Slowing SUV sales? Not around here!

onewhippedpuppy · 03-10-2008, 07:44 AM

Is this wishfull thinking by the media, or does it just not apply to the midwest? We've been looking for a used Nissan Armada, because we actually NEED a large vehicle, and the damned things sell in days, sometimes less than one. I figured our recent rapeage at the pumps would have at least led to me getting a good deal on a gas guzzler, but no such luck.

Joeaksa · 03-10-2008, 07:57 AM

Wait a few weeks. With the fuel prices on the raise this might change shortly!

onewhippedpuppy · 03-10-2008, 08:02 AM

Let's hope so. Of course, I also have to sell a not so economical Cadillac SRX, so it cuts both ways.

Zef · Zef's Garage

Time will come.

Porsche-O-Phile · Porsche-O-Phile's Garage

If you're in the market, why not consider a trip to one of the big city markets like here? Dealerships can't even give those things away anymore in this market - I imagine most of them end up getting shipped to places like Colorado or Texas; maybe it's worth a trip to try and find one heavily "marked down" from a private party.

I just spent all weekend getting an issue fixed on my motorcycle so I can enjoy 40 mpg for the coming summer rip-off months. As the warm weather comes and the prices go up, up, up I'd look for the price on the big 4WD vehicles (especially in the cities) to drop through the floor.

I saw a guy spend $140 on a single fill-up the other day (next to me at the gas station). Wow. And it's only going to get worse.

MRM · 03-10-2008, 08:31 AM

Gas prices have been defying gravity all winter. As soon as summer comes and they switch fully over to gas refining from fuel oil, the prices will spike. Wait til about mid summer and they will be giving them away. Check new; I've been seeing discounts on leftover 2007 and 2008s that are creeping into used truck territory.

gassy · 03-10-2008, 08:35 AM

It now costs me $70 to fill up my Volvo S60--yowza

onewhippedpuppy · 03-10-2008, 08:41 AM

Jeff, the possibility of me doing just that is very real. What costs $22k around here is $18k anwhere east of IL. I flew to Houston for a $3k BMW, I have no qualms about doing so for a $20k SUV. It's funny, but probably a function of your higher gas prices in CA, there's almost nothing in an Armada that meets my needs in the entire state of CA.

MRM, I'm wanting to spend more like $20k. New Armadas were recently selling for $28k for 2wd models, cheap but not cheap enough.

I'm lucky in that our family SUV only gets about 10 miles/week of regular use with my wife taking our son to preschool. Maybe another 20 miles of her running errands. For around town stuff, when I'm not at work we take my 30 MPG Saab. However, we need the space when we take trips, or when one of her many siblings comes to visit (often). So we can still own the bigger vehicle we need, without it absolutely sucking us dry.

Rot 911 · 03-10-2008, 10:49 AM

Matt for as little as you drive an SUV, why not just rent one when the relatives are in town or you go on a trip?

speeder · speeder's Garage

How in the world have Europeans been able to move their children around and take vacations w/o massively wasteful, 6k lb. SUVs all of these years?

nostatic · nostatic's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by speeder

How in the world have Europeans been able to move their children around and take vacations w/o massively wasteful, 6k lb. SUVs all of these years?

trains

VINMAN · 03-10-2008, 10:57 AM

Filled up my diesel p/u yesterday morn in NJ. 3/4 tank $123.00!

Mobil station up the street from my job in NYC $4.52 for diesel!!

lendaddy · 03-10-2008, 10:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by speeder

How in the world have Europeans been able to move their children around and take vacations w/o massively wasteful, 6k lb. SUVs all of these years?

The same reason their teeth look like rotten corn kernels, they go without many things.....and it's not always born of enlightenment.

JavaBrewer · JavaBrewer's Garage

We're going to PHX the end of March for a baseball tournament my son will be playing in. Total miles over the 4-day weekend should be 825. I was considering renting a sedan for the trip but the numbers don't work out. Driving the wife's Land Rover Discovery which gets 15 mpg using premium gas @ $3.75/gal = $210. Rental sedan gets ~ 25 mpg using regular unleaded @ $3.50 = $115. Factor in wear/tear and I still can't justify a rental - yet.

Europe is a bad comparison. They have trains (which ain't all that cheap) but most folks live really close to work, lots of "flats" (apartment style or townhouse), and bicycles are used heavily. In parts of the East coast the situation is the same. Out West the distances grow very large. We have to drive 5 miles just to get a loaf of bread.

GothingNC · 03-10-2008, 11:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VINMAN

Filled up my diesel p/u yesterday morn in NJ. 3/4 tank $123.00!

Mobil station up the street from my job in NYC $4.52 for diesel!!

Ouch !

I thought 3.65 for diesal in NC was high

VINMAN · 03-10-2008, 11:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GothingNC

Ouch !

I thought 3.65 for diesal in NC was high

Diesel in my area of NJ. from $3.78 up to $4.02

Porsche-O-Phile · Porsche-O-Phile's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by speeder

How in the world have Europeans been able to move their children around and take vacations w/o massively wasteful, 6k lb. SUVs all of these years?

And station wagons. Try to find one of the BMW 3-series wagons out here. Good luck. I know ONE guy that was able to find one, and this is in SoCal, where BMWs are dime-a-dozen and more common than Chevys.

onewhippedpuppy · 03-10-2008, 12:09 PM

Find me a BMW wagon with seating for 8 and still room for groceries. X5 doesn't count, as it's an SUV with a tiny 3rd row. Please, because I would SOOOOOO prefer to drive an sports wagon. Yes, we could buy a minivan. I'd gain 4-5 MPG, lose some space, and feel like a total sissy. And before you knock me for that, remember that we are on a site for PORSCHES. Also, last time I checked, we're all here because we DON'T want to live like Europeans.

Kurt, my wife doesn't drive a lot of miles, but she uses it almost every day. Rental just isn't practical or convenient.

The Gaijin · 03-10-2008, 12:37 PM

Room wise, 99% of what you can do with a big SUV you can do with a family van. And most of what gets hauled in 90% of real world F-250s can be hauled in a Ranger P/U.

They are the chromed and tail-finned jokers of the new century. We are going to look back and laugh at these things..

onewhippedpuppy · 03-10-2008, 12:43 PM

I don't argue, but good luck convincing my wife to drive a minivan. Furthermore, 4 MPG isn't really that big of a difference. If minivans pulled down 30 MPG, it would be much more convincing.

As for the truck, I sold my Silverado and bought a 4x8 folding utility trailer and a Saab. So I'm not entirely impractical.