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Pain at the pump is felt most by those with big trucks and cars.

Manny Martinez said his car is a beast at the pump, but like many drivers, he's not willing to part with it for a more fuel-efficient vehicle.

"It's a hog," said Martinez. "It's got a big V8 in there, but you know what, I don't care. I'm going to enjoy my car. Let it cost what it costs."

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Rising gas prices did not keep Americans from buying large pickups and SUVs in February, according to sales results from leading automakers.

Industrywide U.S. auto sales shot up 27 percent compared to a year ago, according to sales tracker Autodata. That's well above forecasts of about a 19 percent increase. The sales rate was the best since the Cash for Clunkers program, and at that pace, sales could reach 13.4 million vehicles over a full year.

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Texas -- A transporter truck loaded with big, gleaming SUVs growled past a station in East Arlington selling gas for $3.65 a gallon.

Workers at the nearby General Motors Assembly Plant, where 3-ton Chevrolet Tahoes, GMC Yukons and Cadillac Escalades are built, appreciate the apparent contradiction.

Despite gas prices that guarantee $95 fill-ups on the SUVs, the plant -- GM’s only manufacturer of full-size sport utility vehicles -- works overtime every week and expects extra...

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Naples resident Tom Tadych thought the Mercedes 350 E he leased around this time last year was going to be the perfect ride for him and his wife. And it was until he drove it back north to Egg Harbor, Wisc.

"It rode quite nice down here," Tadych, 64, said. "It had the sports suspension on it and I think a lot of people would have been fine with this car. Mercedes is a wonderful automobile, but the roads down here differ tremendously from the roads up north."

Tadych signed a 39...

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LeaseTrader.com recently discovered its users aren’t offering much of an incentive for another individual to take over their Toyota Prius contract.

In fact, site officials determined cash incentives from drivers looking to unload their Toyota Prius lease contract are averaging near zero, down sharply from an average of $450 in January.

As a comparison, LeaseTrader.com noted listed incentives within the SUV segment have gone up only slightly — from $1,075 in January to $1,150...

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Despite a flurry of speculative concern about supplies of the Toyota(TM) Prius, U.S. car buyers apparently are not changing their buying habits regarding Japanese cars, according to statistics compiled by online sites.

Any concerns over Prius supplies are likely to recede given Toyota's announcement that it will resume production of the vehicle on Monday. Edmunds.com said it saw virtually no change in the number of site visitors who researched at least one Japanese car during the...

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Rising gas prices did not keep Americans from buying large pickups and SUVs in February, according to sales results from leading automakers.
Industrywide U.S. auto sales shot up 27 percent compared to a year ago, according to sales tracker Autodata. That's well above forecasts of about a 19 percent increase. The sales rate was the best since the Cash for Clunkers program, and at that pace, sales could reach 13.4 million vehicles over a full year.

Read More...

In 2008, the last time gas prices took a steep turn north, consumers went out in droves to trade in their trucks and SUVs for smaller, more fuel-efficient vehicles. Some local car dealers say they’re beginning to see that again, now that prices are back up to $3.50 a gallon and predicted to continue climbing.

“We’re just starting to see that now – within the last 30 days or so,” said Rick Labrie, senior vice president of Toyota of Nashua. “The Prius has got some renewed action...

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Sure, we all know instinctively that American interest in compact and hybrid cars closely follows the ups and downs of gas prices. It’s just as clear that many hearts and minds are staying with SUVs and pickups, even as shoppers are forced by economics to slip into something smaller. Even moderate dips in fuel prices bring them back “home” to big vehicles.

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Rising gas prices did not keep Americans from buying large pickups and SUVs in February, according to sales results from leading automakers. Industrywide U.S. auto sales shot up 27 percent compared to a year ago, according to sales tracker Autodata. That's well above forecasts of about a 19 percent increase. The sales rate was the best since the Cash for Clunkers program, and at that pace, sales could reach 13.4 million vehicles over a full year.

Read More...