Sport Utility Vehicles - Your Opinion

[Ser Clegane]

Hmm ... curious.

While I agree that SUVs are non-necessary fun vehicles that need too much gas and I do not consider them to be particularly appealing, I don not quite understand why a lot of people get so upset about SUVs.

Many people seem to have less of a problem with expensive sports cars like e.g., a Porsche or a Ferrari - both equally unnecessary in a county with a tempolimit, and both also not the most efficient cars when it comes to gas consumption.

Why the borderline (or even beyond borderline) aggressive opinions about SUVs?

[Adrian II]

Why the borderline (or even beyond borderline) aggressive opinions about SUVs?

[PanzerJaeger]

SUVs are pretty stupid vehicles. If you want off-road, get a pickup.

Thats actually not the case.

Offroading is one of my favorite hobbies and I have never see pick-ups on any trails over class 1 - and many of them must be pulled out of the mud. The wheel base is too long, they are not agile, and they do not have differential that is needed for off-roading.

Of course, in that same vein, you never see Ford Explorers or Chevy Trailblazers out there either - unless they are heavily modified. Pretty much only Jeeps, Land Rovers, and Land Cruisers can handle the tough trails.

[PanzerJaeger]

I would love to see a pickup try this! (As long as im not responsible for towing it off the trail!)

[Geoffrey S]

Bah, chose the wrong option. I meant to vote "if 4x4 is necessary". I've got nothing against SUVs in principal, it's simply that when I see one driving through the busy streets of Utrecht or Amsterdam I can't help but wonder what the point is of using one in that kind of a situation, other than purely as some kind of status symbol.

[Del Arroyo]

I would love to see a pickup try this! (As long as im not responsible for towing it off the trail!)

Well, I would submit that if it's not practicable to walk on, then it's not technically a trail. In rural Mexico in mountainous areas (in other words HARD CORE, there are no roads), everyone uses pickups and they work just fine. As long as you're not going over boulders, you're good with a pickup.

I suppose a more jeep-like vehicle might handle a bit better. And if you enjoy roaring over boulders for fun, then yes, a genuine Sport Utility Vehicle might be the answer.

But please, enough of the Ford Explorer crap.

DA

[sharrukin]

I think a lot of people get SUV's who have no real need for them just as people get BMW's or a Porsche for the same reason. I am a practical guy and these seem silly to me but if the owner is willing to pay the freight on them and the gas bill, then its their business IMO.

[Taffy_is_a_Taff]

who honestly NEEDS a Porsche?

[Zharakov]

I like them...

[kiwitt]

My 4WD is the only 4x4 I want. It looks like a standard car, but handles like an EVO, yet is sedate enough to have an an everyday car.

My other complaint, is that 99% of the 4x4s I see in Auckland are to drive the "kids" to school. What is wrong with catching the bus or walking. I did as a kid.

[Meneldil]

I voted 'I dislike SUVs' but that's only because there's no 'SUVs really suck *** and people who drive SUVs are all idiots' option.

[GodsPetMonkey]

I don't have a problem with people who use SUVs for their intended purpose, either recreationally or for a living (there is some very rough country out there!). But it is easy to tell those which have been outside of the suburbs and those that haven’t, look for the factory fresh shine.

What really ticks me off is when the suburbanites complain that it is costing them to much in petrol to drive little Timmy 100m down the road to school... seriously, as Kiwitt said, what’s wrong with walking or catching the bus? In a few years time parents will be dispatching armoured convoys to keep their kids safe, it's crazy.
If your SUV is costing you an arm and a leg in fuel, perhaps the problem is you don't have a very fuel efficient car? Whuda thunk it. I don't see why you should get a special petrol price just because you didn't think about running costs when buying that shiny tin can.

who honestly NEEDS a Porsche?

I don't care much about the need, but I would rather be hit by a Porsche then a SUV at the same speed.
Then again, SUV owners are unlikely to be able to afford a Porsche, I knew a lot of SUV owners who got them because they wanted a big, luxury car, but couldn't afford a decent BMW/Mercedes.
If you got the money for a real status symbol, why buy a fake one?