May 2008 sales: Cars back on top

Roadtest a 2008 volvo s80 v8 awd and see what you think about it

Personally I’m glad to see that more fuel efficient cars are surpassing trucks in sales. For a long time now I have not been able understand why people who don’t need, and never use, a pickup would have to drive one…other than to look “cool” or have a “commanding driving posistion” that only adds up to a higher chance of roll over. I would love to see more sensible and less obtrusive vehicles become the norm. Just my opinion and I know that a lot of people will disagree, but hey, everyone is entitled right;)

Shaun is exactly right. It never ceases to amaze me how many people purchase full size 4WD trucks/SUV’s simply for the ’status’ factor, never hauling passengers, cargo, etc. or having any need whatsoever for 4WD (of course it would be somewhat useful in the snow, but we don’t get much down here in Florida).

It never ceases to amaze me how much time people spend worrying about how well other people’s choice of vehicles matches what needs others perceive they have.

Automotive bigotry is on the rise in recent years, fueled by a misguided notion of what a “green” vehicle should be and the inexplicable obsession with controlling how others live their lives.

Self-rightousness has many flavors and degrees of intoxication. Don’t let it consume you before it’s too late to realize the self-imposed fascist state you’re living in. At the current rate, it will definitely happen within your lifetimes.

Sounds like you have a little ’self righteous’ horn tootin’ going on yourself to attempt to compensate for some guilt BW. It’s exactly that kind of statement (and sentiment) that typifies the average American automotive consumer, demonstrating my point exactly! As far as ‘automotive bigotry’, ‘inexplicable obsessions’, ’self imposed fascist states’ or any other sort of paranoid delusions, I don’t see anywhere in any of the previous posts mentioning anything of the sort; I merely suggest that we as a nation (and globally) must eventually come to the distasteful realization that fossil fuels are a finite resource that will soon be depleted, as you state so eloquently, ‘at the current rate, it will definitely happen within your lifetimes’. I am neither self righteous nor could care less what anyone drives; I only have concern that the waste of our resources by SOME affect us ALL, with certainty. I’m pretty confident that that pretty little housewife that lives down the street with only little Jimmy to shuttle to school and soccer practice really doesn’t need that V-10 Excursion, Suburban or dually, but they sure are nice status symbols though, huh?
I do somewhat agree, however, that many who own a Prius, hybrid or any other type of ‘green’ vehicle do it for exactly the same reason as the owners of the leviathan gas guzzler vehicles: snob appeal. Most could care less about the environment or conserving our resources, they simply are looking for the ability to be able to look down on the Smiths or Joneses next door because they don’t have a ‘hip green vehicle’. Of course, I can already see the outraged responses forming in your heads as you read this, whether from the first group or second. Nobody feels that they apply to rules everyone else must abide by, and that’s human nature, but we must all come to the realization that a little common sense will go alot further than driving that big block 4WD crew cab pickup to work everyday when you really only need it to tow that boat or trailer once a month. Gas pricing is only going to continue to rise, especially now with the hugely increased thirst the Chinese automotive market has currently experienced.

BW, simply stating our observations and humble opinions should not be misconstrued as bigotry and obsessive behaviour.

My observations are based on individuals I have known; neighbours, friends, coworkers, etc… I wouldn’t even claim, or care, to know a complete strangers needs. However, in my observations very few of said individuals have a need in their lives for vehicles of this nature. They simply like to drive trucks and large SUV’s, which is of course their choice.

I am merely stating that here in Florida, where it does not snow and there is no mountainous terrain, aside from owning a boat or requiring a truck for work, there just simply is no need there. When there is a need then by all mean own a truck. Housewives, small families, and single men (or women) in our area, simply do not need them. Society and years of advertising have just led them to believe that they are safer, and more prestigious to own. If a person lived in a congested city would it be smart to own a huge truck/suv? No. Then what makes it practical when you live in sprawling suburbia, in Florida? It has nothing to do with how “green” the vehicles are, it speaks more about the state of society and how easily acceptable it is to buy beyond our needs, and sometimes means, just to fit in.

It never ceases to amaze me the amount of dime store psychology and politics people will throw around when attempting to profile a person or persons from a simple comment on their opinions, on an article that is meant to be informative and enjoyable. By the way, this is a “car” blog, so most of us are already partial to vehicles of that persuasion.

Well said Sean, well said.

And yet… BW does make an interesting point about how some would like to run the lives of others precisely *because* our lives all affect each others’. The rationale springs from the fact that resources are finite and we all have an interest in that. Truth is, nearly every decision we make affects others. If we use that as the rationale for controling the decisions of others, the end result is always repression even if the intent is altruistic.

BW, I have to disagree, because others’ choice of a car does affect me. My wife (and kids) drive around in a Honda Accord. If some guy is driving drunk and plows into them, I’d much rather that person be driving a Honda Civic than a Chevrolet Suburban. When someone buys an absurdly big vehicle to haul an absurdly small number of people, they put other drivers at risk. (Not to mention themselves, since a Honda Civic is better able to avoid an accident in the first place than a Chevy Suburban.)

An amusing spectacle would be About.com’s car site and SUV site having a blog brawl. Oh the humanity! Wot’s dat you said about da Suburban? Smack, Pow, Biff! I said it’s absurdly big, driven by drunks, a threat to humanity, and causes chain-reaction pileups on I-5. Pop, Crack, Jab! Pass the popcorn, Sean.

I imagine that they’re more civil and mature than that, though. Aaron and Jason probably just resort to dumping their champagn down each others shorts at staff mixers.

Nah, I like the nachos with jalapenos better… I sit in my Suburban and eat em all by myself in the driveway! All kidding aside, I actually DO have a Suburban, and it gets used about once a month to pull the boat or flatbed trailer, or when I, the wife and 4 boys go on vacation (usually pulling the boat). Regular day to day transportation duties fall back on a CR-V and Sentra. And, as I said previously, I in no way was attempting to insinuate that I was making any sort of judgement or imposing my choice or perspective on anyone, only suggesting that we Americans as a whole are going to have to ‘reprogram’ some of our learned habits and perceptions related to vehicle choice and fuel economy… There are many, many makes and models of vehicles in Europe (where fuel has been the equivalent of over $6-7 dollars per gallon for years) that offer 50+ MPG, but manufacturer’s don’t even attempt to try bringing them to the US because we would turn our noses up at those same offerings, regardless of MPG ratings because of the status factor (or lack thereof). DING! DING! DING! Now the free-for-all battle royale starts!

I don’t care what others drive, truck, SUV, Mini Cooper… it’s their business… what I fail to understand is that there is no shortage of oil or gasoline. Every gasoline retailer that I’m aware of in this country can get all the product they want as often as they need it. Yes, I know the demand for oil has risen because of the dynamically expanding economies of China and India, but supply appears to be keeping up with demand in those countries as well as the more developed countries. I know of no nation in the world that has cars lined up for miles waiting for a gasoline retailer to provide the product that fuels their vehicles. So why is the price of oil increasing so dramatically? I have yet to hear a rational explanation for the increase in oil prices except that commodity traders have bid the price up on pure emotion.
I am not usually one to recommend governmental intrusion into a free economy, but I think an objective study would be welcome to determine why a product that is not in short supply and is meeting demand has increased in price so dramatically and such a short period of time.

Instead of sniping at each other why don’t you apply pressure on the auto makers and oil companies to produce a viable low cost energy source or face having thier companies nationalized for the good of all of us.
Not to say that “Big Brother” could in any way get the gob done but I don’t see any one of the big 3 racing to mass produce a energy efficient non-oil based engine for power.
The hand writing is on the wall and it’s time to see a change in the thinking of how this country will survive…
Polution is the current problem that needs to be solved now.
A smart man once said “you know when you have the right answer when no one is happy with the solution”

I’ve often wondered if these numbers, such as “top selling vehicle of the month is the F150″ and “most popular colour is white” are skewed by commercial vehicle sales?

I love the socio-politiacal diatribe! I think we’re overreacting to someone’s simple observations. However, I sometimes do get miffed when I park my Mini next to an Excursion watching them pour three times as much fuel into a vehicle that’ll get one third the MPG’s and there’s one passenger. Yes, it’s their money but it’s also their massive consumption that is driving the prices up for everyone, not to mention the extra crap they’re spewing into OUR atmosphere. Hopefully, when the price drives those vehicles out of the marketpace, they’ll be driving smaller SUV’s that’ll probably do 90% of the same duty but far more efficiently on a daily basis.

I drive a 75 lincoln continental here in the uk, its a great car, not the greenest of choices perhaps but then consider I have had it LPG converted, the resources used to make are 38 years old and I only drive 3500 miles per year. I think this illustrates the complexity of calculating an individuals carbon footprint.

Just got a 09 camry L E a great car that gets 31 mpg. Love the ride and the looks. Not to big not to small this one just right.