Would you give up your SUV?

[HugsForEeyore]

I live in an area where a majority of people have a large SUV (Suburbans, Envoys, Expedtions, Explorers, Tahoes, etc), and no one I know is considering trading them in for a smaller car. Everyone I know loves their SUVs and all the perks that come with them - being up high off the road, lots of room, good in snow, safety from being in such a large vehicle, and just being bigger and better. Though around here, the biggest reason is the "unsaid" one - status. In my area, many people just wouldn't ever be seen in anything but a large SUV. To be seen as part of "the upper class" and the "in crowd", you HAVE to have a large luxury SUV (whether you can afford it or not!). Just the way it is.

So not a soul I know would stop having a SUV - they can afford the gas, or just pay it since it's worth it to them. SUVs haven't lost any popularity around here!

 

[momrek06]

I will give up my TRAILBLAZER LTZ only IF DH buys me a MERCEDES C-class!!!! Pleaseeeeeeeee, DH, pleasssssseeee!!!!

 

[Kitka]

I wouldn't buy one, ever. Even before gas was pushing $3, it just didn't make sense for me (who only has 2 children and commutes) to have one. I know a lot of people getting rid of them - except my boss who just bought an Excursion...

I feel for those with large families who have to have something large.

 

[Darth Cupcake]

Never. I love my Toyota Sequoia Ltd. The truth is that gas could be pushing $10 a gallon and I'd love it just the same.

 

[CrazedDisFan]

We have a Dodge Ram Mega Cab 1500 with the Hemi engine. It is very roomy and makes trips much more comfortable for the kids. However, the gas mileage is not so great.

We also have a Dodge Durango, but that is going back the end of the month. The lease is up. We will be getting a minivan or a Dodge Charger in a few weeks to replace the Durango. I love it, but it's not feasible financially to keep two vehicles with lower gas mileage.

Let me also add that gas prices were never a factor for us, until dh had an unexpected hospitalization and some poor medical test results that are preventing him from returning to work. He has been unable to work since Thanksgiving. I would fill up the cars and not give it a second thought when he was working, now it is just downright painful to pump $150 in gas a week. This has truly been a wake up call about making better financial decisions and not concerning ourselves with vehicle status.

We live in a smaller town with extremely limited public transportation and walking to businesses is not feasible.

 

[UrsulasShadow]

I love my Dodge Ram Quad Cab SLT, but it has gotten ridiculous to drive, at 12MPG. My DD has a Ford Explorer, which doesn't get much better. So, as much as it breaks my heart, I think we need to sell these 2, and buy 3 more economical vehicles (the 3rd for my DS, who turns 16 this month). DD is off to college, 3 hours away, so will need something cheap and dependable. I'd love to do more traveling, so maybe a Subaru Outback or something station-wagoney to pack stuff in. But, I still feel like I need a bigger vehicle for the newest driver....maybe a tank.

 

[palmtreegirl]

Palmtreegirl if you don't mind me asking what kind of SUV did you have before and what kind of car did you get? Was it a huge difference going from an SUV to a car? Do you miss your SUV?

I went from a Pontiac Aztec to a Toyota Camry. The biggest change from an SUV to a car for me, is the way bigger cars treat you on the road. I've found that trucks and other large SUV's try to "bully" me more on the road now. I love the Camry, it rides so smooth, there's plenty of room for the kids in the back and it has a huge trunk too. I don't think I'll ever go back to an SUV.

 

[Planogirl]

More power to those of you for whom money is no object and good luck to everyone who just plain needs the big vehicles. However, I have to budget for other things and I'm so glad that we got rid of the SUV we had at one time. I love my little car and it's plenty big for our needs.

 

[Caradana]

Maybe if salaries would rise along with the gas prices, nobody would need to "whine," as you put it.

It costs my husband $15 a DAY just to get to work. We are very fortunate that we can handle it. I really feel for the people who don't make enough money to cover their gas costs in an area where there is no public transportation whatsoever.

Costs me about $6 in gas, about $3 on the toll each way, wear and tear ... tack on another $10 for lunch ... $100/week ...

I just bought a Hyundai Santa Fe last weekend. I figured that if I was going to buy an SUV with gas at $2.60, I should totally go for it, so I got the step rail and the tints and the rain guard and the upgrades - black - I feel like a rap star in this car. Not bad for a blonde white chick from Jersey.

 

[YourMajesty]

I really really love my Suburban. When my DH tells me I'm being negative about something I always remind him how much I love my car. I'm trying to get him to trade in his practical car so we can get a newer model and then we will have two. I will give up my cell phone, starbucks...etc before my SUV. We do take frequent road trips and it's very comfy for travel. Having said all that if we had some financial trouble...or loss of job... certainly I wouldn't let us starve to fill that gas guzzler up.

 

[katerkat]

No - I love my SUV and plan on keeping it for years. None of the reasons I bought it have changed, so why would I ditch it? But, being a SAHM, I can space out my trps accordingly and I only fill it once every two weeks or so.

 

[ilovepcot]

Because of high gas prices, DH should consider *getting* an SUV! That "thing" seen below, gets a whopping *8* miles to the gallon!

 

[YourMajesty]

Because of high gas prices, DH should consider *getting* an SUV! That "thing" seen below, gets a whopping *8* miles to the gallon!

Glad to see there is always someone "worse off". For some reason I don't see him making that trade.

 

[Cindy B]

We have a Jeep and an Expedition which are both paid for. All we are paying is gas/slight maintenance.

DH commutes about 5 miles each way to work, and I can go all over the district, but the most is about 7-8 miles each way. The shortest commute to a job is walkable.

Since we don't have a car payment, its not feasible for us to trade these in for TWO car payments.

DH is talking about a motorcycle... now I don't think so !

 

[JPN4265]

We will keep our SUV and truck. We are looking to buy a new SUV next year. The price should be very competitive.

 

[slo]

My DH is dumping his Explorer SportTrac and buying a Mazda 6 because of the gas prices. He's going to miss his truck, but money talks

 

[DaisyD]

Nope, not trading it in at all. I love my SUV. It is a small one, an MDX, but I love it. DH has the car and I wanted the SUV. I don't care how high gas prices go up, I'll just keep paying. Right now I pay $2.89 a gallon. I don't think it ever lowered from the last gas crunch either.

 

[Nancyg56]

Nope, not trading in my Bronco. Well not until I can purchase another that i like as much. I never needed a 4 wheel drive until I got married and moved out here, but I can't get comfortable on these hills in a car. DH just bought an F350 diesal SD and while he doesn't like the price of gas, he wouldn't be able to haul around all of the stuff he needs in anything smaller.

 

[BibbidiBobbidiBOO]

No way! But it is a Honda CRV that gets decent MPG. I would actually consider moving up to the Honda Pilot. Love my Honda!

 

[DisneyFix321]

Because of high gas prices, DH should consider *getting* an SUV! That "thing" seen below, gets a whopping *8* miles to the gallon!

Oh good luck. Your DH won't want to get rid of that classic car