Car buyers are leaning toward more fuel-efficient cars, but truck/SUV sales have not decreased significantly.
Fuel efficiency seems to be a "top priority" over the last month, said Nick Vilamaa, general sales manager of Petro's GM Showplace.
However, due to gas prices affecting people's budgets, more people are going into the dealership trying to lower their monthly payments rather than buy a fuel-efficient car, he said.
At other places, certain cars are becoming more in demand. The Suzuki is a "big hit" right now, said Randy Hill, salesman at The Car Company Suzuki. It gets an average of 30 miles per gallon.
Steve Ladwig, owner of Warsaw Nissan, believes high fuel prices have put people in a "purchase mode" because the costs are spurring people to switch to more fuel-efficient cars.
However, fuel efficiency is not yet the priority for many others who have certain reasons for larger vehicles, which is keeping them in demand.
John Brooks, general manager of Lakeside Chevrolet, said truck/SUV sales have remained constant. Even though more fuel-efficient cars are being bought, the same people are still in need of SUVs for larger families, and trucks for certain lifestyles.
Vilamaa, Hill and Ladwig all agreed that there is still the same demand for larger vehicles.
As far as car buyers, John Rice, a dealer at Rice Ford-Lincoln-Mercury Inc., said gas prices may have a little effect but not much.
"It's not as big of effect as when Katrina hit because then business just seemed to stop," Rice said. "Obviously, there is more of an interest in smaller cars and hybrids, but people seem to be accepting it more."
Brooks said they had been anticipating somewhat of a change in car sales, but there's been no big fluctuation.
"If gas prices continue to rise though, there will eventually be a significant change in cars being sold," Brooks said.
