Gas prices go down, truck sales go up
While overall new vehicle sales are still in the tank, there is some good news for you if you're trying to sell big trucks. With the ever-declining price of gasoline, truck and SUV sales are seeing a rebound and will make up 51 percent of the total this month. This isn't great news for those of us who think downsizing is the way to go, but when gas prices shoot up again (and they will), we'll see who's smiling.
According to CNN, December sales of trucks and SUVs will outnumber cars. For most of 2008, the order was reversed. Aside from the "they've giving it away" feeling at the pump, winter weather and big discounts on the sales lot are helping push big vehicle sales back up. Analyst predictions are that hybrid sales will be down as well this month. For now, it looks like Ford made the right move.
Gallery: 2010 Pontiac G8 Sport Truck
[Source: CNN via Autoblog]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
gorr 3:11PM (12/25/2008)
It's chrismass 2008 and gas price are low and will decline toward 79cents/gallon in south-carolina. Manufacturers should catch this new trend and offer us their latest amenuities to save gas and pollution that they installed since 5-10 years ago depending if it's american, japanese or german. They installed new variable flow intake manifold, variable camshaft phasing and valves lift, aluminium-magnesium cylinder blocks. coil over plugs, 4 valves per cylinders and double overhead camshafts. direct fuel injections, stainless exhaust manifold and muffler line, high compression ratio. The stupids manufacturers did all that to save fuel consumption instead of making all that to raise power. Their current 1.8 liters are rated 130 h.p and with these latest inventions if it were there to raise power can give 200 h.p instead with no more then 10 % more fuel consumption but a deluxe ride, secure and vibration free with less weight and same durability because the current cars are lean and tend to lug( not enouph r.p.m) and it's not better then tuned to max power.
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jpm 7:18PM (12/25/2008)
Who would be such a dumbass to buy an over-sized gas guzzling truck? Talk about short sighted...
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Wally 9:41AM (12/26/2008)
So you're an elitist?
Tell me oh smart one...what is the alternative that is available right now for sale? Folks who buy trucks buy a functionary vehicle.
Besides, I figure that I'm NOT the dumass that went and traded in my big ass truck for a midget mizer, while the gas prices were high, and loss my ass on the trade. The trade in prices of the big trucks were pitiful during the gas price crisis...but you can buy a whole lotta gas for the loss you would've suffered had you traded.
jpm 2:39PM (12/26/2008)
Obviously it's understandable to buy a big truck if you're doing serious hauling. But all too often you see these trucks being under utilized. And besides, you could probably get away with a mid size truck. Why do you think Toyota is dominating? One reason is they sell a nice mide size truck that gets 25 mpg.
musiclevelz5 12:06AM (12/26/2008)
a truck that makes money = a smart buyer.
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Brent 9:54PM (12/26/2008)
That was the gov plan in lowering the gas and keeping it low. To get the car no one will want soon fully unloaded from their dealerships. Not too shocked there, and the poor weather lately screams truck to much of the united states right now..
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RPM 7:56AM (12/27/2008)
"That was the gov plan in lowering the gas and keeping it low"
the US consumes about 20 to 25% of total petroleum output (depending on what sources you look at). Out of that a very small percentage is from our own wells (or ones under any type of control from us). Please tell me who our Gov. has ANY leverage over OPEC and the prices they set per barrel of oil?? The reason for the low cost you see now is mostly from simple economics..cost/demand. Yes, there is also the impact speculators and the hype that was sold to us that contributed to the highers cost we saw months ago.
I do not dought that prices will go up...but not from "peak oil" being reached and the gradual decline of oil production..it will simply be OPEC artificially reducing the amount of output..they have already said they want to see the cost per barrel around $75. This is what you get when you place yourself in the hands of countries that really do not like us that much..we have no leverage to speak of in dictating what the cost per barrel of oil should be because we have not been allowed to supplement our consumption of oil from our own resources..we have placed ourselves at the mercy of countries that have no compassion or sympathy to our current situation.
jharlan 1:56AM (12/26/2008)
Trucks are always going to be desirable in farm country, and they have made a fairly substantial percentage gain in fuel efficiency. Trucks are more than just transportation. They are a tool to a rancher.
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oollyoumn 9:03AM (12/26/2008)
The majority of people will always buy the largest (either is size or HP or some other measurement) vehicle they can comfortably afford. And they will always come up with logical sounding justifications for their excessive consuption. Since it is beyond the capability for most to connect their consumption with our extinction, we are nearly certainly doomed. Even if people believe there is a problem, if they can not see a direct and near immediate penalty, they will push the problem to future generations and continue to exacerbate the situation. Sure some will take superficial measures for conscience sake, but only a few will wake a difference.
There is always the hope that technology will save us, and it can, but there may not be time or enough very smart people. Lets face it, we as a race must have enough smart people to overcome the actions of the rest. The odds look formidable. Perhaps the single biggest drawback of democracy.
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jpm 2:42PM (12/26/2008)
Well said!
Robert 11:59AM (12/26/2008)
Lock in today's low gas rate when you buy that truck. Look at Tomorrow's Gas. You buy gas at today's price and redeem it when you need it. www.tomorrowsgas.com
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jpm 2:42PM (12/26/2008)
Are you kidding? Why are you reading this site if you're going to make comments like that?
Robert 10:15PM (12/26/2008)
Yes, I was being sarcastic. But, on the other hand I still think its smart to buy gas when it is cheap no matter what size of car you drive.
stas peterson 11:05PM (1/14/2009)
There seems ot be a universal elitist feeling that no one needs to drive anything other than a pregnant roller-skate, except for them. Tthe privileged elite like themselves, who have government furnished Limousines and chauffeurs to drive them around.
If Suburbans could get 300 mpg, oil imports would not be a concern, nor would toxic emissions. I wouldn't care if the they weighed 5 tons each. But some here would still complain. The reality is that the within a decade we won't care, as petroleum consumption wilt be down 60 or 70% worldwide, and the terrorists and destroy their own countries, can ride their camels to their hearts content, and no one will pay them a moments notice.
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RPM 6:06PM (12/26/2008)
jpm..
You can't get away from the fact there is NO current available alternative for a gas/diesel powered truck. So why not get a locked in price for gas??
oollyoumn ..."they will always come up with logical sounding justifications for their excessive consumption" your argument can be just as true with people that pay $3000 to $5000 more for a car that in the long run has little or no efficiency/"green" benefits than a car made with traditional ICE (when taking into consideration the bi products from manufacturing the batteries and all the electronics/drive system etc..).
So many people are worried about the small amount of pollution we as a race put into the world are over-hyping this into some type of dooms day cry...Dont get me wrong I'm all for being good stewards of the planet and i'm all for innovation (partly why i like to read this site) but i'm also a realist. If volcanoes all over the world can pump out more "pollution" in a day than our whole race can in 500 years..what makes you think we will kill the planet with our single diget % contribution to the pollutants in the world?
innovation will come in time..but we are still a long way off from becoming 100% free of petroleum products.
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