Why an SUV or utillity vehicle? A study

~snip~

Imagine that. Another SUV lame.......

Very

------------------------------------ Mike Mangione

Well consider the fact GM & Chrysler stopped building cars that were capable of towing a 5000 pound boat or camper what does that leave you with?

A Pick up truck, van or SUV, unless you want to use a Ford Crown Victoria to tow with, and Ford probably doesn't recommend towing 5000 pounds with a car anymore.

Harryface

OK Harry, Towing is a valid point for trucks. But that dosen't change my view on SUVs. Because in my article I put full size trucks and SUVs in seperate catagories. If I needed to tow a boat I would buy a full size Ford truck with a V8. however I would not buy an SUV. and as i mentioned in my article that farmers and ranchers need trucks. what can a SUV do that a full size truck with extended cab not due. again I laugh when I see a soccer mom in a HUGE SUV and she only has TWO kids. i would not laugh if I saw the same soccer mom in a full size truck. especially if she is a farmers wife. again i am not convinced that SUVs have any value. again there something that makes my skin crawl when I see an SUV and that does not happen when i lay eyes on a Ford F-150

i'm sorry it is just me

So, don't buy an SUV. You're happy with your Honda - great. Why bother with the missive here about SUV's? I suppose the answer to your question is that some people buy SUV's for the same reason that other people post on usenet about their inability to see a reason for such a vehicle. Because they can. Is that really such a big problem?

Mike, There is no hate here. if people want SUVs that is fine with me, in fact I may buy one in the future. Why? Because I want to try domestic and the selection of cars from the big three have really changed. In fact there are not many cars sold at GM now that interest me. Like the GTO is interesting but it looks strange. I don't really like the new Malibu either.

If I get a GM product I will probably get an SUV. I am not joking. I have been out of the country for a long time and a LOT has changed here in the United States. It is quite a shock. You can only understand if you are looking into the country from the outside. It is not just the shock when shopping for cars.

Cars are not that important, but it is just the tip of the icberg. The whole culture in the US has changed. And there are a lot of strange things going on that I don't understand. So if my article sounded overly negative. then I am sorry about that its just about cars .. no big deal.. I will probably catch some flames for it. anyway the comments have been interesting and I got to say something of what I think. I was driving a Honda overseas because of the gas price was much higher over there. Well that's all I will say about this subject.

Mike,

There is no hate here. if people want SUVs that is fine with me, in fact I may buy one in the future. Why? Because I want to try domestic and the selection of cars from the big three have really changed. In fact there are not many cars sold at GM now that interest me. Like the GTO is interesting but it looks strange. I don't really like the new Malibu either.

If I get a GM product I will probably get an SUV. I am not joking. I have been out of the country for a long time and a LOT has changed here in the United States. It is quite a shock. You can only understand if you are looking into the country from the outside.

Cars are not that important, but it is just the tip of the icberg. The whole culture in the US has changed. And there are a lot of strange things going on that I don't understand. So if my article sounded overly negative. then I am sorry about that its just about cars .. no big deal.. I will probably catch some flames for it. anyway the comments have been interesting and I got to say something of what I think. I was driving a Honda overseas because of the gas price was much higher over there. Well that's all I will say about this subject.

Detroit started pushing SUV because they have lower emission and MPG standards than cars and really pushing 3/4 ton (or 8600GVW or better) because they are exempt for EPA MPG tests and crash standards too. (more profitable too) Until they close this loop hole or gas goes above $3/gallon and stays there, they will keep trying to push them. As far as towing, some of the newer 1/2 ton models are greatly over rated in towing ablity and a old 1970 fullsize family sedan would run circles around them towing. Some of them big old sedans were more truck than most of todays 1/2 ton SUV's. One more thing, they pushed oilburners in the past because there was no NOx limits on them (and they are VERY BIG NOx polluters) so they pushed them. While starting in 08, there a big limits on their emissions and it is causing detriot some woes. Look for CATS (not just thermal reactor) on 08 and later diesel powered vehicle and 1 tons will not be exempt either. They reason this is happening now is to fold. On is the EPA finally order sulpher out of diesel fuel by

You must have been gone more than a decade. SUV ran its course, craze has peaked, and on the decline. You're only seeing remnants of the former at present.

There's many "reasons" consumers bought SUVs in the past decade or more. "Reasons" usually cited were herd instinct, "keeping up with the Jones", perceived higher safety impact survivability vs cars, these combined with the multi-purpose uses. They did have high resale value, now you can't give away a high mileage SUV.

Farmers and ranchers still used pickups for utilitarian purposes. They may have gotten an SUV for transportation only. They were not used for the purposes on the farm or ranch you cited.

SUVs are shrinking in many cases, and rollover isn't as much a concern as the early 90's models.

Mike,

There is no hate here. if people want SUVs that is fine with me, in fact I may buy one in the future. Why? Because I want to try domestic and the selection of cars from the big three have really changed. In fact there are not many cars sold at GM now that interest me. Like the GTO is interesting but it looks strange. I don't really like the new Malibu either.

If I get a GM product I will probably get an SUV. I am not joking. I have been out of the country for a long time and a LOT has changed here in the United States. It is quite a shock. You can only understand if you are looking into the country from the outside. It is not just the shock when shopping for cars.

Cars are not that important, but it is just the tip of the icberg. The whole culture in the US has changed. And there are a lot of strange things going on that I don't understand. So if my article sounded overly negative. then I am sorry about that its just about cars .. no big deal.. I will probably catch some flames for it. anyway the comments have been interesting and I got to say something of what I think. I was driving a Honda Civic overseas because of the gas price was much higher over there. Well that's all I will say about this subject.

Because when some wild driving asshat in a freakin TANK cuts you off in traffic, you feel you need to be a bit higher than his exhaust pipe to stay alive.

but im falling back into a station wagon this time around. Probably also because I have a UHAUL 2 blocks from my house now :)

I will take the smaller commuter anyday because it will be more nible and it will be easier to miss that tank in your path than to be in one yourself and not be able to avoid it.

So if I understand your comment correctly CL, you have to become an "asshat in a freakin TANK" to defend yourself against them? Isn't that like becoming a part of a gang, just so they won't beat you up? Your "Wisdom" isn't necessarily "better than strength" because it appears you have opted for strength, rather than wisdom. ;-)

No, you don't have to become an asshat in a TANK, you just need a TANK to save yourself from those asshats that happen to drive TANKS ;)

And then since you do have a TANK, you can be an asshat at your leisure :P

Unfortunately this is a valid point. Even if you buy a quarter million dollar Ferrari it is still a car, and when car and SUV collide, I would place my bets in the SUV driver as the only survivor.

If the population of SUVs becomes over 65% of all cars on the road, it will become a safety issue for those that don't drive one.

To stay one step ahead for safety you can get a Kenworth tractor trailer. Without the trailer it would make the ultimate commuter vehicle. I like the dump truck version with 18 wheels even better. Instead of waiting for the next generation Camaro to start production I will consider a Kenworth as my daily driver. In fact Kenworth has one of the highest ratings in the world for quality. The 16 liter engine provides plenty of torque.

"The C500 cab is heavily reinforced to withstand rugged environments and the optional cab air suspension smoothes out rough terrain. The optional sheet-metal hood and fenders shrugs off branches, choke chains, or whatever comes its way. But this rugged durability doesn't mean you have to give up driver comfort. Regardless of what is going on around the truck, inside the cab it is quiet and comfortable."

Are there any truck drivers out there can answer my question. Do I need a commercial drivers license to drive this dump truck for private use such as commuting to work?

Put more curves in these nice US roads and that will slow the SUV Tanks down. It's fun seeing how slow they drive when it comes to the 'clover leaf' style on and off ramps.

LMAO! That pretty much answered that question.

If that is what constitutes "fun" for you, you must have a very dreary existance.

Dave

ocean 61

You said you've been out of the country for awhile and when you returned you see alot of folks driving big SUV's. How long have you been gone?

While you were away car makers pulled a sneaky by shrinking the cars down to the point a family of 4 or 5 can't fit in a sedan anymore. Interior's have gotten cramped, trunk space has shrunk on most cars to the point you can't take a car on trip due to lack of cargo room.

A couple I know bought a Saturn Vue so they could haul their bikes inside the vehicle when they go out of state riding.

Have you seen all the " Stuff " people haul with them on a weekend trip?

Another thing American's have gotten bigger too and have to drive bigger vehicle.

A single female neighbor bought a new Olds Bravada 4WD in the 90's. She wanted 4WD so she didn't have to worry about driving in the snow getting stuck. So what happens, we have mild winters for the next 6 years with hardly any snow and there's no threat of getting stuck or stranded on asphalt streets in Chicago.

She sold the Bravada in 2000 & bought an Olds Alero, then bought another

Another thing is, an SUV will fit in a garage where some pick up trucks won't. A Chevy Suburban will fit in our garage, but a Silverado Extended cab with the short box won't, it misses by 6 inches or so.

Harryface