Attacking a general class of vehicle drivers will certainly ruffle feathers. Some folks do think about the tradeoffs of their vehicle, some (but few) really do need it, some vehicles in class don't fit the type (i.e. there are a wide range of different sizes and designs of SUV) So generalizations will be insulting to some.

In my case I own a 2dr 4wd Ford Explorer, but drive it only when I need it's utility (cycling is the primary form of transport) or certain pleasures. It is sometimes a guilty want and I have all kinds of excuses - primary one is that I spend lots of time working for the environment (land surveys, soil/water sampling, species surveys, illegal road removal and rebuilding) thru various organizations, many of those activities actually require the use of 4wd vehicle (oh the contradiction). I also use it for pleasure to get to very remote wilderness areas for camping, backpacking, photography - and even those pleasure trips result in information (photographs) I use to advocate for the enviroment.

I've also learned how to drive this Explorer so I can consisently get 23-24mpg. That is well over rated mpg and 20% better than I get with this vehicle when driven without care.

But I think DocRay has a very good point, although poorly said, that many if not most large vehicle purchasers, dont think much about their actions and consequences. This s saddening and reflects bad on the average of society in general. I think of my next door neighbors who own three Expeditions (one for wife, one for husband, one for kid) Unbeliveable. The neighbors across the street have two jacked up pickups with mud tires as their only two vehicles. Both these neighbors excessively speed in my neighborhood streets and jackrabit start and stop in these huge vehicles. That to me is unthinking - unfortuntately there are lots of people like this and I understand the rage Doc expressed.

Al