Why Drive an SUV in Los Angeles (Livingston: school, camping)

[katenik]

when i drove a compact sedan i felt very vulnerable on the road. large SUVs would cut me off, and block my view of the road ahead. i couldn't change lanes to see where i was going, because they were everywhere. i was (gently) rear-ended twice by SUVs whose drivers didn't see my brake lights because they were looking over me-- or so one of them said. now that i have an SUV (albeit one of the smaller models), i feel safer, especially on the freeway. i rarely get cut off, and the higher seating gives me a better view of my surroundings. whenever i've had occasion to drive a sedan since owning an SUV, i felt l like i was sitting in a deck chair in the middle of the road. i would never go back.

[shannon94]

Interesting article


gladwell dot com - big and bad

[JackSparrow]

Originally Posted by DontH8Me

What's to hate? We live in LA after all - we invented the term "conspicuous consumption". Keep spending my fellow amigos...

Uhhh.... The hate isn't directed towards the consumerism. So uhm, sorry to deflate your attempt at a one-up pimp shot (because if being a high roller was your motivation, you'd have something MUCH spendier than an SUV )

The hate is directed towards someone who has a huge vehicle, that doesn't need it- blocking traffic (or at the least, views thereof).

[sberdrow]

Originally Posted by JackSparrow

Uhhh.... The hate isn't directed towards the consumerism. So uhm, sorry to deflate your attempt at a one-up pimp shot (because if being a high roller was your motivation, you'd have something MUCH spendier than an SUV )

The hate is directed towards someone who has a huge vehicle, that doesn't need it- blocking traffic (or at the least, views thereof).

I have a monster of a SUV, I dont have a family, just like driving around for JOY RIDES, sometimes I like to just sit in the parking lot letting the engine idle while I think. Sends up quite a blue smoke cloud at that. Kinda pretty if you ask me. Most people buy them because of large familys, me, I just like taken up most of yalls road. Ya know what gas stands for GOING AROUND SUPERSIZED

[DontH8Me]

Originally Posted by JackSparrow

Uhhh.... The hate isn't directed towards the consumerism. So uhm, sorry to deflate your attempt at a one-up pimp shot (because if being a high roller was your motivation, you'd have something MUCH spendier than an SUV )

The hate is directed towards someone who has a huge vehicle, that doesn't need it- blocking traffic (or at the least, views thereof).

easy tiger - I think you are reading a lot more into my post than I intended. I was not trying to one-up you I was trying to pump some levity into this thread, and have no idea what a pimp shot is - maybe because we travel in different social circles, but that is just speculation of course. We have no pimps nor do we use terms like "spendier" where I am from. People from old money don't need to "prove" anything about their wealth and actually make efforts to conceal its very existence.

Whether you hate the consumerism, or hate the blocking of your view, you should try to keep your hate in check. And I doubt that you would know a true high roller if they came up and bit you on your behind.

For what it's worth, I too am annoyed by the blocking of the view, but it won't make me hate people who drive SUVs. Have a coke and a smile, Jack.

[JackSparrow]

Originally Posted by DontH8Me

easy tiger - I think you are reading a lot more into my post than I intended.

I got your joke, and my reply wasn't directed towards you, as much as it was directed towards SUV enthusiasts.

Originally Posted by DontH8Me

We have no pimps nor do we use terms like "spendier" where I am from. People from old money don't need to "prove" anything about their wealth and actually make efforts to conceal its very existence.

Until someone makes a comment about driving a big SUV "because they can."

"One man pretends to be rich, yet has nothing; another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth."

I was calling out the ignorant.

Originally Posted by DontH8Me

Whether you hate the consumerism, or hate the blocking of your view, you should try to keep your hate in check.

Thought police much?

Originally Posted by DontH8Me

And I doubt that you would know a true high roller if they came up and bit you on your behind.

An old time friend of mine is considered a 'whale' by Vegas standards. I don't care to disclose the millions he's worth, because it'd just turn into a pissing match; but, he's entirely self made. I have another friend who's worth alot of money, that he inherited.

So please, you wouldn't know what I know; or who I know it about.

Originally Posted by DontH8Me

For what it's worth, I too am annoyed by the blocking of the view, but it won't make me hate people who drive SUVs.

Well, good for you!

(And, again for the record, I don't hate all SUV drivers. Just the ones that think they are invincible because they drive an SUV. Their mirrors come off in traffic the same as the plastic mirrors of Toyota Camry drivers who get arrogant on the road with me.)



And didn't you know? Pepsi is the choice of a new generation!

[James T]

Jack, are you one of these riders who comes within half an inch of other's mirrors?

[JackSparrow]

Originally Posted by James T

Jack, are you one of these riders who comes within half an inch of other's mirrors?

On occasions, due to the variable nature of moving and stopped traffic.

I do split lanes (lane sharing), and it is not illegal to do so as per the vehicle code.

[greggd]

Jack, don't get into trouble with that glove. I've seen vengence on the freeways and its not a pretty site. (i know you were kidding about the glove)

You two are going at it and I don't want to get involved, but "old money" from around your parts? and your south bay native?

Some buy expensive cars some don't. You can't determine a persons wealth by the cars they drive or the house they live in.

[HockeyFan]

For me, I don't like driving huge cars. But I'm a large person. So many cars these days, the seats just don't go far enough back for me to drive with my foot flush on the gas pedal. I had a Honda CRV, but I had to drive with the side of my foot and bend my leg very awkwardly. Not a safe thing! And the frustration? There's a foot of room behind me, nobody ever uses the back seat, and yet I can't move the seat any further back.

If you're in favor of people driving small vehicles, contact the manufacturers and tell them the seats need to go back further for the over six foot tall crowd. I'm actually considering an H3 because it's one of the few vehicles I can drive and not feel cramped and out of control while driving.

Otherwise, I'd be quite happy with a small SUV. A sedan doesn't really meet my needs, but another Honda CRV would be fine otherwise -- and it's a 30 MPG vehicle.