Anyone here Anti-SUV?

[Fubak]

SirFshAlot: BOOHOO! Thats no fair! There's not many cars on the street that can beat a motorcycle. Besides, they are in 2 dif classes so u can't really compare

Ok ok, The mustang was made to beat any car that would drive up next to it in it's time. Right now, I could beat quite a few cars on the road. Not all of them yet. I'm still workin on the +100 HP kit

 

[Eug]

I've never understood why people find SUVs attractive. They're usually boxy and utilitarian, but even the nice ones are do not compare to a sleek sedan. But that's just me.

I admire them for their practicality (FOR SOME BUT NOT MOST PEOPLE). I'd buy one if I needed a Class III hitch or whatever, or wanted to drive off road. But on the highway, in general they don't handle very well (compared to a good sedan), and they're irritating to drive in crowded cities, especially when it comes to parking in miniscule parking spaces. I like the 4WD, but for my purposes an AWD sedan is excellent, with a much nicer ride. In all honesty, if I were a soccer dad with nothing to haul I'd buy a Subaru station wagon or something.

IMO, if you're a yuppie suburbanite with nothing to haul, buying an SUV is almost as bad as ricing up a Civic. Buying an SUV with all the extras IS as bad as ricing up a Civic. Or maybe worse, since at least the Civic will get good gas mileage.

I found this quote from the Jeep website interesting: "Tubular Chrome Steel Brush Guard features Black End Guards and helps protect grille and head lights from mishaps, either on- or off-road. Brilliant Chrome finish provides durable shine and resists scratches.

1. Note: These products are designed solely to enhance the appearance of the vehicle. Since the safety characteristics are limited, they are not intended to prevent injury or damage in the event of an accident."

 

[Linflas]

<< 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*) >>


Station wagons and mini vans were not fads. They were and are a practical response to the need for people with families to accomodate them in 1 vehicle. When I grew up we had 7 people in my family. What other car besides a station wagon could have transported us plus whatever luggage etc we needed to carry? During the downsizing that occured in the late 70's this need was increasingly ignored which is why Chryslers introduction of the mini van was such a success.

 

[BooneRebel]

So do you judge a couple that buys a 10,000 sq foot house even though they don't have any kids? People buy more vehicle than they need because they can and they want to.

I may not need to seat 9 people , but if I can afford 8mpg and I want to drive an Excursion, then so be it. It's a matter of personal preference.

Personally, I like to drive an SUV, even if it's not off-road, because of the higher ground clearance, freight capability, and the high seat position. I've lost count of the number of accidents I've avoided because I saw a fender-bender ahead of me on the highway and I was able to stop or change lanes before getting there, unlike the 5 or 6 cars ahead of me that can't see past the bumper in front of them...

 

[Viperoni]

All this talk of station wagons reminds me of one very special Audio RS4 Station Wagon

 

[yakko]

I do not really mind the vehicles. I mind the crappy milage and the people who don't know how to drive. Just because you vehicle is bigger then mine does not give you the right to cut me off and force your way into my lane.

 

[Carbo]

<< I've lost count of the number of accidents I've avoided because I saw a fender-bender ahead of me on the highway and I was able to stop or change lanes before getting there, unlike the 5 or 6 cars ahead of me that can't see past the bumper in front of them... >>

Then you're a damn crappy driver and a nuisance on the road.

 

[RDMustang1]

I hate SUVs. They are oversized, ugly, jacked up junk. They are nice for hauling stuff around but otherwise they are gas-guzzling and useless..

 

[Linflas]

All this bombast about SUV's lately reminds me of HL Menckens famous definition of Puritans as &quot;someone who is haunted by the feeling that somewhere, somehow, someone is having fun.&quot;. If a person wants one and can afford to drive it then they have every right to buy one as far as I am concerned. I love all the &quot;they block my vision, can't see around them&quot; people. I share the road on a daily basis with a lot of vehicles I cannot see around like 18 wheelers, parcel vans, stake trucks, buses etc. I never heard such concern about being able to see around until the anti SUV types started using it as a rallying cry.

 

[Elledan]

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

Excuse me, but lol... High gas prices?

I live in Europe

 

[BooneRebel]

<< I do not really mind the vehicles. I mind the crappy milage and the people who don't know how to drive. Just because you vehicle is bigger then mine does not give you the right to cut me off and force your way into my lane. >>



Right. It's just like any other vehicle, I hate to see someone acting like a jerk on the road just because they drive a big truck or a sports car (or even an 85 Mercury station wagon, if they're 20 miles under the speed limit!).

But if all we were concerned about was mileage, we'd all be driving those cute <=1000lbs econo-boxes with 895mpg. Add in personal preference and you get the rainbow variety of vehicles seen on the highways everyday. No, they're not all going to be the most practical cars on the road, but we as humans aren't the most practical species, either.

 

[shiner]

I love my Durango and think that most of you people are just envious of those that can afford an SUV. Go out, get a job, save some $, then buy whatever the hell you want. If you don't like SUV's then don't buy one and shut the hell up!!! Don't get on your soapbox and start preaching to those of us that own one and enjoy it.

 

[hungrypete]

a whole room full of PENIS ENVY.

 

[RDMustang1]

BooneRebel, some of us drive normal cars and it's because of the huge trucks and SUVs that we can't see far ahead. Anyone hear about the new SUV that's coming out? 13 feet high and 9 feet wide.. that's crazy!

 

[Eug]

<< So do you judge a couple that buys a 10,000 sq foot house even though they don't have any kids? >>

Actually yes, especially if it's riced up with gawdawful fountains and the like. I don't think it's a good idea, but it's not the same thing. Houses are not meant to be driven, so handlng characteristics are not an issue.

<< People buy more vehicle than they need because they can and they want to. >>

People rice up Civics because they can and they want to.


<< I may not need to seat 9 people , but if I can afford 8mpg and I want to drive an Excursion, then so be it. It's a matter of personal preference. >>

Except that we have to live in those smog filled cities. Personally, I think there should be tax disincentives to owning a big polluter for city commuters. (Hard to implement though so I'm not advocating this.) But then again, hybrid SUVs are going to be out soon, and this may fit the bill of the yuppie suburbanite SUV crowd.


<< Personally, I like to drive an SUV, even if it's not off-road, because of the higher ground clearance, freight capability, and the high seat position. I've lost count of the number of accidents I've avoided because I saw a fender-bender ahead of me on the highway and I was able to stop or change lanes before getting there, unlike the 5 or 6 cars ahead of me that can't see past the bumper in front of them... >>

It's called defensive driving. For the record, in my 16 years of driving, including 7 in Toronto, I have never been in an accident. (This includes vans, V8 station wagons, sedans and for one year a motorcycle. I've driven SUVs from time to time, but I have never owned one.) Bad drivers are bad drivers period. This includes both sedan drivers and SUV drivers. I have noted however in my own unscientific observations, there are more tailgaters (percentagewise) in sports car and SUV owners than sedan owners. For the SUV owners (not including you) I suspect that this is because they get some false sense of security driving SUVs. Or maybe it's just that aggressive drivers tend to gravitate to SUVs like they do to sports cars (which I like by the way).

 

[rufruf44]

I tolerate most SUV owners. I might think they're wasting $$$ and other stuff, but thats just my opinion. However, I've problem with short people driving huge SUV, yet they can't tell where does it end or start, nor those people that drive with the sense of superiority and invincibility just because they've a 6K lbs piece of metal around them with total disregard of other driver.
And yes, everyone can buy huge excursion and use it to go to work and back everyday without ever carrying lots of people/cargo or towing, if they want to. There's no law to prohibit that. But there's also nothing to stop me from thinking you as an inconsiderate and selfish person in this particular aspect.

In another news, the government is getting ready to pass out more stringent MPG requirement for SUV. NBC report they may target 40mpg average by 2017. Let see how the automaker respond, because it definitely will increase cost.

 

[isekii]

I like SUV's ... i just dont like them in front of me... since I can't see in front of them...

as long as they are next to me or behind me.. they are fine

 

[dukdukgoos]

They waste gas, causing high prices, and cause more fatal accidents. They're a menence to society! :|

 

[BooneRebel]

<< BooneRebel, some of us drive normal cars and it's because of the huge trucks and SUVs that we can't see far ahead. Anyone hear about the new SUV that's coming out? 13 feet high and 9 feet wide.. that's crazy! >>



Rdmustang1, I think that Linflas has a great point. You didn't see this big ethical dilema about large trucks, buses, etc., blocking the traffic view, just SUVs. I think people are more critical when they try to decide what the 'average Joe' should be driving. I don't see any problem with a soccer mom driving around in an Excursion any more than I'm going to tell someone how silly I think their 'riced-up' Civic really is. One of the funniest things I've ever done is drive behind a lowered vehicle at night and watch the trail of sparks as they go through dips and intersections.

Eug, I'm talking about personal preference here. We do not have the right to dictate to our neighbors what they should or should not be driving. And yes, there are 'gas-guzzler' taxes out there. Just about every urban community registers vehicles based on gross weight, so I'm already paying more for my vehicles than the average econobox. In addition, I pay a self-imposed tax by purchasing more gas at every fill-up for my less-than-super-efficient truck. Ever pay $50 for a fill-up? If so, you know what I'm talking about.

And yes, there are bad drivers in every range of the spectrum. Based upon your own observations that you've seen more tailgaters in SUV's and sportscars, I hazard a guess that those tailgaiting bad drivers have a heightened sense of their own abilities, and therefore gravitate to a higher-performance automobile. That doesn't justify it, obviously, but if you took away all of the SUV's and sportcars, I think you'd still find the same number of tailgaters, but now they're driving something else just as poorly. If you tailgate me, I'm going to tap my brakes and we'll both get to see just how fast your reflexes are.

 

[desy]

I own currently a Sedan, SUV and a motorcycle, Boat and snowmobiles too but that don't count.
In winter I prefer to drive the Sedan cause unless you go off road you don't need clearance you need traction. The Sedan with front wheel drive and studded winter tires all the way around provide more than adequate traction. The Truck even though it has 4X4 is a pooreer choice because in crosswind you have that large side forcing you to shear off the road and actually breaks traction more than the car cause it slipstreams .
The truck also has poorer stopping capacity and manouverability and thats a fact because of the extra mass, it still has about the same amount of tread touching the pavement and that is what stops your vehicle.
If I were to get in an accident though bearing in mind I'm less likely to in the sedan, I'd have to give it to the truck cause you have that much more material in front of you although I did see a Saturn SC2 in a showroom that was in an accident with a telephone pole at 50 mph and you could still open the doors, the cabin was vitually unmoved.

 

[PG]

The Sedan with front wheel drive and studded winter tires all the way around provide more than adequate traction.

That's good for you, but studded tires aren't legal in most places here in the US.

 

[desy]

Too bad they are great!
Most places have them banned based on very old information the ones today are half the size and use a carbide pin inside, they cause no road damage that anyone can ascertain

http://cbc.ca/consumers/market/files/cars/tires/index.html
http://cbc.ca/consumers/market/files/cars/tires/tirestud.html

This link shows that your stopping distance is half with studded winter tires over All seasons. In Sweden, the article points out, 80% now use studded winter tires and the number of accidents are half of what they used to be.
http://cbc.ca/consumers/market/files/cars/tires/tiretests.html

 

[samarth]

<< I love my Durango and think that most of you people are just envious of those that can afford an SUV. Go out, get a job, save some $, then buy whatever the hell you want. If you don't like SUV's then don't buy one and shut the hell up!!! Don't get on your soapbox and start preaching to those of us that own one and enjoy it. >>


Right on!!!! I love SUV's.

 

[tontod]

Someone compared an SUV to a large house. The comparison is not valid in my opinion because the value of such a house will most likely increase over time unlike an SUV, of which the value starts decreasing as soon as you take it off the lot.

 

[Linflas]

According to this link studded snow tires are permitted in the majority of states during the winter driving season.