The trend in my neck of the woods - west of GM headquarters - is that people aren't buying anything. Gas is back up over $2 again, so people are just waiting for the other shoe to drop. They're doing news stories about how people are hanging on to their current vehicles (SUV's) longer to avoid the risk of financing a new vehicle right now.

I would add that just because you see an SUV at a 2009 auto show doesn't mean that's what Joe Avg. Consumer wants. Part of the reason GM is going under is because they keep producing what people can't buy or afford to maintain. If they had heeded the whispers on the wind and scaled back even just two years ago, they might have escaped the crash unscathed.

The other unique thing about my area is that one of the local mega-dealers went bankrupt. (the guy had like 11 dealerships, foreign and domestic brands) because Chrysler refused to lend to him last fall during the initial credit fiasco. He only has 3 dealerships left. Left a really bad taste in people's mouths for buying anything from a mega-dealer.

There are noticeably more people on bikes early in the season this year. The local LBS's are still just as busy as they were at the height of last season's $4 gas crunch.

In fact, the local news just did a story about how motorcycle crash deaths are at a 25-yr high here because more people are switching to motorized bikes to save money.

Maybe my region is an exception, but I think there was a definite change that took place and continues here. There are still people out getting groceries and going to the movies in their SUV's, but they're the same SUV's they've been driving for a while. I haven't actually seen a new car on the road with temporary tags in about a year. Even sales of electric hybrids are down.