Gas prices are getting a little more stable, and to consumers it looks like a good time to buy that truck or SUV. Sales of new autos up to an 8-month high in October, slightly over 13.2 million vehicles.

A big factor was sales of pick-up trucks at GM, Ford & Chrysler. Also SUV’s and cross-overs.

“There are a growing number of consumers for whom a new vehicle is becoming a necessity,” said Jessica Caldwell, an analyst with Edmunds.com, an auto research Web site.

In 2007, the average age of our rides was 9.8 years. Now it’s up to 10.7 years.

btw the Chevy Volt, plug-in electric hybrid is hosing the competition, the all-electric Nissan Leaf.

Take a look at this recent ad by Chevy.

Ya, ya, I know. Poor old truck’s been in the fam for years. Now is your chance to get some better gas mileage, and do your part to get the economy rolling. sniff sniff

Chrysler is back. With partner Fiat, it will be launching 21 vehicles between 2010 and 2014.

It’s got three new vehicles coming out in 2012 – a compact, sub-compact hatchback, and a sedan. And maybe a mid-size truck in 2011.

Ralph Gilles, head of the Dodge brand, said risk taking will be in evidence in its new crop of cars and trucks. “Every car that we have will have a soul,” he said.

With regard to quality concerns, the company is taking customer concerns to heart and doing a complete overhaul.

The company aims to double sales by 2014

Oh, and take a look at the new logo.

Cash for Clunkers ended Aug. 24. US automaker Ford cashed in big time with its Focus and Escape. So did Toyota, Hyundai, and Honda. GM & Chrysler (not many gas-sippers available) were kinda left out.

But now what? Supplies are reduced, but automakers seem to think stability is coming. Production is increasing. Sales are improving. The worst seems to be over for all.

GM CEO Fritz Henderson is planning the future of GM around it.

Fuel economy has kind of been a stranger to the GM biz plan, but no more. The company looks to produce (in a lean way of course) smaller fuel efficient cars.

Chevy Volt is still on the front electric burner, even though some say it’s too expensive to make. The ‘green’ powertrain R&D also lags behind Toyota. Still, never count the miracles of modern technology out.