You talking to me?
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.)
An interesting speculation would then be, will the large families coming up from Mexico move up enough in the world to buy the SUV's as the boomers start setting them aside?
Cheers!
I've never seen the "utility" in SUV's. You can't haul a load of trash to the dump when the bed or your "truck" is carpeted and has seats.
Mrs. randog and I were driving to church this morning and were looking at the new Dodge Durango SUV. Right next to it was a Dodge Caravan. I pointed out that the Durango was just a Caravan set on top of a 4WD chassis.
ps.. frgt t edit the tag line....
Wreckless driving, as in driving without having any wrecks, is a good thing.
Perhaps you mean "reckless."
And your vehicle is impounded for a life sentence.
But the dog folks don't have kids and still drive them. But I guess they count as kids . . . ! :)
Lets hope the Mexicans move up in the world so they can become Republicans!
Um, your tagline is missing some words.
Exactly.
PU trucks are probably the most practical vehicle made. Mine seats 6 if necessary, and I have used it a thousand times to haul all kinds of things.
You talking to me?
Always looking on the bright side of things, eh.
I'm used to "Optimists" being envious of my Vehicle (and my Manhood) ;^>
TT
"What is a dinsaur?"
I think they came from jurssc park.
Amen. I've never owned anything else. I have the PU, Mrs. randog drives the car. We choose the appropriate vehicle for the task at hand.
What yu say!
I have seven kids. Tell me what else I should drive. I'll sit back and take notes from a sage such as yourself.
The author seems to think people are going to quit having children. I think its a bit premature to announce the death of the SUV.
You won't get me to give up my 4 wheel drive full sized pickup because my .50 cal M82 Barrett won't fit behind the seat of anything smaller. (BTW-I got rear-ended when I owned and drove a '91 Sentra. Loved the car, but after seeing how it folded up in a low-speed rear end collision, I went back to a truck)
A school bus....;^)
LOL!!
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