How Quickly Americans Forget

[Joey D]

This gets me, some Americans seem to not to realise that fuel prices will go back up to where they were once the market rebounds a bit. Thoughts?

How quickly we forget: Cheaper gas = higher pickup and SUV sales
Pickup and SUV sales plummeted when gas hit $4 per gallon, and many thought these gas-guzzling segments would never fully recover. That may be true, but for now Americans are once again getting more comfortable with trucks and SUVs. Truck sales fell below 10% of overall vehicle sales back in May and June, but the price of gas falling from an average of $4.11 per gallon to $2.78 has helped the share of trucks rise to 14.1% of the overall market for September. Depending on how buyers react to the financial crisis, October could be even better as gas prices have continued to go down. SUVs have seen a smaller but still significant jump in overall share, going from 1.9% in May to 2.5% in September – a big improvement for a shrinking segment.

Much of the increased interest in trucks and SUVs can easily be attributed to huge incentives on the hoods of these hefty haulers, but gas prices are a big factor, as well. And while most analysts feel the truck market won't recover until construction picks back up, we're sure automakers are happy to see an increase in sales for their most profitable vehicles, even if it takes a pile of cash on the hood to get them moving.

 

[Danoff]

This gets me, some Americans people seem to not to realise that fuel prices will go back up to where they were once the market rebounds a bit. Thoughts?

Fixed.

There is nothing that makes this a fundamentally American issue. People have short memories. That's it.

 

[Joey D]

The article is in reference to Americans, it even says Americans in it.

That may be true, but for now Americans are once again getting more comfortable with trucks and SUVs.

 

[Philly]

I didn't really expect anything different. I'm wondering if this has anything to do with dealers trying hard to clear out 2008s as well. Or perhaps this summer showed people that they can survive with high gas prices, and are just upgrading their old SUV to something newer for cheap.

It'll be interesting to see how much these people whine and complain next summer.

 

[Danoff]

The article is in reference to Americans, it even says Americans in it.

Yes. Americans are used as the example here. But there is no need to claim that Americans have any shorter memory than people from any other nationality. We are all human beings, we all have brains, we all have memories. I see no reason that the memories of Americans, Jews, Black people, Hispanics, White people, Europeans, Asians or anyone need to be fundamentally different.

Again, just to make sure I'm clear, there is no need to single out Americans here - even if the article uses American statistics to make its point.

 

[Joey D]

I'm not claiming Americans have shorter memories, I'm posting an article about how Americans are buying truck and SUV's again with the temporary downturn in petrol prices. If you don't like the title, take it up with Autoblog.

 

[Danoff]

Joey's Title:

How Quickly Americans Forget

 

[Joey D]

Joey's Title:

[/B]

Based on the Autoblog title and the information on the article. I'm not claiming the article to be in my words, hence the credit to Autoblog.

 

[Philly]

I think the title is referencing that Americans are doing the forgetting. The article doesn't exactly mention how Brits, Japanese and Sudanese are rushing out to their local Chevy dealer to get into the biggest SUV they can find despite the fact that it cost them half their life savings just to pull it up their driveway a month ago.

 

[Danoff]

Based on the Autoblog title and the information on the article. I'm not claiming the article to be in my words, hence the credit to Autoblog.

You are responsible for the title and first line in this thread. Autoblog is responsible for the quoted text.

I think the title is referencing that Americans are doing the forgetting. The article doesn't exactly mention how Brits, Japanese and Sudanese are rushing out to their local Chevy dealer to get into the biggest SUV they can find despite the fact that it cost them half their life savings just to pull it up their driveway a month ago.

The article also doesn't mention what the price of Petrol has done in other areas or whether or not the buying decisions of people in those regions have changed as a result. The article discusses American buying decisions. But that doesn't mean that one can generalize about Americans as a result.

A thought experiment:

Suppose the article had claimed that Black Americans people were buying more SUVs now that gas prices were low. Strictly speaking this would almost certainly be true (given the sales trend in the US). But suppose the article limited it's research to the Black demographic in America.

Could you then draw a conclusion like: "How Quickly Black People Forget"

??

 

[Wolfe]

Could you then draw a conclusion like: "How Quickly Black People Forget"

??

Joey's title is not his conclusion, nor could that one be. They are titles that best represent the content of the article in question -- and I gotta say, I would prefer that to some of the creative but annoyingly undescriptive titles I've seen in this forum. Given an article like the one you've described, that would be a fair title, but chances are also high that it would be considered nonsense and wouldn't be posted here.

You can make the argument that everyone is forgetful, but this article was very specifically narrowed to americans and the american perception of oil prices, and to be perfectly honest with you, I know americans are the only ones flocking to SUVs with the drop in prices because we're the only ones who live in a society and economy where it's widely considered acceptable to drive a gigantic SUV daily. So while it's (mildly) unfair to pin this human flaw on americans, it would be equally (mildly) unfair to point to this as a broad example of human error.

To mutilate a famous phrase, "who cares if you do, who cares if you don't."

 

[Danoff]

Joey's title is not his conclusion, nor could that one be. They are titles that best represent the content of the article in question

Then it fails.

I'd be fine if the title was something like "How Quickly Americans Have Forgotten". But the current title is bigotry.

 

[Moglet]

Does it really matter?! If anything, it DOES apply more to Americans since the article talks of US sales of vehicles that are more commonly purchased there than most places. The headline doesn't tell the full story, the article does.

 

[Danoff]

Does it really matter?! If anything, it DOES apply more to Americans since the article talks of US sales of vehicles that are more commonly purchased there than most places. The headline doesn't tell the full story, the article does.

The title of the thread is bigotry. It doesn't take much of a modification to make the title kosher.

Yes, it does matter.

 

[forza2.0]

In europe even though fuel prices have fallen, SUV's etc are still seeing declining sales

Anyway its stupid to criticize joey for posting a article. Its unproductive for the topic at hand.

 

[Danoff]

In europe even though fuel prices have fallen, SUV's etc are still seeing declining sales

Beside the (my) point. (though, it is on-topic)

Anyway its stupid to criticize joey for posting a article.

I'm not criticizing him for posting the article. I'm criticizing him for posting a bigoted thread title.

 

[buickgnx88]

Could you please just drop it danoff, nobody else here cares about the title and this is going to just turn into a big arguement, like many other threads on this site.

 

[homeforsummer]

In europe even though fuel prices have fallen, SUV's etc are still seeing declining sales

I guess it's because petrol and diesel are still a good 30p per litre more expensive than they were five years ago so the cost of filling up a Range Rover say, is still huge.

Anyway its stupid to criticize joey for posting a article. Its unproductive for the topic at hand.

Agreed. Not to mention boring.

 

[Tornado]

I totally called it.

 

[forza2.0]

this is going to just turn into a big arguement, like many other threads on this site.

especially in the auto news section

 

[Gil]

This gets me, some Americans seem to not to realise that fuel prices will go back up to where they were once the market rebounds a bit. Thoughts?

I would have to agree that MY SUV does a lot of sitting lately though I have recently seen diesel as low as $2.90/gal. While I was on Vacation anythng under $3.75 was good, but was as low as $3.40 in some places.

Danoff, I love you man, but instead of getting after Joey, perhaps you should get after Autoblog...

Joe just posted the blog and copied the title.
If it was Piper, Kansas perhaps you could raise hell about him plagarizing as he didn't reference Autoblog till you open the thread.

You and I know that half of posting a new thread is giving it a teaser title to get people to open it. They they read it, think on it, and discuss it.

As it got your attention, and you have obviously given it some thought and plenty of discussion, the title got YOU to open the thread. Even it was for the "wrong" reason, you opened the thread and gave us your thoughts.

Title did what it was supposed to do. Autoblog thru Joey is a "marketing Genius".
SIUDO

 

[Danoff]

Joey is responsible for the title he gave this thread, not autoblog or any other website. I believe his title violates the AUP. I have not reported the post because I don't think it's a huge deal, but the title could use a revision so as not to be misinterpreted. I made a suggestion as to what the title could be in post number 12.

 

[Roo]

Then why not use the report button and let the mods decide, instead of dragging the thread off topic for a page?

 

[Danoff]

Then why not use the report button and let the mods decide, instead of dragging the thread off topic for a page?

In part, because the report button doesn't help me get the point across to more people than just Joey.

 

[Joey D]

If you feel it's in violation of the AUP then I suggest you use the report button, that's what it's there for and I would use it in a similar situation.

Now can we quit arguing about the flippin' thread title and actually talk about something relevant to the topic at hand? I thank those who see this arguing as pointless and attempted to get this thread back on course 👍.

This solely has to do with Americans because for the most part we are the ones running back out to buy fuel inefficient vehicles. Yes there are Europeans who buy SUV's but being over there for six weeks I would say they have not embraced them as much as Americans have. Maybe someone who lives in Europe and has visited the US can comment the other way around.

It's not just SUV's though, Americans are still buying ineffiecent vehicles. The new Camaro has sold 84% of it's 6,000 units so far with V8 engines in them. Yes I understand the Camaro gets OK mileage but in a world when fuel prices could easily jump back to $4.50 -$5.00 a gallon it doesn't make logical sense.

6,000 Camaros ordered so far, 84% with V8
Chevrolet has reportedly taken more than 6,000 orders for its new Camaro so far, and why not? The car is great looking, excitement is high, and fuel prices have eased up a bit. You'd think that the prior spike in the cost of fuel would still be fresh on everyone's mind, thus making the V6 a popular choice. Wrongo. While the V6 has similar lip-smackingly great styling, and won't be a slowpoke, it seems that everyone wants that small block rhythm thumping away under the hood of their neo-ponycar. 84% of orders have been for V8-powered SS models so far, which may mean a longer wait for delivery since GM is likely building a very different ratio of V8 to V6 models.

Even Autoblog makes similar comments.

I just don't understand the buying market, are we that short sighted that we can't see a fuel price up trend? There are plenty of fun to drive car that get decent mileage. There are performance models of both the Cobalt and Caliber, and after driving my friend's SS Turbo I can vouch that it's quick and gets good mileage as long as you don't lay on the go pedal and shift at lower RPM's.

I'm not going to tell people to buy, it's not my money, but I do think they are foolish for buying what they are buying just because of a temporary down turn in fuel prices. I just don't want to hear these people complain when prices go back up.

 

[ROAD_DOGG33J]

It's not just SUV's though, Americans are still buying ineffiecent vehicles. The new Camaro has sold 84% of it's 6,000 units so far with V8 engines in them. Yes I understand the Camaro gets OK mileage but in a world when fuel prices could easily jump back to $4.50 -$5.00 a gallon it doesn't make logical sense.

Maybe they can afford the car? Should millionaires stop buying Lamborghinis? Plus 6000 units isn't that many.

 

[YSSMAN]

Its not outright surprising, but take note of how small the numbers are in general. We're looking at less than 3% raises in sales, and while gas prices may in fact be a small part of this, I think we could make an argument that the "fire sale" policies on them ($6000 cash back on Jeep Commanders here in GR) are playing a large part as well.

Americans are a forgetful people, but that is more or less because we live for the present and the future, not the past. Doesn't mean we always make the right choices, but for the most part, its worked pretty well so far.

RE: Camaro Sales

I wouldn't get so worked up about that. The same thing happened way back when the then new Mustang rolled out in 2005, the overwhelming majority of what was ordered being V8 GT models. GM has packed enough fuel-saving tech into the car (between the six-speed transmissions, tall overdrives, and cylinder shut-off technology) to make it otherwise "reasonable" by comparison to its competition. By this time next year, I'm sure that they'll be selling the V6 to the V8 presumably 7:3.

 

[buickgnx88]

The question is though, how many of those people who are buying the V8 Camaro's are actually using them as daily drivers? If I were to buy a new Camaro, it would be more of a play car while having a cheap DD for otherwise.

 

[Joey D]

Maybe they can afford the car? Should millionaires stop buying Lamborghinis? Plus 6000 units isn't that many.

You don't need to be a millionaire to buy a Camaro, I could afford one right now if I so desired and I'm far from a millionaire. Heck I'm not even rich. But read what I wrote, I'm not going to say what people should or shouldn't buy with their money. I just question their decision to do so.

Its not outright surprising, but take note of how small the numbers are in general. We're looking at less than 3% raises in sales, and while gas prices may in fact be a small part of this, I think we could make an argument that the "fire sale" policies on them ($6000 cash back on Jeep Commanders here in GR) are playing a large part as well.

I forgot about the huge cash back you get, although you get a pretty good amount back on smaller vehicles as well I do believe.

===

I'm not really getting worked up over the V8 Camaro, it's just an example that goes along with the original thread topic. I'm not all about horsepower so I can't really understand the need for a V8 for myself, although I could see why someone would want one.

 

[Danoff]

If you feel it's in violation of the AUP then I suggest you use the report button, that's what it's there for and I would use it in a similar situation.

As you wish.