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If (when?) fuel hits $5 a gallon and you were in the market for a new car, what would you buy? Would you sacrifice your needs (wants?) for ultimate economy? Would you buy a boring car that sipped fuel?  

I have the advantage of a short commute to work.  So, personally, no, I wouldn't have to sacrifice that much.

If I had a longer commute, I'd probably buy a Civic.  

Marc, we're pretty much there already.  Gas is $4.39 here in NY and diesel is $5.19.  Our purchase decisions will not swing much differently if there's a .60 cent increase...

Unfortunately, the entire auto industry went left when the market turned right, and we have very few good choices.  Those that exist are in such short supply that they are gouged to the point of irrelevance. Hopefully, by MY2010 or 11 we'll see some of the goods or at least what's what.  

About the only thing that might work well for my wife and kids is a Jetta Sportwagen TDi, which isn't available until October here (they're on ebay already for hefty, logic eliminated prices).

There are some of the euro models that I would buy now for my work car.  A Volvo C30 D5 (TDi) or 320d might be perfect; the euro Focus, or a GTi TDi and the i-CDTi euro Civic look very attractive.  Unbeatable mileage on the i-CDTi:
http://www.cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=6526

But, Honda is leaving the euro Civic within the EU and wasting the next gen engine (i-DTEC) on the Acura TSX (euro Accord), with its Grinch styling cues and new-for-'09 Mercury Sable-like heft and handling prowess.
 
So, we're going to try to wait the market out until additional solutions arrive.  It would cost more to get less if we bought now. It's a confused market. (A wall st. friend went from a Tahoe to a Prius.  S'truth!)  
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Graduate, Rodan School of Automotive Design

I'd probably start riding again (or at least more often). Some of the new scooters look pretty sweet, at least for the commute I typically do. I doubt I'd do a sportbike again; it's been years since I've been on one and those are really for the young (in body). I've always been partial to the Honda ST1300.

As for cars...I'd like to think I could live with an econobox (or is it econolump these days). Complete sacrifice? No. But a compromise for during the week? Yeah, I could do it.

Although few to me really stand out, though I suppose I could twist my arm and risk it with trying yet another VeeDub (Rabbit), though its fuel economy figures aren't all that impressive given its relative size. I'm sure my wife would say "Mazda3" in a heartbeat. Minis are too disgustingly cute for their own good, and I sort of doubt that the immensely drivable BMW 1-series counts as a fuel sipper (besides, it's kinda fugly, too, in its Bangled-up, contorted sort of way). As for the ultra efficient gas crowd...I doubt I could go that low again, but then if gas hits $6 or $7 per...who knows?

I looked briefly into a Zenn electric in-city car. Sure they're kind of fugly, but it's in a neat, conscience-cleansing sort of way (probably like the first Priuses were). But the paltry, limited mileage range (35 miles) and the 35 mph maximum speed--the limit in Washington State before Zenn would have to pass all the federal crash test requirements--didn't exactly light any fires. Double that range and I could be convinced...one things for sure, it'll never be boring when you're constantly sweating over the trip mileage meter, wondering if you just went over the point of no return (home).  

I'm not exactly sure on the model but I'll buy a car that consumes less fuel that usual but also good on the pyhsical side  
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