High gas prices? Who cares? These SUVs still have their fans

According to CNNMoney.com it seems no matter how high gas prices are, the Cadillac Escalade, Lincoln Navigator and the Chrysler Aspen still have their fans. Who cares if the Escalade and Navigator get only 15 mpg of combined fuel economy or if the Aspen only gets 16 mpg. Actually we’re going to go ahead and add the HUMMER H2 to CNN’s list, which has a fuel economy of 17 mpg combined. The point is, these big and bad American SUVs are still selling no matter how fuel-inefficient they are or how high the gas prices are.

Us Americans care little about the environment, and supposedly our wallets as well, and would rather not drive around in little hatchbacks than our big status symbol SUVs.
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dumpsty - 5/1/2007 11:03:27 AM

+2 Boost

I think the article was written a bit hastedly and is a bit inacurate.

When (US) fuel prices shot up near $3/gal, large vehicle sales, including luxury makes, took a huge hit is sales. Their overall sales figures for that year went well below expectations...and forced many brands to re-focus on their smaller offerings. It got to a point where dealers, in an attempt to look like they were still doing well, stored much of their vehicle fleets in remote parking lots so casual shoppers didn't see their pile-up of unsold merchandise. And in another situation, small cars were being given away with the purchase of a large truck or SUV.

Americans do care. It's unfortunate that the rest of the world only sees the wealthy and celebrities, and think that's how the majority of the country lives.

dumpsty - 5/1/2007 11:08:21 AM

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...and if it was 3-5 years earlier when fuel (the necessary evil) was $1.50/gal and all of these great new trucks and SUVs were on the market, there would be no problem selling them. Ford & GM & and DCX would be OK, and the world would be anxiously waiting for the next Maybach SUV and Q7 and Escalade.

1970toyotamarc - 5/1/2007 3:16:20 PM

0 Boost

I dont know why they felt the need to add the Aspen to that mix. What a complete waste of a vehicle. Who buys that thing? I have no interest in any behemoth from this class, but at least I understand the point. What the hell is the point of a rebadge of an already lousy Durango, tarted up with a bunch of chrome and leather?

paul3230 - 5/2/2007 12:54:38 PM

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I for one..agree with you on this. Escalade and Aspen?? Who mentions those two in the same sentence??

carlovingfan - 6/8/2007 6:54:11 PM

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That's Because people want those vehicles, these small cars are just way too small for families and too unpractical for some.

SteveL - 5/2/2007 2:57:10 PM

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Thats CNN for you. What a bunch of friekin idiots. I betmost of the people that work there own gas hogs. Americans dont care about the environment. CNN are a bunch of hacks! I really wish Auto Spies would send them a personel e-mail telling them there idiots

SteveL - 5/2/2007 3:02:44 PM

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Actualy I might have to retract some of my last statement. I have always hated CNN but i can not tell from the article who said American dont care. Whom ever said it is not talking about the average American thats for sure.