Does the current spike in fuel prices increase the appeal of the Slate?

[KevinRS]

I suppose it is hyperbole to say there is no correlation, but my assertion is that it is a fairly weak correlation, and not durable. There was a CBO study a number of years ago on it, and I think they found that in the mid 2000s, a $0.60/gal change in gas pricing was linked to about a 4-5% change in market share between small cars and SUV/trucks. That's not nothing, but it isn't the sea change usually described.

Looking quickly at F150 sales, here is a chart of the YoY change in F150 sales overlaid with the YoY change in average gas prices. Again, you can see a little influence, but it isn't strong. The early 2010's were great years for F150 sales, even while gas prices were increasing.

2015-2017 are a bit more "as expected", gas prices are dropping and sales are going up. 2020 to 2022 sees an increase in gas prices and a drop in sales, but COVID and the massive economic shocks there seem to outweigh the gas price element. 2023 and 2024 also great years for trucks, even with reasonably high prices again.

So really I think my point is not that people entirely ignore fuel prices, but that we aren't actually talking about that big of a range of changes over 20 years, and there are much bigger things that people are looking at when choosing their vehicle. You said yourself that you chose the Tundra over the Tacoma when faced with the same economic conditions.

With truck sales, customer choice may be partially overridden by need. A lot of those truck sales were for businesses, that NEEDED a truck.
If the numbers left out actual trucks, and just compared sales of small and larger passenger vehicles, they might be more meaningful. Even better if it compared high and low MPG passenger vehicles.

 

[phidauex]

With truck sales, customer choice may be partially overridden by need. A lot of those truck sales were for businesses, that NEEDED a truck.
If the numbers left out actual trucks, and just compared sales of small and larger passenger vehicles, they might be more meaningful. Even better if it compared high and low MPG passenger vehicles.

I suppose that is exactly my point, most people have a need they are trying to fulfill, business or personal, and a 5-10% shift in annual operating cost is not usually going to be enough to overwhelm that need in the way that a 20-30% shift would be.

 

[bartflossom]

I have many reasons to want the slate but gas prices are a small one. My biggest is just getting away from ICE. As I age I look back at all the times the Rube Goldberg contraption that is an ICE drivetrain has left me inconvenienced or worse. As much as I've always loved the sound of V8s, I'm just ready to be rid of what seems to me to be a never ending string of hassles. Your mileage may vary.

 

[KevinRS]

With all this comparison of gas vs electricity costs, most (not saying all) should at least look into the cost/benefit of adding at least some solar panels if it's possible.
One thing that's practically guaranteed is that both gas and electricity prices will rise.

 

[mikell]

Filled up for $3.69 yesterday in Southwest Michigan and my neighbor said it was $3.15 yesterday about 50 miles north.

 

[cadblu]

I think fleet owners will begin to really appreciate the Slate in view of high fuel prices. Local landscapers in this area are already adding a fuel surcharge in their contracts. The US Post Office will soon be implementing an 8% rate increase on package services to recover losses from gasoline and diesel fuel. It's always the consumer who is penalized, on top of paying higher prices to fuel our own vehicles.