With apologies to James Carville, it's the gas prices, stupid.

At least that's how it seems to Cutter Ford sales representative Oben Vranesevic, who has watched with mild amusement these past few months as Hawai'i car buyers have ebbed and flowed, warmed and cooled in their efforts to weigh dream ride with practical investment.

Vranesevic was one of dozens of local dealer reps on hand for yesterday's opening of the First Hawaiian International Auto Show at the Hawai'i Convention Center. The show continues today through Sunday.

Over the course of a long opening day, Vranesevic watched a modest crowd of camera-wielding potential buyers carefully circulate through the exhibition room, some armed with long lists of detailed questions, many more with pre-emptive "just browsing" smiles.

While many dealers said the depressed economy has hurt sales, causing even ready-to-buy consumers to draw hard lines at the bargaining cubicle, Vranesevic said the flow of customers at Cutter has remained constant. The biggest factor in their decisions has been fluctuating gas prices, he said.

"We notice more of a change in activity at the dealership based on gas prices," Vranesevic said. "When the gas prices went up, we were still pretty busy, because people who were driving V-8 (engines) were finding that it wasn't practical, so they were trading in their vehicles for ones with smaller engines or hybrids.

"Now that the gas prices thankfully have gone down, people are coming in again to trade in their smaller vehicles and get V-8s again."

Vranesevic said gas prices have also influenced customers' willingness to explore more gas-efficient hybrids. He said that at last year's car show, "every other person was asking about hybrids." This year? Not so many.

"People are creatures of comfort, and they don't want to venture outside of their comfort zone if they don't have to," he said. "Even through hybrids have been around for a few years, people still don't know a lot about them."

LOOKING FOR PRACTICALITY

Dupree Low, 23, of Kunia, came to the car show in search of a reliable SUV.

Low, a manager at the newly opened Petco store in Kapolei, was married last November and said he needed something a bit more practical than his fully customized 1988 Honda Accord.

Though he expressed concern over the lingering economic malaise, he said he and his wife, a manager at Sears, feel secure enough in their employment to invest in a new vehicle.

"It's bad," he said of the economy. "But not that bad for us right now."

Ike Celebrado, 55, of Mililani, drives a BMW G4 but liked the look and feel of the spacier Toyota FJ Cruiser he found at the car show. He said he'll have to carefully consider the state of the economy before he makes a move.

"People don't really feel too good about the economy," he said. "I think they need to feel more confidence before they buy. Right now, people are sort of pulling back. It's more wait and see."

Many dealers said the car show usually doesn't make much of a difference in their customer traffic, but Scion product information specialist Sal Chavarrin said it does help newer brands like his.

"A lot of people think we're made in Korea," he said of the Toyota marque. "So this helps to get information out there about us."

SHIFT IN FOCUS

Chavarrin said he's noticed a different tone from car buyers over the past seven or eight months. In response to economic insecurity, he said, customers have focused their attentions on basic, few-frills models and standard features.

"They also want deep discounts," he said. "We don't (negotiate), but they still ask. We've lost sales because of that."

Corrina Campos, 43, of 'Alewa, will no doubt be looking for the best possible deal when she and husband Dean hit the lots over the next few weeks.

"Coming here saves on gas because we're not driving from lot to lot," Campos said. "It's actually a good time to buy, because with the depressed economy, you can wheel and deal."

Campos, a Kamehameha Schools admissions officer, said she and her husband, an instrument technician at The Queen's Medical Center, are looking to upgrade their aging car and truck. Campos said she has her sights set on a new Highlander.

"I'm going to say my prayers," she said. "Maybe Santa will come early this year."