Jillian Dickens
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Aug 24/05) - Record high gas prices have virtually no effect on car, truck and SUV sales around Yellowknife.

That's according to sales people from the four major dealerships in town - Ford, Toyota, Chrysler and General Motors.

Despite record gas prices, Kingland Ford sales manager Tom Cutforth has been selling more large trucks than ever before.

In fact, Kingland Ford sales manager Tom Cutforth says sales of large, gas-guzzling trucks have even increased in the last year.

Kingland Ford sells more F150 trucks with 300 horse power gas engines than any other vehicle on the lot.

"Sales have actually climbed for those trucks since last year, even during the summer," Cutforth said.

Although gas prices have no effect on sales, they are still weighing heavy on the minds of consumers shopping for a new vehicle.

"Fuel economy is the first thing people ask about when they come in to buy a new vehicle," Cutforth said. "But so far that hasn't deterred them from buying what they want. If it will cost $10 a week more, they'll deal with it."

Autotec Toyota sales manager Brian Hixenbaugh concurs sales haven't been hurt, but thinks that may soon change.

"In January, when the fuel economy drops anywhere from 35 - 50 per cent, people will start pissing their pants," Hixenbaugh said. "And then you add the extra 25 minute warm up time in the morning with the $1.10 fuel prices, people will start waking up."

Chrysler sales manager Myles Longphee says Yellowknifers will continue to drive large vehicles because the weather forces them to.

Ninety per cent of Chrysler's customers drive 4-wheel-drive pick-up trucks or SUVs.

"And of course most Yellowknifers are into quadding, sledding and camping. So they need the power to be able to tow these things from place to place," Longphee said.

General Motors sales representative Aaron Wall called Yellowknife drivers "unique" since they drive close to 15,000 kilometres a year less than the average driver. That's because, he said, there are fewer destinations to drive to.

That coupled with the trend of driving oversized vehicles in Yellowknife puts locals on an even playing field with the rest of the country as far as annual gas costs are concerned.

Crude oil costs are connected to the price of gasoline. Last Friday American crude was $65.35 U.S. per barrel - just shy of the previous week's $67.

Most fuel efficient vehicles:

Cars

Trucks

SUVs