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Just for the record many small SUV's get the same gas mileage or even better mileage than a mini-van does. My 6 cyl. 250hp Saturn Vue gets 27-28 highway and about 22-23 around town. Better than some/most mini-vans. Not all SUV's are tanks! My Vue is actually shorter length wise and has the same width as my wives 4 cyl. Mazda 3.
I said FULL Size SUV's.....(I also had a suburu forrester a couple yrs ago)...
Not bad, I drive a 1969 Dodge with a 440 cubic inch V8 engine now and it gets 12 city 20 highway. Only temporary till my other dodge with a 318 V8 is ready to go. I was experimenting with hydrogen and resonance and got up to 38 miles per gallon before blowing a head gasket. I did increase mileage by removing the air conditioning compressor and installing absorptive cooling from the exhaust. I know of a wacky guy who gets 40 miles per gallon from a full-size SUV with a car full of gadgetry. Don't forget, gas was cheap when people drove muscle cars that got poor mileage.
There is no way I could live back where I live with out my Explorer. I am no city driving soccer mom. We go camping, off-roading and we live 2 miles back in the woods on a one lane twisty hilly dirt road...then its 5 miles on another dirt road til I even hit pavement....and you cant always count on the plows having been out before you have to go somewhere. I love my Explorer, I need my Explorer, but I hate how much it cost to fill her up.
I don't think it's SUV's that drive up the price of gas. Though, people who drive them must really not care too much about filling the tank. But whatever, it's their wallet. When people buy monster SUVs they are going to be stereotyped... just like everyone else on the planet.
I just had a friend come over from Germany and he made an interesting comment about seeing lots of expensive BIG vehicles. What could I say? It's true. The bigger, more of a fuel sucker it is... the more we dig on it. That's changing though... slowly. Go over to Europe, and you won't see Suburbans, full sized Land Rovers, or Hummers. The SUVs are a lot smaller - gas is too freakin' expensive and you'll never find a parking space big enough 'cause everything is "compact" sized. Try parallel parking an Expedition in Paris then go get gas and you'll get a good reason why full sized SUVs suck. We are going to catch up to European gas prices one day...
According to this, current cars make up 49% of the vehicle sales base, with Midsize, Large, and Luxury SUV's accounting for less than 12%. And this, therefore, is the root cause of a problem? Look deeper.
Well, these are current sales figures. March 2008 and YTD 2008. While I'm glad to see that sales of large and luxury SUVs are down this year, there are still lots of them on the road, sold in previous years, guzzling gas and endangering drivers of small cars.
I agree that the US has gone a little SUV crazy. Single people don't need 'em, single child families don't need 'em. Heck, even medium families could do without them. However, I think they work well for larger people. My husband is 6'5- 260 and has hip problems. He is very uncomfortable in a sedan of any kind since they are too low to the ground. We have an older Durango with 95,000 miles on it- he maintains it so it runs great. He agrees its a guzzler.
How nice of you to say that most people dont need SUV's, that we're all crazy to have them, and then you go about explaining why you have one. Let me guess, your a Democrat..
Well, these are current sales figures. March 2008 and YTD 2008. While I'm glad to see that sales of large and luxury SUVs are down this year, there are still lots of them on the road, sold in previous years, guzzling gas and endangering drivers of small cars.
haha.. you just didnt accuse me of endangering drivers of small cars, because I'm being responsible and buy cars that ensures the safety of my children?
I knew I would hit some raw nerves with this one, the truth hurts. Hey face it folks the American consumer drives the worlds markets. In the 80's and 90's it was our fuel conservation that brought down oil prices and it is our glutiny that has driven back it up. Sure the dollars devaluation contributes to some of the rise but as some others have pointed out the rise in oil is world wide. It is simple economics, when you consume too much you cause the price to rise. Anyone who thinks full size pickups and mid to large size SUV's only make up 12% of the cars on the road must be blind, count them on the freeway and your neighbors driveways. You can make excuses or deny that you have any resposiblity but it does not change reality. The American gas pig is the problem, and young men are dying overseas to ensure the American right and ability to overconsume.
There is NOTHING wrong with gas consumption. If the SUV people have to pay more because of rising prices... OH well... people think that gas prices will stay the same forever are delusional... If gas climbs to $8 a gallon then pay it and stop whining... the gas doesn't belong to you... driving is NOT a right either... if you choose to use then use it and stop whining when the price goes up... if you can't afford it then maybe you shouldn't drive.. nobody is making you drive.. its a sad world when you use SUV drivers and blame them for something they have no control over... yeah they determines prices, availability, Iraq war, devaluation of the dollar, and tells OPEC how much to pump... get a life...
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