SUVs plunge toward 'endangered' list

[RamboLiberal]

Source: CNN

Jorge Fernandez strolls across the used-car parking lot littered with dozens upon dozens of sport utility vehicles the size of small tugboats.

With gas at $4 a gallon, many have sat there since last summer.

"The cars are literally just sitting, and it doesn't matter how much you sell them for," Fernandez says of the SUVs and trucks nobody wants anymore.

"It's amazing. I've never seen it this bad -- ever."

Fernandez, a wholesale auto dealer who has been in the business for more than 20 years, says SUV owners are hit especially hard. The really large ones with V-8 engines that can get as little as 12 miles per gallon in the city -- like the Cadillac Escalade, Ford Expedition and Chevy Suburban -- are dropping in value by the thousands.



Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/wayoflife/05/23/dumping.suvs/index.html

---

Now there's one thing I'm glad to see on the endangered list!

[Ian David]

1. I hope they take their drivers with them. n/t

[AndyTiedye]

38. Why? Their Drivers Traded These SUVs in for More Efficient Vehicles

That is why these SUVs are sitting on this used-car lot getting rusty.

Some of them probably got traded for Priuses.

[bulloney]

46. There's still a shitload of SUVs on the road.

when driving on business this week on the interstate, I'll bet half of the cars going around me at 80 mph or faster were SUVs.

As they were passing me, I wonder how many of those owners are pissing and moaning about the $4 gas they're paying for. The idea of slowing down to increase mileage was apparently not in their thought process.

[Dude_CalmDown]

119. Well it's nice that they finally woke up. But it would have been great if...

...they didn't have to be dragged out of the stupid things by their wallets.

[Parche]

2. I Couldnt Be Happier

FUK SUV'S :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr:

:hi:

[Xenotime]

93. Exactly. I hope they all rust

[Tesha]

203. Actually, in a sane world, someone would be ripping out their V8s and...

...converting them to hybrid vehicles or even fully-electric
vehicles. After all, isn't an SUV the perfect vehicle with
which to haul around a big battery pack?

Come to think of it, I wonder why *I* am not in that business???

Tesha

[AnneD]

218. Some of them are roomy enough to be mobile homes....

just like the Fords were for the Dust Bowl Oakies.

[trogdor]

221. Unfortunately...

...you'd need more battery power than the SUV could carry to push around 6000 pounds of ugly-ass vehicle. I bet the ugly alone adds 500 pounds. I follow a blog written by this kid who converts vehicles to electric power, and his first project was a compact Mazda pickup truck, and now he's got himself an early 90s Toyota Corolla. When it comes to electrics, less is more.

[Tesha]

224. A lot of these things only *NEED* short range.

It's not that far to the kids' school, the soccer
fields, the mall, and the cell-phone store.

Even a lead-acid battery pack would probably
get them there and back again.

Tesha

[coalition_unwilling]

226. I liked your line about the 'cell-phone store' - I had a mouthful

of apple juice when reading, most of which exited via the nostril route. :)

[Tesha]

229. Thanks! (NT)

[ptolle]

253. nah

Not rust- strip them of usable parts then off to the crusher with them to be turned into raw materials for hybrids and plug-in hybrids, or full electric vehicles. Otherwise it's a waste of the materials that went into them and of the energy expended to extract and process those materials. I believe in the maxim waste not, want not and the Buddhist corollary want not, waste not.This is indeed a pleasing turn of affairs except for all the potential waste.I fear that the people who already own them will drive theirs until the wheels fall off even as they become older, worn out, and even less efficient.Maybe then they'll see the error of their ways even though they've already, by the initial purchase of such a vehicle,proven their blindness to energy and environmental concerns.

[LisaM]

3. No kidding!

Along with the harm to the environment, they've also been sucking up huge quantities of gas the last ten or fifteen years, unabated. Now we're all paying for it. Whoever (someone here!) termed them FUVs was correct.

[ret5hd]

4. Hey Jorge, I've got an idea!!!

Advertise them as "housing" instead of transportation!!!

[dixiegrrrrl]

30. solar ovens

[bdamomma]

206. those SUV's will be peoples next homes.

I wouldn't doubt it at all.


Maybe the American people are waking up and giving these corporations what they truly deserve. Ditch the SUV's!!!

[DS1]

5. melt them back down and build something effecient

[lonestarnot]

6. Anyone that lived through gas rationing and was old enough to buy gas at that time and then

run out and bought one of those son of a bitches, I have no sympathy for, no matter what their fucking excuse may be. Wa wa, I need it for this, I need it for that bullshit! You used way more than your share with that crap pile and you are finally going to have to pay your dues now.

[ingac70]

8. They think that shit is "cool"...

I still can't convince my sister that a mid sized station wagon makes more sense than a friggin' SUV.... Some people still cling to redneck chic.

[Lorien]

22. They just want to feel "special" like everyone else

the sheep mentality in this nation is mind boggling. It was once small, fast sportscars, and then SUVs. At this rate the new chic will soon be the horse and buggy!

Arabic saying: "My grandfather rode a camel, my father drives a car, I own a jet, my son will ride a camel".

[lonestarnot]

67. Camels are lumpy, but then I've never rode one.

:evilgrin: Maybe they glide along quite smoothly.

[bulloney]

47. Especially the idiots driving Hummers.

Those things look like shit. They're not aerodynamic in any way, shape or form. They just move down the road drinking gas like a sonnamabitch.

[Posteritatis]

136. This town's infested with Hummer limos

It's bad enough that the SUV drivers fit in with the cliche perfectly - I've almost gotten run down several times by people here and every time it was a speeding SUV - but a Hummer approaching the size of the local buses is just ridiculous.

[bdamomma]

207. Hummers! god I hate those things.

[kestrel91316]

150. When did we ever have gas "rationing" other than during WW II?

The people driving those UAVs aren't WW II age seniors. They always were Yuppies and younger rich folks.

What went on in the 70s wasn't even close to rationing. You just couldn't buy on certain days based on you license plate #, IIRC, to keep the nonsensical panic lines down. And it didn't go on for long.

[KansDem]

205. I remember for awhile being limited to 10 gallons per visit to the gas station.

I believe that's a form of rationing...

[bunkerbuster1]

7. I'll be happy when I can piss on the monster-truck grave

Every goddamned commuter in one of those stupid four-door pickemups, every single driver "sittin' up high" in his Chevy Subhuman or Ford Excretion, polished and gleaming and never, ever doing an honest day of hauling in its life? They can suck on the high gas prices, and I am delighted that they're getting shit for their trade-in.

Serves you right, assholes.

(Every decent working fella / gal who actually utilizes the utility of a Sport Utility Vehicle, I do feel pretty bad about that, although I suppose this just means you'll be able to buy a used vehicle that you really need very cheaply.)

[TheCowsCameHome]

9. Throw them all in the ocean

They make great habitats for lobsters and other delicious critters.

[AndyTiedye]

42. That Would be a Waste of a Lot of Steel

[TheCowsCameHome]

50. No more of a waste than building SUV's and other behemoths

[LiberalFighter]

64. Recycle

[populistdriven]

108. Actually the Iron would capture and sequester tons of CO2

But of course it would not be enough to make a difference. nothing short of 90% reduction would help.

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2002/01/0108_020108oceaniron.html

[ozymandius]

10. I actually like some SUV drivers. I count them among my friends.

It's just their judgment that I find objectionable. What the hell were they thinking when they bought these behemoths? So the economic consequences that endanger these vehicles are like a group intervention. Not just for the owners. It's intervention therapy for the (rapier sharp :sarcasm:) minds that created these ridiculous people movers.

Best of luck to those who are trying to rid themselves of their SUV. Just a tip: they are roomy enough to make excellent greenhouses.

[DailyGrind51]

11. Good riddance!

It was not too long ago that representatives from organizations like Citizens for Vehicle Choice and The SUV Owners Association used to show up on network talk shows or write letters in opinion columns regarding their "right" to purchase and drive whatever vehicle they choose, as if a "right to drive" was inscribed somewhere in the Constitution. They have now become as obsolete as the $1.49/gallon price of gasoline.

[NJCher]

140. subsidize their insurance, too

What a lot of people don't know is that originally, insurance carriers apportioned out the risk on SUVs alone. The cost for insurance was thus very high. Then these organizations you mention, such as SUV Owners Association, came along and pressured the carriers to spread the risk out over cars.

So car owners ended up paying for the high risk associated with "ridin' high."



Cher

[FiveGoodMen]

12. And Subaru's new ad is about buying another house to make room for TWO SUVs

Stunningly stupid!

But remember: It's the American way of life and it's a blessed way of life! (Who said that?)

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

61. Forester isn't really an SUV.

[kestrel91316]

151. The Subaru Forester used to be just a cute little 4WD station wagon.

My dad had one 30 years ago in CO up in the mountains and LOVED it. We all did. Got great mileage and handles snow beautifully. Why anyone whould ever "need" a SUV when the Subaru wagon was available is completely beyond me.

[Xithras]

245. Still is. The reg on my '06 says Wagon. SUV's are trucks.

Little 4 banger engine too.

The Outback is a station wagon with decent ground clearance and 4WD. The Forester is a station wagon with even better ground clearance, 4WD, and a bit more head room.

Subaru builds cars for people who actually need the all terrain handling without the artificial ego stoking.

[Danmel]

250. That was Ari :Watch what you say & watch what you do: Fleischer, Right?

The American way of life is a Blessed Way of Life.

God really does favor us, deosn't He?

I couldn't believe a Jewish person actually said that= "blessed way of life". I'm Jewish, went to Jewish schools, live is a relatively large Jewish community, sent my kids to Hebrew school and I've never know a Jewish person who said stuff like that. ever.

My children (who are now old enough to say anything they want, really) have had special dispensation for years to say "Asshole" whenever they saw a Hummmer

[Liberty Belle]

13. While I'm glad to see gas guzzlers losing popularity, I feel sympathy for families

taking such huge losses.

Back in the days when my husband was a Scoutmaster and we regularly ferried kids and friends to baseball or soccer practice, there were very few options available and none got good mileage.

When I was a kid, families could pile lots of kids in a station wagon, but there were no seat belt rules back then so you could squeeze in extras on laps, etc. Of course i'm all for seat belt laws. But they do limit how many kids per vehicle.

the only options for families with several kids, or even families with a couple of kids who also need room for kids' friends plus gear for baseball, family vacations, etc. are mini-vans or SUVs.

Some minivans proved to be maintenance nightmares, ie the Plymouth Voyager (ours went through 3 transmissions in 80,000 miles). It was towed 7 times in 7 years. When we finally sold it at a huge loss, we never recovered from the financial hit. So I really feel for families caught up in the gas price crisis.

After minivans fell from vogue, families and leaders of scout troops, soccer teams, etc. turned to SUVs. I fault our government for not requiring car manufacturers to create fuel-efficient vehicles or better yet, hybrid or electric vehicles suitable for families who need space for more than 4 or 5 passengers.

It's wrong for families and leaders who volunteer their time for our kids to take this big hit now that our government screwed everyone over.

For the record, i don't drive an SUV and never have. Our kids are grown, and we've got a couple of fuel-efficient smaller cars.

[AndyTiedye]

41. There Are Hybrid SUVs That Can Seat 5-7

hybrid or electric vehicles suitable for families who need space for more than 4 or 5 passengers.

They do.

The Ford Escape Hybrid seats 5 and gets 32 MPG (EPA)


The Toyota Highlander Hybrid seats 7 and gets 26 MPG (EPA)

[Liberty Belle]

65. Yes, but the Highlander is new. Just a few years ago, there were no such options. Also

the first Highlanders were pretty pricey for the average family budget.

The smaller hybrid only seats 5, hardly a solution as a family wtih 2 kids wouldn't even have room to let each child have a friend along.

[kestrel91316]

152. When I grew up we never had a car that held more than 5 people.

Didn't seem to harm our development or social lives at all.

If you have a whole mob of people going someplace, there's nothing to stop you from loading up a second car. There's no constitutional right to all travel in the same vehicle.

[JeanGrey]

145. I have a Plymouth Vibe, it carries five, or with the seat down

a TON of stuff in the back including my electric cart, and gets 35 or more on the highway and 30 in the city. And it's not a hybrid.

[JeanGrey]

144. I raised two boys and they had friends and played sports

and I never drove anything bigger than a four cylinder sedan. You don't need and SUV. You just don't carry the entire world, let them be responsible for themselves.

The car had a trunk, it was sufficient.

[fascisthunter]

14. Well... the Right Wing Can't Blame the Left for this One

but they can always create another fairytale

[NJCher]

141. SUVs became popular under Clinton but it was the Senate

that kept things in a lock with CAFE standards. I do wish Clinton would have used some his famed triangulation with this, however.

I remember when there were hardly any of them around. One day I was sitting in a coffee shop and I overheard some average Joe explaining to his friend why he was buying "the wife" an SUV: so she could get up and down Bloomfield Avenue in the snow. Now, anyone who knows Jersey will know there are hardly any places in the northern NY suburbs that you can't get around in the snow because the streets are cleaned immediately.

I watched in pain as more and more of these hideous monstrosities were purchased and it was anguish when the Escalades, Expeditions, Tahoes, etc., came out. The Hummers nearly put me over the edge.

My spouse was given a Jeep as a company car and we disliked it so much (poor handling) we insisted it be traded in and a car purchased instead.

I have hated these vehicles since their inception and looked forward to this day, when every fool who bought one would take a giant depreciatiion hit.

[fascisthunter]

142. I Understand Exactly How You Feel

I too remember when SUV's were rare, and after a year they just became the norm. The reasons for wanting a gas guzzler varied, but all pointed in the same direction: "I want more and I want it now"

SUV's will always be a symbol of American glutony.


PS - I owned one SUV.... a Kia, Sportage. It was compact and small enough, but still wasn't worth the mileage, but pretty good for camping and loading up the back with your art work for transport. That's mainly why I financed one. Never again....

[onager]

15. They're useful here in Egypt

I'm a System Field Engineer, so I occasionally have to go places where the roads range from abysmal to non-existent. My "normal" daily commute is about 90 minutes, thru some rural farm villages with traffic that ranges from huge semi-trucks to farm tractors to lunatics driving mini-van taxis and donkey carts. And this time of year, the occasional big herd of sheep in the middle of the road.

For vehicles, I am at the mercy of (a) our driving contractor and (b) my cheap-ass boss. I don't drive myself, since I would like for my organ-donor card to remain unused in my wallet. Traffic here is insane.

Because of that, Size Matters. When I was first here, I rode in some small sedans like the Hyundai Elantra and Daewoo Lanos--which I will always affectionately remember as the Daewoo Anus. Those cars are just TOO small, and the seats seem to be made out of recycled kimchi. Once I thought I was developing either kidney or prostate problems, but the doctor said it was just the killer kommute.

For a while I had a 2-yr-old Jeep Cherokee, a POS that kept breaking down. Then a 2007 Mitsubishi Pajero, which was comfortable but a little too flashy for my taste. For fairly obvious reasons, I don't like drawing attention to myself over here.

Jeeps, BTW, are one of the few cars that escape the crushing Egyptian Customs duties. I was told that any imported car with an engine bigger than 1.5 liters is hit with a 100% import duty. Jeeps are exempt because they are assembled in Cairo. In an old Russian factory that once built either Ural trucks or SAM missiles, depending on who tells the story.

Now I'm using a Shitroen C8 van, which is at least non-flashy and blends right in. Out in the villages, some of the residents occasionally mistake it for a mini-van taxi and try to climb in with me.

Long as the car gets me where I'm going, I really don't care. In the van I can happily sprawl slug-like in the back, with a book, my MP3 player and a cup of coffee for the commute. I can also stretch my legs, which is nice.

[flygal]

66. We just got back from Cairo

OMG - the driving there was insane. People crossing whenever, where ever. I was terrified. But beautiful kind people. Trip of a lifetime for me - you're lucky to be there.

[OnionPatch]

70. We drove old US Aid Jeeps around Egypt when I was there.

I don't know where you are in Egypt. It sounds more rural. I was in Cairo for about a year in the 90's and the traffic there was downright scary! Traffic laws seemed arbitrary. I was glad to be in a larger vehicle most of the time but sometimes I had to take the taxis. I felt lucky to be alive, after each taxi ride, lol. When we could get out of town, the rural roads called for something substantial. So big is better there, for sure.

Be careful over there! :hi:

[onager]

79. I live in Alexandria, work out in the country.

Thanks for the comments, flygal and OP. Always nice talking to people who have been here.

You and flygal are absolutely right about Cairo. I HATE going to Cairo, just because of the traffic. A few weeks ago I had to pick up something in one district of Cairo, and take it to another district to be shipped out. We hit traffic just as the schools were letting out. JEBUS! It took TWO HOURS to get from one place to another, and it wasn't that long a trip.

I really like Alexandria, and I've been here nearly 3 years now. Though that is hard to believe. Most foreigners living in Egypt want to live in Cairo because of the support available--the American Embassy, etc. The district of Maadi down there is almost like a foreign country.

Up here I'm pretty much on my own, but I don't mind that. I'm a big History Geek and I love Alexandria. Yesterday I rode the tramcars halfway across the city, then got out and went for a long walk. (Friday and Saturday are my weekend).

In fact, I always invite DU'ers to drop in and visit if they come to Egypt and make it to Alexandria. The Mediterranean is right across the street from my apartment, and I have a spare bedroom.

:hi:

[JNelson6563]

84. Good to see you Onager!

I always enjoy reading of your adventures. Stay safe. :hi:

Julie

[onager]

109. Hey J!

I just had to do that, cause it rhymes.

:hi:

[Habibi]

90. Hah!

I'm gonna remember that invitation when I finally make it to Egypt for one of the big dance festivals!

:D

[OnionPatch]

115. We knew a lot of people in Maadi.

You're right, it wasn't like being in Egypt, it was more like being in Europe. I actually enjoyed going there once in awhile just to feel a little more at home. No one there would jeer at me for letting my elbows show.

We had to be in Cairo, because my fiance worked there. (To the locals, he was my "husband". ;) I wore a fake wedding ring and all.) Our friends lived in Maadi, but we liked being more immersed in the culture. We lived on the island of Zamalek, in the middle of the Nile and were the only westerners in the building. Some of our best friends were the building boabs (sp?) who lived in the Fayum. We visited them a lot and I loved it down there. I had a great time living in Egypt. Do you ever make it to Sharm el Sheik? That was the absolute best place in Egypt, in my opinion. Alexandria was very cool, too, though. If we ever pass by that way, we'll stop in and visit ya!

[bdamomma]

208. have some good food for me

I am of American-Armenian descent!!

[Endangered Specie]

222. mmm, all Jeep Cherokee's are utter pieces of shit...

I wouldn't buy one even if they were being given away, good chance it would break down before I got home!

[dutch-Eddie]

16. LoL. sounds like no posters of this thread can afford to buy

SUV... :) I've always worked my ars off, I have always driven big Jeeps, and always (for as long as I can, anyway) will be. Do I feel the pinch at the pump? Sure do, so I'll just have to work another hour per week to compensate for high gas prices. Aren't you worry about environment, you say? But of course I do! I heard, there's a "Personal Methane Reclamation" technology being developed by some scientist... going to have to look into it and, maybe, invest into it - I am sure it will be HUGE sucess :)

[Lorien]

19. Er, plenty here can afford to buy one. We're just not that stupid

and maybe the men of DU don't have the "shortcomings" that most large vehicle drivers have. :shrug:

My dream car is an Aptera. 300 MPG, innovative design, and is just enough car for my needs. Excess is a huge waste of time AND money! Life is too damn short to waste an extra minute of it working for gas money. I'd rather spend my disposable income on an overseas vacation.

[DailyGrind51]

23. Anyone willing to work an extra hour per week

just to afford to fuel an SUV is an idiot. Whom are you trying to impress? No one on this board really cares.

[Psephos]

75. Plenty here seem willing to work more to pay extra $$ for a Prius

and there's *definitely* an element of trying to impress others with those. The economics of total cost of ownership (both macro and micro) aren't exactly compelling but that's beside the point.

It's human nature. Not putting it down or building it up...just observing.

[DebbieCDC]

129. Oh bullshit

I wasn't trying to impress anyone when I bought my Prius 3 years ago and I sure as hell am not trying to impress anyone now. AND even though I own a hybrid, I take public transportation to work to cut down even further on vehicle emissions. I guess maybe some people feel it's chic to act like they're "green" but to blanketly characterize everyone who buys a fuel efficient or hybrid vehicle as trying to impress others is bullshit.

I laugh my ass off every time I drive past the gas station and watch the Suburban Assault Vehicle owners filling up those ridiculous substitute penises they bought. People are constantly asking me about how the Prius drives, is it really good on gas, etc. and I am more than happy to give them the straight story.

Just to show you how desperate people are to buy hybrids -- and I assume not because they are trying to impress anyone -- 2 weeks ago I got a letter from the dealer where I bought my Prius offering to buy it back because they have a huge number of people wanting to buy a used one (can't afford new I guess).

[Psephos]

166. I can't accept that vanity isn't a part of it

Gonna have to go with what my lyin' eyes have seen over and over. The celebrity cult of Prius in Hollywood says it all. But I hear the exact same stuff from the locals.

I'm not putting hybrids down. But from a total cost of ownership perspective, their actual economic benefits are not as compelling as the mythology suggests, and they certainly impose greater resource costs and environmental stresses in their manufacture and end-of-life disposal. (Look up nickel mining in Canada sometime for an eyebrow raiser.) Furthermore, the price is artificially subsidized. It must gall UAW workers to have part of the federal tax they pay go to the same treasury that grants tax credits to the customers of foreign manufacturers. Why in the world are we subsidizing cars where the demand is so great the dealers are offering to buy them back?

I get 40 mpg in my Saturn. It's got 209,000 miles and looks and runs like new. You can buy a good one used just like mine for under $3000. There are alternatives.

[NickB79]

192. Extra money? A Prius costs $20,000

If you're looking for a new car, you can't get a lot cheaper than that for a mid-size sedan. When you factor in the savings in gas over the lifetime of the vehicle, a Prius becomes cheaper than most other mid-size vehicles to drive.

[Lorien]

244. Bullshit. Everyone I know who owns a Prius is concerned about

A). the environment, because the Prius has lower emissions

B). Saving money on gas over the long term. Face it: if gas goes to $7 a gallon then getting 50 MPG as opposed to 12 MPG for a 40 mile round trip commute every day will be a bargain.

NOBODY buys a Prius to be "trendy" or impress anyone. They are hardly visually stunning vehicles, and they cost about as much as a Camry, which has slightly less interior space.

[Hardrada]

24. Everybody can buy them now!!

But I alreasy have a big sedan that is a gas eater!

[nichomachus]

25. Here's to you

[Lorien]

74. Lol! That's a keeper

and oh so true!

[fascisthunter]

27. Lol... you think Buying Big Toys Makes You Look Like a HARD WORKER?

You assumed folks on this thread could not AFFORD A BIG VEHICLE, as if to mock them all, and then started with a sentence claiming you ALWAYS WORKED YOUR ASS OFF, as if no one else on this thread did either.

First: how do you know people on this thread can't afford a SUV? Lol... I CAN, and have owned one....

Two: who gives a shit that you worked your ass off just to throw money away on a gas guzzler... congrats. You work to spend your money frivolously. You like large status symbols to show off and feel secure on the outside. I work my ass off too, just not to spend it on something stupid like you do.

There is such a thing as being "conservative".

[MJJP21]

32. Support the troops

So you have the money to buy a run a big vehicle. Thats fine. Some say if you buy drugs you support terrorists I say if you drive an SUV just because you can you support the terrorists as well.

[bulloney]

49. The nice thing about those SUVs is you can slap more of those yellow ribbon magnets on the back.

[TheCowsCameHome]

51. Keeps the Chinese busy cranking out magnets to fill these billboards on wheels.

[Dukkha]

60. Personal Methane Reclamation is perfect for you

being that you're totally full of shit troll

[lonestarnot]

68. Go scratch yer ass and see if that helps.

[wickerwoman]

78. It's not about what you can afford,

it's about hundreds of millions of people in the third world starving to death or being plunged even deeper into poverty because of rising food costs directly linked to ding ding ding the fuel shortage.

So while you're driving your 4mpg monstrosity you're taking food out of the mouths of some of the poorest kids in the world.

But obviously you work hard, unlike their parents who do manual labor in hazardous conditions for 16 hours a day if they haven't died of malnutrition already, so you deserve your f'ed up penis replacement.

Merry frickin' Christmas.

[kestrel91316]

155. That's what I wanted to say. I'm just not as clever as you!!

[greenman3610]

83. or none are so insecure about their sexual prowress that they need to

[alarimer]

98. I don't care how much money you have, they are incredibly wasteful.

It's extremely selfish (and typically Republican) to put YOUR wants ahead of what is good for society and the environment.

[ellie]

104. Why would I give

my money to the oil companies? I drive a fuel-efficient car and keep more of my money. It has nothing to do with working hard, just spending smart.

[cosmicone]

111. Freeper Alert ....

No true DUer would post with this kind of an attitude. With 29 posts, you must be a freeper who has snuck in.

[kestrel91316]

153. For some people it isn't about the money or being rich enough

to engage in conspicuous consumption. It's about being considerate of your fellow dwellers on the planet by not recklessly destroying the environment for self-aggrandizement or to compensate for genital shortcomings......

If I won the lottery tomorrow, the very first purchase I'd make would be a Prius. Then I'd buy one for my niece, and one for my nephew. And I'd never spend a frickin' dime of my winnings on an SUV.

[Orsino]

240. Yes. Cue the "you're just jealous" SUV apologists...

...who are sure that everything will return to normal soon, and that God will fuel their monsters somehow.

[cliss]

17. Who's laughing now?

Think of all those Hummer Drivers....feeling High & mighty on the road.

Now?
I laugh when I see them pull in to the gas station. They pull in often, it seems...

This day was coming. It was absolutely predictable. No crystal ball needed.

[bronxiteforever]

18. Horrible Vehicles-hard on our roads, indefensible waste of gas

'Bout time

[fascisthunter]

220. A Danger to Most Drivers too

insecure drivers love feeling secure in large vehicles. All about me, me, me....

[dipsydoodle]

20. Have you got LPG over there ?

Simple answer if you have is to convert them.

[jmondine]

21. Does that mean I can't shoot them?

[HughMoran]

26. It's deja vous all over again

Stupid American car companies - how quickly they forgot the lesson of the 1970's gas crisis.

[CRF450]

223. All auto makers are guilty, not just the US brands.

Sure Toyota and Honda has the more effecient cars, but then when you look at their higher end vehicles like sports car, trucks and SUV's, they dont get any better than the domestics! A new 4x4 crew cab Toyota Tacoma does not get any better fuel milage than my 04 Dodge Dakota 4x4 crew cab. Yet my truck has a v8, and the Tacoma has a v6. The new Dakota's have much more powerful engines now, and still get the same fuel economy.

[WoodyTobiasJr]

28. Too freakin funny!

The only good news about high oil prices is that these idiot rednecks with their idiot SUVS are finally getting theirs. I pulled up at a gas station yesterday where a guy driving an Escalade was filling up at the pump next to me. When he went in to pay I took a look at his pump to see how much. It cost him $130. I laughed my ass off after seeing that.

It looks like the old Geo Metros are now the new hot thing..

Gas prices drive Geos from clunkers to chic

It's a 12-year-old oft-mocked clunker of an automobile.


Brenton Netz has made a side business out of fixing up Geo Metros and selling them locally and on eBay.

1 of 2 But Marci Solomon is hoping she'll be the one laughing -- all the way to the bank -- when her Geo Metro saves her from skyrocketing gas prices.

Solomon, like many others, was taking a huge hit when it came to gas prices. With her 100-mile commute to and from work each day, she saw no end in sight. Then she rediscovered the Geo Metro.

"I used to be a car snob, and I used to be too vain to drive anything that doesn't shine," said Solomon, an electrician. "But now it's about, do I want to eat, or do I want to make it to work? I want to do both."

The Metro has been making a huge comeback, especially on eBay, where Solomon bought the car, because of its extremely high gas mileage.

The 1996 Metro's average of 40 miles per gallon nears that of the hybrid 2008 Toyota Prius -- priced at $21,000 for the cheapest model -- and bests most current cars by a long shot, according to government ratings. Older models of the Geo Metro, specifically cars from 1991 and the XFi edition, have the same average as the hybrid. See how the Geo Metro stacks up with the Toyota Prius »

Solomon toyed with the idea of purchasing a Prius but decided that for a price of $7,300, the Metro was the more economical option.

For the most part, Solomon plans on using the car for commuting from her home in Rochester, Washington, to her job. The vehicle she has now, a Honda Element, was getting 28 mpg, and she was filling up twice a week, costing her nearly $100. Stations were charging $3.97 a gallon in her area Tuesday, she said

http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/wayoflife/05/20/geo.metro/index.html

[KeepItReal]

34. I see your Geo Metro and raise you a Honda Civic HF with 57 MPG

"You might wonder why, since twenty years ago the car that got the best mileage in the nation was a real techno-wimp compared to what's on the road today. It wasn't even a hybrid. But it got better fuel economy than any car sold now - even the Toyota Prius.

Looking back at the 1987 Honda Civic CRX shows us why cars use so much more gas today and about the trade-offs we've had to make.

The CRX HF got an Environmental Protection Agency-estimated 57 mpg gallon in highway driving. Today, the most fuel-efficient non-hybrid Civic you can buy gets an EPA-estimated 34 mpg on the highway. Even today's Honda Civic Hybrid can't match it, achieving EPA-estimated highway mileage of just 45 mpg. The Toyota Prius, today's fuel mileage champ, gets 46 mpg on the highway."

http://money.cnn.com/2007/12/17/autos/honda_civic_hf/index.htm

[catchnrelease]

63. I loved my CRX

I put over 200,000 miles on it, then gave it to my daughter who put on a bunch more. In the end, she sold it to another CRX owner who wanted it for parts. (I wish I knew how many miles it had on it when she sold it.) Other than regular maintenance and a new timing belt/chain at about 150,000, it never had one problem. And it absolutely did get that kind of mileage.

And, as small as it was, I even slept in it--pushed the seat back and reclined back as far as it would go--more than once when I wanted to camp out but putting up a tent wasn't an option. It worked pretty well.

[KeepItReal]

112. I ttill think it looks good

:-)

:toast:

[wordpix]

182. I used to have a CRX---great car but only fits 2 people

[AndyTiedye]

43. But How Many of those Older Metros Are Still Running?

Our friends had the transmission go out on theirs at 30K miles, and that was just the beginning.

[girl gone mad]

62. I payed less than half that for my Metro..

about $3000 5 years ago. I've been getting many unsolicited offers on it lately. I used to never even lock the doors, but now that fuel efficient cars are back in demand, guess I'll have to be more careful.

[wordpix]

181. and that Escalade at $130/fill will probably need 2 fills/wk. They don't go far on

a gal. of gas. :rofl:

[wtmusic]

29. But my big car...and the war...Bush promised that...that...

:cry:

[txwhitedove]

31. This week saw a big sign on the back of huge SUV....

"Boycott Exxon" what a laugh!

I consider my Toyota Matrix, 30-mpg, to be a "mini" SUV.

[liberalcanuck]

139. I saw this bumper sticker the other day: "My SUV loves Iraqi oil"

Hard to believe that this idiot really believes that he's benefiting from anything in Iraq.

[wordpix]

184. wow, what an enlightened spirit (sarcasm)

[surfridum]

33. I wonder it legislation will be proposed to help SUV owners?

[depakid]

114. It's already been proposed and passed! By both Dems and Republicans.

A 1997 provision in the U.S. tax code (Section 179) provided small businesses with a tax write-off of up to $25,000 for a vehicle weighing more than 6,000 pounds- used 50% of the time for work purposes. The original intent behind this provision was to encourage investments in pickup trucks, minivans, and other needed service vehicles. A far smaller incentive was provided for cars—less than $7,000 over two years.

The explosion of SUV, pickup, and minivan sales in America’s passenger vehicle fleet has turned this small business benefit into a massive loophole in the tax law. Currently, 38 different passenger SUVs including the Lincoln Navigator, which nets a combined 15 miles per gallon according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Cadillac Escalade (16 mpg), the BMW X5 (18 mpg), the Mercedes-Benz ML55 (16 mpg), and the notorious Hummer H2 (estimated 11 mpg) all weigh more than 6,000 pounds. This loophole allows some of the least fuel-efficient passenger vehicles on the road today to qualify for a significant tax break.

In 2003, the Bush administration proposed increasing the tax deduction to $75,000. Lawmakers responded by expanding it to a whopping $100,000 as part of the $350 million tax cut package. Yet Congress did not change the weight-based classification of the vehicles, creating a huge benefit for the largest, least efficient vehicles.

http://www.ucsusa.org/clean_vehicles/cars_pickups_suvs/tax-incentives-suv-loophole-vs-clean-vehicle-credits.html

[liberal N proud]

35. So what do the big three do?

Put hybrids in SUV's bringing the gas mileage up to 18 mpg.

[Psephos]

76. Some day you really ought to try Google before posting

The Ford Escape Hybrid is a five-seater that gets 32 MPG according to the EPA.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Escape_Hybrid

Made in Missouri. That means when you buy one your money helps UAW workers keep their jobs. I would think most progressives would be all over that idea...but instead I see a lot of postings (like yours) that spread bad juju about US cars with ignorant and sweeping statements. Maybe you can explain how that helps preserve union jobs.

[liberal N proud]

85. Let's see GMC - Yukon, Chrysler - Aspen

Yukon Hybrid = a whopping 21 mpg. put that hybrid in a sedan (yes I know Chevy is going to put on in the Malibu)

Aspen = 19 mpg Why not put that hybrid in a sedan or coupe and get 35 - 40 mpg?

I have done a lot of research looking for a fuel efficient vehicle that still meets my needs.

1. I would prefer to buy American (partial to Chrysler)
2. I need a car that I can drive on long road trips, the compacts just don't cut it. 25/30K per year
3. I would love to find a hybrid or alternative fuel vehicle that would meet those criteria.

I have looked at the Hybrid SUV's from all three, Ford Escape is too small for my needs, and the Chrysler and GMC hybrids just don't count as fuel efficient in my book.

Still waiting for a viable alternative.

[CRF450]

169. I'v seen a article a while ago on the Tahoe hybrid, writer claimed 24mpg

I'v been trying to find it, but with no success **dammit**

[Skittles]

36. GOOD FUCKING RIDDANCE

I detest SUVs

[wordpix]

178. I'm with you---they're typically the ones on our clogged hwys riding up on my ass &

threatening with their big huge dick-noses.

[JerseygirlCT]

37. Good! At least as they're currently made

Can't imagine how much it would cost to fill up a Suburban up here now... OUCH.

[TheFarseer]

39. Ha, I almost posted this myself

but I figured I've pissed on that grave enough. I can't wait for the day when none of these damn things are on the road. Even funnier, is SUV hybrids getting 20 mpg for $50,000. Who is that stupid?

[sce56]

40. Saudi Ultimate Vengence RIP-SUV

I wish they would hurry up with these great cars!
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=115x134995

Air-Powered Car Coming to U.S. in 2009 to 2010 at Sub-$18,000


And don't laugh off they still need fuel put solar panels on the roof to recharge as it is parked and at home to compress air to recharge on return home!

[bdamomma]

209. wow those are neat looking cars.

[Doctor Cynic]

44. Melt them down.

It will give cheap steel we need to build buses and rail vehicles.

[AndyTiedye]

58. The Larger Ones Could be Used to House the Homeless

[galledgoblin]

170. I love you

that post sums up my feelings on this

[jwirr]

45. This keeps going the poor are going to be able to afford one - won't

be able to drive it because the gas will cost too much but maybe we can live in it.

[AZ Criminal JD]

48. I feel sorry for people that drive little cars

I drive a pick-up and so does everyone I know. No one is complaining. The people who drive small cars are frustrated because they think they have to because of political correctness. It makes them angry people.

[wtmusic]

55. If you like getting taken advantage of, that's your business

Sounds kind of kinky to me.

[leftyladyfrommo]

92. Oh, bull. I drive a Yaris because I love it.

Its a great car. Good gas mileage. And its fun to drive. And not all that expensive.

[bdamomma]

210. I love my Yaris too.

Great car.

[alarimer]

101. Bullshit. I laugh at all you oickup truck drivers when I get to the pump.

Sure, I am paying close to $90 A MONTH for gasoline. Pickup truck drivers are paying that PER FILL UP. So I laugh at you.

[MarkInLA]

117. maybe the guys who can afford the gas are laughing at you, bud (n/t)

[JeanGrey]

146. I'm the small car driver laughing at you when I go by on the

road and at the gas pump.

[AZ Criminal JD]

172. The gas pump doesn't bother me.

If the gas rising a buck a gallon or whatever causes you issues you have bigger problems than that.

[JeanGrey]

175. A buck a gallon? ROTFLMAO Check back later.

[wordpix]

179. gas expected to rise to $7/gal. by end of summer--make that $3/gal more, not $1

So our gas will soon be the same cost as in Europe and Canada, but at least THEY get health care paid for out of the gas tax. Not in this 3rd world country, Amerika.

[AZ Criminal JD]

188. Gas is not expected to go to $7 a gallon by the end of summer.

I don't get my financial info from the tin foil crowd. Gas won't go higher than people are willing to pay for it. If you don't want to pay for it, don't. Make alternative plans.

[wordpix]

233. "make alternative plans." Kinda hard to do when there's no public transportation in my area and

riding a bike to work on narrow winding back roads is too dangerous.

[fishwax]

154. why?

you really think all the people driving cars would rather drive pick-ups?

[AZ Criminal JD]

187. A lot of them would.

They are very convenient for hauling stuff around. But most would like to drive larger cars in general. They are more comfortable and safer. Especially true if you have any family. Just a fact.

[fishwax]

189. funny, I don't know anyone who wants a larger car

My dad and brother always have pickups, but that's because it's beneficial for their line of work. They're the exception, though--most of the people I've known with trucks just thought they were cool, and like much of the world, they didn't really need to haul stuff all that often :)

Anyway, nobody I know with a car (small or otherwise) yearns for a pickup or an SUV. :shrug:

[CRF450]

193. I dont either, but had to get a truck anyways.

Cause of the job I have that requires it, plus my current lifestyle.

[AZ Criminal JD]

199. Whenever someone is moving I am a very popular person for some reason.

[fishwax]

200. an old co-worker of mine used to have a bumper sticker that said

Yes, it's my truck. No, I won't help you move. :rofl:

But seriously, I don't move that often :)

[kestrel91316]

156. So sad about your and your friends' penises.........

[AZ Criminal JD]

173. You probably haven't ever seen one so don't let it bother you.

[ileus]

176. driving my accord makes me a happy people.

410 miles on 13 gallon, leaves more petrol for my weekend vehicles.

[wordpix]

180. huh? Angry about paying less at the pump AND car repair shop?

I used to own a Honda Accord, now own a Civic. The difference in the cost of parts is huge. I can only imagine how much it costs to replace parts on a truck compared to my Civic.

[TexasLady]

197. I drive a pickup. It's a 92 Toyota

Why? I can't afford car payments OR gas.

[Tesha]

204. Well, you're living proof that gas prices aren't nearly high enough yet.

Apparently assholes are still "a dime a dozen", though.

Tesha

[TheCowsCameHome]

52. I feel sorry for people that drive big cars

Must be compensating for nature's shortcomings.

:rofl:

[AZ Criminal JD]

53. The people who make those types of comments haven't got laid in 5 years

If ever. Throw in the guns too. That's what is next.

[TheCowsCameHome]

56. 5 years already? Wow, how time flies when you're not having fun.

:rofl:

[LanternWaste]

211. As opposed to the people who take offense at those types of comments

As opposed to the people who take offense at those types of comments who haven't gotten laid in ten years...

If ever. Buy a Hummer, too-- that's what is next.

(Six of one, half a dozen of the other)

[AZ Criminal JD]

217. Now you reply to yourself? You are really obsessed.

Get out of the house. Maybe you will meet someone.

[LanternWaste]

232. That was a reply to myself?

That was a reply to myself? Uhhh.... huh?

[Nihil]

251. Don't worry ...

... he probably just finds it difficult to type with one hand ...
:-)

[llmart]

54. But, but, but......

how will those soccer Moms get their two, 40 lb. little girls to the soccer field without a big SUV?

Most of the SUV's around here are driven by women ferrying their little darlings around to all their activities. They're also always on their cell phones while they're driving. And don't forget each little brat has to now have their own TV screen in the back so they don't fight over which movie to watch.

Parents in this country have become ridiculous.

[TheCowsCameHome]

57. Some will have to lay off their SUV docking pilots if gas gets much higher

Poor things.........

[Dukkha]

59. they sound like drug pushers complaining no one's buying their heroin

boo.fucking.hoo.
:nopity:

[Digit]

69. I have a 4 cylinder Honda CR-V

It is what they call a mini-suv and perfect for me. Being 4'11" tall, I can't see over traffic in a "normal car" and have had many near misses when driving other vehicles.

My job is 6 miles away, so luckily, I don't have to use much gas.

I also own a rental home, so there are times I have to haul a ladder, paint cans and other items to do maintenance on my property.

Back in 2005 when I was looking for a new car to replace my old Honda, most of them scraped the dip leading into my driveway. If they scrape MY dip (gutter, or whatever), they would do it also into many businesses. To me, that is like fingernails on a chalkboard.

My old Honda Accord didn't do it, but the new ones have a grill that is much lower...same with the Honda Civic.

The insurance on my CR-V is also surprisingly low, I don't know why.

Whatever I get next, I just need to be able to fit a ladder, so when it comes time for painting my rental, I can do what is necessary.

[JeanGrey]

147. Get a Pontiac Vibe. Great small crossover. Great gas mileage

and you can haul a LOT in it if you need to.

[kestrel91316]

158. I had some lady in a parking lot show me inside her Honda Fit last week.

She LOVES it, has two big dogs she can haul around in the back, it's like a mini-station wagon with lots of height to the space in back.

Oh, and she was shopping at Gelson's, the EXPENSIVE market that makes Whole Paycheck look cheap.

[wordpix]

183. problem is the Fit gets about 30 mpg and my old Civic wagon '84 got 40 mpg

Honda is going backward on the Fit, IMO

[kestrel91316]

186. She said she was getting mileage in the low to mid-30s, I think.

If she went from a car getting worse mileage, to this car getting better mileage, it's a step in the right direction. I understand completely why she didn't get, say, a Prius. The dogs needed to be able to jump into the back and not wreck the seats.

One more reason why I won't be owning any more Great Pyrenees unless I have sheep in a coyote area.

[Pavulon]

190. Safety Standards and other factors

make the new fit heavier than old hondas. These make you less likely to be killed in a side impact collision with a large car. A quick look at the safest cars (E class, Volvo, Lexus) will reveal pretty hefty weights.

[mdmc]

71. I often wonder how much GMC stock would rise

if they announced the end of the Hummer line.

[SoCalDemGrrl]

72. Yessss!! I'm sick of being run off the road by these jerks!!

[dutch-Eddie]

81. YES! the ultimate hypocrisy reveals itself! It's not about

political correctness, feeding poor or saving the environment, no sir! It is all about this nagging feeling of insecurity and fear of being driven off the road, combined with fierce desire to strangle every driver of the big, pretty vehicle swishing past you on the left… LoL, I know the feeling all too well – I had to drive Trabant for several years, before immigrating to the US and finally being able to afford a car of my dreams. Do I feel sorry for any of the poor folks who for whatever reason drive matchboxes on wheels? You guess.. :)

[wickerwoman]

89. Er... yes it is about feeding the poor

You realize there are more than 40 people on this thread and 95% of them have given you many, many reasons why you are wrong. Leaping on one of the less relevant ones doesn't make the others go away.

I don't believe in much, but I do believe there's a terrible price to be paid for indifference to the suffering of others.

For your sake, I hope you never have to experience watching your child slowly starve to death while you're helpless to save it all so people thousands of miles away can drive big pretty vehicles and feel superior to all the socially-responsible suckers who actually give a shit about other people.

You feel sorry for people who drive matchboxes? Why don't you feel sorry for the literally billions of people on the planet who will never be able to own any kind of car at all? Who live in parts of the world where the average life expectancy is 40? Who have to sit and watch their children crying with hunger every night knowing that even if they literally work themselves to death, they'll never be able to afford enough food for their families?

Filling the tank of an average SUV once represents the same amount of food it would take to feed a grown man for a year. There is absolutely no justification on earth for driving gas guzzling status symbols while large swathes of humanity are forced to choose between putting food on the table and sending their kids to school or buying medicine.

But I guess you already knew that, or you wouldn't be resorting to the kind of desperate self-justification evident in your post.

[dutch-Eddie]

95. I don't want to stray from the subject of this post, and I won't

But is not US already World's biggest aid donor to many of the World's poorest countries?

Btw, your nick is translated as "homeless"; I hope, this is not an indication of your status, just a word you've randomly picked... Most likely, you're a cause advocate...

[jaksavage]

99. By a percentage of our GDP we are not

the main donors of aid in the world.
Not by a long shot.

Preditors don't care about anyone but themselves.
You, Sir, are a preditor.

[dutch-Eddie]

105. LoL, preditor I am not. I don't even know what preditor is.

Of course, not being born in this country, English language is a mystery to me :)

[alarimer]

102. No it's about the fact that those assholes in SUV have wasterd so much gas.

If there were no SUVS 10 years ago, there would be much more gasoline available now. But those assholes have wasted it with their 10 MPG vehicles. They get exactly what they deserve. I hope to see them all hitchhiking. Then I can laugh as I drive right by them in my little car.

Obviously you do not give a shit about the environment. I hope I get the chance to laugh at you.

[dutch-Eddie]

106. I care about environment.. I plant trees in my backyard.

I recycle. Hopefully, the environment can take care of the rest. But the comfort of my family is an absolute priority to me. So, I will get to drive them around in my big, plushy Jeep. I may compromise and buy one of these new GM SUV's that gets an excellent gas mileage, but only if they're comfortable enough.

Why, why would I sacrifice the comfort of my family? For the sake of what? I've paid my dues, I've lived half of my life in the Socialist country, taking public transportation everywhere I go, and sharing an apartment with another family. You want me to give up part of my freedom, again? Nope.

And no sir, you won't get the chance to laugh at me. The real world does not work this way :)

[U4ikLefty]

113. I am laughing at you already.

I am sooo glad you "paid your dues" in a "socialist" country & now can be selfish & waste resources here in America.

[kestrel91316]

159. So far I am not very impressed by the behavior of most of the "former residents of

socialist countries" who have settled in my area. There is a tendency to go wild with the rude, irresponsible behavior and uber-consumer madness that socially-conscious Americans loathe.

Did you come here because you expected unlimited freedom with no thought for anyone but yourself? Because that's not what America is really about - that's just the RW-Libertarian pipe dream. You and your buddies have been reading too much Ayn Rand, I suspect.

Try reading this guy:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wendell_Berry
I recommend his book The Art of the Commonplace as a good starting point; in particular, the essay titled The Idea of a Local Economy.

[mdmc]

194. I know many people that cant afford vehicles

I feel sorry for those that suffer from poverty. I try to help as much as I can.

[LanternWaste]

212. You appear to take it as an Either-Or statement...

You appear to take it as an Either-Or statement which is, I believe, an invalid conclusion.

One may cheer both the demise of the gas-guzzler and it's non-essential and detrimental effect on the planet whilst still feeling a personal satisfaction that the 4-Wheel Viagra Fleet will slowly become ineffectual as a road hazard with their eventual demise.

Snap judgments usually advertise much more of the person doing the judging than they do of their actual target...

[Martinovich]

73. Not a surprise

Those things feed off gas.

[JCMach1]

77. My 4x4 gets 28-32mpg... what about your CAR???

It's not about what 'type' you drive, but how smartly you consume.

[Solon]

80. My vehicle...

Beat the gas mileage on that, sucker! :P

:D

[JCMach1]

82. try riding it farther than a few hundred meters in 45cent. temps

I can pick you up at the hospital later...

in Fahrenheit that's around 122... Summer temps here range between about 41-55 cent. (that's in the shade)...

However, yes, bicycles do make sense in some areas... just not everywhere. I will be using the metro once it is up within 15mnths. for longer trips.

[kestrel91316]

160. So we should avoid using bikes because they are not 100% perfect

transportation 100% of the time?????

This sort of thinking makes my head hurt.

[Honeycombe8]

87. What kind of 4X4 do you have? Is 4X4 an AWD or 4WD? nt

[JCMach1]

135. Hyundai Terracan (of course,not available in the U.S.)

28-32mpg

I average about 33.

[cureautismnow]

86. Revenge of the Metros.

It's times like these when I miss my "mini-Corvette convertible."

[Honeycombe8]

88. Good riddance. I couldn't believe the ignorance of people buying these things during these last yrs

We have all known there is an oil issue. We have all known about the environmental and global warming problems.

Middle aged people surely remember the couple of times in past decades where vehicles were lined up at gas stations to get what little gas there was.

What were these people thinking? How soon they forget.

Disclaimer: I have a Subaru Forester. People think it's an SUV sometimes, but it's not. It's a short "wagon" that is boxy in shape. I get 20 mpg in city, and close to 30 hwy. Not great, but it's over 10 years old, and that was the best I could find for a vehicle that had a cargo area.

Good news is there are more choices now! Hooray! And electric vehicles are coming on the market in 2010 in the U.S. Hybrids. Little gasoline cars with small cargo areas that get much better gas mileage. Finally....some green and economical choices. (And the American car makers are baffled that they're business is bad. No wonder.)

[leftyladyfrommo]

91. Don't know what the correlation is but SUV drivers are the worst

on the road around here. Horrible weather conditions and everyone else is slowing down and trying to be really careful and some total jerk in an SUV just goes flying by. I really think there are way more SUVs and trucks involved in car crashes here than any other kind of vehicle on the road. And it's because they are so reckless.

[kath]

97. Around here, the pickup drivers are even worse -- very high correlation between

assholishness on the road and driving a pickup. SUVs are next.

[Honeycombe8]

122. Same thing around here. Might be the type of person who buys a heavy "utility" vehicle when he...

doesn't really do anything heavy. An "I'm tough, and everyone's gonna know it" type of mentality?

I'm in TX. When it ices and snows, which is rare, everyone is super careful, if they venture out on the roads at all. Every time, you can bank on it, some pickup truck comes barreling thru an intersection, unable to stop on the ice.

What they care about most: If they get in an accident, their vehicle is safer, since it's so heavy and big. It's that other guy's problem that he bought a sissy small car.

[DCofVA]

94. There is always a silver lining to every dark cloud

[FredStembottom]

96. And Ford still insists on closing it's Ranger plant in St. Paul

Ford ranger sales are up! That's the little pickup truck that was struggling in sales for years as folks bought 10 MPG dumptrucks to go to the store in.

But now..... they're popular again. The plant that has given generations of Minnesota people good jobs (and every Twin Cities school-child an unforgettable tour!) is still there, still making Rangers. Still making it's own electricity with it's own hydro-electric plant in the Mississippi.

But it will get closed anyways. Sometime in 2009. Because jobs for Americans is sooooooo 1979!

They say maybe condos can go in there.

Oh wait! That housing thing........................

:argh:

[ohio2007]

100. they will survive on the game preserve set up inside the DC beltway

[UndertheOcean]

103. Good !

[sofa king]

107. They'll make nice houses for the foreclosed-upon.

Peak oil is also going to have other unforeseen consequences. For example, the people living in their SUVs will be tempted to rent an watch the horribly bad film Americathon, which accurately predicts the shit-canning of our nation, but without the humor of George Bush.

[Blue_Tires]

110. automakers should have had some foresight

i mean; i saw this coming 11-13 years ago; why didn't they?? oh yeah -- like all corporations, they will turn a quick buck today even if it means losing 5 tomorrow....

[Name removed]

116. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[depakid]

123. Almost none of the people in LA who drive these things around have any use for them

and have probably never been off road- or even locked the hubs.

It's simply wasteful and aggressive behavior and now its getting its due, so pardon us from having a bit scheudenfraude.

[LibDemAlways]

127. LA SUV driver : 30-40ish well-toned wife of a businessman or

lawyer driving with one hand on the wheel and the other on a cell phone. Has never been off-road and wouldn't know where to go to get off-road. Sticker on the back of the huge POS reads "I brake for Nordstrom."

[MarkInLA]

132. What about simply having a preference for something?

I love how SUV haters whine, "But you don't NEEEED an SUV!" Why do you think you should have a right to decide what others should drive? Do you also want to decide what kinds of food I eat and the types of clothing I wear?

Why stop there? Most single people don't really need more than a studio apartment. Let's implement a one-room rule for everyone in the U.S.

[depakid]

137. As peak oil and climate change worsen, we're all going to be paying the price

for people's self indulgence- that's why.

I know that wastefulness and unsustainable habits are part of the "non-negotiable" American lifestyle, but that will soon change.

I expect at some point down the road there'll be shortages and rationing, some of it due to the fact that people drive grossly inefficient vehicles for no logical reason.

[Name removed]

162. Deleted message

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[Name removed]

161. Deleted message

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[dysfunctional press]

118. they have a good platform for batteries when people start doing electric conversions.

and it will come to that sooner or later.

[panAmerican]

120. I'm actually looking for an SUV as my next vehicle

I've always driven compact cars, but I never wanted to commit as much money as SUVs were demanding. I'm waiting for demand to drop some more so I can pick one up later this year.

[MarkInLA]

121. Good for you - and ignore the haters here

I'm looking forward to picking up an H3 toward the end of this year.

Maybe I'll even post pictures of it here for the hater-crowd. heh...

[DebbieCDC]

130. You should really discuss your issues with your therapist

I assume living in LA you have at least one on retainer.

[MarkInLA]

131. Oh yeah, Debbie - that makes a lot of sense

Thanks for nothing.

[DebbieCDC]

148. I wouldn't expect you to understand it.

[kestrel91316]

163. Hummer drivers will stand out most prominently when

when the next Marat rises to power. Go ahead and drive one, lol.

[LanternWaste]

213. Whom you call "haters"

Whom you call "haters" are rather (and simply) those who are concerned about the appropriate environmental stewardship of the planet. Although I do realize the self-validation one may get from justifying why everyone appears to be laughing at them (or, what you call hating), it is, at best, simply an emotional defense...

[Pavulon]

143. I drive them as company cars

we use suburban 2500's in gas and diesel trim. The company uses them to move equipment or people. The diesel suburban or excursion (f250 platform) have incredible service lives and tolerate wholesale abuse.

The 1500 tahoe has a softer ride but the 2500's we use run beyond 200,000 miles as a norm.

Just don't drive it like a car and they are quite safe.

[wordpix]

185. while you're waiting for "demand to drop" for SUV's, you might think about demand for oil

i.e. what happens when the cost of gas doubles from our present "low" of $4/gal to $8?

[ozone_man]

124. Good, maybe they'll go extinct!

The average consumer doesn't respond to environmental arguments, but when it puts a crimp in the pocket book, that gets some attention.

[JoFerret]

125. Good news, at last

.

[LibDemAlways]

126. Couldn't happen fast enough for me. There are still

plenty of morons tooling around in them here in So Cal yuppieville. I hope they eventually have to pay someone to haul the pieces of shit away.

[kestrel91316]

164. I like how the local dealerships aren't even taking SUVs as

trade-ins anymore. People have to sell them privately if they can, or let the lender take them back. Repo men are really busy in LA these days, I hear.

[ileus]

128. sweet soon I'll be able to afford a pickup.

[MarkInLA]

133. Irrational hatred

I thought we wanted to win more voters in rural parts of the country. Imagine an average truck-driving guy from Middle America checking out the Democratic Underground. He's usually voted Republican but has been considering voting for Democrats this year. He comes to this site and sees the contempt for SUVs, religious people, and anyone who owns a gun. Within minutes, all of his stereotypes about Democrats are fulfilled, and he realizes that he's better off voting for John McCain.

Intolerance is not good for the Democratic Party.

[kestrel91316]

165. We don't hate all SUV and pickup drivers, lol. Just the smug,

self-righteous crowd that drives that sort of thing so they can feel superior or look rich.

Anybody who drives one because they actually HAVE to do a lot of hauling, particularly to earn a living, gets my blessing.

It's the Marie Antoinettes we don't like.

[LanternWaste]

214. Much like a low-count poster can easily realize...

Much like a low-count poster can easily realize all of our stereotypes abouts FReepers and trolls, yes?

[AlphaCentauri]

134. After the mass extinction insects will populate the earth like the Beetle and the honey bee

[Altean Wanderer]

138. Great! n/t

[kestrel91316]

149. Sad that no one could have forseen this........

:sarcasm:

I am even seeing a lot fewer giant SUVs here in SoCal. Still see the occasional brand new BLACK (of course) Escalade or hypergonadal pickup, but there's only one Hummer in my part of town anymore that I know of and it sits parked at a business all day. Most the new cars I see are smaller sedans, with an occasional small truck or SUV.

[samsingh]

157. where did all the smart alecs who said they would never give up

their SUVs go?

[CRF450]

174. I'm not getting rid of my pickup

Dispite getting 16mpg, my current lifestyle requires its use.

[MarkInLA]

196. And I'm not giving up my SUV either

Currently have a Saab 9-7X. Going for a Hummer H3 at the end of this year.

And nope, I don't "need" an SUV. I just prefer to have one. I'm sure that infuriates a lot of folks here.

[LanternWaste]

215. Not so much infuriating as it is

Not so much infuriating as it is saddening and pitiable in both its hubris and irresponsibility...

[lakercub]

167. crap

we better give car owners another SUV tax break so we can start selling these again. It would be a shame to let all that gas go unpumped. :sarcasm:

[CRF450]

168. Yes, cheer on the demise of gas guzzlers, while those of us who own them...

For legitimate reasons are royaly screwed over, and their are many DU'rs who do own such vehicles. I drive an 04 Dodge Dakota, crew-cab, 4x4. I use it for my pool cleaning job, hauling my dirtbike to places, a few other things that requires its use. Plus, I fucking love the damn thing! About the best it can average is 16mpg, same thing the fullsize trucks get, the highest fuel milage its ever reach for me was 21mpg on the interstate. I'm putting about 300 miles/week now in the last month. Before then I drove my car 80% of the time, it gets around 22mpg on average.

As for people not using SUV's for what there ment to do. Well, all I gotta say is come out to the Outerbanks NC, and you see a shit load of them including minivans and trucks that are nearly fully loaded with people, luggage, work equipment etc etc...

[kestrel91316]

198. Pool cleaning is not a job with a long-term future, IMHO.

And hauling a dirt bike all over Kingdom Come for the hell of it is probably not a hobby with a long-term future.

Not that you're interested in my opinion or anything. But seriously, dude - you need to be thinking beyond this immediate personal gratification thing........

[MarkInLA]

201. Yes, please dictate how we should all think (n/t)

[kestrel91316]

235. Go ahead and keep that pinhead buried in the sand.....

[CRF450]

202. Immediate personal gratification... what do you expect me to do? Sit around and do nothing?

Fuck that. And whats with that statement of hauling my dirtbike "all over kingdom come for the hell of it"? I'm actually using the truck for what its made to do, and dirtbiking is a real hobby and sport I'm involved in and enjoy 100%, so lay off with the snarky comments.

I put over 300 miles a week (just for work) on it this time of the year and will do so untill October. Yes the gas prices suck, it burns my ass that I have put almost $80 worth of gas in it every 300 miles, giving my money to greedy oil execs. But do I have much of a choice? No I dont, so I have no choice but to live with these prices untill we get a dem in office, the so called "war in Iraq" ends, and alternative fuels come in the market. I'd like to see a good selectiong of alternative fueled trucks and some really GOOD cars with similar performance/size to the internal combustion engine counterparts. Not the little fwd compact crap boxes I'v seen as concepts as of lately. I'm sorry but I'm not buying anything that resembles that Smart Car.

[kestrel91316]

236. Long-term planning in your case would involve finding a career path that is not dependent

on personal swimming pools........just giving you a heads up. The handwriting is on the wall.

And I still think your hobby is shamefully wasteful. I hike for fun. You might try it. Your eardrums and wallet will thank you.

[MarkInLA]

237. You're a good reason why people don't vote for Democrats (n/t)

[CRF450]

241. HA! omg... and you dont consider boating wasteful...

When they use a shit load of gas per hour, while my bike burns through 2 whole gallons in a few hours??

Yet another example of people bringing up false accusations based on what they see through their eye balls. My dirtbike burns gas no faster than a civic that gets 30+mpg and my ears are fine since I always wear a helmet which blocks out alot of the noise. Sorry, hiking's just not my thing.

[Tesha]

225. I'll bet your pool cleaning tools will fit in a minivan or even a station wagon.

And frankly, it's time you gave up tearing around the
planet on your gas-guzzling, terrain-destroying dirt
bike. That's a sport for ten-year-olds to fantasize
about.

Tesha

[CRF450]

228. You obviously dont know that your talking about.

I'm not going to drive around in a vehicle inclosed with chemical buckets that leek chlorine fumes and rust metal parts inside of the vehicle. And my dirtbike actaully consumes fuel no faster than a Civic being that its a newer 4-stroke, not the horribly polluting 2-strokes, which are pretty much going out production now.

[Tesha]

230. Maybe you need a less-chemically-intensive occupation? Or a, GASP, *TRAILER*?

And your dirt-bike is still burning fuel purely for fun.
As someone else already observed, your hobby and your
occupation are both on the endangered species list.

Face it: You have a pickup truck because you want
a pickup truck. That's okay, but don't feed us a
line of bullshit about the pickup truck being the
only conceivable alternative for you, either for
your professional use or to haul around your gas-
guzzling between-the-legs vibrator.

Tesha

[CRF450]

231. How is my occupation being endangered??

I clean pools at cottages that are being rented by people and families who are simply taking vacations. And as long as any cottages are built and rented is how long my line of work will be around. Its not going anywhere any time soon.

Its none of your business as to what I do for fun and entertainment either, dirtbike riding is not going any where either, and I'm not going to give it up anytime soon. Other than working with model airplanes (which all of mine are electric!) its mostly my fun entertainment and exercise.

A trailer will be nothing more than an annoyance to tow around on my job BTW. I didn't buy the truck just because it was the ONLY alternative for me, its simply because its more convenient to own and not have to deal with towing a trailer around like you suggested. Plus I have used it several times for towing heavy loads, something a minivan or station wagon cant do.

[CRF450]

234. And one more thing...

This occupation (along with a second job attending a public pool) is the only good paying job I'm limited to, otherwise I'd have to work at another minimum wage job where as over half of that pay would only cover food and gas. So dont even try telling me what kind of job I can and cant have.

I'm getting sick of this elitist attitude where DU members are telling others what they can/cant do when that person has no idea what the other's lifestyle is. Its just stupid to pull that kind of crap when their are other people just browsing through this site and getting the idea that democrats are pushy know-it alls who dictate how others should live based on their politically-correct lifstyle. If you think that my lifestyle choice is not liberal enough for you, well tough. Only I choose how to live, not you.

[MarkInLA]

238. I'm totally with you. Consider voting Libertarian. I am. (n/t)

[CRF450]

239. I probably would if their was a candidate who's in that position.

But nope. Obama's our best candidate so far.

[Tesha]

242. Somehow, I'm not surprised. So why are you writing here, a board for "Democrats and...

other progressives"?

Your attitude is far, far better aligned with Libertarians
than liberal/progressive, caring people.

Tesha

[MarkInLA]

243. Hear that, everyone?

There's apparently no room for debate on this subject. If you like SUVs, you can't be a Democrat.

[Tesha]

247. No, if you're *VOTING FOR LIBERTARIANS* you can't be a Democrat.

Don't be deliberately stupid and don't twist my words.

Tesha

[MarkInLA]

252. Actually you twisted my words

I said I was "considering" voting Libertarian.

But honestly, this discussion has pushed me further in that direction.

[galledgoblin]

171. maybe, someday soon,

Hummer owners will stop parking across the crosswalk in city downtowns.

[wordpix]

177. take out the tailgates, put in some screens, weld the suckers together for living spaces

[sarcasmo]

191. Reality smacks the V8 owner in the face, similar to the V8 drink commercial.

[patrick t. cakes]

195. rich people are so dumb...

:rofl:

[Aramis]

216. I wonder if the Congress will propose legislation to help the suckers who bought SUV's.

After all, they proposed legislation to help the suckers who bought homes with ARMs, No Interest Loans, etc.

[Tesha]

227. They already *WERE* bailed out!

After all, many of the most egregious behemoths
created tremendous Federal tax benefits on their
original purchase. Not to mention that the owners
often paid insurance premiums that were out of
whack with the swath of destruction that SUVs
leave in their wake (both to their own vehicles
and occupants and to the people the crash into).

But yeah, okay, let's bail the poor souls out
yet *AGAIN*!

Tesha

[Aramis]

248. Relax...I'm not advocating a bail out. Nor do I favor bailing out the

idiots who took out mortgages they could not afford.

[Tesha]

249. I understand YOU aren't calling for a bailout -- but just watch, many will! (NT)

[RaVeN_MeaD]

219. glad to see them go....nt

[Blue_Tires]

246. I'll revisit this because I feel strongly about it...

There were intermittent times over the past 25 years when there was an honest effort toward more efficient cars...I remember the late 90s when GM came out with the EV1, and CARB was making news, and a zero-emission deadline was set in 1998...Sadly, no one wanted to listen or pay attention -- the economy was good, gas was relatively cheap, the exurbs and super-suburbs were growing, SUVs were still in style (and automakers LOVED the fat profit margins they brought in), and people didn't mind long commutes...Even as I asked what would seriously happen during a major gas crunch, friends continued to put their heads in the sand, or believe the RW meme that the gas tax was the cause of all ills...

The irony of ironies is I remember several interviews over the years were a journalist would ask an auto exec about easing up the SUV production to build smaller cars with better mileage...The exec's response in so many words? "The MARKET will decide the kind of cars we build, NOT YOU!" Well now the market that these jagg-offs worship has now spoken and they have the nerve to act like they never expected this day was coming...Of course, they will just complain about how they can't compete, or how they will go broke in R&D. Most likely, they will just lean on their lobbyists a little harder...The increased fed mpg standards have already been pushed from the late 90s to 2020...Who is to say they won't get an extension to 2050 (of course by then, cars could be running on 'clean' coal, lolz).