My associates here at the office were talking about this subject, with Memorial weekend fast approaching, I know here in FL , I filled up at $3.95 last night , and the attendant at the gas station, said that, basically after today, $3 and change gas will be unheard of again. By Friday , we will see gas prices from as low as $4 to $4.50 or even higher in some areas. Detroit is already past the $4.50 mark for 89 test.

With that being said, how will these high performance future power houses sell when gas keeps going up and up and up? We know that the GT-R will be out this summer/fall time frame, also gas is suspected to be in the average of $4.50 ish or more nation wide. And I don't think the GT-R can run on 87 octane.

The expected ZR-1 Corvette due out next fall, with its 600+HP S/C motor , gas prices could be in the high $5-to low $6 dollar range. We know that the current Z-06 gets anywhere from 28-30mpg with its 505HP motor. But that S/C added is going to make that V8 very thirsty for gas.


The Dodge Challenger, Chevy Camaro due out now according to the reports by 2010 , gas prices are expected to be in the $7-10 dollar range. People will be able to afford the car, but will they be able to afford the gas. The HP is expected to be from a base of 300HP , to SS versions 420+HP.I have a hunch that chevy will be able to squeeze high 20 mpg like they do with the Vettes.

If gas was $10 bucks a gallon , even a gas sipping honda civic would cost $132 per fill up. A ford Explorer truck, $227 bucks per fill up according to MSN Money.

For the rich and the ones who have recession proof incomes, they will snickle at the high gas prices and buy these toys without second thought. But for the rest of us who have to work for a living , have to count the cost before purchasing our 4 wheeled toys, we may have to question our purchase.

I wonder if the manufactures are taking this into account, is this the right time to offer these High Hp vehicles between now and 2010, when the majority are counting the cost when it comes to gas prices now . We know Nissan has a winner, all enthusiast know this, Nissan knows that the some rich will buy this car, some rich will have to be converted and there stubborn snobbish ways will have to be snuffed out about the GT-R in order to get them into one. We Know Nissan is also banking on the enthusiast, the Gran turismo crowd, the working man to jump at this car too.

Unfortunately with gas being so high, could the working man really afford this car without making some sacrifices, same with the ZR-1, Corvettes have a rich history with Americans, its racing history to this present day can't be overlooked or denied that Corvette is a helluva car and performance value for the money. But can the majority of American plunk down a healthy 100k+? plus pay for for $7 or more dollars for gas when it debuts?

Will these cars be only for the rich and wealthy? If the working guy who buys these cars, will they be used as a weekend toy only? As we know , when gas goes up, so does everything else, food, clothing,utilities, travel. We know over in Europe there already paying $8-10 bucks a gallon, but on the flip side, there medical is 100% covered, they get certain benifits that we Americans have to pay for, they also get a month off for vacation, some paid, some not, so in reality it equals itself out. But can we as Americans really pay for these toys+gas+ the expenses of life? Its going to be great times in one aspect, because were getting such a healthy does of performance cars again, but will these high gas prices snuff out there glory , like the way it did back in the 1970's.

Its already doing it to the SUV population, Ford is shutting down several of there Ford Explorer/Expedition plants starting in June. Chevy and Dodge will soon follow suit. Some dealership don't even want to take SUV's on trade because of the fear that they sit more than two months on there lot , also the fear that nobody will buy them. I tried to trade my Nissan Titan in a few weeks ago , 50k miles on the odometer , what should be a 15k-16k truck for tade, I was offered 8k at best. The SUV/ Large truck market has flopped , will the high hp sports car/ super cars go next? We know gas isn't the main reason for buying a sports car, but when gas prices start affecting the way you live,one has to question....

So i ask all of you , do you think this is the best time to offer these cars, knowing that gas is going to go up and up?

 

I'm not reading all that.

But yes, it's a 'bad' time I guess. About time we finally started thinking if winning stop light races is worth the expense.

 

If GM indeed can pull off a production Volt it will be one of the greatest production inventions in this past 50 years ( and I would def consider one and pay up to 40k for it.)

 

I know this is an unpopular thought right now, but even at $4/gal gas is well below the cost escalation ratio of most other US consumables over the past 40 years. Europe has paid much higher prices than we for a long time now.

It's simply that we've been accustomed to relatively inexpensive gas for so long, have a strong car culture, and are now facing ludicrously rapid increases.

I'm not happy about it either, but the facts are the facts - gas is still a good value per se.

I cut out unnecessary trips; drive my 4-banger once a week, and the rest of the summertime carelessly [in the true sense of the word] enjoy my '8.

 

Hopefully, these prices and the consumer response, will cause the goverment to allow oil drilling in formally forbidden areas. And allow an increase in refining capacity.

 

I agree with the OP, it's a bad time for certain car debuts. But they are going to do it anyway because a) they will sell and b) it's part of the American heritage.

Will they sell a lot? Probably not, especially after a few years. And if any more cars like the Tesla come out in a lower price range, I would expect those to still some sales, if not attention.

But $10 a gallon gas at 2010? Probably not. A lot of things would have to go wrong quickly for that to happen, like political unrest in a lot of places or war with Iran. There will be $10/gallon gas, but probably not until 2018 or 2020.

michael

 

the only problem i see in this, is that the law of supply and demand is still in effect. the demand is out there for oil. the true solution is for the economy to recover.. somehow..and the investors stop hedging on oil.

the problem is as economy is going into recession, all the investors are throwing money into oil, causing increase cost of living, futher throwing the economy further into recession. the trend will continue untill people CAN'T buy gas, that means u and me, the regular citizen, and demand falls sharply. gas price decrease accordingly (assuming the whole "world" can't afford it). the investors pulls out of oil, trying to sell it all before price of crude drops. people can afford gas again, cost of living decrease, economy rebound.

subsidizing gas won't help because it won't decrease demand, and thus the price of oil will stay high because the investors can still make money off of it, it is untill investors are selling oil instead of buying will the trend of increase oil price stop..

my 5 cents lol...

 

I was doing some calculating , if gas hit $5. bucks a gallon, I would be ok, not great but would definititely have to cut out any extra driving . It would suck paying 75 bucks to fill up the RX-8 every 2-3 days per commute. But I would be able to manage. Now if gas went to $6 bucks a gallon, My wife and I would really have to change our life style.

By 2010 I was hoping to get into another sports car by then, the RX-8 will be paid off and yes I am keeping her. My finances will be much diffrent , much on the up swing, .... just hoping this gas situation doesn't put a damper on the sports car sector. It would be a shame if manufactures had to scrap there plans because of this gas crisis.

Maybe Mazda has the right attitude about there next sports car the RX-?, moderate power,handeling, light weight, and looks.... all that equates to a reasonably priced sports car for the masses.

 

I gotta agree with this one. My neighbor had brought up a good point, in that everytime something takes off its a bubble that eventually pops. Back in the early 90s it was the dot com bubble, then the housing bubble, and now a gas bubble.

I think that with these higher prices the public will demand greater refinery capacity and more drilling. By 2010, the deepsea platforms further out in the gulf will be up and running and that oil field is estimated to be quite large.

We may see these higher prices for a while longer, but I don't forsee them continuing to spiral upward for much longer.

 

Well most car companies have experience selling high performance cars in the rest of the world where gas prices are already much higher than in N.A. If they can make a case for them in these markets, I doubt they'll have much problem doing it in the US.

People in N.A. just need to learn to live within their means. Most people who drive them can't really afford sports cars, or their leased BMWs or their Escalades, they can just pay for them.

You could quadruple the price of gas and I still wouldn't be too worried. Sure it would suck, but I wouldn't have to sell my car, or move into a smaller house, or each mac and cheese everyday, because I live well within my means. It sucks watching my freinds by all sorts of cool toys, and going on vacations, and having to say no, I can't afford that, but 25 years from now they'll still be working to pay for it all.

 

People in NA do need to learn how to live within their means I agree. It's funny in Canada though because it feels like you can't really get ahead of the cost of living.

I guess it's time to buy a pedal bike (or if i lived in the city, take the bus ($67 bus pass)). I am probably only going to be able to afford 1000km/month @ $1.50/litre (625miles/month @ 5.60/gallon)

 

I haven't bought a new car for exactly this reason. The problem is not that I couldn't afford to live comfortably within my means with a new 135i, it's that my means are quickly becoming less meaningful as gas prices inflate the price of everything... It sucks, but it's the way things are. I still might buy the car, but I think I'll wait until the dealers are hurting to sell them more than they currently are (which is not at all).

 

Get a 2nd or even 3rd job to pick up the slack. Whats the worth of getting weekends off if u cant even afford to freakin drive anywhere?

Gas prices will NEVER level, they will keep going up and wages wont, thats the reality. More time working and less leisure time is where the world is heading due to the gas prices. I will work an extra few hrs a week to keep that pedal to the floor!! Trick is to pick up that 2nd or 3rd job somewhere u enjoy working....for me i put a small 4hr shift at Golds Gym on Sat mornings and one night Security at a nightclub, both jobs i get paid to look at *** the whole time, LOL

 

Is the government not allowing new refineries? Or is it just oil companies not wanting to make huge investments in oil infrastructure?

 

The oil bubble theory. I hope it's true, as all bubbles burst eventually. The first step is probably getting out of Iraq. In most war situations, the US dollar strengthens, but the rest of the world realized how stupid this war was. Hope that's not too political, I'm just sayin'

 

Haha, dude if you have to get a 2nd or 3rd job, and if your world is heading towards less liesure time and more work time, all because of gas prices, then I'm sorry to say, you're hood rich. This isn't where the world is heading for responsible people. You're CHOOSING this path because you WANT to drive an RX-8.

The problem is not the gas prices, it's that the lifestyle you think you should be living is unrealistic relative to your worth. MTV Cribs isn't reality.

 

Yes, the prices are crazy, but overall it is a "relatively" cheap way to get from point A to point B.

I live 14 minutes and about 8 miles away from my office.
For the daily round trip, at $3.69 per gallon here, that comes out to 28 minutes commuting and about $3.69 for the round trip.

If I was to take a taxi? About $15 each way, $30 round trip, and with the hassle of calling the taxi, waiting for the taxi we are looking at at least 1 hour.

The bus would be a couple bucks but take two hours of travelling.

If I wanted to go to Austin 70 miles north? That is roughly 8 gallons gas @ $3.69/gallon equals $29.52 in gas roundtrip, and a 60 minute drive.
Forget a bus or taxi, to get to Austin otherwise it is a $150 plane ticket, four hours, and a vist with the happy friendly TSA folks.

We've been spoiled with low gas prices but overall it is still a cheap way to get from point A to point B.

 

In Thailand, gas prices are already @ like 1dollar per litre which is like 4.5$ per gallon, however, we do have a load of bio-diesel, gasohal, NGV and gas (as in Cooking gas) that we use to run our cars with. there are already alternatives in the world, you guys just refuse to use it for retarded purposes.

pretty any fuel injection vehicle with a 4 banger in Thailand has an NGV tank, NGV fill up costs about 1/2 that of gas to go the same milage. Gasohal is used for benzene(our normal engines) which is about 20 cents cheaper than the same grade gasoline. Bio-diesel is about 20 cents cheaper per litre than regular diesel also

there are alternatives, we just gotta use em yo. Gasoline is just a ******* bunch of Carbon chains................we can MAKE carbon chains, everything organic is a carbon chain

GO BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD!!!

 

I read in the paper today: "It's hard to believe, but in 1999, gas was $0.95 a gallon." They were right, i looked at that line three times, and thought back, and couldn't believe it. But it's true.

Cost/value/expense are all relative. The dynamic of what is considered "affordable" and by whom is going to change significantly...don't fight it; adapt.

 

Exactly

 

why the hell did i buy this car

 

Meh.......I did the math a ways back regarding my car and some 35 MPG economy car, back when gas was under $3.00, and what I found was that even though I was spending $1,500 or so extra in gas, that was only $4 or so extra per day.

I can live with paying an extra $4 per day to drive a car I love, than to drive some 35 MPG deal that I hate to drive.

 

why would gas companys build new refineries at a cost of millions, to lower the cost of gas? they would be cutting there nose to spite there face. they know that by 2020 that every car has to have 35mpg that will cost them $$$$$ so they need to get as much $$ now while they can. as for super high performance cars, if you have to ask you cant afford it. now for regular folk it does suck, but as a previous comment points out, relative to inflation we are below what we should be paying for gas....my solution...im getting a sport bike that will get 35-40 mpg and use it 2-3 days a week. cuz driving my 8 w cruise control and shifting at 4k rpm sucks donkey *****!

 

and as for alternative resources we need politicians w out big oil in there pockets...thats dems and repubs.....nuclear reactors is the safest cleanest way to go to cut back consumption, not for cars but for other means of energy to free up gas....im the man to do it! dag14qb for prez in 08

 

I was hoping the consumer response would be for increased demand in fuel efficient vehicles not for continued gluttonous consumption.