Good time to sell SUVs

[elysianfields]

According to this NYT article (http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/08/business/used-full-size-suvs-are-making-a-comeback.html), prices for used full-sized SUVs are headed back up, despite their pitiful gas mileage and rising fuel prices.  Now may be an especially good time to dump yours, if you have one, and buy a bicycle or a Zipcar membership.

[Matt K]

The best part of this post for me, even better than the idea of dumping an SUV and getting good money for it, is that google (or whoever provides the adverts at the bottom of the page) decided now would be the perfect time to advertise a Brand New Ford F-150 to me.

I'm surprised by the article, it presents an image of responsibility on the people buying the SUVs. These people are buying them because the increased price of gas is less than the car-payment on a newer more fuel efficient vehicle, and these vehicles are being bought not as commuters, but as weekend toys to do what smaller cars can't (tow boats and transport lots of people). While better options exist, I'm glad this wasn't the "big SUVs are cool again, we want big manly trucks!" article I was expecting to read.

[adam]

On a side note, this:

In 2008, when gas prices first reached $4 a gallon, Americans could not trade in their hulking trucks and S.U.V.’s fast enough, and the castoffs piled up at dealerships as their value seemingly plunged by the hour. A year later, hundreds of thousands of additional gas guzzlers were sent to scrap yards through the government’s cash-for-clunkers program.

along with GM's financial issues at the time is how I got a $34k Trailblazer for $22k at the time.  New.

I've since rectified that mistake (sort of, still need to tow and haul the dog around in the older replacement SUV, but we try not to drive it otherwise).

[igthebold]

I've since rectified that mistake (sort of, still need to tow and haul the dog around in the older replacement SUV, but we try not to drive it otherwise).

You need this: http://blog.modernmechanix.com/dog-rides-comfortably-in-sack-on-running-board/

;)

[adam]

Oh. My. God.

[Jamesqf]

...no one would actually strap their dog to the side of their car.

Paging Mitt Romney!

[trammatic]

I actually bought one of these last week to arbitrage it.  I found a Ford Excursion about 300 mi away worth about $9k here on sale for $4550.  Bought it, brought it back, and am getting ready to flip it.