2007-03-18 02:26:08 · 10 answers · asked by henry f 2 in Business & Finance ➔ Small Business
Because big autos guzzle more gas.
TYVM for the two points.
2007-03-18 02:28:51 · answer #1 · answered by skip 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The sales of big autos declined because of the price of gasoline. Instead of spending a few dollars to fill up a vehicle that got poor gas mileage, it cost a lot. That is when all the small imports got their start such as Honda and Toyota. Not only was the price of gasoline higher but there was a gas shortage. You could only buy gas on even or odd number days depending on your license plate. If it ended in an odd number, you could buy gas on Tuesday and Thursday only. Sometimes you were limited to $2 in gas and no more. Lines were everywhere for gas and people with the big cars simply didn't have the gas to drive them anywhere anymore. Detroit should have caught on quicker as to what was happening instead of just waiting for the gas prices to go down and supply to go up.
2007-03-18 09:40:04 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
When OPEC began the oil embargo, the price of gasoline went from $0.21 to $1.50 per gallon. After the embargo, the price of gasoline only dropped to $0.79 per gallon. Such a large price increase makes it hard to drive a car that gets 8 miles to the gallon. Also, in 1975 car makers had to begin installing catalytic converters on all new cars to help control pollution. The catalytic converters dropped the horsepower of automobiles which made the big vehicles even less efficient. These reasons along with a terrible economy from 1975 to 1981 made it hard for people to afford to drive the large vehicles.
2007-03-18 09:39:03 · answer #3 · answered by duediligencebeforeinvesting 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The gas crisis in the early '70s (around 1973 if I recall) started getting people conscious about gas consumption.
Another issue that kicked in later on, more toward the 1980's is that Japanese auto makers were steadily making cheaper, better, and more reliable cars than the U.S. auto makers were, and they quickly gained popularity.
2007-03-18 09:34:38 · answer #4 · answered by Ralph S 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Didn't you just answer your own question?
Big automobiles use a lot of gas. If the price of gas goes up, it costs even more money to buy gas. People don't like to spend money unless they have to.
2007-03-18 09:28:44 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Other than the obvious reason of people not being able to afford gas for cars that got fewer miles per gallon?
2007-03-18 09:28:55 · answer #6 · answered by bibliophile31 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ever hear of "Gas Guzzlers" 10-12 miles per gallon?
2007-03-18 09:30:15 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Becuase pimps started driving Toyotas and Datsuns.
2007-03-18 09:37:16 · answer #8 · answered by surffsav 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
because with all the smog regulations and stuff the car companies could not keep up with the laws.
And the Buying public was fooled into thinking that smaller is better.
2007-03-18 09:31:13 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
dah....are u that lame?
2007-03-18 09:28:35 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋