Today's SUV are basically the same as yesterday's vans
and minivans. A Ford Explorer has the same utility as
a Ford Windstar, but I think everyone will tell you
the Explorer looks 'cooler'. Although its true I don't
know why any suburban person would ever get a Chevy
Suburban or Ford Excursion or that ridiculous Chrysler
tank; the Unimog for anything other than as a status
symbol or a hearse. High end SUV's like the ones from
Lexus, Mercedes Benz..etc. are like their sedans in
SUV form. Personally I have a ford Taurus, and my
parents have a wonderfully comfortable Mercury Grand
Marquis. That thing is so comfortable, smooth riding,
and big that we have had no use for a SUV. 1100 miles
are pretty easy with that car. Again I have lost my
point... Ahh SUV's the minivans of tomorrow... Today!
Mark Lloyd
--- Matt Crawley <matt@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> Hi Scott.
>
> scott@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx wrote:
> > 2. The more radical among the self-named
> "environmentally aware" seem to
> > think that they're solely responsible for most of
> the world's environmental
> > ills. This despite the fact that at least one
> model SUV has earned at least
> > a "Low Emission Vehicle" (maybe even an "Ultra Low
> Emission Vehicle," I
> > forget...) recognition from the California
> (strict) and US (not as strict)
> > EPA, and that a number of others rate no worse
> than many automobiles.
>
> Well... Like many "standards" the LEV standard
> cannot be taken at face
> value. The emissions tests don't measure the
> emissions to get from point A
> to point B and therefore omit some very relevant
> information. SUVs are heavy
> and their poor aerodynamics combined with drivetrain
> drag and knobby tires
> make for much higher fuel consumption(and emissions)
> than the tests
> indicate.
>
> > Like anything else, some people use things, some
> abuse them.
>
> So true... But I think many people's like/dislike of
> SUVs this isn't really
> about what does/doesn't come out the tailpipe. It
> has more to do with the
> philosophy behind the SUV. It is a philosophy of ME
> FIRST. eg: "but I get
> such a good view of traffic" - but you block
> everyone's view behind you!
> "but it's so much safer in a crash" - but I recently
> saw road test data
> showing a certain SUV's braking distances from 70mph
> to be 30 FEET longer
> than a comparable sedan... 30 FEET!
>
> Personally I don't consider your old Samari or
> Landcruiser in the same vein
> as modern SUV's. The design criteria of your
> vehicles is form follows
> function while modern SUV's have lost all sight of
> that.
>
>
> - Matt Crawley
>
>
>
>
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