. Yup, Ford was advertising a version of the F150 pickup for $13k...

...on their website. OK, it was pretty stripped out, but many people will wonder why they should pay $13k for a basic-spec Toyota Yaris when they can have a behemoth for the same dough?

[Rambis]

57. Neighbour got 13,000$ off F250

diesel truck-he is a farmer who needed it-

[calimary]

97. It's not just that. They spent kings' ransoms on advertising to hype the big machines

all "rugged" and macho and bold and gutsy and young and virile and hot et al. They've pumped so much of their time, energy, and resources, trying to manage and manipulate public opinion to make these vehicles more desirable and appetizing. We always had a joke around my house, concerning some of those commercials, which amounted to "buy this car and you can fuck this girl!"

I often wonder if the automakers and the drug companies and the insurance companies and so forth would reduce their frickin' advertising and redirect some of that money toward making their products more affordable, consumers would be FAR better served.

[yardwork]

64. Multi-million dollar advertising campaigns help.

[Pin Ball]

82. ...and selling the cars that they could actually turn a profit on.

[fed_up_mother]

98. If you're in the market for an auto, get the biggest you can afford.

You might be living out of it in a few years. :think:

[Mari333]

2. Idiots!! dont they get it?? the less gas we use the less the price

beating my head against the wall.

[Lorien]

3. I'm becoming convinced that most Americans don't think beyond

next week. :banghead:

[jkappy]

88. sick with individual-itis

[ixion]

50. Idiots... that was the first word that came to mind

and these'll be the same folks whining when gas prices go back up.

Humans: not too bright, overall.

[redqueen]

58. Idiots! Yes, that's the first word that came to mind when I saw the subject line.

"Lemmings" being a close second.

[Pin Ball]

83. If you keep doing that, it will start to hurt.

[bunnies]

4. I'm ashamed that Americans are really this fucking stupid.

Its amazing this country functions at all. :banghead:

[emilyg]

8. Agree 100%.

[Frank Cannon]

12. If brains were dynamite, most Americans would not have...

enough power to blow their noses.

[Bobbieo]

21. h Palin became so popular, Still think she should tie up with Blago

What a great pair they would make at the hair styling salon!!! Bet she would go for it to get back in the spotlight!!! To hell with politics go for the gusto!!!

[Bobbieo]

22. Is this why Palin became so popular - Think she and Blago should

get together at the hair styling salon.

[olddad56]

81. Are there really many Americans left in America?

A lot of the people in this country are not from here.

[cliffordu]

13. I'm not sure it IS functioning.

[Auggie]

39. My thought exactly. But hey, if it helps U.S. automakers clean out inventory...

[Pin Ball]

84. Actually, they are pretty damn smart.

After all, you can buy a hell of a lot of gas for $10,000.

[kentauros]

103. Sure, but then they'll need to spend an equivalent amount on asthma meds

due to all the additional hydrocarbons and other nasty emmissions spewed into the (my) air...

[and-justice-for-all]

5. ignorant fools...nt

[superconnected]

6. Short short memories. I mean ADD short.

[unapatriciated]

16. We will never develop an effective mass transportation system...

if we continue with short term memory loss.
This is a good article on GM and the disappearance of street cars. Most major cities had them in place, GM systematically bought them and dismantled them.
The last paragraph pretty much points out why we need to invest in mass transit.

"Sometime in the present century, the world will run out of extractable petroleum. If someone finds a way to keep automobiles on the road, they will continue to harvest 50,000 deaths per year. Simultaneously, it will become increasingly expensive to maintain the expressways that now require continual repair. Is that really what we want"

http://www.counterpunch.org/irelan02022008.html

[Pin Ball]

85. Actually, we have some pretty damn effective mass transportation systems already.

...ever been to New York or DC?

[GCP]

92. Oh, brilliant - around 12 million people out of 300 million served

They get to have a half-way decent mass transit system. Everybody else has the world's slowest trains (if they're lucky), or horrible buses to get them from (some) city to another. Or you fly.
Got to Europe and see what can be done. Real high speed trains between ALL cities as opposed to the pathetic Acela. Bus and train service in and between all towns and villages.
The USA has nothing to compare.

[kentauros]

104. As a counter to that

ever been to Houston? (2 million Houston residents, 5 million Greater Houston Area)

To paraphrase an old Metro slogan "You can't get there from here."

[Xipe Totec]

10. Idjuts! n/t

[onehandle]

11. Good! The tiny penis crowd is saved.

How can you compensate for a little dick with a Prius?

Oh right... Guns.

[L0oniX]

15. Only an idiot would buy an SUV.

[KoKo]

28. That's just not true... Please see my post below about why some need to "Drive Big"

and maybe you can understand. Isn't America all about "Democracy" and "different strokes for different folks?" See Post #26.

[L0oniX]

53. Yes I understand the "he who lives wins" mentality which says a lot about Americans.

[Pin Ball]

87. Well, living is a good place to start.

[MikeNearMcChord]

32. A friend of mine said it best, in a few months some of them

will be living in them with a sign that says "WILL (CENSORED) (CENSORED) FOR FOOD!!! :eyes:

[DogPoundPup]

34. SUV s you say? Around my town, HUMMERS are showing up everywhere!

Idiots, just plain idiots! :crazy:

[carlyhippy]

51. Obviously you don't live where a big vehicle is necessary

I own an SUV and I am not an idiot. I bought mine when gas was 4.00 a gallon, because my other vehicle was dying and we needed one before winter. Ironic enough, I am typing this post and at the same time I am watching an SUV bumper pushing a little car out of a snow drift down the street from my house. It's -15 degrees outside right now, with the wind chill it's -31 and there is standing nearly 3 foot of snow on the ground, and it's like this literally every winter from Dec to Feb, how would you like to be stuck in your little fuel efficient Prius in these conditions right now? I have a 4wd SUV because I have a family and a pickup isn't comfortable enough for the 5 of us. Driving less than 30 miles a week,I use 2 gallons or less of gas, I am not using any more fuel than a fuel efficient car being driven by a commuter back and forth 40 miles a day. There are people who need these vehicles, I understand you are griping about the people in burbs of LA driving hummers to work, but please don't group all SUV drivers in the idiot group.
Carly

[L0oniX]

52. I used to live in Michigan in the snow and I never needed an SUV.

Snow tires work just fine and I used chains in the mountains. No SUV was needed.

[Robb]

60. There are mountains in Michigan?

:rofl:

For the record, I bought an SUV when I lived a mile and a half high in Colorado, with typical three-foot nightly snowfalls and a rural town that didn't get plowed until long after most went to work.

I could've gotten by with anything that had the clearance, but the only dealers within 150 miles were Ford and Subaru. I went with Ford because it was cheaper and taller for the money.

Add to the climate a sled dog team and gear, and I'm pretty sure the SUV was the best bet, other than a truck and topper. Of course, I was far from typical. ;)

[L0oniX]

72. Sad ..education has failed some ...Yes Iron mountain is in Michigan.

[Robb]

73. Wit has failed others.

My point being that the highest point in Michigan is a little less than 2K feet. Almost 8K lower than where I lived.

[SlicerDicer-]

75. And this is why there is so many Audi's in Colorado?

Right.... sell your bullshit elsewhere I aint buying.

For the record, I drove around everyday up to Snoqualmie pass and pulled out 4WD with my piece of shit Audi 4000S, so dont lecture me on needing a SUV. Ground clearance is a non issue I would plow snow with the bumper. I would almost hazard to guess that Snoqualmie pass or any other cascades pass gets more snow than anywhere else in the world on average. Given that Mt Baker is world record setting in snow fall.


Normal? Yep

Normal? Yep

Same as above...

Again and again...

SUV are not needed.. A sense of driving in snow and how to drive in snow is needed. As well as maybe having a AWD car.

Also I lived in Aspen for a total of 6 years so "mile and half high" yep been there done that.

And for the cost of that truck above if you spent anywhere near that you could get a Audi A4 avant to haul everything you needed no problemo. Just sayin. Its not needed and borderline excessive SUV's there is no excuse EVER imo.

[Robb]

77. I guess I'll have to explain it more slowly for you.

Firs of all, Aspen?? :eyes:

You are showing pictures of plows on paved highways.

Where I lived, things did not get plowed. We did not have pavement.

You lived in Aspen, which is plowed regularly.

I lived outside a town of 700 people, which was not.

Not everyone is the same.

[SlicerDicer-]

80. I guess you did not look at the writing

The area I was speaking of was Snoqualmie pass with the pictures. Go take a look at their plow equipment. More often than not it would be unplowed enough to make travel rough.

Justify your SUV anyway you want but I am still not buying it.

[Robb]

93. Ah, city folk. /nt

[SlicerDicer-]

99. Srsly are you for real?

I guess you are it just shows your raging incompetence. You presume too much about city folk.. not that its relevant anyway.. I guarantee you the areas where I lived were not plowed and in order for them to be plowed you had to pay some jackass who scalped. So your argument is invalid.

Instead of seeing that your doing gross excess by having a SUV that is totally unneeded for 99% of applications.. You just spout how ignorant I am. However I am far from ignorant in these matters.

[carlyhippy]

62. good for you...I live in n MN and I am damn glad I have an SUV

especially after watching the people in cars as I was driving home this afternoon trying to get thru the streets where the plows have yet to venture to. And my next vehicle purchase? It will be a hybrid SUV. As long as I live here, I will have a 4wd vehicle. If we ever move down south, I will have a small car or if I am lucky enough to live in a metro area, I will use mass transit if I am able to.

[eilen]

68. I live in the snow belt in upstate NY

and drive a 2001 Chevy Blazer with 4WD and glad that I do or I would have never gotten into my driveway yesterday. I'd rather have a hybrid but I won't replace this until it dies-- it's paid for and has over 104,000 miles on it. My husband is considering purchasing one of those big Ford trucks as our 1996 Saturn is falling apart (gas cap broke off, strut just fell, the back passenger door has a tendency to open on its own volition and it drinks oil like bottles of yoohoo). He travels all over the country for work and hotel rates are rising, mostly due to increased state luxury taxes. He figures he can get a good used Ford truck and find a used 5th wheel trailer and he can have an easier (and less lonely) time of it traveling. Often the journeymen will go to the same parks and pitch in together on meals/cookouts. Times are harder finding work and he seems to have to travel farther for any kind of guaranteed walk-through and the jobs are not lasting as long-- they make big promises but hand the layoff in halftime. He is looking for a diesel.

[BlancheSplanchnik]

76. I live in Bristol mountains, Western NY.....

my veg oil deisel Jetta does fine with studded tires.

and my hun has a used pick up---necessary for tools, wood, assorted hauling

[Election_Correction]

54. You shouldn't say that

Some people DO have a legitimate reason for an SUV/hugeass truck. My Brother in Law is a contractor and has to haul crap all the time. For him his huge truck makes sense. But when I talked to him over Christmas even he admitted that if it wasn't a tax write-off he wouldn't be able to even consider buying the truck that he loves so dearly.

[GSPowner]

94. Only a fool would make such a comment

So I am an idiot because I bought a 1999 suburban? You have no idea why I bought it. So why am I an idiot?

[brentspeak]

17. Idiots never learn (n/t)

[spinbaby]

18. Good financing, too

When I was in to have my Prius serviced last week, I got to chatting with the guy that had sold it to me. He said they were offering zero percent financing, but only on the trucks and SUVs. He was hoping to move a couple of those monster Tundras. He said the Prius was still selling well, just not as well as last summer.

[ozymandius]

19. Jeebus! I feel like a damned genius after reading this.

I've done some stupid things in my life. But never did I do thousands of dollars worth of stupid.

[tularetom]

20. Doncha know this is the bailout for Detroit

1. Oil companies slash gasoline prices by over 50%.
2. As price of gas drops, sales of huge inventory of SUV's land yachts hummers and giant pickups surges.
3. Government repays oil companies from TARP for profits lost in price cut.
4. Once backlog of gas guzzling behemoths is gone, oil companies jack prices up to or above previous levels.

VIOLA! Auto makers sell all their white elephants, oil companies make their normal profits and consumers once again fund the whole fucking game. All with the assistance of our elected officials.

[notesdev]

27. We elected them...

... but the companies who bundle their campaign dollars own them.

[Libertas1776]

23. Bingo...

we have a winner!

[roamer65]

24. Maybe it will bring hybrid prices down.

I'd like to have a Ford Fusion hybrid when they come out.

[tucsonlib]

25. Who's More Short-Sighted?

The Big 3 or the American consumer?

Answer: Neither. American consumers are just plain stupid and gullible. The auto execs are greedy sociopaths who know they can count on Washington to bail them out when they screw up. Why do you think they hire lobbyists or contribute to political parties and candidates? Out of civic duty?
And still they can offer a $10,000 rebate on a $50,000 gas-guzzling, pollution-spewing POS that's guaranteed to break down and depreciate to zilch in a couple of years and the American consumer will line up for the fleecing....

[KoKo]

26. Folks forget that a BIG SUV....is the way to Travel...if you don't like Planes..

and have to deal with BIG TRUCKS and other SUV's on the Road. Having a Big Truck gives you visibility across the roadways of America...and if you drive a "compact, small car" you will be OVERWHELMED.

It's America...as the Corporatists grow BIGGER AND BIGGER..we little peons need to be able to see the road and fend off the BRUTES... Just saying.

I don't drive a SUV...but I can understand why many do. I won't give up my Mini-Van because it sits me higher off the road and allows me to take all my "stuff" so I can travel with my cats and not have to deal with the security and other problems airlines have these days.

We, Americans, just drive more...and we have to compete with what else is on the road. :shrug:

[salguine]

29. You know what? Fuck us. Just fuck us. We deserve whatever happens to us.

[TheCowsCameHome]

42. Yeah. What he said.

:fistbump:

[Miss Chybil]

30. OMG. nt

[deadmessengers]

31. Just took my F-150 in for service

I have a 2000 Ford F-150. I had to take it in to the dealer's repair shop today to deal with an engine miss (damn coil packs - second one in as many years). Normally, I get a phone call from a salesman wanting to sell me a new one a few days after I've picked up the truck - my guess is that they appraise the trade value while it's in the service bay, and call to make the pitch based on that information.

Today was a little different, though. As I was walking away from the service department window, a salesman approached me to talk about my truck. Apparently, he saw me drive up and go in for service, and decided to hit me up on the way out the door, wanting to talk about the "great deals" on the 2008 F150s they had on the lot. He had an unusually aggressive salespitch, as well - something that was VERY different from what I've seen of this dealership in the past. The first words out of his mouth were "now that gas prices are back to normal again, why don't you have a look at a new F-150!"

It was especially interesting to see the expression on his face when I said to him the magic words I usually have to deliver on the phone - "Sorry.... I NEVER sell or trade in cars, I drive them until they're stolen, wrecked, or the wheels fall off."

Poor bastard - he never had a chance, and the look on his face told me that he knew it.

[ConcernedCanuk]

45. LOL - me too! - - - "I drive them until they're stolen, wrecked, or the wheels fall off."

.
.
.

Bought my present F150 18 years ago



that was 2 years ago

white cap is off,

now painted flat black

but still running!

It'll be 30 years old in March



It's a keeper!

[GoddessOfGuinness]

33. Why, why, oh WHY are people so fucking stupid?

Is it because there are too many of us on the face of the earth? Is it Nature's way of ensuring that we'll destroy most of the population and restore a balance?

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

35. How many times have I said...

That Americans are a reliably thick and dull people. We don't get it, we don't want to get it, and we can't get it until it all blows up in our faces and we all turn feral.

[TheCowsCameHome]

37. And when the price goes back up to $4 a gallon, watch for the repo man

As sure as night follows day..............

[Odin2005]

38. Average Person = Complete and Total Moron.

:banghead:

[Frank Booth]

43. Cool!!!!!

Big trucks and SUVs RULE!!!!!!!

Fuck the planet!!!!!!!

[Blue_Tires]

44. as usual, no lessons were really learned and those that did learn

didn't remember...

but hey, since TPTB strong-armed congress into that offshore drilling agreement during the five-buck-per-gallon crisis, the junkie will have her easy fix for another generation at least...who needs rehab? it's party time again!

[IndianaGreen]

47. We never learn, do we?

This consumer society is doomed to extinction, the sooner, the better.

[Poll_Blind]

48. What idiots.

PB

[AndyTiedye]

49. Might It Have to Do With EZ Credit from GMAC Being GIven "Bank" Status and Bailout Money?

http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081230/AUTO01/812300412

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x3665565

[Ilsa]

56. There is no way we would have taken our autistic son on an airplane

over the last five years. Travelling in an SUV was the only way to go, and the only way to make sure we could manage him and provide space/distance to our other child to prevent him from being hit or bitten. Our families that we go visit are 40 miles, 110 miles, and 800 miles away. I'd love to have a small electric car to run around town in, but we can't afford it yet.

[Festivito]

59. Bu, bu, bu, bu, but, auto companies don't make what people want.

Oh, these Americans are idiots, therefore we dismiss their wants as non-existent, and then we say we don't want to offer loans to the auto industry, which, aside, is reeling from the BANKING DEBACLE in its banking/credit subsidiaries, and therefore since there are no people wanting to buy SUVs it's okay to say it must be the big boys from Detroit who are wrong and need to be replaced.

Either that or DU has a bunch, i.e., too many, charlatans, or outright liars.

[fascisthunter]

61. personally... I think that's a BS Excuse

and these auto manufacturers should be regulated to higher fuel efficiency standards. I also don't buy this article as being factual....

[Festivito]

63. Not factual? In what? People are not buying SUVs?

It's a status symbol. They know gas prices vary. The risk the price for the status. That's their choice.

[carlyhippy]

66. I always considered a corvette, masarati, bentley, mercedes, rolls, status symbol vehicles

big chunky SUVS other than probably an escalade or hummer don't necessarily scream "hey look at me, I'm rich". People who buy them are probably fully aware of how much the gas is going to cost, if they are smart, they can probably afford it if they are buying an SUV.

[Festivito]

70. They've even had commercials embarrassing the mini-van guy.

People like being seated higher than a minivan while driving. Plus it makes them feel young and look young to be in a truck ready for off road travel.

That's status.

It's also fun to drive in one's living room. The question is: do we have the sustainable energy to let everyone do so. So far we have.

If we decide that we don't, then we should move to stop it or slow it. If we don't move, and we haven't, then, people like it, they do it.

And, what we have on DU are bunch, too many, who think what they think is what everybody should think -- and that's wrong.

[fascisthunter]

78. If anyting it's because dealerships lowered the prices enough to get rid of them

because they couldn't before.

[Pin Ball]

89. Regulate them right out of business, eh?

[PfcHammer]

67. Yuk.

:puke:

[Stellabella]

69. Americans have the attention span of gnats.

Or maybe we're just puppets. Pull one string, one arm jerks. Pull another, a leg jerks. Very few people think proactively and long term.

They'll just whine and moan again when gas goes up again. As it will.

[machI]

74. It just goes to show the free market will never solve the problem of global climate change

Without the Government limiting the sale of gas guzzling, CO2 spewing vehicles to only those people who really need them, we will watch the planet's weather go on a roller coaster that will wipe out life as we know it.

[Jersey Ginny]

108. Exactly, Exactly!!!

It it is a coincidence that our dangerously high CO2 levels are coming at the same time when fossil fuels prices were spiking. It could happen that fossil fuels stay low in price as we buy SUV's and McMansions once again, and destroy our planet for our kids. Government must take a leadership role because the free market is all about "here and now" and does not plan for/care about consequences in the future.

[entanglement]

79. They're safe - till 2Q 2010. Oil demand recovery in 2010 will be accompanied by a price shock

of 2008 proportions since oil investments have almost completely dried up (combination of low oil prices, producer reluctance and financial turmoil).

[carlyhippy]

86. Maybe only certain people should be allowed to own an SUV

:sarcasm:

I am glad I have an SUV, and I don't feel a bit bad about driving it at all. No way would my family be able to fit into a small car, we have been there and done that before. My very tall husband's head was scraping the top of the cab and his knees were in the dashboard on a trip across the country one summer, the kids were against the doors and we had to put stuff between then because the trunk was full of luggage, yep, I felt safe.....:sarcasm:

I don't feel bad because I see people commute in my rural area 40 miles a day to and from work,if they are able to even get to work on snow-covered roads in their small fuel-efficient cars, if their car gets 40 mpg, they are using 5 gallons of gas in a work week, I use 2 in my 15-20 mpg SUV, they are using more gas than I am.

If someone is buying an SUV because they think it makes them look cool, they are not setting their sights too high, if I were trying to be cool, I would buy a Prosche or another sports car, but then I didn't buy my SUV to "be cool".

I can understand the sarcasm here about SUV's, the single person commuting in a hummer alone every day to work and back etc., but what are we going to do about it? Make every person live a block or two from work, school, stores and make everyone walk? While that wouldn't hurt my feelings any, sans car payment, insurance payment and gas payment would make me wealthier, It's not going to happen. But then again, not every SUV driver is that single person commuting in a hummer, and all this "every SUV buyer is an idiot" is bull. there will always be a need for big vehicles, like it or not, until the auto makers start making EVERY car, truck, SUV and 18-wheeler an affordable electric vehicle or hybrid, this is the way it is.

[kentauros]

105. "What are we going to do about it?" you ask.

Well, there is an excellent solution that I rarely see talked about at DU and never from the rest of the country: telecommuting.

I would back the idea of tax-breaks to companies that offered and could document at least 25% of their workforce telecommuting at least four times a week. Software exists that would track the work done by the emplyees to make sure they are working and not just goofing off (or not doing so more than they already do at the office ;)) I would also like to see tax-breaks for the employees that do telecommute, too.

I really don't know why this concept isn't the number-one priority for reducing fuel consumption, air-pollution and the need for more highways and tollways. It makes so much more sense than even building highspeed rail, lightrail, intelligent bus-service and hybrid SUVs. (Yes, I realize that freight cannot be telecommuted, so rail is still needed, highspeed or otherwise.)

At one time in the not-so-distant-past, we came together and put men on the Moon. Why are we so lacking in intelligence and know-how now?

[carlyhippy]

107. Good idea, so many commute to and from work every day, it would save lots on gas

millions commute every day in cars, imagine how much gas could be saved in just one day on average.....very good idea~! Now just to get the people in charge to listen and get er done.

[Better Believe It]

90. Don't like SUV's or trucks? Don't drive or buy one!

And leave the rest of us alone!

Would you like trucks and SUV's if the mpg is increased a lot?

Probably not.

So go find a used Yugo!

[crim son]

91. Because some people simply don't give a shit.

Thanks to you all.

[totodeinhere]

95. These buyers will probably wake up one day and find gas over $4 again. n/t

[Lifetimedem]

96. Toyota

has lost money on the Pries since they have produced it. The ultimate hope was that it would drive foreign car makers (like Gm) into the ground and that increased production would lower costs.

I drive an SUV and do not apologize for it. I live in an area where it is a necessity in the winter.

Americans like space, room to move the kids and team mates as well as their toys around.

The first maker to come up with a good large hybred wins the race.

[Xenotime]

100. HOW FUCKING STOOPID do you have to be?

You assholes will be the first to complain when big oil goes back up. I thought the era of the Fucking S-U-V was over!?! Stop raping our environment. Obama needs to do something about this shit.

[carlyhippy]

101. I bought mine when gas was 4.00 a gallon

I was fully aware how much it was going to cost to drive 30 miles a week in my SUV, and I am driving the same 30 miles a week even with gas at 1.79 a gallon. I am not an asshole and not stupid (STOOPID), our environment is being raped by far worse things than my SUV, Obama is going to have to implement something to make sure ALL auto makers make fuel efficient vehicles, even fuel efficient SUV's or alternate fuel vehicles.

[depakid]

102. "the issue of fuel efficiency has faded in the minds of many consumers."

Some people never learn....

[Politicub]

106. The gas prices can rise as fast as they fell

It boggles the mind that people are sinking money into gas guzzlers again.