| Are big SUV dying their last gasp?
Posted: 5/8/2008 7:45:25 PM | I really hope the fuel crisis in American brings an end to huge SUVs. Meeting a gentleman years ago who owned a Escalade or Explorer--I don't know, some beast with a running board to launch into it--I stated, "this thing is just a penis extension". "Yes, it is", he said.
So there we go. The "hats & horns" parties are over in America. | |
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| Are big SUV dying their last gasp?
Posted: 5/8/2008 9:20:22 PM | I hear the used car market is giving little for those used SUV's. It stands to good reason because they know they have no resale value as people are not in the market to buy.
Now I agree few people need such vehicles but I would hardly be a critic of those that really do need such equipment.
Heck even a Corvette can be purchased cheaper than some SUV's, and the Vette gets far better MPG.. | |
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| Are big SUV dying their last gasp?
Posted: 5/9/2008 4:44:30 AM | | The more expensive that gas gets, the more big SUVs will become the exclusive luxury of the rich. People will continue to buy them because they will demonstrate social status and differentiate their drivers from the common rabble driving piddly little sub compacts. | |
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| Are big SUV dying their last gasp?
Posted: 5/9/2008 4:50:05 AM | | I think the days of the behemoths are over. Too bad. I had a Ford Explorer and loved it, but my Volvo doesnt seem to get all that great MPH either. Maybe they can just make more efficient engines in these things. Not like we actually drive 120 MPH or need that capacity. | |
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| Are big SUV dying their last gasp?
Posted: 5/9/2008 5:55:39 AM |
Heck even a Corvette can be purchased cheaper than some SUV's, and the Vette gets far better MPG..
True, but how much firewood, drywall, camping equipment, luggage, furniture, appliances, mulch, gravel etc., can it haul compared to my Titan? Can it haul a sailboat?
Honestly, I don't see how anyone gets along without at least one pick-up in the stable.
When they make a truck that can haul all my stuff, AND get 40mpg, I'll gladly buy it. Until then, I still have to feed the beast.
But I do try to offset it by commuting to work on my motorcycle. Which does get forty mpg. And if my job wasn't forty miles away, I'd actually prefer to ride my bicycle. | |
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| Are big SUV dying their last gasp?
Posted: 5/9/2008 6:27:19 AM | | I, for one, would be happy to see them off the roads. I don't have any stats to back me up, but I would venture to guess that the percentage of traffic accidents would go down with less big vehicules on the road. | |
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| Are big SUV dying their last gasp?
Posted: 5/9/2008 6:27:31 AM |
True, but how much firewood, drywall, camping equipment, luggage, furniture, appliances, mulch, gravel etc., can it haul compared to my Titan? Can it haul a sailboat?
LOL, yea I wasn't trying to imply they were equal in every way just saying that they cost the same...
There is a difference between a SUV and a Pickup truck. Who would load their Cadillac Escalade or Hummer H2 cargo area with loose mulch? Not many I would believe so the use of such a vehicle is purely a status image.
Honestly, I don't see how anyone gets along without at least one pick-up in the stable.~But I do try to offset it by commuting to work on my motorcycle. Which does get forty mpg.
I see we are somewhat alike? I also own a pickup and can't imagine not having it. However, I admit it's 20 years old and one of those small trucks with a 4 banger so it does very well on gas. Yet, when the weather is good I use the motorcycle to commute to work and if I lived closer I'd use the bicycle, as I do to run up to the local stores. I guess I'm fortunate and somewhat smart about it, as I can have my cake and eat it too. My Muscle car doesn't cost me a dime as most of the time it sets. A car that isn't driven doesn't use gasoline, so when the rare occassions I do get it out I can afford to drive it. I also keep my european sports sedan parked much of the time too and use it mostly for the weekends or when I need it. Otherwise I just use the old pickup and get a good laugh at all the women throwing their nose up at me thinking I have no money... It's those kind of women that make me so happy to be single... I know tramps that have better class.
Most of the people I see riding around in those over sized brutes have no real need for such vehicles. Furthermore if they can afford such a vehicle then they can also afford a much smaller vehicle they could use as a daily driver that gets far better gas mileage and save the SUV for when it's really needed. | |
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| Are big SUV dying their last gasp?
Posted: 5/9/2008 6:45:02 AM | | That's what happened to the original muscle car era in the early 70's. Increasing gas prices combined with high insurance rates killed them off for a couple of decades until the mid 90's when truly high performance cars came back on the scene along with SUV's. So it will be until another 20 years when oil stabalizes and prices again become affordable. In the meantime though, some of the high performance cars built in the last 10 years should become great investments down the road. Trans-Am WS6's and Mustang Cobras come to mind as two of them. And just like in the past, the new muscle car era will soon fade and become a distant memory but will comeback sometime in the future. Big SUV's will do the same as the demand will increase for them as well. It's cyclical. | |
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| Are big SUV dying their last gasp?
Posted: 5/9/2008 7:02:23 AM |
I, for one, would be happy to see them off the roads. I don't have any stats to back me up, but I would venture to guess that the percentage of traffic accidents would go down with less big vehicules on the road.
Maybe it's not the size, but the person driving that is the determining factor in safety. | |
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| Are big SUV dying their last gasp?
Posted: 5/9/2008 7:05:48 AM | jimtash71, oil is finite and many experts think that we'll hit peak oil in 2010-12. There's been no major discovery of a major oil cow in over 30 years.
So how do you figure it's cyclical? | |
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| Are big SUV dying their last gasp?
Posted: 5/9/2008 7:08:44 AM |
Maybe it's not the size, but the person driving that is the determining factor in safety.
Sure, that's possible.
But I will say, though, that an SUV vehicule has blocked my view of oncoming traffic, stop lights and what is ahead of me on a number of occasions. Enough to make note and wish that I was not behind it. | |
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| Are big SUV dying their last gasp?
Posted: 5/9/2008 7:20:59 AM | | Since I am an old gearhead at heart, I hate to say this, but yes, oil is finite. We will deplete the earth of it. Man has been around how long? Compared to how long has the internal combustion engine been around? Not long, and we've already used up a significant portion of the dinosaurs that run them. | |
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| Are big SUV dying their last gasp?
Posted: 5/9/2008 7:39:07 AM | jimtash71, oil is finite and many experts think that we'll hit peak oil in 2010-12. There's been no major discovery of a major oil cow in over 30 years.
So how do you figure it's cyclical?
The oil sands in Canada alone contain more oil than Saudi Arabia. Now that oil is above $100.00 a barrel, it's become profitable to start extracting it and it will be. Oil is finite but government restrictions along with enviromental concerns are the bigger culprit right now rather than peak oil. It's around but it's going to be more expensive to get at it.
Cyclical because in 20 years, more fuel efficient cars will have made their way into people's driveways just like 20 years ago thus driving the price of gas down. 1989 was the most fuel efficient year for cars manufactured ever. Now look at us 20 years later. Sure the demand will go up in the short term but as more hybrids and unconventional powered cars are manufactured and sold, it will subside and the price should eventually go down. It's a good thing because the west might finally get serious about leaving behind the middle east once and for all. Afterall if they didn't have the oil, we wouldn't give one iota what they did to themselves. Right?
I'm a car nut myself and I own an early 60's Buick that gets 12MPG on a good day. It's not something I drive everyday either nor could I afford to. But I'm in no way worried that I won't be able to drive it 20 years from now due to the price or shortage of gas. | |
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| Are big SUV dying their last gasp?
Posted: 5/9/2008 8:02:31 AM |
Sure, that's possible.
But I will say, though, that an SUV vehicule has blocked my view of oncoming traffic, stop lights and what is ahead of me on a number of occasions. Enough to make note and wish that I was not behind it.
I agree with you there but driver error is the main cluprit. Stop driving so closely behind them.  | |
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| Are big SUV dying their last gasp?
Posted: 5/9/2008 8:08:41 AM | In 1973 a friend of mine put a propane converter kit in her Fleetwood Caty. I worked great. I don't know why we don't something about this on the news. I go through 3 cords of wood for the winter and have an oil burner. Right now the cheapest heat is propane.
I can understand needing a truck. I drive a Passat and have a 1993 Ford Ranger. I need it for another year to deal with construction with my house--that if I had to sell I'd probably loose everything I've had to put into it.
Yes, some people need the big SUVs for hauling, etc., but most people who have bought these things over the years do not.
I think we all better start the Victory gardens, too. Plant berry bushes, fruit trees and go back to canning, freezing. Hunters, get out your guns and bring in venison. | |
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| Are big SUV dying their last gasp?
Posted: 5/9/2008 8:09:04 AM | In 1973 a friend of mine put a propane converter kit in her Fleetwood Caty. I worked great. I don't know why we don't see something about this on the news. I go through 3 cords of wood for the winter and have an oil burner. Right now the cheapest heat is propane.
I can understand needing a truck. I drive a Passat and have a 1993 Ford Ranger. I need it for another year to deal with construction with my house--that if I had to sell I'd probably loose everything I've had to put into it.
Yes, some people need the big SUVs for hauling, etc., but most people who have bought these things over the years do not.
I think we all better start the Victory gardens, too. Plant berry bushes, fruit trees and go back to canning, freezing. Hunters, get out your guns and bring in venison. | |
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| Are big SUV dying their last gasp?
Posted: 5/9/2008 9:03:25 AM | I have a van that I use for hauling, a sedan for commuting.
It would be nice to have a 6-cyl full size 1/2 ton pickup, and I'd love to find a late model SUV cheap, and swap the big V8 with a 15% smaller-displacement Miller Cycle engine.
Same power and 15% improvement in fuel economy.
Why doesn't GM use this?
I have no idea, ask Bob Lutz:
http://fastlane.gmblogs.com/ | |
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| Are big SUV dying their last gasp?
Posted: 5/9/2008 9:09:43 AM | I think they are dying off. A shame too, a lot of them are truly well engineered vehicles. I own an XTerra - great truck and while she's not great on gas, she's not as bad as some of her contemporaries.
that said, Im glad I have a motorcycle and am trying actively to find a way out of the truck. | |
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| Are big SUV dying their last gasp?
Posted: 5/9/2008 9:25:16 AM | GM built the damn things b/c it was easy--they already had the truck chassis, and Suburban body panels.
When you speak of the gas crisis, however, keep in mind we had it far worse. Remember "even and odd days"? that was 1973. Ask ANYONE about the gas crisis at the beginning of the 1980's, and everyone goes, "huh? don't remember that!" Yet I've got my HotRodMagazines from back then, telling everyone the V8 was dead, start hot rodding 4 cylinders, maybe even V6's.
We never learned the lesson. But neither did the automakers. They build lightweight cars, then instead of replacing the stamping dies that have worn out, so tolerances are no longer tight and doors on new cars rattle, they simply throw more metal in, to make the new cars seem more secure. and they add on the options, to make the cars worth a higher price.
So, when horsepower becomes popular again, they just put big engines into heavy cars that already exist, rather than efficient engines into lightweight cars like hot rodders do. | |
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| Are big SUV dying their last gasp?
Posted: 5/9/2008 9:55:20 AM | | The big SUV's (terrorist vehicles) won't die in Texas. Gas could run $8/gallon and you'll find that Texas will mortgage their homes to hang onto their prized SUV's. | |
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| Are big SUV dying their last gasp?
Posted: 5/9/2008 10:05:42 AM |
GM built the damn things b/c it was easy--they already had the truck chassis, and Suburban body panels.
When you speak of the gas crisis, however, keep in mind we had it far worse. Remember "even and odd days"? that was 1973. Ask ANYONE about the gas crisis at the beginning of the 1980's, and everyone goes, "huh? don't remember that!" Yet I've got my HotRodMagazines from back then, telling everyone the V8 was dead, start hot rodding 4 cylinders, maybe even V6's.
We never learned the lesson. But neither did the automakers. They build lightweight cars, then instead of replacing the stamping dies that have worn out, so tolerances are no longer tight and doors on new cars rattle, they simply throw more metal in, to make the new cars seem more secure. and they add on the options, to make the cars worth a higher price.
So, when horsepower becomes popular again, they just put big engines into heavy cars that already exist, rather than efficient engines into lightweight cars like hot rodders do.
FMVSS determine the weight of vehicles these days. Side impact beams, air bags, crush zones, rollover bars, anything in the name of safety adds weight.
SUV's are the most profitable vehicles sold by manufacturers, period. They and trucks do not have to live up to the same safety and emmision standards as cars so that makes them easier to produce as well.
Automakers are capable of manufacturing highly efficient vehicles but guess what. The demand just wasn't there in the last 20 years so there was no reason to build them. Remember the Ford Escorts, Festivas, Geo Swifts and Metros and I can go and on. Where are they now? Now that things have changed though, don't be too surprised when some small SUV's start getting 30-40 MPG city in the next few years. Demand will always determine what the manufacturers sell. | |
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| Are big SUV dying their last gasp?
Posted: 5/9/2008 10:36:08 AM | remember that the all might Dollar has fallen relative to other currencies - - -
this has caused the biggest raise in the price of crude - - - -
we have plenty of gas and oil in this country - - - if the oil companies would just be allowed to drill for it - - - and at present they are not allowed to drill for the crude - - -
and it takes years to develop and oil field - - put in all of the oil wells and run the pipes to bring the oil out - - - it takes years to build refineries - - - -
I heard the other day that North America has a 60 year supply of gas for 60 million cars and to heat 160 million homes. - - - - - -
but we are not allowed to drill for it - - - -
Jim P. | |
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| Are big SUV dying their last gasp?
Posted: 5/9/2008 11:00:06 AM | I sure hope that these monster gas pigs go away and soon.
gtomustang hits on a critical point about weight. The auto manufacturers always build small cars when trying to produce a fuel efficient vehicle. Small vehicles are without question much more dangerous when involved in an accident. For a man my size they are also very uncomfortable and they have no capacity to carry much of anything. Manufacturers need to build large “light-weight” vehicles for fuel efficiency, not small ones. Larger, light-weight vehicles would be great on gas and still provide the carrying capacity people want and the “crunch” room to make these vehicles safe. | |
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