I want to have business cards made up that has TANK on one side and a message on the other about how the giant SUVs are actually contributing to the gas crisis - the whole supply and demand thing. Then stick these cards under wipers. My animosity toward these behemoths is just growing and growing - to the point where seeing some of these monstrosities turns my stomach. And they are always being driven by a 30-40 something year old women who can't drive and talk on the phone at the same time. This is the same Chevy Suburban that you find parked just meer inches from your MINI becuase she had a hard time parking it.

To me, SUV drivers are simply tools. People just trying to keep up with the Joneses. If all of a sudden, SUVs became politically incorrect, maybe people would stop buying and driving them.

I can only hope that the gas crisis will prove to be the death of the SUV. Bring on the smartcars!!

 

I think practicality will outweigh the keeping up with the jones mentality soon enough when gas prices exceed $4 a gallon.

 

I kindof agree with you, the more of these monstrocities I see the more I want my MINI just to defy them. And when I have a kid, will I run out and buy a tank? No, my MINI will be just fine.

Down with SUVs!!

 

While I agree that SUVs are gas guzzlers, the MCS doesn't exactly sip the stuff especially when driven as intended. You choose to drive a supercharged car, they choose to drive their SUV. If you were driving something that gets 50mpg then maybe your argument would carry more weight.

 

I agree, we're not in super-efficient cars ourselves. And I think SUVs already are politically incorrect, especially to people who care what's politically correct. SUVs have always been hated on. And I personally HATE it when anybody sticks anything under my wiper. That should be illegal.

 

Not to mention the gas used in the chainsaws to cut down the trees, the diesel the trucks use to transport the logs,the natural gas used to run the power station, which provide electricity torun the paper mill (which uses caustic chemicals), to create the paper used to make the business cards.

 

My money, my SUV, my business. If people can afford them, let them drive what they chose. Don't confuse (or stereotype) SUVs with poor driving and parking skills. I've seen equally poor command of Geo Metros, thank you.

 

You have just insulted far more people than you probably realize. Since GM is banking of large SUVs saving them, your also hurting the economy.

I, FOR ONE, do NOT appreciate being called a TOOL.

And as I have explained several time to Edge, I pay about 0.4 cents a mile more driving a SUV vice the MCS.

Protest all you want ... it won't mean squat.:impatient

I might add that those Hummer drivers could give a squat about the cost of gas ... I've asked many large SUV drivers about that, and they will keep right on driving while the masses complain and whine about $10 gas ... they dont care.

 

I prefer getting the M1 Abrams option with my Mini.... "Target!" "Up!" "On the way!" "Target cease fire."

Translation: I have acquired a target (SUV). The round is loaded (HEAT or Sabot). Firing. Target is dead, find another.

 

SUVs are just another "American" way to do things. Everything has to be bigger and badder here. Just go to Europe and check out all of the deisel cars and the size of most of the vehicles there, or Japan, or China, or any of the other well developed countries around the world. Our government is the only one to give tax incentives for buying gas-guzzer SUVs, and our society fuels the fire by the desire to have the biggest and baddest of everything. You found my pet-peeve, lol. I'll even work on a design in Photoshop if you want.

By the way, I have never considered the Mini as any kind of gas guzzler. When you drive a sporty car you can't expect to get 50mpg, but getting 25+ isn't bad at all. Trust me, most sporty cars out there can't match the MPG of a Mini.

In my opinion... vehicles averaging less than 20mpg are unacceptable as a daily driver. If you only drive it on weekends then who cares what MPG you get. For daily driven cars, 90% of the time they are driven there is only one person in the vehicle... why do you need a 6,000lb Hummer if you are the only person in the car?

Drew

 

I am completly against the idea. As long as I have been alive, both of my parents have owned vehicles that get less than 9 MPG.

You think every one is saying "I'm doing my part for the community by burning as much god damn gas as possible." No. SUVs are a part of the American Lifestyle. Yeah its gonna brake the bank, but if they can pay for it, they can do what ever the hay they want.

This country would come to a screeching hault if no one drove any car but some little rice grinder or MINI or smart car...or what ever.

I love MINIs, but would probably take an SUV if I had to live with it until I die.

Oh, P.S. Dont leave a business card on my windshield.

 

Why do you feel the need to dictate what is and is not acceptable to drive on a daily basis?

 

Hee hee. Can I use this quote for my sig?

"I'm doing my part for the community by burning as much god damn gas as possible."

 

SUVs are just another "American" way to do things. Everything has to be bigger and badder here.

That is why it is AMERICA ... We do it bigger and better and have to bail out the Europeans war after war.

Our government is the only one to give tax incentives for buying gas-guzzer SUVs, and our society fuels the fire by the desire to have the biggest and baddest of everything.

Talk to GM and Ford about that. Think about this ... .Why does EVERY car maker make bigger and more SUVs? Acura, Lexus, BMW, even PORSCHE. Why? Because they sell. Would you rather have those GM workers on the dole?

getting 25+ isn't bad at all.

It is when the gasoline you pay is for premium and not regular.

In my opinion... vehicles averaging less than 20mpg are unacceptable as a daily driver.

Everyone is entitled to an opinion in the US and I will respect that. After all, HOW MANY AMERICANS have died to give you that right? So in turn ... you can't expect everyone else to agree with you as obviously they do not. If someone wants to drive a 6000 pound H2 to work (or a Ferrari F430), Thank whoever you pray to that you live in America!

 

Although I strongly empathize with the anti-SUV mentality (hey - check my license plate!)... this argument has been done to death, over and over... check this thread in particular:

The MINI theory of relativity...

... in which I was one of the very vocal opponents of SUV over-use (they do have a place IMO, but not with 90 to 95% of the SUV owners out there).

Anyway, since this topic really isn't "MINI Talk", I'm moving it to the Off-Topic :: Autos forum.

The one thing I will add... I think the phrase "bigger and better" is a falsity. Bigger does NOT necessarily mean better - it can, sometimes, but to assume they go hand-in-hand is short-sighted IMO.

 

Oh, I forgot, we here on NAM are all much wiser than the rest of the world

What is really the issue is clueless drivers, not what's driven.

I, for one, don't really like the dynamics that have created the SUV craze nor the imact on average efficiency....

But I too own an SUV. Along with a 75 Fiat (doesn't use any gas, hasn't moved in a few years), and my 65 Mustang. With a supercharged Mini as well, pretty much each and every one of my cars has some sort of "societal impact compramise" built in.

Oh well.

Matt

 

Well said, Dr. O.

Sometimes ppl are quick to judge rather than finding out the true story of what is going on.

 

why does your car have a supercharger? because you like it, you want it and can aford it......Aparently there are a certain number of MINI owners who have an inferiority complex....maybe its because they bought thier car because of the anti-suv marketing MINI threw at them or maybe they just thought the car was cute

My ONLY gripe about SUV's is the people who can't afford them....In a time in which everyone is whining about the cost of everything from gas to healthcare they are tooling around in 40k+ depreciating like a rock SUV's spending $100 a week in gas....shut up and prioritize! Im not intrested in bailing people out in retirement just so they can throw thier money away and drive nice cars all thier life! but if you can aford it then who is anyone to say what they SHOULD drive

 

The more I read this post, the more I get and think its time for me to get a cold beer.

Dude, just think a minute about how many American soldiers over the years have died to give EVERY American the RIGHT to choose whatever they want to buy. Just think about that.

You don't like that, then you have every right NOT to. That's life.

And think about this too. If they are sitting their in $60K+ large SUVs, when gas goes up ... who do you think will keep on driving?

 

Does the mere sight of an SUV really elicit such an angry reaction in you? That doesn't seem very healthy.

 

i think the new Tahoe's look kinda cool.

 

I'm going to play the heretic here and state that if I could have only one vehicle, it would not be a MINI. I am probably one of the most 'extreme' DIYer that you will ever meet. As such, I am constantly needing to haul around stuff like engines, equipment, lumber, firewood, mulch, manure, etc. You name it. For over 20 years my primary vehicle has been a pickup truck of some kind, with a performance-oriented car for fun. I could never haul around the stuff I do or tow things with a MINI or for that matter most any other vehicle save for a truck. I bought a '89 Dodge Ram 4wd with the Cummins engine when it was first released. Here was a truck that could handle literally anything I threw at it, yet still get remarkable mileage for something with the aerodynamics of a barn door (with the barn attached). 16mpg might not seem like a lot, but that is loaded and pulling a trailer up and down mountain highways and roads. my best ever mileage with the truck was 22mpg. Not bad for something that weighs 6400 pounds. Granted, it rides like sin, is tough to park and can only hold three people that really enjoy each other's company. But of the 4 vehicles I own, the truck can fit in the most tasks I ask of it.

Not everyone who drives an SUV is doing so because they simply want something huge or needs a three ton penile extension. One way to tell is to glance at the trailer hitch. If the receiver looks as though it's been used quite often, you might be looking at someone who needs the thing for what it was designed for. Cut those people some slack. Save your ire for 'bigger is better' schmuck who got their Silly Underutilized Vehicle to come out better than the last time s/he crashed their car while holding a phone in one hand and a grande double half caf decaf latte in the other.

 

I think maybe he's just really bothered by the attitude of "this is America and I can do anything I want if I can afford it".

While that may be true, sometimes it would still be nice if our consideration for what's right would extend beyond ourselves and what we, personally, can afford, even in America.

Eventually the price of gas will start to limit the size and quantity of SUV's, but there will always be people who can afford them.

I don't think the average person spends a lot of time worrying about any sort of environmental or political impact of what they drive.......and if they briefly did, they would just say something like, "it uses less gas than a _________________(fill in the blank), so it's OK.

 

If one's owns a truck, and actually uses it as such, that's cool. Having been almost killed about four times by soccer mom's blathering on their cell phones while sitting behind the wheel of their SUV (I can't call it driving), cars that are never used off road, or even as any kind of "Sport Utility Vehicle," then count me as one of those who would like to see a $500 a year registration surcharge added to separate the wheat from the chaff.

 

OK, Being an SUV owner I was planning on staying out of this ridiculous thread but I just can't help but add my $0.02.

My wife and I own three vehicles. An 06 MCSc, an 05 3/4 ton, GMC Yukon XL and an 01 Jeep Grand Cherokee. We have various reasons for buying each vehicle.

My wife has severe back problems and ease of getting in and out of a vehicle was a top priority as was the ease of getting kids in and out. The Jeep is much better suited for this than a small car or any car for that matter as the higher ride height allows her to basically slide in rater than needing to bend down.

I purchased the 3/4 ton Yukon XL over a smaller SUV primarily due to its towing capability as we own a travel trailer that we use quite often.

The MINI was purchased mostly for fun as well as commuting.

Are these good reasons? Bad reasons? It doesn't matter as they are MY reasons. I am very proud to live in a country where I have the right to make these choices and the prosperity to afford them.

Was I negligent with respect to the environment when I commuted in the Yukon, as I did for a short time? If so, am I still negligent for commuting solo in the MINI? If I carpooled with one person, would I be negligent for not using public transportation?

The vehicle you drive is a choice. There is no right or wrong choice as all gas powered vehicles affect the environment in differing degrees. Everything you or I do has environmental consequences. All manufactured items require electricity to manufacture. The production of electricity in the amounts required for this manufacturing as well as the manufacturing processes themselves have a huge impact on the environment.

The whole idea of thinking that a business card on someones windshield is going to change their choice of transportation is ludicrous. To take it one step further than MYZAMBONI, in addition to the environmental cost of producing the cards, don't forget about the litter produced when an SUV owner sees your card, scoffs, and drops it to the ground.

To sum up my views, another persons choice of transportation is non of anyone else's business. You may not make the same choices, but that doesn't make the choice wrong, just different.

Now donning flame retardant, nomex suit

Phil