I don't think I can be friends with moms who drive huge SUVs

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP. OP clearly struck a few nerves on this thread.

I don't drive an SUV and rarely struggle for space in our car. Serious question for the SUV drivers here: why do you feel it's so much more convenient than a regular car?

It’s obviously an identity thing judging by the defensive responses. This is why they look the same and dress the same etc. They are virtue signaling that they aren’t DC liberal environmentalists.

Sure, but in 2023 one can't seriously be surprised that they would be judged for driving an SUV?

Based on the numbers I've seen, fertility and birth rates are possibly as low as they've ever been in the US. So why have SUV sales rates continued to grow? I think they're over 50% of the market. Perhaps you hit the nail on the head about identity.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP. OP clearly struck a few nerves on this thread.

I don't drive an SUV and rarely struggle for space in our car. Serious question for the SUV drivers here: why do you feel it's so much more convenient than a regular car?

It’s obviously an identity thing judging by the defensive responses. This is why they look the same and dress the same etc. They are virtue signaling that they aren’t DC liberal environmentalists.

Sure, but in 2023 one can't seriously be surprised that they would be judged for driving an SUV?

Based on the numbers I've seen, fertility and birth rates are possibly as low as they've ever been in the US. So why have SUV sales rates continued to grow? I think they're over 50% of the market. Perhaps you hit the nail on the head about identity.

This is why I find the defensiveness on this thread hilarious. A lot of people are like "SUVs have gotten so common, how dare you judge anyone for having one?" But have you stopped to ask WHY they are so common now, when they were not back in the 80s or 90s? So it's weird to argue they are necessary for families. I come from a family of 6, and we never had an SUV growing up. I do remember my parents discussing maybe getting a Suburban at some point because our family was large and there were some people in town who had them and liked them. But my mom said it felt too much like driving a truck to her, and that she wouldn't feel comfortable parking it. We had a minivan for a while and then switched to a station wagon when the oldest went to college.

I only had one kid and I can't imagine getting an SUV. I'd honestly feel guilty about it because it's so much more car than we'd ever need. I actually love station wagons. They are practical and many station wagons have really great visibility (much better than a sedan) plus the back of a wagon is pretty much as much storage capacity as a family of three is ever going to need -- if we've filled it up, we've overpacked.

I have friends who have SUVs and I don't sit around thinking negative things about them, but I do think it's odd generally that as families have gotten smaller and we've become more aware of how awful climate change is, that SUVs have become more popular, not less. I get of course that some peopel have large families and need space, I'm not judging anyone. But there are probably a lot of people who could get away with a smaller car and choose not to, and I do wonder why that is when we're all so increasingly aware of climate change concerns. It seems backwards.

But eh, really what we should all be doing is driving as little as possible and embracing public transportation, and investing our infrastructure dollars into rail instead of widening highways. The environmental benefits of a small car over a large one are pretty minimal on an individual level, but if significant portions of the population gave up a driving commute for public transportation, or committed to traveling by bus or rail instead of cars and planes for at least one vacation a year, it would have a much bigger impact, with the added benefit of reducing traffic congestion, traffic noise, parking issues, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NP. OP clearly struck a few nerves on this thread.

I don't drive an SUV and rarely struggle for space in our car. Serious question for the SUV drivers here: why do you feel it's so much more convenient than a regular car?

I’ll bite. I prefer being higher up, especially with all of the trucks, minivans, buses, and other taller vehicles on the road. We are all tall and feel cramped in sedans and I cannot stand being so low to the ground when I drive. My SUV has a better turning radius and visibility than any car I’ve ever owned. We make multiple road trips up north and I prefer the AWD of my SUV than FWD and even AWD in some sedans. Our 75lb dog fits well in the 3rd row while the family can sit in the middle row.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP. OP clearly struck a few nerves on this thread.

I don't drive an SUV and rarely struggle for space in our car. Serious question for the SUV drivers here: why do you feel it's so much more convenient than a regular car?

I’ll bite. I prefer being higher up, especially with all of the trucks, minivans, buses, and other taller vehicles on the road. We are all tall and feel cramped in sedans and I cannot stand being so low to the ground when I drive. My SUV has a better turning radius and visibility than any car I’ve ever owned. We make multiple road trips up north and I prefer the AWD of my SUV than FWD and even AWD in some sedans. Our 75lb dog fits well in the 3rd row while the family can sit in the middle row.

We moved to Maryland from Texas many years ago. At the time we loved that, unlike in Texas, you could actually see traffic ahead of you from a sedan because there were significantly fewer SUVs and large trucks on the road. But now, because of this escalation of SUV purchase, the problem is just as bad here now.

[Anonymous]

I feel your pain, OP. I moved to McLean many years ago and was horrified by so many cultural differences. The huge similar looking SUV's, the same color of highlighted hair, the big talk about vacation plans and how much they spend on their handbags, clothes, private schools, extra curriculars, etc. Lots of not very serious conversation about nothing. I think, to be fair, a lot of it, could have been them jockeying for status when the kids were young, trying to find their place in the community hierarchy. It took a long time, but I was able to find my people, for what it's worth! Good luck.

[Anonymous]

Who tf bumped this shit?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP. OP clearly struck a few nerves on this thread.

I don't drive an SUV and rarely struggle for space in our car. Serious question for the SUV drivers here: why do you feel it's so much more convenient than a regular car?

I’ll bite. I prefer being higher up, especially with all of the trucks, minivans, buses, and other taller vehicles on the road. We are all tall and feel cramped in sedans and I cannot stand being so low to the ground when I drive. My SUV has a better turning radius and visibility than any car I’ve ever owned. We make multiple road trips up north and I prefer the AWD of my SUV than FWD and even AWD in some sedans. Our 75lb dog fits well in the 3rd row while the family can sit in the middle row.

We moved to Maryland from Texas many years ago. At the time we loved that, unlike in Texas, you could actually see traffic ahead of you from a sedan because there were significantly fewer SUVs and large trucks on the road. But now, because of this escalation of SUV purchase, the problem is just as bad here now.

This, in buying an SUV to sit up high, you are just escalating the very problem you are trying to solve. There will always be a larger, taller vehicle and unless you are willing to just keep buying larger and larger autos, you will still wind up stuck in traffic surrounded by trucks and SUVs that make it impossible for you to see.

[Anonymous]

OP, I moved to the 'burbs after living in several cities, including in Europe, and am still, many years later, shocked at the waste. Besides the large number of mom vans, I also am still surprised the continuing use of single use cutlery, cups, etc.; the love of Costco--a temple to wastefulness and the worship of plastic; the huge new builds; and the general pattern of overconsumption.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP. OP clearly struck a few nerves on this thread.

I don't drive an SUV and rarely struggle for space in our car. Serious question for the SUV drivers here: why do you feel it's so much more convenient than a regular car?

I’ll bite. I prefer being higher up, especially with all of the trucks, minivans, buses, and other taller vehicles on the road. We are all tall and feel cramped in sedans and I cannot stand being so low to the ground when I drive. My SUV has a better turning radius and visibility than any car I’ve ever owned. We make multiple road trips up north and I prefer the AWD of my SUV than FWD and even AWD in some sedans. Our 75lb dog fits well in the 3rd row while the family can sit in the middle row.

We moved to Maryland from Texas many years ago. At the time we loved that, unlike in Texas, you could actually see traffic ahead of you from a sedan because there were significantly fewer SUVs and large trucks on the road. But now, because of this escalation of SUV purchase, the problem is just as bad here now.

This, in buying an SUV to sit up high, you are just escalating the very problem you are trying to solve. There will always be a larger, taller vehicle and unless you are willing to just keep buying larger and larger autos, you will still wind up stuck in traffic surrounded by trucks and SUVs that make it impossible for you to see.

The Clintons sent Chelsea to Sidwell instead of public and I'm not gonna risk my family's safety by driving a tiny car. Physics are physics.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, I moved to the 'burbs after living in several cities, including in Europe, and am still, many years later, shocked at the waste. Besides the large number of mom vans, I also am still surprised the continuing use of single use cutlery, cups, etc.; the love of Costco--a temple to wastefulness and the worship of plastic; the huge new builds; and the general pattern of overconsumption.

Costco isn't a plastic temple. They don't even sell bags. Stuff often comes in bulk packaging reducing plastic waste.

[Anonymous]

Op, I think the mommy van is just a symbol of trying to be the best mother. "I'm doing this Mom-Thing The Biggest and The Best. My SUV holds the most kids."

[Anonymous]

OP, you could start a local chapter of the Tyre Deflators Group. Sure there are loadds of Gen Z would-be activists in DC who would happily do the handiwork.

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/jul/27/tire-deflators-suv-new-york-climate-crisis

[Anonymous]

SUVs were 23% more likely to hit people than cars. SUVs were 61% more likely, and minivans were 45% more likely to hit people than cars

https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2022/03/17/suvs-pickups-pedestrian-fatalities-rise/7075333001/

The logistic regression models show that SUVs are 16% more likely to cause incapacitating injuries and 36% more likely to kill pedestrians than smaller cars.

https://towardsdatascience.com/suvs-are-killing-people-de6ce08bac3d

[Anonymous]

I’m just rollin’ down 270 in my SUV, causing climate-change-induced earthquakes, and bein’ like “ahhhhh.”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I feel your pain, OP. I moved to McLean many years ago and was horrified by so many cultural differences. The huge similar looking SUV's, the same color of highlighted hair, the big talk about vacation plans and how much they spend on their handbags, clothes, private schools, extra curriculars, etc. Lots of not very serious conversation about nothing. I think, to be fair, a lot of it, could have been them jockeying for status when the kids were young, trying to find their place in the community hierarchy. It took a long time, but I was able to find my people, for what it's worth! Good luck.

As s holes, as sholes, and more as s h oles!

Bye as sh oles.