Are We EVER Going To Freaking Learn? SUV Sales AGAIN Rising Faster Than Any Other Segment!

Are We EVER Going To Freaking Learn that some peoples business require a SUV, that in the winter belt when the snow flies a car just will not do. I guess that's why we own both a car and an SUV in Michigan.

So what did people do before SUVs were invented? Having lived in Germany for some time, I find they have a much better solution (as usual): the van. Not only are they roomier, but get better fuel economy besides.

I've also lived in Michigan for 4 winters, and I owned a front-wheel-drive Saturn. Never once did I get stuck, stranded, or have any problems getting around. And if you really NEED (and you don't) four wheel drive, there are these things called XDrive, 4Matic, and quattro. And they all come on CARS.

who wants to drive a van. I younger and dont have any kids. How would I look picking a date up in a van???

0to60,

I was referring to people who need to haul things for their job, as uaw_law was crowing on about. Of course, in your case, a car would do just fine.

what if I have to haul stuff for a job (which I did when I sold real estate/flipped houses, and I want to look cool picking up a date?

Try an E-Class AMG Estate, an A6 Avant, or a 5-series GT. Less expensive choices include the Toyota Venza, Infiniti EX35, or Volvo V50/V70. I could go on...

0t60

toyota sienna...aka the Swagger Wagon!!!


i love driving my minivan (sienna)...don't care what the masses say

0to60 don't waste your time it's the sour grapes syndrome with these guys. Suvs have there strengths and there is not many cars that can get through a foot of snow or pull a boat they know this and we do to.

uaw_lax,

I would imagine, as is the case with me, that your point might be more well made if you were to use correct spelling and command better use of English grammar. It's hard to lend credibility to someone who, for all intents and purposes, can't effectively communicate on a basic level. It might also make people less likely to consider UAW members a bunch of buffoons, too.

And no, I don't have sour grapes. I don't WANT an SUV because most of them are rubbish.

As far as pulling boats is concerned, any boat I'd ever consider owning is far too large to be pulled by any vehicle, car or SUV, so it doesn't matter anyhow. I maintain my stance regarding snow driving. If you can't get through it with a car, you must be a crap driver.

0to60,

You could always write Free Candy on the side of your van to pick up dates lol

yea, um, no. Dont think I want to be grouped in the pedofile category, lol. Thanks!

NO one needs or requires an SUV, a pickup maybe but not an SUV. I live in Indiana and do work all through the snow belt even Michigan, my RWD coupe with snow tires does just fine.

Ever try to stick one of those big ass strollers in a Corolla? When you do you see why people opt for the SUV.

But I just LOVE SUVs! I love them the same way I love supercars and large, luxury barges. They have status, and the LX 570, for example, has bragging rights that are just nice to have. I won't always be offroad, but it's nice to know that I can and that I should be safe on camping trips. Oh, and since I live in SoCal, I simply feel better with an SUV in case of an earthquake.

Categorizing any SUV as useless is like categorizing cars as useless. We don't need them; we can all simply throw our money into building a great city monorail system in which independent cars of the monorail can enter a house's garage.

I mean, isn't this an auto enthusiast website? Do we only value cars of sensibility? If so, good luck trying to save fuel when carrying large loads or towing something, and have fun being bullied by a large semi!

I got a 2010 Subaru Forester. We get quite a bit of snow in these parts.
It's no worse than a midsize sedan on fuel and I want the extra convenience and safety for the 2 grandkids.

Ditto, except I have a '05 for hauling the kid.

How is this surprising? Americans have always preferred large cars or SUV's to their smaller counterparts.

Until gas hits 4-5 bucks a gallon this will continue.....

I can vouch that I have seen loads more Suburbans, Tahoe's, Escalades, etc. on the road blocking my view and driving like they are in sports cars.

Thankfully my family is sensible, my brother picked up a nice Honda Odyssey loaded for family hauling. My brother in law just got a Dodge Caravan loaded. And my father ditched the idea of an XC90 and got a sweet XC70 wagon.

I have no need for the SUV, keep it small, good mpg, nice performance. Sounds like a Subie WRX in my future.

Subi is a great choice.

"NO one needs or requires an SUV"

Well no one needs a Ferrari or Rolls Royce. Why not ban all sportscars. You really don'e belong on a car forum.

I agree. I say hey, if Americans prefer SUV's, thats ok. We also prefer chinese food, cheese burgers and french fries. Yes, they clog arteries and add to be undesired to our midsection. But he brings us satisfaction at the time despite the ramifications!

Let us overweight americans have our cheeseburgers, chinese food, french fries, and SUV's. It is what it is.

We only buy small vehicles when it isnt financially feasible to have an suv due to gas prices. Why should we have to settle if we truly want to drive around in a bus everyday. Maybe automakers should work harder at making SUV's more environmentally friendly. We always attack it the other way around.

This is a non survivable trend. CAFE standards are requireing automakers to ensure their entire fleet meets a minimum of 35.5 mpg by 2016.

Of that fleet, trucks will have to meet the new restiction of 26 mpg, and currently not one of the Full sized SUV's made by any manufacturer can make 26 mpg. Not even the Hybrids. They max out at 22mpg. And 4 extra MPG is Extremly hard to do for trucks/suv's. Even if you remove the 4x4 option, gave them manuals and switched their tires to 195's.

The only option that MAY allow them to meet this restriction is if they all became diesels.

Uaw_lax: A turd who "pretends" to be an auto enthusiast. Remember it was just a few blogs ago he told everyone the UAW union didn't have a strike for the past 25 years.

Maybe one reason people are still buying those honkin SUV beast is because of overweight people. The news just ran a story where the U.S. is now the most obese country. Nothing to be proud of. Maybe they need a little extra room behind the wheel.

And you have yet to prove me wrong, and enough time (many blogs ago) to do so I deal in facts and you have none so please keep your childish personal attacks to yourself.

I have three kids, two in car seats. I have a 2003 Lincoln Navigator I paid $9K Cash for in 2008 when gas prices where $4/gal in Georgia. We get 13Mpg on most days. I have plenty of room and the thing is plush. My family is NOT going to give it up to pay a car note on a small, fuel efficient, econo box with no options. By the time SUV's get to 20+Mpg I will then upgrade.

Europe has a population of over 700 million people. 70-80% of these people drive cars and the rest 30-20% is for VANs, Crossovers, SUVs and so on.

Is there snow in Europe? - Yes
Do people in Europe have families? - Yes
Do people in Europe need a vehicle to drive their kids to school? - Yes
Do young people in Europe go to dates? - Yes
Do people in Europe make bussines? - Yes

BUT

Do people in Europe have low gas prices? - NO (1 liter gas = $1.5, 1 US gallon=3.785 liters --> 3.785x1.5= $5.67/1 US gallon gas)
Do people in Europe have enough room for driving or parking? - NO
Do people in Europe chose huge SUVs with big engines? - NO (most of the engines in europe are 1.2, 1.4, 1.6, 1.8 petrol or 1.4 and 1.9 diesel)

How could these 700 million people exist without huge SUVs?

Fact is when buying a car/truck/suv not only is size and fuel consumption is in the equation but capabilities and comfort for the family come to mind as well and for many a small car just will not do.

I don't get it. Learn what? What's wrong with suv's? Fuel economy isn't the only factor when deciding a car. For many people (myself included) it's the last concern when buying a vehicle.

for whoever wants to deboost me, please tell me one valid reason why suv's are bad. I bet you can't without mentioning fuel economy or the environment.

We Joe, for one SUVs are greater safety issue on the road then a similar sedan. SUV are more difficult to control in emergency maneuvers and with the mass they carry, create more damage upon impact. And while at normal road speeds I usually don't see this as an issue, I can't begin to tell you how many times I'm cruising along at 80 MPH only to have a Suburban/Escalade/Tahoe/etc pass me like I'm standing still. Now a Ferrari passing me at these speeds doesn't bother me, but an SUV passing me at this speed scares me because I know if they swerve to miss something on the highway, they'll be spreading bits of metal and plastic down the road for the next 200 yards, possibly taking me out with them.

Smaller cars are a safety issue since they aren't as safe as driving in a large suv. If you're in a suv, you might survive getting slammed by a semi, but if you're in a car the chances of you surviving are minimal.

i can understand SUV the sizes of maybe a 4runner or an Explorer...but suburbans and so on, definitely not needed. it's over the top IMO. if you need the extra space and live in the snow, AWD Sienna is yur best friend.

i have the same issue with full-size trucks...majority of the use for pick-ups can be handle by a Tacoma or Ranger size pick-up. no need for an F150 or Tundra, granted that some may require a full-size but the stupid ranch mom don't need to be rolling around in their boots and a lifted F150/Silverado all day long.

I have a Suburban. I didn't get it for its 4x4 capabilities, I got it because we vacation in the Outer Banks every summer and with kids, dogs and beer inside, I still need a roof box and a hitch rack thing for the bikes.

In the winter I camp in Shenandoah and am able to take everything I need including 1/4 cord of wood.

During football season I transport myself and 7 others to the tailgate lot. With grills.

Since owning the Suburban, I have finished my basement and rebuilt my kitchen and the Suburban hauled a total of over 80 complete 4x8 sheets of drywall/plywood with the back doors closed.

I get 16mpg which is 3mpg less than my 98 Volvo V70 so you can all kiss my ass!

you mean Fat Ass right? ha...ha...ha... Just kidding.

Are LIBERALS every going to learn that this is America - land of the FREE? We can drive whatever the *&^% we want to drive. It is NOT about what we NEED, it is about what we CAN CHOOSE.

Some of you anti-SUV nazis are just as bad as the nose in the air church lady who rams her values down your throats - that YOU seem to hate so much. That is called hypocrisy in my book.

Bottom line is that in America if we WANT to buy and SUV, it is nobody else's God *&^&*S business what we choose. Got to hell if you dont like it.

Liberals... I hate the use of that word. It has been so abused by idiot conservatives. Just say people. Im sure there are some conservatives as well that dislike SUV's. I lean more democratic and had an SUV

UAW_(EX)LAX - You're always proved wrong one way or another. Go back and reread the blogs. The real auto enthusiast always knock you down a peg because you know crap!!

I remember you telling our bloggers: "The UAW union hasn't had a strike in 25 years". My brother worked for Ford Motor Company (only one not to take bailout money) and they had a strike 8 years ago. With your lack of knowledge you come across as a uninformed dumba** or simply can't get your facts straight.

sorry gkearn I wont stoop to your level and attack you personally but while you are down there I am sure you can smell your own shyt.

95% of the time, SUV's are carting only the driver and his or her chicken wings and french fries to the mall. There are probably people who drive these road pigs and actually need them, but they are an extreme minority.
Yes, drive what you want. But, remember this is the impression you give off.

Notice that UAW_EXLax didn't say not one comment about being WRONG again regarding "the the union has never had a striking in 25 years". My brother's plant had one 8 years ago fool. Your constent inaccuracy, biasness and inability to even comment about your incorrect statements tells everyone how stupid you really are about the auto industry. Nobody cares what you have to blog about; it's all made up anyway.