Yuppies in Escalades (Pittsburgh, Oakland, Mexico: lease, vs, land)

[greg42]

Originally Posted by Copanut

How would all you tree huggers feel if Escalades got 80 miles per gallon?

To me it's back to vehicle dynamics. The best thing you can do on the road is AVOID an accident. A big-ass SUV is not as capable of doing that as a small car from a handling perspective (in general; there can be some exceptions). Why does that affect me if I'm not driving one? Well, maybe one in front of me won't be able to avoid an accident, which would affect me. Or maybe they would not be capable of avoiding me if they veered off course or whatever other situation could arise where they had to make an avoidance maneuver near me. This is a big part of why I don't care for them. And why it doesn't help if I instead choose a vehicle just as large.

Obviously there are a bunch of sweeping generalizations floating around in here about SUVs and their drivers, etc. I know a few people who drove very large SUVs (Ford Excursion, for example, what a big ugly thing) because it was truly the only thing that fit everyone in the car at one time in their big family, at least at the time they bought it. Got no particular qualm with that, although I think it's funny when stretched to a family with just 2 kids "needing" an SUV, minivan, etc. It's easier, hell yeah, but it's not needing. Anyway, they exist, they're going to exist and there isn't really any getting around that.

But to relate back to my first paragraph, I worry for the people who are driving SUVs because they like to be up high and it "feels safer". Well, regardless of what they feel, that being high comes precisely at the expense of NOT being safer, at least in terms of accident avoidance. And wouldn't we all rather avoid an accident rather than be relying instead on the mass equation of being in one (where, I know, one could argue that the mass of such a vehicle is in favor)? Of course, this assume that the driver will be paying enough attention to avoid an accident. One generalization about big SUV drivers is that they often do not appear to be paying enough attention, so if that's true giving them a better handling vehicle may not make any difference in that respect.

[RyanR]

Originally Posted by SammyKhalifa

Depends on if they keep veering left of center because the driver bought a vehicle beyond his/her skill to control

Ding Ding Ding, we have a winner.

That statement has nothing to do with the size of the vehicle. Regardless of a vehicles size, some people drive beyond their skills. I can back up a 24' enclosed trailer into a building with only 3" clearance on either side using only my mirrors but some people can't back out of a driveway.

[Copanut]

That's it, I'm getting a Vespa.

[SammyKhalifa]

Originally Posted by RyanR

Ding Ding Ding, we have a winner.

That statement has nothing to do with the size of the vehicle. Regardless of a vehicles size, some people drive beyond their skills. I can back up a 24' enclosed trailer into a building with only 3" clearance on either side using only my mirrors but some people can't back out of a driveway.

I can't, or at least I don't feel comfortable doing so: that's why I drive a compact. When I had to rent a moving van I made my brother drive it.

What's that giant Lincoln thing? I swear that they make people take a driving test to be allowed to buy one of those, and they don't let anyone with a high score purchase.

[Copanut]

Gotta admit, I like a small car. Too cheap to pay for gas, plus about a million years ago I bought my sister's company car, it was a Buick LeSabre. Man, did I get grief about driving an Old Man's Car. Plus, I kept hitting the curbs way before my time.

Give me a 4 cyclinder that gets 30 mpg, but I still gotta have leather seats. Otherwise, my car smells like yesterday's lunch.

[dtrtrggr13]

Mazda 3. Small, 30+mpg and still a wicked blast to drive, especially on these curvy hills.

I get crap for driving a standard transmission in Pittsburgh...its really not that bad.

[SammyKhalifa]

Originally Posted by dtrtrggr13

Mazda 3. Small, 30+mpg and still a wicked blast to drive, especially on these curvy hills.

I get crap for driving a standard transmission in Pittsburgh...its really not that bad.

That's exactly what I have! 2005 hatchback. Love it. It's starting to get a lot of rust over the rear wheels though, wondering how much longer she's got.

[Aqua Teen Carl]

Originally Posted by dtrtrggr13

Mazda 3. Small, 30+mpg and still a wicked blast to drive, especially on these curvy hills.

I get crap for driving a standard transmission in Pittsburgh...its really not that bad.

Just out of curiosity, where did you learn to drive a manual? I've been wanting to learn to drive one for years now and it's impossible to find anywhere that will teach.

[WhoIsStanwix?]

Originally Posted by Aqua Teen Carl

Just out of curiosity, where did you learn to drive a manual? I've been wanting to learn to drive one for years now and it's impossible to find anywhere that will teach.

I drive one and just taught my younger brother on Saturday, after he's been looking for at least 3 years to learn. Since I just moved back to the area, it was his first opportunity to learn.

I know, this isn't helpful. I wonder if I could make a buck teaching lessons in some $500 beater.

[dtrtrggr13]

2010 Sedan...leased it. Should be up next summer some time...probably going to switch to a Subie Impreza hatchback.

I learned to drive manual from my dad back in Michigan when I was first going through Drivers Ed. Every car I've owned has been manual...thats why I stuck with it moving here. Its a pain sometimes like when traffic sucks on Bates heading up into Oakland from the Hot Metal..but I just like the control it gives.

I've had people ask me to teach them multiple times but I'm wary of letting them learn in my car...just a confidence thing I guess. You could get a $500 beater somewhere with a half burnt out clutch and teach yourself in a parking lot. Its better to learn on a half worn clutch anwyay then jump up to a nice quick throw