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not quite sure about his complaint against SUV's but mine is this. While the Honda element may get 25mpg, many many others do not get that good on gas mileage and many get much less. They are not held to any minimum standard for gas mileage as a regular pickup truck, for instance. The more 8-10mpg Dodge Dakotas and GM Hummer H2's sell, the more we are dependant on Saudi Oil. from most motor companies you can get a mini-van with better mileage and more cargo space for less money. It is a status symbol, mostly. And a psychological advantage to women and men who fear being on the road against other people in bigger vehicles. They can see the road better, and feel more protected now that theirs is just as big. Status symbol, protection, etc fall as minor reasons compared to their larger gas consumption.

People who PAY THEIR OWN WAY with money they earn can spend it on anything legal. If you don't like it, spend yours in another way. If gas jumps to $4/gal and someone wants to buy a hummer, well, more power to them. It is their money. It is their choice - unless you favor doing away with liberty...?

My '88 Lincoln gets worse gas mileage than most new SUVs. You know what? It is none of your business what mileage anyone else's vehicle gets. I play for the gas I burn, not YOU, ME.

Too big? 'Status symbol'? So what? So is a Lexus. So is anything shiny and expensive. So is a nice shiny watch or a big house. If someone else wants to spend money on a status symbol that is their business and not yours. If you are jealous or their status symbol then I guess it is working. As for labeling them too big or dangerous you might as well name puny cars too small and wimpy. There are semi trucks on the road all over which are far bigger. I know plenty of guys that drive full size trucks that are bigger than most SUV's and more massive than many. Those are hardly 'passenger cars' either but so what? As for SUVs taking up all the road space... think again. The actual space used is only a couple feet different. That being that case it takes 5 or 6 SUVs to eat up the space for even a very small car. For a more normal it takes more like 10 SUV's (once you take into account the standard separation drives put between cars regardless of size. This is based on the 'stopped at a light' size. Space used by cars in motion is much less size dependent. With so many SUVs being driven by people that would otherwise have a minivan the size difference washes out. Yeah minivans are lighter might get better mileage. but their length and width are not that much different than and SUV.