What do you think about the car industry these days? Gas mileage? How involved is the government in the decision about cars and gas? Standard mpg? Oil companies? Etc?
MYA
GAS MILEAGE!!!!
The words that have been haunting Americans for quite some time now. The government is gradually handling this along with tackling gas prices. When will gas get to where middle class citizens don't have to stress about when it's going to get better? Sure, there are ways to conserve gas, and there are cars to do it, but it's ridiculous how the prices of these "money savers" cost! According to fuel economy(www.fuelecomnomy.gov), the most fuel efficient car is the Toyota Prius, which gets 48mpg city and 45mpg highway. We're talking about a car that only seats at least four people with comfort.
When it comes to a full size family vehicle the most fuel efficient would be the Mazda 5 according to autobytel.com:
http://www.autobytel.com/content/research/top10/index.cfm/action/Mileage/vehicleclass/vans/listtype/3
...with 28mpg highway. What it all boils down to is that the government has a lot of work ahead of themselves.
RYAN
The oil companies sell gas to a corporation called OPEC, which, in turn, sells it to gas companies such as Sunoco, Shell and many others for very large profits. This means that in order for the gas stations to make any money they have to sell it for a higher price than what they pay for. Therefore, we Americans end paying more than three times what it is worth. OPEC is making at least a 125% profit off oil, and we end up paying the price. So my question is should we force OPEC to a ceiling of a certain percentage so we can afford gas?
Here are three hyperlinks that you may watch that will explain the process much better than I can: the first one is the one actually explains what I'm trying to get at; however, the other two there just for fun.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DtiP5TW9YVI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UOpcPfAarjY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NYdBGdQJrI
JASON
What is the deal with the new mpg? The new standards are going to 35 from 27 mpg, and the automotive industry is freaking. This makes no sense to me when most new cars are around 30 mpg.
I drive a 1986 four cylinder and get 30 mpg already. So what actually do they need to change that makes the automobile approximately $10,000 more?
Here are a couple of sites to look at: Energy Plan Pushes Automakers on MPG --
GOPUSA
http://www.gopusa.com/news/2007/december/1203_energy_plan1.shtml
Fuel Economy Standards Op-Ed - 35 MPG CAFE Law Is a Bad Idea - Popular ...
http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0geu4uw8LZIXvAAlDdXNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTEyNXVvZDBvBHNlYwNzcgRwb3MDNQRjb2xvA2FjMgR2dGlkA00wMDJfODY-/SIG=12kdos4f6/EXP=1220035120/**http%3a//www.popularmechanics.com/automotive/new_cars/4235773.html
New CAFE Standards Imminent, Insiders Say
http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0geu4uw8LZIXvAAnjdXNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTEzMm1uYmZ2BHNlYwNzcgRwb3MDMTAEY29sbwNhYzIEdnRpZANNMDAyXzg2/SIG=124qsvt2s/EXP=1220035120/**http%3a//wardsauto.com/ar/cafe_standards_imminent/
MEGAN
Over the past few years, the hybrid has gotten a lot of attention. Hybrids get better gas mileage; they reduce America's dependence on foreign oil, and they reduce global warming pollution. However, I don't think hybrids have gotten as much hype as they should have, and I believe the government's involvement with the distribution of hybrids has a lot to do with it. Compared to other countries, we are behind the power curb with the energy crisis.
I cannot prove that the government controls every aspect of the car industry, but think about it -- Who decides how many hybrids are distributed? Why are they sometimes hard to find? Why haven't they gotten as much "hype" as they should? I do believe the government has had a lot of influence on the hybrid.
http://www.hybridcars.com/
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The car industry as of late has been feeling the effects of the change in gas prices. For instance, companies such as Ford and General Motors didn't profit in the year 2007. The production of all these "gas guzzling" sports utility vehicles has taken its toll on these organizations, because nobody wants to buy them! I have a hard enough time as it is paying for gas for a 4 cylinder vehicle. Hopefully we can find an alternative fuel soon that is less expensive and that can be produced in mass quantities.
Funny how the gas guzzlers are still the most popular, Brad. I can't figure it out. Cheap to manufacture as most of them are Fords, Chevys, etc, I suppose. I'm just as baffled on the issue as Megan -- more energy-efficient means of transportation are the way to go and are becoming essential in our tough economic times. However, it all boils down to someone having to make a giant profit no matter the method.
What kind of car does everyone drive? I've got a Yaris that gets pretty good mileage. I wish it could be better though. I simply cannot afford a hybrid on my salary.
Truthfully my family owns a chevrolet suburban. Yeah i know BIG GAS GUZZLER!! But it seems that not just the owners of the gas guzzlers are getting all the feedback. Even people with small cars are complaining about the money that they have to put aside just for gas! Gas in general for everyone is just ridiculous these days, and its going to get to a point to where everyone is going to fall on hard times.
Gas Prices!!! This is a very big issue in our society today. I don't think that the government is dealing with this like they are supposed to. If they were really trying to make a difference in our gas spending, then the country would have been switched to an alternative. Yes, there are some gas efficient cars such as hybrids, although these cars are very expensive themselves and most Americans will not be able to afford these. So, there has to be a cheap efficient way to solve this problem because many people are loosing money and can't continue to deal with these escalating gas prices.
Oh, the irony. Your teacher's wonderful Yaris is now in the shop...Was in a wretched car accident this past Saturday, so if I'm more out of sorts than usual, folks, forgive your careless ins tructor.
Anyway, I'm going to be in one of those gas guzzlers, perhaps, for the next few weeks -- lovely rental cars.
I am one of those who recently bought a SUV. I had a 2002 Nissan Sentra-which seats 4 comfortably- I traded that in for a 2008 Suzuki XL7-which seats 7 comfortably. I was very apprehensive about purchasing a SUV because of the gas prices, but with a family of 6 it was becoming a necessity to purchase a bigger vehicle. Luckily my new vehicle gets fairly good gas milage. It cost me about $60 to fill up and I get almost 350 miles to a tank, which lasts me about 10 days.
I also feel that hybrids are not as easily available as one may think. When I went to buy my car I looked for the hybrid SUV, but we only found one and it cost almost $5000 more than the vehicle I got. The problem that I have is this: If the barrel cost of gas is steadily increasing then why are these oil companies making billions of dollars in profit a year?
I drive a dodge neon it costs me almost 40 dollars to fill up and last about two weeks. I would have to say the gas guzzling cars are cooler looking to me.
Gas Gas Gas, the human nightmare!
Well, i for one think that gas is a really big issue. I own a Toyota Corrolla and i am Glad!
with the way gas prices are low today then 5 minutes later it goes up 15 cents is just Wacky!
My gas last me a good week on full, although my trick of spending less money is never allowing my tank get below a half, to me it's less money in my vehicle.
Hybrids i like.
The car industry seems to be trying to put higher gas mileage on cars these days, but higher gas mileages wouldn't be necessary if gas wasn't so high. I find it weird that gas prices can change daily, it all just seems suspicious to me. I'm hoping in the near future all the gas and other problems with our nation will change.
The gas prices are having a tramendous impact on car manufactures such as General Motors. The top truck last year was a ford f-series which is not exactly the standard of fuel efficency. With this in mind as gas prices rise americans are selling there suvs and trucks to save more money for things such as groceries and more gas. So with the selling off of these vehicles, it is putting the GM plants to a hault as well as closing dealerships all across america cutting jobs and forcing people to find jobs elsewhere, but unlike more profitable years, companies are not hiring as frequently.
I hate gas prices. I drive a '95 taurus and i think i get about 18-20 miles to the gallon. I think that how high the prices are is outragous. When I get the money I'm going to sell my car and buy a moped.
I have a 2001 Cougar and it gets great gas mileage! But driving to Winter Haven everyday from Lakeland my gas goes quick! I think gas needs to go down.
The car industries today have been changing their ways to built cars. It's all about how many miles per gallon it gets. I think that the government is trying to fix it the problem but they can't. The only way that this problem will be fix is in my opinion if someone comes up with a alternative fuel such as sun light, battery power, etc... The problem is that everything is getting more expensive and it takes more money to make it and its effecting all parts of the economy. What I think we should worry about is the economy crisis first and once that is fixed then everything else will come to order, like the gas prices
The car industries today have been changing their ways to built cars. It's all about how many miles per gallon it gets. I think that the government is trying to fix it the problem but they can't. The only way that this problem will be fix is in my opinion if someone comes up with a alternative fuel such as sun light, battery power, etc... The problem is that everything is getting more expensive and it takes more money to make it and its effecting all parts of the economy. What I think we should worry about is the economy crisis first and once that is fixed then everything else will come to order, like the gas prices
I drive a 2000 Ford Explorer and I get decent gas mileage for driving a SUV. However, I have a lawn service so I have to drive all the time for my job so I am always filling up my car.
Hybrids are a great for the environment and get better mileage; however, hybrids are expendsive compared to normal vehicles.
Gas prices are killing everyone. I think here in Winter Haven its not so bad. The higher north you go the more the prices seem to rise. I use to have a Nissan Frontier and I had to put 20 dollars a day in it. Now I had to switch it for a more fuel efficient car, the Nissan Sentra. I hate the small compact car but I love the gas mileage. This economy is just killing everyone.
It's obviously better to get a hybrid but it's not convenient with big families. I don't know if the government is doing what they should with the gas prices but the economy is not good. They closed two major dealerships in Florida because no one is buying the gas guzzlers.
Gas prices are a big issue now because we live in a country was cars are everything. You can not do anything if you don't have a car. Well I drive a 1999 ford explorer and it takes me about $70 to fill it up but fortunately I only drive it to work which is only 5 minutes away from home. So it’s not that bad.
I happen to drive an 08 Ford Focus, great little car and is cheapest thing on the market(if you buy bare bones instead of hopped up like mine). I liked the Prius, only issue is that my car has more stuff on it, and is less than half the price.
the hybrid's cost must come down before we can actually think of tham as true alternatives to the high price of gas.
ps. Ford has a hybrid suv, small and not to bad on price but gets less than the gas milage of my car (30mpg)
Due to the size of my family, unfortunately I have to drive a gas guzzling suv (because I refuse to drive a van). I have a gmc envoy and it's around $80 to fill up. Maybe once the economy starts to effect the big wigs of the car industry personally,they will find a way to make hybrids more available to normal joe six packs.
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