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I completely agree, with sub-$5/gallon gas, we're a small niche. However, I also recall car shopping for the GF who was in a 18mpg SUV in the summer of 2008 and having only a handful of options that were sub-$15k 30mpg+ cars that were in stock. There was a 180 day waiting list for the Mini-Cooper. While she eventually compromised on a used Protoge-5, because she hates the styling of Hondas (much like I hate the styling of the Prius), there's the potential for a flash market in a sudden spike in oil prices.
I agree, it's tough to keep a 40+mpg car on the showroom floor just for a few thousand units a year, but if you're the only game in town and you can ramp up production quick enough, you've got a hell of a winner. In the end, until gas prices go up and stay up, the population in this forum is not going to be happy with the choices.
As for the Smart Car, I think it's ahead of its time and we'll see them become the Geo Metros of the era (a small committed fan base that saw the real value).
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