<p>Sometimes (not referring to any particular poster) there seems to be a somewhat judgemental attitude toward those who drive SUVs. For example, a suburb in MA is debating whether or not to increase the excise tax on SUVs. I think this is a superficial value judgement. ANY new vehicle manufactured has an impact on the environment, and the Toyota Prius is particularly damaging.
<p>Personally, I think there is something to be said for just keeping cars as long as they run – we usually keep ours at least 10 years, and one of our cars is 27 years old. (okay, it’s a cool convertible, but it’s still on the road!) There’s also the issue of payload – we can take one car for 7 people as opposed to 2 cars with 3 or 4 each. We often have visiters from out of state, and this is really convenient, especially with the cost of parking in Boston! As far as gas mileage goes, we tend to take fewer trips, or combine trips to reduce how much driving we do. As the cost of gas continues to rise, people will either buy more fuel efficient cars, drive less, or just pay the cost of gas. To each his own – but I wish the negative attitudes that pervade popular culture re: SUVs would end.</p>
<p>Ok then. Let’s have at it. Driving an SUV is an act of highway terrorism. Inexcusable. I can think of no other act that is so clearly a “me-first, me-only” statement. Those of us who drive cars (remember them?) are helpless victims. If I am in a parking lot I am always sure not to park near one, but sometime when you come out, one has appeard right next to you. Now try backing out of the spot, with no ability to see oncoming traffic. Just a question of close your eyes and gun it and look out world, I’m coming. And caught on the highway behind one of these moving vans? What’s going on up ahead? Who can tell? The mongol hordes could be there waiting for me, but I won’t know, because I can’t see a bloody thing! And please don’t tell me you need it to move the kid to and from college - I do it in a car and it’s just fine. And you don’t need it for AWD, lots of cars have it now. And don’t tell me you do it for safety - there are lots of safe cars, and they don’t turn the other car in the accident into a pancake. A civilized society would first ban assault weapons. And then ban SUV’s.</p>
<p>Well, obviously LOTS of people love their SUVs - or used to anyway. I’ve just never wanted one. So what?</p>
<p>But it is too bad that the American car companies have been left wholly unprepared for a shift in demand. (Unprepared again, that is - I worked for GM in the 1970s and they were surprised by the sudden demand for fuel efficient [Japanese cars] then too. Well, not really surprised, more like in denial. They used to pay for us to have a nice dinner while we watched a movie about how we should pressure Congress to resist emissions standards, because, you know, it would cost us our jobs…)</p>
<p>FBTP, the bottom line is that in a free society you are free to drive what you want, and I am free to drive what I want. What you are NOT entitled to, imo, is a gold star for driving a car instead of an SUV or to criticize someone else’s choice. What if you drive a Mercedes Benz station wagon at 14 mpg in the city? I get better mileage on the older SUV.</p>
<p>I have a negative attitude about any vehicle that gets under 10mpg., including the Hummer, Suburban, Yukon, any of the other big stinking gas hogs. Those tanks are obscene, and they should be taxed at a higher rate.</p>
<p>MOWC–let me clarify–I don’t think that anyone who bought a car cuz it’s cool has lost their mind, but it would be so not-me that there’d be no other explanation.</p>
<p>I liked the minivan- except for the maintenance issues.
It drove well- I loved the electric adjustable seat-it was easy to pack for a trip- (just keep throwing stuff in there until it’s full)- I didn’t mind that it wasn’t “cool”, and I loved the moon roof ( until it got stuck part way open) and the compass/temprature gauge.
Even though parking spaces are getting narrower- I found a way around that. I always park inside the lines- even if the car next to me is right “on” the line.
With the mini van- I could just get out the sliding door. With the Jeep, I would have to crawl out the window!
( but then it is also smaller than the minivan)
The gas milage was also pretty good and while it did have its blind spots, I notice that the rear window on the Prius also looks like it is hard to see out of.</p>
<p>-Allmusic might be referring to this loophole ( which I think may have been closed)
You are correct. But how about buses? They’re not exactly environmentally friendly, and harder to drive behind than an SUV. Most buses I see aren’t even half-full. Or how about those tractor-trailers? I hate to drive behind one of those, since it’s so hard to see what’s up ahead. But I don’t hear people complaining about interstate commerce. It just seems to have become “cool” to trash anyone who drives an SUV, whatever their reasons may be. We had a neighbor once with 6 kids, 5 of whom required car seats. There was no way they were fitting in a Prius or Civic. What are they supposed to do? </p>
<p>I just wish there was more of a live-and-let-live approach to just about everything.</p>
<p>SJmom - I didn’t raise the issue of gas usage, so I’m not sure what the reference to 14 MPG cars has to do with my points. Live and let live is fine - except when the way you choose to live impacts on my life and safety. Your SUV puts me in danger everytime you hit the road. Buses serve a vital purpose; interstate trucks serve a vital purpose; SUV’s serve only the owner’s ego and selfishness.</p>
<p>I have the small Lexus SUV hatchback, the older model, mine’s a 2001, and I love, love, love it. I greatly recommend it. There are a lot of them out there, and I would guess you could get a fairly good deal on a used one now.
It gets fair gas mileage, and is much like driving an egg, you can see out everywhere, all around it.
I was rear-ended this past Fri, and after i realized no one was hurt, my only concern was don’t total my car! Or I would be out looking for a used one.</p>
<p>I am going to eventually (6 years if it lasts that long) trade it in for a small convertible, I hope the MiniCoopers are still around then.</p>
<p>“Your SUV puts me in danger everytime you hit the road.”</p>
<p>Agreed. Numerous studies have documented this. It’s not rocket science - why did all cars have federally regulated bumper heights for years - so the bumpers would hit and absorb the impact! Now the SUV’s bumpers aim right at children’s heads and thoracic regions! </p>
<p>And, then there are the visability issues that have impacted drivers. In fact, one of the “gas guzzling” impacts is that cars have to sit in traffic longer at traffic lights and intersections because no one can see around the SUV’s.</p>
<p>The “live and let live” attitude of most Americans is what has gotten us into the predicament we currently face. We’d be better off going with a little more collective sacrifice and effort…American individualism has just brought us a country full of spoiled, entitled brats who think they can do whatever they want and scrooooo the consequences. The gas guzzler is just one example.</p>
<p>I’m from a family of SUV and truck drivers. We live in a rural area where we regularly have to contend with log trucks and oil drilling equipment speeding down our fair county road at excess of 70 miles an hour. You don’t stand much of a chance in a larger vehicle, but it’s more of one than stand in a car. This area is also prone to flooding, esp. on the outside lanes of the main street in town, so I’ve seen more than my share of Civic-driving friends have their cars flooded out. My grandmother also has a farm in the next county, so we have to haul feed and other stuff over to her. The gas prices are worth the extra safety and being able to do stuff with the farm. All of ours get at least 15 mpg, and, despite what someone said, we’ve never had one get less than 10 mpg.<br>
That being said, I agree about the visibility problems. I’m fairly short (5’1.5"), and can’t really see out of my mom’s suburban and my sister’s trail blazer. I can see fairly well out of the truck I drive, but there are a few blind spots that make me nervous. I might eventually move to a larger car or mini-van, but only for this reason.</p>
<p>People talk about blind spots. Do they know that you can eliminate those spots by turning necks?</p>
<p>I personally never rely on side mirrors. Also, the best defensive driving trick is to keep shifting (~ once a min) your vision between those three mirrors and FRONT.</p>
How about minivan drivers? Do they also threaten your safety or obscure your visibility? Or those who drive pick up trucks? They have the same weight as SUVs, same bumper height issues etc. What about drivers who use cell phones while negotiating traffic, regardless of what vehicle they drive? Or those who are too stoned or drunk yet insist on getting behind the wheel. </p>
<p>I’ve never had an accident of any kind in an SUV, nor has my husband or kids. I’ve never had a speeding ticket - how about you? I’m absolutely certain that I pose less of a threat in my SUV than most other drivers on the road, including the maniacs speeding along in their Honda Accords on Route 93 into Boston at 90 MPH. </p>
<p>Your post just points out the illogical, emotional nature of the anti-SUV bias.</p>
<p>
But at least you are a tolerant, non-judgemental, fair-minded person. (please read as much sarcasm as you can muster.) You seem to think live and let live is fine, as long as you get to dictate how everyone else lives.</p>
<p>To SJ Mom - sorry, but that’s pretty much just drivel.
I didn’t suggest SUV’s are the only dangers on the road. Agreed - cell phone users are just as bad. Drunk or stoned drivers are even worse. And minivans do impede other drivers’ vision. But none of those were the topic of this thread. SUV’s were. And I’ve never had a speeding ticket or any other moving violation. And perhaps you’ve never had an accident - I wonder if you’e ever caused any and just driven away obliviously. Maybe not, but irrelevant. Your SUV is a menace. The real point is that many of the other vehicles you cite serve a purpose other than conspicuous consumption and ego-gratification. And some of the posters, who live in rural towns, might well have a need for an SUV. No objection from me. But I live in a fairly tony town, no off-roads here. And the people who drive SUV’s don’t need them and don’t really care how much they pose a danger to other people. I don’t know which category you fall into - those who need it or those who drive it because they couldn’t care less about others. But from the tone of your posts, I could hazard a guess.</p>