Hey you! Yes, you in that big SUV...

[0roo0roo]

the fact is, people who drive larger and more dangerous vehicles are not required to drive with a higher level of qualification or held to higher standards. they aren't even made to pay more in insurance. its pathetic.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
It probably cost me an extra $3000 in gasoline during that time period more than a fullsize car averaging 21mpg.

Not a chance in hell that it cost you that much extra.

Average driving is about 12,000 per year. Let's be over-pessimistic and say you drive 15,000 per year (which will exagerate the difference in fuel consumption). Let's also be over-pessimistic and say that you averaged only 16 mpg with your truck (which is uncharacteristically bad) and could have gotten 30 with a car (which is an awfully fuel efficient car in America). Let's be even further pessimistic and say that the truck require Premium fuel whereas the car would only need regular (an extra $0.20 per gallon for truck fuel). And we'll say that the average price for a gallon of regular was $1.60 per gallon over that time period.

Gallons used at 16 mpg: 937.5
Gallons used at 30 mpg: 500

Extra gallons consumed by the truck: 437.5

Extra cost if truck needs premium: $887.50

Extra cost if truck burns regular: $700

Extra cost over 3 years if premium: $2,662.50

Extra cost over 3 years if truck burns regular: $2,100

And if we take a real-world example where the numbers aren't seriously fudged beforehand in your favour...

My father's Explored V8: 20 mpg.
Mom's Maxima: 26 mpg.

Fuel useage difference (at 15,000 miles per year): 173 gallons per year.

Fuel cost difference (at our local average of $1.50 per gallon of regular): $259.50

Over 3 years that is less than $800. And that's not even taking into account that the Maxima needs Premium while the Explorer runs fine on regular. (Though if we run those numbers the difference is a mere $144.10 per year premium to drive the Explorer.)

In short, unless there was a HUGE difference in fuel economy and unless your truck burned far more expensive gasoline you're not spending $1,000 extra per year on fuel for a truck. Just ain't happening.

ZV

WRONG!!!

I put 45,000 miles on that truck in 2.5 years. I'll even refigure it using a lower price for regular (my car takes middle grade not premium).

45,000 miles / 12mpg (average) = 3,750 x $1.90/gallon=$7,125
45,000 miles / 21mpg (average) = 2,142 x $2.10/gallon=$4,725

So, that's still a $2,400 over the 2.5 year period.

Those gasoline prices I listed above are pretty normal here and have been higher at times and lower at times but it has been pretty steady here now for a couple years at that price. I'm saving about $75/month in gasoline alone with my car. The truck averaged about 12-13mpg which is pretty typical for a V8 powered fullsize truck. The Maxima averages about 21mpg. My driving is mostly stop and go driving and very little freeway speed driving which would change the numbers favorably for both vehicles.

 

[JulesMaximus]

I put 24,000 miles on that truck the first year I owned it (it had 9 miles on it when I bought it). Not to mention that it goes through brakes much sooner than a car and car washes get you for an extra few bucks to clean a truck unless you do it yourself and then it takes you about an extra half hour to wash and dry it.

I already have 7,500 miles on the Maxima and I bought it the first week of April (it had 7 miles on it then).

 

[BoberFett]

Originally posted by: sxr7171

Originally posted by: SOSTrooper
I've always been wondering. Why do people bash SUV, but not large sided pickup trucks? They're very similar except trucks have an open bed (for those who didn't get a camper top). Explorer and Durangos aren't considered big at all. I think the more fearsome SUVs are H2, Excursion, & Suburban that seems to be more 'dangerous' when driving closely to them. I have a Dodge RAM and I drive it as carefully as I drive my sedan. I agree that it's up to the driver and the attitude of the driver. Some drivers think it's ok to boss around the road because their SUVs are bigger. I used to think that, but now I've been extremely courteous about other drivers in my RAM, just as I'm courteous in my Passat.

Pickup drivers can be annoying, but it is usually the same number of as annoying car drivers. I think a lot of pickup truck drivers have a use for the truck, and drive it with the understanding that they have a bigger vehicle and they need to be a little more careful. However quite a few SUV drivers think that they are so "bad ass" and they can run around like they own the road. Many people think that the ideal SUV is one that feels and drives like a car but is big and bad ass, so they can do crazy things with it as if driving a car, it's surprising that more of them don't topple the way people drive them.

Imagining and attributing personalities to people you've never met based on what they drive must make life so easy for you.

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt

A standard transmission is far from an "obsolete piece of equipment". The simple fact is that with the exception of towing and drag racing (given a highly tuned automatic), a standard transmission offers better control, better economy, and better durability than its automatic counterpart. It's also a helluva lot more fun, but that's not sufficient cause, though the other points are definitely sufficient.

ZV

i said "largely obsolete." which is true. and you haven't refuted that. how many vehicles in the US are sold today with sticks? 5%? maybe 10%? as such, it is hardly an embarrassment, as is your claim.

 

[vi edit]

Because commercial vehicles often lack a center rearview mirror, meaning that they have no choice but to rely upon the sideview mirrors for rearward vision. In normal vehicles, the center rearview mirror obviates the need for those convex "spotter" mirrors. The lack of direct rearward vision in commercial vehicles is also a hinderance when backing up, leaving the drivers of comercial vehicles nothing to rely on but mirrors, again, this situation never comes up for normal vehicles except when towing. Not only that, but the hoodline and extreme height of most commercial vehicles creates a blind spot directly to the sideof the vehicle, necessitating convex mirrors. Once again, this is not a problem with normal vehicles. Your comparison is seriously flawed.

Not flawed at all really. I drive one of these. The thick b pillars on each side kill any sort of lateral visibility I may have for shoulder checks. The spare tire on the back (not to mention numerous computer boxes) blocks out about 75% of rearward visibility. My center mirror is useless. Because of that, I have to adjust my side mirrors to compensate, leaving holes in coverage that are covered by the convex mirrors.

Many SUV's have far worse visibility than you give them credit for. They sit higher up making low vehicles to the side of them and behind them harder to see. They often have large b & c pillars killing the greenhouse atmosphere you described earlier. They may have spare tires or heavily tinted glass hindering visibility out the rear. You don't buy an SUV bragging about it's visibility in any direction but in front of you.

 

[skace]

Is it me, or are all SUV headlights aimed directly into my rear view mirror. A few years ago, I could rely heavily on my rear view mirror at night. Now a days, I might as well rip the goddamn thing out, because all it does is blind me. I had 2 suvs behind me on the way home from work yesterday and both of them were blinding the hell out of me. Sigh.

 

[EyeMWing]

Originally posted by: skace
Is it me, or are all SUV headlights aimed directly into my rear view mirror. A few years ago, I could rely heavily on my rear view mirror at night. Now a days, I might as well rip the goddamn thing out, because all it does is blind me. I had 2 suvs behind me on the way home from work yesterday and both of them were blinding the hell out of me. Sigh.

Some idiots don't know that they have both hi-beams and low. The issue is null unless they leave their highs on all the time. Which a lot of people do nowadays.

 

[Ameesh]

its not my fault that you drive a tiny pos civic and have a death wish. some sh!thead in a van could kill you just as easily as the guy in a suburban or get this another sh!tty pos civic! get a life

 

[EyeMWing]

Originally posted by: Ameesh
its not my fault that you drive a tiny pos civic and have a death wish. some sh!thead in a van could kill you just as easily as the guy in a suburban or get this another sh!tty pos civic! get a life

Don't about me like that!

 

[PatboyX]

most people ive experienced driving trucks and large vehicles that are not SUVs seem to be able to handle them very well. SUV drivers i encounter (and i drive ALOT for my job) are constantly driving like idiots. i know this isnt everyone but...with so many on the road, it just looks bad. i drive a company car that is an old cop car so i dont so much mind them driving like idiots but i move between buildings in a school system and its sad to see so many people driving large vehicles with such abandon around the schools.

 

[gordy]

Originally posted by: SOSTrooper
I've always been wondering. Why do people bash SUV, but not large sided pickup trucks? They're very similar except trucks have an open bed (for those who didn't get a camper top). Explorer and Durangos aren't considered big at all. I think the more fearsome SUVs are H2, Excursion, & Suburban that seems to be more 'dangerous' when driving closely to them. I have a Dodge RAM and I drive it as carefully as I drive my sedan. I agree that it's up to the driver and the attitude of the driver. Some drivers think it's ok to boss around the road because their SUVs are bigger. I used to think that, but now I've been extremely courteous about other drivers in my RAM, just as I'm courteous in my Passat.

class envy

 

[Zebo]

Originally posted by: Rob9874
I love driving my huge Durango, and being able to sit higher than all the pee-ons in their low compact cars. It's like my throne of the road. Yeah, I'm the king of the road.

LOL

I love driving 90 mph in my truck, diesel running at a cool 2500 rpms passing all the riff-raff

 

[nan0bug]

Originally posted by: 0roo0roo
the fact is, people who drive larger and more dangerous vehicles are not required to drive with a higher level of qualification or held to higher standards. they aren't even made to pay more in insurance. its pathetic.

Ladies and gentlemen, we have a winner!!

 

[rh71]

I boss people around on the road just the same whether I'm in my mid-size SUV or that damned Accord... attitude is not about the size of the car.

 

[thomsbrain]

Originally posted by: MichaelD

Originally posted by: her209
i hate dumbasses that think they have authority over the road because their vehicle is bigger than yours.

Driving a tiny econobox or family car and being a dumbass driver are not exactly mutually exclusive, you know.

It's trendy these days to bash SUV drivers. I drive not only an SUV, but one that's lifted 4 inches and has tires higher than the mirrors on most family cars.

AND I can't tell you how many times I have had to jerk the wheel and put the truck in the divider b/c some soccer mom in her minivan was trying to change a diaper w/the kid in the baby seat in the BACK seat while driving. :disgust:

Or how many 98 year old men driving a Caddy Fleetwood cut me off b/c they decided they like my lane better. Causing me to slam on my brakes and almost get rear ended. Unless you're in a truck, if you rear end me, you're going UNDER my truck. I don't want this to happen.

It's the driver, not the vehicle, guys.

good job, complain that not only drivers of huge-ass vehicles drive badly, then as your evidence, list two huge-ass vehicles driven badly.

you get the "unclear on the concept" award of the day.

 

[BoberFett]

Originally posted by: thomsbrain

Originally posted by: MichaelD

Originally posted by: her209
i hate dumbasses that think they have authority over the road because their vehicle is bigger than yours.

Driving a tiny econobox or family car and being a dumbass driver are not exactly mutually exclusive, you know.

It's trendy these days to bash SUV drivers. I drive not only an SUV, but one that's lifted 4 inches and has tires higher than the mirrors on most family cars.

AND I can't tell you how many times I have had to jerk the wheel and put the truck in the divider b/c some soccer mom in her minivan was trying to change a diaper w/the kid in the baby seat in the BACK seat while driving. :disgust:

Or how many 98 year old men driving a Caddy Fleetwood cut me off b/c they decided they like my lane better. Causing me to slam on my brakes and almost get rear ended. Unless you're in a truck, if you rear end me, you're going UNDER my truck. I don't want this to happen.

It's the driver, not the vehicle, guys.

good job, complain that not only drivers of huge-ass vehicles drive badly, then as your evidence, list two huge-ass vehicles driven badly.

you get the "unclear on the concept" award of the day.

Maybe you missed the concept, numbskull. The post is about SUVs. I didn't realize that SUVs include Cadillacs and minivans.