Disturbing trend in Texas

[Chaotic42]

Originally posted by: grasshopper26

Originally posted by: Jellomancer

Do we also wear cowboy hats and belt buckles and lynch black people ? I should have been more clear. I'm talking about people living in Houston suburbs. People who have ranches and such do NOT drive Suburbans.. hence the name "Suburban".
I think they do lynch black people at College Station though.

George W. Bush drives his white Suburban around his own ranch, as well as into town... He loves that thing.

lol, now I see how you have 1500 posts in 2 1/2 months!

 

[Grasshopper27]

Originally posted by: Sachmho

most working families do not need the space of a suburban or another gigantor SUV... in their most common applications, they're completely unnecessary...

That isn't true...

Many buy mini-vans or mid-size SUVs instead, often because they cannot afford the price tag of the Suburban/Tahoe/Expedition/Etc.

If you're a working family and you have two or three kids, you need something big these days...

Grasshopper

 

[Grasshopper27]

Originally posted by: bizmark

Ummm... A Suburban IS a truck. A truck that doesn't *completely* waste the whole back half of the vehicle for most people. Pickup trucks simply aren't that useful as daily drivers for most people. An SUV like the Suburban is a terrific in-between. It has a lockable, dry cargo area, carries 8 safely, and you can still fit plywood sheets or a couch in the back It's terrific for long car trips, even with just 4 people. Letting each kid have a whole seat to him/herself is a godsend especially when they're tired and whiney I know personally -- my sister and I hardly fought at all when we took those 5-hour holiday trips to Dallas in our Suburban

And FYI Suburbans have been "Texas Cadillacs" for a LONG time....at least since I was a kid. They have been status symbols in Texas (esp. more rural parts) for quite some time. This is no new trend.

Well said...

 

[Grasshopper27]

Originally posted by: kherman

People forget that cars are LUXURY ITEMS. You need one these days, but no one needs a suburban. Fine by me though. I'll buy the cheap car and put the saved money into an auto manufacturers stock. Then I will encourage people to buy big, expensive cars. Every car someone purchases just contributes more money to my dividend distribution

Not true...

My Sister has four kids, when they go somewhere they NEED their Suburban... Often times a friend comes along, you stick 5 kids and two adults in anything smaller than a Suburban and you're in for a nightmare...

Grasshopper

 

[Grasshopper27]

Originally posted by: Marlin1975

What are you talking about motorcycles?? Mine can get close to 40mpg, outrun just about any street car, and carry myself and one other person. motorcycles are the answer to traffic jams, and gas milage woes, etc....

Right up until I crash into you in my Suburban.

If you think a 4 door Honda won't survive such a wreck, what do you think will happen to YOU!

Grasshopper

 

[Grasshopper27]

Originally posted by: Dudd
Bullsh!t. Many of the SUV's out there are built on car chasis so that people can impede my view like a real SUV, but lack the actually grunt that make SUV's useful. I have no problem with anyone buying an SUV if they are actually going to use it, but I think it's rediculous to buy one to drive little Timmy to soccer practice. But hey, it's your choice, although I plan on never buying anything larger than a station wagon.

The Suburban *IS* the modern station wagon...

and that's ok, they are far more useful and far more comfortable than any station wagon...

Me <--- I'll use my Suburban to drive my kids to soccer pratice thank you very much!

Grasshopper

 

[Descartes]

A single friend of mine, with no kids, animals, etc. had bought an Expedition a while back. I thought it was the most absurd purchase he (or anyone) could have made.

His rationale was the same as some in this thread: if he needed to haul a boat someday (WHICH HE DID NOT OWN), he would be able to do so. If he wanted to haul other things (WHICH HE NEVER DOES), he would be able to do so. If for some reason he needed to haul 8 friends at once (*sigh*) he would be able to do so.

I guess for those 1% of moments when you might actually need such a vehicle, you may as well buy one and waste all that space/gas/etc that other 99% of time.

An Expedition is an absurd vehicle, and so is, imo, any other vehicle that size. There are plenty of ranchers in Oklahoma, and none of them drive these pseudo-off-road-yuppie-wannabe-mobiles.

 

[Grasshopper27]

Originally posted by: Chaotic42

lol, now I see how you have 1500 posts in 2 1/2 months!

What, by jumping into a thread and posting a reply to EVERYONE!!!

 

[Grasshopper27]

Originally posted by: Chaotic42

lol, now I see how you have 1500 posts in 2 1/2 months!

Me <--- You joined AnandTech on 09/11/2002, you average 20.04 posts per day with a total of 1463 messages posted to the forums.

 

[Salvador]

There's a lot of disturbing trends in Texas. It's just a fact of life. Get used to it.

Sal

 

[Zebo]

Originally posted by: kherman

Originally posted by: Carbonyl
Hey kherman, Remember how we talked about risk vs. cost. I would argue these poeple driving a 8000lb F-350 are safer in general in auto accidents which lowers thier health risk at a higher financial cost to them. Think of it as a insuance policy for their family.

I'm not sure if there is much benefit of a F-350 dually over a F-150. They both have frames (real ones) that make them safe. In a F-350/F-150, the F-350 obviously wins since it is heaier and higher off the ground. But against a car, the F-350 has only minimal benefits improvment over an F-150. mostly due tothe extra weight.

I agree with you though. It's just a fine line is all.

Fine line my ass, You missed the point If a F-350 4x4 crew cab lifted dully hits anything (like the now very popular suburban or f-150) that vehilce will lose and lose big. Much Like a f-150 hitting a Camery. Not only is there a 2000lbs difference and higher COG, the Heavy duty trucks have a thicker frame to withstand crumpleing. The only thing a F-350 4x4 crew cab lifted dully has to fear on the road is another HD truck or a commercial vechile. Therefore it is prudent for a family to have one in event of a collison. Not to mention the 22 MPG the diesel gets vs. 14 for a 6L suburban and the beating you can give a HD truck off road

Hey sal long time no see

 

[Grasshopper27]

Originally posted by: Carbonyl

Fine line my ass, You missed the point If a F-350 4x4 crew cab lifted dully hits anything (like the now very popular suburban or f-150) that vehilce will lose and lose big. Much Like a f-150 hitting a Camery. Not only is there a 2000lbs difference and higher COG, the Heavy duty trucks have a thicker frame to withstand crumpleing. The only thing a F-350 4x4 crew cab lifted dully has to fear on the road is another HD truck or a commercial vechile. Therefore it is prudent for a family to have one in event of a collison.

Naa, there is a declining risk factor there...

There are just not that many F-350s on the road to worry about. Far more 18-wheel big rigs to be concerned about.

There is getting a big safe truck, and going overboard. Where you draw THAT line is more the issue.

Personally, anything bigger than a Suburban is getting absurd. But perhaps I'm a bit biased...

Grasshopper

 

[Pliablemoose]

My concern is that when the Suburbans becone the "old car" & turned over to family teenagers as their primary cars, with worn brakes, steering mechanisms, running poorly because of 2ndary maintenance priority, and the mistakes teens make up the fairly steep learning curve of driving. It puts others @ risk who share the roadway with them.

I do look @ Hummer H2's & Suburbans, etc as a waste & we look like hypocrits when we come to the world's table to negotiate pollution control with countries that don't even have electricity & running water in the less developed areas.

 

[Zebo]

Naa, there is a declining risk factor there....

Not with all these people buying Suburbans I'd say the risk by driving a normal SUV is too high for me therefore a HD truck is the bare minimum.

There is getting a big safe truck, and going overboard. Where you draw THAT line is more the issue.

Personally, anything bigger than a Suburban is getting absurd. But perhaps I'm a bit biased...

Ahh so now we finally come down it. The feeling everyone has but never admits. The anti-SUV crowd is right when they say these vechiles are getting out of hand. Where do we stop? No one can tell me what I can and can't drive grasshopper.

 

[Grasshopper27]

Originally posted by: Carbonyl
Not with all these people buying Suburbans I'd say the risk by driving a normal SUV is too high for me therefore a HD truck is the bare minimum.

A Suburban would do very poorly if hit by a train...

So perhaps I should carry my family around in a train on wheels?

Ahh so now we finally come down it. The feeling everyone has but never admits. The anti-SUV crowd is right when they say these vechiles are getting out of hand. Where do we stop? No one can tell me what I can and can't drive grasshopper.

Anything much bigger than a Suburban won't fit on our roads, so we've more or less met the limit. Just remember that the Suburban has been around since 1936, hardly a new concept...

Grasshopper

 

[Grasshopper27]

Originally posted by: Pliablemoose

I do look @ Hummer H2's & Suburbans, etc as a waste & we look like hypocrits when we come to the world's table to negotiate pollution control with countries that don't even have electricity & running water in the less developed areas.

What would you prefer, two standard cars driving around getting 25mpg or one suburban driving around getting 15mpg?

The latter is more fuel efficient and takes up less space on the road.

Grasshopper

 

[Zebo]

Here ya go grasshopper

 

[Grasshopper27]

Originally posted by: Carbonyl
Here ya go grasshopper

Dammit!!! You owe me a new keyboard!!!! Mine now has Dr. Pepper all over it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



That is funny as heck, thanks for the link!!!

OK, we give up. If you can't beat ?em join ?em! We've realized the profit potential of SUVs and have decided to cash in on it ourselves. We now features quality Firestone tires to make piloting the Pilgrimage a more exciting experience!* Presenting the 2003 Kenworth Pilgrimage, the SUV of the future, today.

Has your Suburban or Expedition gotten too small for you, or have the Jones' just one-upped you once again with a new Excursion? If you thought that so-called "large" SUVs like the Expedition have a tough look, then you need to check out the new Kenworth Pilgrimage!

Grasshopper

 

[Zebo]

Hehe Glad you liked it

Because now that I have explained the virtures of owning a F-350 this will be my next vechile to stay ahead of the game... Better have a bathroom and be self contained though so I can get the 2nd mortgage intrest dedution for the payments

 

[Pliablemoose]

What would you prefer, two standard cars driving around getting 25mpg or one suburban driving around getting 15mpg?

I'd rather folks look @ their real needs & purchase a car/truck that meets those needs.

For instance, I want a 4X4 duallie extended cab diesel pickup, & I could go buy one today, but the times I would really need one, I can rent one, and save tens of thousands of dollars in opportunity cost, maintenance, insurance, taxes, & licensing. Lets see $30K versus $50 for a 1 day rental.

 

[Zebo]

I'd rather folks look @ their real needs & purchase a car/truck that meets those needs.

Well said, I addition think about the affect they are having on the enviroment since we havent mandated somthing like 75mpg cars yet

 

[Grasshopper27]

Originally posted by: Pliablemoose
I'd rather folks look @ their real needs & purchase a car/truck that meets those needs.

For instance, I want a 4X4 duallie extended cab diesel pickup, & I could go buy one today, but the times I would really need one, I can rent one, and save tens of thousands of dollars in opportunity cost, maintenance, insurance, taxes, & licensing. Lets see $30K versus $50 for a 1 day rental.

Ok, and if a family needs something that hauls 4 to 6 people plus their stuff, what is wrong with them buying a Suburban?

Where on Earth can you rent a 4x4 duallie extended cab diesel pickup for $50/day? Me want!!!

Grasshopper

 

[Grasshopper27]

Originally posted by: Carbonyl

Well said, I addition think about the affect they are having on the enviroment since we havent mandated somthing like 75mpg cars yet

I would not want to live in a country that mandated such a thing...

Grasshopper

 

[Grasshopper27]

Originally posted by: Carbonyl
Hehe Glad you liked it

Because now that I have explained the virtures of owning a F-350 this will be my next vechile to stay ahead of the game... Better have a bathroom and be self contained though so I can get the 2nd mortgage intrest dedution for the payments

Hehehe... House on wheels...

Yea, I thought it was quite funny, I love spoofs!

BTW, JD Power and Assoc did a study and found that about 15% of the people who buy Suburbans actually would like something bigger still. They found the Excursion to be a poor vehicle, too rough around the edges, but even that wasn't big enough for some buyers...

Some people really do need to haul around 8 people plus stuff... You can get a soccer team and their gear in three Suburbans vs. a dozen cars...

Grasshopper

 

[Zebo]

Originally posted by: grasshopper26

Originally posted by: Pliablemoose
I'd rather folks look @ their real needs & purchase a car/truck that meets those needs.

For instance, I want a 4X4 duallie extended cab diesel pickup, & I could go buy one today, but the times I would really need one, I can rent one, and save tens of thousands of dollars in opportunity cost, maintenance, insurance, taxes, & licensing. Lets see $30K versus $50 for a 1 day rental.

Ok, and if a family needs something that hauls 4 to 6 people plus their stuff, what is wrong with them buying a Suburban?

Where on Earth can you rent a 4x4 duallie extended cab diesel pickup for $50/day? Me want!!!

Grasshopper

Because a mini van has more room, is cheaper, and get better milage and can tow most boats the same.