Time: Why the SUV is All the Rage

[Fausto]

Originally posted by: BDawg

Originally posted by: Fausto1

Originally posted by: spidey07

Originally posted by: iamwiz82

Originally posted by: dullard

Originally posted by: iamwiz82
why were you tailgating?

If you read my post you will see I was passing. By state law you must pull up close to the car you are passing before you change lanes. It is just a coincidence that the deer appeared at the exact moment I was pulling up to pass.

its state law that you can approach a vehicle, however, were does it say you can approach a vehicle to the point where you have no line of sight anywhere in front of you? I'm sure if you were farther back you would have seen the deer. How do you know that the SUV driver was too busy watching you and wondering if you will be able to stop if he/she stops?

me thinks passing in inclement or snowy weather is a very bad idea to start with.

Methinks you people would argue with a f*cking fence post.

Is that fence post running its mouth again? I'll show it what for.

I gotcher fence post........RIGHT HERE!!!

 

[BDawg]

Originally posted by: Amused
You know, it's funny, but I never hear the same people bitch about pickup trucks. Pickup trucks that are the same damn size, and even built on the same damn frames as the SUVs they whine about. The anti-SUV fanatics could be passed by ten huge pickups and not say a word, but the minute an SUV comes their way they break out into a diatribe about the environment, soccer moms, and crash statistics.

I'd bet that a much larger percentage of pickups are actually bought for a useful purpose. More pickup truck drivers know how to drive their cars in snow and heavy rain too.

Semis put out lots more pollution and get much worse mpg than anything else on the road. But, they serve a real purpose.

 

[dullard]

Originally posted by: Amused
You know, it's funny, but I never hear the same people bitch about pickup trucks. Pickup trucks that are the same damn size, and even built on the same damn frames as the SUVs they whine about. The anti-SUV fanatics could be passed by ten huge pickups and not say a word, but the minute an SUV comes their way they break out into a diatribe about the environment, soccer moms, and crash statistics.

I don't like the low gas mileage of the pickup trucks, but around here (Nebraska) almost all pickups I see are put to good use. Most are farm equipment hauling things around, people moving furnature, etc. The SUV's I see are almost always single people driving who never use the back 2/3rds of the vehicle. Why have such a long vehicle if you don't use it? Often they could have a shorter SUV and never know the difference. Shorter vehicles are often more fuel friendly, weight less so they stop faster, and fit into parking stalls easier. I'm not against SUV's themselves. I'm against people buying more vehicle than they will ever use. The pickups around here are used well.

 

[Dufman]

people need to buy large vehicles to make up for their insecurities about certain parts of their body...

 

[Fausto]

Originally posted by: BDawg

Originally posted by: Amused
You know, it's funny, but I never hear the same people bitch about pickup trucks. Pickup trucks that are the same damn size, and even built on the same damn frames as the SUVs they whine about. The anti-SUV fanatics could be passed by ten huge pickups and not say a word, but the minute an SUV comes their way they break out into a diatribe about the environment, soccer moms, and crash statistics.

I'd bet that a much larger percentage of pickups are actually bought for a useful purpose. More pickup truck drivers know how to drive their cars in snow and heavy rain too.

Semis put out lots more pollution and get much worse mpg than anything else on the road. But, they serve a real purpose.

Although it would be nice if we had a more extensive and better-utilized rail system for most of the stuff big rigs carry. I-85 between Atlanta and NC is constantly jammed with rigs....I don't see why most of that couldn't be moved from state to state via rail and then distributed semi-locally.

 

[vi edit]

Although it would be nice if we had a more extensive and better-utilized rail system for most of the stuff big rigs carry. I-85 between Atlanta and NC is constantly jammed with rigs....I don't see why most of that couldn't be moved from state to state via rail and then distributed semi-locally.

I have no friggin clue of the costs invovled building a train system, but if they could somehow build a train system that went from Iowa City to Cedar Rapids with a stop over in my town(right smack between the IC and CR), I bet that thing would be crammed full of people every day of the week. There's only a 20-25 mile distance between the cities and there is an endless amount of commuter traffic between the two. It'd be awesome to be able to hop a train to work instead of having to drive 40 miles round trip a day.

 

[BDawg]

Originally posted by: Fausto1

Originally posted by: BDawg

Originally posted by: Amused
You know, it's funny, but I never hear the same people bitch about pickup trucks. Pickup trucks that are the same damn size, and even built on the same damn frames as the SUVs they whine about. The anti-SUV fanatics could be passed by ten huge pickups and not say a word, but the minute an SUV comes their way they break out into a diatribe about the environment, soccer moms, and crash statistics.

I'd bet that a much larger percentage of pickups are actually bought for a useful purpose. More pickup truck drivers know how to drive their cars in snow and heavy rain too.

Semis put out lots more pollution and get much worse mpg than anything else on the road. But, they serve a real purpose.

Although it would be nice if we had a more extensive and better-utilized rail system for most of the stuff big rigs carry. I-85 between Atlanta and NC is constantly jammed with rigs....I don't see why most of that couldn't be moved from state to state via rail and then distributed semi-locally.

I've wondered the same thing. My father-in-law, CFO for a southeast trucking company, says rail is much more expensive than truck transport.

 

[Ornery]

"Why the SUV is All the Rage?"

When will you people get a clue? Lots of people are damn tired of being shoe-horned into econoboxes. They want elbow room, legroom, headroom and rugged powerful transportation. True full size sedans are nearly extinct. You tell me, WTF else are they supposed to buy instead? A full sized pickup truck? Good call. Some do, but what about the rest?

You've got no business ragging on people's preference for SUVs, when you've got no viable alternative. Until you do... STFU! :frown:

 

[Amused]

Originally posted by: dullard

Originally posted by: Amused
You know, it's funny, but I never hear the same people bitch about pickup trucks. Pickup trucks that are the same damn size, and even built on the same damn frames as the SUVs they whine about. The anti-SUV fanatics could be passed by ten huge pickups and not say a word, but the minute an SUV comes their way they break out into a diatribe about the environment, soccer moms, and crash statistics.

I don't like the low gas mileage of the pickup trucks, but around here (Nebraska) almost all pickups I see are put to good use. Most are farm equipment hauling things around, etc. The SUV's I see are almost always single people driving who never use the back 2/3rds of the vehicle. Why have such a long vehicle if you don't use it? Often they could have a shorter SUV and never know the difference. Shorter vehicles are often more fuel friendly, weight less so they stop faster, and fit into parking stalls easier. I'm not against SUV's themselves. I'm against people buying more vehicle than they will ever use. The pickups around here are used well.

BS. You PERCEIVE the pickups as being put to good use. At least 70% of the time, a pickup used as a primary vehicle in a family (even on a farm) will NOT be loaded. It's the same with an SUV.

Say a family buys an SUV to tow their boat, take their 3 to school and back home, and take their children AND friends AND luggage on trips and to sports/school events. Because of economics, the vehicle also must be their primary vehicle. The majority of the time, the vehicle will be driven UNLOADED. Why? Well, 50% of the time it's driven as a school bus, it will be driven alone (the parents have to come back home after dropping off the rugrats, right?). Then there is grocery store trips, etc. Next, the parent uses it to go to work and back. And it only tows the boat five or six times a year.

Yet, because you see it being driven alone by the mom or dad, you think it's never used to it's full potential.

Any vehicle, no matter it's purpose, will be driven unloaded at least 50% of the time.

It may be time to examine your bias.

 

[vi edit]

I've wondered the same thing. My father-in-law, CFO for a southeast trucking company, says rail is much more expensive than truck transport.

The trouble is, you still have to somehow unload the train and then truck it to the final destination at the end, just like it would have to be trucked to the train and then loaded up. I'm guessing the man power and inconvenience of having to do double the work just makes it easier to do the whole thing by truck.

 

[Fausto]

Originally posted by: BDawg

Originally posted by: Fausto1

Originally posted by: BDawg

Originally posted by: Amused
You know, it's funny, but I never hear the same people bitch about pickup trucks. Pickup trucks that are the same damn size, and even built on the same damn frames as the SUVs they whine about. The anti-SUV fanatics could be passed by ten huge pickups and not say a word, but the minute an SUV comes their way they break out into a diatribe about the environment, soccer moms, and crash statistics.

I'd bet that a much larger percentage of pickups are actually bought for a useful purpose. More pickup truck drivers know how to drive their cars in snow and heavy rain too.

Semis put out lots more pollution and get much worse mpg than anything else on the road. But, they serve a real purpose.

Although it would be nice if we had a more extensive and better-utilized rail system for most of the stuff big rigs carry. I-85 between Atlanta and NC is constantly jammed with rigs....I don't see why most of that couldn't be moved from state to state via rail and then distributed semi-locally.

I've wondered the same thing. My father-in-law, CFO for a southeast trucking company, says rail is much more expensive than truck transport.

I wonder why. I can see that getting all the cars lined up and ready to go would be a PITA, but once you're underway a single train can move like 100 containers the same size as the back end of a big rig. Less fuel used and way more stuff moved by just a few people once the train is underway.

 

[Aves]

Originally posted by: Fausto1
Average commute time here in Atlanta is 31 minutes.

US Metropolitan Areas with Largest Central Business Districts: Travel Time by Mode
Slightly outdated, but relevant nonetheless.

31 minutes @ 50MPH is 25.83 miles
Twice a day is 51.67 miles
5 days a week is 258.33 miles
50 weeks a year is 12916.67 miles

Assuming you ONLY go to work and take 2 weeks off a year.

 

[Jeff7]

Originally posted by: Skoorb
My main problem with them besides any likely environmental impact and the fact that if you're in a small car and you hit one you die on impact (almost!) is the fact that they are having a significant impact on our use of oil, which increases our reliance on foreign nations. When it really comes down to it they are a _huge waste of gas_.

EDIT: Ignore the above actually. I seriously don't want to get into another SUV debate.

You do - someone I knew was in just such an accident. He died on impact; his car was totally demolished. Of course, he was pretty stupid too - no seatbelt. The way it was wrecked though, he would have likely been crushed anyway.

EDIT: Ok, ignored.

 

[Amused]

Originally posted by: BDawg

Originally posted by: Amused
You know, it's funny, but I never hear the same people bitch about pickup trucks. Pickup trucks that are the same damn size, and even built on the same damn frames as the SUVs they whine about. The anti-SUV fanatics could be passed by ten huge pickups and not say a word, but the minute an SUV comes their way they break out into a diatribe about the environment, soccer moms, and crash statistics.

I'd bet that a much larger percentage of pickups are actually bought for a useful purpose. More pickup truck drivers know how to drive their cars in snow and heavy rain too.

Semis put out lots more pollution and get much worse mpg than anything else on the road. But, they serve a real purpose.

Actually, the vast majority of pickups here in the Midwest and the South that I saw were status symbols for redneck teens. But then, maybe I'm biased?

 

[Queasy]

Originally posted by: aves2k

Originally posted by: Fausto1
Average commute time here in Atlanta is 31 minutes.

US Metropolitan Areas with Largest Central Business Districts: Travel Time by Mode
Slightly outdated, but relevant nonetheless.

31 minutes @ 50MPH is 25.83 miles
Twice a day is 51.67 miles
5 days a week is 258.33 miles
50 weeks a year is 12916.67 miles

Assuming you ONLY go to work and take 2 weeks off a year.

LOL You'll be lucky to reach 50MPH during the majority of rush hour days in Atlanta My commute to work is 25 miles and it takes an hour!

Damn housing prices in the Alpharetta area are preventing me from moving closer as well. They don't build houses near my new job unless they start at $240,000. Nice new subdivision being built within 5-10 minutes of my job. Sign says 170s, actual prices are between 190s and 210s.

 

[MuffD]

I agree with the comment on wanting more legroom and the such. I purchased my wife an Expidition two years ago so we would have more room for the kid and now second kid. We had a Chevy Silverado and Nissan Sentra and they just weren't practical trying to take the family around and stuffing strollers in the little car.
We're looking for another car now that my nissan is going to retire soon and I was thinking of getting another full size SUV but with the current gas prices going so high, I might have to consider something like a 4 door accord or something.

 

[BDawg]

Originally posted by: Amused

Originally posted by: BDawg

Originally posted by: Amused
You know, it's funny, but I never hear the same people bitch about pickup trucks. Pickup trucks that are the same damn size, and even built on the same damn frames as the SUVs they whine about. The anti-SUV fanatics could be passed by ten huge pickups and not say a word, but the minute an SUV comes their way they break out into a diatribe about the environment, soccer moms, and crash statistics.

I'd bet that a much larger percentage of pickups are actually bought for a useful purpose. More pickup truck drivers know how to drive their cars in snow and heavy rain too.

Semis put out lots more pollution and get much worse mpg than anything else on the road. But, they serve a real purpose.

Actually, the vast majority of pickups here in the Midwest and the South that I saw were status symbols for redneck teens. But then, maybe I'm biased?

True, but much more of those are Rangers and such that get almost 20 miles/gallon.

 

[Amused]

Originally posted by: BDawg

Originally posted by: Amused

Originally posted by: BDawg

Originally posted by: Amused
You know, it's funny, but I never hear the same people bitch about pickup trucks. Pickup trucks that are the same damn size, and even built on the same damn frames as the SUVs they whine about. The anti-SUV fanatics could be passed by ten huge pickups and not say a word, but the minute an SUV comes their way they break out into a diatribe about the environment, soccer moms, and crash statistics.

I'd bet that a much larger percentage of pickups are actually bought for a useful purpose. More pickup truck drivers know how to drive their cars in snow and heavy rain too.

Semis put out lots more pollution and get much worse mpg than anything else on the road. But, they serve a real purpose.

Actually, the vast majority of pickups here in the Midwest and the South that I saw were status symbols for redneck teens. But then, maybe I'm biased?

True, but much more of those are Rangers and such that get almost 20 miles/gallon.

Nope, actually most I saw were full size Chevy, Dodge or Ford 4x4 puckups. Rangers were for spuds.

 

[BDawg]

Originally posted by: muffstah
I agree with the comment on wanting more legroom and the such. I purchased my wife an Expidition two years ago so we would have more room for the kid and now second kid. We had a Chevy Silverado and Nissan Sentra and they just weren't practical trying to take the family around and stuffing strollers in the little car.
We're looking for another car now that my nissan is going to retire soon and I was thinking of getting another full size SUV but with the current gas prices going so high, I might have to consider something like a 4 door accord or something.

My SAAB has more legroom than my parent's Explorer, gets 28 mpg on the highway, and is safer.

 

[Queasy]

Originally posted by: muffstah
I agree with the comment on wanting more legroom and the such. I purchased my wife an Expidition two years ago so we would have more room for the kid and now second kid. We had a Chevy Silverado and Nissan Sentra and they just weren't practical trying to take the family around and stuffing strollers in the little car.
We're looking for another car now that my nissan is going to retire soon and I was thinking of getting another full size SUV but with the current gas prices going so high, I might have to consider something like a 4 door accord or something.

Pffthththth. Lazy Americans and their strollers.

 

[dullard]

Originally posted by: Amused
Any vehicle, no matter it's purpose, will be driven unloaded at least 50% of the time.

It may be time to examine your bias.

I agree, no vehicle is fully loaded at all times. However I know many people with SUV's who have never loaded it with anything. I don't know of a single pickup truck driver who has never loaded the pickup. The way I think of it is that SUV's are driven with their design goals (off road, towing something, or fully loaded with people/cargo) about 0.5% of the time I see them. I think pickups are driven with their design goals (towing something, hauling cargo) about 5% of the time I see them. Thus from my rough observations, most people with an SUV are getting next to no use out of its potential, but the pickup drivers do use it and it comes in handy when they have it.

 

[MuffD]

Originally posted by: BDawg

Originally posted by: muffstah
I agree with the comment on wanting more legroom and the such. I purchased my wife an Expidition two years ago so we would have more room for the kid and now second kid. We had a Chevy Silverado and Nissan Sentra and they just weren't practical trying to take the family around and stuffing strollers in the little car.
We're looking for another car now that my nissan is going to retire soon and I was thinking of getting another full size SUV but with the current gas prices going so high, I might have to consider something like a 4 door accord or something.

My SAAB has more legroom than my parent's Explorer, gets 28 mpg on the highway, and is safer.

We got hit once slightly from behind and our rear bumper was fine. The car that hit us ruined their whole front end. So you tell me who had the safer car

 

[Amused]

Originally posted by: dullard

Originally posted by: Amused
Any vehicle, no matter it's purpose, will be driven unloaded at least 50% of the time.

It may be time to examine your bias.

I agree, no vehicle is fully loaded at all times. However I know many people with SUV's who have never loaded it with anything. I don't know of a single pickup truck driver who has never loaded the pickup. The way I think of it is that SUV's are driven with their design goals (off road, towing something, or fully loaded with people/cargo) about 0.5% of the time I see them. I think pickups are driven with their design goals (towing something, hauling cargo) about 5% of the time I see them. Thus from my rough observations, most people with an SUV are getting next to no use out of its potential, but the pickup drivers do use it and it comes in handy when they have it.

Your "observations" are nothing but generalizations cherry picked to support your bias. Everyone *I* know who drives an SUV has regularly used the space in the back and/or the towing capacity.

Tell me, how often is the trunk of your car filled? The back seat used? If it isn't more than half the time, you're being wasteful and need to buy a smaller car.

 

[BDawg]

Originally posted by: muffstah

Originally posted by: BDawg

Originally posted by: muffstah
I agree with the comment on wanting more legroom and the such. I purchased my wife an Expidition two years ago so we would have more room for the kid and now second kid. We had a Chevy Silverado and Nissan Sentra and they just weren't practical trying to take the family around and stuffing strollers in the little car.
We're looking for another car now that my nissan is going to retire soon and I was thinking of getting another full size SUV but with the current gas prices going so high, I might have to consider something like a 4 door accord or something.

My SAAB has more legroom than my parent's Explorer, gets 28 mpg on the highway, and is safer.

We got hit once slightly from behind and our rear bumper was fine. The car that hit us ruined their whole front end. So you tell me who had the safer car

Damage != Safety. My car is safer than most every car on the market

 

[dullard]

Originally posted by: Amused
Your "observations" are nothing but generalizations cherry picked to support your bias. Everyone *I* know who drives an SUV has regularly used the space in the back and/or the towing capacity.

Tell me, how often is the trunk of your car filled? The back seat used? If it isn't more than half the time, you're being wasteful and need to buy a smaller car.

I'd love to have good statistics, but I don't. That is why throughout my post I said they are just my observations.

I'd love to have something smaller than a Civic (but enclosed, so motorcycles don't count). When I lived in Germany I truely wanted a Smart car. I wish they had them in the US. But they don't. So I bought the smallest car available.