Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

US drivers in SUV gas-guzzling buying
Reuters Environmental News Service ^ | 12/07/2001

Posted on 12/07/2001 9:42:21 AM PST by cogitator

US drivers in SUV gas-guzzling buying spree

NEW YORK - U.S. drivers are buying gasoline at a feverish clip despite the nation's recession, due largely to low pump prices and an autumn buying rush for gas-guzzling SUVs, analysts said this week.

"Americans are driving more in less-efficient vehicles," automobile expert Mike Lucky of John S. Herold Inc. said. "Sales of SUVs and pickup trucks have been amazingly strong considering the recession, and low pump prices are keeping people on the roads."

Gasoline consumption for November averaged about 8.6 million barrels per day, up nearly 3 percent from last year, according to the American Petroleum Institute (API), despite a recession.

The robust gasoline demand comes amid a steep drop in retail pump prices to two-year lows of $1.12 a gallon and amid a dramatic increase in sales of sport utility vehicles and pickup trucks - some of the least fuel-efficient automobiles on the market.

Bargain financing deals by big automakers have helped push sales of SUVs and light pickup trucks 13.7 percent higher than last year for the month of November, according to the U.S. Commerce Department. Meanwhile, half of the 20 best-selling automobiles so far this year have been trucks or SUVs, including the mammoth GMC Sierra and Dodge Ram pickup, according to data reported by automakers.

"The rate of purchase for new fuel inefficient vehicles is far outpacing the rate of retirement for older automobiles," said Lucky. According to the Federal Highway Administration, the number of vehicles on the road grew by 5.2 million between 1999 and 2000.

In October, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said that Americans' love affair with gas-guzzling SUVs reduced the average fuel mileage of all 2001 model year vehicles to 20.4 miles per gallon, the lowest in two decades.

The trend could become a curse to the the nation's energy infrastructure, which over the past two years struggled desperately to overcome regional fuel shortages due to refinery and pipeline outages.

"The lowest fuel economy since 1980 can be attributed to the increase in light trucks on America's roads," the EPA said in a statement. "Light trucks are less fuel efficient."

The current Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards, first adopted by Congress in 1975 after the Arab oil embargo, require passenger cars to average 27.5 miles per gallon and light trucks to average 20.7 mpg. At the time, light trucks were allowed to get lower mileage because they were used mostly by farmers and small businesses.

If auto manufacturers increased fuel economy by as little as three miles per gallon, consumers would save as much as $25 billion a year in fuel costs, the EPA said.

That modest increase in fuel efficiency, the agency said, would also reduce 140 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions per year and cut the United States' reliance on foreign oil by 1 million barrels of oil each day - a boon as heightened tensions in the Mideast raise fears of a disruption in crude supply.

Senate Democrats introduced a broad energy bill this week that seeks, in part, to boost vehicle fuel efficiency but said that any change could not take effect until the 2004 model year is introduced.

The legislation does not set specific fuel mileage requirements for vehicles. That language will be added to the bill after the Senate Commerce Committee approves a new standard, they said.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Front Page News; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS:
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 141 next last
To: babyface00
One of the reasons that SUV'S became popular was due the average fleet fuel economy standards set by the Feds. People couldn't buy station wagons or large cars with V8's as they would ruin the fleet average of the manufacturer. Trucks were exempt from this standard. Hey presto, the manufacturers made comfortable trucks with V8's. If the Feds had never been involved with fleet consumption averages the SUV might never have become so popular.
41 posted on 12/07/2001 10:26:06 AM PST by ar10
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 36 | View Replies]

To: cogitator
I have a 1500 Suburban (4x4) and a 2500 Suburban (4x4). Let me see which one I want to take on a road trip this weekend...Hmmmmmmmm
42 posted on 12/07/2001 10:26:06 AM PST by just looking
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Grampa Dave
Bone fish caught on the fly run about $1,500 a pound when you add the cost of travel and accomadation. $500 will get a pound of striped bass.
43 posted on 12/07/2001 10:28:38 AM PST by ar10
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 39 | View Replies]

To: lady lawyer
Me, You and Tony Soprano all drive Suburbans. These little pr*cks can take their Honda Civics and drive off the face of the earth as far as I'm concerned.
44 posted on 12/07/2001 10:28:42 AM PST by oyez
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

Comment #45 Removed by Moderator

To: wheezer
I don't think its left-wing to support ways to reduce U.S. effectiveness on foreign oil imports.

I do think its left-wing to think this can be accomplished with arbitrary, expensive government mandates that seek to force people to purchase against their will. I especially think its left wing to force people to compromise the safety of themselves and their families so that they can save a couple of gallons of gasoline every couple weeks.
46 posted on 12/07/2001 10:30:15 AM PST by babyface00
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 40 | View Replies]

To: cogitator
I am going to upgrade from my 5500 lb Expetition to an 8200 lb V10 Excursion. It's my money.
47 posted on 12/07/2001 10:30:29 AM PST by Dataman
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Dataman
Small request to you SUV guys (and gals): Would you mind collectively not parking by me in the parking lot? I park out in the middle of nowhere because I can't see around you guys backing out of the parking spot (I have a Sebring Convertible).

Inevitably, I'll come out of the store and find an SUV (or minivan) has decided it needs to keep my car company and I'll have to slowly creep out of the spot until half my car is in the middle of the lot before I can see around the darn thing. I don't get it. Do SUVs get lonely if they're not parked next to short, long sporty cars?
48 posted on 12/07/2001 10:34:30 AM PST by babyface00
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 47 | View Replies]

To: cogitator
Dammit! already put my 12MPG '74 Charger up for the winter... guess I'll have to put her back on the road (can't let the SUV's burn ALL the gas!)
49 posted on 12/07/2001 10:36:38 AM PST by LIBERTARIAN JOE
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: babyface00
I won't park next to you if you will concede the a Sebring is not a sports car.
50 posted on 12/07/2001 10:37:09 AM PST by ar10
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 48 | View Replies]

To: gdani
Is it left wing to reduce our reliance on oil so that we could tell tyrants, er uh, I mean our "friends" in Saudi Arabia, etc to go to hell?

It is left wing to suggest one illogical solution to a problem with many possible solutions including perfection of the fuel cell.
It is left wing to exaggerate the problem of foreign oil dependence.
It is left wing to simplify a complex situation to the point where driving anything but a pop can is supporting terrorists.
It is left wing to point the finger at everyone else and demand they solve the problem.
It is left wing to hate the free market.
It is left wing to hate seeing civilized people enjoy themselves in legal ways.
It is left wing to be jealous of those who prosper.
It is left wing to just plain whine, whine, whine.

51 posted on 12/07/2001 10:39:30 AM PST by Dataman
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 23 | View Replies]

To: ar10
Totally agree. It's a sporty car. However, even with the 2.5 v6 (it's a '96) its gutless. And the brakes are fairly pathetic. It does handle remarkably well, but that's mostly due to the tires.

Unfortunately, the Corvette is out of my price range, mostly due to insurance in the city. Camaro/Firebird is impractical compared to the Sebring. That's it for convertibles unless you go Japanese or European.
52 posted on 12/07/2001 10:41:03 AM PST by babyface00
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 50 | View Replies]

Comment #53 Removed by Moderator

To: Hillary 666
"My dad has an '82 Dodge. Maybe we'll use his vehicle.

My wife has an '80 Cadillac Coupe de Ville ... I think we could get all of us FReepers into it and take a LONG ride this weekend.

54 posted on 12/07/2001 10:42:02 AM PST by BlueLancer
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: babyface00
Small request to you SUV guys (and gals):

My Eddie Bauer Expedition is in excellent shape. I don't park in tight spots. People with cheap cars tend not to care what happens to their car or the other guy's. The problem you report is a problem peculiar to people with bad manners and no respect for property. That is not exclusively an SUV drivers' characteristic.

55 posted on 12/07/2001 10:43:48 AM PST by Dataman
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 48 | View Replies]

To: Dataman
Unfortunately, its only the SUVs and minivans I can't see around.
56 posted on 12/07/2001 10:49:48 AM PST by babyface00
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 55 | View Replies]

To: philosofy123
why should the SUVs get a break on the milage thing as ordered by the Feds

You've got it backwards. It isn't a question of giving SUV's a break, the Feds shouldn't involve themselves in gas mileage regulations at all, for any type of vehicle.

57 posted on 12/07/2001 10:52:08 AM PST by CraigH
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 25 | View Replies]

To: M1991
CAFE is why we have stupid unnessesary vehicles

Bingo! Another example of what comes of government interference. Now these bozos call for more, to solve the problem the government meddling created. Don't they ever learn? Have any of them heard of the law of unintended consequences?

58 posted on 12/07/2001 10:54:21 AM PST by alpowolf
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 53 | View Replies]

To: cogitator
Senate Democrats introduced a broad energy bill this week that seeks, in part, to boost vehicle fuel efficiency...

Same old liberal BS - working to penalize the consumption side instead of building the supply side - these are the same A$$ holes who refused to address the energy needs of the USA by killing Bush's energy bill. The only shortage in existence is the shortage of American brains between the ears of all liberals!

59 posted on 12/07/2001 10:54:44 AM PST by mil-vet
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: babyface00
Why don't you put a sign on it telling us truck drivers not park next to it?
60 posted on 12/07/2001 10:55:01 AM PST by ar10
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 56 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 141 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson