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Just because we live in the "mountains" does not mean we all need an SUV. Get a wagon and stop trying to one-up your neighbors. I have one of these on my bumper: http://www.cartalk.com/content/features/suv/sticker.html (broken link)
Why demonize the SUV? As we all know, they come in all sizes and fuel efficiencies. I see many more SUVs such as the Toyota RAV4, Ford Escape/Mazda Tribute/Mercury Mariner, Subaru Forester, and Honda CR-V than I do full-size SUVs such as the Chevy Suburban or Ford Expedition on the roads in Western NC. I can think of 8 different SUV Hybrids currently available now.
I think gas prices are effectively sending that "drive smaller" message right now. A friend who sell cars for a major local dealership says that large SUVs have very little trade-in value currently.
Agree, though, about not demonizing SUVs. Some folks do need them. Families come in different sizes, for one thing, and if you have a family of 6 (as I do) or more, a decent-sized SUV is far more efficient than taking two vehicles on every family outing. ;-)
I think gas prices are effectively sending that "drive smaller" message right now. A friend who sell cars for a major local dealership says that large SUVs have very little trade-in value currently.
Agree, though, about not demonizing SUVs. Some folks do need them. Families come in different sizes, for one thing, and if you have a family of 6 (as I do) or more, a decent-sized SUV is far more efficient than taking two vehicles on every family outing. ;-)
In addition to families who tow pleasure boats, ATVs, off-road motorcycles, camping trailers and associated supplies up and down the mountains on weekends and holidays.
I left out "not everyone needs and SUV" (see link in original post) Need is the key here. Next time you are out on your daily business around town look at these SUV's and tell me how many people you see inside. And how many times have you seen mud on them? If you have six kids or a trailer to pull I can see having one. But rather than think of yourself first and consume like an American, why not look at alternatives like a good American should. (wow, that'll **** off some folks) I for instance own a boat and a Corolla. The boat is a 16ft ski boat. I pull it with a friends truck that he uses for construction. Is it available at all times? No. But how many times do you go to the lake alone? It sure seems to me that bigger, better, faster, quicker and right now is the cause of a lot of problems and SUV's are, granted, only a small part of the whole idea. Live Larger!
One of the bigger problems is that vehicles overall aren't getting any better mileage than they were 15 years ago. It's just a bunch of marketing crap when you see everyone advertising their highway mileage that really hasn't gone up. Plus a majority of people in the US spend more time city driving than highway. They also need to get those hybrids priced competetively or the average person isn't going to choose one. Chevy's hybrid full size SUV's are running nearly $5k more than the standard version. I personally have no need for a large SUV, but geting them price competetive will go a long way towards getting that consumer that might not normally go for the hybrid.
One of the bigger problems is that vehicles overall aren't getting any better mileage than they were 15 years ago. It's just a bunch of marketing crap when you see everyone advertising their highway mileage that really hasn't gone up. Plus a majority of people in the US spend more time city driving than highway. They also need to get those hybrids priced competetively or the average person isn't going to choose one. Chevy's hybrid full size SUV's are running nearly $5k more than the standard version. I personally have no need for a large SUV, but geting them price competetive will go a long way towards getting that consumer that might not normally go for the hybrid.
Why haven't the big US automakers done more with improving mpg? Ford has a HUGE line in Brazil for E85, for example (not that that is the best option - but at least we know they CAN)...
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I second that Zooropa!
