stupid drivers, stupid big ass SUV's

[The Yosemite Bear]

lol

I had a near miss with one of those two years ago, I had to get my right side front wheel bearings replaced because of the damaged I incurred avoiding a head on with the fellow.

[Alferd Packer]

Actually, that does remind me that I've seen a lot of SUVs wiped out or in ditches before. The best vehicle for snow is a Jeep. Light weight combined with 4-wheel drive, big tires, and good ground clearance. SUVs have 4-wheel drive and good ground clearance but they weigh too much. And the idiots driving them don't seem to realize that while 4-wheel drive makes it easier to accelerate in bad road conditions, it does not make it easier to stop.

Anything with a short wheelbase, high clearance, and big tires is a good snow/offroad choice. What makes a Jeep truly awesome is they still have solid axles, front and rear. You get much better power distribution and articulation out of solid axles than with an independent front suspension. Although, my little Nissan does acquit itself admirably in most offroad scenarios that I've had the balls to attempt.

I've driven big SUVs in the snow before, and it's not fun. I was so piss-scared going down this one hill that I had the the transmission in first gear and was crawling in the low range at like 4 mph. Luckily no one was behind me, but ugh. I can't even imagine what it'd be like to drive a big SUV offroad. Theoretically, it's possible, but...

Gimme my pickup any day.

[Hyperion]

Ick, that sucks Col.. I almost got my car whacked by some small POS in the blind spot of a semi at an intersection near my house. Almost the same situation as yours, but the semi was turning, and the road was clear on both sides as far as I could see (about 1/8 mile downhill where the car was coming from), so I went for it, had to slam on the brakes.

Personally I hate being next to or behind those big SUVs, nevermind all the ones that tailgate (invarably female drivers, usually on a cellphone). Those monsters have no business on the road, let alone in a city.

[Crayz9000]

If you ask me, the main problem is having just too much mass in the vehicle. One of the reasons that Jeeps work so well is that they're light. They don't take much power to get moving, and they don't take too much power to stop. A Suburban, on the other hand... takes a lot of power to get moving, and as for stopping... well, suffice it to say that it won't stop on a dime. And that's in normal conditions.

Chevy at least balanced the suspension on the Suburban (and that entire truck chassis design) better than their Ford counterparts. There is no way I'm ever touching any Ford SUV with a ten-foot pole, and the same goes for their trucks.

[Broomstick]

Soccer Moms (if i'm using the term in it's correct context) seem to love SUVs because they're safe from the inside. As long as their brats are inside the car for the whole mile of a school run, then they're not going to get hurt by another car.

Actually, given the roll-over tendencies of some models and the ignorance of how to properly drive a heavy vehicle among the general public, many SUV's are LESS safe to their occupants than a good mid-size sedan or wagon.

I get to demonstrate this all winter in my dinky, two-wheel drive auto-trans Toyota Echo (which isn't even big enough to be "mid-size") that put-puts down the road passed overturned SUV's lying in ditches or just sliding off the road. Bigger is meaningless if you don't know how to drive in the first place.

[Miles Teg]

While I agree large SUVs are really dumb ( Expedition/Tahoe/etc + ) I think Midsize and smaller SUVs (Explorer/Trailblazer/4Runner/etc.) are highly useful for what they are intended for.

So, what are they intened for? A little of everything, carrying people, carrying gear, towing, offroad, etc. Of course, SUVs are a jack of all trades, master of none type vehicle. They can tow, but not as much as a heavy duty truck, they can carry lots of people, but not as many as a passenger van. They can go offroad, but not as well as a hummer (a real hummer, not an H2), etc.

They are good for someone who wants one and only one vehicle, and does lots of different things.

It's also a myth that midsize SUVs are gas guzzlers. They are compared to a rice burner econobox, but are (these days) nearly as efficient (and sometimes moreso) than their specialized cousins (who's functionality they have to some useful degree). For example (using Ford and Toyota):

Ford Vehicle MPG(CTY/HW))
Explorer (Midsize SUV) 16/21
Crown Victoria (FS Car) 17/25
Freestar (minivan) 17/23
F-150 (1/4T truck ) 15/19

Toyota Vehicle MPG (CTY/HW)
4Runner (MS SUV) 17/21
Avalon (FS Car) 21/29
Sienna (minivan) 18/24
Tundra (1/4T truck) 16/19


With other manufactures, the differences are similar.

Essentially, you get the utility of 4+ vehicles in one, to a degree that is suitable for most peoples needs. Most people don't need to tow a much or haul as much as a full size truck can tow, most people don't need to carry as many people as a minivan can, etc. A MS SUV is a good compromise to owning two or more cars (especially envornmentally, since the pollutants created by a modern car during its lifetime are less than those created when it is manufactured). Of course, if all you need is a commuter, buy an econobox. If all you need is a vehicle to tow lots of crap everyday, buy a full size truck =) For those of us who do a little of everything on a regular basis, midsize SUVs are a good choice.

P.S. They are especially nice for those of us who cannot rent a car/van/truck since we are not 25yo yet =P

Miles Teg