>>>>>>>>>Ah, but then your government must have been willing to sass the oil companies. That's just not the case over here. Here the government has more of an a$$ ki$$ing sort of relationship with the oil companies.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>Sadly true. I already asked Terry how the British government did it. I think if we threatened the oil companies and oil producing nations they would hit us back twice as hard in the form of "shortages" and even higher prices. They've got us over a barrel.
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>>>>>>>>We (speaking in a general way; you probably drive a very sensible car) don't make it any easier with our love of huge gas guzzling vehicles.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>I drive a VW Cabrio. It's not exactly a gas guzzler, but it's not as good in that vein as my previous car which was a VW Golf Deisel. I really wish this one was deisel. On the other hand, I don't really drive all that much. I commute to work on the commuter train (GO Train in Ontario), but I drive to the GO station (about 9 km = about 5 and a half miles). That's really most of my driving during the week. On the weekend I'll do more driving, but compared with most Torontonians, I drive very little.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>What really kills me is the shear number of SUVs I see around. They truly are ubiquitous. When I go to a mall, I usually park well away from the buildings in the parking lot suburbs, but invariably when I come out to my car I'm surrounded by SUVs. I think they see a small car and instinctively surround it. I still dream of the day when I can see to get out of my parking spot.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>If I understand correctly, you drive alone. Some people may have extended families so they need in bigger cars. Also, driving in rural areas generally assumes 4-wheel cars. We lived in NY upstate for a year and had to switch from Corolla to RAV4 by that reason, it wasn't safe to use Corolla in winter time there.
>>>>>
>>>>>Sure there are people (like one of my nieces) who do need a big vehicle because of the number of people they drive around, but I doubt very much that includes anything remotely near the number of SUVs on the road. for example, my brother (in Tennessee) drives an SUV. Why? because it appears more upscale than a regular car. He an my sister-in-law are the only two people who really use the car.
>>>>>
>>>>>All up and down my street there are SUVs, and I rarely have ever seen more than three people in them.
>>>>
>>>>It means that gas is too cheap regardless any 'collusion'. However, trend is changing. Toyota is the best-selling company now with the most popular brands of Camry and Corolla. It is difficult to expect oil going lower than $50, so gas prices will be at least around $3 (in USA) for all foreseeble future, so gradually value of gas-economical models will increase.
>>>
>>>Camry and Corolla have been best selling cars here for a number of years.
>>>
>>>On the issue of SUVs and gas prices, just because some fools have more money than brains doesn't mean that gas is too cheap. It may at most, mean that gas is too cheap for them. But there are also people who have all but given up driving because of gas prices, and their lives are much diminished because of it. There are also people driving rust heaps because they can't afford new cars, and they can't afford to fix up their existing cars because the cost of gas drains their resources. Try telling those people that gas is too cheap. You can't just pick one segment of society and say, "Because they seem ok about it, things must therefore be ok."
>>
>>Obviously, some generalization will exist in any statement. I meant that gas is cheap in general sense, e.g. comparing to other countries or to income or to other expenses, etc.
>>By the way, brains are usually go together with money. It is generalization again, and every rule has exceptions, but no exception crosses out the rule.
>
>Ordinarily, I'd agree with you, but when vanity overrides good sense, what brains are there, are not being used. Anybody willing to destroy the environment just so people will think they are economically successful, is not, imho, an intelligent person. As you say, some do need the larger, heavier vehicle, but I respectfully suggest that a majority who drive them, really don't.
>
>I also find them more dangerous for the rest of us because, the way I see it, part of good driving, defensive driving, is the ability to see what is happening ahead of you, and with an SUV in front of me, all I can see is that vehicle. I want to see further up the road.
>
>Of course, I'd probably be less intolerant about it if they didn't insist on parking beside me at the mall.

As every person who drives Corolla I have strong dislike for SUV crowd, especially those driving things suited more for military than for civilian areas. At the same time, as long as they are willing to pay more at pump, not much could be done about it. To give you fuller picture I have even stronger dislike to those driving SUVs and preaching moderation and environment protection to others.