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Message |
    
growler
Citizen
Username: Growler
Post Number: 479
Registered: 11-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, April 7, 2005 - 4:36 pm: | 
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Meandtheboys - Have you looked at the Chrysler Pacifica? The touring edition is great and could possible fit everthing in it you take with you. Just a thought. |
Meandtheboys
Citizen
Username: Meandtheboys
Post Number: 567
Registered: 12-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, April 7, 2005 - 4:59 pm: |
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growler: great minds think alike. Already checked that out. The interior space is the same as my Durango. If you have the third row seat up, you have no cargo. And, I don't think the gas mileage is all that much better either.
Yossarian: couldn't have said it better myself.  |
Joe
Citizen
Username: Gonets
Post Number: 754
Registered: 2-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, April 7, 2005 - 5:21 pm: |
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I don't know if some of the SUV driver annoyance is directed at my comments, but just to be clear, I didn't say all SUV drivers are bad. I simply wrote about types of drivers: incompetent ones and overly agressive ones in the context of SUVs. Both are a menace regardless of the type of vehicle that they drive. But they're more menacing behind the wheel of a larger vehicle than they are behind something smaller. I know that there are many valid reasons to drive an SUV and wouldn't say people shouldn't drive them. However, if you are making a jump in size, you really need to recognize that there is more of a learning curve than just simply switching to another model.
Just because you need more carrying capacity doesn't mean you should get one if you're not up to handling one. Not saying that's the case with anyone here.
On the subject of sportscars, the Car Talk guys once argued with a woman who was considering buying a high-powered BMW sportscar. They told her it was irresponsible. The reason being that they both had test driven the car and felt it was way too powerful to be on public roads. What they told her was it was impossible to drive the car without driving like a jerk. So, of course it's not just the SUVs and SUV drivers who are a menace. |
ina
Citizen
Username: Ina
Post Number: 199
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, April 7, 2005 - 7:03 pm: |
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Jersey drivers seem to think pedestrians AND cyclists can't hear them unless they honk. Dudes, we're OUTSIDE, we can HEAR you. I can't count the times I'd be riding my bike and some nimrod would honk as they were passing me. I'm a prematurely grey middle aged woman, but if you startle me in traffic, I WILL curse at you like a sailor. |
newone
Citizen
Username: Newone
Post Number: 234
Registered: 8-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, April 7, 2005 - 7:42 pm: |
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I've been driving SUV's for almost 15 years now and I'll keep driving them. I consider myself a serious, safe driver. As someone earlier mentioned, it could be the driver who is bad not the vehicle they drive. With that in mind, I have seen bad drivers in SUV's and also in regular sedans. Heading to the shore in the summer, it usually seems to be the person in the sports car that is driving the shoulders to bypass traffic. Don't let a few rotten eggs spoil it for the rest of us. |
SO Refugee
Citizen
Username: So_refugee
Post Number: 138
Registered: 2-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, April 7, 2005 - 7:56 pm: |
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At least we now know that SUV drivers can be sensitive too... |
sportsnut
Citizen
Username: Sportsnut
Post Number: 1798
Registered: 10-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, April 7, 2005 - 9:46 pm: |
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"What they told her was it was impossible to drive the car without driving like a jerk."
I can't believe they get paid to make statements like that. That is categorically false. It is never impossible to drive a car like that without being a jerk. That's just a stupid statement. I've got news for you, you can be a jerk in any car.
"Heading to the shore in the summer, it usually seems to be the person in the sports car that is driving the shoulders to bypass traffic."
Another sweeping generalization. The cars that I see weaving in and out of traffic on a daily basis are always junkers. They never signal and think nothing of cutting across two lanes of traffic.
I drive as fast as conditions allow. I don't weave, rarely pass on the right, always signal and the people who pass me are rarely driving similar cars. Many times it is someone in a car that has no business going that fast.
Bottom line is that in the hands of an agressive driver a honda civic can be driven crazily. I've seen that. I've seen people driving minivans driving at nearly 100 mph on rte. 78. I've seen toyota corollas doing the same. Men, women, black, white, young and old. It doesn't matter.
Funny in the original comment about SUVs if you replaced SUV with any other adjective describing the driver people would be outraged. But SUVs in this town are viewed as evil and deserving of scorn. Unbelievable. |
ffof
Citizen
Username: Ffof
Post Number: 3588
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, April 7, 2005 - 10:21 pm: |
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It's because they're gas-guzzlers. People are projecting their dislike of that onto the drivers. Then it follows that they must be arrogant, bad drivers to boot. Plus, tiny women with cell phones in their ear do look silly driving them because they can barely see out the windows. I guess.
Anyway, I say that a**holes come in all shapes and sizes. |
Joe
Citizen
Username: Gonets
Post Number: 755
Registered: 2-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, April 7, 2005 - 10:21 pm: |
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Sports,
The notion that you can drive like a jerk in any car isn't news to me. Like you, I see it every day. Granted, the car talk guys statement is a tad hyperbolic, but their point is that a small car with a very powerful engine can be a very dangerous thing, particularly on local roads where the limit is 25MPH--especially when driven by someone who has no driving experience.
I don't doubt your driving prowess, but I think it comes from experience. If you don't have much experience, driving a large vehicle like an SUV (which was a classification specifically created so that the vehicle would fall under the less stringent safety guidelines--rather than passenger vehicle) or a turbo charged sports is more of a challenge, and hence inherently more dangerous, than your standard passenger car.
I don't understand your point about replacing an SUV with an adjective. That being said I don't see much difference between what you have to say about driving habits and what I have to say on the subject. The only major difference is that believe SUVs are more dangerous vehicles than most standard passenger vehicles. I'll even go so far as to venture that a higher percentage of sportscar drivers would be considered dangerous drivers than would drivers of standard passenger vehicles. I think the insurance industry (which makes boatloads of money betting on these sorts of things) agrees with me.
Finally, I would much prefer to be a passenger in a Porsche driven at 100 MPH, but in a consistent, steady manner, than be a passenger in a Honda Civic travelling at 90MPH that's weaving in and out of traffic. Of course in either event I wouldn't want to have to be the one explaining the drivers actions to the cops when we get pulled over. |
sportsnut
Citizen
Username: Sportsnut
Post Number: 1799
Registered: 10-2001
| | Posted on Friday, April 8, 2005 - 7:30 am: |
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Joe I wasn't necessarily criticizing your post just the use of sweeping generalizations that everyone seems to be making, especially the Cartalk guys.
We do agree. I've always thought that the current driving test is inadequate at best. It doesn't test at all for things like depth perception and that's one thing that everyone needs regardless of what type of car you're driving. I think your insurance example points out that sports cars, especially in the hands of younger, inexperienced drivers are particularly dangerous.
Some people do feel invincible in their SUVs just as they do when they drive sports cars. I see the same Jeep week after week traveling on 78 and this guy is constantly speeding and weaving in and out. Funny thing is that he gets off the same exit and no matter how fast he goes on 78 or how he "jumps" the lights on valley he only winds up one or two car lenghts ahead of me by the time we get into MW.
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Mustt_mustt
Citizen
Username: Mustt_mustt
Post Number: 307
Registered: 8-2003
| | Posted on Friday, April 8, 2005 - 7:50 am: |
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A couple of weeks ago we were involved in an accident at Newark airport. My five year old kid was in the car too. The accident occured at 7:40 AM and guess when the cops landed up? 9:50 AM!!! Needless to say, it was pretty bizarre waiting for the cops and repeatedly calling 911. And all this at the entrance to the airport, with traffic whizzing by as we sat in the car facing the opposite direction. Newark police is something else, I must say. |
Phenixrising
Citizen
Username: Phenixrising
Post Number: 594
Registered: 9-2004
| | Posted on Friday, April 8, 2005 - 9:14 am: |
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And before you suggest a minivan, I'd rather stick red-hot knitting needles in my eyes than be caught in one of those.
Hey, those minivans are roomy. I betcha the kids & the doggy would enjoy it!
 |
Bob K
Supporter
Username: Bobk
Post Number: 8111
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, April 8, 2005 - 9:34 am: |
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A couple of points.
I regularly drive a midsized SUV and a sub-compact. I find I drive much less agresively in the SUV because of its bulk and general feel. The sub-compact handles much better and I find myself being more aggresive in my driving because of that. Am I unusual?
Since so many joggers and bicylists have Walmen or IPods jammed in their ears letting them know you are there probably isn't a bad idea. As both a driver and a bicyclist I have had some surprises on that score, even without "buds" stuck in my ears.
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Meandtheboys
Citizen
Username: Meandtheboys
Post Number: 577
Registered: 12-2004
| | Posted on Friday, April 8, 2005 - 9:37 am: |
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Hey, the kids love my husband's station car, a rusty '89 Tauras Wagon! They're not terribly discerning in their tastes!
I, on the other hand, am so not a mini van Mom! Just too "suburbia" for me.  |
Tom Reingold
Supporter
Username: Noglider
Post Number: 6218
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Friday, April 8, 2005 - 11:32 am: |
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sportsnut, Click and Clack were hyperbolizing. When they said you're sure to become aggressive, I am sure they meant you are too likely to become aggressive. It's a generalization, not a blanket statement. |
algebra2
Supporter
Username: Algebra2
Post Number: 3210
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, April 8, 2005 - 11:38 am: |
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I'm a jerk no matter what car I am driving. you should see how rude I am on my bike! |
vor
Citizen
Username: Vor
Post Number: 418
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Friday, April 8, 2005 - 1:09 pm: |
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I'm not sure if algebra2's statement was tongue in cheek (since I don't know her), but it made my point. Thank you, Madam. |
Wendyn
Supporter
Username: Wendyn
Post Number: 1535
Registered: 9-2002
| | Posted on Friday, April 8, 2005 - 1:42 pm: |
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meand, sounds like you haven't seen suburbia recently if you think suvs are somehow less "suburban" than minivans.
I think there are a total of 5 minivans in all of Millburn. But almost every household has an SUV.
Sometimes I think I look cool when I am blasting Godsmack out of my Outback. Then I wake up. |
Meandtheboys
Citizen
Username: Meandtheboys
Post Number: 580
Registered: 12-2004
| | Posted on Friday, April 8, 2005 - 1:49 pm: |
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"Sometimes I think I look cool when I am blasting Godsmack out of my Outback. Then I wake up."
Wendyn: thanks for a good laugh. And, by the way, I do look cool when I'm blasting Cheryl Crow in my Durango! And if you don't agree with me, I'll run you over in your Outback. God, I crack myself up!
Actually, I do agree with you. But there a different kinds "suburban mom," and I am not the minivan kind. Somehow, it reminds me too much of my mom, even though we never had a minivan. |
Wendyn
Supporter
Username: Wendyn
Post Number: 1537
Registered: 9-2002
| | Posted on Friday, April 8, 2005 - 1:56 pm: |
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Good thing I only have 2 kids so I don't need to figure out whether I am a minivan or suv mom! Right now my favorite "upgrade" car is the Honda Pilot, although I would probably buy a Highlander Hybrid first.
But my kids and pugs fit in the Outback fine, so until they are older and start carpooling I'll stick to the station wagon that I swore I would never own.  |
ffof
Citizen
Username: Ffof
Post Number: 3592
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, April 8, 2005 - 3:23 pm: |
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I am the most cool driving my mini-van with Grateful Dead blaring! It's the only way to drive!!!! Chuck Prophet, Little Feat and most blues/bluegrass'll do too |
mjc
Citizen
Username: Mjc
Post Number: 435
Registered: 10-2004
| | Posted on Friday, April 8, 2005 - 4:03 pm: |
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Anybody else think the heading of this thread sounds like it could be the title of a love poem? |
ffof
Citizen
Username: Ffof
Post Number: 3593
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, April 8, 2005 - 4:55 pm: |
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More like the title to a country song. |
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