Public: Want Better Fuel Economy...and Performance and Size

[Chuck]

Consumer Reports says drivers don't want to sacrifice (poll question in thread)

Peter Valdes-Dapena - CNNMoney.com - May 24, 2007

NEW YORK -- Most Americans want a car with better fuel economy, but only about half say they would be willing to sacrifice size or performance to get it, according to a national survey conducted by Consumer Reports.

When asked in late April, just before gas prices spiked to record levels, 69 percent of people who said they planned to purchase a new car within the next year said they wanted better fuel economy

Of all the respondents - not just those currently shopping for a car - just 52 percent said they would be willing to get a smaller vehicle to get better mileage. Forty-one percent said they would be willing to give up performance and only 45 percent said they would take fewer amenities in exchange for better mileage.

The percentages were nearly the same among those planning to buy a new car within a year.
… [Read More]

[Right Lane Cruiser]

I don't think I'll ever understand the "I want it now, and it better cost me NOTHING!!!!" attitude. If you really want something, why shouldn't you work for it?

Way too many people just say, "It isn't worth the discomfort." I'm reminded of that Geico commercial that ran recently where the Gecko was talking about getting some insane amount of money just for standing up. He said, "I doubt you'll say, 'No thanks! I'm so rich I think I'll just keep sitting here.'"

(100th post! )

[xcel]

Hi All:

___With gasoline supplies as tight as they are, there is a possibility of an actual shortage with stations closing and a 10 gallon per fill max policy enforced. If something like that happens, guess what, all this BS about I will not drop to that level or it is beneath me disappears just as it has in Europe. You want to drive at $10 per or on 10 gallons a week max for all your activity, you can drive a small car at 50 + or a large POS at 20 – and go less then half the distance. Going to the store, movie and the mall can become awfully painful if you don’t have enough fuel to get to work the following Monday

___Of course I am only speculating or is it wishful thinking?

___Good Luck

___Wayne

[laurieaw]

i already live on 10 gallons a week

[brick]

Personally, I don't think people are being realistic about what "compromise" is. I would consider a Geo Metro to be a compromise. (No offense intended to our Metro owning friends!) But nobody is asking the auto-buying public to trade in for a Metro. I have my safety, ample power, ample comfort, toys galore, and a few suspension tweaks might even make it fun to toss around. 50mpg just happens as long as the temps are somewhere between freezing and Hell. Want more size? Get a FEH/MMH instead and get some more cargo capacity and the same FE as your average 4-cylinder sedan. Why is this so terrible?

[Earthling]

My new Prius is larger than my Civic, and I'm not sure what performance I've given up. I can get on Interstates just fine, and can pass comfortably on two-lane, 55 mph roads, so exactly what have I given up?

If I want speed, I'll take my motorcycle, but it gets less mpg's than the Prius, and I give up way more physical protection going from the Prius to a motorcycle than I do from a larger car to a Prius, especially in light of the fact that SUV's are actually more dangerous than "normal sized" cars.

People have been brainwashed by Detroit into thinking their manhood and/or social status is determined by the size of their vehicle.

Harry

[WriConsult]

Just goes to show you: for all the whining, $3 a gallon isn't really that expensive. [by that I mean for the middle class Americans who respond to CR polls. Obviously $3 gas is already very painful to the poor.]

Let the price get up to $5, $6, $7, and I bet we'll start getting different results out of that poll.

[Chuck]

Forgot where I saw this, but thought is was profound:

We will give you two out of three:

• Low price
• Quality
• Deliver quickly

_______________________

This article brings the above to mind - if you want FE, size, performance (and if you can do all three) it's going to cost you.

Over time, I think hybrids can make any give vehicle both more FE and higher performing (well, more than they are now). For example, they could make a hybrid with a four-cylinder engine that drops to two cylinders at cruise, so you could have a relatively big engine and use it only at full throttle time. I realize the hybrid Accord tried that, but believe in time the concept will work.

Having said hybrids will extend FE and performance in one vehicle, no car is ever going to be both a Porsche and Insight in one package. Add Suburban and it gets absurd.

________________________

My gut feeling is attitudes are changing very slowly about fuel economy - extremely slow for many of us, but change nonetheless. I do know a couple of people that have started to drive motorcycles to save gas. The roads do have more small cars on the road. While reckless driving is still there on the freeways - I see less of it.

It going to be interesting how people feel about gas prices in August during vaction time. That is a low news month, so if Pain at the Pump is heightened, it will get maximum coverage.

[noflash]

Sigh, another flawed survey...

I also would NOT buy a smaller car with less power. Of course, I own two HCHIIs. Maybe 25% of the surveyers are already driving sub-compacts. Why would they go smaller and less powerful? It's misleading. Ask them if they would consider a small car with adequate power to merge onto the freeway.

YES!

[Chuck]

Originally Posted by noflash

Sigh, another flawed survey...

I also would NOT buy a smaller car with less power. Of course, I own two HCHIIs. Maybe 25% of the surveyers are already driving sub-compacts. Why would they go smaller and less powerful? It's misleading. Ask them if they would consider a small car with adequate power to merge onto the freeway.

YES!

Point taken.

I think 50% of the public drives an SUV or truck, so the survey might have been targeting them. Maybe they were wondering if they would go to a smaller truck or a sedan...