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S.U.V. mania

Telecolor 3007

Telecolor 3007

I love old stuff
In the '000's a new mania camed for the people: the S.U.V. mania. People on U.S.A. had S.U.V.'s before, but not in such large numbers. In the '010's this mania exploded. It also crossed the pond in the '000's.
Everyone drives what he/she likes. No problem with that. But besides that the S.U.V.'s aren't all that sporty and most people don't get off the road with 'em, they are fuel inneficient and don't have much luggage space (trough all beeing that big, they seem to do) which don't much affect other people,
the big bad thing is people driving those big cars can feel over confident. And they can be agressive towards with people with more vehicles. New cars have cameras, but old S.U.V.'s don't have and the drivers can have dead angles... But why this mania after all?
 
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The things even account for (roughly) some 30-35% of passenger vehicles in Kenya, or at least in Nairobi.
 
Most people buy things to prove their social status, a big, shiny shell full of lights satisfies their desire. If it was about usable space, it was logical to choose a VAN.
 
We have a RAV4.

Our Golden Lab likes to be able to "sit up" in the back and an estate car (remember I'm in the UK - station wagon to you folks?) just isn't tall enough for her to do that.

Her plus grand kids, child seats etc. etc. make it just a "sensible" choice. And Toyota as I tend to keep my cars for many, many, years and don't like to spend most of that underneath it ;) .
 
Couple reasons for SUV dominance.
1. SUVs are typically considered Trucks, so different safety and CAFE regulations/standards apply (Benefit to the manufacturer)
2. Many auto Manufacturers make few "passenger cars" at all, so most no longer make "station wagon" (estate car) variants.
3. SUVs are typically taller and higher than passenger cars, so drivers have better visibility forward in traffic.
4. We are an aging population and having a large covered space to haul things is very handy.
5. For most folks, the SUV format is more handy than a Cargo van without the windows all around.

In 1990, I bought a Honda CIvic SI - a kind of "sports wagon" hatchback that had more capacity than a sedan, but by 2000,
Honda had gone to a coupe design for the SI, and was no longer importing/selling any kind of station wagon design in the US.
I replaced it with a CRV (5sp), which was sporty in its own way. When it died I replaced it with a 2012 Honda Fit, a small hatchback that is effectively a sports wagon.
Honda no longer makes the Fit and replaced it with the HRV, a smaller CRV type SUV on the Fit chassis.
 
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Telecolor 3007 said:
In the '000's a new mania camed for the people: the S.U.V. mania. People on U.S.A. had S.U.V.'s before, but not in such large numbers. In the '010's this mania exploded. It also crossed the pond in the '000's.
Everyone drives what he/she likes. No problem with that. But besides that the S.U.V.'s aren't all that sporty and most people don't get off the road with 'em, they are fuel inneficient and don't have much luggage space (trough all beeing that big, they seem to do) which don't much affect other people,
the big bad thing is people driving those big cars can feel over confident. And they can be agressive towards with people with more vehicles. New cars have cameras, but old S.U.V.'s don't have and the drivers can have dead angles... But why this mania after all?
Click to expand...
(1) not all SUV’s get bad mileage my forester averages 27 mpg in town est 30 on the highway has no blind spots , has way more room and is much easier to get in and out off than any modern car ! Plus a real all wheel drive set up it’s great in all weather ! I’ve grew up in the big car era and still admire them but a lot of SUV’s do way more and are way more practical than they used to be ! (2) one of the big reasons for SUV’s is that today’s cars are much lower , and smaller and are harder to get in and out of and with an aging population explains a lot of why they are so popular ! (3) most SUV’s have a hatch and a fold down rear seat which gives plenty of cargo space for the average homeowner to haul stuff , tv, small furniture say an end table and even decent sized speakers ! I will always remember as a kid thundering down the road in my bueatiful 76 Monte Carlo handling like a dream with speeds that could easily get you arrested ! But today’s SUV’s fill a purpose with larger interiors better bad weather driving and better fuel mileage than the beloved land yaucts of yesteryear !
 
I think the increase in SUVs is due to the EPA/CAFE regulations.

There is a huge difference between the MPG requirements for a passenger car vs a light truck. (SUVs are classified as light trucks) Instead of figuring out how to meet the standard for cars, US manufacturers have just abandoned the market.

Since it is an average across the entire line of vehicles within the class, companies with a lot of hybrid and/or electric vehicles in their line can better meet the standards. The Japanese manufacturers are way ahead of US companies in hybrid and electric cars so they are able to continue the production of ICE cars whereas Ford has dropped all but the Mustang and given up on the passenger car market.
 
Previous "posts" have pretty much nailed the change-over from the sedan to the SUV.

Utility, and passenger carrying, plus the ease of throwing stuff in the hatch makes them more popular.

And with the advent of hybrids and electric, mpg tend to elevate.

Finally with the height advantage (already alluded to) and the heft of some models, they more so can off-set the mass of trucks now sharing the road...and head on encounters might be more equally be dealt with.

Q
 
Quadman2 said:
Previous "posts" have pretty much nailed the change-over from the sedan to the SUV.

Utility, and passenger carrying, plus the ease of throwing stuff in the hatch makes them more popular.

And with the advent of hybrids and electric, mpg tend to elevate.

Finally with the height advantage (already alluded to) and the heft of some models, they more so can off-set the mass of trucks now sharing the road...and head on encounters might be more equally be dealt with.

Q
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One reason I hear is because they're easier to get in and out of than a car, plus the other stuff.
 
For us a SUV can, and ultimately will replace two vehicles. With our Jeep Grand Cherokee Trailhawk we get decently comfortable ride, sufficient bling, reasonable fuel economy, decent power, can pull a trailer/boat/camper so long as they're not really big, and go places a typical sedan or large 4x4 truck can't.

That one vehicle effectively replaces, and at some point will fully replace, a 4dr sedan and a full size ext cab 4wd pickup truck. The sedan and pickup truck are older, higher mileage and will not be replaced upon their demise wherein the Jeep takes over full time.
 
I think that (but don't know with certainty) most SUV buyers are not getting the kind of service that you get with your vehicle. It's just personal transportation that a sedan could just as readily provide. Most of the time when I'm on the road and see an SUV, it's just the driver riding in it. SUV's can work really well for families or anytime the vehicle is full of passengers of any kind. If an SUV replaces 2 cars or possibly more when carrying passengers, the it make sense to drive one. It's a matter of passenger-miles vs. vehicle tonnage.
 
We have a 2022 Mazda CX-5 for my wife and I drive a 2012 Mazda3 hatchback and am fine with it. Ever since my 2003 Ford Focus wagon, I’ve become enamored of smaller, lithe cars that can haul a respectably large items. I’ve hauled organs, consoles and big dining room tables in it easily, as well as 8’ 2x4s,

The CX-5 is more comfortable on longer freeway trips, but the 3 is fine too. The 3 I like better in city traffic and parking, but it’s crazy that next to a big truck these days all you see is the door and the mirrors are over the 3s roof. It’s also just more fun to drive spiritedly, and the lower CoG is more fun in the twisties. 30mpg vs 26mpg is nice too.

I’m quite happy with both cars.

IMG_7915.jpeg
 
Hi Andy, I absolutely love my lil 2012 Mazda 3!!!!

Mine gets used mostly on rainy days when I don't want to use my 1989 Firebird daily driver and what a great little car it is. I mentioned in the "modern features" thread that it's got an awesome sound system, the factory supplied Bose system with a subwoofer.

image0 (31).jpeg
 
Our 2018 Subaru Outback is a crossover.
My only issue is that it has a stiff suspension-I would say that it rides like a truck but trucks are pretty darn smooth these days.

From the Web:
"While consumers and automakers alike use the terms interchangeably - which is unsurprising given the many styling similarities they share - key differences do exist. Put simply, a crossover is lighter and built on a car platform, while a traditional SUV is heavier and uses a truck chassis."
 
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People love their SUVs... until they remain stuck in traffic, or have to go around the long way, because they can't fit into a narrow space to get into a turning lane, parking space, or driveway, where my little truck will easily fit into.

I've had cases where I have been able to get into and out of areas to pick up and drop off stuff with my truck, that a typical SUV couldn't dream of fitting into. When there's work to be done, those type of obstructions/delays cost real money out of the bottom line, sometimes.

Regards,
Gordon.
 
OBMG74 said:
Our 2018 Subaru Outback is a crossover.
My only issue is that it has a stiff suspension-I would say that it rides like a truck but trucks are pretty darn smooth these days.

From the Web:
"While consumers and automakers alike use the terms interchangeably - which is unsurprising given the many styling similarities they share - key differences do exist. Put simply, a crossover is lighter and built on a car platform, while a traditional SUV is heavier and uses a truck chassis."
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Not many SUVs use a truck chassis. My SUV gets 25 mpg average. It goes 0-60 in 4.5 sec. Does the 1/4 mile in 13 sec. Great brakes and handling and I don't need to grunt and groan to get in or out. It's a mid size, not a monster Tahoe or similar. It's fun to drive and comfortable but whatever. You guys know better.
 
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