Comments on: Canadian Auto Sales Soaring. In a Way.

By: Kman

Kman — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 03:41:20 +0000

Speaking of per liter gas prices…

It finally had to happen one day. I’m driving along and see that the gas prices have shot up to 1.27, up from 1.12 earlier today.

But, lo and behold, what’s this? A lone Ultramar station is still holding out at 1.12.

Zip! In I pull. I wait my turn, because, as one might expect, there is a lineup. (I don’t ever recall a $0.15 jump in day like this; most I’d seen so far was $0.10.)

In any case. Get to the pump, insert card…. card not read… insert card again. Okay, authorizing, authorizing…

…ZING! Price goes up to 1.27 on the pump as I’m standing there. I look up at the digital gas price billboard… 1.12… and zap! Up goes that one too. $1.27.

So it finally did happen with the fast-changing, frequently-changing retail gas prices: I was the one at the pump just before it jumped up.

I put in $5.00 and drove off, dejected.

By: Potemkin

Potemkin — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 22:24:41 +0000

Are high gas prices the reason for pickup sales slumping or is it also the fact that the housing crisis in the US has nuked the construction trade. Contractors are one of the biggest users of pickups and they are hurting. Not only are there few new home starts but a lot of them are sitting on $millions in unsold houses. Pickup sales are further depressed by the fact that with people losing or barely hanging onto their homes there’s no money for DIY renos so no need for a new truck.

By: Brendon from Canada

Brendon from Canada — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 20:20:41 +0000

John B: same price out here in Kitchener – however, I’ve noticed that every day this week and last the price has dropped to $1.04 for a few hours in the afternoon (morning commute price is ~1.12)!

By: John B

John B — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 19:14:03 +0000

“Just to clarify, that’s a $1.25/$1.40 per litre.”

Toronto prices are about $1.15 per litre with no carbon tax planned.

By: prndlol

prndlol — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 18:34:49 +0000

A double-digit increase in sales for the first quarter is soaring sales. The sales already occurred. An 8K hike in forecast sales for the year is a different statistic.

By: beken

beken — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 17:35:54 +0000

I’m still waiting for a few manufacturers to lower their MSRPs to match the current currency situation. Though many have already done some “special time limited offer” pricing, it’s still not reflective if a near par CDN/USD exchange rate.

Those special offers are probably why the sales numbers have improved.

By: rev0lver

rev0lver — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 17:02:07 +0000

Just to clarify, that’s a $1.25/$1.40 per litre.

And in the east the situation is virtually the same

By: dean

dean — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 16:55:52 +0000

Compacts and sub-compacts are certainly leading the charge in the Vancouver area. Lots of Fits, Civics, 3s, Yarii, and even Cobalts and G5s. I’ve even seen several new Aveo/Waves.

I’ve yet to see a new Malibu or Accord sedan, although I’ve seen the Accord coupe.

Trucks and SUVs are getting hammered here right now with gas at $1.25/liter and a new carbon tax on the way in July. We’re expecting gas in the $1.40 range by mid-summer. Good thing my motorcycle gets good mileage.

By: NickR

NickR — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 16:06:56 +0000

I am not sure who the big winners will be. On the oil patch, I am sure pick-ups will get a boost. Out east, economy cars seem to be the order of the day for most people, where the Japanese and Koreans tend to dominate.