My little mazda wagon holds a ton with the seats folded and there's a rack on top. 30mpgs. I also have a small trailer when the stuff's dirty, like straw or bark from home depot. If you need a truck cool but 99% of people with them don't need. Home Depot also rents trucks for 25 bucks for the first 4 hours. Handles all my needs.
I say it all the time. Drive what you want, but don't bitch about gas prices or insurance or tire costs...
Most people working out of an office and live in the burbs don't need pick-up trucks, but a lot of blue-collar jobs require them. And there are a ton of fleet trucks that are required for business as well.
My little mazda wagon holds a ton with the seats folded and there's a rack on top. 30mpgs. I also have a small trailer when the stuff's dirty, like straw or bark from home depot. If you need a truck cool but 99% of people with them don't need. Home Depot also rents trucks for 25 bucks for the first 4 hours. Handles all my needs.
I say it all the time. Drive what you want, but don't bitch about gas prices or insurance or tire costs...
Most people working out of an office and live in the burbs don't need pick-up trucks, but a lot of blue-collar jobs require them. And there are a ton of fleet trucks that are required for business as well.
I don't understand the new trend of old people driving the biggest SUVs they can find. Maybe Larry King needs one to take his kids to soccer practice, but the rest of them don't--and none of them can drive them even half as well as they drive normal cars (which is well below average already). They have an SUV whose seat is 4 feet off the ground and costs $120 to fill but they park their behemoths in the handicapped spots and bitch and moan if the cashier at McDonald's forgets to give them the Senior Discount on their cup of coffee.
My little mazda wagon holds a ton with the seats folded and there's a rack on top. 30mpgs. I also have a small trailer when the stuff's dirty, like straw or bark from home depot. If you need a truck cool but 99% of people with them don't need. Home Depot also rents trucks for 25 bucks for the first 4 hours. Handles all my needs.
I say it all the time. Drive what you want, but don't bitch about gas prices or insurance or tire costs...
Most people working out of an office and live in the burbs don't need pick-up trucks, but a lot of blue-collar jobs require them. And there are a ton of fleet trucks that are required for business as well.
Thought that was implied but wasn't.. I agree that falls under the "need" category.
My neighbor has a tundra but uses it for work. His tires cost per tire what my entire set costs. It's insane.
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brianlux
Moving through All Kinds of Terrain. Posts: 42,428
There's a great segment in the movie "The Parking Lot Movie" (which, by the way, if you haven't seen yet I highly recommend it- one of the coolest documentaries I've seen in a long time!) in which one of the parking attendants describe the growth in size of the American vehicle- and you often see single people driving these things around unloaded by themselves. The attendants often turn these people away, refusing to let them park in the lot because they're too damn big. Great movie- anyone else see it?
"Pretty cookies, heart squares all around, yeah!" -Eddie Vedder, "Smile"
if one can afford the gas why would it matter to anyone else what someone else drives ?
Godfather.
Hey not knocking it at all one of my modes of transportation is a truck/SUV I don't use it much except when I have to take the kids to their football games or hauling something on my trailer hitch. I mostly drive a Hyundai Elantra which the kids hate cause i won't turn the air on and it's just NOT glamorous enough for them. I like the wind blowing in the car even the hottest of days here in florida.
If you got the bucks for a SUV like that then more power to ya, just don't complain about the price of gas.
Peace
Post edited by g under p on
*We CAN bomb the World to pieces, but we CAN'T bomb it into PEACE*...Michael Franti
*MUSIC IS the expression of EMOTION.....and that POLITICS IS merely the DECOY of PERCEPTION*
.....song_Music & Politics....Michael Franti
*The scientists of today think deeply instead of clearly. One must be sane to think clearly, but one can think deeply and be quite INSANE*....Nikola Tesla(a man who shaped our world of electricity with his futuristic inventions)
if one can afford the gas why would it matter to anyone else what someone else drives ?
Godfather.
The only thing that bothers me about SUVs is that most of the people driving them can't drive them or they drive 5-10 mph below the speed limit because they're trying to save gas. People can drive whatever they want but don't drive like an ass. There are also the increasing number of SUV drivers who have decided that their precious vehicles can't handle driving over manholes and require 2 parking spaces.
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brianlux
Moving through All Kinds of Terrain. Posts: 42,428
if one can afford the gas why would it matter to anyone else what someone else drives ?
Godfather.
I would not tell anyone what to drive, Godfather, but I would point out that our gas consumption is adding more carbon to the atmosphere which in turn drives global warming and we would be wise to limit our impact that way. But I assume that people who drive big trucks and SUV's who don't need that much vehicle don't believe in anthropogenic global warming. So yes, it matters a lot to me.
"Pretty cookies, heart squares all around, yeah!" -Eddie Vedder, "Smile"
if one can afford the gas why would it matter to anyone else what someone else drives ?
Godfather.
the SUV is symbolic of the excess that plagues our western culture ... we waste precious resources for the sole purpose of self-gratification ... practicality and common sense have been thrown out the window completely ... yeah, people can make their own choices but those choices are reflective of a perverted logic ...
the SUV is symbolic of the excess that plagues our western culture ... we waste precious resources for the sole purpose of self-gratification ... practicality and common sense have been thrown out the window completely ... yeah, people can make their own choices but those choices are reflective of a perverted logic ...
It seems we are always on the opposite side of the looking glass, but I've owned a pickup, a sedan, a sports car, and a SUV ... the SUV was the most practical vehicle of them all. Gas was cheaper when I had it, but you can't beat the versatility of a mid-size SUV. It's a jack of all trades.
It seems we are always on the opposite side of the looking glass, but I've owned a pickup, a sedan, a sports car, and a SUV ... the SUV was the most practical vehicle of them all. Gas was cheaper when I had it, but you can't beat the versatility of a mid-size SUV. It's a jack of all trades.
the only reason to drive an suv is for it's higher chasis and 4 wd ... meaning taking logging roads or off road ...
the versatility you achieved with your suv could have been achieved with a car with a hatchback using 1/3 of the gas ...
edit: having said that ... i take my pontiac vibe on backcountry camping/paddling trips and it gets me there no problem ...
if one can afford the gas why would it matter to anyone else what someone else drives ?
Godfather.
the SUV is symbolic of the excess that plagues our western culture ... we waste precious resources for the sole purpose of self-gratification ... practicality and common sense have been thrown out the window completely ... yeah, people can make their own choices but those choices are reflective of a perverted logic ...
perverted logic ???symbolic of the excess that plagues our western culture ....I have to disagree with you..but there is no point in debating over it you must be a sierra club member and would never see or understand anybody elses ideas or views on this subject.
perverted logic ???symbolic of the excess that plagues our western culture ....I have to disagree with you..but there is no point in debating over it you must be a sierra club member and would never see or understand anybody elses ideas or views on this subject.
Godfather.
... yes, i'm a treehugger ... come get some! ... haha
tell me what reason is there to own an SUV? ... besides the ones I gave which most people who own SUV's don't do ...
It seems we are always on the opposite side of the looking glass, but I've owned a pickup, a sedan, a sports car, and a SUV ... the SUV was the most practical vehicle of them all. Gas was cheaper when I had it, but you can't beat the versatility of a mid-size SUV. It's a jack of all trades.
the only reason to drive an suv is for it's higher chasis and 4 wd ... meaning taking logging roads or off road ...
the versatility you achieved with your suv could have been achieved with a car with a hatchback using 1/3 of the gas ...
edit: having said that ... i take my pontiac vibe on backcountry camping/paddling trips and it gets me there no problem ...
Don't mean to but in and I realize you are from Canada so you know all about winters...but 4 wheel/AWD drive is necessary in MN...I think it is ridiculous to say the only reason you need an SUV is to take logging / low maintenance roads...you clearly have not driven in the residential areas in Minneapolis after a few inches of snow...not so much this year, we had an easy winter, but if I didn't have my RAV last year I would not have been able to get my daughter to day care about 20 times...not to mention the safety it provides on weekends going to the grocery store and all that. Some places four-wheel drive is a necessity, mid-size SUVs are usually the most cost effective option.
either way, this doesn't really have anything to do with the price of tea in china. If a free market was actually in place regarding oil, we probably would already have electric cars. I don't think Obama can control gas prices any more than Bush could have...ultimately High gas prices will actually probably help push along a "green" agenda for transportation needs but it is political suicide to promote policies that raise prices like they are raising...People need to realize the president cannot directly control gas prices, they can, however help the dollar keep its value making gas cost less.
that’s right! Can’t we all just get together and focus on our real enemies: monogamous gays and stem cells… - Ned Flanders
It is terrifying when you are too stupid to know who is dumb
- Joe Rogan
0
g under p
Surfing The far side of THE Sombrero Galaxy Posts: 18,200
if one can afford the gas why would it matter to anyone else what someone else drives ?
Godfather.
the SUV is symbolic of the excess that plagues our western culture ... we waste precious resources for the sole purpose of self-gratification ... practicality and common sense have been thrown out the window completely ... yeah, people can make their own choices but those choices are reflective of a perverted logic ...
perverted logic ???symbolic of the excess that plagues our western culture ....I have to disagree with you..but there is no point in debating over it you must be a sierra club member and would never see or understand anybody elses ideas or views on this subject.
Godfather.
In a way Polaris is right...SUV's can be considered a symbol of excess. Some 17 years ago it was for me I had a Range Rover and I didn't have any children then. The only thing I had to carry around was me and my softball/baseball/hockey and various other sports equipment. Not even a girlfriend and I certainly used it more a status thing more than anything else. Yes back then I was a confused, selfish, ego oriented individual who only thought was about me, myself and I.
Peace
*We CAN bomb the World to pieces, but we CAN'T bomb it into PEACE*...Michael Franti
*MUSIC IS the expression of EMOTION.....and that POLITICS IS merely the DECOY of PERCEPTION*
.....song_Music & Politics....Michael Franti
*The scientists of today think deeply instead of clearly. One must be sane to think clearly, but one can think deeply and be quite INSANE*....Nikola Tesla(a man who shaped our world of electricity with his futuristic inventions)
Don't mean to but in and I realize you are from Canada so you know all about winters...but 4 wheel/AWD drive is necessary in MN...I think it is ridiculous to say the only reason you need an SUV is to take logging / low maintenance roads...you clearly have not driven in the residential areas in Minneapolis after a few inches of snow...not so much this year, we had an easy winter, but if I didn't have my RAV last year I would not have been able to get my daughter to day care about 20 times...not to mention the safety it provides on weekends going to the grocery store and all that. Some places four-wheel drive is a necessity, mid-size SUVs are usually the most cost effective option.
i spent plenty of time driving in harsh winter conditions ... you can get by usually just by adding snow tires ... and awd vehicles are available in the non-suv kind ...
even giving you the benefit of the doubt - you still do not represent the majority of suv owners ... it's absurd - i once parked a 15 passenger van next to an expedition in a parking lot and the fucking thing was bigger than my van ... people drive these things because of status, trends and the illusion they will be safer despite all the contradictory reports ... they are symbolic of excess ... of a value system that does not respect the value of resources nor it's impacts on society ...
try putting these in your prius with the seats down.
try putting the gas and water to the right of the photo in your hatchback. I can go a thousand miles without stopping at a gas station. Can you do that in your prius?
how about my family of 4 and 180lbs of canine? Where should they go?
kayack, bikes, the bug out bags, camping gear etc...
the furry animals I harvest and consume. what to do with them....
Shit, the bed works swell during a siesta.
Many of you get all spun looking at things from your own lense. Masking assumptions based on very limited knowldge. That's cool though, that's why I am here, to help.
I have never bitched about the cost of gas. Not in this thread or any other time. It's the cost of doing business. Money is not important until you run out of it. That's why I bust ass...
Life, Liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That's what it's about. Gas prices have a big effect on consumer sentiment and that drags the economy down so from that regard it is relevant to me. The topic of this thread has to do with the sitting occupants chances of being re-elected if gas continues to rise. That is but a piece of the puzzle, a pretty significant one though. For those of who who drive little cars, that's cool and all. Like I said earlier trucks get it done. That's what's great about the pursuit of happiness. Do whatever floats your boat. I hear video games are a lot of fun.
dude ... i took 3 sea kayaks ... 3 people and all our gear on a week long kayaking trip in Lake Superior this summer in my pontiac vibe with no problem - could have brought a dog too ... this is my boat ...
that's swell. Wouldn't work for me. You are still missing the point but that's ok. That's why I am here, to help.
no ... i get your point ... mine was simply in response to you saying "try getting that into your prius" even tho you put your boards on the roof of your truck ... ... and ya - you can go thousands of miles without stopping at a gas station but you still have to stop to fill it up ... which in the end is not really that much better ...
It seems we are always on the opposite side of the looking glass, but I've owned a pickup, a sedan, a sports car, and a SUV ... the SUV was the most practical vehicle of them all. Gas was cheaper when I had it, but you can't beat the versatility of a mid-size SUV. It's a jack of all trades.
the only reason to drive an suv is for it's higher chasis and 4 wd ... meaning taking logging roads or off road ...
the versatility you achieved with your suv could have been achieved with a car with a hatchback using 1/3 of the gas ...
edit: having said that ... i take my pontiac vibe on backcountry camping/paddling trips and it gets me there no problem ...
So is there no reason to own a station wagon? That's basically what a SUV is but with the higher chasis, 4WD, and light hauling capacity.
The sports car is for the ego. I went from a SUV to a sports car and soon learned how much I took for granted owning a SUV .... although I was never able to break 150 mph in a SUV.
Be Excellent To Each Other
Party On, Dudes!
0
brianlux
Moving through All Kinds of Terrain. Posts: 42,428
try putting these in your prius with the seats down.
try putting the gas and water to the right of the photo in your hatchback. I can go a thousand miles without stopping at a gas station. Can you do that in your prius?
how about my family of 4 and 180lbs of canine? Where should they go?
kayack, bikes, the bug out bags, camping gear etc...
the furry animals I harvest and consume. what to do with them....
Shit, the bed works swell during a siesta.
Many of you get all spun looking at things from your own lense. Masking assumptions based on very limited knowldge. That's cool though, that's why I am here, to help.
I have never bitched about the cost of gas. Not in this thread or any other time. It's the cost of doing business. Money is not important until you run out of it. That's why I bust ass...
Life, Liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That's what it's about. Gas prices have a big effect on consumer sentiment and that drags the economy down so from that regard it is relevant to me. The topic of this thread has to do with the sitting occupants chances of being re-elected if gas continues to rise. That is but a piece of the puzzle, a pretty significant one though. For those of who who drive little cars, that's cool and all. Like I said earlier trucks get it done. That's what's great about the pursuit of happiness. Do whatever floats your boat. I hear video games are a lot of fun.
Woot
You certainly have the right to all your stuff. This is, after all America, right? But how long would all this last if 9 billion people consumed at that rate? Where are you going to go camping when the ticks and Lyme disease malaria etc. continue to spread due to climate change? Why do you need to go 1,000 miles without refueling? And my biggest question: why do say we have limited knowledge and who are you to make such an assessment?
Debating... or just bating?
"Pretty cookies, heart squares all around, yeah!" -Eddie Vedder, "Smile"
try putting these in your prius with the seats down.
try putting the gas and water to the right of the photo in your hatchback. I can go a thousand miles without stopping at a gas station. Can you do that in your prius?
how about my family of 4 and 180lbs of canine? Where should they go?
kayack, bikes, the bug out bags, camping gear etc...
the furry animals I harvest and consume. what to do with them....
Shit, the bed works swell during a siesta.
Many of you get all spun looking at things from your own lense. Masking assumptions based on very limited knowldge. That's cool though, that's why I am here, to help.
I have never bitched about the cost of gas. Not in this thread or any other time. It's the cost of doing business. Money is not important until you run out of it. That's why I bust ass...
Life, Liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That's what it's about. Gas prices have a big effect on consumer sentiment and that drags the economy down so from that regard it is relevant to me. The topic of this thread has to do with the sitting occupants chances of being re-elected if gas continues to rise. That is but a piece of the puzzle, a pretty significant one though. For those of who who drive little cars, that's cool and all. Like I said earlier trucks get it done. That's what's great about the pursuit of happiness. Do whatever floats your boat. I hear video games are a lot of fun.
Woot
That's fine by me dude. You have a ton of shit to haul...thats your business.
But to your "try putting THAT in a prius" attitude -- they are surprisingly large. And I think they are coming out with a SUV prius. I have a matrix hatchback and have been camping with two other people, two longboards, a kayak, a ton of supplies and an acoustic guitar. The matrix is huge for a small car. In fact, I can fit my 9 foot 2 inch longboard inside the car if i'm too lazy to strap it to my roof racks. There are options for some SUV drivers...probably not for you because you have a ton of stuff you want to lug around it seems. Point is, there are more economical options.
and PS - polaris' point of having to stop while fueling kind defeats your purpose. In fact, lugging al lthat fuel probably cuts down on your mpg anyways. But then again, who knows, maybe you have one of those low flying refueler aircraft that fills you while you're moving for more convenience?
So is there no reason to own a station wagon? That's basically what a SUV is but with the higher chasis, 4WD, and light hauling capacity.
The sports car is for the ego. I went from a SUV to a sports car and soon learned how much I took for granted owning a SUV .... although I was never able to break 150 mph in a SUV.
but you are using way less gas in a wagon and you are not an obstruction on the road ... you can't see past most SUV's on the road ... which makes them a safety hazard ...
all i'm saying is that there are very little practical applications of an suv except for the ones i describe and they do not reflect the majority of owners ...
try putting these in your prius with the seats down.
try putting the gas and water to the right of the photo in your hatchback. I can go a thousand miles without stopping at a gas station. Can you do that in your prius?
how about my family of 4 and 180lbs of canine? Where should they go?
kayack, bikes, the bug out bags, camping gear etc...
the furry animals I harvest and consume. what to do with them....
Shit, the bed works swell during a siesta.
Many of you get all spun looking at things from your own lense. Masking assumptions based on very limited knowldge. That's cool though, that's why I am here, to help.
I have never bitched about the cost of gas. Not in this thread or any other time. It's the cost of doing business. Money is not important until you run out of it. That's why I bust ass...
Life, Liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That's what it's about. Gas prices have a big effect on consumer sentiment and that drags the economy down so from that regard it is relevant to me. The topic of this thread has to do with the sitting occupants chances of being re-elected if gas continues to rise. That is but a piece of the puzzle, a pretty significant one though. For those of who who drive little cars, that's cool and all. Like I said earlier trucks get it done. That's what's great about the pursuit of happiness. Do whatever floats your boat. I hear video games are a lot of fun.
paid $4.44 for the cheap stuff today.
It's pretty clear to me Obama wants gas to be even more expensive so we can switch to the green stuff.
decided it's time to bring back my Obama sticker on my truck. I often see Obama stickers on Prius and such but I like mine better.
I guess I was wrong is reading this as a complaint... I find the part about O-bama wanting gas to be more expensive amusing...
anyhoo...my Honda Fit will fit (ha) all those things mentioned...and get's 30+ mpg...and my 40+mpg 1990 Jetta Diesel would fit all that to...roof racks are amazing things...
and I don't disagree with your point about gas prices affecting consumers...I do wonder what folks feel is a reasonable cost for a gallon of gas...how about it, mama..how much do you think you should be paying...?
That's fine by me dude. You have a ton of shit to haul...thats your business.
But to your "try putting THAT in a prius" attitude -- they are surprisingly large. And I think they are coming out with a SUV prius. I have a matrix hatchback and have been camping with two other people, two longboards, a kayak, a ton of supplies and an acoustic guitar. The matrix is huge for a small car. In fact, I can fit my 9 foot 2 inch longboard inside the car if i'm too lazy to strap it to my roof racks. There are options for some SUV drivers...probably not for you because you have a ton of stuff you want to lug around it seems. Point is, there are more economical options.
yeah ... we have the same car essentially ... it's got tons of space ... my ww kayak fits inside my vibe ...
thing is - the guy boasts about not stopping at a gas station because he chose to carry the gas he needs for the entire time and unless he is crossing the sahara - who the cuss carries their gas with them!?? ... sure maybe 10 gallons in case of emergency but really all them barrels?
So is there no reason to own a station wagon? That's basically what a SUV is but with the higher chasis, 4WD, and light hauling capacity.
The sports car is for the ego. I went from a SUV to a sports car and soon learned how much I took for granted owning a SUV .... although I was never able to break 150 mph in a SUV.
but you are using way less gas in a wagon and you are not an obstruction on the road ... you can't see past most SUV's on the road ... which makes them a safety hazard ...
all i'm saying is that there are very little practical applications of an suv except for the ones i describe and they do not reflect the majority of owners ...
The are not any bigger then mini-vans (of which I'm a big fan), pickups, etc. Choosing a smaller car is choosing to succumb to a known safety hazard of their limited visibility. :geek:
Cost of gas is the main impractical part of owning a SUV.
Sure, there always are. That is not my objective though and I exersice my right to do it how i like. For someone to look at my lifestyle and get all bent because I burn more gas than them that's cool but I think it's foolish.
The are not any bigger then mini-vans (of which I'm a big fan), pickups, etc. Choosing a smaller car is choosing to succumb to a known safety hazard of their limited visibility. :geek:
Cost of gas is the main impractical part of owning a SUV.
cost of gas if money is all you care about ... by burning more gas it means more pollution and ghg into the air ...
Comments
I don't understand the new trend of old people driving the biggest SUVs they can find. Maybe Larry King needs one to take his kids to soccer practice, but the rest of them don't--and none of them can drive them even half as well as they drive normal cars (which is well below average already). They have an SUV whose seat is 4 feet off the ground and costs $120 to fill but they park their behemoths in the handicapped spots and bitch and moan if the cashier at McDonald's forgets to give them the Senior Discount on their cup of coffee.
I stated facts related to the topic, too...
trucks may "get it done", but they get poor fuel mileage (<
fact)...
did you not know about the poor fuel mileage when you chose to purchase your truck..?
Shazam
Thought that was implied but wasn't.. I agree that falls under the "need" category.
My neighbor has a tundra but uses it for work. His tires cost per tire what my entire set costs. It's insane.
-Eddie Vedder, "Smile"
Godfather.
Hey not knocking it at all one of my modes of transportation is a truck/SUV I don't use it much except when I have to take the kids to their football games or hauling something on my trailer hitch. I mostly drive a Hyundai Elantra which the kids hate cause i won't turn the air on and it's just NOT glamorous enough for them. I like the wind blowing in the car even the hottest of days here in florida.
If you got the bucks for a SUV like that then more power to ya, just don't complain about the price of gas.
Peace
*MUSIC IS the expression of EMOTION.....and that POLITICS IS merely the DECOY of PERCEPTION*
.....song_Music & Politics....Michael Franti
*The scientists of today think deeply instead of clearly. One must be sane to think clearly, but one can think deeply and be quite INSANE*....Nikola Tesla(a man who shaped our world of electricity with his futuristic inventions)
The only thing that bothers me about SUVs is that most of the people driving them can't drive them or they drive 5-10 mph below the speed limit because they're trying to save gas. People can drive whatever they want but don't drive like an ass. There are also the increasing number of SUV drivers who have decided that their precious vehicles can't handle driving over manholes and require 2 parking spaces.
I would not tell anyone what to drive, Godfather, but I would point out that our gas consumption is adding more carbon to the atmosphere which in turn drives global warming and we would be wise to limit our impact that way. But I assume that people who drive big trucks and SUV's who don't need that much vehicle don't believe in anthropogenic global warming. So yes, it matters a lot to me.
-Eddie Vedder, "Smile"
the SUV is symbolic of the excess that plagues our western culture ... we waste precious resources for the sole purpose of self-gratification ... practicality and common sense have been thrown out the window completely ... yeah, people can make their own choices but those choices are reflective of a perverted logic ...
the only reason to drive an suv is for it's higher chasis and 4 wd ... meaning taking logging roads or off road ...
the versatility you achieved with your suv could have been achieved with a car with a hatchback using 1/3 of the gas ...
edit: having said that ... i take my pontiac vibe on backcountry camping/paddling trips and it gets me there no problem ...
perverted logic ???symbolic of the excess that plagues our western culture ....I have to disagree with you..but there is no point in debating over it you must be a sierra club member and would never see or understand anybody elses ideas or views on this subject.
Godfather.
tell me what reason is there to own an SUV? ... besides the ones I gave which most people who own SUV's don't do ...
Don't mean to but in and I realize you are from Canada so you know all about winters...but 4 wheel/AWD drive is necessary in MN...I think it is ridiculous to say the only reason you need an SUV is to take logging / low maintenance roads...you clearly have not driven in the residential areas in Minneapolis after a few inches of snow...not so much this year, we had an easy winter, but if I didn't have my RAV last year I would not have been able to get my daughter to day care about 20 times...not to mention the safety it provides on weekends going to the grocery store and all that. Some places four-wheel drive is a necessity, mid-size SUVs are usually the most cost effective option.
either way, this doesn't really have anything to do with the price of tea in china. If a free market was actually in place regarding oil, we probably would already have electric cars. I don't think Obama can control gas prices any more than Bush could have...ultimately High gas prices will actually probably help push along a "green" agenda for transportation needs but it is political suicide to promote policies that raise prices like they are raising...People need to realize the president cannot directly control gas prices, they can, however help the dollar keep its value making gas cost less.
It is terrifying when you are too stupid to know who is dumb
- Joe Rogan
In a way Polaris is right...SUV's can be considered a symbol of excess. Some 17 years ago it was for me I had a Range Rover and I didn't have any children then. The only thing I had to carry around was me and my softball/baseball/hockey and various other sports equipment. Not even a girlfriend and I certainly used it more a status thing more than anything else. Yes back then I was a confused, selfish, ego oriented individual who only thought was about me, myself and I.
Peace
*MUSIC IS the expression of EMOTION.....and that POLITICS IS merely the DECOY of PERCEPTION*
.....song_Music & Politics....Michael Franti
*The scientists of today think deeply instead of clearly. One must be sane to think clearly, but one can think deeply and be quite INSANE*....Nikola Tesla(a man who shaped our world of electricity with his futuristic inventions)
i spent plenty of time driving in harsh winter conditions ... you can get by usually just by adding snow tires ... and awd vehicles are available in the non-suv kind ...
even giving you the benefit of the doubt - you still do not represent the majority of suv owners ... it's absurd - i once parked a 15 passenger van next to an expedition in a parking lot and the fucking thing was bigger than my van ... people drive these things because of status, trends and the illusion they will be safer despite all the contradictory reports ... they are symbolic of excess ... of a value system that does not respect the value of resources nor it's impacts on society ...
try putting these in your prius with the seats down.
try putting the gas and water to the right of the photo in your hatchback. I can go a thousand miles without stopping at a gas station. Can you do that in your prius?
how about my family of 4 and 180lbs of canine? Where should they go?
kayack, bikes, the bug out bags, camping gear etc...
the furry animals I harvest and consume. what to do with them....
Shit, the bed works swell during a siesta.
Many of you get all spun looking at things from your own lense. Masking assumptions based on very limited knowldge. That's cool though, that's why I am here, to help.
I have never bitched about the cost of gas. Not in this thread or any other time. It's the cost of doing business. Money is not important until you run out of it. That's why I bust ass...
Life, Liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That's what it's about. Gas prices have a big effect on consumer sentiment and that drags the economy down so from that regard it is relevant to me. The topic of this thread has to do with the sitting occupants chances of being re-elected if gas continues to rise. That is but a piece of the puzzle, a pretty significant one though. For those of who who drive little cars, that's cool and all. Like I said earlier trucks get it done. That's what's great about the pursuit of happiness. Do whatever floats your boat. I hear video games are a lot of fun.
Woot
no ... i get your point ... mine was simply in response to you saying "try getting that into your prius" even tho you put your boards on the roof of your truck ...
The sports car is for the ego. I went from a SUV to a sports car and soon learned how much I took for granted owning a SUV .... although I was never able to break 150 mph in a SUV.
You certainly have the right to all your stuff. This is, after all America, right? But how long would all this last if 9 billion people consumed at that rate? Where are you going to go camping when the ticks and Lyme disease malaria etc. continue to spread due to climate change? Why do you need to go 1,000 miles without refueling? And my biggest question: why do say we have limited knowledge and who are you to make such an assessment?
Debating... or just bating?
-Eddie Vedder, "Smile"
That's fine by me dude. You have a ton of shit to haul...thats your business.
But to your "try putting THAT in a prius" attitude -- they are surprisingly large. And I think they are coming out with a SUV prius. I have a matrix hatchback and have been camping with two other people, two longboards, a kayak, a ton of supplies and an acoustic guitar. The matrix is huge for a small car. In fact, I can fit my 9 foot 2 inch longboard inside the car if i'm too lazy to strap it to my roof racks. There are options for some SUV drivers...probably not for you because you have a ton of stuff you want to lug around it seems. Point is, there are more economical options.
and PS - polaris' point of having to stop while fueling kind defeats your purpose. In fact, lugging al lthat fuel probably cuts down on your mpg anyways. But then again, who knows, maybe you have one of those low flying refueler aircraft that fills you while you're moving for more convenience?
but you are using way less gas in a wagon and you are not an obstruction on the road ... you can't see past most SUV's on the road ... which makes them a safety hazard ...
all i'm saying is that there are very little practical applications of an suv except for the ones i describe and they do not reflect the majority of owners ...
this is weird...because you said this:
I guess I was wrong is reading this as a complaint...
anyhoo...my Honda Fit will fit (ha) all those things mentioned...and get's 30+ mpg...and my 40+mpg 1990 Jetta Diesel would fit all that to...roof racks are amazing things...
and I don't disagree with your point about gas prices affecting consumers...I do wonder what folks feel is a reasonable cost for a gallon of gas...how about it, mama..how much do you think you should be paying...?
boooya!!!
yeah ... we have the same car essentially ... it's got tons of space ... my ww kayak fits inside my vibe ...
thing is - the guy boasts about not stopping at a gas station because he chose to carry the gas he needs for the entire time and unless he is crossing the sahara - who the cuss carries their gas with them!?? ... sure maybe 10 gallons in case of emergency but really all them barrels?
Cost of gas is the main impractical part of owning a SUV.
Sure, there always are. That is not my objective though and I exersice my right to do it how i like. For someone to look at my lifestyle and get all bent because I burn more gas than them that's cool but I think it's foolish.
cost of gas if money is all you care about ... by burning more gas it means more pollution and ghg into the air ...
safety ratings for SUVs are not that good either