ALT-12 Should we still be Buying Suvs – No
In this current era of economic uncertainty, it would be wise for those of us in the United States to have second thoughts on driving trucks and/or sport utility vehicles. While the price of a gallon of gasoline is now fairly stable when compared to last summer (2008), the fact remains that the aforementioned types of vehicles waste fuel needlessly. This not only takes money from our pockets, but also adds to the deterioration of our planet.
Sport Utility Vehicles, or SUV's for short, can more or less be thought of as enclosed trucks with softer suspensions. If you were to go back 30 or 40 years, practically the only people seen driving pickup trucks were those who truly needed them; such as farmers or construction workers. Indeed, the purpose of a truck is to haul heavy amounts of cargo. The heavy-duty suspensions and transmissions are in place for that very reason. But something happened along the way: Sometime in the late 1980's or early 1990's, it suddenly became as cool to have a truck as it once was to own a Corvette.
SUV's became extremely popular during this time. Not only were they a form of truck, but they were enclosed for comfort and the higher ride height gave those the impression of being safer; for drivers could see more due to sitting higher. In reality, the higher center of gravity makes these vehicles far more likely to roll over, especially if a driver negotiates a turn at too high of a speed. And then of course there was and still is the issue of fuel economy. A truck or SUV will suffer from at least a 30% reduction in gas mileage over a car. Let's not forget much higher repair and maintenance costs as well. The initial sticker price will reflect this.
Over the years, two-door coupes have lost some of their appeal. Put simply, in today's world, people want more room. This especially holds true if children are passengers, and any car with just two doors makes rear access a chore; not only for the occupants themselves, but also for the luggage, because most coupes have little or no trunk space. There is; however, a solution: For those who need large amounts of cargo space, why not consider a station wagon? They are far less costly in all aspects and will hold nearly as much as an SUV. The days of geeky Brady Bunch-era Country Squires with fake wood paneling are long gone, and there are many very nice wagons out there to choose from. Moreover, if four-wheel or all-wheel drive is needed for driving in harsh winter climates, this feature is readily available as an option on most models.
This article is not suggesting that SUV's should be banned. We live in a democracy; and as such, should be able to drive whatever pleases us. However, for most of us, they are simply not needed, and vehicles such as station wagons and even minivans are far more economical all the way around.
But, hey; it's your money.
