Cheap Gas Leading Marina Del Rey Drivers to Ditch Hybrid Cars?

MARINA DEL REY, CA — Are drivers in Marina Del Rey trading in their hybrids for SUVs? According to the Wall Street Journal, the answer is, apparently, yes.

The WSJ reports that dealers are seeing an increase in customers trading in your hybrids for SUVs. The cause maybe the relatively low prices and the improved gas mileage on cars across the board.

“There is a direct correlation in the price of gasoline and the interest of consumers in hybrids,” Brian Maas, the head of the California New Car Dealers Association told the WSJ.

Sales of Toyota Prius are down 26 percent and it's unique only to the U.S. Else where in the world, the Prius is still a top seller, specially in places where gas prices range around $4 a gallon.

In Southern California, gas prices have been stable for the past few days leading into the Labor Day weekend. In fact, it was the cheapest gas has been for the Labor Day holiday since 2004.

The average price of a gallon of self-serve regular gasoline in Los Angeles County rose one-tenth of a cent Tuesday to $2.729, one day after being unchanged.

The average price is 1.1 cents more than one week ago and 3 cents higher than one month ago but 75.5 cents less than one year ago, according to figures from the AAA and Oil Price Information Service.

The average price has risen three-tenths of a cent over the past five days after increasing 1.7 cents over the previous six days.

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