I live in the boonies, pull a trailer often, and haul a bunch of junk, but still wouldn't get one. I don't need safety features, I have steel.
I notice you didn't say anything about kids....that wasn't "multiple choice", its' "all of the above". I have seven kids. A Suburban is actually too small for me by one seating position. My point is this: it makes me crazy when somebody from 1000 miles away (particularly in Washington) thinks they know what is best for my family and what I need to keep my house in order. This whole "bash SUVs" mentality makes me livid! I want you and all the other bashers to expand your mind to consider not everyone is in the same position you are in terms of family size, needs, lifestyle, etc. and that perhaps we are able to choose wisely for ourselves taking all these factors into consideration. Sorry for the rant, you just hit a nerve. K
Today vs yesterday Todays SUV's are no bigger or thirstier than let's say a 1970 Buick Estate Wagon - Time's change but the family vehicle still needs to perform the same tasks no mater what disguise it's in.
Suburban!!!!!!!!! I drive a big suburban and proud of it. And I even get 23+ MPG!!!!! It's a big ole 84 diesel 3/4 ton 6000 lb. hunk of junk and I love it. Those little ricer's with there stereo's thumping rap or hip hop better watch out for me because I don't give them "my" side of the road. I am always careful and watch out for the maniac Mom's in the minivans with there kids screaming and her on the cell phone. Just my humble opinion
What I was trying to say - ...only much more brief. The "station wagons" of today just happen to be built on a truck frame. K
Yes, times do change. In 1970 gas was cheap and OPEC hadn't yet rared its ugly head. After the oil embargo you couldn't give those big wagons away and everyone was looking for fuel economy and believe it or not, somehow they survived without there big boats (the poor souls). In 1983 I was paying $1.36 for regular but because of the change in driving habits and more fuel efficient cars the demand declined and by the early '90's I was paying as low as .79 per gallon. So now that gas was cheap again people once again changed their driving habits and now we're back where we were in the '70's only this time we're twice as dependent on foreign oil and nobody cares. I'm talking about the threat of this dependency on our national security and you're talking about convienience and "I like things big and long" . All I can say is that if terrorists start blowing up oil refineries that convienience isn't going to mean squat. And yes, SUVs and other less than efficient vehicles aren't the only problem but does that mean we should ignore it? What it boils down to is that my Buick and hotrodding are very important to me and I am willing to make concessions in my daily life to preserve it. Oh, and BTW, in 1970 you didn't see anywhere near the number of station wagons on the road as you do SUVs now. Why? Because they weren't cool were they? That just tells me that its more about image and trendiness than anything.
or maybe! or maybe a full family just can't get everything they need into the trunk of today's cars. Hasn't the "America Way" especially in homes and cars been to "keep up with the Jones" for decades? The SUV term gets used to widely -I drive an SUV is it in the same ballpark as an Escalade or Navigator, no, but none the less it's an SUV - Just got back from a trip to Columbus, average gas mileage 24.7 - I have NO compalints with that.
Wow, seven kids huh. You need a bus. Keith, your situation is an exception compared to most people who drive SUVs (judging from those I know and see) . My point is that this country's dependence on foreign oil is a real problem whether anyone wants to admit it or not and sometimes we have to look past our little worlds of family and convienience and look at the larger picture. Wouldn't you rather we try to be pro-active now than to be forced to do without later? Or do you truely believe that its not an issue?
your daily driver And your vehicle you drive daily get's what kind of mileage? Unless it's a 2 wheel drive 4 banger stick S10, it's not getting any mileage to brag about -drove and sold them for a while, so don't give me the song and dance about how well it does. When you start driving a Hybrid, talk to me. :blast:
Keith B. Its not just what I drive but if you read my earlier post you'll see that its also how far and I also ride my bike and walk. And as I said, when I can afford to, I'll be buying a diesel and converting it to run on vegetable oil so :blast: to you too. :laugh: BTW, I was talking to Keith Seymore before not you.
I am single, have no children, and live alone. If I chose to drive my Tahoe that gets 17mpg that is my choice. If I want to spend $60 a week for gas that is my problem not yours. Quit your whining and drive whatever the hell you want and dont worry about what someone else is doing. I hope you enjoy your daily commute in some little shoebox. Oh and good luck towing a Buick or hauling a bunch of Buick parts in it as well.
You guys aren't really paying attention to anything I'm saying are you? Yes your personal situation is not my problem. But when thousand upon thousand of people have this attitude then it affects everyone and sooner or later it will be all of our problems. Oh well...I'm done.
If you feel that strongly If you feel that strongly then you need to park or sell your Buicks, even if you drive them ONE mile this summer you are contributing to the depletion of the earths natural resources, unless your going to convert them to run on used french fry oil. ou: :boring:
In my honest opinion, anything new(to me would be about '99 and up, gotta love the 90's buick rivs :Brow: ) besides corvette, trucks, cadillac and viper and new mustangs is not worth writing home about. Once you get past the sales price and gas mileage(some suv's are better in MPG than others), suv's aren't too bad. I, personally, would not want one. If I am going to get something really big I will get a limousine or an extended cab truck. No matter what is on the market today, the quality is not what it is viewed as. My '76 century is definetly not the best on gas, even w/ the stock d/t and 231 V6, the quality is definetly worth bragging on. Never had to pay even close to 200 dollars for a starter, or for that matter not 600 bucks for a tranny rebuild, or the like. Quality, cheap, and most of all, fun to drive. :3gears: :TU:
I agree with that too. Im not going to try to ruin this thread by turning it into a gasoline argument, but what I think is happening, the gas companies are the ones making gas prices outrageous, not so much the oil prices. Sure, they have something to do with it, but the companies themselves control the prices. Look at diesel, all it is is a by-product of gasoline and from what I hear can be made cheaper but sold for more...so if we all junked our buicks and bought econo boxes, that wouldn't help at all.
Something is wrong when a woman will leave her late 90's lumina in the garage in favor of driving the H2 to the grocery store... by herself. I'm a carryout guy at a grocery store here. One lady who comes in with her H2 (very very very very rarely drives the lumina (only when the hubby drives the H2)) makes me want to haul off and smack her. It is absolutely rediculus for someone to drive something like that around in that circumstance. People are driving around getting groceries and picking up the kids in something that doesn't even sniff double digits for gas mileage when they could do the exact same in the sedan they probably own at three times the mileage. It's horseshit. I understand it is everyone's personal choice, that's fine and dandy. But it's also your choice to have sexual intercourse, but I still have to pay for your baby's food. Welfare is wrong in 90% of cases and I'd venture to guess that people use their SUVs about the same amount of time too much. You may have a ton of kids, but there is no way that every trip, every time requires you to drive your giant gas guzzling killing mobile of a death sled all over town. And listen to some of yourselves talk. I don't share my lane, etc. Things are getting to your head and you need to realize there is someone else in the world than the one in the mirror when you're shaving or putting your makeup on on your way to work.
I have either had a Blazer, Jimmy or Yukon at all times for about the last 10 years. I had a truck once, but it was too constricting. Not enough room inside. My last 2 vehicles have been the Yukons. I'll probably drive a Yukon the rest of my life. Works like a truck when I need to haul car parts, DJ equipment, or even work deliveries... and I can take my family on long hauls with plenty of comfort and room... and since I live outside of town, the 4WD comes in real handy. All SUV owners don't have them just to look cool ... or to have the ability to run over Civics... p
Very well said! I want to add that most of the red light runners I see are usually driving an SUV.......and why is it that the SUV guys hate minivans so much? I hate soccer moms too, but there more of them driving SUV's lately than minivans. Just to set the record straight......don't bully me with your 3 ton baheemith (spelling?).......I'll bet my Caravan will stay standing on all 4 wheels long after yours rolls over......and your insurance rates will go up just as much as mine will if you take me to task. SO BEWARE!!! p :3gears: :3gears: :3gears: :3gears: :3gears: :3gears:
