Another Reason to Hate SUVs

[CocaCola5]

Originally posted by: NFS4

Originally posted by: CocaCola5
I have driven better handling SUVs like the 4Runner and Jeep Cherokee and I think SUVs are difficult to drive, anyone that says they are easy to drive are lying!

LEARN HOW TO DRIVE!!!!!!!!!!!

I've driven many different SUV's. I basially spent my first 2 years of driving behind the wheel of a '94 Explorer XLT. It is NOT hard to drive. Next SUV that I had significant wheel time behind (25,000 miles) was a '97 Explorer XLT. Never had a problem handling it. I've also driven Blazers, Trailblazers, Grand Cherokees, newer Explorers, Escapes, CRV's, and Envoys. They are all relatively easy to handle. Sure it takes a LITTLE more effort to drive than a Civic but big fuggin' deal.

The Highlander I drive a lot now is based on the Camry chassis. It accelerates faster, handles better, is quieter, and stops better than my '95 Camry. It is also VERY easy to drive and park.

Its not that I can't drive them, I am a very experienced driver, however, I just don't feel adaquately in control of the car in a SUV, I don't like how it gets all twitchy at the slightest provocation.

 

[Chooco]

no vehicle is hard to drive unless it includes one of the following:
1. trying to back up in a standard where there is not much room (gotta rev a bit so you can take out the clutch but you don't want the slight jump to ram into whatever it is you are around)
2. driving with a long trailor, wide turns are tricky and backup up is sorta awkward but you get used to it

i must be one hell of a driver or something then, i beat a ford explorer in a race about a quarter-mile long (we call it the beloved patriot-quarter mile for some reason) while driving my friend's camry.........the camry had a standar though and the ford was automatic so that probably made the big difference.

 

[shaddow]

a compact suv is a station wagon made pretty, most of the engines in compact suvs are pathetic as well, imo the
compact suv line is a joke

 

[joohang]

I had a pretty bad accident while turning left on a bad intersection. The traffic was lined up pretty badly and some punk sped over red light at the curb lane and hit my passenger side of the SUV. My passenger and I were both fine, though.

I think that it would've been much worse if I were driving something else. Thank goodness I wasn't driving the Tercel that day or else I would've flipped a couple of times.

 

[Rallispec]

<<Car based sport-utes are not useless as you say. Most SUV's don't go off-road so why make them on heavy frames?? DUH!!!!!!!!!!! Car based utes are more fuel efficient, and lighter. Hell, the Honda Pilot has more interior space than the truckish Trailblazer due to its unit body.

As for not choosing a Subaru over the Highlander. It's called CHOICES!!!!!!!>>

if your not going to go off road or do heavy duty hauling, why get the SUV when something else can do the job better, cheaper, and not piss everyone else off.

this year when i moved out of school, i fit eveyrthing in my parents honda odyssey with way more room left over than you probably had in your highlander. I got just as good gas milege (23mpg), and wasnt a menace to society. ( the odyssey, by the way has 240hp, more than almost every SUV that would be in its price class... except maybe the V8 durango)

i'm not denying you your right to make choices. this is a free country after all. all i'm saying is that i dont respect your choice, nor i do think you made the right choice. But... i'm sure you could say lots of bad things about my sentra too.... so you're right.. its personal opinion. It just sucks that your SUV effects me a lot more than my sentra effects you.

:|

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: shaddow
a compact suv is a station wagon made pretty, most of the engines in compact suvs are pathetic as well, imo the
compact suv line is a joke

The Honda CRV has a 160HP Inline-4. The Escape has a 200HP V6. Neither are slouches.

 

[Rallispec]

<<a compact suv is a station wagon made pretty, most of the engines in compact suvs are pathetic as well, imo the
compact suv line is a joke>>
yep, i tend to agree

<<As for not choosing a Subaru over the Highlander. It's called CHOICES!!!!!!! BTW, the Highlander has a more powerful engine, more interior space, more cargo room, higher ground clearance, and a taller cargo area than the Legacy wagon. It's also faster as well. Anything else?>>

what about the outback wagon? and safety/insurance crash tests? cost?? fuel effiecy?


you said it yourself, your highlander is just a bloated camary.
why try and pretend its something else?

 

[NFS4]

if your not going to go off road or do heavy duty hauling, why get the SUV when something else can do the job better, cheaper, and not piss everyone else off.

this year when i moved out of school, i fit eveyrthing in my parents honda odyssey with way more room left over than you probably had in your highlander. I got just as good gas milege (23mpg), and wasnt a menace to society. ( the odyssey, by the way has 240hp, more than almost every SUV that would be in its price class... except maybe the V8 durango)

Do you think I give a sh!t who I piss off? Life is too short to be worrying about petty sh!t like that. Menance to society, give me a friggen break!!!!

Length - Width - Height - Weight

Highlander: 184.4 - 71.9 - 66.5 - 3715 lbs
Odyssey: 201.2 - 75.6 - 69.7 - 4354 lbs


You my friend just got owned

NEXT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Rallispec]

Originally posted by: NFS4

Originally posted by: shaddow
a compact suv is a station wagon made pretty, most of the engines in compact suvs are pathetic as well, imo the
compact suv line is a joke

The Honda CRV has a 160HP Inline-4. The Escape has a 200HP V6. Neither are slouches.

my family's old mercury sable wagon had 200hp
hell of a lot nicer than a crv or escape too.



and 160 hp on the CRV??? OMG, that thing puts the humvee to shame. you could probably tow a little baby trailor or something with that beast of an engine. My freakin sentra probably hauls more than that peice of.

 

[NFS4]

you said it yourself, your highlander is just a bloated camary.
why try and pretend its something else?

You have NO idea how versatiles the Camry chassis is. I guess the Sienna minivan is bloated too?? You seriously need to read this:

http://auto.com/reviews/aval14_20020514.htm

 

[chickendinner]

I hate them cause they are so big and scare me when i ride my bike.

 

[Rallispec]

Length - Width - Height - Weight

Highlander: 184.4 - 71.9 - 66.5 - 3715 lbs
Odyssey: 201.2 - 75.6 - 69.7 - 4354 lbs


You my friend just got owned

NEXT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

i dont feel like looking up specs becuase its not worth my time.. but how about you look up: interior room / cargo room / HP / towing capacity / safety features..... etc.. blah blah blah.. say you owned me if you want.

... bah .. yeah right


the odyssey might be bigger, but its space you can actually use. and loading stuff in and out of the lower back end of the odyssey is nice too. why do they put the high bumper on the mini-ute's when it doesnt make a difference... you know damn well you're not taking it off raod.

 

[Freejack2]

2002 Ford Expedition XLT, 4WD 4.6L 8cyl. MSRP with delivery: $34,165
2002 Honda Accord SE 4dr with side airbags 2.3L 4cyl. MSRP with delivery: $21,560
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total savings: $12605. The 2003 Expedition is even more expensive...

5 year cost to own (Depreciation, Financing, Insurance, Taxes & Fees, Fuel, Maintenance, Repairs):
Ford Expedition: $50,040 (.66/mi @ 15,000 miles a year).
Honda Accord: $29,711 (.39/mi @ 15,000 miles a year).
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total saved over 5 years of owning a Honda Accord $20,329 (Mind you there is a 12k price difference between the 2 vehicles but considering I wouldn't want the SUV in the first place I'd be saving the $20,329)

If I had to pick one I'd take the Honda Accord any day of the week.

I don't go off road and I need the space of a suv maybe 2 times a year (1 or 2 of the 3 times will be too big for even a suv)
For the 3 times a year I need something bigger than my car I can rent a uhaul. Spend at most $100 total for all 3 rentals.
That would leave me $20,229 to spend on things like vacations, new computers, going out, saving it, etc.

And in the deal I would get a wonderful handling, comfortable car for 5 years.

Edit: Almost forgot, This does NOT take into account any major fuel cost increases...

 

[CocaCola5]

Originally posted by: chickendinner
I hate them cause they are so big and scare me when i ride my bike.

I feel for you bikers, but btw, I always signal for you guys and are generally alot nicer than I am with the general motoring community.

 

[Rallispec]

amen Freejack2

i'd take the honda / uhaul combo over a SUV any day.


i'd rather have a nice car and have it suck once in a while for moving cargo, than drive of a piece of.. every day.

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: Rallispec
Length - Width - Height - Weight

Highlander: 184.4 - 71.9 - 66.5 - 3715 lbs
Odyssey: 201.2 - 75.6 - 69.7 - 4354 lbs


You my friend just got owned

NEXT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

i dont feel like looking up specs becuase its not worth my time.. but how about you look up: interior room / cargo room / HP / towing capacity / safety features..... etc.. blah blah blah.. say you owned me if you want.

... bah .. yeah right


the odyssey might be bigger, but its space you can actually use. and loading stuff in and out of the lower back end of the odyssey is nice too. why do they put the high bumper on the mini-ute's when it doesnt make a difference... you know damn well you're not taking it off raod.

That's not the point. The point of those numbers were to prove that the Odyssey is more of a menace to society than the Highlander...the exact OPPOSITE of what you were trying to claim.

Fact of the matter is, minivns are loosing out in the sales race. SUV, crossovers, and wagons are making a comeback. And most people don't want to be caught dead in them.

 

[Rallispec]

<<That's not the point. The point of those numbers were to prove that the Odyssey is more of a menace to society than the Highlander...the exact OPPOSITE of what you were trying to claim. >>

well, not completely the point... they're all a menace.. but what i was trying to get across was that if you're gonna be a menace, at least i'm a productive/ efficient one... not a washed up poser like suv drivers.


which reminds me... the Highlander smacks of soccer mom.

 

[chickendinner]

Originally posted by: CocaCola5

Originally posted by: chickendinner
I hate them cause they are so big and scare me when i ride my bike.

I feel for you bikers, but btw, I always signal for you guys and are generally alot nicer than I am with the general motoring community.

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: Freejack2
2002 Ford Expedition XLT, 4WD 4.6L 8cyl. MSRP with delivery: $34,165
2002 Honda Accord SE 4dr with side airbags 2.3L 4cyl. MSRP with delivery: $21,560
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total savings: $12605. The 2003 Expedition is even more expensive...

5 year cost to own (Depreciation, Financing, Insurance, Taxes & Fees, Fuel, Maintenance, Repairs):
Ford Expedition: $50,040 (.66/mi @ 15,000 miles a year).
Honda Accord: $29,711 (.39/mi @ 15,000 miles a year).
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total saved over 5 years of owning a Honda Accord $20,329 (Mind you there is a 12k price difference between the 2 vehicles but considering I wouldn't want the SUV in the first place I'd be saving the $20,329)

If I had to pick one I'd take the Honda Accord any day of the week.

I don't go off road and I need the space of a suv maybe 2 times a year (1 or 2 of the 3 times will be too big for even a suv)
For the 3 times a year I need something bigger than my car I can rent a uhaul. Spend at most $100 total for all 3 rentals.
That would leave me $20,229 to spend on things like vacations, new computers, going out, saving it, etc.

And in the deal I would get a wonderful handling, comfortable car for 5 years.

Edit: Almost forgot, This does NOT take into account any major fuel cost increases...

LOL WTF??? You're comparing a mid-sized 4-cylinder Accord to a full-sized SUV? OMG, that is the most lame comparison I've seen yet. Even more so than Rallispec's

Compare an Accord to an Escape which are roughly the same size then get back to me.

 

[SuperTool]

Highlander is basically a Camry wagon with big wheels. I think the article is talking about suburbans and expeditions.
Anyways, I think people are free to drive what they want if they don't mind being a danger to other drivers. But if their SUVs are more dangerous, their liability insurance should be higher than cars, so us normal car drivers aren't forced to pay for their increased risk of killing someone.

 

[Rallispec]

no, his comparison is completely legit.

90% of the time, people only use that full sized SUV for thigns that an accord would probably be BETTER suited for.

and the 10% of the time that you may actually need the extra space, you can rent a uhaul, or rent a truck or suv, or cheaper yet-- borrow one from a freind.

the money saved is worth it alone.



so, for all those expedition owners out there--- they could have bought the accord, saved money and done everyting the same. Then the one time they needed that extra ability, there are a hundred and one ways to get it without going out and buying an suv.

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: Rallispec
<<That's not the point. The point of those numbers were to prove that the Odyssey is more of a menace to society than the Highlander...the exact OPPOSITE of what you were trying to claim. >>

well, not completely the point... they're all a menace.. but what i was trying to get across was that if you're gonna be a menace, at least i'm a productive/ efficient one... not a washed up poser like suv drivers.


which reminds me... the Highlander smacks of soccer mom.

When all is said and done. It doesn't matter what the hell you like or what I like. It's what the American public wants. It's their/our money and they/we can do whatever the hell we want with it.

So we can run this into the ground as much as you want but in the end it doesn't matter what either you or I think.

 

[chickendinner]

I think the Highlander looks good.

 

[Rallispec]

When all is said and done. It doesn't matter what the hell you like or what I like. It's what the American public wants. It's their/our money and they/we can do whatever the hell we want with it.

3 cheers for capitalism

 

[Rallispec]

Of course, that's just my opinion; I could be wrong.

not to mention that its 4am here.. i really need some sleep.