Quote:
Originally Posted by Chris V
Maybe, but I'm not going to be so brazen as to determine that by looking at a person in an otherwise empty SUV on my commute (I have no idea how it's used the 99.9% of the time I don't see it) or in a parking lot, which is what he's doing.
Same goes for sports cars and exotic cars, No one needs them, either, and in fact, unlike SUVs, using a sports car or supercar as intended is LESS responsible as fora s society goes, but he and I'll bet most on here woudl have no problem with a person owning a sports car or exotic, (even though by numbers on the road, they are more likely to get into accidents than any other type fo vehicle and use fuel ONLY for personal pleasure, which is irresponsible, as well).
I've driven a number of SUVS, and have owned many, they aren't THAT bad to drive. Visibility IS better, and most have larger brakes and larger springs/swaybars and a wider track to help handling so that they do indeed drive a lot more like regular cars.
I don't have a problem driving an SUV around small cars, and I've never had a problem driving smal cars around SUVs (Or vans, or work trucks, or delivery trucks, or busses or RVs). In fact, SUVs worry me a LOT less than the avereage metro bus driver....  |
I get what you're saying and where your opinion comes from.
However, you're likely a much better driver than the average owner. When I say "woman in a parking lot doing a 12-point turn," I MEAN that. I've witnessed it more times than I'd like to count and it bothers me, because it tells me "that's a person who doesn't know how to drive that SUV."
I also think there is the misunderstanding that when I say "SUV" It means "ALL SUVs," which is not what I meant to get across. I recognize that there are SUVs out there that are smaller than most trucks (Ford Escape, Lincoln MKX, etc) - those are not the focus of this conversation; the bigger, more purpose-built rigs that are mentioned in the article are what I'm talking about (Your Excursions, Expeditions, Escalades, Suburbans, etc). When it comes to those, I believe that some people just shouldn't drive them. And if you can't park your vehicle in an otherwise spacious parking lot, maybe you shouldn't be driving that vehicle.
I don't pretend to have an idea about every single person I see in an SUV. Most times, it's the people who stick out in the first place that lead me to conclusions - young couples out in their vehicle with no sign of a child, things like that.
I understand where you're coming from on the sports cars and exotics and agree to a point. People DO buy sports cars unnecessarily, HOWEVER, in many cases, those are reserved for weekends or nice days when you feel like driving it. If I own a Ferrari 458, I'm not going to be driving it on a daily basis or parking it at the parking garage; I'm going to be driving it on the weekends when it's sunny and parking it very rarely. They are cars that are meant for leisure and less than typical driving habits, so comparing them to SUVs in terms of usage is nowhere near an even trade.
I don't have a problem with SUVs around small cars and vice versa either, UNLESS the person driving said SUV is displaying less than stellar ability behind the wheel/cause for concern. While I understand that people with poor skill are dangerous behind the wheel of any vehicle, it doesn't help when the vehicle they are behind the wheel of is twice the size and weight with less stopping ability (even with bigger brakes).
People are going to buy what they're going to buy. But I wish they would buy something suited to their needs and their abilities (sports/exotics aside).