The H2 Hummer is being phased out.
[QUOTE=Bosstone]
Like the others have said, there’s no need to sell what’s been flying out the door already. I can’t find any scooters at the motorcycle dealers near me; none of them predicted how many people would switch to two wheels this year. Demand is outpacing supply pretty nicely, so why waste money on advertising?
Also, that Honda shop was probably an anomaly. Both times I’ve set foot in a dealership, a salesman was on me immediately. One let me be after he said they were out of scooters and I could just have a look around, while I had to work to shake off the other.
[/QUOTE]
They didn’t even have prices on most of the motorcycles. I just don’t think that dealership is in the selling-motorcycles business. 
Either that or we look incredibly impoverished. Possible.
As of the last few months, the F-150 is no longer the top selling vehicle in the USA. Ford has to move them somehow.
All the car makers have been way too slow with electrics and hybrids though.
You would think that some major car manufacturer would buy the big scooter people - like, why isn’t Ford trying to own Vespa? That would be the smart move.
Ford is busy laying off 10% of its workforce. I doubt that Vespa would be interested in a merger
[QUOTE=Happy Scrappy Hero Pup]
As to the automakers not getting it, here are rationalizations I’ve heard:
“Some people just NEED a truck.”
[/QUOTE]
Some of us do. Some of us are contractors. I can’t put 20 sheets of drywall in the back of a Prius. A Focus won’t haul my tools.
Please, don’t act as though everyone could do just fine with a Vespa, and the world’s energy problems would be solved. 
[QUOTE= danceswithcats]
Some of us do. Some of us are contractors. I can’t put 20 sheets of drywall in the back of a Prius. A Focus won’t haul my tools.
[/QUOTE]
I said I’ve heard them. Didn’t say they were untrue.
Believe me (although not from personal experience, although if I had the disposable income I would totally try it just to see what happens) you can’t pull out stumps with a Prius.
[QUOTE=Happy Scrappy Hero Pup]
As to the automakers not getting it, here are rationalizations I’ve heard:
…
“I’m too tall for small cars.”
[/QUOTE]
This would be me. I sat in a Hummer H2 at an auto show once, and I could have used more kneeroom. For me, a full-size truck is the only reasonable option.
[QUOTE=Pseudocode]
This would be me. I sat in a Hummer H2 at an auto show once, and I could have used more kneeroom. For me, a full-size truck is the only reasonable option.
[/QUOTE]
Not necessarily. I have a Jeep Cherokee (admittedly a compact SUV) that feels a bit snug. On a long trip I never have room to stretch my legs. My Prius is much more comfortable, legroom-wise. (And the back seats in the Prius are far superior to those in the Jeep.) My '66 MGB has an amazing amount of legroom.
90 degree turn?
[QUOTE=Johnny L.A.]
Not necessarily. I have a Jeep Cherokee (admittedly a compact SUV) that feels a bit snug. On a long trip I never have room to stretch my legs. My Prius is much more comfortable, legroom-wise. (And the back seats in the Prius are far superior to those in the Jeep.) My '66 MGB has an amazing amount of legroom.
[/QUOTE]
I guess I should have mentioned that I’m 6’11". And I’ve been to several car shows for the express purpose of sitting in as many vehicles as possible. It turns out that legroom is not usually the biggest problem for me. It’s headroom, visibility through the front windshield, and kneeroom (center console design is a big factor here).
I agree that most people, even tall people, can fit in other types of cars. Just not me. Although if you know of any other options (used cars perhaps?) I would be glad to hear about them.
[QUOTE=Pseudocode]
Ivisibility through the front windshield
[/QUOTE]
Heh. That’s the one problem with the MG. The top of the windscreen frame is right at eye level, and the glass itself is so small I imagine it’s similar to looking through the periscope of a tank.
Tried a Matrix? The ‘Tall Wagon’ design isn’t bad. My 6’8" friend never had trouble with his head in mine.
[QUOTE=danceswithcats]
Some of us do. Some of us are contractors. I can’t put 20 sheets of drywall in the back of a Prius. A Focus won’t haul my tools.
Please, don’t act as though everyone could do just fine with a Vespa, and the world’s energy problems would be solved.
[/QUOTE]
How’s about a diesel Transit van?
[QUOTE=Johnny L.A.]
My '66 MGB has an amazing amount of legroom.
[/QUOTE]
Heh, I had a 78 MGB. The seats are about 4" off the floor, so when you sit down your legs are almost straight out in front of you. You feel like you’re sitting on the road, which is sort of neat. The footwells are very deep though.
[QUOTE=Pushkin]
How’s about a diesel Transit van?
[/QUOTE]
Psst… they don’t sell 'em here. Transit’s always been a Euro-only model.
[QUOTE=The Them]
If I had any money…
Grabbing a huge SUV at a severe markdown appeals to me. I’d outfit the thing so as to make sure I won’t have to be homeless when things get worse.
[/QUOTE]
I bet you could fit a queen sized mattress in the back of a Hummer… 
[QUOTE=Really Not All That Bright]
Psst… they don’t sell 'em here. Transit’s always been a Euro-only model.
[/QUOTE]
Dodge/Freightliner has one that looks almost identical, apparently this one was designed by Mercedes. Not sure how it relates to the Ford Transit.
http://www.fl-sprinter.com/
http://www.dodge.com/en/2008/sprinter/
[QUOTE=control-z]
Dodge/Freightliner has one that looks almost identical, apparently this one was designed by Mercedes. Not sure how it relates to the Ford Transit.
http://www.fl-sprinter.com/
http://www.dodge.com/en/2008/sprinter/
[/QUOTE]
I suppose if Pushkin just meant, “hey, try a van” the Sprinter would work. (It’s a lot bigger than a Transit, incidentally)
Today’s xkcd goes rather nicely with this thread
(SFW)
[QUOTE=ralph124c]
Interesting how the japanese didn’t see this one coming-I mean why did NISSAN, HONDA, TOYOTA decide to build full-sized trucks? They are not selling at all! Which leads me to believe that this fuel price jump blindsided everybody.
Either way, it is proof 9at long last) that the Saudis are tapped out-they can raise their daily output 9at most) by 200,000 barrels-a far cry from their claims of (being able to double their output).
yep, the oil is running out-this time, its for real! :eek:
[/QUOTE]
Toyota sold a whole bunch of Tundras when the new 2007 were released. Their numbers don’t indicate that they aren’t selling at all. Even if they aren’t, they sold a lot more than they would have had they stayed with the old body style.