NYT: A Love Affair With S.U.V.'s Begins to Cool

[DeepModem Mom]

A Love Affair With S.U.V.'s Begins to Cool
By DANNY HAKIM
Published: May 21, 2005


DETROIT, May 20 - To believe the commercials, sport utility vehicles can climb the most indomitable mountain, ford any stream and haul around the kids to boot.

But gas prices are a more unconquerable force of nature. With higher prices at the pump sinking in as something more than a blip on the radar, and with several new passenger car models winning back customers, America's love affair with S.U.V.'s is taking a breather.

For the first time in 14 years, the passenger car is actually taking sales back at the expense of S.U.V.'s and other trucks, according to an analysis of auto sales data. The renewed interest in cars over the first four months of the year, while modest, is a pause in what has been the trend in auto sales for the last decade and a half: the soaring growth of the sport utility vehicle as America's preferred family vehicle.

Sales of medium and large sport utility vehicles - like the Ford Explorer and Chevrolet Suburban - have stalled, and the torrid sales growth of large pickups has cooled.

While much of the slack is being taken up by smaller and less bulky S.U.V.'s known as crossovers, overall sales of S.U.V.'s are down 1.7 percent while passenger car sales are up 3.1 percent, according to Wards Automotive, which tracks auto sales....


http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/21/automobiles/21auto.html?hp&ex=1116648000&en=cb33ecb0906c123f&ei=5094&partner=homepage

[Erika]

1. Too bad that it took $ rather than morality to make the change

I have husband and wife acquaintances that both drive the super SUV's. They have no children. I openly laughed at them when they chose to back the boycott against France in support of Bush.

[Ian David]

2. I hope the used ones are plummeting in resale value, too

We can strip them down to make armor for our troops.

[hecate77]

6. I'm sure they are. Meanwhile, used hybrids sell for original price

or better (because new prices are rising). You can get all your money back from a year old Prius without any problem at all. Try that with a monster truck.

[Coastie for Truth]

3. Only down side to this

"For the first time in 14 years, the passenger car is actually taking sales back at the expense of S.U.V.'s and other trucks, according to an analysis of auto sales data."

is that the passenger cars are imports - because the American manufacturers were pushing "your father's Buick - designed by Harley Earl" --- ancient history. Earl's been dead for almost 40 years?

[okieinpain]

5. funny, but so true.

[Ian David]

7. There are no "American Cars" anymore

Most of the labor and material comes from over seas.

Most of the money gets hidden away in offshore tax havens.

The only thing American about "American" car companies is where the CEO chooses to build his most expensive mansions.

[billbuckhead]

8. Chevy Impala has 98% domestic content

<http://www.howtobuyamerican.com/bamw/bamw-050507-gm.shtml>

[wellst0nev0ter]

4. Wasn't It The Auto Manufacturers Who Said

If the public wanted vats of acids to consume, they will make it readily available for them?

Heh, couldn't happen to a better set of bastards.