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If Gas Were $5.00 Would You Still Buy a WK2?

9K views 67 replies 36 participants last post by  MSCA 
#1 ·
Just curious if the price of fuel would impact your purchase decision. I'm looking at replacements for my '07 Overland but I'm torn between something similar to what I have ('11 Overland) or something a bit smaller and more fuel efficient (Ford Edge AWD). I just wish Jeep had the 8 speed trans for the Hemi now. And now the talk of much higher fuel prices in the near future has me more perplexed.
 
#55 ·
I would still buy GC. I think it's important to look objectively at actual delta in costs of x vehicle vs y vehicles fuel efficiency vs utility and one's own economic situation. In my opinion, better fuel efficiency is nice, but 1, 2 or even 5mpg difference or $1-2/gallon shouldn't (i say "shouldn't", but it does) drastically change decision, especially for higher end vehicle like GC.

For example, let's assume at 70/30 hwghy/city my hemi can avg. 17mpg vs X vehicle at 22 mpg. driving 15,000 miles/yr I would need 882 gallons for GC and 682 in vehicle X at $3/ gallon this is a $600/yr penalty. at $5/gallon its $1,000 or a $400 decision if you were going to buy GC at $3 gas. So if your circumstances are similar and can't afford the extra $400/yr then could get the v6 or pass on options. yes, you can buy a completely different class of vehicle and achieve greater delta, but that is a different discussion and well addressed in this blog.

for me the 24 gallon fuel tank and great range was huge plus and more important than a few mpg savings in a fwd based crossover.
 
#56 · (Edited)
I drive 12,000 miles a year. At $3/gallon my Wk2 (assuming 17mpg) will cost me $40 more per month than I was getting with my Volvo V70R (I averaged 22mpg, sticker said 16 city/23 highway). At $5/gallon it will cost me $67 more per month. I can live with that.
 
#60 ·
I make my purchased based on functionality, so yes I would even at $10 per gallon. Nominally saving a MPG here or there doesn't make enough difference for me to sway my decision. People will just cut back driving again and drive the prices back down. There were studies that proved $5 a gallon wouldn't last long and would not be sustained for 15 more years.
 
#62 ·
Believe it or not, i was seriously considering a Chevy Volt. Yeah I know I ended up at the other extreme, but there were many reasons why I was interested... fuel economy, technology, environment, politics, etc.

The only reason I didn't was fuel wasn't that bad, and I REALLY needed a new car as mine was on the fritz and the Volt was about 4 months away - plus I wasn't sure I could get my hands on one.

So here I am with my Overland. So to answer the question, yes gas prices would have influenced my decision, but there were certainly other factors that lead to the Jeep. And I'm happy I did went wiith my choice!
 
#66 ·
This is an interesting discussion. Look at the sales numbers for the Jeep GC in 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004... when gas was $1.20 (or so) per gallon. Today, gas (in my area) is $3.00 and Jeep is poised to outsell or at least match the volume when gas was less the half its current price.

Sure, on the margin larger, gas guzzling vehicles will sell fewer vehicles when gas prices surge (basic micro economics). But a quality vehicle that consumers desire (and can afford) will continue to sell.
 
#67 ·
$5 per gallon is a real possibility. I would certainly buy the WK2 with the Hemi again. That price of fuel doesn't effect me as much as it may others however. Keep in mind that only 25% of a barrel of oil is used to distill into fuels for vehicles...the remaining is used for plastics and other compounds used in other products. If gas goes to $5 per gallon, the prices of EVERYTHING will go up and hitting your wallet more than just driving. It will change peoples behavior, except for the ones that have large amounts of disposable income.

However, I think this claim by the former CEO of Shell has other motivations. I'm sure he is still a consultant to the energy sector in some form or another. The Obama administration has banned new drilling in the Gulf of Mexico for 7 years as a result of the BP oil spill...a absolutely ridiculous response in my opinion. His motivation may be to get policy changed. And by the way...did you also know that this administration gave millions of dollars to Brazil and other countries to come to the Gulf of Mexico to drill for oil...something that really baffles me. So what is my point? $5 per gallon is going to happen eventually...we just don't know when. As a country, we DO NOT have a comprehensive energy policy. If you are unhappy about the $5/gallon possibility...contact your Congressman. We have the resources here in the US to help keep prices low, but we are not using them or we are giving them away. Voices of the masses are a powerful motivator for Congress. Regardless, $5 per gallon is still cheap compared to the rest of the world...middle east excluded.
 
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