I hope this link to BusinessWeek Autos works!

Interesting assertion (not that I agree with a word of it).



Link:
http://images.businessweek.com/ss/08...s/index_01.htm

 

what was his point? That people aren't buying as many expensive, 'extra' cars? That the whole industry is experiencing a sales drop?

 

Bummer. I guess I have to sell my three V8 Camaros now.

 

Obviously the sky is falling!!!!

I think we all just need to start riding our bicycles and buy some oxen and ox-carts for our transportation needs - that worked for India and China for centuries.

 

Why is the Solstice on his list, I don't think I'd call it a gas guzzler

 

Most of the cars on that list a expensive enough that I doubt the cost of gas really effects the amount of the type of car you are going to drive.

One is the Solstice and I have its twin, the Sky. I am avereging almost 30mpg with the 2.4 and the RL/GXP models get even better milage than the base versions.

 

I suspect because it's a "weekend car"...in other words, not really "needed".

While not in the stratosphere in terms of price, cars like the Sky are pretty "expensive" when you have them only as a toy.

 

Bah

 

While they may be unpractical for many I am driving mine daily right now. It has more than enough room for groceries. I may not be able to haul drywall or framing lumber but how often do I need that?

Of all the typical 'toys' out there the Kappa twins are relatively cheap. (Compared to Vette, Viper, Porches, Z3, etc)

 

My wife averages 25 mpg with her 2.0 in the GXP. One mpg better than the 7.0 in my Z06.

 

I'd much rather that someone buys a Kappa than an SUV if they want a flashy, "look at me!" daily-driver. Hell, for most of the childless twenty- and thirtysomethings that buy big SUVs, a small two-seat convertible probably makes just as much sense from the standpoint of practicality.

If this country's car culture made any sense, we'd see six-digit sales figures for the Solstice/Sky, and the Tahoe/Yukon would be the ones selling 1,200 units/month. I suspect that latter will happen first

EDIT: Didn't the Miata sell something north of 50,000 units in its first year?

 

I tend to agree with you, however I can fit 9 adults in my Tahoe.

 

I would agree in your case. I suspect, however, that most people who buy vehicles on the list, including the Sky/Solstice don't use them as daily drivers.

 

Yes, you can, but most Tahoe owners don't

 

Not to call you out, since you have a Z06 and I don't, but methinks that if you are AVERAGING 24 mpg in your Z06, you might be missing out on some of its best stuff (like the 505 hp part).



My lowly LT1 might come close to 20 mpg in city / hwy mix if I short shift and stay out of the throttle. When I drive the car like the V8 encourages, I'm in the 17-18.5 range...