4/23 Why buy an SUV? Why did you buy an SUV? (two separate questions)
\_ skiing and camping.
\_ You could do that with any car.
\_ to feel like a Big Man.
\_ i'm very short. related to big man above.
\_ They're just station wagons really, for most users. I'm sure you
understand the market for those. For SUVs then you just compare
looks and price, plus SUVs sometimes have things like 4WD or
towing capacity. There do exist people who take SUVs offroading.
\_ So why aren't then people buying station vagons instead
of the usually bigger, bulker, and more expensive SUVs?
\_ Some are. I am a happy subaru owner. Subaru > SUV, unless
you have 'unique needs' and then it's probably hummer > SUV.
Most people I know who own SUVs are women who like the feeling
of safety. I should add, I have nothing against SUVs or
people who ride them. They are just not really my aesthetic.
-- ilyas
\_ Subarus can't really tow or offroad, and are rather small
for family purposes.
\_ Heh. Ask geordan about offroading subarus. Also,
some subarus are quite large. Forester is essentially
a station wagon built on a sedan body. Another thing
I forgot to mention is the way SUV emissions are
classified -- an SUV lets you get away with a bigger
engine, which some people like. -- ilyas
\_ I think they call the Forester an SUV. But no Subaru
is "large". Forester is tiny compared to Acura MDX
let alone a Suburban.
\_ Hmm, ever heard of rally racing?
\_ rally racing is done on dirt roads.
\_ A subaru certainly offroads as well as most
SUVs currently on the market, and likely better
than a few. Most SUVs made today are made for
roads. -- ilyas
\_ All SUVs are made for roads. But I say your
"most" statement is wrong. I can think of
quite a few that will be much better. It's
not relevant that some may not be better.
\_ A Jeep Wrangler and that boxy Mercedes thing
which costs 70k are not made for roads --
they are a horrible ride on roads, but
they are great for offroading. We should
compare SUVs to Subarus. The Subaru
bottleneck is relatively low clearance,
the SUV bottleneck is the high center
of gravity -- both bad things. -- ilyas
\_ I just said. Consider a couple examples of car-based SUVs,
Toyota Highlander and Honda CR-V. They're not more wasteful
than the Camry or Civic they're based on. I don't think there
even exists a Civic wagon. The last Camry wagon I saw was butt
ugly and I doubt it offered 4WD or had as much room. QED.
\_ What are you smoking? Go look at http://edmunds.com, and look at
mpg for a CR-V vs civic. CRV gets 10 mpg less, and has a
bigger engine (to push its greater weight...). Civic wagons
were great, alas phased out in 91 (I own one) - but you still
see them all over, because they were very reliable and
versatile. Too bad they quit making them...
\_ Ok CR-V has a 2.4L, 160hp engine. 23/28 mpg. The
Civic Si, also 160hp, has 26/30. The Civic can't tow
anything and has a lot less room, and doesn't offer AWD.
Here's the Highlander difference:
Highlander: 3.3L 230hp, 19/25
Camry SE V6 3.3L 225hp, 20/29
By the way I don't even have an SUV, I'm just arguing
out of boredom.
\_ I should mention that mileage and AWD are a tradeoff
because AWD is heavy. This is part of the reason why
subaru mileage isn't as good as that of comparable
cars. Incidentally, what is this 'can't tow
anything' thing? What do you want to tow? Other
cars? Elephants? I've seen any old sedan (subaru
including) towing those two-wheel cargo things with
boats, and all sorts of other stuff. -- ilyas
\_ I've never seen a Civic towing anything. Some
people have large stuff to tow. Subarus actually
have more towing options than most normal cars,
but couldn't handle large trailers.
\_ Ilya, remind me to start some elephant-towing
threads sometime.
\_ I think Subarus and Hondy CR-Vs are good alternatives to
the larger SUVs. I know that some people have a true need
for larger SUVs, but what about those who think it just looks cool?
\_ Vanity is the only reason to buy an SUV, that and increasing
the risk of killing other people or killing your entire family
in a rollover. If you need passenger space, get a van. If you need
4WD get a sedan or truck. If you carry cargo, get a truck.
The only reason to buy an SUV is vanity.
\_ Safety is a good reason. SUVs ARE safer in non-rollover
collisions. It's also easier to armorplate an SUV if you are
into that sort of thing. Easier emission standards for SUVs
is yet a third reason. Did you read anything in this thread?
\_ please post your name so i can go laugh at your funeral.
\_ Dumbass. |
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