Survey Says: Americans still interested in fuel efficiency
There's been much conjecture these last few months over whether or not sales of big, thirsty vehicles would pick back up after hitting the brick wall of high fuel prices last summer. Despite a modest uptick in pickup truck sales, the answer has mostly been no, but we won't know for sure how things will rebound until the economy picks back up and credit is once again available to more people to purchase new vehicles. At least one recent study indicates that fuel economy is still a top concern for new car shoppers.
According to the Consumer Federation of America, over three-quarters of those surveyed say that they are concerned about high gas prices and America's dependence on foreign oil. Fifty-five percent of respondents are also concerned about global warming. These numbers are not dramatically lower than those recorded from a similar survey conducted last April.
One more interesting point about the survey: The average new car shopper expects that their next vehicle will get about 30 miles per gallon, which they say is 5 mpg better than they get with their current vehicle. For a more detailed look at the findings, click here (.pdf link).
[Source: CFA (.pdf link) via TTAC]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
noz 12:59PM (2/06/2009)
I'm so happy to hear what Americans think....NOT.
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GoodCheer 1:17PM (2/06/2009)
If I ever buy an ICE vehicle again, I also think it should get at LEAST 5mpg better than my current ride, but then I'm currently averaging about 38mpg (in an '98 Civic).
Of course if Aptera gets their distribution in order, that won't be a problem.
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fnc 1:20PM (2/06/2009)
Eh. What people are concerned about and what they will get off their duff and do something about are generally a world apart, or easily trumped by some other, more immediate concern.
Sure, lots of Americans are ~concerned~ about our lack of energy security, but that's a distant problem that has less immediate impact than whether they feel safe in a giant fluffy SUV, regardless of the bigger picture (and regardless of accident statistics as well).
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gorr 2:37PM (2/06/2009)
Quote: '' "Despite pump prices averaging less than $2.00, Americans still plan to significantly
increase the fuel economy of their cars when they make their next purchase," noted CFA Public
Affairs Director and car expert Jack Gillis, longtime author of The Car Book. ''
With the current non-existing green cars offerings on the market, the recession will add-on to the credit crisis, the housing crisis, the iraq crisis, the pollution crisis, the deforestration crisis, the security crisis. It's mainly the fault of Gm and toyota because they drive the associated car manufacturers monopoly that work with the banks monopoly that work with the politicians monopoly that work with the big-oil monopoly.
Building and selling a green car is an easy task. They make them appear as an impossible task because they all f&cki*g just want a rent as a job, nothing else. Just revolted consumers can fight that but goverment give money to car manufacturers.
The more goverment regulate car industry the less consumer have. They event mandated since clinton that you cannot even own your car with suspicious renting and credit practice.
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Rain 8:36AM (2/07/2009)
I am not surprised at all to hear that the American market feels this way at all.
When Gasoline was nearing $4.00 a gallon and Diesel was $4.60 a gallon,My monthly OTR fuel bill was nearly $600.00.
I quit my land-lease,sold my equipment and tools and moved to an apartment in town.
The Neighbors are nice if noisy and I'm not cutting hay until 9:00 at night.
Was it worth it? You bet!
Now that fuel is under $2.00 a gallon My gasoline cost is around $30.00 dollars per month,
the utility bills are down about 75% and I've got time to spend with my grandkids when they come to visit.
I feel good knowing that we have reduced our foot print but for some out there fifty mile range from a vehicle just will not work.
Detroit needs to offer those people a 3-ton cab and chassis with a 2 liter DTI HEV,
it should be more than enough to haul hay,horsies,cows and implements to county fairs and livestock auctions and that sunumabitchin' tractor to the repair center with far better economy and lowered emissions.
One thing thats bank though,I'll never be stuck in that predicament again.
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