According to the May ‘08 sales figures reported by Autoblog and The Torque Report, the F-150 was outsold by the Honda Civic (#1), Toyota Corolla (#2), Toyota Camry (#3), and Honda Accord (#4)! Both the Civic and the Corolla sold over 10,000 units more than the F-150. If other automakers weren’t serious about selling more small cars in the U.S. already, you can bet they’re getting more interested now!

Some of the other numbers reported are just as amazing, such as the fact that the HUMMER division of General Motors sold less than 2,000 vehicles total (all models) last month, a decline of 61% over last year’s figures. Meanwhile, MINI sales are up 47%.

It seems to me that folks in the U.S. are finally changing their buying habits because of increased fuel costs. As much as I’d like to think that environmental concerns might also play a role in this shift, I have a feeling that this change is mostly due to the fact that gas is still hovering around $4 a gallon and doesn’t seem to be going anywhere soon.

Cnet.com’s most recent Car Tech podcast (episode 69) also shares some interesting buying trends with regards to used cars. Not surprisingly, large SUVs and pickups are depreciating at an alarmingly quick rate, along with large luxury cars. However, there has been a surge in interest among used car buyers for old fuel-sippers such as the Geo Metro, Honda CRX, and just about any older VW model with a diesel engine. It seems my chance at finding a low-mileage diesel VW Golf for a reasonable price is growing slimmer and slimmer.

While I don’t often watch news on the television, last night I happened to catch a story about how prices had skyrocketed across the area. People seem to be taking it pretty hard, and the question of “what are we gonna do” was getting asked quite a bit. Of course, I think the answer to this will be different for everybody.

I know that for many people one way of dealing with high fuel prices is by driving less this holiday weekend. In fact a common theme among the many news stories about this topic was the fact that people were planning on not traveling as much. Wow … big surprise there.

But that’s just one weekend. High gas prices aren’t going to be getting lower any time soon. Gas will most likely stay at or above $4/gallon for a while, and the longer it stays there the more likely it is people will find ways of dealing with it.

My theory is that most people will come to terms with high gas prices in one of three ways:

1. No change in driving habits - These are the people that you’ll see quoted in the news saying things like “gas prices are so high I can’t afford to xyz …” This is not to say that everyone in this category will whine about it. Some will simply be financially able to spend more on fuel without too much personal suffering. The increase in fuel expenditures for people in this category will come out of other areas of their budget, either intentionally or not. They’ll keep on driving their big, inefficient cars/trucks/SUVs the same way and the same amount they did before, they’ll just pay a lot more to do so.
2. Minor changes - These are the folks who will be skipping out on major holiday travels this coming weekend because of gas prices. They recognize that at some point continuing to live as if gas is as cheap as it was 5 years ago is no longer possible. They may start to carpool (or do so more often) and may even go so far as to really think about how often they need to drive to the other side of town and plan their in-town trips with efficiency in mind.
3. Major changes - And finally there are those who will see the $4 mark as the sign to start taking drastic measures. These people will consider (and in some cases enact) major life changes to cope. Things like buying a more fuel efficient vehicle, walking or biking to work, or even changing jobs or housing to cut down on driving. Of course, some of these changes will be more effective than others in the grand scheme of things, but effectiveness is not what will land people in this category. What will is the willingness to make such big changes.

Part of the reality of our current fuel prices is that they are still much lower than most other developed nations. France, Germany, the United Kingdom, and Italy all had average gas prices of $5.50/gallon or greater as of March 2005, when the U.S. was still paying less than $3/gallon on average. The rest of the world has been dealing with this for a lot longer than we have, so maybe we should start looking at how they have dealt with it:

• Smaller cars - While U.S. automakers shrunk many cars during the last gas crisis, and many have continued to make compact and subcompacts, large cars, trucks, and SUVs are still commonplace on our streets and in our driveways. Anyone who has travelled outside of the U.S. can tell you that cars aren’t so large everywhere else. I am reminded of my recent trip to Brazil, where cars such as my own Volkswagen Passat seemed like land yachts compared to most other vehicles on the street. In fact, most automakers build and sell many smaller, more efficient models that they do not make available in the U.S. due to a perceived lack of demand. This does seem to be changing some, as Ford prepares to bring back the Fiesta (which never went away overseas) and other automakers start to introduce their pint-sized models to the U.S. market.
• Less cars - Another common trait of cities elsewhere in the world is streets full of bikes. When gas is so expensive that people cannot drive cars they rely on alternate means of transportation. For some this means bicycles. For others this may mean motorcycles or scooters. When I was in Italy 10 years ago I was amazed at all the little scooters people were riding around. I had never seen such things growing up in the States. However, similar scooters are now commonplace even in Richmond, IN. These times, they are ‘a changing.

So where do you find yourself fitting into all of this? What is your answer to “what are we gonna do?” I find myself falling somewhere between minor and major changes. If I’m honest with myself (and with you all) then it’s probably more towards the minor side. I do ride my bike around town and put a lot of thought into when I’m going to drive my car across town and what I’m going to do once I’m there. I’m planning on getting a newer, more efficient car, but that’s more because my old one is falling apart than because I want something more efficient. I will admit that fuel prices played a part in how far away I was willing to consider driving for work post-graduation. Thankfully it now seems I won’t have to drive very far at all. But that’s another post.

So let’s hear it … what are you gonna do???

For my earth day post about cars I’m choosing to blog about how some of the current trends in the automotive world aren’t as green as they may seem to be: hybrids and corn ethanol. I’m excited about the fact that our car-loving culture is trying (pretending?) to find ways to reduce its impact on the planet. However I have some serious doubts concerning whether hybrid vehicles and ethanol derived from corn will be the saviors they’re sometimes purported to be. In some cases they may not even be any better for the environment than the cars we drive right now …

Hybrids

A while back there was a bit of a stir when an article appeared in a college newspaper alleging that the Prius outdoes the Hummer in overall environmental damage. While I don’t necessarily agree with everything the article says, I do think that some folks who are trying to be environmentally friendly conveniently overlook the environmental implications of manufacturing hybrid cars. All current model hybrids use some type of nickel-metal hydride battery pack. Manufacturing such batteries requires a great deal of energy and resources. While the specific process outlined in the original article may be somewhat dubious, there is no denying that some amount of damage is done to the environment in the manufacture of these batteries, even if only from generating the energy used to produce them. Therefore, each hybrid car sold bears some amount of additional environmental burden that it must overcome before it can be considered better for the environment than a traditional car.

Hybrids are en vogue right now, with new models popping up every day. Everything from full-size SUVs (Chevy Tahoe Hybrid) to large luxury sedans (Lexus LS 600h) to “mainstream” family cars (Saturn Aura Green Line.) What’s more is that often these hybrids, despite all of their illusions of environmental grandeur, barely get better gas mileage than their gasoline-only counterparts. The Saturn Aura Green Line is a prime example of this, with the hybrid version achieving an EPA average only 2 miles per gallon better in both city and highway ratings.

I’m sure there may be ways, such as “plug-in hybrid” technology, to make hybrids more eco-friendly with regards to the big picture. However, most current hybrids seem to be little more than an attempt by the automakers to cash in on the latest marketing fad. Unfortunately, this is ultimately happening at the expense of the environment.

Corn Ethanol

This country has more corn than it knows what to do with, so why not try turning it into a fuel source? Flex-fuel cars capable of running on ethanol have been around for years, however it has only been within the past few that automakers have begun touting this capability on a large scale. At first blush it seems like a good solution. It gives corn growers an additional opportunity to sell their crops and it helps reduce our dependence on foreign oil, right?

What we consumers don’t often hear is the fact that refining corn-based ethanol only results in roughly 25% more energy than it takes to produce it. In addition, even though ethanol has a higher octane rating than gasoline it contains less energy per gallon, which means that vehicles running on E85 ethanol (85% ethanol, 15% gasoline) only achieve about 75% of the fuel mileage they would on gasoline alone. That means your car that gets 28 MPG using gas would only get 21 on E85 and your SUV that gets 15 MPG on gas would drop to 11 MPG. Ouch.

The government currently subsidizes the production and sale of corn ethanol so that it can be priced attractively less than gasoline. But unless it is priced 25% less than gas it still ends up costing the consumer more. According to the Daily Fuel Gauge Report the energy-adjusted price of E85 is currently about 30 cents per gallon more than regular unleaded gasoline. And that still doesn’t reflect the actual cost of ethanol because of the government subsidies.

So if corn-based ethanol is such a lost cause, what other options might there be? Soy-based fuels, such as soy biodiesel, often have a better energy balance than corn ethanol, but involve some of the same risks with regards to over-farming and competing with food sources. One alternative that I think has some merit is cellulosic ethanol, which can be refined from just about anything that has ever been alive. This includes products that are often discarded like corn stalks and wood shavings from lumber yards. Many proponents of cellulosic ethanol are currently looking towards switchgrass, a perennial grass native to the North American plains, as a viable source for ethanol production. Current estimates put the energy yield from refining switchgrass at 540% (compared to corn ethanol’s 25%.) The first cellulosic ethanol refineries have yet to come online, but when they do ethanol may finally become a truly viable alternative to gasoline.

Personally I find myself most excited by efforts like the smart fortwo where auto manufacturers are being ecologically mindful at all steps of the production process and seeking to create very efficient “conventional” cars. Even though I have my doubts about whether I could personally justify getting a smart car, it would be great if more car companies would follow a similar model of environmental management and recycling in their own business practices.

So what are your thoughts on the current (not-so) green fads in the auto world? Think I’m being a bit too critical? Want to voice your hearty support? Hit up the comments and speak your mind! You can also check out Scientific American’s article on switchgrass ethanol and Popular Mechanic’s article on converting cellulose directly to gasoline for more reading on this subject.

(To help envision the potential savings of each of these tips I’ll do a little math using some baseline figures. In order to see how much you could save, lets pretend your car gets 20 MPG, you drive about 12,000 miles a year, and a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline costs $3.29, which happens to be the national average as I’m writing this.)

1. Get Pumped Up

Most cars driving on the road today do so on under-inflated tires. You can find out what the proper pressure for your vehicle’s tires is by checking the driver’s side door jamb for a sticker with the information or looking in your owner’s manual. Tire pressure gauges are very inexpensive and easy to use. Most gas stations have air pumps or you can buy your own that will run off your car’s power socket. Checking your tire pressure every two weeks and keeping your tires properly inflated could help you get up to 3% better gas mileage. While that may not seem like much of a difference (from 20 to 20.6 MPG), over the course of a year it adds up to over $50.

2. De-Junk Your Trunk (And Lose the Rack!)

The heavier your vehicle is the more fuel it will need to get from point A to point B. This is one of the reasons big SUVs and trucks use so much of it. One easy way to lighten your load and increase your fuel efficiency is to keep the inside of your car cleaned out. An extra 100 pounds can decrease your mileage by up to 2%. The smaller and lighter your car is the more you will benefit from this. However, not all cargo is necessarily carried inside your vehicle. Large, bulky roof racks can also greatly impact fuel mileage. This is due to both their weight and their poor aerodynamics. Removing a large accessory rack from your car or SUV can provide a 5% or greater increase in MPGs. Taken together, these result in a savings of $130 annually using our figures.

3. Slow It Down

When driving down the interstate peer pressure is a powerful thing. When everyone else is doing 75 MPH it feels foolish to not do the same. However, slowing down just a little bit on the highway can provide a huge savings in fuel economy. Under about 45 MPH the primary resistance a car encounters is rolling resistance between the tires and the road. Above 45, air resistance becomes the biggest factor. Air resistance increases exponentially with speed, so the faster you go, the more your gas mileage drops. The math on this one is difficult to estimate, as it is hard to tell what percentage of your driving is done on the highway, at what speeds, and how aerodynamic your vehicle is. According to the U.S. Department of Energy it’s safe to say that each 5 MPH you drive over 60 MPH is like paying an additional $0.20 per gallon. Let’s say that you switch from driving about 3,000 miles annually at 75 MPH to doing the same at 70 MPH. That’s at least a $30 savings. Plus it’s safer too …

4. Breathe Deeply

Ok, this one may require getting your hands a little bit dirty. But just a little bit, I promise! In order for your engine to operate as efficiently as possible it needs lots of fresh air. Your car’s air filter makes sure that air is as clean as possible when it enters your engine. After a while the filter begins to get clogged, which is not necessarily a bad thing because that means it’s doing its job! Once the air filter starts to get dirty your engine can’t get as much air as it needs, and it begins to run less efficiently. Most manufacturers recommend replacing your car’s air filter every 12,000 to 15,000 miles for peak efficiency. This may seem like a lot of air filters, but replacing a dirty air filter can increase your car’s mileage up to 10%! That’s a jump from 20 to 22 MPG and a savings of $180 in a year, which is definitely worth the cost and trouble of replacing a $15-$20 air filter.

5. Don’t Sit Idly

Excessive idling can wreak havoc on fuel mileage. Remember, when you are sitting still idling you are getting exactly zero miles per gallon. You may have heard that starting and stopping your engine repeatedly will produce excess wear. While this can be true, if you have a relatively modern car and take care of normal maintenance like oil changes and tune-ups then you have nothing to worry about. Here again the size of your car can make a big difference. The larger your vehicle’s engine the more fuel it will use while idling. Sometimes idling is unavoidable, but times like sitting in line at the drive-thru or waiting to pick up a friend are perfect opportunities to shut down your engine and get more for your gas money.

Assuming all of these tips apply to your situation, these 5 tips combined could result in a whopping 20% increase in miles per gallon. In our hypothetical scenario that’s a potential yearly savings of around $350! I know there are plenty of other ways to increase your fuel mileage and decrease the amount of money you spend on driving around, so feel free to share some of your favorite tips and tricks in the comments.

And as always, your mileage may vary …

Friday5 is a weekly column that lists five items on a theme drawn from one of the various categories covered by From Bits to Bites & Windshields to Worship.

As we contemplate what car to buy when it is time to replace this one, we are facing many of the same factors as other car-buyers in the US. Gas prices are high and are only predicted to go higher. The economy is heading downwards and that means there is less money to go around in general. I also worry about the continued detrimental impact on the environment of burning so much gasoline and the amounts of hazardous chemicals that go into making the batteries of all these new-fangled hybrids.

Since this will be our first “big” car purchase, we have already begun contemplating some of the options that will be available to us.

Option 1: Used VW Golf (or Jetta) TDI

We really like the small diesel-engined Volkswagens, such as the Golf and the Jetta. We have known some people who have had such cars and they report regularly getting between 40 and 50 miles per gallon. There is a local fueling station that carries soy bio-diesel, which would further help with environmental impact issues. However, these are very popular cars right now and they are quite difficult to find in the used market with low miles and reasonable prices. In addition, VW has yet to release a diesel version of the new Rabbit, which replaced the Golf a couple years ago. And so, while this remains an option, our chances of finding one of these in our price range in good condition with low miles are very slim.

Option 2: 2008 smart fortwo passion coupe

Though the smart fortwo is a rather unorthodox little car, we are both open to creative solutions to our car needs. We have actually gone so far as to visit the smart dealership in Indianapolis to test drive one of these. (You can read about our visit at my wife Becky’s blog.) I’m impressed by the engineering that has gone into making this tiny little 2-seat micro car. It has boatloads of technology such as brake-assist, traction control, stability control, etc. It is even relatively fun to drive!

The fortwo is not without its shortcomings however. I was less than impressed by the sometimes-sluggish gear changes from the “automated” manual transmission. In addition, its EPA mileage ratings aren’t really that impressive (33/40) considering all the sacrifices you make for such a small car. The first owners of the new-to-the-US 2008 fortwo have just begun taking delivery of their new cars, and so I am anxious to see what sort of mileage they experience in the real world. I am also a bit put off by the fact that they only come with a 2 year warranty and I fear that parts for them could be rather expensive. Another potential downside of the smart is that they are currently in very high demand. There is currently a long waiting list and it could potentially be a while before we would be able to get one.

Don’t get me wrong, I really like the smart and all that it stands for. It’s truly all the car that most folks would need for the chores of daily commuting and running around town. I also really like that they are concerned with environmental issues surrounding the entire production process. However I am interested not only in the environmental aspects of getting a more economical car, but also the financial aspects. The smart fortwo, with the options we would want, retails for about $15,000. There are quite a few cars in that same price range that get 75-80% of the gas mileage the smart gets, but have amenities such as cruise control and a back seat.

Option #3: 2008 Nissan Versa Hatchback SL

Since I’m not feeling very confident that we’ll be able to find a Golf or Jetta TDI, and I’m having second thoughts about the smart, I’ve started doing some research on other cars in the same price range. I still want something small and very fuel efficient, but also able to go on weekend road trips when we might want to leave our larger car at home. My research has recently led me to look more seriously at the Nissan Versa hatchback. For about the same money as the fortwo, the Versa SL with a 6-speed manual transmission is rated for 26/31 miles per gallon. Not too shabby for a small wagon with a back seat and a usable trunk. If you opt for the CVT instead of the manual the mileage rating rises to 27/33. Part of the draw of this car is the 6 speed though, so the CVT would have to be really good in order for me to forgo the manual.

I’m drawn to the Versa because it doesn’t come across as your typical, stripped-down econobox. In other markets, where it has been sold for several years as the “Tiida,” it is actually marketed as an entry-level luxury car with options such as navigation and leather seats! With all this in mind, the nagging questions that I keep coming back to are long-term cost of ownership and practicality.

I imagine that whichever car we choose it will be driven approximately 20,000 miles a year or less. After doing a little research and some math, the Versa looks like it would probably cost about 20% more annually for fuel. At a pessimistic $4 a gallon that translates to about $500 a year. At $3.50 a gallon it becomes a $400 difference annually. Real-life numbers would inevitably more complex than this little exercise however. Getting a slightly larger car like the Versa would mean that we could use it for longer trips, thereby saving money by not taking our larger car which only gets about 28mpg on the highway. It’s not a huge difference, but every bit counts. Once you start to account for driving a somewhat more efficient vehicle more often rather than a much more efficient vehicle less often, it is difficult to discern what vehicle would make for the best overall “fleet economy” for us.

So how wise of a purchase would a smart be, all things considered? For now the answer seems unclear. There are many factors that will play into our decision that are still a bit murky. How high will gas prices go? What kind of mileage will drivers really experience in the new smart? How difficult will it be to get one? Would we be comfortable taking it on day trips to Indianapolis or Dayton on the busy interstate? Only time will tell. I’d be interested in hearing your thoughts in the comments section. Stay tuned over the next few months, because I have a feeling this could be a bumpy ride.