$5.00 gas and the 18 mpg city/26mpg Highway 370Z
 

So accord to Motorcities.com the Estimated fuel economy is 18 mpg City/26mpg Highway for both the
7-speed automatic and 6-speed manual transmissions – increases of 1 mpg City/2 mpg Highway for the
automatic and 1 mpg Highway for the manual transmission versus the 2008 350Z.

What does this mean for sales of the 370Z in the current world of rising oil prices, and the clambering for Hybrid technology?

If gas hits $5.00/gal will this change your outlook on purchasing a new Z?
OR
Will Nissan join the rest of the pack and, will we see a 25K base 370Z?

They are saying gas prices are likely to be $3.50/gal again by January, and could hit $4.75 by July 2009. :wtf2:

Thoughts?

All I know is I just paid $1.90/gal... I like it where it is. :tup:

lol, I live in Orlando Fl and I did $1.83 last night and hit the $27 :) on my tank.
I remember in July I was in Miami and did 4.22 a gallon..... hit my tank and my wallet and my visa, and my everything with $68 on my 350z.... at that time when gas was at those prices I was really thinking in other options for the future.
Right now as the oil barrel prices are dropping everything seems to be Ok for those who don't have an economist thought.

I really don't believe that people buying 370z are going to be concerned about gas prices at the time of purchase 'cause they will be getting it anyway if they are just looking to buy a 370z.
If the gas prices go higher they might reconsider the fact that they bought a non particular fuel efficient car with big 19 gallons tank, and probably we could see an big inventory of them at Carmax.
But the person who gets a 370z is because they like it, in most cases he know what he is getting and what to expect of it and Nissan knows.

But yeah, if oil prices roars again at that magnitude, Nissan could feel, for sure, a hit on 370z sells. IMO.

Gas prices are all time low now. I think I just saw $1.82 for 87 and $2.31 for premium. All the car sales are low right now due to economic imbalance. People are nervous to buy new cars. That could be a reason to get really good deals on the Z.

I also agree with "o0javi0o" that, those people who will buy a 370Z, do not care about gas prices. I have never said a single word about gas prices. That's the last thing on my mind. It's like asking a GTR owner if he is worried about 3000 dollar brake job.

I highly doubt gas prices will hit $3.50 by January but I can see it rising may be starting from April-May (or whenever we get those hurricanes :shakes head:)

I should also mention that, I WILL NEVER drive a hybrid. I hate hybrids with a passion.

This is how I feel too, but perhaps that means we are in a different economic bracket as well. The majority of Americans haven't been looking to spend 30K-38K for a two seater. I would even be inclined to say that the majority of Americans right now can't afford a 30K-38K vehicle. When you really have the money a 370Z is overlooked and people go straight for the GTR. Hell I would.
I'm looking to buy a Z because I have a piad off house, 3 paid off cars, and no debt. If that wasn't the case I would be looking for something in a lower bracket, with better mpg.

I still worry about fuel economy with my truck though. All of the economists say that we should look for a spike in Gas by December 20th after the "Big three" bailout talks. Just keep in mind that it took 3 months for gas to go from $4.50/gal to 1.89/gal. 3 months is nothing in the scheme of things.

Just my thoughts.

Would any mods or Admin like to change my subject line of this thread? Some how I got a "c" and a "g" in there before the "$5.00" in the subject line.

1.68 here for a gallon!
:D

I see the original poster's point. How long will gas prices stay at their current levels? If they markedly approach a higher level how will that affect the health of sales for a car like this? I would think that people spending above $30,000 for a performance oriented car would be willing to make concessions in fuel economy. I personally wouldn't be deterred.

If this thing had a V8 I'd be worried about gas prices, but since it doesn't........................who cares???

I'll tell you one thing; hybrids, battery powered cars.........they're all CRAP. Diesel is the future, diesel is the way to go. I'll never guy an electric car for as long as I'm alive. That is until they make something that convinces me.......completely.

The joys of living in hawaii still about 2.60 ish here :thumbsdown:

I don't think that they're going to rise that much. A couple of reasons-
1. A certain someone is already going bankrupt, raising gas prices will piss them off more
2. People are already traveling less and going more green (carpool, bus, walking, etc)
3. With the financial situation, people aren't buying cars (can't get loans). If gas goes up again, then people won't purchase them at all (except the 370z =) ..but you get what I mean)
4. Etc.
5. Yes, I would still get the new Z

Also, in case gas prices do go up, you can use the Z as a weekend car or something and get a v4 for daily driving. But I doubt it'll matter because this car is going to be a blast!!

The cost of gasoline is not gonna go up for a long time. You have to see the economy bounce back before anything. When the economy gets better, the auto makers should know better now that making bunch of gas guzzler/trucks is a mistake, because you will just put your fate in the hands of the oil company

If the gasoline does go up, I think it will peak at around $3.00 at best. People are already started to go green, and for the people who are not, they already know how to control their usage by car polling and public transit...etc. People are already fed up with oil companies making billions of dollars. They make money even if gasoline was $1.50/gal. Last time, they drop the cost of gasoline like crazy when there was a potential alternative fuel technology. Result, people used gasoline and the alternative fuel idea die. This time around, we are smarter. Hence, they even try to cut production just to get price back up. Look at those sucker now!!!

^ You've made a HUGE point. The energy sector and automobile industry will never be the same from here on out. We're moving towards not only using more alternative energy, but alternative powertrain technology, and its' not so much the consumer but society that demands it. In addition, (as mentioned) people that once did a lot of commuting in their own personal transportation are looking to other alternatives as both a cost effective and environmentally-friendly means. This isn't something that will be a short lived trend, this is long term. With all of that said car makers will be producing products that consume less and use alternative forms of energy and propulsion. Combine that with a continuing decline in demand for oil gas prices will surely drop continuously over the long term, permanently.

I don't see gas prices rising again unless there are hurricanes. Blackbullet, you did make a good point. People are smarter now because they have seen it. They have filled their gas tank with $4.35/gallon for regular. Automakers also realized that making gas guzzler is NOT the way to get ahead in the game. I am just hoping everything stays the way it is... Filling up my gas tank with $2.19/gallon premium is :tup: :driving:

As much as I would like to agree with Blackbullet the truth is our current situation is similar to the gas issues which happened in the seventies and eighties.
After major gas hikes, prices did lower eventually like we currently seeing. During that process we saw many Japanese auto makers get their start or first leap. The big difference with now and the 1970s-80s was China was not nearly a factor then.

China has become the new super economy. They dictate oil prices, and they are the ones using the oil. As a consumer, America has taken a back burner to China and our "crying foul" is not really an issue that OPEC feels a concern for anymore. Keep in mind that energy costs are not just from Gasoline. You also have to factor in Natural gas, coal, Crude and light sweet crude, as well as various forms of hydro/wind produced electricity. The majority of these resources now belong to the Chinese markets. Also keep in mind that Asian markets(China) hold 43% of our treasury bills and that means that the U.S. can't scream at China like it used to when they started taking more resources then we deemed fair.

The U.K. has been paying ridiculous prices for petrol for years, and now the time has come for us to feel the bite. I think the current gas prices are just market manipulation by lobbyists and the politicians that work for them.

100 Pence= 1₤
1.00 GBP= 1.53549 USD
1 US gallon = 3.78541178 liters
current petrol prices=92.7P/liter

92.7 x 3.78541178= ₤3.509076
₤3.509076 x 1.53549=$5.388151

In the UK they are paying $5.38 a gallon. Prices are currently down. In some places in June 2008 they were paying ₤1.99 a liter or $11.50 a gallon.

Just food for thought, but I hope the rest of you are right. I like that I can fill the Scion up for $19. :tup:
In the end I'm just an optimistic pessimist. I hope for the best but expect the worst. :D