2005 Honda Insight
Fuel Type: Regular Gasoline
61 MPG (city)
66 MPG (highway)
63 MPG (combined)
Posted on 08/31/2005 9:53:59 AM PDT by Millee
As gas prices continue to rise, Denver area car dealers say they're seeing more drivers trading in their gas-guzzling sport utility vehicles for smaller cars or hybrids.
Honda dealer Ralph Schomp in Littleton said some 20 SUVs were turned in over the weekend, while at least two other dealerships report similar numbers.
Among the popular models -- Honda's Accord and Civic hybrid model, as well as Toyota's Prius, which is also a hybrid.
Some dealerships report that the waiting list for Toyota's hybrid Highlander -- which keeps the SUV body style -- is now 12 to 14 months.
Besides gas prices that are creeping closer to the $3 a gallon mark, new car buyers may be steered to the car sipping vehicles by the new federal Energy Policy Act that includes a tax credit of up to $3,400 for hybrid or diesel vehicles.
The state is also offering a tax incentive of as much as $2,300.
As of last night they were at $2.69 a gallon. Radio station was reporting that prices were at $3.39 in Golden. Don't know why they'd be so much higher there.
As a Dolphins season tix holder they are also great for tailgating. They fit a table, grill, large coolers, chairs etc.
It's the only thing that will hold my large family. Guess we're up the creek!
I'm not selling my F150, I'm just parking it till I need the cargo space.
I always wanted the Volvo or Lexus SUV! This could be my big chance!
So far this morning I found two places in Jackson Mich. selling regular unleaded for $3.20
This may sound strange, but the high gasoline prices may actually drive me to buy a new full-size truck or SUV. I sat down and figured out the differences in fuel costs over a long term, and compared them to the great discounts that are now being offered on these trucks and SUVs.
If you drive 15,000 miles per year and the price of gasoline rises from $1.50 to $3.00 per gallon, a vehicle that gets 16 miles per gallon will cost you about $1,400 in "extra" fuel costs each year.
I've just priced a new well-equipped truck that is marked down about $9,000 from its sticker price, and is now being sold for less than $26,000 -- that's a full-sized, fully-loaded truck. At $1,400 per year, it would take almost 6.5 years to make up the $9,000 cost savings in buying the truck. And anyone who thinks they have a clue about what gasoline prices will be in 6.5 years should think about this: I bought my last new vehicle in 1994, and gasoline prices were lower at almost every point one year, two years, three years, etc. after I bought it. In fact, it wasn't until 2002 -- eight years later -- that gasoline prices came back UP to the point they had been on the day I drove the vehicle off the dealership lot.
I also think anyone who is willing to wait 12 months or more for a hybrid is a damned fool.
Well, yeah, because people bought a lot more SUVs in recent years. Before makign a blanket statement that folks are trading in SUVs primarily for fuel efficiency, why not actually look at some statistics showing which vehicles have the best retention among their owners?
Is there a stastically meaningful fact in this article, or did the reporter decide the story, and find some car dealers who wanted to get their names in the paper who would confirm without data what the reporter assumed?
Yeah, good for tailgaiting too...which I'll be doing this Thursday! Go Tops!
Actually I'm waiting for the deal where they run "Buy a Civic and we'll pitch in a Hummer"
16 mpg, $2.00 gas, 12,000 miles per year = $750 fuel cost
At $3, the yearly fuel cost is $1125
At $4, the yearly fuel cost is $1500
Only you can decide if an additional $750 per year for fuel is too much. What do you give up in safety? How much of a hit do you take in a discounted sale of the vehicle? How much will a new vehicle cost? In California, you would pay about $2,000 sales tax on a $25,000 vehicle.
I don't think it will be the Suburban that they will be prying out of your hand - it will most likely be the gas pump nozzle... Couldn't resist!
In total agreement with you.
The last time I purchased a brand new car was in 1978. Every car since then has been a well maintained used one, all of which have given me great service. I just purchased a F-150 FX4, loaded for about the same savings as you. I had priced recent used trucks and couldn't get the same deal, considering mileage and warranty.
I love my new big red truck.
...but I won't sell my '94 Grand Cherokee 4x4 6 cyl. just yet.
Yeah. Um, if you touch a hot stove over and over, ad it gets hotter each time(like gas prices rising) eventually you do need to rethink your plan.
Capitalism ping.
America's editorial shortage continues.
How much do you know about the new F-150s?
Finally, now that everyones taken HUGE depreciation hits on their SUV's... I can go buy me a 50k one for 15k... I might think about it.
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