Definition of a SUV

[nothermark]

How about a minivan with a nice low centre of gravity? Or a sedan. I suppose
it depends on where I live. Am I out in the bush somewhere, or in the
middle of suburban, sameness hell?

FWIW - check the milage ratings. Comparable size vans and SUV's get
about the same milage. From what I can tell the real issues are
weight and frontal cross section area.

Note: my only observation is that SUV's are really targeted as
political BS. Reallity is that if the folks driving them need the
capacity it doesn't matter whether they are driving an SUV or a full
size sedan or a minivan. If they tow much more than a ton they can
only pick a larger SUV of truck as the minivan's and cars don't have
high towing capacity anymore.

 

[Blair Baucom]

Yes, Nova (it does not go), Pinto (Spanish slang term), and even today the
new Buick LaCrosse (Allure in Canada due to French Canadian meaning of
LaCrosse). Seems very little is done to ensure the meaning of a name until
it is sprung on the public. I believe that is why so many Japanese cars were
only numbers here at first although in Japan almost all have names, for
example in the U.S. the 240Z was the Fairlady Z in Japan.

Blair

 

[Tom Reingold]

nothermark wrote:




How about a minivan with a nice low centre of gravity? Or a sedan. I suppose
it depends on where I live. Am I out in the bush somewhere, or in the
middle of suburban, sameness hell?

In March I rented a Ford Freestar for a week, while car shopping. (I
ended up buying my first Subaru.) I don't like big vehicles, so I
expected to dislike the Ford. I tried, but I couldn't. I really liked
that minivan. Handling was awesome. Comfort was great. One of my
daughters pleaded with me to buy a minivan, she loved it so much. I
couldn't believe how much I liked it, considering how bigoted I am.

This past weekend, I rented a Kia Sedona (minivan). Ick. Engine and
transmission were good. Interior was good. Overal fit and finish were
flawless. But handling was awful, as was steering. Nice try, Kia. You'll
get it right eventually. I notice Hyundai is getting very good reviews
lately.

Tom

 

[Tom Reingold]

FWIW - check the milage ratings. Comparable size vans and SUV's get
about the same milage. From what I can tell the real issues are
weight and frontal cross section area.

Note: my only observation is that SUV's are really targeted as
political BS. Reallity is that if the folks driving them need the
capacity it doesn't matter whether they are driving an SUV or a full
size sedan or a minivan. If they tow much more than a ton they can
only pick a larger SUV of truck as the minivan's and cars don't have
high towing capacity anymore.

I agree, but minivans generally have more interior space. So remind me
what the advantage of an SUV are, over a minivan.

Tom

 

[jabario]

Minivans are incredibly practical but are not so good in the
masculinity affirming department. They are also no better than in a
sedan in poor weather. Yes they do have AWD minivans but what fool
would trust a chrysler with complicated technology. There are also few
regular wagons out there. The Magnum had promise until the designers
sloped the rear hatch area negating the ability to really haul stuff.
Most people would be better served with a wagon or minivan than with an
suv. But appearances are important even with $2+ gallon gas. Just look
at the smoker trash that pay $60 for a carton .

 

[KLS]

Minivans are incredibly practical but are not so good in the
masculinity affirming department.

You have issues with your sexuality, don't you?

 

[jabario]

No, a man should drive a manly vehicle

 

[Carl 1 Lucky Texan]

A REAL man would drive whatever he wants.

Carl

No, a man should drive a manly vehicle

 

[nothermark]

I agree, but minivans generally have more interior space. So remind me
what the advantage of an SUV are, over a minivan.

Tom

The only minivan that will tow a significant load is the Chevy/GMC as
it still has a frame and rear drive. The rest are oversized sedans.
With Chrysler the quote I often hear is "after 20 years you'd think
they could make a transmission that lasted more than 70K miles". Then
there is ground clearance and 4wd. Not everyone needs All those
features all the time but most folks who buy SUV's think they need
some of them some of the time. If they didn't they would buy
something else, like a luxury sedan.

A thought. Folks who buy big vehicles aren't that bothered by gas
milage. They buy the vehicle because they think they need the utility
some of the time. Driving it to work alone is not why they own the
vehicle. It's just more cost effective to use a gallon instead of a
half gallon to get to work and not buy the second car. Assuming one
can garage the second car. Not all folks can. If they don't need the
load capacity they can get the rest with a small SUV like the Honda
CRV at quite reasonable milage.

 

[Tom Reingold]

The only minivan that will tow a significant load is the Chevy/GMC as
it still has a frame and rear drive. The rest are oversized sedans.
With Chrysler the quote I often hear is "after 20 years you'd think
they could make a transmission that lasted more than 70K miles". Then
there is ground clearance and 4wd. Not everyone needs All those
features all the time but most folks who buy SUV's think they need
some of them some of the time. If they didn't they would buy
something else, like a luxury sedan.

A thought. Folks who buy big vehicles aren't that bothered by gas
milage. They buy the vehicle because they think they need the utility
some of the time. Driving it to work alone is not why they own the
vehicle. It's just more cost effective to use a gallon instead of a
half gallon to get to work and not buy the second car. Assuming one
can garage the second car. Not all folks can. If they don't need the
load capacity they can get the rest with a small SUV like the Honda
CRV at quite reasonable milage.

Yes, it probably goes something like that, often. I think it's bad math,
though. People want to own stuff because they might use it. I saved
money by buying my Subaru, so I can rent a minivan when I need to. I can
also rent an SUV but I've never felt the need to.

Tom

 

[Tom Reingold]

No, a man should drive a manly vehicle

That sounds like an argument for homosexuality. I say opposites attract,
which is why I enjoy my elegant and understated Subaru. ;-)

Tom

 

[nothermark]

Yes, it probably goes something like that, often. I think it's bad math,
though. People want to own stuff because they might use it. I saved
money by buying my Subaru, so I can rent a minivan when I need to. I can
also rent an SUV but I've never felt the need to.

Tom

If that works for you that's fine. On the other hand price renting a
larger SUV 15 or 20 times a year. That is what folks with campers
would need. Then there are the horse folks, boat folks, snowmobile
folks, home handyfolks, etc. And don't forget most of them want them
on the same weekends. ;-)

 

[Tom Reingold]

If that works for you that's fine. On the other hand price renting a
larger SUV 15 or 20 times a year. That is what folks with campers
would need. Then there are the horse folks, boat folks, snowmobile
folks, home handyfolks, etc. And don't forget most of them want them
on the same weekends. ;-)

Right. Those people should own SUV's. And they do. Good.

That doesn't explain why 99% of SUV owners made their decisions, though.

Tom

 

[nothermark]

Right. Those people should own SUV's. And they do. Good.

That doesn't explain why 99% of SUV owners made their decisions, though.

Tom

either you underrstimate the number of folks involved in the listed
activities or I over estimate them. Maybe you should try asking the
folks who drive them why they do. The one's I deal with have a reason
that makes sense in most cases. If they don't they ususally got
talked into one by a relative who was worried about them driving in
the winter. In the latter category they mostly get the little one's
that are just rederessed cars. They worry me much less than the folks
going for the big Sedans.

 

[bob]

To quote a TV ad for the Hyundai Santa Fe (I think that's the model),
"...rugged looking"

Says it all, dun it?

--

 

[luke.kaven]

Here is obviously someone who doesn't know anything about New York.
Tribeca is the highest-priced neighborhood in Manhattan, mostly
populated by families with children. The misnamed "Christian Values"
that you parrot are really neo-conservative dogma. For those who
haven't read Strauss, the father of neo-conservativism and teacher to
twenty top officials in the Bush administration, including the
notorious PNAC crowd, Strauss was an admirer of Hitler. Strauss writes
that "the only natural right is the right of the strong to rule over
the weak." Religion, by the way, is understood only as a means for
controlling the masses. Consider yourself controlled.

 

[CompUser]

@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com>,
(e-mail address removed) says...

Here is obviously someone who doesn't know anything about New York.
Tribeca is the highest-priced neighborhood in Manhattan, mostly
populated by families with children. The misnamed "Christian Values"
that you parrot are really neo-conservative dogma. For those who
haven't read Strauss, the father of neo-conservativism and teacher to
twenty top officials in the Bush administration, including the
notorious PNAC crowd, Strauss was an admirer of Hitler. Strauss writes
that "the only natural right is the right of the strong to rule over
the weak." Religion, by the way, is understood only as a means for
controlling the masses. Consider yourself controlled.

....he's impressed me as more "troll" than
"controlled"...

 

[jabario]

All of NY city is a modern day Sodom. No one who cares about their
family would live in NY.