Anyone here Anti-SUV?

[Pastfinder]

I guess it's me but I can't stand those things on the road. I drive a 1985 Mercury Grand Marquis station wagon (room for 12) and it gets around 26 mpg. There are SUVs that can't even get a miserable 20 mpg and seat maybe 6 to 8. What's wrong with this?

I don't even want to go into the whole Firestone vs. Ford Explorer battle.

 

[Carbo]

I hate the bastards!

 

[MrBond]

I don't like to see the giant ones just sitting unused or being used to haul kids around. My parents own a suburban, and they pull an airstream with it. In the winter, it sits in storage.

Before my dad and I cannibalized a 2 door chevy blazer for our kitcar project, I fell in love with it. I liked the added height, but it wasn't so big it got unwieldy. And it was sure nice having a big, enclosed cargo space where my bike fit w/o removing both wheels. I looked at buying one for myself, but they're a little more then I can afford to spend right now...especially with a $5000 tuition bill due.

 

[jsbush]

They are part of the reson of our high gas prices :|

 

[Windogg]

I've been a truck person since the pre-natal days. Dad had an International Scout II. It was nicknamed "The Ambulance" since my brother, my cousin, and I was all picked up from the hospital in it. Since then the family has had 2 Chevy Blazers, Chevy K-Blazer, 2 Ford F-Series pickups, a Jeep Renegade,a Jeep Grand Cherokee, 2 Toyota Land Cruisers, and a Honda CR-V.

When driving trucks I driven GMC 7000s, Mitsubishi FH, FKs, Isuzu NFRs, Volvo 770s, and a few Freightliners. Right now I love my X5 so I don't think my views will change soon.

 

[rufruf44]

Only those that are used to transport 1-2 people in it without cargo/towing other stuff.

 

[arod]

I dont hate all suv's ony the ones who drive theirs like its a sports car weaving in and out of traffic.

 

[tontod]

The thing is most people dont use them for what they're intended for. A car will suit those people fine - soccer moms, small families. I know people that are single that drive them. They dont go off-roading or tow anything, yet they drive them around.

 

[TheKidd]

Yep, I hate 'em too.

 

[vi edit]

I drive a GMC Jimmy. It's usually just me driving it, but more times than not I've got the back seats down with several boxes tossed back there. Just this last weekend I had over 700 pounds of weight tossed in their to transport from one corner of the state to another.

I get about 23 MPG on average on the highway, with a top milage of about 25 MPG. Not bad really. Especially when that is exactly the same gas milage, if not better than most minivans.

Not to mention that some of the gravel roads that I drive have potholes that would swallow the standard 15" or 16" wheels on the minivan.

My SUV also has a footprint SEVERAL inches smaller than a minivan so it's easy to park in tight spaces.

My only complaint is that I loathe for the fast accelleration, and corner hugging abilities of a nice sports sedan. If I had known about the Subaru WRX wagon at the time that I made my SUV purchase, I know for a fact that I would have went with that instead. Water over the damn now though.

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

<< There are SUVs that can't even get a miserable 20 mpg and seat maybe 6 to 8. What's wrong with this? >>



Hell, there are SUVs that can barely get 10 MPG. I know someone who recently bought an Expedition with the 5.4L Triton V-8, only to decide it was underpowered - she and her husband then moved to a V-10 Excursion! These two have no kids, and their other vehicle is a Ford F-250 pickup (one of the giant Super Duty trucks whose underpinnings are used for the Excursion). One wonders whether we have seen the end of the huge-SUV arms race - I certainly hope so.

What I find even more bewildering is people that buy a vehicle like the BMW X5, which makes no real pretense of being off-roadable, in spite of the fact that, with its rear seat in place, it has less cargo capacity than a Ford Taurus! I would vastly prefer a bona fide sport wagon over a comparable SUV, just for the sake of having a carlike ride and handling. No offense to X5 owners, but I don't even begin to understand why one would prefer this vehicle to a 540i unless one were routinely carrying large dogs or small children.

 

[iamwiz82]

SUVs were meant for true heavy users, not to haul bikes without having to take the wheels off. Look at the old Bronco's. Those things were for playing in the mud, and off roading. Now, its to a point where companies such as Isuzu are advertising that their Axiom doenst go off road. Watch the commercial with teh Jeep Grand Cherokee and listen to what the actor says.

&quot;You arent ever gonna take that thing offroad, get an Axiom, which is made for the road with its dual mode suspension.&quot;

 

[Fubak]

I have a 66 Mustang so an SUV would be a step up on MPG

We used to have a 97 Jeep Cherokee Laredo and that thing was SO much fun to drive! But I felt like I could've flipped over at anytime. Didn't feel very safe.

SUVs are a fad. The ones that actually use them for what they are made for are fine, but most SUVs today are bought for 'the look'.

 

[SirFshAlot]

The thing is most people dont use them for what they're intended for

How many times have I had to read this same ignorant garbage on this often repeated topic?

Why do we have the variety and diversity of vehicles from manufacturers?

So people can CHOOSE to buy what interests them, regardless!

Everyone has their own tastes and interests.

If a little bitty old lady wants to buy an SUV, or a Porsche Boxster, or a HumVee, that is her priviledge.

And how many people use their vehicle(s) exactly for what they're intended? Whatever the hell that means. I sure wish someone could give an intelligent explanation to that one.

 

[hungrypete]

<< I guess it's me but I can't stand those things on the road. I drive a 1985 Mercury Grand Marquis station wagon (room for 12) and it gets around 26 mpg. There are SUVs that can't even get a miserable 20 mpg and seat maybe 6 to 8. What's wrong with this? >>



first off can your lovely wagon go thru 12&quot; of snow or mud? Can you pick up chicks in it? Ummm, no.

I drive a 94 Z71 K-Blazer and I wouldnt trade it for anything (well i'd trade it for a lexus, ok).

*I think you just have penis envy*

 

[MrBond]

<< They are part of the reson of our high gas prices >>


Not really. You can blame refineries and OPEC. OPEC limits production for no reason other then to line their pockets. Refineries would shut down to decrease demand. If anything, gas guzzling SUVs would help lower gas prices, because with more gas being in demand, prices *should* drop.

They ARE a fad, just like station wagons and minivans. They're seen as a more &quot;rugged&quot; version of a minivan I guess. But if I buy an SUV, I expect it to work...not sit in traffic and look pretty, or to keep up with the Jones' (*coughbmwx5cough*)

 

[SirFshAlot]

I have a 66 Mustang

what was that &quot;made for&quot;?
have you researched that to find out if you are using it correctly?

 

[Fubak]

<< because with more gas being in demand, prices *should* drop >>



EH, wrong. More demand = prices increase. Less demand = prices decrease.

Think about it

 

[Fubak]

<< I have a 66 Mustang

what was that &quot;made for&quot;?
have you researched that to find out if you are using it correctly? >>



Duh, it was made to kick your ass in anything you drive up next to me in

 

[SirFshAlot]

most SUVs today are bought for 'the look'.


as opposed to what?

I can just see people going to the lot, not looking at the cars, just reading the specs and &quot;intentions&quot; of the vehicle.

 

[Viperoni]

My 86 Parisienne (4dr boat ) just passed 300k kilometers (180k miles) and still get about 25mpg on the highway.
No complaints about the 5.0l 305 chevy under the hood either

 

[SirFshAlot]

Fubak,


Duh, it was made to kick your ass in anything you drive up next to me in


wanna bet?

 

[Fubak]

<< as opposed to what?

I can just see people going to the lot, not looking at the cars, just reading the specs and &quot;intentions&quot; of the vehicle. most SUVs today are bought for 'the look'. >>



I'd buy an SUV if it weren't for the insurance and gas prices. Why? B/c they are more attractive, fun, and I CAN PICKUP ALOT OF BABES!

 

[PG]

I drive a 1985 Mercury Grand Marquis station wagon (room for 12) and it gets around 26 mpg.


Really?

How do you get 12 in that car? Are they circus clowns?
And how to you get 26 mpg? It was not rated anywhere near that. Do you always drive downhill?

edit: That wagon of yours is rated at 16 city, 23 highway. Combined: 18 mpg. http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/2001cartablef.jsp?id=686

 

[Windogg]

My brother had the 540i Sport and I decided that I still liked the X5 4.4. I got rid of my Land Cruiser because I no longer have time to go off roading, the 3 sets of locking diffs were great. The X5 is good enough handle the harsh New England winter. Can't beat the performance either. Drive one and you'll understand. My girlfriend was going to get a 540i but she has now decided to get an X5. The final item in my choice was safety.