Heh, something I just realized... Both accidents that totalled my car involved an SUV (Jeep Grand Cherokee) or a pickup truck (some POS Chevy). In both cases, they were at fault.
According to Bradsher, internal industry market research concluded that S.U.V.s tend to be bought by people who are insecure, vain, self-centered, and self-absorbed, who are frequently nervous about their marriages, and who lack confidence in their driving skills.
From what I've seen around here, that last bit is entirely warranted.
I drive a Chevy S-10. It's exactly the same as a Chevy Blazer (itself a pretty low-end SUV) under the hood, but it costs $10,000 less new. You can't convince me that the hardtop and the extra seats cost that much more, especially when a pickup canopy retails for $500-$1000.
It also handles like a little red wagon, especially now that it has all-weather tires on it. I learned to drive in east coast traffic, in a sedan, and I am constantly having to moderate my driving habits to Seattle's passive-aggressive commuting style and the S-10's drunken-steer-like cornering.
The S-10 is also built low. It's not much taller than a sedan, and I think the driver's seat might be at the same height. About a year and a half ago I got broadsided and had to take it in for body work. My insurance company provided me with a loaner—a Jeep Liberty Sport. Driving it felt like a balancing act; I thought I was going to roll every time I went around a corner. (In fact, the Jeep Liberty has a high chance of rollovers.)
It it also true, however, that since I started driving light trucks in 1998 or so (because we needed a truck to haul band equipment), I've been in more accidents than when driving any other type of car.
I like pickup trucks and always have, but I think that when I can afford it, I'll get a sedan instead. Maybe a hybrid. The people I know who have them have only good things to say about them, and after my truck's 13 mpg in-city mileage, I could stand to save some money on fuel.
Driving in a SUV always feels freaky to me. I don't like them, and not just because I think that article makes a lot of good points. (Not least that it's way past time to up the MPG standards for SUVs.)
I'm used to my Civic, and driving in a giant trucky thing takes me so far from the road that it's hard to drive right. The articles resonates, because I don't feel very safe driving a big truck or SUV; I can't see as well as I want to, I've got a lot of vehicle to keep track of, and I don't feel like I can steer properly.
Also, since I think I didn't mention it before, I am highly envious of the car you're getting. Though I don't like convertibles. I almost leased a 3-series BMW once, and then I realized that I was being completely insane.
I wanted something fun to drive, and motorcycles aren't an option for me at this point (there's no way in hell I'd buy another bike while living in DC, these freaks can't handle being around other cars; a bike would be suicide). Convertibles are the next closest thing, and yeah, the price is insanity, but I'm also over driving econoboxes.
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"The only time those S.U.V.s are going to be off-road is when they miss the driveway at 3 a.m."
Quoted for truth.
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According to Bradsher, internal industry market research concluded that S.U.V.s tend to be bought by people who are insecure, vain, self-centered, and self-absorbed, who are frequently nervous about their marriages, and who lack confidence in their driving skills.
From what I've seen around here, that last bit is entirely warranted.
I drive a Chevy S-10. It's exactly the same as a Chevy Blazer (itself a pretty low-end SUV) under the hood, but it costs $10,000 less new. You can't convince me that the hardtop and the extra seats cost that much more, especially when a pickup canopy retails for $500-$1000.
It also handles like a little red wagon, especially now that it has all-weather tires on it. I learned to drive in east coast traffic, in a sedan, and I am constantly having to moderate my driving habits to Seattle's passive-aggressive commuting style and the S-10's drunken-steer-like cornering.
The S-10 is also built low. It's not much taller than a sedan, and I think the driver's seat might be at the same height. About a year and a half ago I got broadsided and had to take it in for body work. My insurance company provided me with a loaner—a Jeep Liberty Sport. Driving it felt like a balancing act; I thought I was going to roll every time I went around a corner. (In fact, the Jeep Liberty has a high chance of rollovers.)
It it also true, however, that since I started driving light trucks in 1998 or so (because we needed a truck to haul band equipment), I've been in more accidents than when driving any other type of car.
I like pickup trucks and always have, but I think that when I can afford it, I'll get a sedan instead. Maybe a hybrid. The people I know who have them have only good things to say about them, and after my truck's 13 mpg in-city mileage, I could stand to save some money on fuel.
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I'm used to my Civic, and driving in a giant trucky thing takes me so far from the road that it's hard to drive right. The articles resonates, because I don't feel very safe driving a big truck or SUV; I can't see as well as I want to, I've got a lot of vehicle to keep track of, and I don't feel like I can steer properly.
Also, since I think I didn't mention it before, I am highly envious of the car you're getting. Though I don't like convertibles. I almost leased a 3-series BMW once, and then I realized that I was being completely insane.
From:
no subject