why all the hate to SUV's and not pickup trucks?

Page 6 - Seeking answers? Join the AnandTech community: where nearly half-a-million members share solutions and discuss the latest tech.

dainthomas

Lifer
Dec 7, 2004
14,942
3,923
136
Originally posted by: Xavier434
Originally posted by: dainthomas
Originally posted by: Xavier434
Being that is the case, I expressed my support for the idea of not driving these large vehicles until this energy crisis ends and we are once again privileged with large amounts of cheap fuel. Until then...

Say I sold my truck and bought a Ford Focus. How much oil would it take to build that Focus? Is that amount more than the amount of oil saved from not driving my truck? I'm pretty sure I know the answer.

Do you? Because I don't. Please elaborate.

Also, there is always the option of buying used.

There's a report here.

On page 20 it lists the actual energy (hence oil) cost per mile for the life of nearly every type of vehicle (including production). My F150 is nearly $1/mi LOWER than a prius (I guess I love the environment more!).

I'll concede that it is $1.5/mi higher than a focus. However given that it does take quite a bit of energy to gather the materials and assemble ANY vehicle, I maintain that it would likely take years of driving to break even from an energy standpoint. Therefore for the immediate future I am saving oil by continuing to drive my truck.
 

AgaBoogaBoo

Lifer
Feb 16, 2003
26,108
5
81
Originally posted by: ClarkJF
Someone made a good point, anyone concerned about need should look at things in their life i.e. their house, their wardrobe, the amount of garbage they make, we all typically have a lot more than we need in most areas of our life.
Right, and so the point is, IMO, to be careful with all of those things.
 

ElFenix

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Mar 20, 2000
102,402
8,574
126
Originally posted by: dainthomas

On page 20 it lists the actual energy (hence oil) cost per mile for the life of nearly every type of vehicle (including production). My F150 is nearly $1/mi LOWER than a prius (I guess I love the environment more!).

I'll concede that it is $1.5/mi higher than a focus. However given that it does take quite a bit of energy to gather the materials and assemble ANY vehicle, I maintain that it would likely take years of driving to break even from an energy standpoint. Therefore for the immediate future I am saving oil by continuing to drive my truck.

is that the 'report' that assumes the prius will only be on the road 100,000 miles while the truck will be on the road 300,000 miles?


edit: hybrid civic assumed at 113,000. a buddy of mine is approaching 150,000 on his first set of batteries.
 

dainthomas

Lifer
Dec 7, 2004
14,942
3,923
136
Originally posted by: ElFenix
Originally posted by: dainthomas

On page 20 it lists the actual energy (hence oil) cost per mile for the life of nearly every type of vehicle (including production). My F150 is nearly $1/mi LOWER than a prius (I guess I love the environment more!).

I'll concede that it is $1.5/mi higher than a focus. However given that it does take quite a bit of energy to gather the materials and assemble ANY vehicle, I maintain that it would likely take years of driving to break even from an energy standpoint. Therefore for the immediate future I am saving oil by continuing to drive my truck.

is that the 'report' that assumes the prius will only be on the road 100,000 miles while the truck will be on the road 300,000 miles?

more like 106 and 160. if you gave them the same life span the energy costs would probably be closer to even. either way the hippie snobs who drive them can stfu.
 

AgaBoogaBoo

Lifer
Feb 16, 2003
26,108
5
81
Originally posted by: preslove
Originally posted by: Citrix
Originally posted by: bonkers325
in general, people who own pickup trucks use them because they NEED them for their daily/weekly chores. cant say the same for most SUV owners

sure you can.

Bullshit.
This is a really stupid point to argue on - just compare the number of SUV's and trucks we have in the US to a european country... are you telling me that people outside of the US skip on everything we need our big cars for? I guess they don't have to spread mulch or anything like that...
 

seemingly random

Diamond Member
Oct 10, 2007
5,277
0
0
Originally posted by: dainthomas
Originally posted by: ElFenix
Originally posted by: dainthomas

On page 20 it lists the actual energy (hence oil) cost per mile for the life of nearly every type of vehicle (including production). My F150 is nearly $1/mi LOWER than a prius (I guess I love the environment more!).

I'll concede that it is $1.5/mi higher than a focus. However given that it does take quite a bit of energy to gather the materials and assemble ANY vehicle, I maintain that it would likely take years of driving to break even from an energy standpoint. Therefore for the immediate future I am saving oil by continuing to drive my truck.

is that the 'report' that assumes the prius will only be on the road 100,000 miles while the truck will be on the road 300,000 miles?

more like 106 and 160. if you gave them the same life span the energy costs would probably be closer to even. either way the hippie snobs who drive them can stfu.
"hippie snobs" - my head is assploding!
 

Raduque

Lifer
Aug 22, 2004
13,140
138
106
I don't justify my truck to anybody. I don't have to. Somebody asks me why I have my truck, I tell them "Because I want it". I've always been a truck person, my first car was an 83 F250, and it was about about 10 years before I got another one. I'm happy and I love my truck and that's what matters.

Originally posted by: LS21
Originally posted by: fisheerman
I am betting that when they come out with a Suburban that gets 30 MPG that the environ/haters are going to come up with other reasons why people shouldn't be driving them.

Where did the land of "mind your own business go"?

ill mind my business as soon as the excess of your vehicle doesnt block driving visibility,
Get more than 5" away from my trailer hitch and you can see around me.

blind others due to high-set headlight,
My trucks lights don't shine directly into 90% of smaller cars' windows. If you want something to complain about, though, I can turn on my hi-beams and driving lights, though. ;)

hog up parking space and ding neighboring cars in the process
At least I'm completely in my space, unlike the Sentra on the left that's crossing the line, or the Honda on the right that's diagonally parked backwards. But that's fine - I can use those cars as a stepping-stool to get in/out of my truck by the window. :D

 

Eos

Diamond Member
Jun 14, 2000
3,463
17
81
Originally posted by: Scarpozzi
Pickup trucks usually have a function. I want to buy a truck right now just to haul lumber and work on some house projects. Using it as a daily driver wouldn't be my first choice, but it's slightly less obnoxious because you can actually see around it. In traffic, an SUV totally blocks the view of what's going on up ahead....

If the following vehicle has a large enough distance between them and the LARGE vehicle, you can see around them. This goes for semi trucks as well. Leave a gap and you can see around anything.
 

GrumpyMan

Diamond Member
May 14, 2001
5,780
266
136
I hate small fuel efficient cars. The way they just zip around and park easily. They are like little nats. And when I run into them, since my bumper is higher, they have the gall to scratch the bottom of it. I love parking sideways in parking lots so those little nats can't park. And I like to slow down so they can't see around me so when they try to pass me and I knock them off the road. I hate little cars and short people too............:roll:
 

BigToque

Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
11,700
0
76
I just want SUV's, minivans and trucks to require a different class of licence. There are far too many people driving them that don't know how. They pose a threat to my life and everyone else on the road.