99 replies to this topic

[bishmasterb]

You are right-on....nothing gets my blood boiling faster than watching these teens speed by while yakking on their cell phone...where's Darwin when you need him..??

Unfortunately, natural selection favors the wild teen in the 6000 pound SUV to the detriment of the little old lady in the Honda Civic.

[Chad Vander Veen]

Unfortunately, natural selection favors the wild teen in the 6000 pound SUV to the detriment of the little old lady in the Honda Civic.

Which can only lead to bigger and bigger vehicles...sort of an arms race for giant cars...mutually assured destruction.

[tgianco]

Well, there apparently was a couple of teens that took a joyride through Willow Springs on Carter and took out portions of some fences. I don't know how they were caught, but there were out yesterday (in the gleaming white SUV) hammering away to fix the portion of fences that they destroyed.

[skippypeanutbutter]

In the last week, I've been rearended by some soccer mom who was late picking up her kids and cut off by four senior citizens. True, many teenagers are poor drivers, but I can honestly say that I am one of the better ones. None of the things I previously mentioned were my fault. I can't tell you how many times I've been harrassed by adults for driving the speed limit.

Moving on.

Steve, forumreader, are there plans for some type of program directed toward high schoolers? I've been reading this thread and think that something specific on the high school campus would be effective as well. I would be willing to help put together something.

[Dave Burrell]

Which can only lead to bigger and bigger vehicles...sort of an arms race for giant cars...mutually assured destruction.

this world needs bigger trucks like we all need another....never mind LOL!

giant SUV's are an abomination - they consume too much gas, hog the roads, cram parking lots (and by that I mean they take up more space then everyone else - they should park out back but of course they're right up front in the compact spots).... and for what - to boost someone's ego - so they can having bragging rights of owning the largest suv on the planet?

Humvees are the worse vehicle ever made - its all for ego - how many owners have ever even touched dirt with it let alone driven off road - what a waste of resources

[Dave Burrell]

I think any parent that lets their teen drive an SUV or a sportscar ought to be liable for any damage, injury and death that results.

If you are a parent and let your teen drive one of these vehicles, you ought to be imprisoned for attempted murder.

well said! maybe that would make some parents think twice before handing the keys to a mercedes over to their kid!!

parents need to be made 100% responsible for their children - I wish laws would be changed to reflect that someday....might make the world a safer place.

it seems that alot of the wealthier folks in town don't pay any attention to what their kids are doing - they just spoil them and throw them money and gifts - that doesn't teach their kid anything.....

the other day a buddy of mine was rear ended while at a stop light by some punk kid in a mercedes - he musta been around 17 or so....he got out and gave my buddy crap - totally disrespectful and HE was at fault - damn that made me mad - fortunately my buddy is very nice and mellow - the kid didn't even produce an ID and didn't wait for the cops, I told my friend he should have gotten the plates but he was tired of it so he let it go - I woulda hunted the punk brat down and made his parents pay in FULL and then some too - damn punk rich kids need to be taught a lesson - they can't run amok in our town - hope the police start to crack down on them someday - we can only hope...

[bishmasterb]

giant SUV's are an abomination - they consume too much gas, hog the roads, cram parking lots (and by that I mean they take up more space then everyone else - they should park out back but of course they're right up front in the compact spots).... and for what - to boost someone's ego - so they can having bragging rights of owning the largest suv on the planet?

Humvees are the worse vehicle ever made - its all for ego - how many owners have ever even touched dirt with it let alone driven off road - what a waste of resources

You know, SUVs are responsible for good things too:

* Assuming you are the not-at-fault driver, they're safer for you to be in an accident in
* They helped to save the American auto industry
* They really don't take up much more space than smaller cars, certainly no less than full size sedans
* They're incredibly utilitarian
* They're mo better than those wimpy mini-vans
* People want them, they make people happy
* They probably have lower emissions than cars half their size from 25 years ago
* They don't "waste" gas, my vehicle gets exactly the gas mileage that the manufacturer said it is supposed to, perhaps even a little better

[YabYum]

please tell me this was a joke?

You know, SUVs are responsible for good things too:

* Assuming you are the not-at-fault driver, they're safer for you to be in an accident in

"There is increasing evidence that SUVs are not as safe as they appear. Recent studies show that SUVs pose a significant threat to drivers and passengers of other cars on the road. In addition, there are indications that safety problems threaten passengers and drivers of SUVs themselves."

http://www.suv.org/safety.html

* They helped to save the American auto industry

especially "helpful" if you're using your vehicle for business purposes, due to tax loopholes.....

"This loophole allows some of the least fuel-efficient passenger vehicles on the road today to qualify for a significant tax break.

In 2003, the Bush administration proposed increasing the tax deduction to $75,000. Lawmakers responded by expanding it to a whopping $100,000 as part of the $350 million tax cut package. Yet Congress did not change the weight-based classification of the vehicles, creating a huge benefit for the largest, least efficient vehicles."

http://www.ucsusa.or...cfm?pageID=1280

* They really don't take up much more space than smaller cars, certainly no less than full size sedans

the BEAST below, along with half-dozen other SUV's, take up Much more room than, for example, a Lincoln Town Car (one of the larger sedans i could think of)

* They're incredibly utilitarian

utilitarian? my old 1990 Nissan Sentra, with no auto windows, no A/C, no cd player.....THAT = utilitarian. A large percentage of the SUV's that I've seen have auto-windows, DVD players, high-end stereo systems with CD changers, etc.etc.etc.

* They probably have lower emissions than cars half their size from 25 years ago
* They don't "waste" gas, my vehicle gets exactly the gas mileage that the manufacturer said it is supposed to, perhaps even a little better

"SUV's Smog Forming Emissions

SUV's have a significant environmental impact even beyond the problem of global warming. Federal law gives heavy sport utility vehicles permission to emit higher levels of toxic and noxious pollution - carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, and nitrogen oxides. Sport utility vehicles can spew 30 percent more carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons and 75 percent more nitrogen oxides than passenger cars. (13) These combustion pollutants contribute to eye and throat irritation, coughing, nausea, dizziness, fatigue, confusion and headaches. Hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides are precursors to ground level ozone, which causes asthma and lung damage. (14)

These pollutants are regulated under the Clean Air Act of 1990. If a region is unable to reduce their emissions these pollutants for these pollutants, the EPA may impose penalties. This is known as reaching "attainment." Many of the large urban areas in the U.S. are in "serious nonattainment."

http://www.suv.org/environ.html#Smog

also, go to this website to see the environmental impacts of your SUV of choice:

www.fueleconomy.gov

[Dave Burrell]

You know, SUVs are responsible for good things too:

* Assuming you are the not-at-fault driver, they're safer for you to be in an accident in

Hahahaha great replies...
- yes they are safer if you're in an accident, I fully agree with you - its like the safety of a diesel truck vs a miata and I just bought the wife a small 4wd SUV for that very reason.

* They helped to save the American auto industry

- I suppose thats true they did help the economy because they do sell like faster then hamburgers

* They really don't take up much more space than smaller cars, certainly no less than full size sedans

- I've seen some of the larger SUV's, like Hummers or Escalades squeezed into spots that are insane... those 2 examples alone take up what seems like twice the space as an Explorer would

* They're incredibly utilitarian

- that may be true for some suv's, especially ones with large cargo areas but for example - I can't see a Humvee being able be useful for jack squat - the cargo area is non existant on those.

* They're mo better than those wimpy mini-vans

- hahahah definately better then a wimpy mini-van!

* People want them, they make people happy

- LOL! can't argue with you there...just like a new Ford GT would make me very happy

* They probably have lower emissions than cars half their size from 25 years ago

- can't argue that, technology has come a long way in 25 years.

* They don't "waste" gas, my vehicle gets exactly the gas mileage that the manufacturer said it is supposed to, perhaps even a little better

- LOL! ok I should rephrase that - they don't waste the gas - they just consume alot more.

[Chad Vander Veen]

It just occured to me that this SUV debate marks a significant point of hypocrisy on the part of the left and right.

The left says government ought to stay out of our lives when it comes to who we marry yet wants the government to control what we drive.

The right says the government ought to stay out of what we drive but wants the government to control who we marry.

*I drive a used, mid-size SUV and I love it. Prior to that I drove an 1989 pickup for 10 years.

[Dave Burrell]

the BEAST below, along with half-dozen other SUV's, take up Much more room than, for example, a Lincoln Town Car (one of the larger sedans i could think of)

the thing that kills me the most with those giant suv's is you always see only one person in them - a mom or dad (usually on a cell phone).....now come on - does someone need a car that size to get around town - NO, do they need it to boost their ego/status in the community - YES.... thats what it seems like anyways.... now this does not apply to everyone - there are legit purposes for having a car that size (as bish noted for utilitarian purposes - maybe a biz or the like)

I have a family of 4 (teenage kids) and we have smaller cars - a Jeep and a Highlander. We fit fine in them and there's plenty of room for cargo. Now I have a neighbor - family of 4, toddler ages and they have an Expedition - for what? they never haul anything in it so they don't need it for utility purposes, they have small kids so its not like they have 6' tall kids they have to haul around in it..... they don't haul anything with it - so why buy a big arse car when you don't need it - IMO -its all for status....

now as a disclaimer I want to point out - this is not a generalization of everyone with suv's - just an observation I've made while driving around town.

[Dave Burrell]

It just occured to me that this SUV debate marks a significant point of hypocrisy on the part of the left and right.

The left says government ought to stay out of our lives when it comes to who we marry yet wants the government to control what we drive.

The right says the government ought to stay out of what we drive but wants the government to control who we marry.

*I drive a used, mid-size SUV and I love it.  Prior to that I drove an 1989 pickup for 10 years.

its a crazy mixed up world....

which mid-size suv do you drive? there are some practical ones out there...

[YabYum]

It just occured to me that this SUV debate marks a significant point of hypocrisy on the part of the left and right.

The left says government ought to stay out of our lives when it comes to who we marry yet wants the government to control what we drive.

The right says the government ought to stay out of what we drive but wants the government to control who we marry.

*I drive a used, mid-size SUV and I love it.  Prior to that I drove an 1989 pickup for 10 years.

pardon us for wanting to protect the environment.

pardon us for wanting to protect ourselves in the event of a crash AGAINST one of these unnecessary beasts.

pardon us for making the correlation between a country (USA) that has become chained to it's dependency on foreign oil, and our current "war" with Iraq and the Middle East. those soldiers over there are dying so as to protect YOUR selfish oil needs.

lastly , pardon us for having a conscience......

[benning]

It just occured to me that this SUV debate marks a significant point of hypocrisy on the part of the left and right.

The left says government ought to stay out of our lives when it comes to who we marry yet wants the government to control what we drive.

The right says the government ought to stay out of what we drive but wants the government to control who we marry.

*I drive a used, mid-size SUV and I love it.  Prior to that I drove an 1989 pickup for 10 years.

I am also a recent convert -- I have a used Ford Escape, which, cart me off to jail, I let my 17 year old drive. I used to drive a Honda Accord wagon, then an Audi A6 wagon. I like utilitarian cars but refused to own a minivan.
I don't want the government to control what I drive...however...I think they should set appropriate standards for emissions and gas mileage. Same with marriage...they shouldn't dictate what 'marriage' means beyond what is required for legal purposes.

[Chad Vander Veen]

its a crazy mixed up world....

which mid-size suv do you drive? there are some practical ones out there...

I drive an 2002 Xterra. Not the best on fuel, but has some handy features and decent power. Unfortunately, it has a supercharger which requires 91 octane gas...yikes!