Question for you truck and SUV owners [Archive] - HP Deals, Computer Coupons And Bargains

djsusm

12-17-2004, 11:06 AM

Well, we have an SUV because we have to haul a lot of stuff around, and a car definitely couldn't handle the payload. We didn't go for a truck because then you can't use it as a "family" car in case you need it and none of the other cars are available.

Oh... and we have a motorcycle that we use in the summertime (not to haul stuff around, haha), so i guess that kinda averages out the MPG ;)

look_ma

12-17-2004, 11:13 AM

I have a truck because I can put my dog in the back. He doesnt fit in cars. I got a medium sized truck, it can get 20 mpg on the highway. Oh I have a great dane btw. The alternative was going to be a 1993 rx7 TT which gets simular gas milage. oh and i live in texas where 1 in 7 trucks sold in the states is in texas.

hoey222

12-17-2004, 11:21 AM

we have an expedition

got tons of music gear to carry around, plus family, it's a lot roomier than the explorer, for a little more money we felt it was worth it. plus i plan to keep it for 10 years to get money's worht out of it.

WhiskeyPapa

12-17-2004, 11:23 AM

One of the local radio talk shows has been on this subject quite a bit lately. It all started because of an editorial in the Minneapolis paper earlier in the week.

The author of the anti-SUV editorial was trying to understand why someone would drive an SUV. The only reasons they could come up with were: (false) sense of security and ego.

The host of the radio show rebutted the editorial and said the author missed one very important point. In fact, it's the main reason a person would buy any vehicle: It simply fits their lifestyle.

We own the following vehicles, each with their own particular purpose:

15 passenger Ford van: Our "family" vehicle. It's the only one that fits everyone.

Kia Sportage: Yes, it's technically an SUV, but is more like a 4WD Geo Metro ;). It's our everyday car for going to work and getting groceries. It really does handle better in rain and snow than a FWD, and can be switched to 2WD for normal driving. It gets as good of mileage as most domestic mid-size cars.

Old beater Chevy S10 Blazer: Can hold six people and tow a camper, boat or wagon load of corn. You might say a minivan could do the same, but obviously you've never pulled two and a half tons of grain.

Fiat Spider 2000: A complete indulgence for my wife and I on date night in the summer.

I also own a '95 Mitsubishi Eclipse, a '69 Ford F250 and a '47 Farmall H tractor, but those are all projects waiting to be worked on...

Plain and simple, people buy vehicles because they fill a need. Whether that need is psychological (which I believe is more indicative of the Sports/Luxury car driver than the SUV driver) or real, the fact remains that it fills a need.

Memo

12-17-2004, 12:13 PM

The simple reason is: It was a present, I didn't have a choice.

However, I am thinking about getting an SUV as my next vehicle as well. I like being slightly higher up and being able to see farther down the road than just what's in front of me. Also, I feel safer in my truck. I've only ever gotten into 1 accident and my truck came out unscathed while the other car was virtually demolished. Out of all the people I now who have gotten in accidents, the ones who were driving trucks have walked away from them. That includes rollovers and head on collisions. People who I know who have gotten into serious car wrecks in other vehicles weren't so lucky.

In all truthfullness, I also like the style of some SUVs mor than others. Sure, I wish they had better MPG, but what can I do? I'm not making the vehicles. I really don't know how much truth the whole ego thing holds. I think it's more of a stab at SUV drivers from people who dislike them. I'd have to say people with sports cars have bigger egos on and off the road.

SmokeyDP

12-17-2004, 12:20 PM

I have a pathfinder because I was using it to pull all kinds of stuff on a trailer. I first got a pickup truck for my quad and landscaping, but found it useless with passangers(Ford Ranger). So I sold it for an SUV and I figured I could fit as much in the trailer as in the bed. Now I dont tow as much and if I have to commute more than 5 miles to work Im going to try to look into getting a car.

IrishSS

12-17-2004, 12:26 PM

oh and i live in texas where 1 in 7 trucks sold in the states is in texas.
And where 1 in 7 Iraqi VBIED's is shipped from...

BrewMaster

12-17-2004, 01:20 PM

Old beater Chevy S10 Blazer: Can hold six people and tow a camper, boat or wagon load of corn. You might say a minivan could do the same, but obviously you've never pulled two and a half tons of grain.

i didn't know an old S10 Blazer could tow 7000 lbs. i mean, most half ton full size pick ups are rated somewhere around 7500-9900 lbs towing. I suppose you can always go over whatever a vehicle is rated for, but that's asking for damage to the tranny, frame, or something else.

SmokeyDP

12-17-2004, 01:23 PM

We had a 88 Toyota V6 with 250K on it and we put a ton and a quarter in the bed of that thing and its only raited for 500lbs. :lol:

BrewMaster

12-17-2004, 01:26 PM

We had a 88 Toyota V6 with 250K on it and we put a ton and a quarter in the bed of that thing and its only raited for 500lbs. :lol:
hopefully you were only doing that on private property or in a remote area. on a public street with other cars that is just irresponsible and stupid. when things start snapping in the suspension or the bed drags on the ground, dangerous debris can go flying. i've seen the results of something like that and it ain't pretty.

Yossarian

12-17-2004, 02:03 PM

i like my car, and think i'll stay with cars. for the msot part, i've found that i have more room in the drivers seat than in SUV's and trucks.

bachviet

12-17-2004, 02:18 PM

I bought a sedan and my wife (then gf) bought a CR-V (if you want to call that a SUV). It technically is a raised station wagon, which we need when we haul not-so-big stuffs around (plastic tables, chairs, and etc). I don't think those stuffs could fit in my Accord.

attgig

12-17-2004, 02:18 PM

Originally my dad got a SUV for winter driving... he commutes 40+ miles and owns a small business in northwest jersey where the road cleanup people are a bit slower, and have more roads, and less trucks.... and he went SUV vs truck, because of the cargo he loads can't outside on a bed of a truck.

However, my dad was getting killed on mileage. So, I bought him a smaller SUV, and took his bigger one, since my commute is < 5miles, and his is 40+ miles (one way).

now, I kinda regret buying it. I should've just traded cars with him seasonally. He might have a tougher time transporting cargo, but the money that i threw for a new car...blah.

DarkFury

12-17-2004, 05:13 PM

Why do you drive something like that instead of something smaller and more fuel-efficient?

Not trying to start a flame war or anything - I'm just curious. In fact, I'm likely getting a used full-sized diesel truck in summer 2005. I'll post my reasons later today.

-OC
Honestly, "smaller" didn't really fit my need...

I didn't want to drive a station wagon (Although the Dodge Magnum might've changed that perception), however I needed the extra room of bed storage that a truck provides.

Most of the smaller trucks didn't fit my need as well. When DFJ was a little baby, he fit ok in my Dodge Dakota (the biggest of the small trucks) but as he has gotten bigger, we both outgrew it. I needed something that I could use both to haul passengers and haul gear wherever I needed to go and honestly the smaller pickup trucks just didn't do me any justice (not to mention that the MPG difference really wasn't that much of a difference)

In the end, I loved the styling and power of my HEMI... and that's really what sold me on it.

I still have my car... and yes, in some situations it is the better choice to drive. But I still love the convenience that my truck provides in some situations, plus you can't discount the advantages of having a 4x4 in the snow versus a RWD car... (think doughnuts in the middle of intersections with oncoming traffic coming. :eek: )

But as I have stated before... if I lived in a place where I'd have to drive more than 30 - 50 miles per day on average, I wouldn't have bought the HEMI.

DaFunkyUnit

12-17-2004, 07:48 PM

i have a Toyota camry, so i'm not an SUV/Truck owner, obviously.

but man, when I need to go snowboarding or camping, having an SUV/Truck would make things soooo much more convenient. (passenger space, cargo space, not having to worry about chains on the tires, etc...)

blueindian

12-18-2004, 06:58 PM

we have a toyota tacoma v6 that we use when we going to festivals because we can haul all our crap, to get to trailheads that require a 4wd, for hauling stuff, etc. for the most part, it's not a daily driver. i wish it got better gas mileage, because i love driving it. we got it because we needed a truck.

the commuter car is a 4 banger nissan altima. that's what i drive to work; the wife walks.

WhiskeyPapa

12-18-2004, 08:36 PM

I'll post my reasons later today.Did you forget about us?

ufcrusher

12-19-2004, 01:15 AM

I drive a '04 F-150 Xlt Supercab for one reason and one reason only....I fit in it better than anything else in that price range. Generally, to get a car that I fit comfortably in I would be paying 2x+ the money. Almost all the cars we looked at that I was comfortable in were in the 50K+ category. Comparing that to the special inside price we get because of a supplier discount it ends up being a little less than half the price.

12-19-2004, 05:58 AM

Did you forget about us?
Nope, just got busy.

A truck would fit a number of needs and desires I've had for a long time now, and it would also fit with how my life is going to shape up over the next few years. Biodiesel: I specifically want a diesel engine so I can run biodiesel and gain experience with that. Hauling: It seems that more and more often I have the need to haul something, and obviously a truck would be handy for that. We'll likely be in a house in 2-3 years, and you know how it goes when you own a home - material for projects (especially once we start building ours house), appliances to bring home, etc. Hobbies: A truck to tow project cars home and make big junkyard runs with would finally allow me to give my gearheadedness the attention it deserves. Utility: There's nothing easier to modify for great utility than a truck. Add dual batteries and an inverter for power tools (and outlets in the cab); an under-hood welder; winch; the bed can be modified any number of ways to better carry cargo, even up to replacing it entirely with a cargo or flat bed.

Add an extended cab for occasional passenger carrying and we have a winner. I'm leaning toward a 2wd instead of a 4x4 so I can lower it. Not slam it to the ground or anything, just a 3/4 lowering job (along with an air dam up front) for a tad better fuel economy and better handling. Plus, I think lowered trucks simply look better.

BrewMaster

12-19-2004, 07:47 AM

Add an extended cab for occasional passenger carrying and we have a winner. I'm leaning toward a 2wd instead of a 4x4 so I can lower it. Not slam it to the ground or anything, just a 3/4 lowering job (along with an air dam up front) for a tad better fuel economy and better handling. Plus, I think lowered trucks simply look better.
how do you expect to haul anything if the ass of your truck is dragging on the ground?

blueindian

12-19-2004, 08:34 AM

how do you expect to haul anything if the ass of your truck is dragging on the ground?

:stupid:

i have a 4wd and if i really load it down the it sits almost as low as a 2wd.

12-19-2004, 08:42 AM

how do you expect to haul anything if the ass of your truck is dragging on the ground?
If it's done right, that doesn't happen. Most people just don't bother going to the trouble of doing it right.

bbrian

12-19-2004, 07:36 PM

1 reason.. I got tired of strapping crap to the top of my car. ;)

sizemic1

12-19-2004, 08:31 PM

Two Reasons:

1) I may have a kid in the near future and refuse to be a minivan owner.
2) We like to 4WD and our Grand Cherokee fits the bill for us perfectly.

catch22

12-19-2004, 11:12 PM

I drive a Chevy 1ton crew cab pickup with the 454 long block, average about 60 miles a day commute. I use it to haul stuff, tow toys on vacations, have fun going anywhere, bringing everything.

blueindian

12-20-2004, 05:20 AM

the real question you should be asking OC is why aren't manufacturers building trucks/suvs to have better fuel economy? it pisses me off that suvs, which are clearly passengers vehicles, get around federal fuel economy laws because they are classifed as light trucks.

then you look at subaru. they are planning to raise the height of the outback by 1.5 inches just to get it classified as a light truck. why? so it can skirt emissions and fuel economy requirements. if they actually do this, you can count me as an ex-subaru fan.

toyota's synergy drive system can use a v6 engine with a couple electric engines to produce the power of a v8. i don't think they've done it, but it semms logical that they would be able to do the same thing with smaller engines (like put a 4 banger in my truck that has the same 190hp as my v6 does now). this is the direction we should be going. toyota needs to make me a 200hp tacoma that gets 45mpg so i can drive it everyday.

cheapie

12-20-2004, 06:01 AM

Two Reasons:

1) I may have a kid in the near future and refuse to be a minivan owner.

come talk to me after you have two kids young skywalker. ;)

i, like most, if not all van drivers said the same thing.

12-20-2004, 07:22 AM

the real question you should be asking OC is why aren't manufacturers building trucks/suvs to have better fuel economy?That's worth discussing, but it isn't what I was after here. I wanted to know what it is that trucks provide people that a car cannot provide, and I've gotten some good answers.

SmokeyDP

12-20-2004, 07:27 AM

the real question you should be asking OC is why aren't manufacturers building trucks/suvs to have better fuel economy? it pisses me off that suvs, which are clearly passengers vehicles, get around federal fuel economy laws because they are classifed as light trucks.
Big engine + more power = low fuel economy.

You could put a smaller V6 in a SUV or a V8, but most of these SUV's and Trucks weigh in at 4000lbs. Add in the passangers and the cargo inside or what you are pulling behind you and you are not going to find something with good gas mileage that is up to this task.

If you live in the city the Ford Escape Hybrid might be worth looking into. It has V6 acceleration, 4x4, and can tow 2500lbs I belive. It gets 30-35mpg city and 18 highway.

rasetsu

12-20-2004, 02:52 PM

I know that there are plenty of people out there with very valid reasons to have a SUV, but the reason I hear the most living in So Cal is that they feel "safer" in it. The problem with this reason is that a lot of SUV drivers don't understand that driving a large vehicle with a high center of gravity means that is it much easier to roll-over (especially if you're on the phone and not paying attention to the road).

And yes, you're view is better, but you are obstructing the views of those around you who aren't in a SUV. Okay, so everyone should drive a SUV then right? Then that issue of a better view becomes moot because everyone will be blocking everyone else's views.

Same logic applies to the larger vehicle protecting passengers better in a collision. The reason is that the larger vehicle will win out if it plows into a smaller vehicle. Simple physics. If a Civic plows into a Civic, it's pretty much a draw. Again, if everyone drove SUVs, then those in Expeditions will probably still be killing people in Escapes. Everyone should just drive Bradley fighting vehicles...until the guy around the block pulls up in an Abrahms tank.

On a final note, I think crew cab pick-ups are great for hauling people and stuff. I've had to pack stuff into an Expedition before and all that interior cladding and seats just get in the way making usable cargo space kind of limited for such a large vehicle. As far as foul weather driving goes, most people here in So Cal don't even opt for 4WD and still end up having to slap on chains when they go up to the mountains. In So Cal, owning a SUV mainly comes down to being a fashion statement.

BrewMaster

12-20-2004, 03:48 PM

In So Cal, owning a SUV mainly comes down to being a fashion statement.

yup. and in Orange County they park it next to their lifted, 2WD full size pickup with mud tires on it. :rolleyes:

blueindian

12-20-2004, 03:59 PM

yup. and in Orange County they park it next to their lifted, 2WD full size pickup with mud tires on it. :rolleyes:

hah! that makes me laugh. back in my old city there was this dude with a 2wd jeep cherokee all lifted, mud tires, spare on the back and one on the top, etc. funny stuff.

and those dayum tacoma pre-runners give us "real" taco owners a bad name. they might even be worse cause they come from the factory.

BrewMaster

12-20-2004, 04:04 PM

and i think it is even worse when it is a 2WD F250 or a Ram 2500. People just don't get it... :disa:

DarkFury

12-20-2004, 10:00 PM

If it's done right, that doesn't happen. Most people just don't bother going to the trouble of doing it right.
Doing it right = Air Bags = Mucho dinero

Honestly, for load bearing... lowering is not recommended. :D

come talk to me after you have two kids young skywalker. ;)

i, like most, if not all van drivers said the same thing.
Heh... I refuse to give in to that one myself.

Good thing the HEMI can confortably seat 6 if necessary. :D

12-20-2004, 10:06 PM

Doing it right = Air Bags = Mucho dinero

Honestly, for load bearing... lowering is not recommended. :DThey aren't that expensive (well, maybe if you pay to have it done, but I'm a DIY kinda guy), but it isn't the cheap way out, which is why people usually don't bother with them. Lowering with lowering blocks does not reduce load carrying capacity - the ride height will be affected the same if the spring rate stays the same.

BrewMaster

12-20-2004, 10:18 PM

12-20-2004, 10:57 PM

but the spring rate can't stay the same if you change the dimensions of the rear suspension and components of the rear suspension.

we can argue all day about it, but if you want to lower a truck for looks and "handling" that's fine, but don't try to say that it can still haul the same amount of weight in the bed without any trouble or awkward tilting. air bags or not, you will never get the same performance in hauling out of a significantly lowered truck.

"dimensions of the rear suspension" - WTF does that even mean?!?

Firstly, despite what you obviously think, lowering blocks by themselves do not alter the spring rate in the slightest.

Nextly, used in the most basic fashion, air bags restore a level ride height to a loaded truck. Note the use of the word level - meaning, not tilted. If you reduce the height of the bump stops, as usually accompanies the installation of lowering blocks, you don't sacrifice any compression travel. So, post-lowering - with the air bags - we have an INCREASED spring rate, the same compression and jounce travel range, and a level ride as well. How, then, is the load carrying capacity of the truck diminished?

Also, I would not call a 3/4 lowering job (that means three inches in the front and four inches in the rear) on a full sized truck "significant". There's a huge amount of room to work with under there.

The only thread of truth in your words is the implication that a loaded truck will handle differently than an unloaded truck. To which I repond: Negative excrement, Sherlock.

kei2

12-20-2004, 11:19 PM

The author of the anti-SUV editorial was trying to understand why someone would drive an SUV. The only reasons they could come up with were: (false) sense of security and ego.False? SUVs are more secure. In a collision, the other car will be vaporized and the SUV will be mostly unharmed. It makes the vehicle a huge threat to all regular-size cars, but the vehicle itself is safer.

blueindian

12-21-2004, 05:05 AM

False? SUVs are more secure. In a collision, the other car will be vaporized and the SUV will be mostly unharmed. It makes the vehicle a huge threat to all regular-size cars, but the vehicle itself is safer.

yes, but most folks don't know how to drive their SUVs (big ones, not little ones like the CRV or Sportage that don't really pertain to the "safer because I'm bigger" arguement") and hence any extra security afforded by them being in a larger vehcile is negated by the fact that they are a greater danger to themselves and other drivers when they are behind the wheel of a vehicle they can't drive well

/run on sentence

bachviet

12-21-2004, 06:48 AM

but the spring rate can't stay the same if you change the dimensions of the rear suspension and components of the rear suspension.

...
Spring rate depends on numbers of coil and diameter of the coil. You could have the same spring rate with lower spring and bigger diameter but it's going to be bouncy as hell.

DarkFury

12-21-2004, 08:50 AM

False? SUVs are more secure. In a collision, the other car will be vaporized and the SUV will be mostly unharmed. It makes the vehicle a huge threat to all regular-size cars, but the vehicle itself is safer.
Heh... lookin' out for #1...

Now you gotta go out and get your own land tank.

BTW... this is why the HEMI has big rig "air horns" to tell that lil a-hole in the small sub compact that is juttin' in and out of traffic to "Git the hell outta my way"...

Don't Dodge it... RAM it. :cool: :D

Jeffbx

12-21-2004, 09:52 AM

come talk to me after you have two kids young skywalker. ;)

i, like most, if not all van drivers said the same thing.

:stupid: :stupid:

Yup, been there, done that. Got an SUV once the kids started showing up, realized it's really NOT big enough, and switched to a minivan. Trust me, it's MUCH easier to haul kids in a van than an SUV. You'll see when you're crawling in the back seat trying to get that @#$!$ car seat connected properly.

ski

12-21-2004, 10:30 AM

bbrian

12-21-2004, 11:26 AM

False? SUVs are more secure. In a collision, the other car will be vaporized and the SUV will be mostly unharmed. It makes the vehicle a huge threat to all regular-size cars, but the vehicle itself is safer.
I don't agree with this at all.. the safe-ness of a vehicle is completely dependant on the structural integrity of the cabin. One of the ONLY trucks that has received 5-star offset frontal crash was the 04 Ford F-150. Most all other trucks/suvs in the past 5 years failed this test miserably, with dodge and chevy/gmc leading the pack. In the dodge, there was no room left in the cabin for a driver. Most passenger cars received 4 or 5 star ratings.

I know you're thinking giant truck against tiny car, but that truck spreads the impact zone across a greater area of the car. Again, it is all about cabin integrity. There may not be much left of the car, but do the people get out safely?

Not too long ago there was a post on here about a guy in a WRX that got smashed between 2 semi's. He walked away. I don't think he would have walked away if he had been in an SUV.

Cantacuzene

12-21-2004, 11:37 AM

My truck gets 26 mpg in the city, I may not be able to tow 10,000lbs but I'm convinient and fuel efficent.

BrewMaster

12-21-2004, 02:01 PM

I don't agree with this at all.. the safe-ness of a vehicle is completely dependant on the structural integrity of the cabin. One of the ONLY trucks that has received 5-star offset frontal crash was the 04 Ford F-150. Most all other trucks/suvs in the past 5 years failed this test miserably, with dodge and chevy/gmc leading the pack. In the dodge, there was no room left in the cabin for a driver. Most passenger cars received 4 or 5 star ratings.

I know you're thinking giant truck against tiny car, but that truck spreads the impact zone across a greater area of the car. Again, it is all about cabin integrity. There may not be much left of the car, but do the people get out safely?

Not too long ago there was a post on here about a guy in a WRX that got smashed between 2 semi's. He walked away. I don't think he would have walked away if he had been in an SUV.

i don't disagree with the point of your post bbrian, but from personal experience, full sized pick ups really do survive crashes very well, regardless of the crash rating, when they collide with smaller vehicles.

TERRIBLETOM

12-22-2004, 08:25 AM

I drive a P/U When I first got it, I never thought I would use it as primary transportation, now I wont go anywhere without it. It makes simple things such as buying a Christmas tree so much easier.

SmokeyDP

12-22-2004, 08:29 AM

Anyone remember the Canyonero from the Simpsons?? It reminds me of these soccer moms driving around in H2s around here.
----------------

Can you name the truck with four wheel drive,
smells like a steak and seats thirty-five..

Canyonero! Canyonero!

Well, it goes real slow with the hammer down,
It's the country-fried truck endorsed by a clown!

Canyonero! (Yah!) Canyonero!
[Krusty:] Hey Hey

The Federal Highway comission has ruled the
Canyonero unsafe for highway or city driving.

Canyonero!

12 yards long, 2 lanes wide,
65 tons of American Pride!

Canyonero! Canyonero!

Top of the line in utility sports,
Unexplained fires are a matter for the courts!

Canyonero! Canyonero! (Yah!)

She blinds everybody with her super high beams,
She's a squirrel crushing, deer smacking, driving machine!

Canyonero!-oh woah, Canyonero! (Yah!)

Drive Canyonero!

Woah Canyonero!

Woah!

12-22-2004, 09:01 AM

12 yards long, 2 lanes wide,
65 tons of American Pride!rofl

I drive a P/U When I first got it, I never thought I would use it as primary transportation, now I wont go anywhere without it. It makes simple things such as buying a Christmas tree so much easier.
It's the utility of a truck that I find appealing. Too many times in recent years have I had to pass up a good deal on a (insert item that won't fit into a hatcback here), not to mention simply being able to buy things like bookcases.

BrewMaster

12-22-2004, 09:37 AM

i liked the utility of my truck, but i found that a station wagon like the Volvo I used to own would cover me for 90% of things. Not to mention the truck was so expensive to own and operate, I could always rent a pick up from UHual for about $20 and save myself a bunch of cash.

BrewMaster

12-22-2004, 10:44 AM

maybe this is what we are headed for:

http://www.joe-ks.com/archives_jun2001/WomansDreamCar.jpg

SmokeyDP

12-22-2004, 10:56 AM

If you have a car you can always add a hitch and pick up a trailer for under $1K. Much cheaper than keeping an extra SUV or Truck around.

WhiskeyPapa

12-22-2004, 10:58 AM

BrewMaster

12-22-2004, 01:28 PM

WhiskeyPapa

12-22-2004, 02:16 PM

I wish... It was cold, 5:30 am, and I was on my way to work. I just made sure they were off the road and continued on my way.

BrewMaster

12-22-2004, 02:34 PM

damn. venison is sooooo tasty.

bbrian

12-22-2004, 02:43 PM

i don't disagree with the point of your post bbrian, but from personal experience, full sized pick ups really do survive crashes very well, regardless of the crash rating, when they collide with smaller vehicles.
I agree with your statement too.. If I'm headed towards a wall, pole, or any other unmovable object I'd rather be in my Accord than my Jeep Cherokee. When you consider all factors (manuverability, acceleration, braking, etc), I'd rather be in my car because I'm more likely to avoid an accident to begin with.

If someone is about to hit me in a Geo Metro, I'd rather be in the Jeep. I'd still feel safe in my Accord, the impact just wouldn't hurt as much in the Jeep.

kei2

12-22-2004, 03:32 PM

Anyone remember the Canyonero from the Simpsons?? It reminds me of these soccer moms driving around in H2s around here.Have you seen the series of FoxTrot comics where the dad takes a test drive at a Humbler dealership?

BrewMaster

12-22-2004, 03:33 PM

yeah, that pretty much sums it up. since those crash tests are usually with stationary objects they don't always represent reality. they're good, but no model is perfect.

blueindian

12-23-2004, 06:38 AM

BTW, I hit *two* deer at about 30 - 40 mph with my 15 passenger van. Both deer were dead instantly, the only "damage" to my van was a bent license plate. Had I been driving my Geo Metro (my daily driver at that time) it would have been totaled.

when i was 17 i smashed up my first car (77 vw rabbit) on a big 'ole deer. i was on a date witha hot girl at the time, and never got another because she was freaked out by the fact that i kept the deer.

i traded half the deer for the parts i needed to fix my car. :hihi:

12-23-2004, 06:57 AM

i traded half the deer for the parts i needed to fix my car. :hihi:Ah, the circle of life. ;)

BrewMaster

12-28-2004, 10:43 PM

she was freaked out by the fact that i kept the deer.

she wasn't worth a second date since she obviously didn't appreciate good meat.

PowerTech83

12-30-2004, 06:46 PM

I'm driving a Jeep Grand Cherokee right now, and it's much more convinient than a sedan, I can load up big stuff to my SUV, so much space to carry things around. Also it has better traction on slipery road (well, you can actually get the same from AWD sedans out there.. since I never, and don't have any plan to take my SUV to do serious off roading). I think thats part of the reason why people choose 2WD SUVs.. they don't really need the 4WD.. esp if they live in the area that rarely has rain/snow.. so the roads are mostly in perfect condition everyday.. they just need the SUV for the Utility (carrying stuff around that can't be fitted in sedans).

About fuel economy though, I'd love to have better milleage SUV.. like Lexus Rh400.. well, one day, when i saved enough money. But then again, bad milleage can't be blamed on SUV/truck owners alone... there are a lot of large sedans out there that have as bad milleage as SUVs... why do they drive a Mercedes S500 while they can afford to drive (obviously) a much better milleage Toyota Echo for example ? many people has different needs and expectations.. and every vehicles have their own 'purpose', like Toyota Echo is good for economical city driving while Mercedes S-class is well known for its luxuriousness.. and as people earn more and more money, they want a better and more luxury car, and move up to premium brands like Lexus, Acura, BMW, Benz which usually comes in bigger and higher performance engines... and of course, drink more fuel.. until later.. technology evolves. always.