Survey: Do you drive an SUV?
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Richard Stringer wrote: I get 15 MPG in the city and about 21 on the highway in my big SUV and 17 and 26 in my small one. Egads, it's a good job fuel is so damned cheap over there. I get 50mpg out of my car and it still costs a fortune to run. :eek:
Ðavid Wulff The Royal Woofle Museum
Audioscrobbler :: flikrDie Freiheit spielt auf allen Geigen
Heh. It's over $2/gal. here. That's more than double what it was 7 years ago, i believe. Are fewer people driving trucks half way across the state so their kids can play ball with other kids they've never met? Not that i see...
Shog9
I'm not the Jack of Diamonds... I'm not the six of spades. I don't know what you thought; I'm not your astronaut...
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"most parts".. In many places around the world Snow is a big issue (as Texas is finding today ;) ) and 4WD is almost a requirement. Also, there is the capacity, which may not be used all the time, but it great to have when you need it. Nothing like trying to cram that new flat panel big screen into a VW bug ;) As for the true desire of this pole, I have seen many people with 4WDs (not just SUVs) that buy them just to say they have it. They take it off the road one time, find out they do not like the scratches and dings and keep it as a street vehicle from then on. This seems to be true for about any group of people from what I can see. I have known several coders that fall into this group that live in places which normally receive zero snow. As for fuel efficency, I do not have a 4WD SUV, but it is a touchy spot with me since there is sooooo much SUV bashing going on in the world today (and sometimes it true), but some SUVs actually do pretty good. My Explorer gets around 20 mpg in the city and around 25 on the highway. While this is not great milage compared to a something pulling 60 mpg, it is very good compared not many vehicles on the roads today. Rocky <>< All Kinds of Stuff[^]
Rocky Moore wrote: In many places around the world Snow is a big issue (as Texas is finding today ) and 4WD is almost a requirement. Please, please don't use the snow thing. I've lived most of my life in places that get a fair bit of snow a fair bit of the year, and never ran into trouble with the medium-sized, front wheel drive cars i drive. Given the scores of SUVs that end up in the ditches whenever there's a moderate amount of snow around, it's just not worth it to encourage the "4WD == snow immunity" myth. :doh: But yeah, if you live at the top of a steep hill out in the boonies, an SUV might be your best bet short of buying a tractor. :)
Shog9
I'm not the Jack of Diamonds... I'm not the six of spades. I don't know what you thought; I'm not your astronaut...
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Is a bicycle considered a sports utility vehicle? :rolleyes: Surprisingly high avg for SUV.
Pandoras Gift #44: Hope. The one that keeps you on suffering.
aber.. "Wie gesagt, der Scheiss is' Therapie"
boost your code || Fold With Us! || sighist | doxygenpeterchen wrote: Is a bicycle considered a sports utility vehicle? I wish it was! peterchen wrote: Surprisingly high avg for SUV. Sad, isn't it? /ravi My new year's resolution: 2048 x 1536 Home | Articles | Freeware | Music ravib@ravib.com
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Rocky Moore wrote: In many places around the world Snow is a big issue (as Texas is finding today ) and 4WD is almost a requirement. Please, please don't use the snow thing. I've lived most of my life in places that get a fair bit of snow a fair bit of the year, and never ran into trouble with the medium-sized, front wheel drive cars i drive. Given the scores of SUVs that end up in the ditches whenever there's a moderate amount of snow around, it's just not worth it to encourage the "4WD == snow immunity" myth. :doh: But yeah, if you live at the top of a steep hill out in the boonies, an SUV might be your best bet short of buying a tractor. :)
Shog9
I'm not the Jack of Diamonds... I'm not the six of spades. I don't know what you thought; I'm not your astronaut...
4WD is better than 2WD in the snow at any time! I have lived all my life except for a short five year period, in an area that usually sees several feet of snow on the ground through more of the winter and at times up to four feet (not this year as we are having a major drought). It is true that front wheel drives are better than rear wheel in the snow, but 4WD is even better. I think "stability" IS a problem in many SUVs because some of them are plain up to high in regards to their width. Mine is a bit higher than I would like and would be easy to flip. Hopefully in the future I can get that lowered a few inches. Rocky <>< Enhanced Kites..[^]
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4WD is better than 2WD in the snow at any time! I have lived all my life except for a short five year period, in an area that usually sees several feet of snow on the ground through more of the winter and at times up to four feet (not this year as we are having a major drought). It is true that front wheel drives are better than rear wheel in the snow, but 4WD is even better. I think "stability" IS a problem in many SUVs because some of them are plain up to high in regards to their width. Mine is a bit higher than I would like and would be easy to flip. Hopefully in the future I can get that lowered a few inches. Rocky <>< Enhanced Kites..[^]
Rocky Moore wrote: 4WD is better than 2WD in the snow at any time! If your rear wheels have traction and your front wheels don't, yeah. If all four are sliding, you're still bummed.
Shog9
I'm not the Jack of Diamonds... I'm not the six of spades. I don't know what you thought; I'm not your astronaut...
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Navin wrote: SUVs are DIFFERENT from regular automobiles Navin wrote: SUVs are not always designed to be friendly towards other automobiles... their lights and bumpers are higher, for instance :doh: So are pick-up trucks. I don't see P/U trucks being demonized in the same way that SUV's are. I can only speculate about why this is so. P/U drivers - poor to middle class "working" people - Democrat base SUV drivers - middle to upper class professionals - Republican base Sorry to drag politics into this, but I suspect that it is one of the reasons behind the demonization. You can also throw gas consumption into the equation also. Gary Kirkham Forever Forgiven and Alive in the Spirit He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose. - Jim Elliot Me blog, You read
Gary Kirkham wrote: P/U drivers - poor to middle class "working" people - Democrat base P/U's are going to be next. Besides, Texas has the largest population of P/U's and after these last 2 Presidential elections...;) Gary Kirkham wrote: SUV drivers - middle to upper class professionals - Republican base TRUE! It's the folks that drive the Volvo's, which used to be the safest vehicles and are now not, that are driving the attack on SUVs!! :) Possibly the milage but then why aren't they after Vettes and BMWs? ed ~"Watch your thoughts; they become your words. Watch your words they become your actions. Watch your actions; they become your habits. Watch your habits; they become your character. Watch your character; it becomes your destiny." - -Uknown.
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Steve Mayfield wrote: I had a SUV plow into the driver's side of my nice car a few years ago No, a driver in an SUV plowed into the side of your car. I know it's just symantics, however I believe that there has been an attempt to demonize the SUV in the media. It is like the SUV has a mind of it's own and the mind is evil. Just yesterday, 4 Die When SUV Hits Las Vegas Bus Bench[^]. It is only when you read the story that you find out that someone was actually driving the thing and that she may had been under the influence of something. Of course, these are just my observations over the past few years...nothing scientific about it. :) Gary Kirkham Forever Forgiven and Alive in the Spirit He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose. - Jim Elliot Me blog, You read
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Rocky Moore wrote: 4WD is better than 2WD in the snow at any time! If your rear wheels have traction and your front wheels don't, yeah. If all four are sliding, you're still bummed.
Shog9
I'm not the Jack of Diamonds... I'm not the six of spades. I don't know what you thought; I'm not your astronaut...
The problem is people who think that 4 wheel drive means you can drive in snow the same as you would drive on dry pavement.
"You're obviously a superstar." - Christian Graus about me - 12 Feb '03 "Obviously ??? You're definitely a superstar!!!" mYkel - 21 Jun '04 Within you lies the power for good - Use it!
Honoured as one of The Most Helpful Members of 2004
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Richard Stringer wrote: I get 15 MPG in the city and about 21 on the highway in my big SUV and 17 and 26 in my small one. Egads, it's a good job fuel is so damned cheap over there. I get 50mpg out of my car and it still costs a fortune to run. :eek:
Ðavid Wulff The Royal Woofle Museum
Audioscrobbler :: flikrDie Freiheit spielt auf allen Geigen
You Sir do not have a car - you have a golf cart. Not even the hybrids get 50 mpg. Richard "Under certain circumstances, profanity provides a relief denied even to prayer --Mark Twain (1835 - 1910)
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For those of you who own a 4-wheeled vehicle (or drive one on a regular basis), please vote: 1 = I drive a SUV/truck 5 = I drive something else /ravi My new year's resolution: 2048 x 1536 Home | Articles | Freeware | Music ravib@ravib.com
I drive an Urban Assault Vehicle - a tiny, underpowered 2-wheel drive micro pickup. But I drive it like a SUV. My little GMC Sonoma was never meant to go the places I take it, but the skill of the driver is far more important than the vehicle. Knowing how to properly drive in sand, shale, mud, snow, or across deep ruts is much more valuable than than buying an overpriced off-road vehicle. "If it's Snowbird season, why can't we shoot them?" - Overheard in a bar in Bullhead City
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You Sir do not have a car - you have a golf cart. Not even the hybrids get 50 mpg. Richard "Under certain circumstances, profanity provides a relief denied even to prayer --Mark Twain (1835 - 1910)
Remember that David, like me, is a Brit. We have bigger gallons than you do. Also, diesels can often get over 50 mpg. I don't know how common diesel cars are in the US - I've only been once and I wasn't driving. I don't recall seeing diesel at the gas station, but then I wasn't looking for it. Stability. What an interesting concept. -- Chris Maunder
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You Sir do not have a car - you have a golf cart. Not even the hybrids get 50 mpg. Richard "Under certain circumstances, profanity provides a relief denied even to prayer --Mark Twain (1835 - 1910)
50 US gallons = 41.6336922 Imperial gallons (thanks google) So to you it would be 41.5 mpg. French cars are generally very efficient - probably because fuel is expensive over there too. I guess when people make cars for American use they must add in fuel inefficiency so you feel like you're getting your dollar value out of them. I bet even your golf carts - the electric ones - still burn more fuel than a power plant. :rolleyes:
Ðavid Wulff The Royal Woofle Museum
Audioscrobbler :: flikrDie Freiheit spielt auf allen Geigen
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Remember that David, like me, is a Brit. We have bigger gallons than you do. Also, diesels can often get over 50 mpg. I don't know how common diesel cars are in the US - I've only been once and I wasn't driving. I don't recall seeing diesel at the gas station, but then I wasn't looking for it. Stability. What an interesting concept. -- Chris Maunder
Mike Dimmick wrote: I don't recall seeing diesel at the gas station, but then I wasn't looking for it. Deisel everywhere. Trucks - some cars - many pickups all use it. Richard "Under certain circumstances, profanity provides a relief denied even to prayer --Mark Twain (1835 - 1910)
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50 US gallons = 41.6336922 Imperial gallons (thanks google) So to you it would be 41.5 mpg. French cars are generally very efficient - probably because fuel is expensive over there too. I guess when people make cars for American use they must add in fuel inefficiency so you feel like you're getting your dollar value out of them. I bet even your golf carts - the electric ones - still burn more fuel than a power plant. :rolleyes:
Ðavid Wulff The Royal Woofle Museum
Audioscrobbler :: flikrDie Freiheit spielt auf allen Geigen
The Toyota Prius hybrid will get 50 MPG on the highway but it is really underpowered - ugly - expensive - costly to maintain - will get you killed if someone in a New Beetle hits you - and did I mention ugly. American cars have to be able to cruise on the freeway at 75 MPH ( 121 KPH for you that care ) for hours on end and have AC and an automatic tranny and maintain some sort of cool factor. A little 50 CC engine ain't gonna do it. Plus when we put our campers, boats, travel trailers etc behing the family vehicle we still want to cruise at 75 with the AC blasting. Gimme horses Richard "Under certain circumstances, profanity provides a relief denied even to prayer --Mark Twain (1835 - 1910)
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The Toyota Prius hybrid will get 50 MPG on the highway but it is really underpowered - ugly - expensive - costly to maintain - will get you killed if someone in a New Beetle hits you - and did I mention ugly. American cars have to be able to cruise on the freeway at 75 MPH ( 121 KPH for you that care ) for hours on end and have AC and an automatic tranny and maintain some sort of cool factor. A little 50 CC engine ain't gonna do it. Plus when we put our campers, boats, travel trailers etc behing the family vehicle we still want to cruise at 75 with the AC blasting. Gimme horses Richard "Under certain circumstances, profanity provides a relief denied even to prayer --Mark Twain (1835 - 1910)
I did a Google image search for the Toyota Prius and yeah it is a tad on the 'I look like a dung beetle' side, but not all efficient cars are so bad. The requirements you list sounds about the same for this part of the world too. I think towing an average boat my motorway/freeway crusing speed would be about 60mph (I would check the manual, but I'm not going outside in my ill health). Horses would be cool, but I expect they'd cost more to run than a car. :)
Ðavid Wulff The Royal Woofle Museum
Audioscrobbler :: flikrDie Freiheit spielt auf allen Geigen
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For those of you who own a 4-wheeled vehicle (or drive one on a regular basis), please vote: 1 = I drive a SUV/truck 5 = I drive something else /ravi My new year's resolution: 2048 x 1536 Home | Articles | Freeware | Music ravib@ravib.com
Civic hybrid. :) 42mpg average due to high speed highways to work (75mph) that brings down the average of 48 in the city. :) _________________________ Asu no koto o ieba, tenjo de nezumi ga warau. Talk about things of tomorrow and the mice in the ceiling laugh. (Japanese Proverb)
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Ravi Bhavnani wrote: Most software engineers I know are of the view that driving an SUV (other than for true off-roading) is highly illogical. True, since they stink at fuel efficiency, and the need for 4WD is rare in most parts.
"Opinions are neither right nor wrong. I cannot change your opinion. I can, however, change what influences your opinion." - David Crow
DavidCrow wrote: True, since they stink at fuel efficiency, and the need for 4WD is rare in most parts. the idea that 4WD is more important than proper driving is to me more of the issue. Rather than learn where not to go, and how to get through messy conditions.... I have passed stuck 4WD vehicles while driving a 2WD hybrid on mountain roads. My grandfather when he was alive would pull them out using his 2WD truck. That is one thing my little hybrid does not have the power to do. I learned to drive from him, and I benefited from it, but my choice in cars prevents me from pulling out the SUVs as he would. He would tsk me for it, but I just smile and go on. ;) _________________________ Asu no koto o ieba, tenjo de nezumi ga warau. Talk about things of tomorrow and the mice in the ceiling laugh. (Japanese Proverb)
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You Sir do not have a car - you have a golf cart. Not even the hybrids get 50 mpg. Richard "Under certain circumstances, profanity provides a relief denied even to prayer --Mark Twain (1835 - 1910)
Richard Stringer wrote: You Sir do not have a car - you have a golf cart. Not even the hybrids get 50 mpg. not true... Although my car is rated 47 on the highway and 48 in the city, I routinely get 52mpg when I travel north on the smaller highway roads at a maximum speed of 55mph, if I travelled those roads every day would get higher gas mileage. I get 47mpg at 65mph, and 41mpg at 75mph. _________________________ Asu no koto o ieba, tenjo de nezumi ga warau. Talk about things of tomorrow and the mice in the ceiling laugh. (Japanese Proverb)
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The problem is people who think that 4 wheel drive means you can drive in snow the same as you would drive on dry pavement.
"You're obviously a superstar." - Christian Graus about me - 12 Feb '03 "Obviously ??? You're definitely a superstar!!!" mYkel - 21 Jun '04 Within you lies the power for good - Use it!
Honoured as one of The Most Helpful Members of 2004
PJ Arends wrote: The problem is people who think that 4 wheel drive means you can drive in snow the same as you would drive on dry pavement. All too true. Somehow those drivers think they are immune to the laws of physics -- ice is slippery no matter what you drive, how big the wheels are, or how many differentials it has.
"Opinions are neither right nor wrong. I cannot change your opinion. I can, however, change what influences your opinion." - David Crow
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Richard Stringer wrote: You Sir do not have a car - you have a golf cart. Not even the hybrids get 50 mpg. not true... Although my car is rated 47 on the highway and 48 in the city, I routinely get 52mpg when I travel north on the smaller highway roads at a maximum speed of 55mph, if I travelled those roads every day would get higher gas mileage. I get 47mpg at 65mph, and 41mpg at 75mph. _________________________ Asu no koto o ieba, tenjo de nezumi ga warau. Talk about things of tomorrow and the mice in the ceiling laugh. (Japanese Proverb)
Enough of these mythical super cars. What do you drive that gets this fantastic MPG. Links, descriptions, names, anything. And by a car I mean something that will haul 5 adults in some degree of silence and comfort for long periods of time and gives one at least a fighting chance to survive a collision with another auto or a 30 MPH crosswind. Not A Morris for example. Richard "Under certain circumstances, profanity provides a relief denied even to prayer --Mark Twain (1835 - 1910)