Do you own a SUV?

SimS · Sep 16, 2005

Terry;
Maybe I'm a little more than cynical but I love these kinds of polls. Notice that is is organized by the Pew Charitable Trust? Old man Pew made his money with Sun Oil Company. He is probably spinning at 540 RPM in his grave. The Pew Trust "serves the public interest by providing information, advancing policy solutions and supporting civic life". whatever that means. Like others have said, reality and market forces will drive what we drive. Hopefully we will each be able to evaluate our transportation needs and chose the vehicle that most suits us and our wallets. So far, from most of the responses, it seems to be working.
My .02
Sim

mwechtal · Sep 16, 2005

Indeed, what about the waste? I haven't seen a reasonable plan to deal with it yet. Until we get that, we already have far too many reactors. Also, what assurance do we have that the industry won't screw up like Three Mile Island? Answer those 2 questions, and reactors will be viable, and acceptable to me.

We don't have any SUVs, we have 2 Jeep Cherokees. Both get about 21 MPG or so on the highway, or maybe 19 the way we drive them. For the 28 years that we've been married, we've had between 0 and 1 4wd vehicle. We finally decided that it was crazy having a vehicle that MIGHT make it up our hill after a snowstorm. Now I won't have to rescue my wife when she forgets to take the 4wd before the storm hits.

At least we both have jobs now in the same company, and the same department, so we can ride together about 3 days a week. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Mike

Bob_Skurka · Sep 16, 2005

We don't have any SUVs, we have 2 Jeep Cherokees. 

Umm, excuse me, but that is the vehicle that really popularized and defined the SUV category. In fact, you could say that it is responsible for the growth of SUV sales in the USA. The basic Cherokee. Prior to the Cherokee, everything was a large truck type vehicle (think Suburban or Tahoe). Then came along Jeep with the little (midsize) Cherokee and the entire market exploded. If you own a Cherokee, or two, and I do NOT mean the GRAND Cherokee, then the tree huggers probably hold you personally responsible for the downfall of civilized cars as we know them. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Now the fact that you get 21mpg on the highway is further evidence that these things are NOT as bad as they are portrayed. I can tell you that my Volvo XC90 and my VW Touareg get similar gas mileage. My Mountaineer gets something in the upper teens on the highway.

beenthere · Sep 16, 2005

I own one, and wouldn't desire to have anything else. My daughter and family just upgraded to one, and she is real tight with her coin.
Mine, a trailblazer, is very comfortable to drive and to ride, pulls my trailer with CUT just fine, and is better than the pickup that I used to have.
They wont drag my sorry rearend into one of those dinky go-carts no way, no how.

Let people drive what they want to drive. If a person doesn't like SUV's, then I suggest they don't buy one, but leave the other person alone that does want to drive them. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

Dargo · Sep 16, 2005

( Let people drive what they want to drive. If a person doesn't like SUV's, then I suggest they don't buy one, but leave the other person alone that does want to drive them. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif )

Yup. At the auto auctions this last week, the larger SUV's have been taking a bit of a hit in value, if it's any consolation. About the only one that has taken a massive hit is the V10 gas version of the Excursion. Ouch! They have taken an $8000 to $10,000 hit in the last month. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

frank_f15 · Sep 16, 2005

Never have owned an SUV, NOR a PICKUP TRUCK! But i also would not say it is wrong to own one. A lot of folks need larger vehicles and if they are will ing to pay for the gas that is their choice. I personally think that a lot of folks that think SUV owners are the cause of high gas prices should chek the way they drive thier more gas friendly vehicles. they are jsut as likey to waste fuel in a different manner. Went to a garage sale the other day, as i go out of my car i noticed a smaller car sitting enpty with the engine running, 10 min later when i left the car was still unoccupied and still running FOR WHAT PURPOSE?. also we have a RR croosing close by, and trains usually are very slow going thu , so when i pull up, i usually shut the engine off, most folks just sit there with engine running . I know these are minor points but they all add up. I guess i will get off my soap box now! one other point! don't be so quick to point fingers at Suv owners, most drive them because of need.

timb · Sep 16, 2005

( then the tree huggers probably hold you personally responsible for the downfall of civilized cars as we know them )

Heck right there is good reason for me to keep my Cherokee around forever (it's only got 140K on it now). /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

(and these days I get 23mpg on the highway, 19 in my daily commute mix.)

hobbyfarm · Sep 16, 2005

( Poll: 8 in 10 Want Drivers to Drop SUVs. )

That's funny,
Here in TEXAS, 8 in 10 drivers drive and SUV or pickup. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

I know they didn't get the polling data here. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

Dargo · Sep 16, 2005

I'd bet the 8 in 10 people polled don't have a 7 person family and unplowed rural roads like I do either. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

kensfarm · Sep 16, 2005

"Eight out of ten people did not raise seven children "

Seven kids.. was it your wife that gave you the name.. sneaky_pete? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif