I have to admit, I'm pretty sick of talking about gas prices. From discussing trips to the station with my husband who insists on putting 94 octane in our Impreza WRX to anticipating the question as soon as I mention what I do for a living (“Oh yeah? You test drive cars? What about those gas prices, eh?”). It's all a bit much and I'm a bit over it all.
Yes, they're high. Yes, they're robbing us blind. Yes, it hurts my bank account and my fun-fund. However, no, I will not stop driving.
And not just because of my line of work. I love to drive, and I'm not the only one. And I'm also not about to make the switch to full electric or even hybrid for that matter. Why? Because I love to drive. Yes, I just said that, and I'll continue to say it.
Supply and demand is a funny thing – and something we all should have paid more attention to in economics class in high school. While we continue to complain about the price of gas, we're not stopping the demand for it. So, why would oil companies lower their prices? They have no need.
Think of seasonal clothing; bathing suits are ridiculously cheap in the fall months. Summer is over and the snow birds have yet to head down south, so they have a few months of limbo where they lower their prices significantly to maintain their sales.
There's no “off-season” for gas stations. At least, not that I can tell.
So, what do you do? Buy a smaller car logic would tell you. Get a car with better gas mileage so you're heading to the pumps less often. But then, econoboxes don't work for everyone.
Consider, if you will for a moment, friends of mine who just had twins. They already had a 2-year-old son and added 2 more to their ensemble. That means 3 baby seats in one car. They had no choice but to buy a three-row vehicle. They chose the most economical minivan based on their needs and wants (a 2011 Honda Odyssey, fantastic choice), because a Ford Fiesta just wasn't going to cut it.
Now, I'm not saying that everyone who buys a larger vehicle is doing so because they have 3+ children under the age of 3. What I am saying is that bigger vehicles will never lose their popularity. From pickups to SUVs, someone out there will always want a larger vehicle.
You can give me the evil eye all you want when I drive down the street in my Ford F-150 SVT Raptor because I'm murdering the planet and feeding the oil companies, but how do you know I don't need a vehicle like that?
Righteous econobox owners need to stop judging large-car drivers. They aren't all out to murder the planet, and they're paying enough at the pumps to warrant more of a sympathetic look than a sneer, no? While some may choose the large-car look for prestige only (in which case, I hope their bank accounts can rightfully support their egos), others truly are doing it out of personal necessity.
And that's why big cars will always sell. It's also why companies are continuing to redesign and relaunch SUVs, CUVs and pickups. There's a need (supply and demand). We can't all survive with a Scion iQ parked in the driveway, (un)fortunately.
Yes, they're high. Yes, they're robbing us blind. Yes, it hurts my bank account and my fun-fund. However, no, I will not stop driving.
And not just because of my line of work. I love to drive, and I'm not the only one. And I'm also not about to make the switch to full electric or even hybrid for that matter. Why? Because I love to drive. Yes, I just said that, and I'll continue to say it.
Supply and demand is a funny thing – and something we all should have paid more attention to in economics class in high school. While we continue to complain about the price of gas, we're not stopping the demand for it. So, why would oil companies lower their prices? They have no need.
Think of seasonal clothing; bathing suits are ridiculously cheap in the fall months. Summer is over and the snow birds have yet to head down south, so they have a few months of limbo where they lower their prices significantly to maintain their sales.
There's no “off-season” for gas stations. At least, not that I can tell.
So, what do you do? Buy a smaller car logic would tell you. Get a car with better gas mileage so you're heading to the pumps less often. But then, econoboxes don't work for everyone.
Consider, if you will for a moment, friends of mine who just had twins. They already had a 2-year-old son and added 2 more to their ensemble. That means 3 baby seats in one car. They had no choice but to buy a three-row vehicle. They chose the most economical minivan based on their needs and wants (a 2011 Honda Odyssey, fantastic choice), because a Ford Fiesta just wasn't going to cut it.
Now, I'm not saying that everyone who buys a larger vehicle is doing so because they have 3+ children under the age of 3. What I am saying is that bigger vehicles will never lose their popularity. From pickups to SUVs, someone out there will always want a larger vehicle.
You can give me the evil eye all you want when I drive down the street in my Ford F-150 SVT Raptor because I'm murdering the planet and feeding the oil companies, but how do you know I don't need a vehicle like that?
Righteous econobox owners need to stop judging large-car drivers. They aren't all out to murder the planet, and they're paying enough at the pumps to warrant more of a sympathetic look than a sneer, no? While some may choose the large-car look for prestige only (in which case, I hope their bank accounts can rightfully support their egos), others truly are doing it out of personal necessity.
And that's why big cars will always sell. It's also why companies are continuing to redesign and relaunch SUVs, CUVs and pickups. There's a need (supply and demand). We can't all survive with a Scion iQ parked in the driveway, (un)fortunately.