Volt may be dropped by GM

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

GM really had some issues with brand overlap, but the phaseout of the Kappa platform was worse than the retirement of the Pontiac brand.

[Magician]

Originally Posted by redpoint5

The story I read says it's among 6 sedans being considered for discontinuation. Even if they axe the Volt, it will be produced through 2022. The reasoning is that sedans are not popular now that gasoline is so cheap. Consumers are rushing to buy crossovers, SUVs, and trucks.

By the time they made the switch in production, which takes 4 years, gasoline prices will have likely shot back up. Seems the auto industry is always half a decade behind.

If Chevy cuts the Volt, I bet they would replace it with a similar crossover.

Here's the article.

Gas prices are highly unlikely to go up much over the next 10 years... I know people in the oil industry and they seem to think not very likely.. so many things have changed in the market favoring low pricing... especially technology.

I hypermile because I think it's enjoyable being a cheap skate. I don't buy all of the CO2 propaganda... I've seen so many predictions go awry by those idiots...

[rmay635703]

Originally Posted by Magician

Gas prices are highly unlikely to go up much over the next 10 years... I know people in the oil industry and they seem to think not very likely.. so many things have changed in the market favoring low pricing... especially technology.

I hypermile because I think it's enjoyable being a cheap skate. I don't buy all of the CO2 propaganda... I've seen so many predictions go awry by those idiots...

Gas prices would be over $4 if we removed subsidies

As a country we feel the need to subsidize semi trucks, perhaps we need the will to push the issue?

[Magician]

Ok... well explain why diesel fuel is much cheaper to refine, but cost so much more.... I know the answer... but want to see if you can pull yourself together to put the correct answer out there without your political beliefs getting I the way.

[oil pan 4]

State and federal tax diesel more than gasoline.
In NM diesel is around 30 cents more per gallon, most of that is the states high diesel tax.
Before 2007 diesel was cheaper to refine, after the ULSD mandate and the cost of out fitting refineries with ULSD equipment, increase maintaince costs due to the nature of the rare earth catalyst used and supposedly the ULSD refinement is done at a higher temperature than before too so I don't know any more.

The same can be said about electric vehicles. With out handouts most electric vehicle models would die off.
Even with $4/gal gas a lot of people wouldn't be able to afford additional thousands upon thousands of dollars more the electric vehicles cost.

[rmay635703]

Originally Posted by Magician

Ok... well explain why diesel fuel is much cheaper to refine, but cost so much more.... I know the answer... but want to see if you can pull yourself together to put the correct answer out there without your political beliefs getting I the way.

You should have asked why I would support gasoline when the refinery makes 1/3 less pollution to produce a gallon of diesel vrs a gallon of gasoline, and the refinery makes more pollution per gallon than the car burning it, lost opportunity I guess.

anyway

In the last 17 years gas has been cheaper than diesel 2/3's of the time, meaning around here it's sometimes cheaper than gasoline

Explain why when you graph gas prices vrs diesel that when gas prices are higher diesel is usually lower and when gas prices are lower diesel goes higher?
A simple Graph shows the behavior around here like clockwork. Diesel high = gas low and Visa versa
(Comparitely over the last 17 years here at least)

Originally Posted by oil pan 4

State and federal tax diesel more than gasoline.
In NM diesel is around 30 cents more per gallon, most of that is the states high diesel tax.

The same can be said about electric vehicles. With out handouts most electric vehicle models would die off.
Even with $4/gal gas a lot of people wouldn't be able to afford additional thousands upon thousands of dollars more the electric vehicles cost.

I guess that explains why TSLA does so well selling $100,000 plus vehicles that make the $7500 look like chump change.

[Magician]

Nice explanation!... and now one can easily determine from your points that government has driven up costs of diesel... strange since it's a much more efficient fuel... and much safer.

[redpoint5]

Yeah, I bought into the peak oil hype a couple years ago and believed petroleum prices would skyrocket, but recently I changed my opinion.

Sure, peak oil will happen, but alternatives will ease the transition, and there are exotic oil extraction methods that can help control costs, such as fracking, shale, and deep water rigs.

[Xist]

I often say that giving customers what they want is usually good business, but occasionally automakers can convince consumers to want what they give.

Another reason we are not their target audience is because many of us do not purchase new vehicles. We do not purchase vehicles that start falling apart when the warranty ends, we choose ones that last far longer.

I save as much gas as I can because I have better use for my money than sending it to rich Canadian Sheikhs, but I still have not had any money left over...

People insist automatic transmissions are more efficient than manual ones when they usually do worse in the real world. We compared a Camry and a Toyota SUV and Toyota did not seem to provide any incentive to purchase the sedan.

If the SUV costs the same and delivers comparable fuel economy, they are slacking on the sedan.

I do not know where the profit is in there.

[Xist]

Don't they also have light truck wheels?

My forester was a light truck. I figured AWD and the clearance meant something. My sister calls her crossover an SUV, but the Traverse is built on a modified Malibu frame, and while AWD was available, she did not choose it for her soccer mom car.

She complains about needing to purchase truck tires.