VENT
I hate SUVS. I think they are evil:
1. They make life much harder for the little guy. We cannot see beyond them to pull out of a parking spot next to them. We cannot see traffic lights in front of us past them. We cannot drive next to them because we know they have a bad blind spot. We cannot see past them when they are across from us and we are trying to make a left turn. Those in the SUVs behind us can though, and honk at us incessantly. If one of them hits us (or we hit them, ahem) we know we will be crushed.
2. They are less fuel efficient. The people that own them are bring up fuel demand and prices for us all.
4. They take up way too much space on narrow residential streets.
5. They are far less environmentally friendly than a smaller car.
6. People think they are safer in an SUV, but they aren’t. (look here!)
So, they really get on my nerves. I don’t even get the point of them for most people that have them. I know many people that run out and get them the minute they have a child…but I don’t get why. A trunk has more than enough space for a stroller, and a mini-van has more seating space than an SUV (not that I love those either, but they make more sense for a large family). I know very, very few people with SUVS that actually use them off-road, or do the kind of road travel that requires so much space.
A Confession
My Ion has been in the shop all week, and my loaner is an SUV, the Vue. I was originally quite upset about this, and rather fearful to drive it. Now, I have logged about 400km in it, and don’t want to give it back. It feel so spacious, and I love being so high up on the road and able to see so far ahead of me.
There have been some downsides. I have taken to backing into my driveway and parking spots to ensure I don’t back over small animals or children when I leave. I am terrified to move into the right lane since I have no clue what is there. I have had to stop eating lunch in order to pay for gas. I live in mortal fear of driving into a curb (those things are my nemesis) for fear of tipping.
But, above issues aside, I want one. Mostly for the dandy little storage spot for my work key-card and the sun-glass holder. They are little things, but make my day. The car shop called to today to tell me my car would not be ready until next week now. My heart jumped for joy.
I doubt I would ever actually buy one (maybe if it was small, hybrid and had a very high safety rating), but it has been nice to drive.
Now now….remember the environment! All the extra parts! All the gas!
I hate them. And trucks too. I mean unless you have a FARM, then you do not need a truck. I live in the land of trucks. Where they pretty much out number cows.
LMAO! We just bought a minivan and it seems way too huge to be driving around!
OOOOOOOO! You pushed one of my buttons. I have a big honking Suburban. I think what you are more miffed about are inconsiderate SUV drivers. Trust me I have cursed the person in the Suburban next to me, because they took up 2 spaces instead of one. If I can back my sweet ass up and make my land yacht fit than so can you.
No, you can not fit as many people and cargo in a mini van as a SUV. I dare you, try it. I have and it doesn’t work.
I still can’t see around some SUVs in my SUV and I have one of the biggest.
I don’t understand the argument that your fuel cost go up, because I drive a SUV. We would all be paying the same gas prices whether we drove Yugos or SUVs. And to be fair I fill up once a week.
You don’t have to off road just in the country. Drive down any street in New Orleans and talk to me. My SUV has saved me from falling in a pot hole or two.
And why is it I can stay in my lane on the skinniest bridge I have ever seen (Huey P. Long), but the little Toyotal next to me has to drive down the middle. To give you an idea of how narrow this bridge is, I could hold hands with the person in the car next to me without leaning. I can, also, pass the semis that travel this bridge several times a day, while the guy in the little car is too afraid.
Why do I have an SUV:
It can fit 2 Britax carseats and an infant seat in the middle row, plus have room for the adults that accompany these children. And I have room for all the crap that goes along with these kids.
I can carry all of our important items plus our family when we evacuate from major storms. You may think this is not important, but when everything you own is threatened, it is nice to have most of it with you. And our pets, which was the real reason we got the SUV when my daughter was born. I couldn’t her and the dog in his crate in the backseat of the Camry.
Would you rather, when I meet up with friends, that we take 2 small cars or fit all into the SUV. I can’t tell you how many times we have carpooled to different events.
Don’t go hating on the SUVs until you ride in one and have to fill up the gas tank. SUVs didn’t cause the world problems, politicians did.
I hate SUVs too. No matter how considerate the driver is, when you get right down to it, they take up too much space and use up more resources. And the people who drive them are tiresome in how they go on about everything else they do to help the environment and how it wouldn’t make that big of a difference if they drove amore fuel efficient vehicle and blah blah blah. God forbid people should make any sacrifices.
OOOOOOOO! You pushed one of my buttons. I have a big honking Suburban. I think what you are more miffed about are inconsiderate SUV drivers. Trust me I have cursed the person in the Suburban next to me, because they took up 2 spaces instead of one. If I can back my sweet ass up and make my land yacht fit than so can you.
No, you can not fit as many people and cargo in a mini van as a SUV. I dare you, try it. I have and it doesn’t work.
Depends on the SUV or the mini-van. The one I have now has 2 seats in the front, and 3 in the back. The same as my car. My SIL’s mini-van seats 2 in the front, and 5 in the back. Last time I checked, 7 was more than 5? The SUV I am using also has a pretty small hatchback, no bigger than the one on my SIL’s mini-van.
I still can’t see around some SUVs in my SUV and I have one of the biggest.
If you cannot see around some SUVs, imagine what it is like to be in a little car sourrounded by them
I don’t understand the argument that your fuel cost go up, because I drive a SUV. We would all be paying the same gas prices whether we drove Yugos or SUVs. And to be fair I fill up once a week.
It is called supply and demand. SUVS demand more gas-I thediscovered just how much more this week-higher demand brings supply down, and prices up. It is a pretty straightfoward ecomomic principal.
You don’t have to off road just in the country. Drive down any street in New Orleans and talk to me. My SUV has saved me from falling in a pot hole or two.
There are pot holes on city streets everywhere. You cannot tell me people are unable to drive or getting in accidents right, left and center in New Orleans because they cannot go over pot holes. I have certainly managed to not fall into one
And why is it I can stay in my lane on the skinniest bridge I have ever seen (Huey P. Long), but the little Toyotal next to me has to drive down the middle. To give you an idea of how narrow this bridge is, I could hold hands with the person in the car next to me without leaning. I can, also, pass the semis that travel this bridge several times a day, while the guy in the little car is too afraid.
Why do I have an SUV:
It can fit 2 Britax carseats and an infant seat in the middle row, plus have room for the adults that accompany these children. And I have room for all the crap that goes along with these kids.
I can carry all of our important items plus our family when we evacuate from major storms. You may think this is not important, but when everything you own is threatened, it is nice to have most of it with you. And our pets, which was the real reason we got the SUV when my daughter was born. I couldn’t her and the dog in his crate in the backseat of the Camry.
Would you rather, when I meet up with friends, that we take 2 small cars or fit all into the SUV. I can’t tell you how many times we have carpooled to different events.
So, an SUV is best for you. That doesnt change that I find sharing the road with them…especially now that EVERYONE has one… frustrating and still feel that the majority of people that have them don’t need them, even if you personally do.
Don’t go hating on the SUVs until you ride in one and have to fill up the gas tank.
Um, I have been driving one for the entire week now, and filling the gas tank. Filling the gas tank costs 15$ more than it does with my car, yet I get much less milage on a full tank.
SUVs didn’t cause the world problems, politicians did.
Maybe not world problems, but they do raise my gas prices, and make it a PITA for me to get out of a parking spot or even my driveway (since both my neighbours have them and I cannot see either side of the road until I am in it) or make a left turn. Since this is my blog, I will vent about them all I want!
I never said you couldn’t vent about it, I just gave my reasons why I disagree.
My SUV holds 8 people with all seats up plus extra space for cargo in the back. The minivan I drove while my SUV was in the shop, because I wasn’t big enough for some idiot to see me, could barely fit my stroller with all seats up and there were more blind spots than my SUV.
The husband will be making a new Tahoe purchase as soon as the 2008 hybrids come out. They have had the technology, but haven’t put them on the market. I know the demand for a large hybrid is out there, but there has been no supply. I still did not think that gas prices would be down if less people drove SUVs. Gas prices have nothing to do with supply and demand, it is a lack of refinieries and transportation of the gas to certain areas. Areas where the gas is close, like the Gulf of Mexico, pay less than those that have to have it trucked in.
You have never been to New Orleans, then. Our city is sinking, so our streets are pretty bad. If you come down I will take on a wild ride Uptown and through the Quarter.
So, what happens in New Orleans to people that don’t have SUVs? Are they stuck all over the roads? Do they not drive? Does everyone have SUVs in Noew Orleans. I don’t mean to be rude, I am curious though. If the roads are so bad that you feel they require and SUV, does every feel that way? I would love to come to NO. It is somewhere I have always wanted to visit (thanks to Anne Rice!)
I simply do not agree that all the SUVs out there (and minivans for that matter) are not affecting gas prices. Sure, it is cheaper where it is closer. What isn’t? It costs less to transport it. However, the more people want something, the more money that sellers can get away with selling that something for. People who drive SUVS use more gas than those of us that don’t. The demand for gas is higher than it was in the past, and that is, at least in part, due to all the gas guzzling SUVs out there. They send the message to the oil companies that we need more gas, and will pay for it, so we do. All of us.
There are other issues with supply than SUVs, but when there are gas shortages for any reason, and SUVS are taking more gas than the other cars, we all all losing out. Last year there were times in my city where you could not buy gas for a day or two…or had to get to the other side of the city and pay and arm and a leg, and wait in 2 hour line ups, to get it at the one or two stations that had gas. If over 50% of the cars on the road were not SUVS and minivans (I don’t know if that is accurate, but it certainly seems the case. In my niehgborouhood, well over 50% of driveways have at least 1 if not 2 SUVs on them) the gas would not have run out so quickly, and the stations that did have gas left would not have been able to charge such exhorbant prices for it.
No, not everyone in New Orleans has a SUV and they survive. However, you appreciate a SUV when you have bottomed out in a lower car. If you have said lower car, you watch the road carefully and go much slower. Me, I am a fast and don’t look kind of person. :)
Another I like about my SUV when it floods, which is anytime it rains more than 5 minutes, I know I can get out. My lower car friends are not so lucky.
We will have to agree to disagree. I won’t even mention the houses up north that use heating oil during the winters. Down here we don’t have that problem.
i too have a beef with SUV. In fact my hub and i have nicknamed them Stupic User Vehicles.. i find so many people who drive them think they own the road. They drive wreckless and without thought to other drivers-especially in the snow.
They DO use a LOT more gas and therefore affect the supply and demand issue. I can’t imagine paying so much more a week for gas than i already do…$40-50 per/week is plenty!!
That being said…i do like they way the look-while parked- i hate how they look when they are in my blind spot on the hwy!
I don’t think i would actually get one but may consider a mini-van…if i had 2+ kids- for 2 kids a sedan suits us fine.
anyway this is a touchy subject for some people…
We were walking around our neighborhood and passed a bike (locked up to a gate) and on the bike was a bumper sticker which said:
Yes, that SUV makes you look fat!