People just dont learn do they?

[evilmonkeyMSP]

Gas prices down = Higher sales of Trucks and SUVs

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.

Autoblog (http://www.autoblog.com/2008/10/28/how-quickly-we-forget-cheaper-gas-higher-pickup-and-suv-sales/)

[magnumP5]

I can understand the increase in sales in trucks but I really don't think this is a direct correlation to gas prices. Hell, just about every major auto manufacturer has had insanely good deals on mid- and full-size pickups trucks lately. IIRC, one dealership in my area was letting nearly fully-loaded Ford F150s go for like $20k with decent financing deals. If I wasn't financing like three other things right now and I didn't already have a truck I'd seriously consider getting a new one.

[evilmonkeyMSP]

that is true. considering there are plenty of people out there that dont care about gas prices but just wanted a good deal on a truck it makes sense....but I'm sure a part of it had to also come from people out there that said "he, gas is cheap no so I can go get that big SUV i wanted that I have no use for" lol you know its true because a lot of consumers out there are just plain dumb lol
I can understand the increase in sales in trucks but I really don't think this is a direct correlation to gas prices. Hell, just about every major auto manufacturer has had insanely good deals on mid- and full-size pickups trucks lately. IIRC, one dealership in my area was letting nearly fully-loaded Ford F150s go for like $20k with decent financing deals. If I wasn't financing like three other things right now and I didn't already have a truck I'd seriously consider getting a new one.

[seanmcsean]

Don't worry.. They'll default on the loans when gas goes above $4.00 again.

They'll also probably set the truck on fire and try to claim insurance.

[magnumP5]

that is true. considering there are plenty of people out there that dont care about gas prices but just wanted a good deal on a truck it makes sense....but I'm sure a part of it had to also come from people out there that said "he, gas is cheap no so I can go get that big SUV i wanted that I have no use for" lol you know its true because a lot of consumers out there are just plain dumb lol
I agree, there's certainly those people out there and they're in for a painful surprise in a year or so. I was just pointing out that it isn't quite as obvious as AutoBlog is putting it.

Don't worry.. They'll default on the loans when gas goes above $4.00 again.

They'll also probably set the truck on fire and try to claim insurance.
I seriously LOL'd at this :)

[ms6acton]

my dad just picked up a new ram 1500 hemi and got 24000 of the sticker price. so crazy.

[TinmanMS6]

There have been insane incentives on trucks and SUVs for months--almost since the beginning of the year. The uptick in sales corresponded with the drop in gas prices.

[1sty]

You have to figure cost per mile.
At $4 per gallon a truck that gets 12 mpg (my truck gets about 16 mixed) costs 33 cents per mile in fuel.
The average family sedan is around 26 mpg mixed driving which is about 15 cents per mile.
So at roughly 30,000 miles you have a differnce in gas cost of $5400. Some of the incentives on trucks are WAY above that. Also the used truck marked is dead so prices are down there too.
Trucks tend to be lower on insurance. When I moved from my 6 to my tundra, my insurance went down $600/year.

For guys like me, a truck ends up saving me about $1500/year in delivery and trash removal fees.

Lastly note that many people like myself, would either have a truck or a car that may run on 89 or 93 octane so again the savings are not always what they seem.

[TinmanMS6]

I don't think anyone's bashing trucks in general (well, maybe a couple people...). There is obviously a certain market for whom a truck is a necessity or the best choice.

[altspace]

^Exactly. I'm sure there are people/business that have waited to buy.

[ThreeEdgedSword]

I'd say the amount of incentives on them is probably the large part - if it was just fuel economy, there wouldn't be like 15 BMW M3's sitting on the lot at work, much less the legion of used X3/X5s.