[Cobra64]

Seems like we saw this about 30 years ago.

[Hardastarboard]

Any of you FReepers sell cars, or know anything about the used car market? I'm wondering what kind of trade in value the SUV's have when people come in to trade them in for fuel efficient cars. I'm also wondering what the net effect of fuel prices is on these automobiles?

When you think about it, if you take the aggregate market value of SUV's before and after the dramatic fuel price increases, I would guess that Americans have lost a great deal of asset value (value of their SUV's) due to fuel prices.

[goldstategop]

A rip-off of the Chrysler PT Cruiser!

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[Cobra64]

"Chevy Beat?" Now that's an attention getter. Where's the Camaro they showed at the Detroit auto show last century?

[seacapn]

I have an old Geo Metro in a shed that I purchased for $300 a few years ago, as a side project.

I restored it to running order, though it still has problems.

The market value of those things is shooting up month by month. I’m not sure if I should drive it or sell it.

[Sybeck1]

Just great for my family of five!!!!....NOT!!! I guess family trips are out in the future, unless someone rides on the luggage rack on top. That’s if it doesn’t bend the tin top......

[RayChuang88]

By the way, GM might NOT sell the Beat here in the USA. A much more plausible scenario is GM looking at producing the European Opel/Vauxhall Corsa and Astra models (which need less engineering to meet USA safety standards) here in the USA by 2010-2011 time frame, both models to use the Chevrolet nameplate.

[Publius6961]

I assume all the numbers given are for the UK.
Not surprisingly, the US is a distinctly different market.

However, sales in the US probably mirror this trend close enough as to not matter.
In the case of GM, their is a systemic problem that simply won't go away:

From one end of the spectrum, the $2500 Tata (India) to the other ($26,000) Toyota Prius, there is a lot of room discuss, and GM can't evade the reality that its pricing starts off in the hole. No truly economical high mileage car is likely to come out of GM:

As I undestand it, GM owes the Autoworkers union at least $1200 per new car before the first bolt and nut are connected, just to satisfy future unfunded contract promises... So good luck competing.