Do they have a crystal ball?

They've got some kinda balls...

LOL @ fools who ride around in empty SUVs. Get a sedan or coupe, and watch in amazement as your gas budget begins to look so much brighter.

At least Ford and GM have some intelligent people working for them. Product planning is a much wiser investment than hedging against gas prices.

@ Dan,
The problem with your statement is that you are requesting someone purchase a car that might not work for their needs.

Also, if they trade their SUV in, then they will not get the best trade in value or private sale value. Then there is a tax, tag, etc charge. Humm, anything else I miss with a new or used car purchase just to save money on gas?

back at Dan:

I didnt tell anyone to go purchase a new car. However, I'm laughing my ass off at people who are obsessed with the image of wealth and bought a vehicle that is overkill for their needs, i.e. a Ford Excursion or similar simply for commuting to work on the highway 20 miles round trip a day.

Now, if you actually NEED a vehicle of that size, then that is drastically different. Towing a boat, hauling large amounts of materials, dumb enough to have 8 kids, etc.

Trade in value? Private sale value? What ever happened to just driving what you have until its repair costs are higher than the cost of a new vehicle? Why do people always have to have a new car!?!? It's that stupid obsession with wealth, and lack of financial education.

Trade in values and such are down, OH NO, I guess it just sucks for them. They shouldn't have been living so frivolously in the first place, but no, they had ot keep up with the Jones's. Just like the fools whos houses are now on foreclosure because they didn't learn what a baloon clause was, or they didn't compute how much they could realistically afford.

People's mistakes, of any kind, are a result of poor decision making. Poor decision making is a direct result of lack of education.

Moral of the story: Read books. Learn to run your finances with realistic goals, and stick to your budget.

@Dan:

I couldn't agree more. I will never tell anyone what they should or shouldn't buy. However, for my own personal experience I reevaluated my situation and made changes accordingly. I owned a 2000 Honda Odyssey that was rock solid and reliable (I have 2 kids and used to own a large dog). The kids are growing up (no strollers. large car seats and the dog passed on). The vehicle just sat in my driveway 80% of the time and was not as efficient as my other 2 commuter cars. I sold it last month and my wife and I drive in 2 efficient commuter cars (both long since paid for) and will drive them into the ground. (No payments + lower fuel bills = increased savings.)
Now, I am like pretty much everyone who posts here. I love cars and am intrigued by new model designs et al. But, I am old enough to wait until the daily/monthly maintenance costs become too much before I sell or donate any of my cars. (both are at least 8 years old and over 100k mileage). I agree with your assessment. Too many people succomb to their wants and not their respective needs when it comes to a new vehicle. Usually buying (or fleece , I mean leasing) a vehicle that is above their needs. Trading said vehicle in while owning more than the value and starting a long descent into upside down car payments. Trade in values usually do not apply to me, because I drive them into the ground long after the payoff.

@Dan#1

You can now put your hammer away after hitting that nail on the head :)

I was going to add a comment but I think you covered all the bases there...

On another note, is it me or the suzuki on the picture looks liek it's is crying?

On another note, is it me or the suzuki on the picture looks like it's is crying?