GM may ax Hummer due to gas prices

[redbanditZ28]

Do you all believe that anyone who could afford Hummers or big SUVs in the first place can afford to pay for the rising gas prices? OR do you think that the owners eventually will get fed up and get rid of their SUVs?

[damon_Z]

You know, if gas prices were like $10 a gallon, then buying a Tesla Roadster would be a good idea. I mean, it has a 0-60 MPH of 3.5 seconds, is 100% electric, costs less than $0.02 per mile to operate, and can travel over 200 miles before you have to recharge its lithium ion battery. The bad thing is that the car costs $109,000, but like I said, if gas costs $10 a gallon, then maybe it's better investing the money in this car instead of putting that same money into a house. And the more you drive with it, then the more you'll save. I'm thinking about it.

[JL8Jeff]

The problem is the price of electric will be going up because the cost of natural gas is going up and most electric plants use natural gas to generate electricity. Now if we had some new nuclear plants being built to help reduce electric costs it might be a good alternative. The problem with trucks/SUV's is that they kept making them bigger and heavier. Compare the S10, Ford Bronco II, 4Runner, Pathfinder from back in the 80's to their equivalent today and there's no comparison. Put today's modern engines in the smaller vehicles from the 80's and there's a much better chance to see 30 mpg.

[WildBillyT]

The problem with big trucks and SUVS is that majority of the people who own them got them for convenience and not necessity.

I also think a lot of the people who have them also could barely afford them in the first place.

[mtnhopper1]

Originally Posted by damon_Z

News about any auto manufacturer discontinuing large trucks and SUV's, because of high gas prices is always good news. There will be less of those monstrosities on the road and in the parking lots, giving automobile and motorcycle drivers more space, more safety, and better vision. We'll also see a further drop in gasoline demand at least here in the United States.

... and (hopefully) a drop in a demand for fuel will cause Big Oil to lower retail costs of gas (i.e. stop gouging us) or (GULP!) build a refinery in N America (or rebuild the one in Texas that went down in Katrina) so that they can actually lower their production costs by reducing dependence on foreign refineries or by lowering product transportation costs.

[Knipps]

Originally Posted by JL8Jeff

The problem is the price of electric will be going up because the cost of natural gas is going up and most electric plants use natural gas to generate electricity. Now if we had some new nuclear plants being built to help reduce electric costs it might be a good alternative. The problem with trucks/SUV's is that they kept making them bigger and heavier. Compare the S10, Ford Bronco II, 4Runner, Pathfinder from back in the 80's to their equivalent today and there's no comparison. Put today's modern engines in the smaller vehicles from the 80's and there's a much better chance to see 30 mpg.

but look at why all the modern cars are heavier, req'd safety features and then all the other CRAP people pile on on top of the standard features