[terran57]

Back before I moved to NYC, I lived in Colorado. When it came time for me to replace my car, I couldn't see the logic in buying a SUV that would be predominantly used for commuting. So, I countered "convention" thought and bought a sporty Acura RSX with a standard transmission. I loved the simplicity and utility of that car, and I loved the fact that, sometimes (depending on how I drove), I could get nearly 34 miles to the gallon. Meanwhile, my friends driving SUVs would complain every time they had to fill up about how much gas would cost them. After I moved to NYC, I held onto my car for a year in case I needed it. But, once I got used to living car-free, I sold the car to my brother's GF for a song.

Unfortunately, there are only a few cities in the USA where one can live car-free. However, it's maddening (to me) how many people choose to buy the biggest, least economical vehicle. On the other hand, it's quite fascinating how marketing has successfully imprinted on the American driving public the "need" for such vehicles.

[mrguyorama]

It becomes obvious that those people don't actually care that much about gas prices, since they could have bought a prius or camry hybrid or similar from honda would quite simply halve the amount they pay for gas, but nooooo that doesn't fit their weird culture to have to have a giant car.

[CalRobert]

I'm not a huge fan of Dave Ramsey but I had a coworker who listened to him years and years ago - and I remember he made a good point about how everyone focused WAY too much on gas prices. "Remember when gas was $3 a gallon and you felt poor? Well it's a buck 25 now - do you feel rich?". (This was around 2008 iirc)

If we had giant signs showing the price of milk at every intersection people would focus inordinately on that too.

[lostmsu]

Toyota hybrids can do similar 30+ MPG on SUVs.

[evomassiny]

For a fair comparison, hybrid cars can easily do 50+ MPG. For instance the "toyota yaris hybrid" is supposed to run 62MPG (3.8L/100km).

[maxerickson]

At recent US gas prices, 10,000 miles at 25 mpg costs less than $1600 in gas. At 50 mpg it's gonna be less than $800.

Most of the people spending $30,000+ on a new vehicle aren't going to be concerned about that difference, they are going to buy what they want based on other factors.