Posted on 10/03/2005 5:10:56 PM PDT by devane617
DETROIT — Sales of sport utility vehicles took a dive in September, dragging down U.S. automakers who were already expecting payback after a summer of employee-pricing discounts. Asian brands, which didn't offer employee discounts, felt less pain. Several automakers reported strong car sales Monday, but SUVs took a hit industrywide in the U.S. market as gas prices skyrocketed following Hurricane Katrina (search). The Buick Rainier, Ford Explorer, Ford Expedition, Toyota Sequoia and Nissan Armada all saw their sales fall by 18 percent or more.
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Say what?
Urban soccer mom types that require an SUV to do the daily chores.
I parked my Explorer Sport Trac in the garage and now drive my old '91 Nissan Sentra. Just couldn't afford the gas for the SUV anymore...
3-4 month wait for the Prius here in NY. and people are already lining up to pre-order the new Honda Civic hybrid.
Quite honestly, if I was in the market for an SUV, I'd just wait a year or so until a flood of them hit the resale market. The employee discounts have driven down the resale value of those vehicles tremendously, making it possible to get months-old SUVs for rock-bottom prices.
I drive a 30mpg 1995 Acura Integra and thought recently that I need a new car. However, since my Integra has only 150,000 miles it is still good for another 10 years and 150k before I need a new one.
IF true, market forces at work, nothing more, nothing less.
I think the last Ford Excursion rolled off the line yesterday.
They're going to be a great buy in the next few weeks.
Who cares about mileage when all you do is want to launch your big boat into one of the Great Lakes?
Given the price of a replacement battery, those things may save gas but I'm not sure they save money.
No Honda Civic's on the dealer lots here. Dealer stated his entire next shipment is sold at MSRP. He is now selling on shipments expected in a month or so.
Nice thing is that some of us can afford them...
I know it takes a big truck to pull some boats. I did not realize how big boats are that is used to fish the Gulf until I lived there for a couple of years. When you see them in the water they do not look that big. However, when you see one on a trailer, or sitting next to a freshwater rig, it is obvious how much bigger thay are. I suspect the same is true for the Great Lakes boats.
Well, well, WELL!
Time to get the Cadillac Escalade! WHOO HOOOOOOOOO!!!
Cat, Cummins, Detroit should be able to come up with an
inline four banger (TDI) diesel that has the torque and mileage
numbers...all that has to be done is to get the EPA and
Greenies out of the way...
imo
If you want an Escalade, now, or in the near future, will be the time to buy.
I agree -- a diesel would be the ticket. However, they last too long. Hard to wear one out, especially in a car. Not exactly what Detroit wants.
The Honda Fit offers almost much passenger space as the Honda Civic, yet gets better fuel mileage and takes because of its small external physical size is very easy to park and drive in crowded urban roads. This is why the Fit (known as the Jazz in most of the world) is such a hot seller everywhere this car is sold--and it will be the same in the USA.
The end of the SUV era, you knew it would happen sooner or later.
I don't want to be hit by an Escalade while driving that.
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