Survey: Drivers Still Like SUV’s Despite Gas Hikes

Yep for well over a decade depending on your beginning point it's been going up steadily.

 

I'm driving a rental Tahoe this weekend. Fully loaded model with leather, XM, Bose, bluetooth, Onstar, the whole nine yards.

When I stopped to fill it up the first time (itself a shocking experience) the damn thing automatically locked me out (with the key and my phone still inside). I had to borrow people's phones to call for Roadside Assistance. Luckily, they were able to remotely unlock the car for me via Onstar.

IMO, this is not much more than a mediocre vehicle that is overpriced and poorly designed (to say nothing about fuel inefficiency)

I simply don't understand why there are so many of them roaming my Texas neck of the woods.

 

Because as you drove it, and don't lie, you felt like you were leading a small army into traffic, right? I remember driving a 24' Uhaul and I felt invincible!

 

It is true that the beast gives you a sense of invincibility. I feel like I'm in a tank (figuratively speaking) and can mow down any sedans in my way with ease.

Perhaps this is the true appeal of these monstrosities: a false sense of superiority and security.

 

I drove my dad's Grand Cherokee once when one of my vehicles was being evaluated by the insurance company following an accident. I loved sitting up higher and in a more natural seated position. Then I pumped $20 into the fuel tank and it only filled half the tank (this was 2003). I had been driving a very nice Mazda Protege 5spd that was hit. Talk about shock! 30 MPG down to 15 MPG.

I've always said, if there was a way to raise the Prius about 6 or 12 inches in interior height and maintain the rest it would be essentially the perfect vehicle. I just can't fathom paying 10k more for a big vehicle then the ongoing costs associated with it. It eats away at me just paying for my Harley because I've got the car.

 

Have you seen the SIZE of the average American family? That's why the SUV market will always have a spot in America regardless as to the price of gas.

-Brad

 

Don't be too certain of that. Modern food production and distribution requires an enormous amount of energy. If (when) that energy supply is disrupted - high calorie foods may become scarce/too costly (GASP!) and the heavyweights you've seen on The Greatest Loser might start losing weight - they won't have a choice.

Oops - I forgot - they can always go to their Uncle Sam. I am AMAZED how many people in the country depend on him for food, health care, and some cash.

 

Escalating insurance rates, less roads, more traffic ....hmmmm not sure I WANT to feel invincible

 

Have you seen the SIZE of the average American? An SUV is the only thing big enough that it won't make it look like a joke comparison.

They are superior at being in the way. I drove one once - never again. I felt totally out of control. It was like point the POS and hope for the best.

 

Do any other readers find it discomforting that some writers on PC are so self-centered (or whatever you want to call it) that they are intolerant of others, and their vehicle choices? Believe it or not, there are drivers that need the space, hauling capacity, ground clearance, and traction provided by an SUV, or van, or truck, and AWD vehicle. Sure there are some that drive these vehicles for vanity, but I'd wager that most are bought due to a specific need. I sincerely hope the day never comes that the government, or some writers in PC, are empowered to make the decision regarding what size vehicle the public is authorized to drive.

What I fear is that some "do-gooder" advocates would seek to limit families so-as to fit in a small eco-box; or dismantle the RV and recreation industry, or the construction worker, or cattlemen, and ranchers, well ... you get the idea. There are many, many worthwhile, legitimate, and necessary activities/occupations that cannot be accomplished, pulled, hauled by, or fit in the back seat of a Prius!!

 

Most domestically owned trucks and SUVs are bought for "need", where need is a perceived need, not a real one. "Want" would be a better term, but it has that nasty self-centered sound to it.

To be fully fair, consumers are allowed to buy whatever their desires and means support. Americans generally buy vehicles for worst case use, not general use. If we plan on towing a boat twice a year, we buy a truck big enough to do it, even when it would be more cost effective to rent.

Free enterprise and our Constitution allow us to be as wasteful as we want. It's a right. On the other hand, others are allowed to criticize our wasteful habits. That's also part of the Constitution. If you are going to rationalize, you need to be prepared to get called on it from time to time.

Tom

 

This is arguable. I am positive that most SUV drivers would fine superior utility in a minivan; they need no towing or anything else.

 

Yep. We don't own a minivan, but we own an SUV-ish people-mover with a third row and minimal towing capacity. Why? Because the wife wasn't willing to go minivan due to the stigma. A minivan would be more useful.

 

It seem the term "SUV" is the hang-up. Perhaps Toyota was exceedingly wise in not labeling the Venza an SUV, when in some respects .... it is similar.

The term "SUV" is unfairly affixed to such a broad spectum of vehicles ... from small, fuel efficient "utility vehicles" to enormous, thirsty, land barges.

In my stable, the Prius is complemented by a Honda AWD CRV. The Prius is ideal for virtually all, weather friendly driving conditions, but when the snow gets deep, as it does here in the mountain west, the CRV is clearly my vehicle of choice .... BTW, on the highway, it delivers 28 mpg. The combination meets my driving needs perfectly.

Some seem too willing to judge, and fault, others "needs" based on nothing more than their own perceptions and experiences. I am so grateful that I can live my life "fat, dumb and happy" with no knowledge of the faults that others find in me, my driving choices, and the reason that I have chosen to visit one destination or another.

 

After 600 miles of mostly (95%) highway driving, my avg is 18mpg, not bad. Better than the 13mpg I got in a Suburban on an exactly similar trip two years ago, although the Tahoe ride is definitely stiffer and rougher.

I still think these huge vehicles are overrated and overpriced, although they did give me a false sense of security and heightened my aggressiveness while driving.

I can understand how these vehicles are useful for towing. Unfortunately, that's not what they're really bought for in the majority of cases.

 

The government is indirectly choosing the vehicle you buy. The U.S. has very low fuel taxes thereby allowing the consumer to buy gas hogs. Europe in general has very high fuel taxes thereby people in general drive very fuel efficient small cars. If fuel costs were like that in Europe all along then we would have been driving small cars in general.

 

Adding to that, trucks and SUVs have been exempted from many of the mileage and safety requirements imposed on ordinary automobiles. Presumably this was done to help with business trucks, but the unintended consequence was to move consumers up into heavier, dirtier, and less efficient vehicles.

Tom