For most new car buyers, price is still the most important consideration when buying a new car, revealed a survey conducted by NADA (National Automotive Dealers’ Association and Progressive Insurance. Almost 46% of the respondents said that purchase price is still the most important factor to consider when checking out showrooms and dealers. Meanwhile, fuel economy was at the bottom of the survey with a measly 3% saying they consider a car’s fuel economy as a big concern.
The make and model of the vehicle is the second most important consideration with 31% saying so. Safety and performance was the third most important new car attribute to consider. But, fuel economy lagged behind all these other aspects. In fact, eleven percent signified that fuel efficiency is their “least important†consideration.
This survey results tells a lot about how Americans feel about the dwindling fuel resources and the skyrocketing oil prices abroad. It seems that people are more preoccupied with the initial cost of the car itself rather than the actual cost owning and operating it, much less the effect it will have on the environment and the increasingly limited fuel resource.
At the recently concluded 64th annual Washington Auto Show, one of the panel discussions was about “Sustaining Personal Mobility in an Energy Challenged Worldâ€. Panelists from the industry and the federal government discussed about the need for sacrifice when it comes to fuel consumption. However, all the panelists conceded that it would be difficult to turn the current American mindset towards the concept of sacrifice.
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May 3rd, 2006 at 11:48 am
Range Rovers in 2006 are awesome. I found this website that has pricing, gas mileage information and range rover pictures. Its at http://www.rangerover2006.com . Lots of range rover pricing and optional equiptment.
May 13th, 2006 at 1:42 am
I guess it needs to be thought about as to why the fuel economy did not figure at the top. Especially everyone and his second cousin in America as well as elsewhere seems to be talking about nothing but fuel prices…
I can only think of one reason: There could have something about the survey that was faulty…possibly a biased sample audience?
Vic, Castor Oil Online
June 22nd, 2006 at 8:02 am
Instead of pushing automakers to produce higher efficiency vehicles, the use of monetary policy in the marketplace should be used to influence consumers. This would link fuel economy to the most important factor in choosing a car: price.
The use of a simple equation to affect new, non-commercial vehicle prices, based on highest EPA fuel economy values, MPG, versus a TARGET value to calculate the price ADJUSTMENT–
Adjustment = Force x (Target - MPG).
An example equation would be
Adjustment = $100 x (30 - MPG).
Here, a nice Hummer H2, with a highest MPG of 13, would have a price Adjustment of +$1700. A Toyota Prius (MPG = 60) would have a price Adjustment of -$3000, which would actually pay for the increased price due to its technology.
In short, this would save the federal gov’t its rebate money by having the SUV purchaser actually paying for it.
This would discourage purchasers of SUVs that really do not need them (e.g. hauling that one loaf of bread from the grocery store). Granted SUVs do have a legitimate use (hauling campers, boats, etc…), but no one does this all of the time. For them, Commercial entities would arise that would rent these bigger vehicles, and their full capacity for hauling/towing/off-roading would be more utilized, rather than sitting in traffic consuming gasoline.
Congress would adjust the Target and Force values quarterly/yearly depending on the numbers and kinds of cars being purchased. Used cars would be exempt. A new car is any car not previously registered in the U.S.