60 Minutes : The Thrill Of The SUV

CBS News ^ | July 13, 2003 | Morley Safer, Correspondent

[redangus]

My friend, who is boy scout leader, had a whole load of kids in his Suburban recently when he was rear ended at a stop light by a Malibu going 30 miles/hr. Bottomline none of the kids were hurt, the driver of the Malibu was carried away on a stretcher. The police said that if they had been in a smaller vehicle the kids in the back could of been badly injured.

My wife had a similar accident a few years ago in her 4Runner. She was t-boned by a Chevy Cavalier that ran a stop light. It busted the plastic side steps on the Runner, but totalled the Cavalier. She will never own another car as long as she lives. She now drives a Land Cruiser. Me I own a new Tahoe and wouldn't trade it for anything. I am a big guy and thanks to the greenies it is almost impossible to buy a car today that fits a full size man.

[redangus]

My neighbor who is very environmentally aware owns 2 small Lexuses, but has for years borrowed first my full-size pickup and now my Tahoe to carry things and tow his boat. In fact my Tahoe is in Michigan this week attached to his sailboat, while I am stuck with his Lexus. (Gosh I'm a good neighbor.)

[Darnright]

>According to some, you're not only unpatriotic and un-Christian, you're ruining the environment. You're also selfish and stupid and dangerous - a rollover waiting to happen.

So, are SUV owners sheepishly surrendering to more sensible cars? Hardly.<

Ah, another busybody thread from people who really should get a hobby so they will not have to spend their free time worrying over what someone else drives.

It's none of your business. Get over it.

[Z-28]

The lefties deny it when I tell them that autos (including SUVs) are the mass transit of capitalism. Which they are.

I think I read once in USA Today that for every 1 MPG improvement in the overall EPA CAFE rating, the annual highway death rate goes up 4,000 more dead.

Heavy vehicles like SUVs are much more survivable.

Rush Limbaugh predicted this discrimination against SUVs about 5 years ago.

[jhw61]

"Wanna trade?"........

No, no. I had a '90 Dodge Caravan that was falling apart. My brother in law now has it...I gave it to him for nothing. He's put some money into it since and it gets him around. I love my '94 Plymouth Voyager (101,000). Knock on wood.

[jhw61]

Excellent.

[Bella]

I love my Jeep Grand Cherokee..sincerely doubt whether I'd go back to a car..

[Elsie]

Preen and strut all you want, SUV drivers, but I motor around in a ONE ton G-30 Chevy truck!

It's masquerading as a Custom van, but, believe me, this baby is ALL TRUCK! Weighs in right around 6000 lbs....... (Thats 3 tons to you in Rio Linda.)

A lower geared differential really pulls the heavy loaded trailer and assures about 12 MPH. [And...... I'm not in the sights of the PC crowd. I LOVE IT!!!]

[ChadGore]

Someone Email this to Rush:

If you drive an SUV, a sport utility vehicle, you may be feeling a little defensive these days.

According to some, you're not only unpatriotic and un-Christian, you're ruining the environment. You're also selfish and stupid and dangerous - a rollover waiting to happen.

[Elsie]

Oh yeah, it's a '90 with around 206K on it.

My first one, a '77, has 305K, still fires up fine (though it is beginning to get REALLY breezy inside!)

[veronica]

I thought the segment was very entertaining and not meant to put down SUV's at all. And I agree with some of the psychologist's theories. The fact is many people DO like SUV's for the reasons he stated, but that's ok. In a free country you are free to express yourself, including in what you drive. Cars are for many a status symbol, and an expression of the self.

And as far as the HUMMERS go, how can it be denied that there is a militaristic vibe to that one, when it is like a very attractive tank? The funny thing is the Hummers look fabulous in the commercials, which I think are brilliantly produced, but I found the vehicle quite ugly "in person." I was disappointed the first time I saw one. Range Rovers are far more appealing IMO.

[Lee'sGhost]

"Actually Corvettes have one of the highest rollover rates of all vehicles, but it is rarely mentioned. I'm not sure where the actual experience of Porches is for roll over, but it could also be high."

Wonder what the rollover rate for motorcycles is? Gotta be high. Ban 'em!!!

[SLB]

Third Suburban? I am jealous as we are only on the second, although we have both of them in the drive. I drive the older to work every day. Mrs SLB drives the newer. We went to a home school conference this weekend. The church parking lot was filled with SUV's and full sized vans.

That is a joke in the home school community - large families = large vehicles.

[stainlessbanner]

...will show them what my 5 cell MagLite looks like.

Mag-Fu! May I suggest the Tatical Manuevers for the Mag Light reference book? Get a copy for your library.

[Lee'sGhost]

According to (60 Minutes), you're not only unpatriotic and un-Christian, you're ruining the environment.

[ItsTheMediaStupid]

Give me a break! You can't buy a modest station wagon.

I have a Ford Taurus wagon. I think that is a modest station wagon. There are wagons more modest than this and they are available. Also there are vans available, they have some of the benifits of SUV's.

[N. Theknow]

and you think that Tahoe is safe, right? Check out the photo at the right of the page:

Where are the photos of sub-compact cars being hit by semis?

[Physicist]

Preen and strut all you want, SUV drivers

Ahem. I drive a minivan. Nothing is cooler, nothing.