Fuel efficiency standards.

[Pskhaat]

I called Toyota customer service one time and asked jovially why don't you sell any manual transmission Land Cruisers. In an honest and genuine response, the lady replies several seconds after typing on her computer, sir our sales records show that our customers only buy automatics.

Only partially true with logic. Since 1988 no Land Cruisers in the US were ever sold with anything but automatics so I question any statistics that show all customers buy automatics because 1) it's true, but only because 2) there were no other options.

The New Yorker recently talked about this regarding SUV fuel efficiency standards:

http://www.newyorker.com/talk/financial/2007/07/23/070723ta_talk_surowiecki

Sales figures clearly (and I believe it) show that Americans prefer larger SUV vehicles and are willing to pay for it. Auto makers seem to suggest therefore American's don't want fuel efficient vehicles. Same logic problem.

Big cars sure we like. But what options have we for efficient ones? Without the options available in the `population' how can you make statistical conclusions? To me it seems quite logical that Americans want big cars with big efficiency. Why is that so hard to grasp?

All contra-theories aside, is it really that difficult with all we know today to make fuel-efficient or -alternative motors that can power a big SUV?

 

[calamaridog]

I would have bought a Land Cruiser with the 5spd and lower trim level in a second. They sell the gasoline V8 overseas with the 5spd...

With that being said, GM is researching/developing technology that they claim will improve the combustion process in gasoline engines by up to 15%.

 

[DesertRose]

I think you've hit on the reason why, Scott:

Their market research does show that what sells best for them are the automatics with the lux stuff.

They do make the 5-speed, more efficient models and sell tons of them abroad. I suspect but it's only a guess, what for now is stopping them from marketing them here are the strict airbag and other crash safety things that would mean a total (maybe, don't know for sure) redesign of the vehicle to make them legal here.

 

[Pskhaat]

I guess I question the presumption that because we like larger cars we also like powerful fuel-guzzling cars. The two are independent dimensions to me and can't be correlated from simple sales figures.

Here in PHX there was the Loop 101 that had speed cameras on it. There was a focus/control time period and the results were (not suprisingly) that people slowed down. Did they? Or did they just slow down only for the 1/16 mile where each camera was? The full statement would have been justified if they had speed values on the speed people drove between the cameras and had a good average (which IMO is much faster than it used to be overall).

Just because sales figures show the luxo-mobiles selling with horrible fuel consumption doesn't imply that consumers don't want the efficiency?

 

[DesertRose]

Just because sales figures show the luxo-mobiles selling with horrible fuel consumption doesn't imply that consumers don't want the efficiency?

If that were the case, they would not sell many Land Cruisers and the RAV4 or Highlander Hybrid would be the best sellers. But apparently the bigger vehicle does sell!

 

[fisher205]

I have been looking for a vehicle to replace my 2001 silverado. I need a vehicle that has 4 wheel drive to be driven on construction and mine sites as well as forest service trails. But it needs to be comfortable enough to make a 200 mile round trip commute 3 days a week in all weather. I originally went with the Chevy due to gas mileage. It was the best at the time of the full sizes and almost as good if not better than a lot of the midsize pickups.
I am back to buying the Silverado with the variable engine. It again comes out due to mileage. I use the EPA ratings to compare. I have been considering some of the smaller SUV's like the Patriot, but by the time you get one loaded up with "trail tested" options it is only 2 to 3 mpg better than a Tahoe.

We just bought my girlfriend a new Forrester w/ a 5 speed. We tried several different small cars (I wanted the Mini) but she wanted the AWD. 26 to 28 mpg is the best you will find with AWD.

My Dad had a Dodge Ram 50(Mitsubishi) with a small Turbo diesel that got 35 mpg. It was terribly uncomfortable to drive but w/ some decent seats it might be the answer.

I think the value of size to mileage is not there for a lot of Americans. The Tahoe's and Escalades are not that much worse than a Subaru for mileage and have better comfort. Maybe if gas gets to $5 per gallon then 2-3 mpg will become more significant to the buying public. - Brad

 

[Clutch]

Maybe if gas gets to $5 per gallon then 2-3 mpg will become more significant to the buying public. - Brad

Yep, the only way to get people to conserve.

Gas has been under $3.00 a gallon for awhile here, I haven't heard much complaining.

In 'merica size matters, look at the size of the homes, cars, diamonds, (dept)...status matters to most people. End the lust for status...