Posted on 03/14/2012 10:18:37 AM PDT by CNSNews.com
(CNSNews.com) - A new survey shows that rising gasoline prices will force changes in the driving habits of American adults, but only six percent of them said they plan to buy a hybrid/energy-efficient vehicle to alleviate pain at the pump.
The online survey, conducted by Harris Interactive on behalf of CouponCabin from March 6-8, found that 3 in 4 adults in this country said they are changing their driving habits:
-- 61 percent plan to drive less overall to save money
-- 9 percent plan to carpool
-- 8 percent plan to use public transportation
-- 6 percent plan to buy a hybrid/energy efficient vehicle
Other findings:
More than one-third (36 percent) of adults said they may have to give up something to afford to drive a vehicle.
-- 70 percent said they would dine out less often
-- 64 percent said they'll spend less money on entertainment (concerts, movies, etc.)
-- 37 percent plan to postpone seasonal clothing shopping
-- 22 percent said they'll cancel online or other subscriptions
-- 15 percent plan to cancel cable, satellite or other TV services
-- 12 percent said they'll reduce cell phone usage
-- 5 percent said they'll cancel Internet service
-- (16 percent said "other")
"For many Americans who are just getting back on their feet, rising gas prices can be a tough financial hurdle," said Jackie Warrick, chief savings officer at CouponCabin.com, which describes itself as a leading online destination for coupons.
The survey, based on the responses of 2,254 adults, reflects the current low demand for electric hybrid vehicles.
General Motors halted production of its Chevy Volt on March 19 for five weeks because of rising inventories. The car, which costs around $40,000, just isn't selling, even though President Obama said he will buy one when he leaves off.
Ford, meanwhile, is now rolling out its all-electric Focus. "We have a limited production run for 2012 and will be increasing production in future model years," the Ford website says.
Can’t afford one anyway.
"General Motors halted production of its Chevy Volt on March 19 for five weeks because of rising inventories dangerous engine fires and that it's a POS."
Fixed it.
I would love a small hybrid to buy.
But only if it was a diesel/electric hybrid.
My wife is driving her second hybrid (2011 Ford Escape) and loves it. Mileage is in the high 30 mpg range driving in traffic and about 32 mpg on the road. However, there are lots of non hybrid cars that get 30mpg+ mileage for less money. Neither of us would consider buying a car that gets less than 30 mpg.
Interesting to see what people would be willing to give up to continue to afford to drive a car. Interesting to consider the overall impact on the economy of such choices on a large scale.
Energy Sec. Stevie Chu is backing down on his desire to see gas rocket up to European levels (into $5 - $6/gallon). This Phd shouldn’t need advanced understanding of economics to understand the impact of higher gas prices. He minimally should be able to comprehend how insulting such a statement is for those of us who use their cars for such luxuries as: going to work, getting groceries, and (gulp) taking the kids to school. How about this asshat just pack his crap and go? Hoping that his marxist boss will be similarly unemployed (effectively voted failure-in-chief) after the November elections.
75% of Americans feel it is utterly INSANE to not harvest our own prodigious domestic energy reserves, thus making the “cost of gasoline” a non-argument for centuries.
That’s because we’d have to buy either a ....
* Prius, the signal car of the Looney Left
* Volt, better known as the re-Volt-ing 0bama0-mobile
* Or a Honda Infiniti, beyond the reach of most families with kids.
I don’t buy new cars.
Ever. Its a waste.
If one were in my price range used, I could go for a compressed nitrogen hybrid.
LOL!!
NAILED it!
That’s because when people change habits for financial reasons (ie they have less money), most people then do not go out and buy a freaking expensive hybrid vehicle. Kind of defeats the purpose of saving money.
Press is clueless.
I like the escape hybrid except for the fact you cannot tow anything with it. At least Ford tells you not to tow anything with it.
Seriously. “Gee, I’m paying $20 a week more for gas, guess I’d better go take on a $400 car payment for six years.”
Although, ironically, we did that a couple months ago. We bought a 2010 Mazda 5 (a small station wagon/minivan fusion) partially because of gas prices, but more because my old truck, our only working vehicle, had topped 190,000 miles and is on its last legs. So now while we do have a car payment, we have a car that is safe to take on occasional long trips for my wife’s business without the constant fear of breakdowns, and that gets around 24 mpg around town instead of the 11-12 of my big old Ram. And we use the car enough that we are actually saving enough in fuel consumption (at the $3.80 a gallon level around here) to more than pay for the increased insurance of the second car. So we think it was worth taking on a $280ish monthly payment.
}:-)4
At least that is how I look at it.
There is no way I would ever buy a frickin' hybrid car, especially one as costly as the Volt.
“I don’t buy new cars.
Ever. Its a waste.”
####
What about if you hold onto them for 10-15 years like we do?
I haven’t done the math, but that has always seemed the most cost efficient way to go. Yes, I’m aware of the 1-3 year old vehicles you can get at a deep discount from their original sticker, but I have always figured the market is pricing those appropriately. There is no free lunch.
Thanks for you thoughts.
you know it’s obvious when abc news shows how it can take 16 YEARS for the average hybrid to break even with the cost of the same model gas engine. and even this doesn’t include maintenance.
kinda like spending six thousand dollars for a furnace to go from 80-90 percent efficiency.
or buying solar panels with a 40 year payback cycle, and a 30 year lifespan.
Here's the way I look at it: Why buy either an all electric or a hybrid when there are internal combustion engined cars that get as good, and some even better, mileage then a hybrid. If we didn't have such insane rules against diesels we could have many models built here that top 45 miles per gallon and no charging or limits on the range. Hybrids are a stupid idea because the technology doesn't exist to built an effective electric or hybrid and having to switch over to gas after just a few paltry miles distance with gas mileage no better, or worse, than many internal combustion cars is just idiotic.
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