Posted on 03/14/2012 10:18:37 AM PDT by CNSNews.com
(CNSNews.com) - A new survey shows that rising gasoline prices will force changes in the driving habits of American adults, but only six percent of them said they plan to buy a hybrid/energy-efficient vehicle to alleviate pain at the pump.
The online survey, conducted by Harris Interactive on behalf of CouponCabin from March 6-8, found that 3 in 4 adults in this country said they are changing their driving habits:
-- 61 percent plan to drive less overall to save money
-- 9 percent plan to carpool
-- 8 percent plan to use public transportation
-- 6 percent plan to buy a hybrid/energy efficient vehicle
Other findings:
More than one-third (36 percent) of adults said they may have to give up something to afford to drive a vehicle.
-- 70 percent said they would dine out less often
-- 64 percent said they'll spend less money on entertainment (concerts, movies, etc.)
-- 37 percent plan to postpone seasonal clothing shopping
-- 22 percent said they'll cancel online or other subscriptions
-- 15 percent plan to cancel cable, satellite or other TV services
-- 12 percent said they'll reduce cell phone usage
-- 5 percent said they'll cancel Internet service
-- (16 percent said "other")
"For many Americans who are just getting back on their feet, rising gas prices can be a tough financial hurdle," said Jackie Warrick, chief savings officer at CouponCabin.com, which describes itself as a leading online destination for coupons.
The survey, based on the responses of 2,254 adults, reflects the current low demand for electric hybrid vehicles.
General Motors halted production of its Chevy Volt on March 19 for five weeks because of rising inventories. The car, which costs around $40,000, just isn't selling, even though President Obama said he will buy one when he leaves off.
Ford, meanwhile, is now rolling out its all-electric Focus. "We have a limited production run for 2012 and will be increasing production in future model years," the Ford website says.
if someone called CouponCabin.com could figure this out, why couldn’t the Market Research Department at GM?
This is what I want:
http://www.caranddriver.com/news/2013-ford-mustang-shelby-gt500-official-photos-and-info-news
I drive more conservatively, slow on the accelerator, never over the speed limit, using cruise control on level ground only as it will over rev the engine climbing, no full throttle passing.
I drive a 496 cubic inch gas engine in a Silverado dually.
I drive it everyday and I will continue to do so, I refuse to be forced out of my beloved dually. I just make plans to make more money to pay for it.
My 1999 olds cutlass (traded last summer) got 32-34 mpg on the highway.
I have my calendar marked for the end of April to verify whether or not reVOLTing production has resumed. I have a private bet with myself that it won’t.
I bought my last new car in 2004 - gets 25 mpg. Runs fine. No car payment, very low insurance rates. Why in heaven’s name would I give that up to get another 5 mpg? I can buy a whole lot of gas even at today’s prices and still have money left over. Doesn’t anybody ever do the math?
I just traded in my V6 2001 Ford Escape for a 2011 Toyota Rav4. I've been driving it for 2 weeks and just yesterday got slightly below the 1/4 tank mark. It has a 4 cyl engine vs. the V6 of the 2001 Escape; but, the engines have been so improved over that time that I feel like I can't sense much of a difference in the way the engine performs, and the 4 takes a hill just fine. So, I have improved my gas mileage simply by buying a new car that has a much better designed engine in terms of the amount of gas it drinks.
More than one-third (36 percent) of adults said they may have to give up something to afford to drive a vehicle.
— 70 percent said they would dine out less often
— 64 percent said they’ll spend less money on entertainment (concerts, movies, etc.)
— 37 percent plan to postpone seasonal clothing shopping
— 22 percent said they’ll cancel online or other subscriptions
— 15 percent plan to cancel cable, satellite or other TV services
— 12 percent said they’ll reduce cell phone usage
— 5 percent said they’ll cancel Internet service
MORE JOB LOSSES
Assuming a 40K cost on the car, and $200 month savings on gasoline it would take 16.6 years to recover the costs.
However you won’t be saving any money at the pump,because you will just be transferring the cost to your home electric bill.
Diesel fuel costs more, and the engine will be a lot more expensive. The reason you don’t see diesel hybrid cars is that the payback is far too long.
I hope you like your tranny, I spent 8 yrs on the development team.
Someday they’ll offer diesel-electric cars and trucks (like train locomotives).
They do have diesel electric hybrid trucks and buses now.
I worked on them before I retired.
But you need a direct drive transmission for cruising.
The edrive is too inefficient.
The only reason trains don’t have mechanical coupling is because it’s too complex with all the drive wheels.
Study mining haul trucks as a comparison. Mechanical drive has obsoleted electric drive all the way up to 300 ton rigs.
I on the other hand, would gladly pay $10/gallon if it meant that raghead, Mecca-praying, Muslim poser illegal President would lose come November. GLADLY!
I buy a car that is at least 8 years old - that will make it be dirt cheap to insure. about 120,000 miles keeps the price down, no wrecks, a model with proven engine life, and a record of regular oil changes and maintenance.
I generally pay $3,000 to $6,000 for a vehicle, insure them for about $400/year and get six or seven years out of them. Usually with maybe shocks and struts or maybe the odd water pump or alternator to buy.
Mostly I stick with Hondas or Toyotas, though in the early 90s Saturns were still good.
If the environazis get their way, you won’t be buying old cars anymore.
Can’t beat that.
That is an excellent and wise strategy.
It is a shame you can’t count on American brands for the same legendary reliability as the Japanese manufactuers.
See, I have EXACTLY the opposite pov. A fully electric car (at this point in time) does not have the "range" that most people need in their lives. So, why buy a battery car that you have to plug in so you can go 30-40 miles when you can buy a hybrid that has a battery that has a longer range, and you don't have to worry about getting stuck on the side of the road, because if the battery runs out, you have a gas engine back-up. At least that is how I look at it.16 posted on March 14, 2012 2:08:48 PM EDT by LibertarianLiz
You are much more right than wrong.I would love a small hybrid to buy.Exactly; you need an internal combustion engine to get any kind of range for your vehicle, and if you are going to have the electric part of the hybrid, then the I.C. engine part of the hybrid might as well be selected for efficiency without regard to drivability concerns which the electric part of the hybrid is so well suited to handle.But only if it was a diesel/electric hybrid.
4 posted on March 14, 2012 1:38:19 PM EDT by Elderberry [ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies | Report Abuse]
But there is a third, and even a fourth, option: compressed natural gas fuel with gasoline backup for extended (read, normal range capability.
The fourth option would be very expensive in capital cost, whereas probably the third option would be the most economical, when fuel cost and capital cost of the vehicle are all considered.
- It is obvious that natural gas is becoming the cheapest fuel, and its limitation is in the size/weight of the tankage to hold a sufficient mass (i.e., volume and pressure) of gas to give you good driving range. So the combination of a short-range CNG tank with a normal-range gasoline tank is undoubtedly the most economical solution for any vehicle which has room/carrying capacity for the CNG tank.
- That being so, the fourth option would be to go all the way on economy and el efficiency - a CNG-fueled diesel-electric automobile.
- diesel for maximum IC engine efficiency
- CNG for low cost per BTU, and for smoother combustion in a diesel engine (which must run lean enough not to pre-ignite until fired by an injected pilot charge of conventional diesel fuel oil)
- electric to control the speed (thus, the power output) of the diesel) and smoothly convert that power into torque at the vehicle axle, whatever the vehicle’s speed. And, perhaps, to store braking energy in a battery to be converted back to mechanical work when useful.
I love that Allison! The best tranny I have ever seen.
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