SUV owners keep on truckin' despite gas prices
06-17-08, 09:10 PM
#51
Sophomoric Member
I'm beginning to see some of this anti-SUV sentiment pour out into my workplace. Now that the SUV and large truck owners are somewhat on the defensive, even in my suburban workplace, I notice they are being occasionally attacked by people who really have no right to throw the first stone.
One colleague recently complained of all the large trucks using up all the gas and forcing prices to go up. His ride? A Honda Accord. He seemed to think the Accord was a small, ecologically friendly vehicle... until I reminded him that in Europe these would be considered boats.
Really, I think we should stop beating up on SUV owners. These poor folks (or at least soon to be poor...) already know the error of their ways.
It's the mid-size Honda Civic/Toyota Corolla types that we now need to educate.
One colleague recently complained of all the large trucks using up all the gas and forcing prices to go up. His ride? A Honda Accord. He seemed to think the Accord was a small, ecologically friendly vehicle... until I reminded him that in Europe these would be considered boats.
Really, I think we should stop beating up on SUV owners. These poor folks (or at least soon to be poor...) already know the error of their ways.
It's the mid-size Honda Civic/Toyota Corolla types that we now need to educate.
He moved to my building because his 20 mile commute was breaking the bank. Now he walks two blocks to work--he's closer than the parking lot he used to park in! I notice that his "big beautiful truck" only gets out of the driveway about twice a week, and his son is always picking him up in his own little "shoebox" car!
I wanted to razz the guy about all this, but I could tell he already feels kind of stupid about it. My only problem is that now I have to ride my bike in the grass in order to get around the big beautiful truck that's always parked in the driveway.
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06-17-08, 09:14 PM
#52
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06-17-08, 10:45 PM
#53
Banned
I'm beginning to see some of this anti-SUV sentiment pour out into my workplace. Now that the SUV and large truck owners are somewhat on the defensive, even in my suburban workplace, I notice they are being occasionally attacked by people who really have no right to throw the first stone.
One colleague recently complained of all the large trucks using up all the gas and forcing prices to go up. His ride? A Honda Accord. He seemed to think the Accord was a small, ecologically friendly vehicle... until I reminded him that in Europe these would be considered boats.
Really, I think we should stop beating up on SUV owners. These poor folks (or at least soon to be poor...) already know the error of their ways.
It's the mid-size Honda Civic/Toyota Corolla types that we now need to educate.
One colleague recently complained of all the large trucks using up all the gas and forcing prices to go up. His ride? A Honda Accord. He seemed to think the Accord was a small, ecologically friendly vehicle... until I reminded him that in Europe these would be considered boats.
Really, I think we should stop beating up on SUV owners. These poor folks (or at least soon to be poor...) already know the error of their ways.
It's the mid-size Honda Civic/Toyota Corolla types that we now need to educate.
I love this browbeating, and please don't slack up on the other SUV owners. I'm still looking for a good used dinosaur sized SUV to replace my aging one, so far I'm finding ones that are as old as mine, too small or pickups trucks.
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06-17-08, 11:19 PM
#54
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And if you've got a family ... get them to cycle too. I was cycling fairly decent distances by the time I hit 9 or 10 years old.
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Last edited by Machka; 06-17-08 at 11:25 PM.
06-17-08, 11:24 PM
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So I was sitting in traffic today waiting to make a left turn ... and observing the vehicles.
Here in Central Alberta, I would say that approx. 75% of the early morning commuting traffic consists of ...... SUVs and massive pick-up trucks.
$5-$6/gallon isn't stopping any of them!
Here in Central Alberta, I would say that approx. 75% of the early morning commuting traffic consists of ...... SUVs and massive pick-up trucks.
$5-$6/gallon isn't stopping any of them!
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06-17-08, 11:45 PM
#56
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Wait are you guys saying I should sell this?
Sorry - I haven't had a good opportunity to post this beast in a long time
p.s. note the butter yellow "support our troops" ribbon on the back.
Sorry - I haven't had a good opportunity to post this beast in a long time
p.s. note the butter yellow "support our troops" ribbon on the back.
06-18-08, 12:37 AM
#57
Sophomoric Member
So I was sitting in traffic today waiting to make a left turn ... and observing the vehicles.
Here in Central Alberta, I would say that approx. 75% of the early morning commuting traffic consists of ...... SUVs and massive pick-up trucks.
$5-$6/gallon isn't stopping any of them!
Here in Central Alberta, I would say that approx. 75% of the early morning commuting traffic consists of ...... SUVs and massive pick-up trucks.
$5-$6/gallon isn't stopping any of them!
I know that Ford is closing down a SUV assembly plant in Windsor.
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06-18-08, 01:44 AM
#58
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06-18-08, 02:22 AM
#59
Bicycle Repair Man !!!
Up here in Texas north (Alberta) pick up trucks outsell cars although I just heard that this is the first year the Ford 150 will not be the most popular vehicle sold in North America as the Honda Civic has taken top spot (for now).
My SUV... it gets astounding mileage.
My SUV... it gets astounding mileage.
06-18-08, 03:25 AM
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By Eliott C. McLaughlin
CNN
ATLANTA, Georgia (CNN) -- Oil prices have some drivers looking for new rides, but some truck and sport-utility vehicle owners are remaining true to their gas guzzlers. They say, $4-a-gallon gas be damned; they need the space.
Gas prices have drivers reconsidering what they drive, but some SUV owners say they have no real alternative.
"You've got to have that room when you're moving around," said Steve Sharp, who has three active children and whose wife owns a dance studio. "It would be impractical for us to own a Prius with everything we've got going on."
Toyota's hybrid sedan just wouldn't work, said Sharp, 36. In addition to hauling their 11-year-old boy to soccer games and their 10- and 7-year-old daughters to dance recitals, Sharp's wife, Caren, also totes large props and background displays for her studio.
CNN
ATLANTA, Georgia (CNN) -- Oil prices have some drivers looking for new rides, but some truck and sport-utility vehicle owners are remaining true to their gas guzzlers. They say, $4-a-gallon gas be damned; they need the space.
Gas prices have drivers reconsidering what they drive, but some SUV owners say they have no real alternative.
"You've got to have that room when you're moving around," said Steve Sharp, who has three active children and whose wife owns a dance studio. "It would be impractical for us to own a Prius with everything we've got going on."
Toyota's hybrid sedan just wouldn't work, said Sharp, 36. In addition to hauling their 11-year-old boy to soccer games and their 10- and 7-year-old daughters to dance recitals, Sharp's wife, Caren, also totes large props and background displays for her studio.
06-18-08, 07:34 AM
#61
Banned
Machka, please read some of my other posts on this thread, I am getting my family to cycle, just not going to push the issue too fast, one weekend at a time, plus I have walked over triple that distance with a 50+ lbs pack at 6000 to 8000 ft altitude.
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06-18-08, 08:24 AM
#62
Sophomoric Member
Of course, I know you want your family to be happy, but they might enjoy some carfree activities more than you think they would. They should at least be willing to try your ideas a couple times instead of just whining about it.
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06-18-08, 08:29 AM
#63
Bicycle Repair Man !!!
My daughters (8 and 10) have embraced cycliong as a method of transportation and we have ranged as far as 20 km and could very well ride farther.
They are looking forward to moving closer to their school so they can cycle there as well.
They are looking forward to moving closer to their school so they can cycle there as well.
06-18-08, 11:01 AM
#64
Banned
If you're paying for the gas, transit selection should be your call.
Of course, I know you want your family to be happy, but they might enjoy some carfree activities more than you think they would. They should at least be willing to try your ideas a couple times instead of just whining about it.
Of course, I know you want your family to be happy, but they might enjoy some carfree activities more than you think they would. They should at least be willing to try your ideas a couple times instead of just whining about it.
No whining on their part, I gauge their performance on our weekend rides, and I can say that they're not yet up to the task of a 60 mile mountainous bike ride with full camping gear, and besides, I don't have enough bikes capable of hauling heavy gear, at this time, to outfit the group if they did want to take such a trip.
As for now, the family and I get to do a leisurely 15 to 20 mile ride just about every weekend, and still get to do some errands/shopping that would have been normally done by car if it weren't for the bike ride.
Just to let you know, gas cost for the trip was split 4 ways, which amounted to 5 dollars a person.
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06-18-08, 11:56 AM
#65
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That's plenty good as far as I'm concerned. Not everyone has family members that will even ride at all!
06-18-08, 03:38 PM
#66
GATC
carmax is having trouble w/ writing down the value of their inventory:
https://blog.washingtonpost.com/washb...values_fa.html
Wholesale industry prices for sport utility vehicles and trucks declined nearly 25 percent during the quarter, about four times the normal depreciation expected over the period and greater than the depreciation expected over a full year, the company said.
06-18-08, 04:30 PM
#67
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or just a suburban towing a trailer?
06-18-08, 06:31 PM
#68
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Aaron
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Webshots is bailing out, if you find any of my posts with corrupt picture files and want to see them corrected please let me know. :(
ISO: A late 1980's Giant Iguana MTB frameset (or complete bike) 23" Red with yellow graphics.
"Cycling should be a way of life, not a hobby.
RIDE, YOU FOOL, RIDE!"_Nicodemus
"Steel: nearly a thousand years of metallurgical development
Aluminum: barely a hundred
Which one would you rather have under your butt at 30mph?"_krazygluon
06-18-08, 08:16 PM
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holy isht! i can't imagine what turning would be like on that caravan.
06-18-08, 08:34 PM
#70
In the right lane
When I visit, I notice that there are quite a few larger vehicles around, but their number is nothing compared to what you see in the US Midwest.
BTW, I saw my first Smartcar in the city of Des Moines. Not to rag on it too much, but I suspect there is more trunk space in my 2 panniers. One good thing about them is that on city streets, there should be ample width for Smart cars to pass bicycles without leaving traces of their right side mirrors in the rear panniers.
06-18-08, 08:38 PM
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And besides, if you don't drive something massive, how else are you going to haul your pair of quads, which you use on the weekends to tear up pristine meadows in the foothills?
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06-18-08, 09:37 PM
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So I was sitting in traffic today waiting to make a left turn ... and observing the vehicles.
Here in Central Alberta, I would say that approx. 75% of the early morning commuting traffic consists of ...... SUVs and massive pick-up trucks.
$5-$6/gallon isn't stopping any of them!
Here in Central Alberta, I would say that approx. 75% of the early morning commuting traffic consists of ...... SUVs and massive pick-up trucks.
$5-$6/gallon isn't stopping any of them!
06-19-08, 11:19 AM
#74
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