2/1     Are people just idiots or is there a practical reason for
        buying a sport utility vehicle?
        \_ Because Geo Metros have trouble supporting a machine gun
           gun mount.  -John
           \_ All the better to run over you with my dear.
              \_ Typical self-righteous SUV owner mentality. I hope
                 your tires rip apart tossing your Explorer around
                 you damn soccer mom.
        \_ It's a lot easier to drive SUV to the Sierra high country area
           during the winter.  Otherwise, you have to find other super
           juiced car that has 4 wheel drive.
           \_ Oh give me a break. SUV's don't handle better in snowy
              conditions. In fact, they're much worse. The only thing
              an SUV might give you is 4WD which only helps you
              accelerate better. But I'm guessing that much of that
              capability is used to compensate for the extra weight
              of an SUV. SUV weighs more making it handle more poorly
              and degrades its braking abilities. And 4WD/AWD isn't
              limited to SUVs and not all SUVs have it.
                \_ 4WD != better acceleration (in fact it's opposite).
                   4WD combines with slip differentials and M+S tires give
                   you the best traction on snowy conditions.
                   Audi, Subaru, BMW are not enough selections to choose from.
                   \_ No, but many cars include traction control systems
                      which are designed to reduce slipping during
                      acceleration (much like how ABS works). The point
                      of 4WD is to put 4 tires on the ground that will
                      drive in case one slips. If you're driving in such
                      bad conditions that your tires will slip when
                      you accelerate you shouldn't even be driving at
                      all because, conversely, you're not going to
                      fair much better at stopping and no amount of 4WD
                      is going to help you there.
                      \_ Some advanced 4WD systems work even when three of the
                         four tires slip.
                      \_ 4WD is always better than 2WD on slippy conditions.
                         That's why during R-2 conditions, only 4WD w/M+S
                         are permitted to go without chains.
           \_ Audi.  Audi is the STANDARD.  Juiced car that has 4 wheel
              drive. At any rate, SUVs may have good engines, but they
              are also heavy, and thus inefficient if you want to go
              uphill a lot.
              \_ Mitsu GTO Twin Turbo is the STANDARD! 938 HP, I can
                 win any course!
              \_ I wish I can afford an Audi A4.
                 \_ I wish I could afford an SUV so I can get an Audi.
                    \_ Really?  I was thinking of Audi A4 which in the
                       $40k range.
                       \_ The S4 is 40k range.  A4 is way cheaper.  You can
                          also wait a bit and get a quattro passat.  -pld
                          \_ I thought they were already out?  In any case
                             you can only get the same V6, which isn't too
                             exciting with the added weight of the AWD..
              \_ yesh. my A4 in a blizzard out-handles SUVs on dry pavement.
                 i only with it had the allroad air suspension so i could
                 take it out in the mohave instead of cramming into
                 my friend's truck. it also worked great the one time
                 i got into a mud-slicked hill climb down by santa cruz.
                 it's like saddling up a rottweiler.
        \_ I own a SUV mainly for biking, camping, and skiing trips.
           For commuting, I drive a cheap ass Toyota Tercel to save
           gas.
        \_ Consumers are illogical. Consumers buy SUVs because they have
           the money/power/crave and most importantly, because they can.
        \_ My truck (what people call SUV) actually has better gas mileage than
           my friend's Mercedes C class.
           \_ sure but he probably gets more bimbos
              \_ But his is a 4-door automatic even though he's only 30.
                 \_ I've been driving a Lincoln since age 23. Chicks
                    dig it, and thier mom's like me too, cause they
                    think I'm stable and mature.
                    \_ Yes, papa.