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Are We That Dumb? As Gas Prices Drop, So Do 4 Cylinder Sales

Agent009 submitted on 9/15/2008 Official Bell & Ross Timestamp: 2:55:52 PM

30 user comments | Category: Misc News | Source: | SOURCE: www.autoremarketing.com

According to the Power Information Network, it appears that the new-vehicle market's dramatic shift to smaller vehicles that began this spring may be settling down.



PIN officials suggested that consumer market trends are turning back to the way they were before May. For instance, sales of four-cylinder units have dwindled, while customer loyalty among large pickup owners has simultaneously increased.  

More specifically, the market share of vehicles with four-cylinder engines reached 51.2 percent in May, but it has fallen by more than 8 points since then. In August, four-cylinder models represented just 42.8 percent of retail sales.




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Are We That Dumb? As Gas Prices Drop, So Do 4 Cylinder Sales

About the Author

Agent009

"If everything seems under control, you're just not going fast enough."

— Agent009 (View Profile)


User Comments

njsidekick3

...all these "buyers" must work for lehman brothers...

— njsidekick3 (View Profile)

Posted on 9/15/2008 2:59:00 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

350zdon17

No...the simple answer to that is Dealerships are giving away all the pick-up's and SUV's while they are trying to hit you over the head with the 4 cylinders charging full pop or small discount...consumers still want the best deal out there

— 350zdon17 (View Profile)

Posted on 9/15/2008 3:41:18 PM | | Votes: 12   

finishline

Yes, we're that dumb.

I mean, look around.

— finishline (View Profile)

Posted on 9/15/2008 3:18:05 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 12   

Cornholio852

yeah we are, but then agian if you can get a truck at 2/3 of its price, the better ride and versitilty almost make up for the shit fuel economy...

almost

— Cornholio852 (View Profile)

Posted on 9/15/2008 4:46:48 PM | | Votes: 8   

WorldofLuxury

nah...I just love my SUV and think that it's more cost effective to keep it than sell it for a new, more efficient car.

Reason:
- My Lexus LX is an '03 model, so it won't sell for much
- (and it's a pain in the neck to negotiate)
- (and I love its Mark Levinson system, height, etc.)
I think this is what you guys call "character" and "soul"
- I have my LS for my daily school drop offs, which isn't a very fun, but the car is a lot lighter than the LX and thus, not slouchy off the line.
- (and the LS is a '98 model, so the traction control isn't as sophisticated as the newer models...resulting in a couple seconds of wheel spins off the line) x]

— WorldofLuxury (View Profile)

Posted on 9/15/2008 9:40:54 PM | | Votes: 1   

txripper

people should buy what they like, constrained by what they can afford and keeping in mind their needs. many people need a wagon, crossover, truck, big suv, etc...

— txripper (View Profile)

Posted on 9/15/2008 3:19:32 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3   

theoptimisticpessimist

Yes.

— theoptimisticpessimist (View Profile)

Posted on 9/15/2008 3:27:45 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 5   

TauronB2G

Amen brother!!!
You know what I noticed nobody admits voting for Dubya yet he is still in office.
T

— TauronB2G (View Profile)

Posted on 9/16/2008 12:49:42 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

bigmotov

As much as we eat, as much as we waste, and as arrogant as we are.....yes, we are dumb.

— bigmotov (View Profile)

Posted on 9/15/2008 4:07:40 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 13   

AgentOrange

A box of rocks has a higher IQ..

— AgentOrange (View Profile)

Posted on 9/15/2008 4:10:29 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 6   

E36er

Apparently we are! I agree with bimmerfan25, if we're dumb enough as a country to elect W in twice then we're definitely dumb enough to go back gas sucking pigs.

It's the 70's all over again.

— E36er (View Profile)

Posted on 9/15/2008 4:39:29 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3   

Cornholio852

W lost the popular vote both times dipshit, it was the electoral collage that voted him in both times

and were the 70's really that bad anyway?

— Cornholio852 (View Profile)

Posted on 9/15/2008 4:48:16 PM | | Votes: -3   

theoptimisticpessimist

Cornholio852-

Bush won the popular vote against Kerry. Obvious you didn't live through the seventies; drab powerless cars, a dismal economy leading to hyper double digit and inflation, and disco.

— theoptimisticpessimist (View Profile)

Posted on 9/15/2008 5:07:38 PM | | Votes: 2   

Cornholio852

Just focused on the negitives are you?

— Cornholio852 (View Profile)

Posted on 9/16/2008 7:23:19 AM | | Votes: 0   

gooch

Nothing wrong with disco...

— gooch (View Profile)

Posted on 9/16/2008 2:58:54 PM | | Votes: 1   

djaoki

With regards to used cars:

Dealer's charging full pop for 4 cylinder cars is relative to their value on the market. Wholesale price of these cars skyrocketed, therefore the average cost of inventory for small cars rose. That means that the profit margin disappeared unless they are sold close to sticker.

With new:

The basic rules of supply-and-demand dictate the how much cars sell for. This will keep fluctuating as we enter the era of a truly "KNEE-JERK" market. I hate to say it, but buyer behavior has become completely retarded.

— djaoki (View Profile)

Posted on 9/15/2008 5:09:55 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 5   

rocker

There is now incentive to change except to make the world a better place. How many people are willing to do that without any financial gain? There is little or no gain from going solar or wind, lack of high dollar tax credits and the high cost of equipment make it as costly as power coming from your local electric company. And if it isn't dollars holding us back, it's the environmentalists. Nothing will change until someone puts their foot down or we completely run out of fossil fuels. My money is on running out of fossil fuels.Not happens until push comes to shove.

— rocker (View Profile)

Posted on 9/15/2008 5:31:11 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

Porschinator

People cant see past their own noses....

BUT studies have shown that people prefer larger vehicles thus US domestic has been trying to fill that need and do not realize that gas prices will overlook that want.

Who truly prefers driving those small econo-cars?!? We are forced to drive them because of greedy oil companies.

The best thing to come from high gas $$$ is technology. Their have been articles that on this topic. I hope that even if gas prices goes down that car companies continue the effort to develope next gen gas savers. Not easy considering auto industry down and have to tighten research funds.

— Porschinator (View Profile)

Posted on 9/15/2008 7:43:16 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

Porschinator

Forgot to mention that currently there are more incentives or get more for your money on those larger vehicles and engines.

— Porschinator (View Profile)

Posted on 9/15/2008 7:45:29 PM | | Votes: 3   

Barrie

Some small economy cars are great to drive, but not the Japanese cars which are bland and boring then given sporty names, like Toyota Sprinter or Suzuki Swift, both are pathetic compared to other small cars like the new Mini or other smal European cars

— Barrie (View Profile)

Posted on 9/15/2008 8:12:26 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

woood

Add taxes to larger engines. Period.

— woood (View Profile)

Posted on 9/15/2008 10:11:07 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

dodgedart

statistically, yes, they are dumb, if the recent price reductions really do correlate with decreased 4-cylinder sales. but here in america they are free to be that way. free-dumb isn't free. stupidity is the greatest renewble natural resource.

— dodgedart (View Profile)

Posted on 9/15/2008 10:35:28 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 7   

Bored

@ dodgedart,

"stupidity is the greatest renewable natural resource"

LMAO
I couldn't have agreed more!

— Bored (View Profile)

Posted on 9/16/2008 12:44:22 AM | | Votes: 3   

dodgedart

AROD550I - Any blind retrad who rear ends a slow 4cyl with their super powerful V6 moving at 90MPH might be better off owning a slower car, heck the world would be better off if they don't have a big engine. Maybe they should get their vision checked too.

— dodgedart (View Profile)

Posted on 9/25/2008 9:40:20 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

huu76

bimmerfan,
Funny that your country will fall and rise on what America decides. You might as well have ENVY stamped on your forehead.
What's funny is that you morons chose a leader (twice) simply because he promised to do exactly the opposite of what America does, no questions asked.
Face it, America has and always will releguate Europe to tier II status. Look at the current market crisis, Germany's in for a whole lot of pain if US consumers stop leasing.

Barrie,
The SMART must be the sportiest car out there by your standards. Its European after all.

People who use trucks for work are finally trading them in since prices are so low.
The recent gas spike will remind people that 4-cylinders are the safe bet.
Its even harder to negotiate on smaller cars now since they're so popular.

— huu76 (View Profile)

Posted on 9/16/2008 11:18:01 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

huu76

cornhole,
Dubya was the first person to win over 50% of the popular vote in a long time. Even Europe's favourite son Bubba Clinton couldn't do it, saxophone and all.
Jesus Obama can't even do it in a year where Democrats should win simply by showing up. That's the Hollywood/European kiss of death for ya.

— huu76 (View Profile)

Posted on 9/16/2008 11:22:02 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

huu76

To the uneducated European moron, you'd think 4-cylinder sales are dropping but they're just returning to more normal levels (esp now that the economy looks like its slowing down again). Truck sales are up because they're so damn cheap now (you can get a decent pickup for the same price as some cheap German poser car).

Toyota and Honda don't seem to think small car sales have dropped.

— huu76 (View Profile)

Posted on 9/16/2008 11:25:08 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

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