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Small cars are selling like hotcakes

TOM KRISHER

Associated Press

Latest comment posted at 10:49 AM EDT 08/06/08

With the price of a tank of gas steadily increasing, economy cars are now looking very appealing to consumers. The demand on fuel-efficient vehicles has driven up the price of Civics and similar models. ...Read the full article

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  1. Stephanie Robinson from Ottawa, Canada writes: Glad to see it! Small cars were also "hot" in the mid-1970s for the same reason. In fact, I remember having to decide between a tiny Honda and a tiny Fiat in 1974. I opted for the Fiat, but a friend chose the Honda and it lasted 14 years. If only the price of gas and the policies of the American and Canadian governments had encouraged that trend, we would never have seen SUVs and huge Honda sedans and climate change and such heavy smog... and perhaps we wouldn't be paying $1.25 a litre while the oil companies post record profits.
  2. S weetie from Canada writes: Once you over reach and start closing the gap between used car and new car prices, I'll go new. I'm in the market for just such a vehicle, but I'm no fool.
  3. John Fedup from Canada writes: I have had a Toyota Matrix (1.8 liter engine) for 4 years. I liked it 4 years ago and like it alot more now that gas is $1.25 a liter. It is a great practical vehicle.
  4. James S from Mississauga, Canada writes: I have a 2002 Civic with 70,000km ... anyone interested?
  5. roy f from van, Canada writes: Only because the hotcake lobby is keeping prices artificially low.
  6. steve allan from Canada writes: I have a six cylinder that I used to think was good on gas but now I realize even it is costing me a lot of money. Four years ago it would cost me about $30 a week for gas, now it's upward of $100. Wait till the price of gas hits $2 a litre....some people won't be able to afford to drive!

    I don't think people have yet come to understand that this isn't a passing phase that will eventually correct itself. Our lives, our economy and our quality of life are about to undergo some very serious adjustments. People are in denial if they think otherwise.
  7. Darren X3 from Toronto, Canada writes: My 1992 Honda Civic just passed 300,000km, and it runs like a Swiss watch.
  8. rick garrick from Canada writes: Yeah, we're driving a 94 Toyota Corolla and it sure saves big at the gas pump.
    We just visited with some people in Kenora and they're driving a Toyota Prius.
    They say it costs about half what they used to pay for their old Toyota Camry at the gas pump.
  9. Brian Van Ezel from Ottawa, Canada writes: Do the big 3 make any small cars?
  10. AG Bear from Canada writes: I bought a used Toyota Echo 3 years ago (with very low km on it). It's been great on gas. Recently, I checked its resale value and found that I can sell it for what I paid for it (or maybe a bit more). The only problem is... I'm keeping it! I love my small car.
  11. King 99 from Canada writes: The next thing that has to happen is the lowering of the speed limits. It happened years ago so why not now?? That'll save tons of fuel. Don't worry history repeats itself. as in the oil embargo of the early seventies. Oil was about 75/barrel. It'll take a while but it'll happen you'll see. Unfortunately interest rates will have to rise. When they rise the dollar rises too so the price of gas should drop with the stronger dollar, or so it would seem.
  12. Paul Chapman from Laputa, Canada writes: I hear the new Fiesta is coming our way, the Pontiac Wave is available now, Chrysler doesn't have anything small, but if you go before the split the Mercedes B-class looks attractive (if pricey).

    Ford had a really nice 1.4l diesel in the old Fiestas; hope something like that is available here..
  13. Paul Wallnutz from Ontario, Canada writes: Some steps towads reduced oil consumption:

    1) Move closer to work if possible. (Did it.)
    2) Telecommute when possible. (Can't do this.)
    3) Take a bus. (No good service available where I live.)
    5) Drive a smaller vehicle. (Kind of hard with a family of six, I drive a minivan.)
    4) Buy a scooter or small motorcycle for commuting.
    More people need to consider getting a small motorcycle or scooter for commuting. Last year, using my 400cc motorcycle for my 20km commute (one way) I figure I saved about 450 litres of fuel. (Because I'm a wimp I only used it about 60% of the time, but I could probably push that up to 80% if I don't melt in the rain, and I could also take a long bus-ride if in the snow/ice season.)

    If a large percentage of commuters did this, imagine the energy/fuel/environmental benefits! The irony is that higher fuel prices will force people to try these sorts of alternatives.
  14. The Habs from Toronto, Canada writes: Jetta TDI. Enuff said.
  15. Tim Bryson from Claresholm, AB., Canada writes: My '07 Civic gets about 44 mpg mostly highway driving. It has a 1.8L engine that goes like snot. I'm encouraged to see other posters who've had their's forever. We also have a Kia Rondo (small town, two kids that are in a multitude of activities, spouse who works in a different town...sorry), but I'm not impressed with the milage thus far.

    I know that Toronto, where I grew up and still have family, it seems that there has always been a lot more small cars on the road than in Calgary. Hopefully, this will spell the death of the SUV; after all, you don't see many of those in Germany, where gas cost $2/L 15 years ago.
  16. Justin Kase from Victoria, Canada writes: We moved so only one of us has a commute. We downsized from van and a car, to one car that gets 33mpg city, the car is used only to commute the rest of the time we use bikes, walk or bus (definetely not as convenient as taking the car, but you get used to it). Now looking at an electric moped for commuting 80% of the time....note to self, dont forget to buy raingear. We plan shopping to coincide with the commute. If gas still ends up being out of reach, we can park the car totally. Having done all this, who can afford even the basics once food, transportation of goods etc. goes ballistic? It's not our personal gas consumption we should be worrying about, it's the big picture. Is it impossible for everyone (esp. 'merricans) to reduce their gas use by 10%? or is it a god given right not to?
  17. J. Anthony Skuce from Vancouver, Canada writes: Duh.

    But really, gas is still remarkably cheap, from an historical perspective, when one considers the percentage of per capita income it costs to propel a vehicle a hundred kilometres today versus in Model T times. And even at 1.41$ that I paid for 89 octane for the ol' Jeep today, it still costs very little to propel my tonne or so of metal the roughly 23 kilometres our family covers drive each day (10 year old vehicle - 79,000 Kms).

    Oops, this thread is about the glories of small. In my defence, my wife bought the Jeep before we were married. And now she walks to work and rarely ever drives the thing. I run errands in it. Otherwise, living downtown means we don't need it much. Still, when we get our next one (minivan, for hauling our progeny) it'll get better mileage. And then I can care even less about the cost of a tank of gas.
  18. Dig Deeper from Canada writes: Hindsight being 20/20 I'm glad I purchased my 1998 Beetle. Runs on regular, upgraded to synthetic oil for better lubrication and continues to get a real-world 40 mpg!
    Really love my bug. Thank goodness only have 160,000kms - not even broken in yet.

    If gas gets more expensive I plan on getting a Vespa to share the garage with the bug.

    Death to the V8 and long live the 4 banger.
  19. Kraka Toa from Canada writes: You don't need a small car to get great mileage - just ask Wayne Gerdes - king of the hypermilers...... (from Mother Jones) This Guy Can Get 59 MPG in a Plain Old Accord. Beat That, Punk. News: Drafting 18-wheelers with the engine off, taking death turns at 52 miles an hour, and other lessons learned while riding shotgun with the king of the hypermilers "Buckle up tight, because this is the death turn," says Wayne. Death turn? We're moving at 50 mph. Wayne turns off the engine. He's bearing down on the exit, and as he turns the wheel sharply to the right, the tires squeal—which is what happens when you take a 25 mph turn going 50. Cathy, Terry's wife, who is sitting next to me in the backseat, grabs my leg. I grab the door handle. As we come out of the 270-degree turn, Cathy says, "I hope you have upholstery cleaner." We glide for over a mile with the engine off, past a gas station, right at a green light, through another green light—Wayne is always timing his speed to land green lights—and around a mall, using momentum in a way that would have made Isaac Newton proud. "Are we going to attempt that at home?" Cathy asks Terry, a talkative man who has been stone silent since Wayne executed the death turn in his car. "Not in this lifetime," he shoots back. Wayne is paying attention to the road, not the banter. He's had to turn the engine back on earlier than he usually does after taking the death turn. "I hit the turn at 50, 51," he says. "I should have hit it at 52."
  20. Oslo Karmen from Canada writes: James, I have a really nice Firebird I'll trade!
  21. Mark W Dabrowski from Newmarket, Canada writes: Gas prices in Canada and the US are still very cheap comparing to Europe and many other areas of the world. In the UK you would pay about $2.20 per ltr. In Norway about $2.50 (a very significant oil and gas producer).

    I think that the higher prices are good, in the long term, for all of us in North America. We have been addicted to this form of energy for far too long. Our public transport system is very poor because owning a car was cheap. The design of our living space - mainly in suburbia forces us to use automobiles. We drive big cars, SUVs, trucks and vans mostly for short distances and usually with one passenger in it.

    Higher prices cannot be fought by putting pressure on politicians to lower them, but by making our own micro decisions to use less by driving less and walking or biking more, by sharing drives, by driving slower, with proper tire pressure, etc. and by asking politicians to implement systemic changes. We still have time to change our ways.

    What is most troubling however is the fact of our huge dependence on oil from the world's hot spots. By the way the fact that we have tar sands does not really matter. If the middle east blows up (and it is a powder keg), if Russia (world's largest oil producer) decides to use its oil to force its political agenda, we will be for a shock many time bigger than $1.30 per ltr.

    If we do not wean ourselves off oil we will face dire consequences sooner rather than later.

    So higher price may actually help.
  22. Darren X3 from Toronto, Canada writes: J Andrew Skuce: "But really, gas is still remarkably cheap, from an historical perspective, when one considers the percentage of per capita income it costs to propel a vehicle a hundred kilometres today versus in Model T times. "

    True, and good point... however our cities and towns are now structured to require propelling a ton of metal down the road, much more than they were in the model T days. This state of affairs will take a long time to unwind.

    Look for the price of distant suburban houses (a complementary good to gasoline) to fall through the floor, and for small downtown condos to "sell like hotcakes" as well, as Peak Oil starts to bite.

    I notice the Peak Oil deniers have grown less numerous, and a lot quieter, over the last few years.

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