Report: Number of cars in the U.S. dropped by four million in 2009

[wtmusic]

"2009 was not a good year for car sales. No surprises there. An interesting side effect of lowered sales last year, though, is that the total number of vehicles in the overall U.S. car fleet dropped. There were 250 million cars here in 2008, and only 246 million at the end of 2009. We may have been buying fewer cars than we usually do in a year – there were around 10 million sold in 2009 – but we still got rid of 14 million units."

http://green.autoblog.com/2010/01/04/report-number-of-cars-in-the-u-s-dropped-by-four-million-in-20/

Is America's CarKKKulture in peril?

[lapfog_1]

1. no job and can't afford to drive anywhere, why have a car? - n/t

[Don Caballero]

2. I find this news very cool and good

I am a bike commuter and would love to see more people riding. My carbon footprint is equal to thousands of other carbon polluters.

[Viking12]

3. Registration lapses or decommissioned entirely?

I wonder what effect Cash for Clunkers had?

[wtmusic]

4. C4C was a wash as far as total vehicles

- a new car took the place of every one retired. I believe they're only counting cars that haven't been scrapped, but more details at the 11 AM press teleconference tomorrow.

From another source:

"...And the overall drop in car ownership has prompted speculation that the long American love affair with the car is fading. Analysts cite such diverse factors as high gas prices, the expansion of many municipal transit systems, and the popularity of networking websites among teenagers replacing cars as a way of socializing."

<>

"The institute is issuing an analysis Wednesday that contends the drop in 2009 isn't a one-time fluke caused by the recession, and that U.S. car ownership is likely to be entering a longer-term decline that will see the fleet drop by another 25 million by 2020."

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/us-car-ownership-shifts-into-reverse/article1418860/

[TxRider]

5. I haven't bought a new car in 13 years

People may have just bought used if they needed a car.

Not too fiscally bright to buy something that loses a few thousand in value the instant you get in drive it off the lot, and then pay on something that you owe more than it's worth for years.

[madokie]

6. To some that may be true

I prefer new but I've bought used too, about half and half. Actually if I put a pencil to it I think the new ones I've purchased have cost me less in the long run even considering the losses at the front. It's only a loss if you turn around and sell it, remember that. I'm still driving my last new f150 '98 model and have been driving it payment, repairs free for 6 or 7 years now. More than likely I will be still driving it in another 8 or 10 years if I don't wreck it or something. Looking at the big picture and In the long run I think new is cheaper.

[avec]

7. Its better

People are being wiser now on how to spend their money. On the brighter side, bicycling is a good exercise and you don't add up to the polution. :applause: