What would you say to people that drive SUVs and don't really need one?

Question

SUVs reportedly burn 25-30% more fuel than the average passenger car. What would you like to tell them? And why?

(I'm trying to revise my previous question about whether the government should ban SUVs as that didn't invoke quite the response I was hoping for.)

Answer 1

I would say "Nice SUV. I'm glad you still believe in doing as you please. Would you like an 'Al Gore is and A**' bumper sticker?"

Answer 2

There are some people who need an SUV because they do off-road driving (I know it's only a couple of percent of SUV owners but they do exist) and those people do need such a vehicle.

One should also be careful when saying that SUVs are big sources of CO2 (though I don't see anything wrong with calling a V8 or V12 SUV a climate changer) because there are some SUVs that don't release all that much CO2 (they are usually based on a car body and c**p off road, but most SUV owners consider the gravel car park at the local primary school to be off-road) and some passenger cars that release a lot of CO2 (big V8s and V12s).

SUVs are a problem from a road safety point of view so that's really where you should be opposing them, maybe require vehicles that get classified as light trucks to require truck licences to drive (try to keep idiots out of them).

Answer 3

I would say- HAHA! Enjoy paying for gas!!!!

I used to have this old SUV because my parents didn't want to buy me a car before graduation, and it cost $100 to fill up. I just got a hybrid and its only $50 and I have to fill it up about half as many times

Answer 4

I'd say sell that SUV and buy a team of limo's and leave them idling by the roadside like Al Gore does.

Actually, SUV's don't necessarily use more gas than other cars.  It's silly when people generalize that all SUV's are gas guzzlers. There are lots of cars that use more.  Those limo's I mentioned get maybe 10 mpg.  Many SUV's get over 20, some over 30 mpg.

BTW, what do they have against personal freedom anyway?  Do we really want someone telling us what to buy, what to own, what to eat, what to wear, what to drive, etc.  Shouldn't we be allowed to make our own decisions?

We don't have a lot of freedoms left. We should cherish what we still have.

Answer 5

I'd say......Hey, can I borrow your SUV?

Let's go right after the big culprits and ban all Tractor Trailers.

They get 3 to 5 miles to the gallon.

Forget that they serve a porpoise by delivering needed goods such as food, drink, supplies.  We can live without that stuff.  

Besides, you can't see around them on the road.

Cmon, we're all self sufficient, aren't we?

Down with Truckers......

(Well, that's essentially what you're saying)

Soccer Mom

Answer 6

"let me ask you; do you ever go to the movies, an amusement park, a ball game, etc?"

The events may not be necessary, but if I drove a Prius to those events, I would use just under 1/3 of the fuel you do in that gas-guzzler. The less demand from me, the more there is for others. Less demand, lower cost.

It's about being efficient with what one does. For country, community and environment.

But I don't think they should be made illegal.

EDIT - are you planning on canceling all events? Of course not. I would love to have an electric car that is charged with wind or solar power, but I can't yet. However, I do have options that allow much greater efficiency to do everything I used to do.

Answer 7

Based on what you said to Richard, it doesn't matter if you use 3 gallons doing the same work to get to the event as someone who uses 1 gallon. Imagine what that would be in one year or 5 years. Pardon me, but that's absurd.

I'm not saying ban SUVs, but the numbers speak for themselves.

Answer 8

If they paid for it themselves and pay for the fuel themselves, it's their business.

I drive a Corolla, which gets good mileage.

I think driving a Chevy Suburban to the supermarket is nuts.

But, I think a lot of things are nuts.

You might think I'm nuts - my Corolla has a bumpersticker that reads "When life hands you lemons, ask for a bottle of tequila and some salt."    You might think that's crazy.   Well, it's not your car.

That's what they mean by "FREE country."

Answer 9

It is a free country so they can do whatever they want, as much as I hate the way they are ignoring the environment, rolling around in their climate controlled gas-sucker. But I hope they have fun at the pump!

Answer 10

This is part of the reason why i do not support this global warming bs. Just because you know that "SUVs reportedly burn 25-30% more fuel..." you think you should go around and start telling people what they should or shouldn't drive? I just plain don't get that, how people, after given some power of knowledge, take advantage of that power and impose their beliefs on other people who are happy just the way they are.

Answer 11

I would say keep on driving it. We should not let other people tell us what and when and where we can drive.

Answer 12

I would ask you, who decides whether they need it or not? You, me or the person driving it. As far as I knew this is a free country and it would be none of my business. If you believe in conservation and/or "Climate Change" then you modify your lifestyle and leave others alone.

Answer 13

People bought SUV's. They are still making the payments, no one wants to buy the SUV's, as they are gas guzzling vehicles. Therefore, the SUV's will still be on the roads for awhile. However, more and more people are finding ways to carpool, managing to trade their SUV in on a fuel efficient car, and cut down trips. Levying more taxes on people already overtaxed is ridiculous. In time, these folks will be forced by money or the lack of it to change their ride, until then, live and let live, this may be all they have right now.

Answer 14

I don't know where you get these figures but my Saturn vue gets 34 on the highway! That's pretty da*n good. I also love my vue too, (7.1 second acceleration time to 0-100Km, oh yah ;) )

SUV's also hold a lot more stuff like my bike and yard materials. There is no reason to say anything at all. In fact you could congratulate them for driving a practical automobile.

Answer 15

I'd lose my voice; there are so many around here. Instead, I have a bumper sticker on my car that reads, "No blood for oil". I drive a car that runs on natural gas (methane), by the way, so I use NO oil or gasoline at all. Wish everyone did...

Answer 16

I think the price of fuel should be higher for those driving gas guzzlers, and the extra they pay be used to give rebates to those that try to help reduce our usage by driving more fuel efficient cars. Seems only fair. They should pay for their luxury.

Some people just need a driveway p***s to make them feel superior.

Answer 17

If someone wants to drive an SUV it is thier business, not yours.  Why should you care what they drive?