I agree that their isn’t a huge incentive to switch to a new car to save gas money. For one thing the price of fuel guzzlers has gone way down and the fuel sipper market is very strong so it would take a while to repay. Better to get one if you are planning on getting a new car anyway.
Personally I have come to like small cars a lot in recent years. While I don’t own a compact, I’ve driven some of the recent ones such as the Mini and the Honda Fit and they really are fun to drive. The handling is just more fun with a car that size. C and D had a Fit outperforming a Vette Z06 by 6mph in the emergency landchange test. Those things are very agile and really are like driving a gocart. Some like the Fit are very well packaged too and can really fit a lot of stuff into a small space. They also are great in cities. A good modern small car isn’t the stereotypical crapbox from 30 years ago.
I am personally not a big SUV fan. They just aren’t much fun to drive. They handle poorly, brake worse, wallow in corners, and can be tougher to park. To me one would only be a tool. It wouldn’t be a firstchoice for a commuter or everyday vehicle. If I ever need to haul something I have my old truck. Otherwise i’ll stick to a better handling, more maneuverable, and more comfortable passenger car.
That's why I posted this. For any considering a new vehicle and especially if they are looking to save gas money. It's too easy to be swayed by raw MPG numbers if you've never worked out what the switch will actually mean to you.
I agree with the rest of what you wrote. There are virtues to all sized vehicles but the agility and maneuverability of smaller vehicles can make for more enjoyment. I can always go to Rent-A-Wreck for something larger if I need it.
My hunting buddy’s German wirehaired pointer and yellow Lab would be mighty pissed if they had to get into his 3-Series Bimmer for a hunt. They both enjoy my Grand Cherokee (not really all that big), especially when I open all the windows and the sunroof.
Getting the smell of wet dogs and bird blood out of the cargo carpet has been the only drawback of having such a well-liked utility vehicle.