I'd say there's nothing wrong. Price increases are the best way to
ration a scarce resource.
At > 3 a gal, the big SUV is doomed. People have a hard time justifying
the price of filling up at that level. I predict there will be a
massive glut of them in the next few years as many people bail into more
efficient vehicles. Just as cars took a huge downsize in he 70s from
the apex of car size (1973).
I agree that the excellent Tdi being made it Europe would be great here.
I'd buy one in a second. Getting 50 miles per gallon would be a thrill.
Some general misconceptions: SUVs don't get that bad of mileage. Most
can come close to my 505 turbo's mileage of 19/28. Oil companies aren't
conspiring. EcoRegulations have seen to it that no new refinery has
been built in the US in 30 years. That's the current bottleneck in the
system. Boutique blends also conspire to create shortages in most
regional US markets.
My conclusions? I think the future is TDI. I'm not sold on hybrids
even though the Prius is cool. I hear the Smart has been given the
green light in the US. That's a bit small for my tastes, but I welcome
them. I hope good old gasoline never leaves as a turbo gas car is the
only way to fly if you can afford it.
-----Original Message-----
From: peugeot-L@yahoogroups.com [mailto:peugeot-L@yahoogroups.com] On
Behalf Of Dan Midtdal
Sent: Sunday, October 02, 2005 11:22 AM
To: peugeot-l@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [Peugeot-L] Peugeot's in Taiwan/I saw them!
> It is too bad we are so limited in the US. Each time, I saw one that
> wasn't
> available, I expressed some sadness that these cars are just not
> obtainable
> in the US.
The whole resistence to imported automobiles in the USA and Canada (to a
lesser extent) is a problem which will continue to drag down the
economies
of both countries. Like education which is internationally shared, the
ideas of automakers throughout the world could work well for North
America
which continues to churn out large SUV's that the drivers do not need
for
their suburban communities or downtown lofts. Advertisers are on board
to
convince us big is better and let's keep working to consume every ounce
of
oil so there is nothing left for the future. There is also huge
resistence
to purchasing small cars due to the proliferation of big vehicle on the
road
and the fear that we will be crushed by them if we drive something
small.
Canada is less influenced by big vehicles due to the fact that gasoline
prices are higher in Canada (ie taxes) than the US and the number of
smaller
European and Japanese vehicles on the road is far greater than in the
USA. It is continued protectionism which keeps the big vehicles coming
and the
interests of Oil Companies to sell more gas to customers with less
fuel
efficient vehicles. No doubt the fear is that consumers could become
accustomed to better fuel efficiency and pay a premium up front for an
imported fuel efficient car. That would eat into the profits of the oil
companies for sure. The oil companies thrive on oil shortages which
drives
the cost of gasoline up. They manipulate the market sending us into
long
lineups for an artificially created fuel shortage with the click of a
mouse
and we fall for it. The Smart Car is available in Canada but not the
USA,
why? Peugeot works hard to keep their vehicles fuel efficient and that
was
what attracted me to Peugeot in the first place. I was soon seduced by
the
ride and handling. Will the cost of gas finally be the catalyst to
bring
Peugeot back to NA?
No doubt this whole scenario has been studied by the analysts, does
anyone
have research which shows some understanding of why this situation
exists
almost uniquely in the USA? What is driving Americans to pick the big
over
the small? How can this be turned around? Without the USA importing
smaller European and Asian cars, we in Canada will not see them here due
to
the North American Auto pact which makes it expensive to certify the
smaller
less profitable cars and you need the higher volumes of two countries to
make it economical . I would love to move up to a newer Peugeot to
replace
my MI16 but cannot because WE ARE NOT A FREE COUNTRY! and that sucks.
15
years is too long to wait before you can import a used Peugeot into
Canada
and the cost of shipping just one at a time just adds to the insult.
Peugeot is good enough for Mexico and Cuba but not Canada and USA. Why
are
we as citizens of these two great countries allowing this to happen! So
the
oil company executive can live better than us?
End of Rant
Dan
- Original Message -----
From: "Dave Salkin" <peugeot@ksc-inc.com>
To: <peugeot-l@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Friday, September 30, 2005 7:03 AM
Subject: [Peugeot-L] Peugeot's in Taiwan/I saw them!
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Received on Sun Oct 2 13:13:35 2005
