Hey, that is so cool too hear. You know, it may be a case that Ford is a winner because of a recession. Interest rates are headed down, gas prices are going back down, etc. It'll help truck sales. Not that they weren't better off before the eonomy slowed, but now that the effects of the slow down are trickling to fuel and interest rates it might be the start of a slow recovery for Ford. Consider this... the output of companies traditionally go up 6 months before a down stock market goes back up.

I've been trying to get a good reason to swing up there as part of a "Americana" road trip with my family. All up the eastern seaboard, across to Niagra, then hitting Chicago, Detroit, etc. (take the family to see the Henry Ford Museum). My business related trips up there... unfortunately that has slowed along with th auto industry but I'll make sure to contact you next time it looks like I'll be up in Detroit/Dearborn.

I can't wait to start seeing these 09's in larger numbers on the road, I think a freshen-up is really needed to get sales going (unfortunately the other makers had a freshen-up for the same year).

 

Funny thing, its only a few hundred bucks. I really don't play much with stocks --- I'm not an expert trader and will not trade anything I can't afford to lose.

Guess where my money is now? GE, AIG, Ford
I'm rolling the dice with each...

They do have a impact... and oil is a major contributor. But I think its like saying a 5 gallon can off gas burned a house down when someone lit the home on fire. Sure, the house may have been saved if the can hadn't been there, but the gas was only a factor because of something else causing it to light up.

Here's the chain as I see it:

- The number of home buyers hits a platuea, as happens with any boom market.

- The credit markets start to flounder.

- Investors lose confidence in the dollar.

- People start moving to gold, silver, oil, etc.

- Dollar loses value.

- Dollar losing value causes fuel to cost more to get.

- People flock to oil commodities.

- Gas prices go up.

- Dollar gets worse.

- More people flock to oil. Repeat, repeat.

- Economy takes a hit.

- Fuel demand goes down.

- People run from oil commodities.

- Fuel prices go down.

Some of those steps happened repeatedly, in cycles, and sometimes at the same time as it fed on itself, much like a fire consuming a house and getting more raging all the time until the fuel is consumed.

The excess home inventory will need to be consumed, I think, before we see a bull market again.

 

As for the original post, I do think that the high oil/gas prices had a lot to do with the economy tanking and thus killing truck sales!!

EXACTLY my point.

I'm glad someone has the ability to decipher a post. And where did 80% of the future buys come from when oil went to $147? Zurich. And whom was behind these "manipulative" plays? Ever hear of Saudi Arabia? ALL facts. Take it from someone with over 11 years trading T-Bonds at the CBOT the markets are a total scam job. Derivatives now control 50% of the daily stock action. The cancer is multiplying folks. It's just too bad so many will finally conclude this after the fact.

Too many jobs were lost at $147 oil. Including many in the auto world. Unnecessarily. This was my point.

 

Don't forget freddy and fannie......and i've made 60% on westwood one in two weeks...

 

Depends how much money they made in that stock market... if they make over 250k...err 200k... or uhh, 150k, then they're just greedy and unpatriotic.

 

Ye si know, I have been unemployed since Aug 29th. Our plant shut down due to the automotive market dying.

 

There are numerous contributing factors as to why we are in this mess that we are all affected by. The ones that come to mind first regarding the cost of fuel are the fact that we have not built a new refinery since the 70's. I'm not the sharpest knife in the drawer, not by any stretch, but I believe that the "clean air act" had alot to do with shortages and availability. Requiring the petroleum companies to make fuel for specific locations caused supplies to be lower, hence prices to be higher. I believe the problems we face are mulit-faceted and can be the direct result of too much government involvement. The EPA has no regard for our ability to live our lives as we see fit. EPA standards control way too much of our lives, and are responsible for many energy problems. They have all but eliminated coal. They won't let us drill for our own oil. They are dictating the type of gasoline and diesel fuel we need to exist. As I see it, they answer to no one, and could'nt possibly care less about our struggles. How did this agency attain this much power? I don't recall electing them. How in the world can tree huggers and environmentalists who represent such a small percentage of the populace control so many of our lives? I don't believe that any of us are interested in the deliberate destruction of our environment, but are the restrictions and obstacles that are rammed down our throats by the various organizations and governmental agencies what the majority of Americans want?????

 

Ok so here's a loaded question as I'm not a savvy investor. I simply feel that I work too hard to be able to afford to lose any money that I can't actually put my hands on. I know it sounds crazy but anyway.

The question: Gas is coming back to an affordable level that we had maybe 20 months ago. When do any of you think it will stop coming down and do you think it will go back up to $4.00 again?

I'm in the market for a new truck in 2010 when the Expy is paid off. I'm keeping the Expy and selling my old '88 F-150 which is NOT a daily driver. I'm not buying another guzzler if gas is projected to increase to that level again. I'll keep the '88 and buy an econobox.

Thanks for any insight.

Tim

 

Is that a fact? What do you consider sold off inventory? Our lots here are packed with 08 F150's and they say make an offer on them. I have been going by twice a month for months and the same trucks are sitting there.

They are not selling at all and the lot looks like a ghost town.

I asked about the 09 F150 and the Manager told me they will not be gtting in the 09's till they move the 08's. I'm not sure if that's the truth or a typical car salesman lie to move an 08?

All I know is they are going to have a heck of a time selling a 09 with the huge rebates on the 08's.

I wish they would get an 09 in so I could check them out.

 

Got Job offer today, start next Monday. I guess things are starting to look up at least for me!

 

I also am wondering if fuel will be back at $4.00 a gallon. I really dont understand how demand has fallen for it when i still drive the same amount of miles and the roads are even more full than they was 1-2-3 months ago. I feel that someone is playing us for fools with the oil prices and now they have come back down to what they really should be. I also feel that if they go back upto $4.00 a gallon then we will be back at the posistion we are now. I make good money and so does my wife and we even got to the point where the payments each month was getting to silly amounts of money and stressing our budget. I dont know what i would have done if i had kids to support.

 

Congrats dude, that's fantastic!

Tim

 

There arn't as many large vehicles on the road. So in theory we're burning less fuel. However, my sister in Maine was looking through the Farmers Almanac and it says that the traditionally cold states are in for one helluva winter. Yikes, I'm glad I didn't move back to Maine when I retired from the CG. Weather in South Eastern Virginia is very mild in comparison.

Tim

 

Well if this is the case then hopefully the fuel will stay this price. im almost sure though we will see $4.00 in no time because fuel will go up for other reasons. well if it gets cold here i will hopefully have me new truck so i will have chance to test me 4x4 out as thats really the only time i will ever get to use it lol.

 

Well, I have the day off today. BJ's here in Hampton has gas for $1.85. I'm filling both tanks on my truck, 7 gas cans for the yard tractor and the generator.

Happy motoring, at least for now.

Tim