I read over the weekend that the registration of RVs in Jan of this year was down 26% as compared to a year ago. They attributed this to the increase of fuel prices over the last year. I wonder how many current small RV manufacturers will go the way of Barth.
Posts: 136 | Location: IL | Member Since: 08-25-2005
Originally posted by devolo: I read over the weekend that the registration of RVs in Jan of this year was down 26% as compared to a year ago.
So now what happens is there will be a glut of newer motorhomes and the used prices could go down more. Like everything, this is cyclical. Today fuel prices hit $70+ a barrel and there's talk about 3.50 a gallon this summer.
Without ticking anybody off (might be hard) the "Big Oil" will get richer and the middle class will get poorer. There will be less for us and more for them. I think the economy is strong right now, I hope this doesn't produce a down tick in the economy.
It's only cyclical if the price of oil comes down again to reasonable levels. We need stability in the middle east, alternative fuels, etc. It's hard to say what will happen and when, if ever.
Posts: 136 | Location: IL | Member Since: 08-25-2005
Big Oil isn't causing the prices...market forces are. China and India, becoming more affluent, are much bigger users of oil, and that has driven prices up. Couple that with restrictions on US domestic exploration and production, and more and more oil will be imported, at higher and higher prices.
Where it'll hurt the most is those workers with gas-guzzlers on a tight budget who commute 30-60 miles to work daily.
For me, prices have little impact, but I'm fortunate: I fill up the (diesel) truck about every six weeks, and the car maybe once a month, and unlike those commuting workers, I have no mortgage, car payments, nor family to support .
I don't think we'll see a "cycle" until Middle East sweet crude hits $85/barrel. BTW, there are 42 gal/barrel.
Rusty
"StaRV II"
'94 28' Breakaway: MilSpec AMG 6.5L TD 230HP
Nelson and Chester, not-spoiled Golden Retrievers
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Posts: 7734 | Location: Brooker, FL, USA | Member Since: 09-08-2005
Don't want to get political and won't because our national problem with oil dependency seems to go on no matter who is controling the White House and/or Congress. I have a few questions: 1. Why haven't there been any new refineries built in the U.S. for umpteen years? 2. The middle east accounts for only 12% of our oil imports so why does anyone care what a bunch of religious fanatics do in Iran? 3. If we can put a man on the moon in 10 years (that's what JFK did), why can't we have a fleet average of 35 mpg in 30 years?(that's how long it's been since the gas crunch of the early 70,s). I would certainly like to see the thoughts from Barth owners who by their very act of owning something like a Barth, sets them apart from everone else.
Originally posted by humbojb: 1. Why haven't there been any new refineries built in the U.S. for umpteen years? 2. The middle east accounts for only 12% of our oil imports so why does anyone care what a bunch of religious fanatics do in Iran? 3. If we can put a man on the moon in 10 years (that's what JFK did), why can't we have a fleet average of 35 mpg in 30 years?
NIMBY attitude of the American public. We have had cheap gas for far too long and this has made us complacent. No windmills in the Ocean's - no refineries in my back yard - no oil drilling in the Arctic reserve - etc. It takes crisis to get people to react. Higher oil will hurt in the short term but should make us stronger down the road. We live in the McDonalds age of instant gratification and no-one seems to see long term anymore!
Most of us remember what happened when the Middle East cut off our oil in the 70's. There was an oil embargo. Speed limits were lowered, fuel was rationed out, productivity fell. We remember the bad times clearer then the good times and "Big Media" harps on the negative!
We "need expensive oil" to force any changes. We have been riding the gravy train for too long! Why fix it (cheap oil) if it isn't broke. Now that it's broke we want to pull up to a McDonalds and get instant relief? No silver bullet here. It is not going to happen without sacrifice!
How refreshing to hear(read) such a pragmatic view on the subject. I wish that was more commonplace in NorthAmerican society today. Could one dare to think how our society would be different if in fact political niceties were more rare and honest pragmatism more common. Fred Weeks
fred weeks
Posts: 13 | Location: unity,sask,canada | Member Since: 03-28-2003
I know I am starting to sound like my dad used to but, even with all of the talk about poverty and the disappearing middle class we all just have too much money. Or at least we have enough money that we don't sweat spending $40 to fill the tank. When it was only me working in 1971 and I was making around $5 an hour as an inspector in a circuit board shop. I paid around $8 to fill up my Pinto. Now I suspect a guy or gal running an AOI machine in a circuit board shop makes around $20 an hour and it costs $30 for the same amount of gas.
I think the big dif is that my 4 bedroom 2 bath house on a 1/4 acre in Simi Valley, CA costs $25K and was affordable. Today that same person would have to spend maybe $325K or more for the same house and couldn't come close to affording it.
However, before we go on to do all these comparisons I would have to point something out. If I would have got Hodgkins disease in 1971 I would be a dead man, today it is 90% curable. Differeances and tradeoffs for sure.
Posts: 557 | Location: Eden Prairie, Minnesota | Member Since: 02-07-2006
Originally posted by Dave Bowers: However, before we go on to do all these comparisons I would have to point something out. If I would have got Hodgkins disease in 1971 I would be a dead man, today it is 90% curable. Differeances and tradeoffs for sure.
A car in 1971 was 3-5k and the house was 35k. Today the car is 35-45k and the house is 250-350k. 35 more years and the car will be 250-300k and it will run on hydrogen
Posts: 5924 | Location: Newburgh, New York | Member Since: 05-10-2003
Originally posted by Bill N.Y.: So then Bill H, how else are we going to supply the fuel cells... Lightning?
Perhaps it is time to re-read Tesla. At least the papers that were not confiscated by the Feds. Did you know he was involved in the Philadelphia Experiment?
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84 30T PeeThirty-Something, 502 powered
Posts: 6169 | Location: AZ Central Highlands | Member Since: 01-09-2001
Somebody is trying to get a refinery built 40 miles east of Yuma....will be a couple of years before it goes online if they can get the permits and financing worked out. Tesla and the Philly experiment?....yeah i know about that, Tesla was an interesting guy.
Posts: 878 | Location: Left side, top to bottom and back again. :>) | Member Since: 09-08-2003
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