$4 or $5 per gallon of gas is good for the SUV-loving American public because soon they will realize that the days of gas guzzlers are out.

SUV sales are down industry-wide and if the upward trend in gas prices, real or not, continues, we may see some more meaningful cars on the road, like the hybrids or smaller cars with better fuel efficiency.

Of course, the soccer mom may still get the minivan and the crossover SUV may still be in vogue among the young parents, but the real guzzlers like Expedition, Sequoia, etc. will have to change quickly.