Article bashing SUV driving and drivers

[damasa]

Everyone!!! Fight the system, buy a Mountain Bike!!!!!!


bwahahahah

[chopper816]

Originally posted by RedRoseSAI
I too, agree with the author. SUVs are often dangerous and almost always, too big than the driver needs. If you need it for towing, buy a pickup. If you need to haul lots of stuff, get a van. Just don't get it for your family of four.

A van isnt safer than an suv, it actually can have a higher tendency to roll than an suv with the more people you have in it, I read an article in our newspaper a few weeks ago about this actually. Also, I have an explorer, an suv, but if i couldve afforded a Ford F-150, a truck, i wouldve gotten that. Trucks are usually more expensive than suvs, so if you need to tow stuff and cant afford a truck, an suv is your next best option.

also, bad drivers are bad drivers, plain and simple. it doesnt matter if they drive a truck, an suv, or one of those little hondas. Ive seen bad drivers in all and maybe suvs are the "in trend" right now, but ill bet you cash that before any of the suv drivers owned one, they were bad drivers in their previous cars.

[AchtungBaby80]

OK, I didn't even read the article, but I really don't care much for SUVs at all. Lots of people have them here in the city, which I think is ridiculous--what, do they need 4-wheel-drive to navigate an *asphalt* jungle?? Once I had to drive my boss' SUV to her house, and it was a scary experience because you cannot see out of those things! I had to practically stick my head out the window to check and see if a car was coming when I wanted to change lanes. My advice to everyone is to pass on the SUVs and get a truck--I love my little Dakota because it's extremely easy to see out of, I feel a tiny bit safer in it, and besides that, it's damn cute.

[Corbin Dallas]

ok, most cars are not practical. unless you buy a 4 door 4 cyl fwd car, most likely, it's not practical. how many of you that have trucks haul stuff? how many that have 4 seaters ever drive with more than 1 other person? how many drive something because it's the most economical/practical choice, because it gets great gas mileage and is good for the environment, SOLELY for those reasons?

now, how many drive what you drive because you like the way it looks, drives, feels, etc?

if we drove vehicles because they were practical, then that would be one of probably many reasons why it would suck to live here!

[sororitygirl2]

Ha, DeltAlum! Real sports cars, not "muscle cars masquerading as sports cars!" That's hilarious... I hate when people classify their cars as sports cars when they aren't. When they get a Porsche, then they can talk!

[sororitygirl2]

Oh, and just to add to the true topic at hand... I LOVE SUVs!!!

Sure, some SUV drivers can't drive for $hit, but there are bad drivers in all sorts of cars. They'll get what's coming to them...

[Cloud9]

Sure, some SUV drivers can't drive for $hit, but there are bad drivers in all sorts of cars. They'll get what's coming to them...

Um actually, THEY won't get it, the family in the other car will. That's the most annoying thing about these stupid huge ass cars, it would be one thing if they were like alchohol - only affecting the person who uses it. Sure, go ahead, risk your own life if you want to...but these beasts end up killing innocent people at a much greater rate than other cars, which to me is just unacceptable. And I agree with whoever made the comment about SUVs in the city, I live in NYC, and those motorized locusts of the road are all over the place. Really, in a city of millions of people you really shouldn't be driving off road. Even in other less populated parts of the country, I want to know how many people need to travel across "wild" terrain on a daily basis? People, stop letting these companies reel you in and take your money! ....and that concludes my lecture, hahaha...

[AXO_MOM_3]

Well this thread has certainly been interesting! I currently drive a four dour Honda, and am trying to decide between a minivan and a SUV! With the seat-belt laws and air bags, my children cannot have friends ride with us unless another one of my children stays home! I've always hated the minivans because they are just so uncool to ME! The SUV has appeal simply because it can seat eight people (most of the kids) and looks a little sportier than the minivan! I personally don't like either one, and would prefer the porshe...but alas, we would have to strap the little darlings on the roof! We've put off buying a vehicle for about 3 years now because I'm pretty intimidated by such a huge car! But the time for a bigger vehicle is drawing near - I'll be sure and let everyone know when I get one thought so you can all watch out! LOL!

[aggieAXO]

Originally posted by cuaphi
Okay, that's actually worse than I expected by title. What a horribly written, blatantly biased article. Isn't a journalist supposed to at least attempt to show both sides?

Anyway, I have encountered the guy in the Expedition who gets in the lane he knows is closing, races me up to the cones and tries to force his way over in the logic that if he's in a tank and I'm in a two door coupe he can bully me all he wants. On the flip side, my mom drives an SUV and is the most courteous to a fault driver I've ever seen. She drives it because she's not quite 5'2'' and likes being big and above the road for once. It's almost always a weak argument when you try to make sweeping generalizations like the author is going for here.

I will say though that living in Denver I'm a little annoyed that everyone, and I mean everyone thinks they need a sport ute. I used to share an office with a woman who lived alone in a trailer park, was alone in her car 99.9% of the time, never went anywhere even remotely outdoorsy or adventurous, yet drove a Pathfinder with a Nature Conservancy sticker on the back. Stuff like that is one of my foremost pet peeves. If you have a single valid reason why an SUV is the most practical vehicle for you to drive, fine. Don't just get one because they're trendy.

I completely agree. Here in Austin people are suppose to be nature lovers but it seems like everyone has an SUV (and many of the people I know that have one don't have any reason other than they are popular). HELLLLOO they get like 10 miles to the gallon and pollute way too much. I would love to get a Range Rover but I have no good reason to get one thus I will never have one. Maybe if people drove smaller cars that get better mileage we wouldn't have to be worried about foreign oil and possibly drilling in Alaska.

[PM_Mama00]

I think it's hilarious how people are generalizing others who drive SUV's. It's like saying that all people in sororities and fraternities are bad. I am one of the most careful drivers. Why do I love my Mountaineer? I feel safe it in. I'm higher off the ground, I have 4 wheel drive, and the look isn't that bad. I had the choice of getting a mustang convertible or my Mountaineer and I chose the latter. In Michigan, it's important to have a car that handles weather well. If you're not driving the SUV, what does it matter if it's hard to back in and out of parking spots?

ZTA, I'm sorry that one of your sisters died from being hit by an SUV, but saying that if she had been hit by a Taurus is ridiculous. I know plenty of people who have gotten their cars totaled by other "cars".

Some vehicles are safer than others, but driving all depends on one thing: How safe of a drive you are. Just because you drive an SUV doesn't mean that you're irresponsible or a reckless driver, or that u think that just cuz you own a bigger car that you own the road. I'm quite offended by what people are saying. Just another bad stereotype out there that you are all spreading about.

[aggieAXO]

Originally posted by PM_Mama00
[
Some vehicles are safer than others, but driving all depends on one thing: How safe of a drive you are. Just because you drive an SUV doesn't mean that you're irresponsible or a reckless driver, or that u think that just cuz you own a bigger car that you own the road. I'm quite offended by what people are saying. Just another bad stereotype out there that you are all spreading about.[/color]

There are bad drivers out there for every type of car but I know I would rather have a Toyota corrola hit me than a pathfinder or excersion. My beef is not with the accidents but with the environment, though driving a smaller car and seeing it surrounded by SUV's does make me nervous at times.

[SSS1365]

Yesterday it snowed here in the DC area, and most of the people you saw on the side of the road or in a ditch were driving SUV's! It goes to show that many (not all) people who drive them don't know HOW to drive them. I myself drive a little Nissan Sentra, so I can't even pretend that I would know how to drive an SUV properly. What annoys me though is when these soccer moms drive around these Ford Excursions, which are HUGE, and then can't drive them correctly.

Last week my boyfriend got a Saturn Vue, which in my opinion is the most practical SUV I've ever seen! It's a 4-cyl. fwd, it's not too big, has traction control and has proven to be great in bad weather. Gas mileage isn't too shabby either. If I were going to get something in the SUV class, I think this would be it.

[sigmagrrl]

My beliefs and prejudice towards SUV's were solidified the day I saw the SUV advertised that has a retractable STEP up INTO THEM!! IF YOU NEED TO ASSISTANCE TO GET UP INTO YOUR CAR, IT'S TOO DAMM BIG FOR YOU!!!!!!!!

[Angelic]

Originally posted by aggieAXO


Maybe if people drove smaller cars that get better mileage we wouldn't have to be worried about foreign oil and possibly drilling in Alaska.

Even if everyone drove better gas mileage cars we would still be drilling for oil in Alaska and importing crude from eastern countries. There is not that much oil in the US.

If people are worried about America being self supporting (which is a totally differenct topic) we need to look into other ways to fuel cars like natural gas, electric, and hydrogen fuel cell.

Off topic I know...

[Kevin]

People make crappy drivers, NOT the vehicle they choose.

I think you can name a stereotypical driver for MANY different types of cars. The fact is it is a STEREOTYPE. While some may fit it, others do not. That simple fact should have in my opinion stopped the author from writing about it.. It sounded more like an editorial type piece anyhow... Some more stereotypes:

Small imports: Riced-Out.. Superchargers, street racing, driving down the interstate like it was the Indianapolis 500.

Sports cars: Trying to race everyone at the stoplight

Minivans: Soccer-mom car... Never paying attention to the road, just trying to keep the kids quiet. Random swerving, etc.

The list goes on.

I've been driving an SUV now since I recieved my driver's license. They get bad mileage but are great cars to drive. I enjoy the cargo space and the 4 wheel drive feature (which I occasionally need). My favorite feature though is how high they sit compared to other cars. When I drive in my girlfriends Accord I can truly appreciate being able to see over the tops of most other cars on the road. Honestly it's safer for me to be able to see what's going on.

I also have a tendency to run up on curbs on turns.. I'd probably have killed a normal car by now

Gas guzzling.. yep and I pay for the gas it guzzles.. 14 MPG costs a lot you know. I pay for it. Until there's an actual shortage of fuel I really don't see the validity of anyone's complaint unless they're worried about me taking longer and more frequent trips to the pump.

Pollution? Anyone hear recently the hole in the ozone layer shrank over the last few years??? The amount of "greenhouse gasses" that humankind produces are insignificant compared to things like volcano eruptions, etc. As far as the air quality in my immediate area it's just fine.

Bottom line is if you don't want an SUV buy a smaller car... fine. I personally would rather be in the SUV when someone else (or myself) does someting stupid and ends up in a collision. I just feel better having a 2 thousand pound advantage over the other vehicle involved.