Posted on 07/17/2005 1:25:15 PM PDT by grey_whiskers
Let me be the first to predict the imminent death of the SUV's as a preferred form of transportation. This is not because the drivers are Starbucks-sipping yuppie scum, nor because they are chain-smoking over-the-hill-trophy wives, nor because they are preoccupied with their cell phones (though these are all true).
It is because the SUV's, despite their name, are not SPORT utility vehicles, but specialty UTILITY vehicles, good for ferrying half of a boy scout troop, or hauling home several months' salary worth of goods from Best Buy or from Home Depot in a single trip. In other words, they are large, lumbering, and specialized. Just like the dinosaurs. And like the dinosaurs, when the environment to which they have laboriously adapted changes--when their ecosystem changes—they will go extinct.
Just what is it that will spell the end of these suburban monsters? I used to think it was a spike in gas prices: surely no one can continue driving an 8- or 12- mpg beast in the face of $2.00+ per gallon charges at the pump. But I was wrong. These vehicles are status symbols. They are not Babe Mobiles, like a BMW roadster; these are what you buy after you have landed the babe and she has domesticated you, when you want to impress other couples. I have heard a yuppie explain this very point, when asked why he didn't abandon his new Durango, even though he was burning two gallons of gas a day, just commuting to work. "That's not the statement I'm trying to make." The automakers (even with 0% financing) must need supercomputers just to count their lease payments. And the “now all customers can have the employee discount” sales aren’t helping either.
Well, if it isn't gas, what will spell the end of the SUV? I think the answer is, when they outlive their natural utility (no pun intended). What are the SUV's used for, really? Certainly not (except maybe the Xterra or Hummer) for serious off-road work. They cost too much to buy, and you don't want to damage a leased vehicle! As noted earlier, SUV's excel at hauling around small people, buying stuff at Home Depot, and impressing the neighbors. When will these functions die off?
Let us remember that ever since the 60's, the vanguard of every cultural movement has been the baby boomers--from rock 'n roll, through Doonesbury, to career women, and SUV's. Boomers have delayed parenthood until late in their lives; now they have children at the same time as they have money. Boomers like a large house, they want a large vehicle to carry the furniture and hardware; they use the SUV for soccer practice, piano practice, singing lessons, birthdays, you name it.
But children grow older; they want their own cars. (How many people really let a 16-year old drive a $40,000 vehicle that they don't even own? And how much is the insurance?) Finally, the children move out. Now there is no need at all for ferrying the children; and the large house out in the 'burbs begins to feel 'empty'…”Honey, maybe we should look into a condominium, or a townhouse?” And as the large house is downsized, there too goes the need for a wheeled dinosaur to haul lumber, furniture, plumbing. The day of the dinosaurs is done. And (by the way) the automakers will have to turn to another guaranteed profit center. Caveat emptor.
(Full disclosure: SUV's are also good for mashing subcompacts under their tires like a dinosaur stomping a frightened rabbit. The author drives a Nissan Sentra. This fact has nothing whatsoever to do with the contents of this article.)
Your eye sight should be a personal issue and not to be a direcive toward others and their choices.
Yesterday, on about a 6 mile round trip, my wife noticed and commented about SUVs made by Porsche, Audi, BMW, Mercedes, Volvo, Mazada, Toyota, Nissan, Kia, Lexus, Acura, Integra, Honda, Suburu (the new real one), Volkswagen and of course basically every American made car line including Cadillac and Lincoln.These Volvo's ain't for liberals:
We love ours!....
direcive????
Sorry, no idea.
That would be a simple way to cut down on the problem. Apparently they are so averse to getting into any contact with immigration authorities that they have instructed the Police to look the other way to a great extent. I don't know how far it extends. I'm sure they take them in for DWI, but I fear they might just impound the car and cut them loose when they sober up.
There is an immigration attorney named GORDON QUAN on the city council who has been up to all kinds of shenanigans.
And as the large house is downsized, there too goes the need for a wheeled dinosaur to haul lumber, furniture, plumbing. The day of the dinosaurs is done"The large house is downsized"? What no growth/slow growth town do you live in?...
No need to haul lumber, plumbing? Tell that to all the new Home Depots Etc. sprouting up (we have 3 Home Depots + one to be soon completed, Lowes, and too many lumber/hardware stores to count within 30 minutes of my house)
Can you buy these at places like LOWES?
Sorry, I guess that wasn't clear. I was compressing demographic changes over time into the purported experiences and decisions of one representative family. When the kids, move out, there's no need for a large house.
Cheers!
Oh, you bet, they are cute. We have a pet friendly B&B, and I've had all sorts of breeds, but afraid not one of those yet. Standard poodles are a wonderful breed also. Used to have a black one.
It's still liberal because of all that excessive safety gear loaded all over it frum sveedish bumper tew sveedish bumper.
Ifa danged deer were ta jump outta the danged ditch and bump yer driver's door, that side air baggie would really slap yew up-side yer head, there Mr. Conswervative!!!
Why should we wait and let the politicians sell out this country to the illegal immigrants and labor unions. We (the Baby Boomers) have the financial wherewithal and soon, the time to make any issue our own.
I say find the politicians that dance to our tune and we can go back to our glory days of muscle cars, woodstock, free-love (ugh, may have to temper that a bit), you name it.
This country is being sold down the river, I think we should go out in glory. If we play our cards right we can amass enough wealth to let our kids carry on. Let all those new arivals do the jobs American's won't do.
What engine they got in that?
What engine they got in that?Our 2003 has a T6... (twin turbo inline 6 268 HP). But now you can get them with a V8.
It's still liberal because of all that excessive safety gear loaded all over it frum sveedish bumper tew sveedish bumper.If keeping the grandkids safe is a liberal thing, count me in.
When I ever I read stuff like this, it just makes me want to go out and buy a Hummer to tick people like you off. Two dollar and poor milegae or not I don't care. You sound just like Arrianna Huffington.
Thanks for posting that picture.
It appears the 8 passenger Suburban isn't new fad for current evil conservatives.
We need some good police work at the local and state levels besides better border control.
It appears the 8 passenger Suburban isn't new fad for current evil conservatives.Only in their narrow minds...
"Only in their narrow minds..."
BOL and good night. This narrow minded/evil suv owner driver is headed to bed.
Careful, your ignorant bigotry is showing. Now try to stop being a jerk.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.