Posted on 01/09/2006 7:34:38 AM PST by Flavius
Edited on 01/09/2006 7:38:10 AM PST by Sidebar Moderator. [history]
USA Today articles are link only
I've got news for you - a Taurus will fit 5 comfortably, 6 in a pinch. That is EASILY enough for any camping trip for 4 or 5. I've also had a 3-drawer endtable, a breadmachine, and 3 suitcases in the trunk all at the same time, without using the fold-down seats. Oh, and the canoe fits just fine on the available roof-rack. Or two kayaks.
Its not the choice I'm opposed to. Its the justification people use. If you admit you're buying an SUV for style, fine. If you truly *need* a truck because you'll be hauling large lumber or materials at least once a month, fine. But the people who "need" one for camping with their family of four or "need" one for home improvement projects they do only once or twice a year or "need" one for cargo volume when mid-size or large cars carry as much are simply lying....
Some people tell me to purchase a small car and drive it to work and leave the truck at home for when I take the dogs, pick up lumber, head to the dump, camping, pull the boat, etc. So I should purchase a small car, have insurance on another vehicle and take up space in front of my house? No. I prefer full size trucks with the crew cab so I can haul people and things. A truck is much more versatile.
The wife used to drive a small car until I was in the accident, now she drives an SUV, which works great for us with the dogs, kids, the homeschool co-op we're in, etc.
If you like tight quarters, go for it! Being crammed in a vehicle elbow-to-asshole "in a pinch every day" isn't my idea of comfort.
What makes you think your opinion trumps others? Are you a car salesman? Are you a control freak? If people prefer bigger vehicles, let them be. If you think those miniature cars are good for you, I think people should let you be.
Environmental issues are fake.
Once again... A Taurus will fit 5 people **COMFORTABLY**. 4 and its spacious.
Once again, that is your opinion. You just might be SMALLER than me, ever think of that?
Once again, why do you care what others drive? Drive what you wish; for, I can assure you that I will drive what I prefer.
I despise control freaks.
I actually wish we could buy those here, or at least import them from Canada.
One neat thing about them is if you get stuck in the snow, you just get out and carry it. ;-)
Taxes.. up up up.
Grocereys.. up up up.
(home)Heating, cooling.. up up up.
Tobacco... up up up.
etc..etc...
Yet, the media and agenda makers have made everyone put mileage uber alas.
I get the finger for drivin my H3 from the uninformed brainwashed (that's the only thing washed on em) masses here(mn).
....why don't they find out who has an innefficient furnace, and harrass them?
Social engineering.
I pay way more for smokes, than gas.. but seeing as how I'm a evil man for that.. it's ok anyway. lol
I'll drive what I want.
(and crank my thermostat to 73 to boot)
Smaller SUVs are showing up in the neighborhood, but that heating oil truck coming to fill up the neighbor's 500 gallon oil tank at 45 below zero has to be making an impression, too.
In the meantime, I'll keep driving my old 'dinosaurs', V-8 engines, heavy, big enough to haul the whole family, or me, equipment, and 30 days supplies.
At the price I paid for them, I can afford a lot of fuel.
Many here will tout the benefits of these little vehicles, and for them, they might be fine.
I'd never want my family trying to get to the next town in one in a normal North Dakota Winter. They'd never get me out to a drill site. Fuel is cheap. Funerals are not.
your mileage may vary...
I drove my Saturn 2002 LS1 3 door sporty coupe back to Alabama to take my daughter back to college from Phoenix, AZ. It was about 3700 miles round trip and cost me less than $200.00 of gas because I got around 38 mpg and gas was around 2.15 per gallon. I didn't sacrifice on looks, styling, or creature comforts (ok so it doesn't have rich, leather seats). There are cars out there that can do a good job of economically saving gas and aren't hybrids. Saturn is one of the GM products I'd gladly promote. I've had this car since Oct '01 (bought it after 9/11 when GM offered 0% financing) and we've had good success with it and it has about 60k miles on it.
Can it bust through 12 inch high finger drifts without sustaining damage?
If not, it just won't work for me here in North Dakota.
The major towns here are about 120 miles apart, and it is not uncommon to drive a few miles without seeing anywhere, private residence, business, or otherwise to place a phone call.
Winter (static air--not wind chill) temps normally are at zero or below for two to three months a year. (this year has been outrageously mild--like fall or late summer--all winter so far-lots of single-digit lows, but little subzero weather).
People freeze to death (I have known two, personally, who did).
I am not about to trust my life or the lives of my family to a vehicle with too low ground clearance or too little weight to bull through snowdrifts.
If it won't do the job under the worst of conditions, it won't do the job, period.
Highway vehicles are a 1/2 ton 1975 Chevy Van, an '88 3/4 ton Chevy Van conversion, a 1978 Lincoln, and a 1977 LTD. All are mechanically fit, the bodies are good because we don't use road salt up here. They get the job done, but the cars are only really good around town for most of the winter. All vehicles run a fairly aggressive snow treads front and rear. You do all of your steering and most of your braking with the front wheels, you need good traction there, too.
Mileage is about a third of what you are getting, but none of these vehicles cost me $1000.00 (paid in cash), so I can buy lots of fuel with the difference, as I need to. I can perform most repairs myself, but the '88 is a challenge, because it is computerized. More stuff to learn.
I have no prejudice against little cars, but they do not have the specifications I need for my environment and applications.
If they work for you, more power to you!
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