SUV Haters

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, your question made me laugh because if I'm honest with myself, I do get a little (strangely) judgemental about the "larger" SUV's. When I see them, something negative usually triggers in my mind - thoughts about wastefullness, obnoxiousnous, etc etc. However, it is really ridiculous especially considering I drive an SUV myself (a Jeep Grand Cherokee). Seriously, there's so little difference that I think I'm just being dumb. To my defense, I do have two little kids, a lot of equipment to haul, and we spend a lot of time in a snowy area in the winter. Is my SUV justified? Still probably not.

I will say that when I see people driving very small or hybrid cars, my instant judgement is to feel proud of them for being so cool and environmentally friendly. We wanted to buy a hybrid for car #2 (the commuting car in the family) but they were way too expensive. Wound up with a small four door instead.

You took the words right out of my mouth! I feel the same way! I drive one and it embarresses me and I tld my husband as soon as the lease is up we are switching to something else. I spend 80+ dollars filling my tank every week. The worst part for me is trying to park - I hate having to negotiate parking lots and forget about underground lots! I hate, hate, hate my SUV. I had a small station wagon before and that was plenty of room for all our stuff. They are stupid. So don't judge everyone you see driving one - there are people like me who realize they made a huge mistake.

I always felt like people were laughing at me because I drove a Honda Fit! I really do try to be as green as I can-that's why I chose the Fit. We could easily afford a much more expensive vehicle for me to drive, but I really liked the way the Fit drove and it gets great gas mileage. It feels more like a small station wagon that a subcompact car-because of the hatch. I appreciate your comments-

[Anonymous]

So... how do you SUV-haters feel about hybrid SUVs????? Are they obnoxious, too, or only half obnoxious??

[Anonymous]

I needed something that could carry 4 kids under 6 and my choices were SUV or Minivan. I'd like to think I'm way too hot for a minivan (I'm not) and I decided on a 7 seater SUV. I wanted something really good on gas and that pretty much was the Honda Pilot or the Hyundai Santa Fe. The Santa Fe cost several thousand less and had really good safety tests. Both got close to 30 on the highway, which is better than most minivans I looked at. My other option, which really wasn't an option, was to stick with the sedan and put which ever child really pissed me off that morning on the roof, which I knew would get me written about on DCUM, so I went with the Santa Fe. You may hate me for my minivan, hell I hate Hummers and Suburbans, but I stand by my cheesy SUV and plan to be buried in it one day when the kids actually drive me to that early grave my parents used to talk about.

[Anonymous]

I'm trying to choose between a Suburban and an Escalade? Which one is less obnoxious?

Seriously, which one has more room inside for my three kids and all our gear?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a suburban and I LOVE it! Sorry that you think because you have a hybrid you feel the need to feel I am obnoxious.

Well, you are.

[Anonymous]

I have a SUV. I also have a set of 2.5y/o twins and a 6 year old. For the last year or so,I hate it! It sucks for commuting,etc. But with three kids my options are limited. IF they only would fit into a Prius..not likely until they are older(I hope).

[Anonymous]

Thank you! I'll check out Suburbans first! I was at Clemy Park today, and the lot was just filled with obnoxious people. In fact, DH and I estimated that more than 90 percent of the families that go there have SUVS.

Too funny.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a suburban and I LOVE it! Sorry that you think because you have a hybrid you feel the need to feel I am obnoxious.

Well, you are.

I don't think you're obnoxious!

The person who replied to you have a horrible sad chip on her shoulder and hates about 30 percent of Americans. About fifty percent of families.

[Anonymous]

Genuine question here: what is wrong with minivans? I realize they aren't as cool looking as an SUV, but I do think they have as much space and are easier on the road than those monstrous SUVs. Ours serves our family of six quite well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a suburban and I LOVE it! Sorry that you think because you have a hybrid you feel the need to feel I am obnoxious.

Just to clarify, tt is not so much that having a suburban makes you obnoxious, but that having an SUV is a symptom of your underlying obnoxiousness.

Please tell me you are joking. What a stereotypical statement. I really am speechless.

Good. Now maybe you can get off the phone and concentrate when driving your SUV.

[Anonymous]

Good lordy, I hate them, but really just the super huge Expedition and Suburban types. I hate not being able to see around them to know what's coming up on the road. It does provide good entertainment, though, when the SUV-types bring their kids to the city and attempt to parallel park on our itsy bitsy streets.

[Anonymous]

I think anything wasteful is selfish. It's one thing if you have a large family, and a station wagon or sedan just won't do-an SUV might be the only answer and practical. But I know several people who have SUVs purely for image-it's not the vehicle so much I hate, it's the reasons why people drive them. I am looking forward to gas going over $4 a gallon-we don't care, we can afford it. My commute through Old Town will definitely be easier!

[Anonymous]

We have a Kia Sportage, which we bought brand new, for 7grand, less our cheap ass trade in. It gets nearly 30 miles a gallon, highway, and I save where I can by popping the car into neutral, and coasting, when I can.

I think that this is a fairly green car, as it gets better gas mileage than the 2002 Hyundai accent we traded it for.

The gas mileage is also better than our minivan, though only by 2mpg.

When I park next to someone in a monstrous SUV, that is nearly twice as high as my Sportage (or my minivan), I must say that I wonder why.

Why would someone spend so much money on a vehicle?

Why would someone want to spend so much money filling that stupid thing?

Why would someone want to drive something so prone to rolling over?

Why does anyone need anything that tall?

Why is it that this person feels that killing the earth is their personal mission?

Why in the name of God, does anyone need something that size?

There is one person who lives near me, that has a hummer, and it is nearly the size of his house. Why???

[Anonymous]

But I know several people who have SUVs purely for image-it's not the vehicle so much I hate, it's the reasons why people drive them

Is that what these people tell you "I drive this SUV purely for image" or is that your assumption? I have an SUV and I certainly do not drive it for the image - if I was into image I'd get a cute Mini Cooper or an Aston Martin or a Jaguar or a vintage Mercedes!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think anything wasteful is selfish. It's one thing if you have a large family, and a station wagon or sedan just won't do-an SUV might be the only answer and practical. But I know several people who have SUVs purely for image-it's not the vehicle so much I hate, it's the reasons why people drive them. I am looking forward to gas going over $4 a gallon-we don't care, we can afford it. My commute through Old Town will definitely be easier!

Goodness, I think most people who have SUVs can AFFORD gas at $4 a gallon. It's the people in the Saturns and used Hondas that will be forced to stay home more. Will you enjoy seeing those sorts of people struggling on their long commutes to work to support their families?

Glad you can afford gas, but maybe instead of wishing bad things to others, you might try thinking about the real economic impact of higher gas prices in this area.