Ive seen old rabbits, festivas, geo's and other cars that got fast salvage yard rehabs when gas shot up. But now the huge suv's and pu's are back up to there 80 miles per hour status.
It was funny to see all the fast rehab done on little wrecks. No bumpers, mismatched wheels and tires. No straight metal on them. Out there just a getting it.
Most of it is perception. Personally, I think if gas had jumped to $5 a gallon it would eventually be good for conservation efforts and the environment because that really shocks people into action. Seeing the $3.xx a gallon on the marquees helped my wife and I make a few more responsible decisions. Mainly trip-combining. I don't drive from my house to the grocery store, then back to the house any more. I do my shopping on my way home from work.
Anyone that buys a new car soley because gas prices go up 30 cents a gallon isn't very good at math! That being the case, I work with one of those people. He has a paid-off 99 Dodge Caravan and only drives 15 miles roundtrip to work. He's selling it and buying a Hybrid because gas hit $3 in Cincinnati right after Katrina.
I'm not sure if it's Katrina, but over the last month or so I've noticed a lot more Hybrid vehicles on the road. More Priuses than Civics or Accords, but that may be because they're so funky looking.
I've noticed more smaller cars since the beginning of the year, so I had to vote no change in the past 4 weeks.. ...then again I've seen a lot of new Chevy trucks, too.
Since Katrina I've Seen....
