ALT-1 Are Suvs Cool or Uncool – Uncool
Note that this question is in my opinion far too general and there are many circumstances under which the driver of an SUV can neither be considered “cool” or “uncool.” My answer to this poll indicates a feeling toward a trend of people purchasing SUVs for improper reasons, with acknowledgement of those who do not.
To begin with those who would fall under the “uncool,” there seem to be an increasingly large number of SUVs on the road for the simple purpose of proclaiming wealth. They are larger vehicles, and thus typically more expensive. People read a price tag and create a pretense that if they buy this vehicle, people will respect them more for their apparent financial well being. What seems to escape them entirely is the fact that the Sport Utility Vehicle was not invented with this purpose in mind (though market trends have created in this category some which obviously are). This type of vehicle was created by the automotive designer to be an off-road ready, durable, street capable dual purpose vehicle. Even still, a large percentage of these vehicles only see one of these purposes in reality.
Often times it’s almost infuriating to see the number of these vehicles on the road with one occupant. It would make sense for a whole family to be using this vehicle as transportation if they need more space in their travels. Instead, one lonely passenger exits the vehicle at the end of the trip, having spent copious amounts of money on gas and deposited more than a one person share of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.
There is a special place in my heart reserved for the SUV. It is a capable and durable off road aimed vehicle that can also be driven on the street when need be. For the purpose of dual-sport, it excels in the same fashion as a dirt bike with street fittings, providing a mainly off road vehicle that can legally and mechanically be used on any kind of terrain. The person who buys one of these vehicles with this function in mind is he who would fall under the “cool” vote. I believe that the vehicle is not what classifies the person, but conversely the person who defines the vehicle by their decided use. I maintain that there is nothing morally or socially wrong with these vehicles in themselves, though their use in mainstream society hints otherwise about the people operating them.
