With Gas Over $4 A Gallon Do We Really Need A 500+ HP SUV?

If you Cruise these vehicles without frequently going over 3500rpm { Which is how most owners i know drive 90% of the time } you will notice that their MPG is not much worse than their less powerful siblings, so i do not think they would pose a problem.

Now if you decide to be silly and allow yourself to press past 4000 rpm in these monsters, you will find yourself pulling into a gas station for a refill REALLY QUICKLY.

touche.

No 500+ hp SUV was made because there was a NEED for one --- regardless of the cost of fuel at any price.

But, if I could afford any of them, it would be worth every penny put toward every drop of fuel needed to scorch the worn pavement on which I'd drive every day.

I dont need a midsize coupe either. A base economy car would do. The answer: I WANT a midsize coupe. ANd my wants win when it is in my affordability.

Nobody needs these cars even when gas is cheap. An SUV is a working vehicle to me, not a performance machine.

I Guess you have never been in a Cayenne Turbo or X5M while it is being driven hard.

I have not. And I don't care. The X5 M and Porsche Cayenne are monstrosities.

by that same argument Willis no one "needs" performance machines period. The speed limit is 65-80MPH in this country, and street racing is illegal. A 90hp econobox will get you from point A to point B just fine, you don't "need" 0-60 in 4 seconds or 1.0g on the skidpad or 60-0 in 100ft or 75mph in the slalom, whether it's in a coupe, convertible, sedan, SUV, or whatever. If I had the money to afford an ML63 or X5/X6 M or Cayenne Turbo S and the gas and insurance associated with owning one, you're right, I wouldn't "need" one, but I'd "want" one. As would most of the people on this site, a site for automotive enthusiasts. Anyone who owns a performance machine of any kind didn't "need" it, they "wanted" it. Do you have a problem with all performance vehicles? Or just with SUV's? You're not a hypocrite, right? Because when it comes down it, none of them are "needed".

Anyone looking to seriously purchase this vehicle is not really concerned with gas prices.

If you can afford it why not? It amazes me that some folks expect rich folks, to act like poor folks, when gas prices rise. The only problem with that thinking is that the rich folks can afford to spend more for gas while the poor folks cant. So don't expect a rich person to change anything because the poor are struggling. It doesn't work that way.

I didn't need one when gas prices were low. But then again I agree with the Cayenne Turbo comment. It is indeed a thrill!

Yes, imangine a 7200lb Ford Excursion hauling one person , the driver . What a waste . I saw one of these behemoth units take off from the stop sign one day with one person in mind you and it sounded just like a standered size pickup hauling a 2700 pound skid of cement blocks . Both vehicles were strugleing to move thier weight but the only difference was the pickup truck was accomplishing something

For many people, they don't NEED these high-performance SUV/luxurysedan/coupe/etc. For few people, they WANT these things. Don't care one way or another as you know best what you need/want. I just don't like to hear people bitch and moan when gas price goes up, that's all. Nor do I care for your "right" to have price at low price.

True, Cadillac is finally considering making quality small cars and using smaller engines in their full size cars --- something the European brands had been doing for decades.

Caddy will make a Bentley-sized flagship soon. But it will also have small car offerings to balance the lineup.

It is really funny that the top rated gas mileage of all the SUVs come from hybrid SUV vehicles, they actually do get good mileage but if you were really worried you would not get an SUV to start with.

http://www.fueleconomysearch.com/search-by-class/2011/Sports-Utility-Vehicles