WTOL.com, Toledo's News Leader, News 11 | High Gas Prices Not Scaring Car Buyers

High Gas Prices Not Scaring Car Buyers

TOLEDO -- Consumers at the 2005 Toledo Auto Show are shopping for more than the latest vehicle trends.

Locally, gasoline prices flirted with the $2.00 per gallon mark this week. How much higher would prices have to go before vehicle buyers shied away from hot selling SUV's and full-size pickup trucks?  According to Perrysburg resident Heidi Decker, $2.50 to $2.75 per gallon.  

Decker checked out a large Toyota SUV reported to get 15 miles per gallon in the city and 19 miles per gallon on the highway.

Fred and Sherry Clark didn't let high fuel prices stop them from buying the vehicle that caught their eye. "I just bought me a brand new ram. It's not too easy on gas," said Mr. Clark.

The couple checked out a Toyota gas/electric hybrid vehicle reported to get 60 miles per gallon. That's six times the mileage of their full size pickup truck. "I love that. We could go everywhere," said Mrs. Clark.

The 2005 Toledo Auto Show also features hybrid SUV models that satisfy consumer cravings for roominess and safety with better gas mileage because an electric motor runs the vehicle at slower speeds.

One such gas/electric hybrid SUV is the Lexus RX 400 h. "This will give you even better gas mileage in the city than on the highway ... 30 miles in the city. Our regular gasoline RX gives you only 18 miles to a gallon," said Lexus representative Kavita Matani.

Matani also says the company reports 9,500 buyers nationally on a year long waiting list for the Lexus hybrid SUV. The RX 400 h will arrive in dealer showrooms in April.

"Gives you the capacity of a V8 as far as horsepower, but the fuel capacity of a compact car," said Matani.

The Ford Escape gas/electric hybrid arrived on the market in late 2004.

Posted 10:40p.m., Saturday, February 5, 2005 by jcook