Is the price of gasoline continues to hover around $4 a gallon, and draining household budgets, local car owners are taking a more critical look at the gas-guzzler in the driveway.
The time may be right to trade.
Annelle Edwards of Marietta is one car owner who is seriously thinking of trading in her 10-year-old SUV.
"Gas savings is a big thing, of course, but even more important, my parents are aging and have trouble now getting in and out of my car," said Edwards, 56.
She considered a new hybrid vehicle to glean the benefits of battery power from time to time, but isn't certain that would be her best choice.
"I'm just not sure," Edwards said. "It's almost too much of a change for me."
Energy efficient cars, even hydrogen models, are on the market, but haven't made much of a dent in the local market. People are curious about the newer technology offered, but not always ready to make the leap of faith.
Car dealers say the family budget often dictates what car is purchased.
"A lot of people can't afford to buy a new car or hybrid and actually may need an SUV to get around," said Cris Kapple, manager of Garfield Pre-Owned Autos on Greene Street. "For a family with three or four kids, those smaller cars just aren't going to work."
The dealership hasn't seen a drop-off in sales of SUVs in the past month or so, he said.
"People buy small cars and they may have to use two cars to transport the family, which actually uses more gas," he said.
Bill and Cheryl Wiegal shopped for a small car for their son, Kyle, 15, at a Williamstown car dealer Friday.
"We noticed the mileage signs on the car windows in the lot and stopped by to look. We just started looking," Cheryl Wiegal said. "When we bought our SUV and our diesel truck, gas mileage wasn't much of a factor. Now it's more important."
Last week Pioneer/Family Pre-Owned Autos, 100 West Third St., Williamstown put mileage numbers on the windshields of the cars on the lot. It's most typical that the price of the vehicle has that coveted position.
"People today want to know about mileage," said Tom Leonard, manager. "However, there are so many people that don't realize our later model trucks (2004 and up), because of the design of the engines, actually are getting good gas mileage."
He said the biggest rush of shoppers and buyers came last month.
"A lot of people are trying to get out of SUVs and diesels, but we still sell a lot of both," Leonard said. "I believe gas costs hurt the full-size market more than anything else."
As he cozied up to the steering wheel of a bright blue Mustang on the lot, Kyle Wiegal smiled, seemingly less impressed with the classic sports car's 26 miles per gallon rating than its shine.
"For a 6-cylinder automatic to get 26 mpg on the highway, for a sports coup, that's not bad," salesman Todd Moellendick said. "With gas prices the way they are, this is an issue nowadays."
The Wiegels, of Parkersburg, decided to continue looking. Their son won't get his license until October.
In Marietta, Ged Gardner, sales manager at Pioneer Chevrolet, Cadillac, Chrysler Jeep on Ohio 7, said when he started in the business 27 years ago, gas was $1 a gallon.
Front windows of the cars on his lot also carry miles-per-gallon information. It may be a trend that catches on.
"If you have a gas guzzler, with the tremendous manufacturer's incentives there are now, there is no better time to buy new, than now," he said. "I've noticed that in the past week, business has increased tremendously."
The majority of newer cars and trucks in the fleet today have good gas mileage, he said.
Gardner said Chrysler is bringing out the Aspen hybrid soon and it is expected to be less expensive than earlier hybrid models from other companies. Of the hybrid in general:
"If a person keeps it long-term, I can see where you might save in fuel costs," he said. "But if you trade off every few years, the short-term value isn't there."
Kapple said it takes about seven years to recoup the additional cost of a hybrid (balanced with less cost in gas).
"With hybrids, I found the way they are designed that the 'switch-over' (to electric power) is better designed for stop-and-go traffic areas, like New York or Los Angles. It's great for commuters in those high traffic areas," Leonard said.
For average drivers in the Mid-Ohio Valley, savings may not be as great.
"In the long run, in this area it is costing them more money," Leonard said.
