Max,
cars are not a status simbol any more.
Not for normal people, I would say, since too many fakes are around, and also because car models are too similar, so that I can’t distingue a Citroen from a Subaru and a Ford.
The most funny thing is that a fake Ferrari (made close to Naples, of course) do cost €. 20.000, and, in this case, sorry the boaster in me, I would go for it!
Maria Giovanna
ps I drive a Ford to help american economy!
pps I’ll be in Milan for the week, I’ll write you when I’m back.

Re-phrased are our views of cars shifting from status symbols to utility? Just looking at the US I believe it would be a good bet; with rising energy cost, food cost, and housing increases leaving less and less disposable dollars.

It looks like there’s no stopping the oil bull run. And with the poor state of the world economy, I would say yes it’s a good move by the car companies. But even better.. how about investing more in hybrid cars? Or for that matter, ANY means of alternative fuel? The first company that gets that right wins the lottery.

Does anyone remember the Yugo? That brings back memories of a very similar period of low oil availability, growing gas prices, and economic threats from every conceivable market. My opinion is that this has happened before and will probably happen again. All the car manufacturers went on the small economic car bandwagon. As soon as the threat was gone we all returned to our old ways and large gas guzzling vehicles returned with gusto.

My question is do you think that we will actually get serious enough about changing our lifestyles to sustain this wave of conservation and alternative energy sources? Or will this just be another phase that will pass in time?

How about mass transit? Keeps citizens i n good physical shape, keeps environment clean & pockets with more green!

Well, I can say something about this issue:

1) Poor people in developing countries dont care about global pollution since they think rich people in rich countries have the guilt for this problem and now they have the chance to have cars too.

2) Fuel prices have always been high in many of those poor countries, so when you offer a car for U$ 3.000 nobody cares about fuel prices. They just want to HAVE a car.

3) Cars, as mobile phones, are status objects.

Well a car which costs less does not means that it would not occupy a place in the developed countries. If it is made for people who can not afford expensive cars does not means that rich should not or cannot buy it. Cars are no more a status symbol or style statement. At least these small cars would consume less gas/ oil as compared to their counterparts as a result would cause less pollution. They would be green for sure.

smaller cars?useless as more than one billon could be added as emerging countries develop.the solution is bicycle there will be no other way but manufacturers will try to keep their ground.