feeling guilty about my SUV

[vi edit]

Or you could just pick up a 4 cylinder beater car that gets 30MPG for a couple grand and use that for tooling around town and general purpose use when the weather isn't bad.

 

[BHeemsoth]

I'm a full time college student living in the Boston area.

I drive a 1999 Expedition, I have no family, and only haul trailers or large amounts of goods 5-6 times per year.

I drive an Expedition because I like it, I'm a tall person...sedans don't work well for me.

Please, feel free to add me to your hate list.

 

[Fenixgoon]

Originally posted by: BoomerD

Originally posted by: Amused
You have a valid use for the car.

Even if you didn't, who's fscking business is it?

Don't let busybody nanny-staters run your life.

X2...

You're not some suburban housewife using the truck mostly to ferry the kids to soccer practice. You have a legitimate need for the vehicle...

i was going to qft amused, but that's even better

 

[mattpegher]

Anyone have experience with more than one vehicle per driver and how that effects your insurance

 

[vi edit]

Originally posted by: mattpegher
Anyone have experience with more than one vehicle per driver and how that effects your insurance

It really depends on the area and the value of the, but in IL/IA when I had a third beater car under "liability only" it was dirt cheap. ~ $120 a year.

 

[SarcasticDwarf]

Originally posted by: vi_edit

Originally posted by: mattpegher
Anyone have experience with more than one vehicle per driver and how that effects your insurance

It really depends on the area and the value of the, but in IL/IA when I had a third beater car under "liability only" it was dirt cheap. ~ $120 a year.

The insurance is only part of it. The registration for a vehicle in some states runs hundreds per year, making it far more expensive. Then you can get into issues with available parking...

 

[vi edit]

Originally posted by: SarcasticDwarf

Originally posted by: vi_edit

Originally posted by: mattpegher
Anyone have experience with more than one vehicle per driver and how that effects your insurance

It really depends on the area and the value of the, but in IL/IA when I had a third beater car under "liability only" it was dirt cheap. ~ $120 a year.

The insurance is only part of it. The registration for a vehicle in some states runs hundreds per year, making it far more expensive. Then you can get into issues with available parking...

IL would be an extra $78. IA would have been around $30 for a couple grand beater.

 

[FoBoT]

and if your state has a personal property tax on vehicles, then you get to pay tax on both cars each year

 

[mercanucaribe]

Originally posted by: mattpegher
I've noticed that pickups of the same frame get the same gas milage, but you don't see any comments about pickups in the news. Makes me think that even within the "green" movement there is little science and a whole lot of hype.

I have no idea what people playing politics with vehicles has to do with whether the "green movement" is science or hype.. That's like saying that because Christian fundamentalists only want to teach abstinence but not condom use, the problems of teen pregnancy and STDs doesn't exist.

 

[0roo0roo]

well mostly because pickups can have utility purposes whereas most suv's frankly dont'..and are built around that fact. its true many trucks only haul around fatass americans as their only job though.

people also don't like suvs because they are disproportionatly unsafe to other vehicles. basically a bit irresponsible. and frankly kill your neighbor to save yourself isn't very jesus thing to do in a self proclaimed christain nation.

 

[Strk]

Meh, I say drive whatever you want. Personally, I'd take a wagon over an SUV. They offer a lot of utility and better mileage. Sadly, the list of wagons is quite short.

 

[mattpegher]

Originally posted by: mercanucaribe

Originally posted by: mattpegher
I've noticed that pickups of the same frame get the same gas milage, but you don't see any comments about pickups in the news. Makes me think that even within the "green" movement there is little science and a whole lot of hype.

I have no idea what people playing politics with vehicles has to do with whether the "green movement" is science or hype.. That's like saying that because Christian fundamentalists only want to teach abstinence but not condom use, the problems of teen pregnancy and STDs doesn't exist.

I'm not saying that green house effect or global warming donot exist, if thats what your analogy suggests. My question is if the gas milage is the same for a pickup, an SUV and a van with the same engine (a 5.3l V8 gets 14/18 no matter what the body), then singling out SUV's seems to be scapegoating. Less talk about the vehicle and more talk about alternative fuels will most likely lead to less consumption. It seems like the powers that be, whether they be administrative or corporate, are looking to distract the public and enviromentally conscious groups are being manipulated without there knowledge.

 

[mattpegher]

Originally posted by: 0roo0roo
well mostly because pickups can have utility purposes whereas most suv's frankly dont'..and are built around that fact. its true many trucks only haul around fatass americans as their only job though.

people also don't like suvs because they are disproportionatly unsafe to other vehicles. basically a bit irresponsible. and frankly kill your neighbor to save yourself isn't very jesus thing to do in a self proclaimed christain nation.

Not everyone who drives a pickup haul stuff on a regular basis. Many use the pickup for work but even those that do may not fill the bed all the time. Their use of a truck is necessary again by the nature that they frequently need the hauling capacity and multiple vehicles do not work unless your need is rare and expected. An SUV is basically a people hauling and bad weather vehicle with some cargo use. I often have to fill the cargo space with large or numerous items that even the largest sedan or wagon couldnot handle.

 

[Jahee]

Originally posted by: Koing

Originally posted by: Jahee
Justified in this case in my opinion. What i don't agree with is people having them and using them to go shopping, with just them, the driver.

What?

So you see the OP driving his SUV to do the shopping you get p!ssed? He should get a smaller more economical car to go to the shops?! The added expensive of buying that car and the costs with it so people are 'happy' with him driving around in it?

Koing

No, you're misunderstanding what i'm saying, what i mean is people that have them for that sole use, and will never use their luggage or seating capacity to the fullest, and have it just because its the "in" thing in some crowds or to look pretty. Obviously there are going to be some times when a SUV owner uses the car just go to the shop, on their own like every other person who has a car.

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

Originally posted by: Amused
You have a valid use for the car.

Even if you didn't, who's fscking business is it?

Don't let busybody nanny-staters run your life.

He has a valid use for the car, no doubt. However, the rest of your post sounds a bit hard headed because the other view point has a strong following with their own reasons. Just because you don't agree doesn't mean it can't be listened to. They don't run your life, they just offer their point of view. When you talk about the topic, expect to have their opinion stated, otherwise it's better to just make a thread inviting only those who agree.

 

[JBarr]

Hmmm

ER docs make ~$130-160K/year, I don't know one that drives anything that gets more than ~20mpg.

What do the other docs you work with drive?

What's your hurry? In a couple of years, you'll have the option to purchase a hybrid SUV, it's not cost effective to own & drive 2 cars (the commuter car in addition to your SUV for now). Insurance rates, maintenance, tax, opportunity cost & all negate any real impact you'll have on the environment.

 

[mattpegher]

Although the improved gas milage of a hybrid sounds appealing, no one has ever talked numbers completely that i have found. What is the cost of the electricity to recharge the batteries per mile, and what on average is the amount of carbon emissions to produce that electricity.(varies by method of electricity production) Then add to that the per mile cost of purchasing a hybrid minus the tax incentive (big hype there, actual cash in pocket 1/3 of touted savings)

As a side, i originally typed "hyprid" above. An interesting freudean slip?

 

[Ruptga]

Originally posted by: Jahee
Justified in this case in my opinion. What i don't agree with is people having them and using them to go shopping, with just them, the driver.

 

[Muadib]

Originally posted by: Engineer
I don't really care if the OP has a need or not....it's a free market and if he/she has the want/desire to drive a SUV that get's "Gallons per mile", that's his/her business, period. Sure, people have the right to frown upon it but as of now, it's the OP right to do so. If the OP want to continue to drive it, that's his/her business, even if it's just to drive to McDonalds just to take a piss. :Q

:thumbsup:

 

[Flyback]

Anyone that uses any amount of gas has no basis to judge you. Keep it in perspective and enjoy life.

 

[TwiceOver]

Perspective is key. The other day we were dropping long range wireless internet into a mall parking lot for a local dealership. The manager of the dealership left his Hummer H2 sitting there with the AC running (puddle of water under the compressor on passenger side) for over 2hrs.... That is excess...

 

[JBarr]

Originally posted by: mattpegher
Although the improved gas milage of a hybrid sounds appealing, no one has ever talked numbers completely that i have found. What is the cost of the electricity to recharge the batteries per mile, and what on average is the amount of carbon emissions to produce that electricity.(varies by method of electricity production) Then add to that the per mile cost of purchasing a hybrid minus the tax incentive (big hype there, actual cash in pocket 1/3 of touted savings)

As a side, i originally typed "hyprid" above. An interesting freudean slip?

Go crazy

Gas mileage impact calculator

 

[mercanucaribe]

Originally posted by: mattpegher
Although the improved gas milage of a hybrid sounds appealing, no one has ever talked numbers completely that i have found. What is the cost of the electricity to recharge the batteries per mile, and what on average is the amount of carbon emissions to produce that electricity.(varies by method of electricity production) Then add to that the per mile cost of purchasing a hybrid minus the tax incentive (big hype there, actual cash in pocket 1/3 of touted savings)

As a side, i originally typed "hyprid" above. An interesting freudean slip?

You don't know how a hybrid works apparently. The batteries are charged by the gas engine. It's not separate.

 

[JS80]

Originally posted by: MegaVovaN
Agreed on right tools for the job. You don't blame a emergency helicopter or a school bus for getting less MPG than civic

Now if you were a small lady riding to work with nothing in giant eascalade but you and a tiiiiny briefcase, then it would be a problem.

who the hell do you think you are to tell a person what he should be driving?

 

[ponyo]

Sounds like you need a sports car for nice days.

Multiple cars FTW.