Should You Fear Your SUV?

Today on Netscape ^ | 01\31\04 | Eric Peters

[Gone_Postal]

I drive a Maxima with some serious suspension and brake mods and am confident that I can (a) accelerate, (b) steer, and (c) brake my way out of trouble.

Well: Fud, my man, that is great when you can, but the whole idea of this atricle is about when you can't (a) (b) or (c) and end up under my wheels.

BTW I had a friend called Fud in hight school......

[Gone_Postal]

BTW I had a friend called Fud in hight high school......

[Gone_Postal]

when I'm not tooling around in my 4 wheeler I'm on my 2 wheeler

[Gone_Postal]

I hear ya.....most all the newer SUV's get good gas mileage

[gitmo]

But instead of suggesting that people who value their lives more than miles per gallon should consider driving larger, inherently more-crashworthy vehicles--including SUVs--critics such as Dr. Runge argue that SUVs and large passenger vehicles be forcibly "downsized" by government regulation in order to make the contest "more equal." If everyone drove cars the size of Honda Civics, they suggest, we'd all be safer.

Based on that logic, we should all be forced to drive motorcycles. Without helmets.

Come to think of it, this is the same logic as people saying America shouldn't have missile defense. It gives us an unfair advantage.

[EGPWS]

Part of the attempted crucifixion of SUVs relies on selling half-truths about government and insurance-industry crash-test data. SUVs are often portrayed as "menaces" because when they are involved in collisions with the average passenger car--which is much smaller and lighter than the average SUV

Dumbing down, sizing down, financially dragging down, flushing down, moving down....

save my life I'm going down for the last time!!

The whirlpool is gaining strength.

[JoeGar]

I don't know anyone who bought an SUV for safety; but I know plenty who bought them for luggage room, passenger capacity, ease of childseat installation/removal, carrying capacity, towing capability, etc. -- in other words, utility.

[spodefly]

Some SUVs are just plain huge, and in my current job/circumstances, are not practical. But I will always drive the biggest car/SUV that I believe is practical. That is what makes for "utility". My current SUV gets 21 MPG from its 4 liter fuel injected engine, and pollutes less than most cars according to state emission standards.

If the egalitarian socialist weenies don't like my vehicle choice, they can bite me. Or try to ram me off the road with their little matchboxes.

[Salamander]

When I'm not tooling around IN my 4 wheeler, I'm tooling around ON my 4 wheeler. ( ATV ).....:))

[meyer]

I drive an early 80's Benz sedan - if an suv causes an accident with me, and I'm not a fatality: they WILL be.

You would kill an SUV? Brute...

[Old Professer]

I once came across a wreck where an older Impala T-boned a Geo Metro at an intersection in the San Fernando valley in California; the Metro was literally crushed and flattened and the drunk driving the Chevy was being led away in handcuffs while the EMTs were scooping the elderly couple's remains out of their econobox.

[Old Professer]

Attitude.

[solitas]

You would kill an SUV? Brute...

"...And all who sail [ride] upon [within] her [it]..."

[lewislynn]

Now the Volvo SUV has rollover correction--first vehicle with this feature.

It's the XC90. I have one with AWD and twin turbos. It has WAY more than just rollover correction it also has side curtain airbags that will protect all seven passengers, or 5 if it's that model.

The airbags come out of the headliner down the side and even if your head is against the window it will come between your head and the window...not to mention the practically crush proof roof.

Yes, we two consevatives drive a Volvo and are proud of it.

[meyer]

Attitude.

Often more prevalent on the 'net than in real life. :)

[KingNo155]

Most SUV's have full frames unlike front wheel drive cars and most passenger cars, most time the frame of the Suv suffers and absorbs the impact of a collision protecting the passenger compartment, I have seen passenger cars with the drive train in the passenger compartment after a collision. I see at least 50 wrecked vehicles a day due to my line of employment.

[truth_seeker]

"Yes, we two consevatives drive a Volvo and are proud of it."

For a small population of about 9 million, those Swedes can do some pretty good engineering, these days.

My latest vehicle is a Saab 9-5 which like Volvo, has long been a safety and engineering leader.

Not surprising that GM and Ford bought Saab and Volvo, respectively.

I saw a survey about politics of Saab drivers--leaning left. And I say: "So what. I'm not going to let politics block me from enjoying a really fun car."

I don't drive conservatively.

Saab builds jet planes, too. (The part not bought by GM.)

[kid_in_kc]

speaking as someone who has run off the road and smashed into a telephone pole (April 10, 2003)...i am grateful i was driving my big, heavy Chrysler LHS. it was destroyed, and nearly so was i. so, you got it...i now drive an SUV, and i bought it first and foremost for safety. if i get into another accident, i want as much steel as possible between myself and whatever i've crashed into. yeah, the gas mileage may suck..but then again, i'm alive to complain about it. :)