Small cars in demand as gas prices soar | The Columbus Dispatch

In a matter of months, the Ford Fiesta has gone from a sales disappointment to one of the most-popular cars on the lot.

[Spiffy]

Didn't learn in 2008 so now you get to learn the lesson all over again.

[Lfod]

obozo's deficit has made the dollar worthless. hence high gas prices. Hopey dopey SUCKAS!

[Big Ben]

Sorry, I am not about to try and scrunch down into a frigging Fiesta. I'm 6'6" that just doesn't work. Hey maybe there's somebody I can sue or something to force car makers to make bigger vehicles for us "horizontally challenged" people!

[Collins44]

Tiny cars are unsafe on freeways or in icy conditions and certain death in an accident. The problem is that our federal government is spending 3.7 trillion this fiscal year of which 43% is borrowed money, thus devaluing our currency and resulting in higher and higher gas prices.

Bush 1 spent 1.8 trillion
Clinton spent 1.7 trillion
Bush 2 spent 2.2 trillion
and now Obama is spending 3.7 trillon.

The solution is not insanely small cars but to roll back spending and : Drill baby drill!

[just asking]

Collins44 wrote:

Tiny cars are unsafe on freeways or in icy conditions and certain death in an accident. The problem is that our federal government is spending 3.7 trillion this fiscal year of which 43% is borrowed money, thus devaluing our currency and resulting in higher and higher gas prices.
Bush 1 spent 1.8 trillion
Clinton spent 1.7 trillion
Bush 2 spent 2.2 trillion
and now Obama is spending 3.7 trillon.
The solution is not insanely small cars but to roll back spending and : Drill baby drill!

So 800bhp Mustangs are not part of the problem?

[These People Aint Right]

I'd prefer to be on my two wheeler rather than sit in a fiesta or a smart car.

[What Wait]

Big Ben wrote:

Sorry, I am not about to try and scrunch down into a frigging Fiesta. I'm 6'6" that just doesn't work.

I think about small cars alot in regards to Europe, because as you know, Europeans are quite tall (The Netherlands has the tallest people in the world--average height 6'1".)

For the Netherlands, a Fiesta is an average car.

Since I'm not tall (or been to Europe for that matter) I can't speak for how well it works. I just know that there are a lot of people your height driving around Holland, Denmark, and Scandinavia in Fiesta sized cars and smaller.

[ramseyjames]

Subcompact cars experienced the biggest price increase > WHY? Because the auto manufacturers have realized that due to the gas prices they can rip-off the consumer more. I guess it is as always: PROFITS WILL RISE WITH DEMAND! And, the auto makers are going to take advantage of the consumers, like they have been doing for many years!

[Money Hog]

Almost no one knows that the Jetta comes in a 42 mpg diesel version. That will be my next car.

[liner]

Money Hog wrote:

Almost no one knows that the Jetta comes in a 42 mpg diesel version. That will be my next car.

Check the reliability issues (fuel pump) before you sign on the dotted line. Also, coming to work this morning, I saw $4.79/gal for diesel at a Mobil station.

[Clarence]

Let's not everyone get TOO excited about these high gas mileage cars, now, for I hear there is a movement afoot that will cancel out the fuel savings and resulting revenue loss by imposting a mileage tax on every driver ON TOP of whatever gas taxes, etc., we pay now. If our colonists of 1700's were alive, they'd be dumping barrels of oil into Boston Harbor. What we need is people WILLING TO STAND UP AGAINST THE GREEDY INVESTMENT PROTOCOL!! These corporations and individuals are laughing all the way to the bank (and that bank is investing in the oil, too, and laughing right along).

[Interesting]

What Wait wrote:

<quoted text>
I think about small cars alot in regards to Europe, because as you know, Europeans are quite tall (The Netherlands has the tallest people in the world--average height 6'1".)
For the Netherlands, a Fiesta is an average car.
Since I'm not tall (or been to Europe for that matter) I can't speak for how well it works. I just know that there are a lot of people your height driving around Holland, Denmark, and Scandinavia in Fiesta sized cars and smaller.

Agreed. An attorney I work with is 6'5" and drives a Honda Fit with no problem. And at 70, his joints are getting a bit creaky...still no complaints from him!

[Interesting]

ramseyjames wrote:

Subcompact cars experienced the biggest price increase > WHY? Because the auto manufacturers have realized that due to the gas prices they can rip-off the consumer more. I guess it is as always: PROFITS WILL RISE WITH DEMAND! And, the auto makers are going to take advantage of the consumers, like they have been doing for many years!

And your point is what, exactly? Simple economics. If you look at supply/demand that way, then every business takes advantage of consumers - even farmers!

[Clarence]

Money Hog wrote:

Almost no one knows that the Jetta comes in a 42 mpg diesel version. That will be my next car.

Yeh, but have you checked the price of diesel fuel vs. regular gas? Anywhere from 20 cents higher and more, so where will you save here??

[uaw jon]

these cars are made in mexico by cheap union mexico labor

[Libertarian]

uaw jon wrote:

these cars are made in mexico by cheap union mexico labor

You'd rather it be made in Mexico by expensive union labor?

[17teen]

didnt any one learn from this last time?

[yawn whatever]

17teen wrote:

didnt any one learn from this last time?

Some of us have known all along. I have never owned anything but a 4-cylinder car. I bought what I needed, basic transportation, then and now and banked the money I didn't spend on Flash and gasoline.

[Carpe Diem]

Spiffy wrote:

Didn't learn in 2008 so now you get to learn the lesson all over again.

After 2008 gasoline spike and Detroit bailout I could not believe Detroit was still insanely marketing those ridiculous oversized gas guzzling pickups. I have lived since 1956 and these fuel and energy issues crop up fairly regularly. People cut back for a while but then when gas prices go down, folks are right back in oversized vehicles.

[Carpe Diem]

These People Aint Right wrote:

I'd prefer to be on my two wheeler rather than sit in a fiesta or a smart car.

I'm with you on that!