I hate SUVs.

kelbrian · February 2009

Every time I see someone driving one in CHICAGO of all places, I want to puke. I would love to throw eggs at them. More often than not, it is a woman with one kid in the backseat. No one needs an SUV in Chicago, besides people who have more than five kids.

Ugh. And I'm the one who gets the weird stares for walking every where. For not owning a car. It irritates me.

Rant over :O)

renee143 · February 2009

me too. ?and i have one. ?i hate it.

kelbrian · February 2009

But do you live in a large city with ready access to public transportation and car shares like iGo (who use somehwat eco-friendly cars) or even ZipCar?

Because if you don't, I'm more willing to forgive you. There is just no point in Chicago.

AustinGurl · February 2009

Maybe she has dogs? ?We got one so we can take the whole family (DD, future kids AND our 3 big dogs places). ?We weren't able to take the whole family anywhere for the first 6 months of DD's life without taking 2 cars. ?I hate that it's a gas guzzler, but I have a very short work commute and we take DH's tiny car anytime we don't need the big one. ?There. ?I've attempted to justify myself.

renee143 · February 2009

i don't, but i really don't need the suv. ?i hate it every time i drive it. ?we bought it to be more comfortable on roadtrips, and we end up taking our smaller car b/c it's more efficient. ?it was a bad impulse.

GladToBeMrs.SRS · February 2009

Many small business owners drive SUVs for business reasons, myself included. Stuff (sometimes large stuff, or lots of stuff) needs to get from point A to point B, whether you live in Chicago, Phoenix, or rural Alabama.

I get that there are tons of people who drive them simply for their own comfort. I'm just saying that there are a multitude of valid reasons to own and operate an SUV; many of which would never be known to the casual observer.

Wisteriacow · February 2009

DH and I both have SUV's. He had to have one for work. I chose to get one after being in a car accident a few years ago. I was rear-ended at low speed in my Civic in stop and go traffic. There was enough damage to the car that if they had found all of it initially the car would have been totalled. I also had injuries to my back that still act up from time to time. Given that the majority of people in the area where I live drive SUV's or pickups, there's no way I'm going to risk being in another accident where I'm driving a car and the other person is in a huge SUV where the bumper is at the level of my head. I know it's not eco-friendly or fuel efficient, but it's my safety and the safety of my son that comes first.

Joes_love · February 2009

but you love me, and i drive an SUV! I have a Jeep Liberty, it's not a huge SUV and it's not really a gas guzzler, but it's still an SUV, and since I don't feel safe driving DS around in it...it's usually just me (or DH) in our SUV. but i got it b/c it can fit a fold up wheelchair in the back in the event that I ever have to pick up my brother since i'm an emergency contact.

papie · February 2009

I know. ?When we loved downtown Montreal, my ?neighbors had TWO. ?How did they ever manage to park them in the streets?

We live in the suburbs and only have one car. ?DH takes the train to work every day. ?I really don't understand the need for them...?

kelbrian · February 2009

Joes_love:
but you love me, and i drive an SUV! I have a Jeep Liberty, it's not a huge SUV and it's not really a gas guzzler, but it's still an SUV, and since I don't feel safe driving DS around in it...it's usually just me (or DH) in our SUV. but i got it b/c it can fit a fold up wheelchair in the back in the event that I ever have to pick up my brother since i'm an emergency contact.

I do love you! I get that some people use SUVs for a reason. These are all legit reasons. I am just saying that the women that live by me by no means need to own them. They use their SUVs to go to Starbucks and the gym. That's about it. You might think I'm assuming, but I go to a playgroup with them, and all they do is shop, drink coffee, work out, and drive their SUVs around pointlessly. It makes sense when you own a business, have to pick up a person who is handicapped, live in the country and need it for safety reasons, and all of the other reasons listed here.

I should have been more specific in my original post. Sorry.

*speedracer* · February 2009

the one argument that i strongly dislike is the whole "a bigger vehicle makes me feel safer" or that "it's better in an accident."

if we all just kept the smallest size we actually *needed* then people wouldn't have to worry about having a bigger car than "the other guy."

as people keep getting bigger and bigger cars, the size disparity between the normal/small sedans and huge boat SUVs continues to grow and really does cause a problem on the road.

Wisteriacow · February 2009

*speedracer*:

the one argument that i strongly dislike is the whole "a bigger vehicle makes me feel safer" or that "it's better in an accident."

if we all just kept the smallest size we actually *needed* then people wouldn't have to worry about having a bigger car than "the other guy."

as people keep getting bigger and bigger cars, the size disparity between the normal/small sedans and huge boat SUVs continues to grow and really does cause a problem on the road.

I do agree with this. But I'm not going to be the first to downsize. Plus, a majority of the people around me drive big trucks and SUV's not because they need them, but to look cool and to have souped up diesel exhausts that make lots of noise. I also don't think that my SUV is necessarily safer in an accident other than the fact that at least I won't be in a tiny car getting hit by a big truck. I know that my SUV is more likely to be top heavy and can roll or flip much easier than a car.

Part of me was really happy when gas prices were so high, I hoped that it would help get rid of some of the big cars on the road.

kelbrian · February 2009

*speedracer*:
the one argument that i strongly dislike is the whole "a bigger vehicle makes me feel safer" or that "it's better in an accident."
if we all just kept the smallest size we actually *needed* then people wouldn't have to worry about having a bigger car than "the other guy."
as people keep getting bigger and bigger cars, the size disparity between the normal/small sedans and huge boat SUVs continues to grow and really does cause a problem on the road.

I do agree with this. Last weekend, DH and I witnessed a car accident. A small mini cooper was absolutely smushed by a Denali. The Denali collided right into the mini cooper and the car literally went flying. I have no idea what condition the driver of the cooper was in, because DH and I hightailed it out of there - someone had already called 911.

I think I'm just biased and a hater because of the city.

Aliliv · February 2009

I really don't see the necessity of a large SUV in cities, unless big families - but then again, why not a mini-van.

That being said, we're are looking in to buying a big SUV for a couple of reasons: We live in the middle of nowhere and NEED a 4X4 at times just to get out of our driveway. We need something that will pull our camper. And, we need something to accomodate our growing family plus dogs and any future child we may have. We have a tiny car and a truck - We are trading in the truck to get something that holds more people. Trucks = SUVs.

Lotte134 · February 2009

*speedracer*:
the one argument that i strongly dislike is the whole "a bigger vehicle makes me feel safer" or that "it's better in an accident."
if we all just kept the smallest size we actually *needed* then people wouldn't have to worry about having a bigger car than "the other guy."
as people keep getting bigger and bigger cars, the size disparity between the normal/small sedans and huge boat SUVs continues to grow and really does cause a problem on the road.

Thank you for saying this! I've been trying to tell people this for years.

And, I agree there can be valid reasons for owning an SUV, but most people could get by with a nice station wagon just as well. My brother used to drive a great Saturn wagon and it could haul tons of stuff and got great gas mileage!

Summerly2 · February 2009

I was JUST about to post a similar rant based on my experience this morning at Target. I figured I'd get flamed though Embarrassed I've got 2 kids in a Corolla and we manage just fine, thank you. But this huge frigging tank kept pulling in/backing out/readjusting b/c the woman couldn't get it in the spot. While she was on her cell. Yes, she had one infant seat in the back. I just think it's SO unnecessary. And she was holding me up b/c I was trying to park next to her (which was very close to the door). And this was necessary b/c it's frigging cold and I have 2 kids to get in and out. And Target was one of 4 stops this morning.

Rant over. It felt good to get that out

cooksr · February 2009

yep - totally agree with the op. My subaru outback is great - good gas mileage, verrry safe (cause it's a big ol station wagon), can haul stuff etc etc. Yeah, it'll be tight when we have two carseats back there - but we'll manage. Right now it's the family car cause dh's car is from before we were together, two-door, totally impracticle - yet he is still able to get an infant seat in and out of it. We'll need to trade that and the uber-efficient harley in order to get a minivan or some other crossover - we're researching now.

clayswife · February 2009

I hate them, and I have one BUT I still walk everywhere. I live in a small rural town and the only time we drive it is when we have our dog or are headed out of town and need more room than a sedan would offer. And, what's public transportation/iGo/ZipCar

They don't exist here at all.

EarlJenilee · February 2009

Right now I have a Jetta. Once I have more than two kiddos, I will be getting an SUV. Probably a big one and it will be diesel. Reasons are:

1. We plan to have a large family (four-six kids).

2. We do a lot of camping with our boat and if we have an SUV, we can pack our gear plus pull the boat with only one vehicle.

3. We also do a lot of quadding/biking and need to pull a trailer. Can't do that with a stationwagon or minivan.

Unless there is a more EF alternative that is reasonable at the time, this is what we'll be doing. I don't feel bad.

Aliliv · February 2009

EarlJenilee:
Right now I have a Jetta. Once I have more than two kiddos, I will be getting an SUV. Probably a big one and it will be diesel. Reasons are:

1. We plan to have a large family (four-six kids).

2. We do a lot of camping with our boat and if we have an SUV, we can pack our gear plus pull the boat with only one vehicle.

3. We also do a lot of quadding/biking and need to pull a trailer. Can't do that with a stationwagon or minivan.

Unless there is a more EF alternative that is reasonable at the time, this is what we'll be doing. I don't feel bad.

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