Yahoo Lists Gas Guzzlers; the Price of Gas; Scooter Sales Screamin!

YAHOO SHOWS LIST OF GAS GUZZLERS

Just saw this today at Yahoo finance:

U.S.News & World Report
Cars Hurt Most by $4 Gas
Tuesday June 10, 1:26 pm ET
By Rick Newman

Call it the revenge of the little guys. With gas prices officially cresting $4--and running higher in many parts of the country--American drivers are finally downsizing in big numbers. Overall auto sales are down about 8 percent so far this year--but sales of large cars and trucks have plunged 23 percent, according to J.D. Power & Associates. There's no mystery behind the shift: Buyers clearly believe high gas prices are here to stay, and are desperate to cut their gas bills. Among the cars piling up on dealer lots, here are some of the biggest losers:

Hummer. Sierra Clubers can go ahead and cheer: Hummer sales are down by 36 percent so far this year, the biggest drop among a single brand. Sales of the smallest Hummer--the H3, which averages about 15 mpg--have fallen even more than the brawnier H2, which gets a meager 10 mpg or so. Consider some painful Hummer math: With gas at $4, it costs about $120 to fill the tank of an H2, and then you can only go about 300 miles before forking over another $120. No wonder General Motors is considering offloading the whole division.

Nissan Titan. This pickup has never caught on like its American counterparts, and sales are off 45 percent for the year. But even the venerable American brands are hurting. Dodge Ram sales are off 27 percent; Chevy Silverado sales, 26 percent. Sales of the Ford F series, down a mere 19 percent, look healthy by comparison.

Jeep Commander. That thing got a Hemi? Better hope not. The big V-8 engine was a hit back when gas was $1.50, but sales of the Commander--city mileage with the optional Hemi: 13 mpg--have plummeted 48 percent so far this year. Other SUVs are in bad shape, too. Sales of virtually every midsize SUV have fallen by double digits, and there's now such a glut that some dealers won't even accept an SUV as a trade-in.

Chrysler. That deal to lock in $2.99 gas was supposed to move some metal in a tough market, yet Chrysler sales are down 19 percent for the year--with a 25 percent drop in May, when the $2.99 deal was supposed to be luring buyers. The hulking Chrysler 300, a huge hit that supposedly redefined American muscle when it debuted in 2004, now looks as passé as tail fins: Sales are down 31 percent.

Saturn. General Motors has revitalized this division's entire lineup, with enticing new right-size vehicles like the Outlook and Vue crossovers and the Aura sedan. But buyers aren't, well, buying it. Sales are down 20 percent.

Toyota Avalon. Yes, even Toyota is struggling in segments, and while the Avalon sedan is more spacious than the popular Camry, there's only one engine choice, a six-cylinder. That's one reason sales are off 33 percent, a lot more than slightly smaller sedans that come with a four-cylinder option. Sales of every other large four-door are down, too, as the family sedan shrinks. It was nice while it lasted.

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Comment:

The Jeep Commander is built here in Toledo, I believe. Man I can remember only about a year ago a leader of the Jeep UAW local say, when the 'Commander' was displayed at its public debut, "The future has arrived!!" Yes, it has and it sucks up gas like a bull elephant snorts up water from a near empty water hole!!!

I was surprised to find one of Toyota's own made this guzzling group. I guess even the Japs are still caught up in trying to profit from the big cahh craze.

THE PRICE OF GAS

Was out and about at about 8:30 this morning on the Vespa on a personal errand that took me from the Polish Village to Five Points to Eleanor/Bennett and out to Monroe St. near Office Max. It gave me a chance to see some of the latest gas prices. Disappointed to see the price hovering in the lower $3.80's at several places. The consolation is that I KNOW it can't last; yet, too many people are still trying the 'gut-it-out' approach. It needs to go up to around $5 to $6 and stay there - maybe people would finally realize this ain't temporary - it's normal.

SCOOTER SALES SCREAMIN'!

Called up Honda East in Maumee on Friday to check out how the Yamaha Vino 125 (my former ride) was selling. Talked to a sales dude and he laughed when I asked and said he had to put me on hold and give it a check. When he came back he said there were none on the floor; that six were on order and four of those were already sold. However he said I could reserve one of the other two if I dropped by and dropped one hundred bucks in their till. In September of 2005 I bought the only one on the floor and it had been there for weeks. LOL!

Went to Vespa Toledo on Saturday - had to have the 4,000 mile check done. While there I asked Mike Kookoothe how he's selling'em. And his response - "I'm busy, busy, busy!" Meaning - business is booming. One feller sitting around the shop told me he was certain the trend would continue and very soon folks wanting a scooter could end up on a six month waiting list.

YIKES!!! I believe him! Means scooters are going to become as valuable as SUV's were a few years ago! Lately, I've been tying the Vespa up with one or two bike chains when its likely to be unattended for a few hours. But now I'm thinking about buying the well known 'New York Bike Chain' - one that's nearly impossible to cut. Don't want to lose my ride, ya know. It only weighs 225 pounds - small enough for a couple of dudes to pick up and walk off with. Maybe I should arm myself with a Taser too - just in case somebody tries to take it from me on the road in the coming months.