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It's merely sheer economics, most Americans turning back to small, efficient cars only because they have to. (http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/07/30/DD9D120QM2.DTL&hw=Morford&sn=001&sc=1000)

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/Ford_Focus_S-Max_2_0L_TDCi_-_50_mpg_solo_-_33_mpg_while_towing_this.jpgMark Morford – San Francisco Chronicle – July 30, 2008

2008 European Ford Focus 2.0L TDCi S-Max – 27 mpgUS towing, 42 mpgUS solo according to its UK based owner.

SUV’s will not disappear overnight but their days are definitely numbered… -- Ed.

Let us be perfectly clear: It ain't over yet. Millions of dinosaurs still roam the Earth, the giant meteor of merciful annihilation has yet to strike.

But it's coming fast. The dinosaurs are trembling, scribbling out their wills as fast as possible. They know the end is near, the signs are all in place, as that giant $63K Toyota Land Cruiser V8 you bought just a couple years ago violently depreciates to less than half of what you paid for it.

Yes, the imploding petroleum economy has spoken, and this is what it said: The era of the SUV is over.

Will you celebrate? Mourn?

Twenty years. That's about how long these ridiculous beasts stomped the Earth without peer or predator or even much coherent justification, giving soccer moms and frat dudes alike a false and often dangerous sense of security and capability, when all the beasts really offered was horrible mileage and appalling handling and fiery rollover deaths, mixed with aesthetics straight from the caveman-with-a-sledgehammer school of design. Ah, we loved them well… http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/07/30/DD9D120QM2.DTL&hw=Morford&sn=001&sc=1000

Yes, the imploding petroleum economy has spoken, and this is what it said: The era of the SUV is over.

Maybe for new vehicle sales but SUVs will be on the road for a very long time. I'm not saying they should stay on the road just disagreeing with the author's ability to gauge the peoples intellienge to get rid of their SUVs. Until they can't make the monthly payment for their Iphone i doubt people will seriously ever consider getting a more FE car. They will just complain that its the govt's fault and not take any personal responsibility for their own choices or budget.

Monthly payment on the iPhone. :p That made me laugh.

A guy at work has broken two iPhones now, and spends $90/month for service. CRAZY

I agree, though... Folks will hold onto their SUVs for dear life until they can't afford anything. Cars are so entwined in American culture, a lot of people would almost rather starve than give up their powerful/huge car. A guy at work brags about his Ford F150 that's decked out with all the options, and even brags about his >$500/month payment. THAT's NUTS!!!! That is almost my mortgage.

Dude, you must have a cheap mortgage, then. :(

yup.. thats how Americans are.. buy the biggest home, car,boat available that they can afford to show off their status. what they are doing is getting deeper and deeper in debt.


I was happy when people here in philly was driving 55 mph on I-95 when the gas shot up to over 4 a gallon (before everyone was going 75, 80). now as gas prices went to under 3.90, everyone is going 80 again, and i see alot more suv's on the road again. its sad to see that no one learned anything at all.

yup.. thats how Americans are..

Nope, that's how some Americans are. Or make that some people, because the mentality seems to be universal. But though these people may attract notice, they're only one segment of the population. After all, someone must have been buying enough Hondas, Toyotas, Subarus, Kias, and such for those companies to make good profits all through the SUV era.

More coverage here:

http://www.foxbusiness.com/story/little-late-auto-industry/

It’s essentially the same mindset that pushed countless expensive, gas guzzling SUVs and pickup trucks onto U.S. roads in the past decade despite glaring signs that global trends were shifting away from these behemoths.

“It’s short-sighted management,” said Jesse Toprak, executive director of industry analysis at Edmunds.com, which tracks auto sales.

However this all plays out, Magee said U.S. car makers have no one to blame but themselves. The sea change now at hand should have occurred years ago, but was put off because the car companies lacked “the courage” to make needed changes.

“It was classic corporate procrastination,” he said. “They just wanted to put things off as long as they could, and now they are really paying the price.”


Harry

I take it that Morford is declaring the death of the suvosaurus rex. However, I think that as soon as people make some adjustments to their finances, SUV use and sales will rachet back up, along with highway speeds as noted by civic94coupe206 above.

What needs to happen, if you want to change peoples behavior, and this is only my own opinion here, is that both state and federal gov'ts need to bump up the taxes imposed on gasoline, maybe diesel fuel as well. Nobody wants to pay more taxes, and certainly not me, but it will change peoples behavior.

In the case of CA, we have a budget deficit that is actually bigger than many other states entire annual budgets, if you can believe that. So, a temporary tax on road fuels here would, or could, fix the deficit and encourage people to downsize, or maybe carpool, or whatever. In my own case, I ride the city bus, almost a year now.

As for the wealthy, it doesn't matter how much gas costs or how high road taxes go.

Faithful and True.

FSP's ( SUV's & Pick-ups ) used to be 20% of the market - that is the market share they will return to by 2009.

I just got back from EAA Airventure (Experimental Aircraft Association's annual convention) in Oshkosh Wisconsin. I ran into a friend and his wife who own two small planes and a hangar to keep them in.

I was relating to them how expensive flying an airplane has become (avgas is $5-$6 in most places, and our planes burn about 10 gallons an hour).

He owns a Ford Explorer (wife) and a Ford F150 (husband). He explained to me some of the steps he has taken to continue his flying:

1. He just purchased a used Ford Tempo for $1000 and his family uses that for all Family functions, errands, etc. (he has one 11 year old daughter).

2. He already owns a motorcycle, so he drives it to work and his wife takes the Tempo.

3. F150 and Explorer are PARKED, with liability insurance only. He lives in Wisconsin so he will be driving either the Explorer or the F150 this coming winter. Wifey will drive the Tempo. (She drives farther)

4. No cable TV, no high speed internet, no satellite tv, no satellite radio, or any other subscription type services.

5. Dining out is a luxury.

This is just an example of an American Family that IS doing something because they ARE feeling the pinch, just like everyone else. I believe a lot of people are doing similar, waiting to see "How much longer these gas prices are going to stay so high." They are using their "Bigger" vehicles on an "as needed" basis, trying to wait this energy crisis out.
I think a lot of people have pent up hopes that a new President will fix everything. They think lower gas prices are less than a year away. Many are simply adding a fuel efficient vehicle to their Family's fleet because they do need a bigger vehicle on occasion.

I just got back from EAA Airventure (Experimental Aircraft Association's annual convention) in Oshkosh Wisconsin. I ran into a friend and his wife who own two small planes and a hangar to keep them in.

I was relating to them how expensive flying an airplane has become (avgas is $5-$6 in most places, and our planes burn about 10 gallons an hour).

He owns a Ford Explorer (wife) and a Ford F150 (husband). He explained to me some of the steps he has taken to continue his flying:

1. He just purchased a used Ford Tempo for $1000 and his family uses that for all Family functions, errands, etc. (he has one 11 year old daughter).

2. He already owns a motorcycle, so he drives it to work and his wife takes the Tempo.

3. F150 and Explorer are PARKED, with liability insurance only. He lives in Wisconsin so he will be driving either the Explorer or the F150 this coming winter. Wifey will drive the Tempo. (She drives farther)

4. No cable TV, no high speed internet, no satellite tv, no satellite radio, or any other subscription type services.

5. Dining out is a luxury.

This is just an example of an American Family that IS doing something because they ARE feeling the pinch, just like everyone else. I believe a lot of people are doing similar, waiting to see "How much longer these gas prices are going to stay so high." They are using their "Bigger" vehicles on an "as needed" basis, trying to wait this energy crisis out.
I think a lot of people have pent up hopes that a new President will fix everything. They think lower gas prices are less than a year away. Many are simply adding a fuel efficient vehicle to their Family's fleet because they do need a bigger vehicle on occasion.


The only problem with this rationale is this "energy crisis" can't be waited out. The times of $2 or $3 are history.

Mini-utes like mine (crv, rav-4, etc) might stick around for a while.

Well, I get near 30 mpg on the hiway with my mid size SUV (270 h.p.)
I am averaging near 25 mpg on a 300 mile per week commute.
Ask what that Toyota Tundra owner gets.

What that toyota tundra gets?