I've been seeing a lot of articles about the death of the SUV. Coming back from FL there was a billboard with an SUV picture and the tag line, Donate Your Vehicle. There seem to be a lot of folks wishing they hadn't bought into these gas guzzlers.
I have a paid off SUV, and it was originally bought with the intention of being a camping, hauling and projects vehicle. When I started school, we needed two vehicles and my husband had to drive it to work. (I commute an hour to school.) Since, the onset of gas price hikes it has been impossible for him to continue to drive the truck on an ongoing basis.
In the past year we purchased a used 40mog diesel VW Golf, which we've tried out biodiesel with varied success. My husband also just bought a 70 mpg motorcycle for commuting to work. It only makes sense for us to make these changes. If diesel keeps rising and I can't find inexpensive biodiesel, I will likely have to take the public transit to school. (This will probably increase my commute time, due to buses & train schedules,. quite a bit.) Fuel costs seem to be an ongoing theme. It has made me rethink how I spend my time with my kids, my vacations, and certainly my shopping and commuting.
Bio-diesel has its supply and cost problems, and there aren't any other viable alternative fuel options that are widely available. It seems that we will be held to the economic wall until there are more economically feasible alternative fuels and vehicles that can support them. I will be interested to see the future of transportation in a world hungry and needing change.
A lot of people who are currently leasing SUVs are scrambling to sell their leases. Not surprisingly, most are unsuccessful. I have not, though, noticed any significant changes in the actual streets. There are still plenty of trucks and SUVs.
You're right. I think people are having a hard time getting out of them, even if they want to. Have you seen more motorcycles on the road? I've noticed an increase, or maybe I'm just watching out more because my husband drives one now.
My Blog: www.progressiveu.org/blog/jlepp-journey
As far as motorcycles go, there's no way we can tell if there are more because of fuel prices, or because the summer driving season just began, which is when bikers come to out ride in droves.
Scooter and motorcycle sales are way up, at least in my area. Scooter dealers here are actually running out of inventory.
http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/ediblewoman
We'd originally looked at Vespas, but they cost more than the used 250 motorcycles we' found.
My Blog: www.progressiveu.org/blog/jlepp-journey
The nice weather brings out the bikers. But, I imagine we'll see more bicycles and bikers if fuel keeps rising.
My Blog: www.progressiveu.org/blog/jlepp-journey
I have a friend who sells Honda, and so many people have come in wanting to trade in ginormous vehicles for hybrids. Evan a year ago, people were getting almost NO trade in value on their trucks. It's even worse now. The dealerships can't resell gas guzzlers, so they are not willing to give buyers much credit on them.
I'm so glad I have a Saturn that I am driving into the ground. No car payment, good gas mileage, and little risk of hail damage (it's plastic and we've had three hails storms this week). Rock on Saturn!
http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/ediblewoman
I'm a Saturn fan also. I've had two of them. We tried out a diesel this time, with the hope that we could do bio-diesel. A friend of mine at my congregation makes bio-diesel from used restaurant oil. Unfortunately, the fuel froze in my fuel lines this past winter and cost a bunch. So now I'm leery of winter use of bio - untiul I learn more.
My Blog: www.progressiveu.org/blog/jlepp-journey
Gas prices are getting ridiculous. Luckily, my mom traded in her SVU before the trade-in value got really bad and got a Prius instead! I can't imagine having to put up with a big SUV now that gas is getting up into the four dollar range.
I've toyed with getting a motorcycle, but as I'm not out of college yet, I know I'll have to move at some point in time and motorcycles really aren't conducive to that as my sole vehicle. Instead, I'm just trying to get into better shape so I can end up riding my bike everywhere.
-------------------------
Honest disagreement is often a good sign of progress. --Mahatma Gandhi
My Blog: http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/kablock
My PhotoBlog: http://takingpictures.wordpress.com