I would say that most of the members here are in the upper middle class/wealthy segment of the income scale. Are fuel prices effecting the car purchases you are looking at right now? Both for daily drivers and toys? Just curious.

 

Nope.

While I did just order a daily driver that runs on cheap E85 fuel, I did it to avoid congestion charges and get free parking.

 

E85? Jox, are you high? (don't answer that)

It's affecting my decision process some. We're buying my wife a new car this summer, and thinking most likely an SUV. The funny thing... it's affecting my decision to a degree on which SUV, but it's not steering me away from an SUV altogether. I looked at the Yukon Hybrid vs. the Yukon. It's $4K more for the hybrid. Likely, we won't own more than 3 years, so in fuel savings I doubt I'd see a $1300/year savings on the hybrid, but would the resale make up for it in the end? (I just don't know)


We had this conversation in the car the other day after filling up the M5 for the 2nd time in one day... How do lower income and even solid middle class people do it? This would kill me if I were making $60K/year or something. Our fuel budget on my little spreadsheet has been set at $300/month for years... We're doing way over $1000/month. We can afford it... it sucks but we can, but if you were on a shoe string, month-to-month budget, omg... it would hurt.


EDIT: To the crazy lefties... that last sentence of mine is definitely true... but dammit, it's not government's responsibility to do anything about other than lift taxes and restrictions so Shell/Chevron/etc can fix it.

 

I will come out and say I am a recent graduate from school with a descent job. gas prices haven't effected my driving. I would go to say that I do more spirited driving this summer than in previous times. Gas prices also would not effect what vehicle I plan to purchase. Going back to graduate school this fall for my MBA will cut down on my spirited driving as a trip home will cost in the $100 range.

some friends and family who bought v8 SUVs and chose to live 30-45 minutes from their job are hurting. when they complain I say it was their choice of automobile and where to live. these are not paycheck to paycheck people either. Those people I wonder how they are getting by with prices of everything rising quicker than their pay increases

 

Basically I'm using it as an excuse to ride the motorcycle more.

 

You probably would save, since the Hybrid will likely hold more value than the non-Hybrid. It doesn't cost $4k, it costs $4k + residual after depreciation.

 

i drive my diesl truck less in the summer overall, but not to the point where $5 diesel is making a big impact

 

With gas at $ 11 a gallon, it sucks, but it will most probably will affect my next purchase

 

Weird that regular gas is so much more expensive but race gas hasn't gone up at all. It's still $7.89 at my local fillup for 100, whereas their 91 has gone from $3.75 to $4.99 in less than a year.

 

The fuel prices are sort of affecting what we are looking at. Late this year or early next year I will be buying my girlfriend a new car. She likes the C63, Range Rover Sport, and lifted diesel F350s. She really wants a brand new car but I may just pick up a slightly used lifted truck for a great deal when it is time to buy.