Hi All:

___Consider looking at gas price declines as an opportunity, not as a shortfall given America’s insatiable demand for gasoline. I was and am still hoping for closer to $2.00 then $4.00 per gallon by Christmas and it appears as if this may be the offing? I have an Acura MDX to get rid of and $1.89 sure would help me move that along at a very nice price once we see our first snowfall here in the Chicago area

___The other opportunity … For those interested in high FE cars (hybrids or non-hybrid’s), the lower gas prices will reduce demand somewhat and make the market place a bit more forgiving. Remember that it was only a few months Pre-Katrina that there was actually a supply of Prius II’s you could pickup off of Toyota lots all over the nation and for less then MSRP. Once we hit $2.30 + and then Katrina/Rita w/ $3.00 +, we moved right back into 3 month waits and MSRP +. If Honda releases the Fit, Nissan the March and Altima Hybrid, and Toyota the Yaris and Camry Hybrid into $1.89/gallon type fuel prices, do you think the marketing powers that be will be a bit more forgiving on the MSRP then if gasoline were at $3.09? I bet Honda, Toyota, and Nissan marketing types are eyeing gasoline prices the same way we do …

___Good Luck

___Wayne R. Gerdes