THE Hummer/SUV Thread (merged)

by **gnm** » Mon 27 Sep 2004, 15:21:03

Well, I think you might be three years too late... The used lots and repo lots around here are absolutely crammed with SUV's....

I own a small subaru (commuter) and a big ass truck - its already paid for and I need it to haul wood etc so I'll be keeping it regardless of gas prices...

I suspect a lot of the suburban owners of giant (think ego extension) SUV's are the ones dropping them in favor of cheaper options....

-G

by **KiddieKorral** » Mon 27 Sep 2004, 15:24:28

Pickup trucks will be with us for a while, because they're actually useful. However, when Mommy can't afford to take the kids to soccer practice in her huge SUV because gas has gone up to $6/gallon, expect panic selling. When that happens, you'll have to sell your firstborn son to buy a VW Rabbit, but SUVs will be a dime a dozen.

by **NevadaGhosts** » Mon 27 Sep 2004, 15:27:49

GNM, I think you are correct. I was reading how Ford and GM cannot get rid of their 2004 lineup of SUV's. No one wants them. Massive incentives and price cuts are their only solution to move them out of the warehouses. So perhaps we are already seeing the begining of the end for gas-guzzlers.

by **trespam** » Mon 27 Sep 2004, 15:48:50

I unloaded my BMW 740iL several months ago and bought a Honda Insight instead. My wife use a Prius as the family car. And an old Van sits in the driveway and is used for the occasional hauling trip. Yeah, I know, even this is a waste--having a car sitting in the driveway.
I went to the hardware store yesterday in my Insight and noticed that Home Depot has rental trucks. That's what I find amazing. People buy large trucks claiming they might haul stuff once in a blue moon. Renting a community resource (which is basically what the home deport truck is) is a much wiser use of resources. The I-want-it-now culture doesn't like planning ahead. That's why, in my opinion, people don't like using rapid transit. They want to get into their personal car NOW and go EXACTLY where they want to go.

People will have to become much more accustomed to inconvenience. Which for me, is not a problem. As an inveterate reader, I always carry several books with me and any wait is always an opportunity to read a few more pages.
I sat on airplane once that woud not debark because it was having mechanical problems. People around me were complaining. I asked one complainer: what do you propose? They fly with mechanical problems? She reponsded that they should have an extra plane ready for these problems. I asked her if she would be willing to pay the extra plane fare that would be required to have those extra planes sitting around doing nothing. In so many words, I told another guy to can his whining. When we finally left the plane, he joked a bit but said at one point he felt like slugging me. My standard response: "Good thing you didn't. My lawyer and I would sue him for everything he owns--including his salary."

Whiners and complainers. Wait till they have to deal with peak oil. Serves 'em right.

by **NevadaGhosts** » Mon 27 Sep 2004, 15:55:07

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Trespam', 'I') went to the hardware store yesterday in my Insight and noticed that Home Depot has rental trucks. That's what I find amazing. People buy large trucks claiming they might haul stuff once in a blue moon. Renting a community resource (which is basically what the home deport truck is) is a much wiser use of resources. The I-want-it-now culture doesn't like planning ahead. That's why, in my opinion, people don't like using rapid transit. They want to get into their personal car NOW and go EXACTLY where they want to go.

by **gnm** » Mon 27 Sep 2004, 15:58:55

A home depot truck won't do me any good when I need to get out after a big snow - sometimes takes them 3 days to get to plowing... So Ithink I'll hang onto my gas guzzler - I don't put enough miles on it to be a burden.. but the extra insurance payment is irritating. Still cheaper then renting every weeekend though....

-G

by **gnm** » Mon 27 Sep 2004, 16:02:52

I should qualify that with saying that I do think the rental is a good idea for most people who need to haul occasionally... I haul stuff fairly often though. and the truck is a safety net in case I REALLY need to get out after a snow, or flooded road,etc...

I actually prefer to commute on my motorcycle when I can (45+ mpg) :D

but alas it is broken at the moment...

-G

by **NevadaGhosts** » Mon 27 Sep 2004, 16:06:01

Gnm, A truck isn't necessary for snow. There are other ways. I used to own a 1983 Toyota Tercel 4wd wagon. We get quite a bit of snow where we live, and that thing was a tank. Had higher than normal ground clearance and could go through practically anything with chains on. It also could be shifted in and out of 4wd to get better gas mileage (a true 4wd). It got about 40-50 mpg. You can pick up a used one for about $2-3k. So for snow, ther are alternatives.

by **trespam** » Mon 27 Sep 2004, 16:21:34

Just a note: I'm not complaining about those who have trucks. I've still got that Dodge Grand Caravan in the driveway collecting dirt and bird droppings. And think of all the oil required to make that Prius and Insight I purchased. We are all oil-sinners to one degree or another. And some people truly need a truck if they use it every day.
It's just the mind-set of those who think they must have that truck for the few occasions when they will actually use it. My Caravan is almost in that category. We are keeping it right now for those occasions when we need to haul stuff, whether lots of kids/family, or beach junk, or whatever. It's an economic waste for me to spend $500 or so a year to keep it sitting there for convenience, but I suppose not an oil waste at this point. Though if someone who actually was thinking about purchasing a car could drive it instead, well, then there would be less oil wasted building their new car. Oh well.

The mind set will change when oil hits $6/7 a gallon. There will be econmic pain, and a new realization that much of what we consume or do is not necessary. The world is currently consuming about 80 mbpd of oil. What do you bet we could get by with 40 mpbd and still all survive to tell about it. A depression? Probably. Financial chaos? Probably yes as well. But survive with our homes and lives intact.
I think my next purchase will be a bicycle with electric assist. I can ride them on bike paths--unlike mopeds without peddles, whether electric powered or gas powered.

by **gnm** » Mon 27 Sep 2004, 16:31:27

Well, I have taken a subaru (my old one was lifted) through about a foot of snow but I have yet to see a tercel or subaru go through 20 inches... I can take the truck through 20 inches if I am careful... leaves a trail where the differential is :D - but if you lose too much speed or go in a rut you're in trouble..

We get a storm like that 3-4 times in an average winter... can be sketchy driving for a week afterwards... and the mud! I drive down 4 miles of unimproved forest road - think foot deep trenches of mud in the winter... no gravel - no plowing sometimes til spring...

-G

by **gnm** » Mon 27 Sep 2004, 16:41:40

Yow, when you say $6 or $7 a gallon - I think the least of my worries will be how much it takes to fill up the car - can you imagine the effect that would have on the economy?!

btw Nevada - didn't mean to disparage a tercel - heck of a good car - as are the subaru's I have taken those suckers where they just aren't meant to go :D - and the old ones with 4wheel low were great - made up for the under powered engine...

-G

by **NevadaGhosts** » Mon 27 Sep 2004, 16:52:34

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'b')tw Nevada - didn't mean to disparage a tercel - heck of a good car - as are the subaru's I have taken those suckers where they just aren't meant to go - and the old ones with 4wheel low were great - made up for the under powered engine...

by **trespam** » Mon 27 Sep 2004, 17:43:20

Oh ye of little faith. :-)

We have to be more resilient than $7 per gallon of gas. In So Cal prices, $125/barrel oil is about $7/gallon. In inflation adjusted terms, we survived oil of about $80/barrel. We will survive a 50% increase over that. Why run to the hills at $7/gallon. Is the first phase of adjustment to the new era, not the end of society.

PS: We will need a few extra national guardsman. A riot or two could break out on occasion. But we will survive.

by **NevadaGhosts** » Mon 27 Sep 2004, 17:49:40

I didn't say that I would run for the hills at $7 per gallon. I said that when society breaks down, I would leave town. And I think that $7 per gallon of gas could break society as we know it.

by **NevadaGhosts** » Mon 27 Sep 2004, 17:51:13

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'O')h ye of little faith. We have to be more resilient than $7 per gallon of gas.

by **trespam** » Tue 28 Sep 2004, 01:15:56

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('NevadaGhosts', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'O')h ye of little faith. We have to be more resilient than $7 per gallon of gas.

by **Specop_007** » Tue 28 Sep 2004, 01:34:50

I hate people who are too pussy to fight. If they get hit they cry foula nd sue for money.
These people.... I cant wait to gun them down in a hard crash. In fact, they'll be my first targets. Damned pussy, spineless people who cant stand up for themselves.

by **frankthetank** » Tue 28 Sep 2004, 01:50:03

I just got the inside scoop locally this past weekend. An owner of a very large car dealership chain said that SUVS and Trucks aren't selling. I wonder why?????

by **NevadaGhosts** » Tue 28 Sep 2004, 02:48:42

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'I') hate people who are too pussy to fight. If they get hit they cry foula nd sue for money.
These people.... I cant wait to gun them down in a hard crash. In fact, they'll be my first targets. Damned pussy, spineless people who cant stand up for themselves.

by **NevadaGhosts** » Tue 28 Sep 2004, 02:54:05

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'T')he world made it through the great depression, WWII, and I'm not going to buckle under and head for the hills because--heaven help us--oil is $7/gallon.

THE Hummer/SUV Thread (merged)

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