[shortonsense]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('smiley', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'T')he best time to buy a gas guzzler in general is when gas prices are high,

[mos6507]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('shortonsense', '
')I suggested Suburban to the wife today just for fun, but it looks like GM/Chrysler are in more of a mess than Ford, so maybe a used Excursion or new Expedition instead.

[Northern_Pike]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'F')rom American Heritage Dictionary:
sport-u·til·i·ty vehicle
n. Abbr. SUV
A four-wheel-drive vehicle with a roomy body, designed for off-road travel

[Roy]

I don't hate SUVs. They are very useful vehicles.

What I don't like is the perception that Suzy-soccer-mom and Tough-guy-Joe need to have one in suburban environments to be cool, to dominate the road, and because they are safer.

80% of them are used as cars. Large, wasteful, vision obscuring, unsafe, top heavy cars.

Full framed SUVs are only safer than a car when they collide with a car. Reason being that they don't have crush zones. Cars do. When they hit a car, the car crushes (usually not good for the occupants of the car). If an SUV hits a solid object or another similar vehicle, the crash energy is transferred to the inside of the vehicle and the passengers.

Not to mention that most are incapable of evasive maneuvers at much above 30 mph. On many models getting a flat tire at highway speeds can be fatal if the driver is not skilled.

There are exceptions to this of course. SUVs built on more advanced car chassis (like Mercedes, BMWs, and other crossovers). But those types lose their ability to tow and to do real work. Overpriced Mini-vans is all they are.

The full sized SUV is a great vehicle for work, towing, and in many cases off roading. Although SUVS like the Ford Excursion are too big to be effective off road. Long wheel base and wide body are not particularly effective in real off-road situations.

What is bad about them is the perception that they are good personal transport vehicles. Not only that but they were the most profitable vehicles on the lot for the dealers/mfrs. The car cos built their false meme and capitalized on it in the worst way.

Anyone ever seen that Chrysler market research indicating the most SUV buyers (no offense intended to those that use them) are selfish individuals who care more about what others think about them and that they are controlling and insecure? Again this doesn't apply to all SUV owners. IMO it fits the Suzie-soccermom and Bigtruck Joe types to a T.


I just wish consumers were more educated and not fooled by baseless advertising.

It costs me less than $600 per year to keep my 1982 F-100 LWB on the road for my occasional hauling jobs. I would hate to drive that thing on a daily basis. It rides like shit, handles like shit, and it takes a Texas mile to stop it.

Give me a good handling car with a decent power to weight ratio any day of the week. I'll keep the truck parked till I need to haul the next load of firewood.

The full-sized truck/SUV as personal transportation trend needs to die a hasty death. I believe it is currently on life support and it looks like our government is going to keep that ventilator plugged in (bailout) to the bitter end.

[vision-master]

I do miss my truck. I can't haul much stuff now and have to rely on others from time to time. Other than that, I sure don't miss the ride and gas mileage.

[Arsenal]

+1 Roy.

They have their uses but most people that drive them do not need them. Trucks are by far more useful.

[mos6507]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Arsenal', '
')They have their uses but most people that drive them do not need them...

[smiley]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'T')hey always do.

Heres what Wiki says about the last bet of note on this topic.

[Twilight]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Northern_Pike', 'W')e travel off paved roads, in fact, in deep mud, more than some folks drive on pavement. We live in a climate where it snows most every day between November and March, and mud lasts until June.

Talk all day of “form over function,” but you will be hard pressed to get more function from a vehicle than we get from our Tracker.

[Northern_Pike]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Twilight', '
')Well then, sounds like you chose it for function over form. No problems there.

[copious.abundance]

Despite my cornucopian leanings, it may come as some surprise to you that I loathe SUV's just as much as many of you do. I can't stand trying to see around them in parking lots and when they're parked on the street and you're trying to see past them when you're pulling out of a driveway. I can't stand the whole attitude that you have to be jacked up 10 feet off the road sitting up in your throne over all the piddly little people in their piddly little cars. I can't stand the attitude that you HAVE to have a giant SUV to ferry around your 2 kids. 2 kids will fit just fine in a regular sedan. When I was a teenager my whole family - all 6 of us - drove from New Jersey to Florida and back in a relatively modest 1979 Pontiac LeMans. If you think you need a giant super-duper megamobile for a measly 2 or 3 kids you're nothing but a spoiled wus.

[copious.abundance]

Wow, a peaker/doomer who has told me I'm not a corncopian! I must be making some sort of progress here.

I grew up in the 70's (hence the '79 LeMans) and have seen plenty of chaos, thank you.

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('pstarr', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('OilFinder2', 'W')ow, a peaker/doomer who has told me I'm not a corncopian! I must be making some sort of progress here.

I grew up in the 70's (hence the '79 LeMans) and have seen plenty of chaos, thank you.

[shortonsense]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('pstarr', '.') You are looking for order and there is little today.

[mos6507]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('shortonsense', '
')Peak Oil = Exponential decline in gasoline prices! I say we give Bartlett a metal.

[smiley]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('oilfinder2', ' ')2 kids will fit just fine in a regular sedan. When I was a teenager my whole family - all 6 of us - drove from New Jersey to Florida and back in a relatively modest 1979 Pontian LeMans. If you think you need a giant super-duper megamobile for a measly 2 or 3 kids you're nothing but a spoiled wus.