For people that actually use SUVs and pickups as intended enough for it to be worthwhile, nobody should complain about that. You made the correct vehicle choice. However that's the minority view for most SUVs, to a lesser extent pickups (though a lot of people in the south have pickups "just because").

Quote :

"isn't a crossover the perfect solution for a person who really should have a sedan but wants a higher view and higher seats (and the easier access that comes with higher seats)? they are just taller cars, they are perfect for that. it's dumb when people who need cars buy SUVs, but crossovers make sense."

Good point. However, the thing is, is that your average sedan in 2014 IS already taller and higher than what used to be commonplace just 15 years ago. So that height boost is already there. Furthermore, this higher view argument is really just an arms race, and if SUV purchases were mainly just by people that need them, there would be fewer of them on the road, and thus fewer taller vehicles blocking your view.

Regarding safety, it is incorrect to think that you are safer in an SUV/pickup than a car. All you have going for you is the greater mass/tank mentality. Your chances of avoiding an accident are reduced since SUVs, compared to cars, have inferior braking and handling ability. Additionally, a truck's center of gravity is significantly taller than a car which greatly increases the chance of a rollover. And rolling over in an accident greatly increases the risk of serious injury and death.

Out of all the times I've driven past a wreck with a vehicle on it's side or roof I can only think of 1-2 instances where it was a car. 99% of the time it is a truck or SUV. You can't cheat physics.

But it's a free country and people can buy what they want, despite the government trying hard to prevent this.

[Edited on April 2, 2014 at 10:18 AM. Reason : k]

4/2/2014 10:14:16 AM

Quote :

"But it's a free country and people can buy what they want, despite the government trying hard to prevent this."

that and that Teg guy

4/2/2014 10:16:21 AM

Quote :

"However, the thing is, is that your average sedan in 2014 IS already taller and higher than what used to be commonplace just 15 years ago. So that height boost is already there."

doubt that

[Edited on April 2, 2014 at 11:02 AM. Reason : but higher seat is probably more important than higher view]

4/2/2014 11:01:29 AM

Quote :

"For people that actually use SUVs and pickups as intended enough for it to be worthwhile, nobody should complain about that. You made the correct vehicle choice. However that's the minority view for most SUVs, to a lesser extent pickups (though a lot of people in the south have pickups "just because")."

So potential SUV buyers should have to prove their need (annually?) for such a vehicle before being able to buy one?

This reminds me of the anti-hybrid/EV arguments. "Spending the extra $ for that technology is the wrong decision for that person. They should drive X instead. That would be the "correct" choice."

Quote :

"Out of all the times I've driven past a wreck with a vehicle on it's side or roof I can only think of 1-2 instances where it was a car. 99% of the time it is a truck or SUV."

Yeah I'm gonna need to see some data to back up this ridiculous assertion.



[Edited on April 2, 2014 at 11:05 AM. Reason : ]

4/2/2014 11:03:39 AM

I mean it's anecdotal. But I'm a bit surprised you doubt me on that one.

4/2/2014 12:52:14 PM

I guess my point is it appears your bias might be affecting your observations. Certainly it's possible...99% is a helluva number.

4/2/2014 12:57:02 PM

Quote :

"Utility trailer? They cost like $500, you can get a permanent license plate for them for $70 or so, and they cost next to nothing to maintain. Very few people need a pickup truck these days. I understand if you insist on lugging around an unused bed so that you can haul mulch once every two years though. "

I can't count the number of times I've helped a friend or family member move. I bet the author of that quote above is also one of those assholes who looks to a friend or family member when they need to haul something.

4/2/2014 1:04:44 PM

^^I honestly can only think of 1-2 accidents I drove by where a car was upside down (track events excluded ). I will admit I don't see tons of these - a fireman would know much better.

^Thing is, if you have a friend willing to help why not ask? And if you don't have a friend that can help you can always rent a truck for the day from U-Haul or Home Depot for a fair price.

4/2/2014 1:13:41 PM

damn how many turned over cars have you seen at track events?

4/2/2014 1:19:14 PM

yeah, disadvantage to having a truck is everyone you know calls you when they need something moved.

4/2/2014 1:20:53 PM

^^haha, just 2. 330i sedan at Roebling Road. Slid off course...way off course and hit a earthen berm going sideways. Boom, up onto it's side. I think it was at turn 3. The other time was a modified Neon SRT4 at CMP for Car and Driver's One Lap. At turn 1.

4/2/2014 1:26:52 PM

^^sucks for you (them).

All my friends have trucks, I have trucks, so it becomes an argument of who's truck

[Edited on April 2, 2014 at 1:27 PM. Reason : -]

4/2/2014 1:27:10 PM

To me, people should purchase and drive whatever vehicle they want to drive, to me.

4/2/2014 2:10:09 PM

^ pretty much

4/2/2014 2:20:28 PM

WELL YES.

hence why I was picking around with teg in my post above.

4/2/2014 2:31:37 PM

I want my own personal firetruck to cruise around town.

and an 18-wheeler for longer trips.

4/2/2014 2:35:22 PM

4/2/2014 2:43:28 PM

^^^^ [in the context of this thread at least ]

4/2/2014 3:02:11 PM

To me, it boils down to this:

There are an awful lot of people that erroneously subscribe to the "bigger is better" mentality. I got a lot of friends and acquaintances in this thread that are getting bent out of shape over the criticism of bigass SUVs. Some of you actually need them, be it for work, towing the boat/trailer, etc. Most of you (and me included) love having all the room and comfort. But I'll still say that a helluva lot of you don't really NEED it. It's just your preference. And so be it. Sure, you're entitled to drive whatever you want as long as you can pay for it. I would personally drive a Peterbilt 379 with a built Cummins NTC if I could afford it.

But for the whole time I lived around Cameron Village (almost 4 years), I saw a proliferation of bored housewives and soccer moms driving behemoth SUVs, perhaps with one or two kids...and nothing else. I have seen countless missed attempts at parking and near collisions by these dumbasses. I've seen a lot of gentrified motherfucking men in the same boat. There are overwhelming numbers of people that have no fucking business driving the goddamn things because they're too irresponsible as drivers, they've become too insulated from everything else on the road, or they're just plain goddamn inept. It just irks me that so many fuckers totally ignore the responsibility that comes with driving a 6000 lb hunk of metal that can inundate half of the other vehicles on the road.

Rant over. Go back to being a bunch of bickering nincompoops.

4/2/2014 3:30:21 PM

Quote :

"nincompoops"

Now that's a word I haven't heard in a while.

4/2/2014 3:45:45 PM

^^Ivory-tower, Cameron Village Elitist with his damn 3/4 sized parking spaces.

DEM PARKING SPOTS CAN"T ACCOMODATE MA CANYANERO


[Edited on April 2, 2014 at 3:48 PM. Reason : 65 TONS OF AMERICAN PRIDE!!!!!!!!!!!!!]

4/2/2014 3:48:12 PM

I missed Dan

4/2/2014 4:26:57 PM

4/3/2014 2:52:30 PM

https://autos.yahoo.com/news/only-2-midsize-suvs-top-040349031--finance.html

Quote :

"Only two of nine midsize SUVs got the highest rating in crash tests done by an insurance industry group."

4/8/2014 11:25:39 AM

Don't you care about safety?

4/8/2014 3:51:14 PM

I'd ride in that to prom.

4/8/2014 5:36:41 PM

I went mud slinging a few hours beforehand to get my truck ready for the first prom I went to and drove my mom's Park Avenue to the second one. Because Eastern North Carolina.

4/8/2014 5:39:21 PM