Car sales continue to drop as more americans choose pickups, minivans and SUVs. A recent study by the University of Michigan's Transportation Reseach Institute shows one reason SUVs continue to fly off the lots is cheap gas prices, another is better fuel efficiency.
But Bill Wolters, president of the Texas Automobile Dealers Assocation, says SUVs and crossovers have simply replaced the family station wagon.
“Those vehicles are replacing the passenger car for a lot of families, for a lot of women, for a lot people with children and people with pets,” says Wolters.
“We don't have station wagons, we have SUVs,” he added. “SUVs provide a lot of utility for people that a car does not, and women control the majority of sales of new vehicles anymore.”
And new SUVs and crossovers a lot cooler than the traditional family wagon or sedan.
“You can drive those to the country, the opera or the ballgame, and as you will notice, Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Lexus are not making minivans,” says Wolters.
On the plus side, used car buyers will continue to see rock bottom prices.