A survey by Kelley Blue Book says that new car shoppers are giving up Starbucks to help offset the cost of $4 gas. Sorry, big green mermaid lady! The KBB study results reveal that 28 percent of new-car shoppers have stopped going to Starbucks or other coffee houses entirely, and 21 percent indicate they are going less often due to skyrocketing gas prices.
“What was once a frequent occurrence such as the morning trip to Starbucks or taking the family to a ballgame just isn’t as financially feasible when $4-per-gallon gas must also share a place in the budget,” said Jack R. Nerad, executive editorial director and executive market analyst for Kelley Blue Book and kbb.com. “The fact that nearly three-quarters of new-vehicle shoppers see this as a permanent situation demonstrates the enormous effect that skyrocketing fuel costs can have on not just the auto industry, but the entire American economy.”
Not everyone is sad, however. The Toyota Prius is dancing on the grave of the latte (and the Hummer?). KBB says “sixty-two percent of shoppers say that gas prices have either changed their mind or made them think strongly about vehicles they normally wouldn’t have considered.”
GAS PRICES CAUSE NEW-CAR SHOPPERS TO CUT SPENDING, BELIEVE SITUATION IS PERMANENT [KBB]
(Photo: Paxton Holley )
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@RodAox:
A Hummer H3 gets 13-18mpg, which depending on what you are replacing, could be considered “decent” gas mileage. I’ll be getting a different vehicle soon, and because of my lifestyle, and the lifestyle I want to continue to have, I’ll be getting a small SUV that gets maybe 15-20 mpg. No matter what crazy schemes my brother comes up with, there’s no way I can get one surfboard, let alone two, on top of a smart fortwo. And is it just me, or is the fact that it only gets 33-41 mpg just insane? That thing should be getting much better mileage.
@Jetgirly:
I know it’s accurate, but the concept of driving so you can walk makes my head asplode. Kinda like riding the elevator 5 floors to walk the Stairmaster or driving 5 miles to run 2 miles at the track.
you mean some people thought the high gas prices were only temporary? idiots! lol get used to it, high gas prices are here to stay
Wow was gonna forward a link to the image here to a colleague but the file name wasn’t too good for work environs.
@humphrmi: To get anywhere where hiking would be an option, I would have to drive for at least an hour- here in Mexico (I’m here for five months for work) or in my Canadian hometown. In Mexico, even going for a pleasant stroll would require driving somewhere fairly far away, as there are NO parks or walking trails anywhere near my house. Now that we’re in the rainy season the air quality isn’t too bad (if you don’t mind the torrential downpours), but earlier in the year there were plenty of days when we were advised to avoid all outdoor activity within the city due to the air. In Canada, I can usually find an okay place to walk without having to drive, but it’s neither strenuous (which is good) or particularly pretty. So yes… there are times I would rather walk to a Starbucks than drive somewhere to go hiking. Would you feel better if I walked to a taco stand or something? Find me a taco stand in Guadalajara serving one vegetarian taco and I’ll happily walk there!
So no one noticed they were interviewing people looking to buy new cars?
If their budgets are being hammered by the cost of energy, perhaps they could save even more money than their starbucks by not buying a new car, the biggest single money throw-away for Americans who aren’t buying overpriced houses in CA.
Oh good. Maybe they’ll stop building the damn things on every available inch and knocking historical buildings over to put in a damn Starbucks. Overpriced coffee milkshakes.
@LatherRinseRepeat:
You know, I just don’t understand all the hoopla about the $4 price tag on a cupcake from Sprinkles. Honestly, the cupcakes are incredibly delicious and quite large. It’s not as if they’re serving up cupcakes you’d make at home with a box of Duncan Hines mix.
At $4, I think it’s very reasonably priced for an occasional indulgence. And it should be occasional — you shouldn’t be eating dessert every day unless you want to be soft around the middle.
Luckily for me, my local starbucks is down the block and I’m selling my car. I have joined the human transportation movement–yay Bikes!
Like there isn’t a Starbucks within walking distance of nearly every inhabited point in the U.S.? When I was in Portland, Oregon, I couldn’t believe there was a freakin ‘bucks 1 block away from another one, and then a few blocks from that, there was an intersection with one literally kitty-corner from another one! WTF?!?
I live in a small bedroom community of 5,000 homes with no industry and Starbucks even built one here. At our local ‘big’ town 12 miles away, there is a Starbucks in a mall directly across from a Barnes & Noble bookstore… which has a Starbucks inside.