SUVs IN FL

[JohnsPrincess]

I couldn't actually read every post because I was so offended. I live in Tampa (well...I'm in Kuwait right now...) and I own an SUV. I own it because
A: I like it
B: We own a boat and tow it
C: I don't feel safe in smaller cars
D: It's great in the "weather". You Can't always stay in when the weather is bad out. It's Florida. It rains, a lot. It rains so much that in my husbands car we CAN'T go out because it's too low. In mine we are fine.

There are a ton of other reasons...those were just the first few that came to mind.

My SUV gets better gas milage than my mom's Minivan...and besides...I don't LIKE minivans or station wagons. I'm not buying a car that I don't like, don't feel safe in, and can't drive all the time to appease someone else. And I don't have an SUV as a status symbol...I don't even see them that way. I have it because it's the most practical for myself and my family.

 

[mrsltg]

This thread is very interesting. I own one sedan and one SUV. I feel equally safe in both in most cases. On really windy days or icy days my preference is my Taurus. That car is a tank. I've been hit four times and nothing has been done to it or to us (KNOCK WOOD!!!!). The SUV is a Chevy Trailblazer. I prefer it when traveling long distances because it is more comfortable. I also prefer it in the snow and rain because because of the traction control. I also like being higher up. Not to mention, loading and unloading heavy things is a lot easier in the Trailblazer as you don't have to bend at the waist to lift.

What caused me to laugh is the holier than thou attitude espoused by some. Unless that brand new home was built on land that some other structure stood on, you harmed the environment to build it. There was wildlife that lived where that house stands. Unless that brand new home was built using magic, LARGE TRUCKS, not faeries, brought in lumber that came from real live trees. Real electricity was used to power the tools that the builders used. Other natural resources were exploited to build this home. Were there no existing homes in the state of Florida for sale at that time? Did the planes that brought you back and forth to view the construction not run on fuel? Honestly, there's nothing wrong with any of it. I own new construction myself, but truly, step of the environmental superiority.

Erin

 

[C.Ann]

Really. Who cares anyway? I know I couldn't care less what people think of my spending habits. Why waste your time?

--------------------------

This I can certainly agree with.. How I spend my money - how you spend your money - and how John Doe spends his money - is absolutely no ones business..

My brother happens to own an SUV - and yes, he's a resident of Florida.. He has two HUGE boats that he has to tow around so he obviously needs the towing capacity.. Me? I need to haul my junk up to the lake and back home again once a year so I'll either get another mini van - or make my son-in-law transport it in his pick-up truck.. LOL

 

[ducklite]

What caused me to laugh is the holier than thou attitude espoused by some. Unless that brand new home was built on land that some other structure stood on, you harmed the environment to build it. There was wildlife that lived where that house stands. Unless that brand new home was built using magic, LARGE TRUCKS, not faeries, brought in lumber that came from real live trees. Real electricity was used to power the tools that the builders used. Other natural resources were exploited to build this home. Were there no existing homes in the state of Florida for sale at that time? Did the planes that brought you back and forth to view the construction not run on fuel? Honestly, there's nothing wrong with any of it. I own new construction myself, but truly, step of the environmental superiority.

Erin

Erin,

Let's see...actually NO at the time we began the process to build our home there were less than 200 homes for sale in the county we live in, and only three in our price range, two of which would have required extensive renovations to live in and one which was lakefront property in a lake crwling with gators, no thanks.

We drive a Prius. It gets better fuel efficiency than any SUV could get even coasting on fumes. When we flew back and forth it's mass transit that would have flown regardless if we were on it or not.

There is very little lumber used in my home, the exterior walls are concrete block, the window frames are metal, like I said, very little wood. ADditionally, we spent thousands of dollars on energy efficiency, the home we live in now is far more efficient than the one we sold in NJ. And I saw a red fox the other night, which was very kewl indeed.

My problem with SUV's is not so much the environmental issues with them--a poorly maintained 4 cylinder can cause as much or more environmental damage--but the FACT that they are more dangerous to others on the road. SUV drivers in general are far more aggressive, and those of us who drive smaller cars are far more likely to be injured by one in an accident.

Anne

 

[rkrivas]

My original reason for owning an SUV is because of the weather where we live. I also live 45 miles from my office, so if I'm at work during bad weather, I feel safer with the SUV.

After being rear-ended 2 times by sedans and seeing the damage done to them vs. the minimal damage done to my suvs (1st was a forrester and the 2nd is a highlander), I'm going to continue driving my suv.

 

[skiwee1]

Erin,

Let's see...actually NO at the time we began the process to build our home there were less than 200 homes for sale in the county we live in, and only three in our price range, two of which would have required extensive renovations to live in and one which was lakefront property in a lake crwling with gators, no thanks.

We drive a Prius. It gets better fuel efficiency than any SUV could get even coasting on fumes. When we flew back and forth it's mass transit that would have flown regardless if we were on it or not.

There is very little lumber used in my home, the exterior walls are concrete block, the window frames are metal, like I said, very little wood. ADditionally, we spent thousands of dollars on energy efficiency, the home we live in now is far more efficient than the one we sold in NJ. And I saw a red fox the other night, which was very kewl indeed.

My problem with SUV's is not so much the environmental issues with them--a poorly maintained 4 cylinder can cause as much or more environmental damage--[B]but the FACT that they are more dangerous to others on the road. SUV drivers in general are far more aggressive, and those of us who drive smaller cars are far more likely to be injured by one in an accident.[/B]Anne

Talk about generalization Ducklite. I drive an SUV and I'm no more aggressive then my DD who drives a civic. My DH was in an SUV when a small car ran into the back of him and totalled his Jeep. Everyone should drive what they are comfortable with. It sounds like you are not feeling too safe in the Prius so perhaps you should move up. I don't believe anyone should be stuck driving in something just because someone else doesn't feel safe.

 

[ducklite]

Talk about generalization Ducklite. I drive an SUV and I'm no more aggressive then my DD who drives a civic. My DH was in an SUV when a small car ran into the back of him and totalled his Jeep. Everyone should drive what they are comfortable with. It sounds like you are not feeling too safe in the Prius so perhaps you should move up. I don't believe anyone should be stuck driving in something just because someone else doesn't feel safe.

I feel safe in the Prius when I don't have some jerk tailgating me in a Expedition! I'll stick to my fuel efficient cars and laugh as you all whine about the price of gas and insurance. And when some idiot in an SUV hits me, the money I'll collect will cause them to never be able to afford to drive anything but a '86 Neon. LOL!

Anne

 

[ducklite]

Talk about generalization Ducklite. I drive an SUV and I'm no more aggressive then my DD who drives a civic. My DH was in an SUV when a small car ran into the back of him and totalled his Jeep. Everyone should drive what they are comfortable with. It sounds like you are not feeling too safe in the Prius so perhaps you should move up. I don't believe anyone should be stuck driving in something just because someone else doesn't feel safe.

And BTW--it's a PROVEN FACT that SUV's are more dangerous to cars than other cars are. No generalization there.

Anne

 

[skiwee1]

I feel safe in the Prius when I don't have some jerk tailgating me in a Expedition! I'll stick to my fuel efficient cars and laugh as you all whine about the price of gas and insurance. And when some idiot in an SUV hits me, the money I'll collect will cause them to never be able to afford to drive anything but a '86 Neon. LOL!

Anne

I've never whined about gas prices. Compared to Europe our prices are darn good! My DH had an H-2. Gas prices never bothered him either. We buy vehicles we can afford. Silly us. Our insurance actually went down when he got the H-2. We saved $150 a year through our insurance getting that truck. Our insurance company said it was a very safe vehicle. By the tone of you post it sounds like there are idiots driving economy cars too.

 

[Chicago526]

And BTW--it's a PROVEN FACT that SUV's are more dangerous to cars than other cars are. No generalization there.

Anne

Yes, in fact I posted scientific data suporting that SUV's are more dangerous to other vehiclals AND that SUV's ARE NOT safer than sedan's. But no one here cares, because they feel safer. You are not safer, it's just an illusion.

You also can't base it on "My SUV hit/was hit by a sedan and it looked totaled and I only had a dent". Sedans are DESIGNED to crumple up to protect the passengers. The car can look like a pretzle, but the passenger walks away without a scratch. My good friend totaled two differant mid-size sedans and walked away both times with no injuries (on accident was her fault, the second was a hit and run).

I do disagree that SUV or pickup truck drivers are more aggresive though. Aggresive drivers that drive SUV's are just more intimadating than an agresive driver in a sedan, due to size!

 

[AllyandJack]

I drive my SUV because of the 4WD. I wouldn't need that in FL, so I'd probably drive some sort of convertible. I don't think I'm safer than if I was in a Camry. I don't drive aggressively. I simply need the 4WD. My SUV is small (it's a Blazer). It serves it's purpose and I don't need it any bigger. I have a plow on it so I can get out of the garage in 20in of snow and get back to the garage if it snows all day. I can buy a freezer from Lowes and take it home with me in the back of the car with the rear seats folded down. It serves it's purpose. We all have different purposes and an SUV works for me and takes care of what I need.

To each their own. But, if I lived in FL, I'd be in a convertible.

 

[disneylizzy]

I'm curious as to what the Shepherd is studying in college..

Animal Husbandry and Romantic Languages (German)

 

[CheshireVal]

Sheesh. Who cares about the environment, anyway? Why do we need nature? If I have an SUV, when there is eventually no more oil and ANWR is destroyed and the air is too yucky to breathe... at least I'll be able to live in my Suburban quite comfortably.

I mean.... I LIKE it, and it's the best choice for my family. Screw all you other families out there. I'm in it for myself. If I hit you in my SUV, you'll be dead, but I'm alive. I WIN!

 

[Chicago526]

Sheesh. Who cares about the environment, anyway? Why do we need nature? If I have an SUV, when there is eventually no more oil and ANWR is destroyed and the air is too yucky to breathe... at least I'll be able to live in my Suburban quite comfortably.

I mean.... I LIKE it, and it's the best choice for my family. Screw all you other families out there. I'm in it for myself. If I hit you in my SUV, you'll be dead, but I'm alive. I WIN!

I know the SUV fans don't really feel this way (well, most of you! ) but you do come across that way in some of these posts!

 

[AllyandJack]

You could be hit and killed by a minivan or a pick-up truck or a bus or a passenger van, too. There are idiots on the road in all sorts of cars. I was rear-ended by a massive pick-up truck. His car was torn to shreds and my Blazer (which was miniscule compared to the pick-up) had a dent in the rear fender. Size doesn't equal safety.

As for the environment....my SUV gets the same mileage as a minivan and better mileage than most pick-up trucks. We were just at the Auto Show and I saw station wagons that got worse mileage than the SUVs. Just because there are people out there who drive massive cars (whether it's an SUV or a pick-up truck or a commercial van) with V8 engines that get bad mileage doesn't mean the rest of us are anti-environment aiming for the Prius in the next lane. Most of us just made a decision to drive the car that best served our needs. Without the 4WD, I can't get up my driveway to go home. I can't put a plow on a Corolla or on a mini-van or a station wagon.

I find it really funny that the same people who advocate for my right to choose to end a pregnancy are the same people who are against my right to choose the car I want to drive. I'm pro-choice - whether it's about cars or abortions. I, personally, would never drive something as big as an Escalade (my small SUV is fine and, honestly, I don't think I could handle it!), but it's not my place to make that decision for someone else.

 

[Miss Jasmine]

Last year after the hurricanes I decided that my next vehicle will be an SUV. Sometimes I have to go to work, and thankfully we had DH's truck when trying to get home from work after Frances. The roads were flooded, debris was all over. I would not have felt comfortable in those conditions with my Camry.

 

[spelunker]

I find it really funny that the same people who advocate for my right to choose to end a pregnancy are the same people who are against my right to choose the car I want to drive. I'm pro-choice - whether it's about cars or abortions. I, personally, would never drive something as big as an Escalade (my small SUV is fine and, honestly, I don't think I could handle it!), but it's not my place to make that decision for someone else.

Touche!

 

[CheshireVal]

I find it really funny that the same people who advocate for my right to choose to end a pregnancy are the same people who are against my right to choose the car I want to drive. I'm pro-choice - whether it's about cars or abortions. I, personally, would never drive something as big as an Escalade (my small SUV is fine and, honestly, I don't think I could handle it!), but it's not my place to make that decision for someone else.

That's a false analogy-- comparing apples to oranges. Other people's abortions don't affect me or anyone else. Other people's driving choices affect us all.

 

[chicagodisneyfan]

Sheesh. Who cares about the environment, anyway? Why do we need nature? If I have an SUV, when there is eventually no more oil and ANWR is destroyed and the air is too yucky to breathe... at least I'll be able to live in my Suburban quite comfortably.

I mean.... I LIKE it, and it's the best choice for my family. Screw all you other families out there. I'm in it for myself. If I hit you in my SUV, you'll be dead, but I'm alive. I WIN!

OH MY GOD - this was the funniest thing I have read this morning! It does speak the truth

 

[diznygirl]

To each their own. But, if I lived in FL, I'd be in a convertible.

No you wouldn't - too many bugs!!!!

(Actually, I think you'd still need a Suburban against some of these bugs! )