Why Drive an SUV in Los Angeles (Thousand Oaks: to buy, safe)

[sheri257]

Well ... I wouldn't expect the Sierra Club to conclude that larger, heavier cars are safer.

From the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's Top Safety Vehicle Picks ...

"Don't compare ratings across vehicle size groups because size and weight influence occupant protection in serious crashes.

Larger, heavier vehicles generally afford more protection than smaller, lighter ones ... "

Like duh ... you don't need to be a rocket scientist to figure that out. Have you ever seen a small compact car crash? The light weight material is so flimsy that it folds up like aluminum foil ... even with the minimal impact.

[shannon94]

yes!! And I've seen an SUV just as crumpled!! You sure get in a lot of accidents Sheri. Maybe the car you were driving wasn't the problem. lol Hate to see your insurance rates!!!

[think.reciprocity]

Originally Posted by James T

I cannot believe there are still people purchasing brand new SUV's in Los Angeles, despite all the negative publicity these vehicles have received lately. Is unnecessary air pollution, extra wear on the roads, obfuscating the view of people driving more environmentally responsible vehicles, etc., really worth whatever function SUV's have in Los Angeles that smaller vehicles do not? Do people still invest in these things because there's a slight chance of a freak snow storm in Los Angeles that could cause somebody to miss going to work a day, or perhaps people are concerned the La Brea Tarpits will bubble over onto Wilshire and render passenger automobiles impractical for travel in L.A.?

I currently live in the Twin Cities in Minnesota. My nephew-in-law (is there even such a thing? lol) felt the need to call me to let me know that he was going to be upgrading my niece's (his wife's) current "loaded" Dodge Durango.

He KNEW I'd love that news. He figured I'd particularly like the fact that he was upgrading to a Ford Expedition (is that it? It's apparently HUGE - one of the hugest - if not the hugest SUV)! When I went into my expected diatribe on the matter - his answer to "why" on any one of my points? Simply put:

"BECAUSE I CAN"

I suppose that's the mentality of many!

(love them - but not so much their thought pattern on these matters)

[sheri257]

Originally Posted by shannon94

yes!! And I've seen an SUV just as crumpled!! You sure get in a lot of accidents Sheri. Maybe the car you were driving wasn't the problem. lol Hate to see your insurance rates!!!

In each case the police reports determined that the accidents weren't my fault so ... my insurance has not gone up.

[Sorcerer68]

When I moved to Hawaii, I needed a vehicle with off road capability, good ground clearance and room for 5. I broke down and bought a 4x4 Explorer XLT. God I hated that thing. It drove like a school bus. The flippy/tippy driving position made me feel vunerable...but it did what it was designed to do. I took clients through Hawaiian mud bogs and roads with 25% grades. I drove through streams, sometimes the stream was the road. On the highway it was a pig. It wasn't maneuverable. I mostly drove my BMW except when I needed it. My BMW connected me to the road and was uber manuverable. I hoped an accident situation never arose in the SUV because I didn't feel the accident avoidence capabilities of the vehicle were anywhere near a decent sedan. Toward the end of my tenure in HI, I rented a plush minivan as I'd sole all my cars in preparation for my departure and needed to haul a few things. It had seating for 7, DVD and all that jazz. I was surprised...it was agile, got decent gas mileage and was far more comfortable than my SUV. It had none of the flippy/tippiness, cornered like a big sedan and was quieter and rode great. It could do everything my Explorer did except the offroad part. It was far roomier inside. I concluded that offroad aside, whatever a SUV can do, a minivan or wagon can do better.

I often hear this from SUV drivers: "_____said that if I hadn't been in my (Monstrosity XL) that when I (collided with the)______, I would have died". My response is that if you were driving something more manuverable, you probably wouldn't have collided with the _______ . I don't really have issues with the little ones, it's the Excursions and their ilk.

In my neighborhood they've mostly fallen out of favor, it's pretty much the ghetto 22" rims and porn on the dvd player crowd I see rolling by. Most of the Range Rovers in my neighborhood have been traded in for Priuses. Driving one around here is like wearing fur. Communities further inland and the ghetto seem to still have a lot. There aren't nearly as many on the road as there were 4 years ago. I can see in my little BMW again and it's a beautiful thing.

[RebOver]

I like to drive my SUV. I've driven one since '90. I like the cargo space, the multiple air-bags, the raised driver pov, the engine power and view it as a must have family car. Many of the opinions against the ownership of an SUV are emotional. I've noticed many small car and Prius drivers risking the lives of others while protecting the environment dodging in and out of lanes cutting off larger and heavier vehicles. There is no one vehicle that meets an averaged idea of everyones driving needs. Those who have never had an accident are fortunate to have avoided that 'perfect storm' of poor road conditions, driver ability/attention, vehicle maintenance or performance... . In LA the density of traffic and the need to drive increases the odds of your getting hit. People here are so often in their vehicles that some relax and tune out. I prefer to drive an SUV because I like the size and for many of the already stated reasons.
Additionally the statistics mentioned are based upon new vehicles and their safety ratings. Go outside and look around. Go to a mall and check the parking lots. You'll find a large percentage of older vehicles and more importantly you'll see many vehicles, new and old, that are poorly maintained.

[James T]

Originally Posted by Sorcerer68

When I moved to Hawaii, I needed a vehicle with off road capability, good ground clearance and room for 5. I broke down and bought a 4x4 Explorer XLT. God I hated that thing. It drove like a school bus. The flippy/tippy driving position made me feel vunerable...but it did what it was designed to do. I took clients through Hawaiian mud bogs and roads with 25% grades. I drove through streams, sometimes the stream was the road. On the highway it was a pig. It wasn't maneuverable. I mostly drove my BMW except when I needed it. My BMW connected me to the road and was uber manuverable. I hoped an accident situation never arose in the SUV because I didn't feel the accident avoidence capabilities of the vehicle were anywhere near a decent sedan. Toward the end of my tenure in HI, I rented a plush minivan as I'd sole all my cars in preparation for my departure and needed to haul a few things. It had seating for 7, DVD and all that jazz. I was surprised...it was agile, got decent gas mileage and was far more comfortable than my SUV. It had none of the flippy/tippiness, cornered like a big sedan and was quieter and rode great. It could do everything my Explorer did except the offroad part. It was far roomier inside. I concluded that offroad aside, whatever a SUV can do, a minivan or wagon can do better.

I often hear this from SUV drivers: "_____said that if I hadn't been in my (Monstrosity XL) that when I (collided with the)______, I would have died". My response is that if you were driving something more manuverable, you probably wouldn't have collided with the _______ . I don't really have issues with the little ones, it's the Excursions and their ilk.

In my neighborhood they've mostly fallen out of favor, it's pretty much the ghetto 22" rims and porn on the dvd player crowd I see rolling by. Most of the Range Rovers in my neighborhood have been traded in for Priuses. Driving one around here is like wearing fur. Communities further inland and the ghetto seem to still have a lot. There aren't nearly as many on the road as there were 4 years ago. I can see in my little BMW again and it's a beautiful thing.

Good post. Indeed, we'd have fewer accidents if people drove vehicles that can be more easily maneuvered. I don't understand why there are people who do not understand this point. What they also don't understand is that, two Volvos colliding are safer than two SUV's colliding, since the Volvos dissipate the momentum via deformation, whilst SUV's retain their shape moreso and hence transfer more of the energy of the collision to the vehicle's occupants. This concept is why you'll see a race car deform into a twisted hulk of garbage, yet the driver can walk away. Back before race cars were designed to deform in accidents, drivers died far more often.

[ness]

Originally Posted by James T

Good post. Indeed, we'd have fewer accidents if people drove vehicles that can be more easily maneuvered. I don't understand why there are people who do not understand this point. What they also don't understand is that, two Volvos colliding are safer than two SUV's colliding, since the Volvos dissipate the momentum via deformation, whilst SUV's retain their shape moreso and hence transfer more of the energy of the collision to the vehicle's occupants. This concept is why you'll see a race car deform into a twisted hulk of garbage, yet the driver can walk away. Back before race cars were designed to deform in accidents, drivers died far more often.

I think all this talk about which is safe: cars vs. SUVs is kinda silly. There are too many variables to make such a broad generalization on either front, in my opinion. The Volvo SUV is no doubt safer than a Ford Explorer. A safe SUV may be safer than an unsafe car and vice versa. A safe car is safer than an unsafe car. etc. etc. I think the responsible thing to do if you're in the market for a new car/SUV is to explore all the options and choose whatever vehicle has the best gas mileage and still meets your needs. This means that some people may, gasp, still end up with an SUV....but maybe it is a crossover. There are hybrid SUVs out there....unfortunately they are still quite expensive. My vehicle of choice when I finally get around to buying my next car might be a Subaru Outback. Not very cool image wise, but it might be a good alternative to my SUV. I'd try camping with two kids and with two 90 lb. dogs in the back of the Prius, but somehow I don't think that's gonna work....so for now....the SUV it is.

[Desert Bimmer]

Originally Posted by missionhome

I think many people that hate SUV's don't have kids or haul anything around. I could see how you would think an SUV is impracticable. But my wife drives an SUV because there aren't many cars out there that will allow her to: drive our three children around (plus the twice weekly carpool), the kids friends, their backpacks, the dog, soccer equipment, the mountain of Costco food, an Easy Up canopy (for our kids soccer games and cross country meets), that new table we bought, etc. So if there is another type of vehicle that can fit stuff like that in it, the please make me aware. I think the Costco food alone makes a regular sedan impossible. My car can't fit the Costco stuff without it overflowing over into the passenger seats, but my wife's SUV can. Until then, I think my family needs at least our one SUV. Are there people who don't need SUV's- definitely. But many people need a vehicle this size.

The perfect definition of what's wrong with America

[Desert Bimmer]

Originally Posted by RebOver

I like to drive my SUV. I've driven one since '90. I like the cargo space, the multiple air-bags, the raised driver pov, the engine power and view it as a must have family car. Many of the opinions against the ownership of an SUV are emotional. I've noticed many small car and Prius drivers risking the lives of others while protecting the environment dodging in and out of lanes cutting off larger and heavier vehicles. There is no one vehicle that meets an averaged idea of everyones driving needs. Those who have never had an accident are fortunate to have avoided that 'perfect storm' of poor road conditions, driver ability/attention, vehicle maintenance or performance... . In LA the density of traffic and the need to drive increases the odds of your getting hit. People here are so often in their vehicles that some relax and tune out. I prefer to drive an SUV because I like the size and for many of the already stated reasons.
Additionally the statistics mentioned are based upon new vehicles and their safety ratings. Go outside and look around. Go to a mall and check the parking lots. You'll find a large percentage of older vehicles and more importantly you'll see many vehicles, new and old, that are poorly maintained.

For cargo space buy a regular pickup or trailer.

Multiple air bags are in most safety conscious auto makers nowadays (see Volvo, BMW, etc)

Raised driver?? When does it stop? Do we always want to be higher than the other driver? At that rate we'll end up on the freakin moon!

Engine power? LOL Plenty of well built automobiles with tons of engine power (see Acura, Lexus, Audi, BMW, etc) for the price of a new SUV you could pick one of these cars up

Family car? Or family tank? Interesting...

In fact I'd rather a Prius driver cut me off while trying to do its part saving what's left of our environment as opposed to some manic in a SUV whom I can't even see around...cut me off! At least gas prices would be a lot cheaper with a highway full of Prius autos

And those poor excuses about safety and why you need justify having an SUV to protect yourself is ludicrous! Hmmm let’s see...Paris, Amsterdam, Berlin, and Munich...all very large metropolitan cities in Western Europe that I have driven in...Not very many SUV's were noted on the roads....But yet they seem to drive fast, aggressive and yet SAFE. Wow...I don't know about the rest of the audience but perhaps we need to step out of our SUV's and take a good look at the real problem here. SUV owners/drivers!!

Have a nice day!