Gas Guzzlers: gaining consumer interest????

This month gas prices are a dollar lower than how they were a year ago. Some experts say that the gas prices will climb extensively as soon as the government starts to work economic recovery. And because of this delayed lowering in gas prices, people are ignoring compact and sub compact cars, to a buy limited edition vehicle like the Jaguar XJL-a car that costs $105,000. This 470 horse power car puts out seventeen miles per gallon and they are being sold out in a matter of minutes in special online sales. People who fancy Ford F-Series trucks are taking advantage of these online sales as well. In September of last year there was a three percent increase in the number F-Series trucks being sold. Other companies have seen huge bumps in their SUV sales by 23 percent in that same year.

Because of the lowering gas prices, consumers seem to have forgotten that gas was at an all time high in 2008. I feel there’s no need to have a clunker now, you’re going to have to pay more money to keep the SUV maintained, than what you would with a regular compact car. For example, I paid $2,000 for a used 94’ Mercury Sable and it averages about 25 miles per gallon, so at the pump I would pay $22 for gas. Yet These dumb people are buying cars that are over $80,000, and half of the time their too scared to drive it.

At the moment these SUV’s are very attractive, but due to the current economic state that the country is in now, buying these types of vehicles makes no sense. Its proven that once the economy shows signs of improvement, those huge SUV’s will start to lose its appeal from consumers- because they are some of the most fuel thirsty vehicles out there. The Obama administration has focused on encouraging fuel efficiency despite lowering gas prices. Stephan Gallon from R.L Polk & Co. reported that the government has invested 2.4 billion dollars for car companies to develop hybrid cars. That legislation requires the car companies to create a vehicle that averages 35.5 miles to the gallon by 2016.

Fuel efficient cars, like hybrids are more environmentally friendly and a great investment for consumers. Automakers are striving toward improving vehicle performance with the development of the “leaf” by Nissan. With it every full battery charge can take you 100 miles with the leaf. Although this is foreign company, this just shows how American inventors are behind. But with the new legislation by President Obama that will change.