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SUV Haters
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Anonymous
I've decided on the Suburban! 
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Anonymous
I typically vote republican (but I'm not a card carrying NRA memb er-sorry to bust your stereotype) and DO NOT drive an SUV and never have (probably never will). Two of my "dem" friends have SUVs. One has an Expedition because she needed to be able to tow her horse in a trailer (I think she's done it twice since she's owned it for over 4 years). They do have 2 dogs and one child, so perhaps that's the justification. The other friend stated about driving a minivan that "it means that you've given up." What does that mean, because I drive a minivan, I'm a complete loser. Does it mean admitting hey eveyrone, I'm someone's mom. This is not high school anymore. I think it is more important to be efficient, in not only use of gas, but also use of road space and our use of the interior space for hauling kids & stuff in our vehicle. We have a minivan with 2 kids and one 75+ pound dog, which the WHOLE family (minus the dog) rides to work in to and fro everyday on our 16 mile round trip drive to work/daycare and home again. Let's drop the stereotypes and stick to the issues. It's not that we can't afford an SUV, we just chose more wisely 2+ years ago when we bought the minivan knowing that gas would not be going down in price. |
Anonymous
I second that. I have a fuel efficient Kia Sportage (I posted about earlier), and a minivan. I am a card carrying Republican, but I not only don't believe to the NRA, I don't have a gun, or even fired one. |
Anonymous
I beg to differ. All I hear when gas prices go up is how much it costs to fill up an SUV! I hear it all the time!!! And how they can't afford them if gas prices go up. I drive a Honda, and we could afford for me to be driving a Mercedes-but I chose to not to and be kind to the environment. I guarentee-when gas is over $4 a gallon-you will see less and less SUVs. SUVs have 40 gallon gas tanks, and gas $4 a gallon makes it $160 a fill up! You mean you're telling that people in Hondas and Saturns pay that much in gas when they fill up? Do the math. |
Anonymous
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PP here. I must be more tired than I thought, that should say,
"I not only don't belong to......." |
Anonymous
I have a suburban and it does not cost 160 to fill up. You are def stretching it..maybe if you had a tour bus or something but realistically 160 is a total misrepresentation. |
Anonymous
| Your Suburban has a 31 gallon gas tank-if gas were $4 dollars a gallon-how much do think that is??? 4 * 31 = $124. How far am I off? Some SUVs have 40 gallon gas tanks-and will pay $160 at $4 dollars a gallon. So I'm not stretching the truth. It's a fact. I can't wait for the day! |
Anonymous
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No, not yet. Your tank is what, 32.5 gallons? It has to be costing you close to $100 a fill up, if you fill from nearly empty
http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/noframes/21375.shtml http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/findacar.htm |
Anonymous
| Perhaps you don't know the size of your gas tank because you never truly fill up. Maybe you only fill up $40 at a time. If you're actually filling up your gas tank to full-even at gas being $3.30 a gallon, 3.30 * 31 = $102. Maybe you're commute isn't long, but a lot of people in this area commute at distances of 30 miles each way. Some SUVs only 13 miles per gallon-Excursions V8, the Jeep Commander, Chevy Suburbans to name a few. Oh-2008 Suburbans get $15 miles per gallon in the city. This is a fact, not an overaggeration. |
Anonymous
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Chevy Suburban-at current gas prices:
Cost to Drive 25 Miles $5.82 Fuel to Drive 25 Miles 1.79 gal Cost of a Fill-up $90.95-$114.43 Miles on a Tank 391-491 miles Tank Size 31.0-39.0 gal Annual Fuel Cost* $3491 Based on 45% highway, 55% city driving, 15000 annual miles and a fuel price of $ 3.26 per gallon . Use Your Gas Prices & Annual Miles Energy Impact Score Annual Petroleum Consumption (1 barrel=42 gallons) 24.5 barrels/year Carbon Footprint Annual Tons of CO2 Emitted Personalize Annual Miles 13.1 3.5 16.2 EPA Air Pollution Score Air Pollution Score Show Scores for California and Northeast States Show Detailed Air Pollution Information More about emissions.... Why do some vehicles have more than one air pollution score? What's the difference between air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions? Want more info? See EPA's Green Vehicle Guide Safety Crash Test Results Size Class Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD Engine Size (liters) 6 Cylinders 8 Transmission Automatic 4-spd Drive 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Gas Guzzler no Turbocharger no Supercharger no Passenger Volume NA Luggage Volume NA Engine Characteristics NA Trans Characteristics CLKUP How are fuel cost estimates and miles on a tank determined? Fuel cost estimates are based on 45% highway driving, 55% city driving, 15000 annual miles and a fuel cost of $ 3.26 per gallon . You may customize these values to reflect the cost of fuel in your area and your own driving patterns. Fill-up cost and the distance you can travel on a tank are calculated based on the combined MPG and the assumption that you will re-fuel when your tank is 10% full. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- What's the difference between air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions? The Air Pollution score and Carbon Footprint measure different types of vehicle emissions. Air pollutants harm human health and/or cause smog. Carbon Footprint measures greenhouse gas emissions (primarily CO2) that impact climate change. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Why do some vehicles have more than one air pollution score? Some vehicles are available in multiple emission versions that look the same but have different air pollution scores. Unfortunately, it is difficult to distinguish between similar models. If you click on the link "Show Detailed Air Pollution Information" above, it will display the emission standard and the 12-digit underhood engine ID. You can identify the cleaner car by matching the engine ID listed above to the Underhood Label Identification Number on the vehicle. Note: In some cases, manufacturers choose to certify identical vehicles to different emission standards. In these cases, the vehicles will have the same engine ID. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The carbon footprint measures greenhouse gas emissions expressed in CO2 equivalents. The estimates presented here are "full fuel-cycle estimates" and include the three major greenhouse gases emitted by motor vehicles: carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, and methane. Full fuel-cycle estimates consider all steps in the use of a fuel, from production and refining to distribution and final use. Vehicle manufacture is excluded. (U.S. Department of Energy, GREET Model 1.7, Argonne National Laboratory) NA - Not Available Color vehicle photographs have been provided by the vehicle manufacturers or their representative and are used with their permission. Black and white photographs are as published in Ward's Automotive Yearbook(R), 1985-1999 and are used by permission of Ward's Communications, a world leader in automotive information. DISCLAIMER: The user estimates shown above are based on data from Your MPG users rather than official sources. Since the source data cannot be verified, neither DOE nor EPA guarantees the accuracy of these estimates. |
Anonymous
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Toyota Prius:
Cost to Drive 25 Miles $1.77 Fuel to Drive 25 Miles 0.54 gal Cost of a Fill-up $34.91 Miles on a Tank 493 miles Tank Size 11.9 gal Annual Fuel Cost* $1061 Based on 45% highway, 55% city driving, 15000 annual miles and a fuel price of $ 3.26 per gallon . Use Your Gas Prices & Annual Miles Energy Impact Score Annual Petroleum Consumption (1 barrel=42 gallons) 7.4 barrels/year Carbon Footprint Annual Tons of CO2 Emitted Personalize Annual Miles 4.0 3.5 16.2 EPA Air Pollution Score Air Pollution Score Show Scores for California and Northeast States Show Detailed Air Pollution Information More about emissions.... What's the difference between air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions? Want more info? See EPA's Green Vehicle Guide Safety Crash Test Results Size Class Midsize Cars Engine Size (liters) 1.5 Cylinders 4 Transmission Automatic (variable gear ratios) Drive Front-Wheel Drive Gas Guzzler no Turbocharger no Supercharger no Passenger Volume 96 ft3 (HB) Luggage Volume 16 ft3 (HB) Engine Characteristics HEV Trans Characteristics NA How are fuel cost estimates and miles on a tank determined? Fuel cost estimates are based on 45% highway driving, 55% city driving, 15000 annual miles and a fuel cost of $ 3.26 per gallon . You may customize these values to reflect the cost of fuel in your area and your own driving patterns. Fill-up cost and the distance you can travel on a tank are calculated based on the combined MPG and the assumption that you will re-fuel when your tank is 10% full. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- What's the difference between air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions? The Air Pollution score and Carbon Footprint measure different types of vehicle emissions. Air pollutants harm human health and/or cause smog. Carbon Footprint measures greenhouse gas emissions (primarily CO2) that impact climate change. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Why do some vehicles have more than one air pollution score? Some vehicles are available in multiple emission versions that look the same but have different air pollution scores. Unfortunately, it is difficult to distinguish between similar models. If you click on the link "Show Detailed Air Pollution Information" above, it will display the emission standard and the 12-digit underhood engine ID. You can identify the cleaner car by matching the engine ID listed above to the Underhood Label Identification Number on the vehicle. Note: In some cases, manufacturers choose to certify identical vehicles to different emission standards. In these cases, the vehicles will have the same engine ID. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The carbon footprint measures greenhouse gas emissions expressed in CO2 equivalents. The estimates presented here are "full fuel-cycle estimates" and include the three major greenhouse gases emitted by motor vehicles: carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, and methane. Full fuel-cycle estimates consider all steps in the use of a fuel, from production and refining to distribution and final use. Vehicle manufacture is excluded. (U.S. Department of Energy, GREET Model 1.7, Argonne National Laboratory) NA - Not Available Color vehicle photographs have been provided by the vehicle manufacturers or their representative and are used with their permission. Black and white photographs are as published in Ward's Automotive Yearbook(R), 1985-1999 and are used by permission of Ward's Communications, a world leader in automotive information. DISCLAIMER: The user estimates shown above are based on data from Your MPG users rather than official sources. Since the source data cannot be verified, neither DOE nor EPA guarantees the accuracy of these estimates. |
Anonymous
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We drive an SUV. I'm a liberal (shock to some here I guess, though I don't know why). I have nothing against mini-vans, I would love to have the sliding doors. The SUV certainly is not a status symbol for us. We aren't rich, and can't afford much gas at $4 a gallon (again, apparently doesn't fit some of the assumptions expressed here).
Oh, and we care about the environment. A lot. How can that be? We live in the city and use public transportation or walk when we can. Our SUV is 10+ years old and has 67,000 miles on it. I want $4 gas too, even though I can't afford it. I want it so that others will think about the effect of their choices on the environment. So that we will continue to find ways to cut back. So that car companies will be forced to build better, more fuel-efficient vehicles. I want it so we stop being dependent on cars and oil and don't have to have the need for oil drive our foreign policy. I have to laugh about people describing their two cars (both big) and commuting while saying how if they saw us they automatically would look down upon us (figuratively) or assume we are jerks. If you have two cars and commute, or drive a great deal, you have no business being sanctimonious with over our choice. I don't care if if you drive something smaller, something hybrid, whatever. That's not all there is to the equation. So be careful with assumptions and with self-righteousness. And, by the way, when the our SUV wears out, we may get another one. I hope it can be a hybrid, I hope there is something different and better for the environment that will suit our needs. But with two kids (and associated gear), two large dogs and a boat that we tow a few times a year, this is the best solution for when we do need to drive. As our needs evolve, so will our choices. But I doubt many of you have read this far -- you've already made your assumptions and moved on to pat yourself on the back. But at least I got it off my chest. |
Anonymous
great post |
Anonymous
| I wouldn't mind the SUVs as much if the windows weren't tinted. Too hard to see around! |
Anonymous
I'm horrified by this. High fuel prices hurt the lower and lower middle classes. They can't pay to fill up their tanks! How do you think cleaning ladies will get from home to home to do their jobs? How about people who have a 50-mile commute so that they can earn marginally more money? How about waiters and waitresses and nannies and gas station attendants? What will people like that do? I don't care about you or the car you drive. I'll repeat that the real economic impact of higher gas prices is that POOR PEOPLE will suffer. Your thinking is so myopic, it scares me. |