Could Katrina kill the SUV?

sandeepmdas · 12th September 2005, 09:50

Even before Hurricane Katrina tore through the southern United States, hampering a big chunk of the US oil industry, consumers were having second thoughts about gas-guzzling sport utility vehicles.

Katrina could now hasten the demise of the SUV, at least in its current guise, after years in which it has ruled the roost over the world's biggest auto market, analysts believe.

With gasoline prices surpassing three dollars a gallon (3.78 liters), it now costs 100 dollars to fill up the tanks of large SUVs such as the Chevrolet Suburban...

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20050911...o_050911220407

Steeroid · 12th September 2005, 15:11

An old unc of mine called me a Gas Guzzler when I drove up to his place in the Safari. Took the pains to explain that it runs of diesel (poor eyesight - he thought I was driving one of those imported Petrol SUVs), but it was evident that here was a man that was seriously pissed off at SUVs...I suppose there are more like him.

I prefer cars anyday, but IMHO an SUV makes the roads seem much better in India. The Safari does, anyway...

Aki_Ross · 12th September 2005, 16:00

There is a website devoted just to hate Hummer H2 the big "gas guzzler" ...check out this link.....http://www.fuh2.com....there is an entire gallery too....of snaps showing finger to it...!!

RJK · 12th September 2005, 19:34

Oh yeah...I'd think so. People are complaining big time about the gas prices here...now they'd get a hang of what we pay for fuel in India !

amit · 13th September 2005, 07:37

I hope high oil prices puts some brains into the heads of North Amercians. These people are so obsessed with petrol that's it amazing! SUv's, mini vans, cargo van's every damn thing has a petrol engine! Canadians seem to have a little bit of brains more than Americans though. Last saw Gas prices here in Toronto were hovering around $1.29 up from $0.75-0.85 when I came here in March! And yea, last time I heard, VolksWagen was busy selling Diesel Jetta's at MSRP!

sandeepmdas · 5th October 2005, 11:20

Sport-utility sales nosedive in September in the face of $3-a-gallon-gas, with giants like the Ford Expedition, Chevy Suburban and Toyota Sequoia falling hardest...

http://moneycentral.msn.com/content/...ra/P131570.asp

vivekiny2k · 5th October 2005, 11:24

I remember an article in "the hindu" sometime back indicating increased sales of scooters in america, and people preferring small cars and buses to own cars.

Steeroid · 5th October 2005, 12:14

Some people NEVER learn - you'd think a nation had learnt a lesson from the 1970s fuel crisis when the Japs came in with their fuel efficient small cars. 30 years down the line the usual suspects are STILL building EVEN BIGGER gas-guzzlers, only they're called SUVs now.

People and companies that dont learn from past mistakes deserve to die.

typeOnegative · 5th October 2005, 12:18

Ahhh ... SUVs are one of my pet hates, especially when I see people doing their shopping in them or arriving from a 5 minute drive to a party in a monster SUV that will show that they have 'arrived'. If one wants to drive the country side over rough terrain then fine, but this SUV flaunting business in city has to stop, Katrina or no Katrina, India or US.

P.S. We are talking about the hurricane right. Katrina Kaif is yummy, btw.

GTO · 5th October 2005, 12:43

Well, just read in the Times that SUV sales were down 43% this year in a recent month. Bad news for GM/Ford who depend on higher end SUVs for their bottom line.

GTO

ArmourOfGod · 8th October 2005, 22:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steeroid

Some people NEVER learn - you'd think a nation had learnt a lesson from the 1970s fuel crisis when the Japs came in with their fuel efficient small cars. 30 years down the line the usual suspects are STILL building EVEN BIGGER gas-guzzlers, only they're called SUVs now.

People and companies that dont learn from past mistakes deserve to die.

I completely agree with you.

I hav seen one thing that American are succers for Gm, even the people at Gm don't even change the chasis and for that matter even the engine for a different car, each car they build has got the same engine the same chasis.

All American cars suck big time, all they have is a big engine which just makes a lot of noise but does nothing!

P.s: By this I do not intend to hurt any ones feelings.

Deeps · 8th October 2005, 23:30

Many Americans now complain about higher fuel prices but they don't curb their usage and instaed keep buying more 'gas' (hate that word) on borrowed money. Its amazing how many Americans think that the Arabs are out to loot them through these higher prices.

hawkeye · 8th October 2005, 23:30

The gas thing is slowly getting onto the minds of the Americans. People have started car pooling. The bikes sales have shown a rise. And Toyota and Ford have already announced pushing the hybrids. I had read an article where Ford said the Japs are hogging supplies for specialized components for hybrids looking at the rise in demand.

The feds have asked their employees to travel as less as possible.

Heck! People are thinking about it so much so that some have already cut down on their X-mas shopping and vacation budgets.

And I believe this is just the beginning.

Steeroid · 8th October 2005, 23:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deeps

Its amazing how many Americans think that the Arabs are out to loot them through these higher prices.

Its equally amazing how many Arabs think the Americans are out to control THEIR oil with their wars built on friggin lies.

What goes around, comes around...

lamborghini · 9th October 2005, 09:49

Just a point,
an SUV really makes sense in India specially if it is diesel because of the road conditions.
An SUV in the US is more of a status symbol. They rarely go offroading there and they only buy 4.0 + lt Vx powered Petrol engines because petrol was cheap there and now, they have finally learnt not to waste their resources.

12th September 2005, 09:50	#1
sandeepmdas Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Varkala Posts: 1,539 Thanked: 2,492 Times	Could Katrina kill the SUV? Even before Hurricane Katrina tore through the southern United States, hampering a big chunk of the US oil industry, consumers were having second thoughts about gas-guzzling sport utility vehicles. Katrina could now hasten the demise of the SUV, at least in its current guise, after years in which it has ruled the roost over the world's biggest auto market, analysts believe. With gasoline prices surpassing three dollars a gallon (3.78 liters), it now costs 100 dollars to fill up the tanks of large SUVs such as the Chevrolet Suburban... http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20050911...o_050911220407
	() Thanks

12th September 2005, 15:11	#2
Steeroid Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: N.A Posts: 7,046 Thanked: 2,751 Times	An old unc of mine called me a Gas Guzzler when I drove up to his place in the Safari. Took the pains to explain that it runs of diesel (poor eyesight - he thought I was driving one of those imported Petrol SUVs), but it was evident that here was a man that was seriously pissed off at SUVs...I suppose there are more like him. I prefer cars anyday, but IMHO an SUV makes the roads seem much better in India. The Safari does, anyway...
	() Thanks

12th September 2005, 16:00	#3
Aki_Ross BHPian Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: RANCHI Posts: 27 Thanked: 0 Times	There is a website devoted just to hate Hummer H2 the big "gas guzzler" ...check out this link.....http://www.fuh2.com....there is an entire gallery too....of snaps showing finger to it...!! Last edited by Aki_Ross : 12th September 2005 at 16:01.
	() Thanks

12th September 2005, 19:34	#4
RJK Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Bombay Posts: 1,140 Thanked: 701 Times	Oh yeah...I'd think so. People are complaining big time about the gas prices here...now they'd get a hang of what we pay for fuel in India !
	() Thanks

13th September 2005, 07:37	#5
amit Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Mumbai Posts: 3,717 Thanked: 449 Times	I hope high oil prices puts some brains into the heads of North Amercians. These people are so obsessed with petrol that's it amazing! SUv's, mini vans, cargo van's every damn thing has a petrol engine! Canadians seem to have a little bit of brains more than Americans though. Last saw Gas prices here in Toronto were hovering around $1.29 up from $0.75-0.85 when I came here in March! And yea, last time I heard, VolksWagen was busy selling Diesel Jetta's at MSRP!
	() Thanks

5th October 2005, 11:20	#6
sandeepmdas Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Varkala Posts: 1,539 Thanked: 2,492 Times	SUV sales nosedive in the US Sport-utility sales nosedive in September in the face of $3-a-gallon-gas, with giants like the Ford Expedition, Chevy Suburban and Toyota Sequoia falling hardest... http://moneycentral.msn.com/content/...ra/P131570.asp
	() Thanks

5th October 2005, 11:24	#7
vivekiny2k Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: cincinnati, jabalpur,chennai Posts: 1,264 Thanked: 209 Times View My Garage	I remember an article in "the hindu" sometime back indicating increased sales of scooters in america, and people preferring small cars and buses to own cars.
	() Thanks

5th October 2005, 12:14	#8
Steeroid Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: N.A Posts: 7,046 Thanked: 2,751 Times	Some people NEVER learn - you'd think a nation had learnt a lesson from the 1970s fuel crisis when the Japs came in with their fuel efficient small cars. 30 years down the line the usual suspects are STILL building EVEN BIGGER gas-guzzlers, only they're called SUVs now. People and companies that dont learn from past mistakes deserve to die.
	() Thanks

5th October 2005, 12:18	#9
typeOnegative Senior - BHPian Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Vikhroli, Mumbai, India Posts: 1,503 Thanked: 27 Times	Ahhh ... SUVs are one of my pet hates, especially when I see people doing their shopping in them or arriving from a 5 minute drive to a party in a monster SUV that will show that they have 'arrived'. If one wants to drive the country side over rough terrain then fine, but this SUV flaunting business in city has to stop, Katrina or no Katrina, India or US. P.S. We are talking about the hurricane right. Katrina Kaif is yummy, btw.
	() Thanks

5th October 2005, 12:43	#10
GTO Team-BHP Support Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Bombay Posts: 70,546 Thanked: 300,788 Times View My Garage	Well, just read in the Times that SUV sales were down 43% this year in a recent month. Bad news for GM/Ford who depend on higher end SUVs for their bottom line. GTO
	() Thanks

8th October 2005, 23:30	#12
Deeps Senior - BHPian Join Date: May 2004 Location: Delhi/Noida Posts: 1,116 Thanked: 170 Times	Many Americans now complain about higher fuel prices but they don't curb their usage and instaed keep buying more 'gas' (hate that word) on borrowed money. Its amazing how many Americans think that the Arabs are out to loot them through these higher prices.
	() Thanks

8th October 2005, 23:30	#13
hawkeye BHPian Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Mumbai Posts: 190 Thanked: 12 Times View My Garage	The gas thing is slowly getting onto the minds of the Americans. People have started car pooling. The bikes sales have shown a rise. And Toyota and Ford have already announced pushing the hybrids. I had read an article where Ford said the Japs are hogging supplies for specialized components for hybrids looking at the rise in demand. The feds have asked their employees to travel as less as possible. Heck! People are thinking about it so much so that some have already cut down on their X-mas shopping and vacation budgets. And I believe this is just the beginning.
	() Thanks

9th October 2005, 09:49	#15
lamborghini Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Mumbai Posts: 6,114 Thanked: 5,763 Times View My Garage	Just a point, an SUV really makes sense in India specially if it is diesel because of the road conditions. An SUV in the US is more of a status symbol. They rarely go offroading there and they only buy 4.0 + lt Vx powered Petrol engines because petrol was cheap there and now, they have finally learnt not to waste their resources.
	() Thanks