Car buying stats trending to smaller vehicles on clarkhoward.com

What we're buying in terms of vehicles has changed greatly. The typical behemoth 8-cylinder SUV has given way to the more economical 4-cylinder car. That switch alone can represent a savings of $1,500 or $1,700 in gas over the course of a year.

The Toyota Prius is selling consistently after initially being seen as a curiosity item in the market. The Toyota Yaris, Nissan Versa and Honda Fit are also popular sellers. But does it make sense to ditch your huge vehicle and get one of the wundercars? Usually, it does not -- unless you're at the end of your natural buying cycle. But to prematurely dump your vehicle, the numbers probably won't work out in your favor.

If you are in a gas guzzler and want out, try buying a used gas sipper. This may not be "sexy," but you can always buy that new car smell in a can.

Then there's the safety issue. Clark was recently talking to someone who has an Expedition and raised this point to him. Today's smaller cars aren't exactly "econoboxes" like the Datsun B210 that Clark got new in the mid-'70s. That dinky-mobile came with no radio, no AC and the floor was just a vinyl sheet over the metal! But the truth is that you can't outsmart physics, so if the Expedition hits a smaller car…

Still unsure about whether to keep or dump your gas guzzler? This site allows you to crunch the numbers.

What others are saying

foreign cars
clark, where do you think the profit is going on japanese cars made in the usa?why don't you promote american cars and help our economy move and stop the trickle effect.
By connie oleary @ 02/01/09 08:10:55 AMreport abuse
Switched!
I had a GMC Jimmy that I was putting about $80-$90 a week in gas back in May of 2007. I switched to a Toyota Corolla and the saving per month were amazing! Although my monthy payment for my car is about $25 more than the GMC, my gas savings more than makes that up. Even now, my gas bill is about $30 per week. I couldn't imagine still having my GMC right now. I'd probably have to walk
By Shawn @ 05/13/08 08:51:43 AMreport abuse
Nissan Expedition
Just wanted to mention that I don't believe Nissan makes an Expedition, Ford does. It's a Ford Expedition.
By Gina @ 05/13/08 12:30:53 AMreport abuse
Price of Gas
It is a horrible vicious cycle that we will go through to try to be more efficient. But try the latest; Ditch the four-wheeler and Bike to Work, store, and other places. I just came back from Tucson on Sunday and discovered a commitment to The Bike by DOT to dedicate space on the road for Bike Lanes. It makes cents. Plus think of the exercise we all need to increase.
By Donnnee @ 05/12/08 10:30:15 PMreport abuse
Price of gas (fuel)
It is not a demand problem that is spiking up prices. The speculators pushing up the prices. In fact there was a segment on ABC's evening news tonight showing how the amount of cars on the road have decreased. In California toll road revenue is down. Also OPEC announced last week that they had ample supply. All of the inventory records show increased supply. A lot of commodities experts are already calling this a bubble. Perhaps before we start pointing fingers at people's driving habits and trying to explain economics, we should watch a little business news or atleast look into the inventory reports. I am not going to give my Town Car up for a Yaris anytime soon.
By Alecia @ 05/12/08 09:03:15 PMreport abuse
Diesel
I have a 97 VW Passat TDI with 150k miles on it. Which means the engine is just broken in. There is a community of Diesel lovers (wwww.tdiclub.com and www.cincitdi.com). I routinely get about 42 mpg running around town and going to work. On the high way I get upwards of 52 miles to the gallon. I am 6' 5" tall, there is no way I would fit in one of those tiny gas burners that get ok mpg. Also I get better fuel economy than most of them anyway. I have never had a problem finding fuel nor does my car stink or make to much noise, most people don't know it is a diesel. I can also run it on 100% Biodiesel but even VW does not note this publicly. Biodiesel is the way to go... E85 is a joke and they need to make Biodiesel out of Algae instead of food products.
By Sean @ 05/12/08 04:42:46 PMreport abuse
Dumping a gas gussler
Hey Clark, Nissan doesn't make the Expedition, FORD does!
By Shelly @ 05/12/08 02:48:54 PMreport abuse
Nissan Expedition
FYI...Ford manufactures the Expedition not Nissan. What vehicle are you comparing to?
By Matt @ 05/12/08 02:28:28 PMreport abuse
401K loan
You do not pay taxes twice on a 401K loan. The loan comes to you without taxes taken out and is repaid through your paycheck pre-tax. Taxes are paid when you take money out of your 401K in retirement or when you default/do not pay the loan back and do not contribute to the 401K.
By Dick Walker @ 05/12/08 11:38:47 AMreport abuse
Price of Gas (Fuel)
The price per gal is only controled by the demand and the less demand the smaller the price. We have enjoyed for many years lots of supply and not as much demand. So if you wnat to pay less at the pump per year cut out the unnessary trips, car pool, ride the bus, and many other things that will lowers the demand for fuel. Spending addtional total dollars on new cars or hybrids is not the answer. Get out of all payments and have cash to pay whatever the market will bare. If you can't bare the market then change your hadit. Maybe consider moving within walking distance of your job.
By RO @ 05/12/08 09:54:24 AMreport abuse
car
We have four children and need space. Car seats etc..
What would u suggest that would not be a gas guzzler.
By Anderson @ 05/12/08 09:36:38 AMreport abuse
Smaller Cars
The most inportant benefit of replacing a gas guzzler is that you are not supporting the vermin who raised the price of gas. That alone is worth the extra cost of the hybred. I have been replacing my trimmer, lawn mower, blower and other gas powered equipment with electric equipment. I am also waiting for a plug-in car and adding a little more solar power each time electric rates go up. Let's see who has the last laugh!
By PJ @ 05/12/08 06:55:57 AMreport abuse
smaller cars
Nissan Expedition is probably the Ford Expedition, unless your friend has a Nissan product. I don't know what their equivalent behemoth product is called.
By george c. @ 05/11/08 11:45:09 PMreport abuse
"foreign" cars
The funny thing about "foreign" cars is that they're not so foreign. I can speak for Toyota that 80% of their cars sold in the US are MADE in the US, including parts - a huge shift from 20-30 yrs. ago. I keep hearing people say you should 'buy American made cars' or 'keep it American.' Maybe not ALL of my money I spent on my Tacoma stays in the U.S., but MOST of it will, and I don't have to worry about my car breaking down on me near as much! It's made in a America AND trustworthy.
By Glynn @ 05/10/08 10:42:04 AMreport abuse
Smaller cars? How about not driving?
The Prius, ethanol, electric?? They all ways to postpone an unpleasant truth: We've made a huge blunder and built an entire infrastructure that makes no sense!! We spent precious time and resources building isolated McMansions with three-car garages for front doors and shopping centers with asphalt seas for parking lots while neglecting public transportation, sidewalks, bicycle lanes and our environment! Now we have this terrible need for huge amounts of energy, an obesity problem and a warming planet! What a mistake! Ditch the car now and get on a bike! Don't let all those sexy car advertisements sway you! If you live in an isolated place, move as soon as it's practicable to a place with greater density so that you can walk or bike to the shops. Meanwhile, attend your townhall meetings and press for more public transportation and a ban on the silly architecture we have all been accepting for years. If you don't think this is possible, visit virtually any place in Europe where urban planning has been so much more sensible. Cars don't have to be a given!
By Jim @ 05/10/08 08:23:36 AMreport abuse
smaller car trends
That's great that the American public
is finally going towards smaller vehicles. If enough people do buy a small to midsized car they they need and not the behemoth gas guzzlers that are so pervasive, then maybe we won't have to worry as much about the likelihood of
being killed by a large suv or truck.
I just hope this trend becomes more prevalent more quickly so that we can finally see a difference in the entire automotive industry towards fuel efficient, good quality cars.
By joe montagne @ 05/10/08 01:00:14 AMreport abuse
buying smaller cars
i know you talk about foreign cars but what about the american cars like ford or chevys. i found the some ford cars and chevy cars do get better gas mileage than the foriegn cars. and there resell values are good on some models than others. i wish you would tell to your listens about all the maufactures and not just foreign cars and trucks. but other than that i think you are great
thank, mike correia
By Mike Correia @ 05/09/08 04:37:51 PMreport abuse

foreign cars

clark, where do you think the profit is going on japanese cars made in the usa?why don't you promote american cars and help our economy move and stop the trickle effect.

By connie oleary @ 02/01/09 08:10:55 AMreport abuse

Switched!

I had a GMC Jimmy that I was putting about $80-$90 a week in gas back in May of 2007. I switched to a Toyota Corolla and the saving per month were amazing! Although my monthy payment for my car is about $25 more than the GMC, my gas savings more than makes that up. Even now, my gas bill is about $30 per week. I couldn't imagine still having my GMC right now. I'd probably have to walk

By Shawn @ 05/13/08 08:51:43 AMreport abuse

Nissan Expedition

Just wanted to mention that I don't believe Nissan makes an Expedition, Ford does. It's a Ford Expedition.

By Gina @ 05/13/08 12:30:53 AMreport abuse

Price of Gas

It is a horrible vicious cycle that we will go through to try to be more efficient. But try the latest; Ditch the four-wheeler and Bike to Work, store, and other places. I just came back from Tucson on Sunday and discovered a commitment to The Bike by DOT to dedicate space on the road for Bike Lanes. It makes cents. Plus think of the exercise we all need to increase.

By Donnnee @ 05/12/08 10:30:15 PMreport abuse

Price of gas (fuel)

It is not a demand problem that is spiking up prices. The speculators pushing up the prices. In fact there was a segment on ABC's evening news tonight showing how the amount of cars on the road have decreased. In California toll road revenue is down. Also OPEC announced last week that they had ample supply. All of the inventory records show increased supply. A lot of commodities experts are already calling this a bubble. Perhaps before we start pointing fingers at people's driving habits and trying to explain economics, we should watch a little business news or atleast look into the inventory reports. I am not going to give my Town Car up for a Yaris anytime soon.

By Alecia @ 05/12/08 09:03:15 PMreport abuse

Diesel

I have a 97 VW Passat TDI with 150k miles on it. Which means the engine is just broken in. There is a community of Diesel lovers (wwww.tdiclub.com and www.cincitdi.com). I routinely get about 42 mpg running around town and going to work. On the high way I get upwards of 52 miles to the gallon. I am 6' 5" tall, there is no way I would fit in one of those tiny gas burners that get ok mpg. Also I get better fuel economy than most of them anyway. I have never had a problem finding fuel nor does my car stink or make to much noise, most people don't know it is a diesel. I can also run it on 100% Biodiesel but even VW does not note this publicly. Biodiesel is the way to go... E85 is a joke and they need to make Biodiesel out of Algae instead of food products.

By Sean @ 05/12/08 04:42:46 PMreport abuse

Dumping a gas gussler

Hey Clark, Nissan doesn't make the Expedition, FORD does!

By Shelly @ 05/12/08 02:48:54 PMreport abuse

FYI...Ford manufactures the Expedition not Nissan. What vehicle are you comparing to?

By Matt @ 05/12/08 02:28:28 PMreport abuse

401K loan

You do not pay taxes twice on a 401K loan. The loan comes to you without taxes taken out and is repaid through your paycheck pre-tax. Taxes are paid when you take money out of your 401K in retirement or when you default/do not pay the loan back and do not contribute to the 401K.

By Dick Walker @ 05/12/08 11:38:47 AMreport abuse

Price of Gas (Fuel)

The price per gal is only controled by the demand and the less demand the smaller the price. We have enjoyed for many years lots of supply and not as much demand. So if you wnat to pay less at the pump per year cut out the unnessary trips, car pool, ride the bus, and many other things that will lowers the demand for fuel. Spending addtional total dollars on new cars or hybrids is not the answer. Get out of all payments and have cash to pay whatever the market will bare. If you can't bare the market then change your hadit. Maybe consider moving within walking distance of your job.

By RO @ 05/12/08 09:54:24 AMreport abuse

car

We have four children and need space. Car seats etc..
What would u suggest that would not be a gas guzzler.

By Anderson @ 05/12/08 09:36:38 AMreport abuse

Smaller Cars

The most inportant benefit of replacing a gas guzzler is that you are not supporting the vermin who raised the price of gas. That alone is worth the extra cost of the hybred. I have been replacing my trimmer, lawn mower, blower and other gas powered equipment with electric equipment. I am also waiting for a plug-in car and adding a little more solar power each time electric rates go up. Let's see who has the last laugh!

By PJ @ 05/12/08 06:55:57 AMreport abuse

smaller cars

Nissan Expedition is probably the Ford Expedition, unless your friend has a Nissan product. I don't know what their equivalent behemoth product is called.

By george c. @ 05/11/08 11:45:09 PMreport abuse

"foreign" cars

The funny thing about "foreign" cars is that they're not so foreign. I can speak for Toyota that 80% of their cars sold in the US are MADE in the US, including parts - a huge shift from 20-30 yrs. ago. I keep hearing people say you should 'buy American made cars' or 'keep it American.' Maybe not ALL of my money I spent on my Tacoma stays in the U.S., but MOST of it will, and I don't have to worry about my car breaking down on me near as much! It's made in a America AND trustworthy.

By Glynn @ 05/10/08 10:42:04 AMreport abuse

Smaller cars? How about not driving?

The Prius, ethanol, electric?? They all ways to postpone an unpleasant truth: We've made a huge blunder and built an entire infrastructure that makes no sense!! We spent precious time and resources building isolated McMansions with three-car garages for front doors and shopping centers with asphalt seas for parking lots while neglecting public transportation, sidewalks, bicycle lanes and our environment! Now we have this terrible need for huge amounts of energy, an obesity problem and a warming planet! What a mistake! Ditch the car now and get on a bike! Don't let all those sexy car advertisements sway you! If you live in an isolated place, move as soon as it's practicable to a place with greater density so that you can walk or bike to the shops. Meanwhile, attend your townhall meetings and press for more public transportation and a ban on the silly architecture we have all been accepting for years. If you don't think this is possible, visit virtually any place in Europe where urban planning has been so much more sensible. Cars don't have to be a given!

By Jim @ 05/10/08 08:23:36 AMreport abuse

smaller car trends

That's great that the American public
is finally going towards smaller vehicles. If enough people do buy a small to midsized car they they need and not the behemoth gas guzzlers that are so pervasive, then maybe we won't have to worry as much about the likelihood of
being killed by a large suv or truck.
I just hope this trend becomes more prevalent more quickly so that we can finally see a difference in the entire automotive industry towards fuel efficient, good quality cars.

By joe montagne @ 05/10/08 01:00:14 AMreport abuse

buying smaller cars

i know you talk about foreign cars but what about the american cars like ford or chevys. i found the some ford cars and chevy cars do get better gas mileage than the foriegn cars. and there resell values are good on some models than others. i wish you would tell to your listens about all the maufactures and not just foreign cars and trucks. but other than that i think you are great
thank, mike correia

By Mike Correia @ 05/09/08 04:37:51 PMreport abuse

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May 09, 2008 -- Car buying stats trending to smaller vehicles

What others are saying