I remember a news article from probably 15 years ago, that attributed the increasing rise in SUV sales to marketing. The SUV (a 4 wheel drive vehicle)
was sold as an image of freedom to all those drivers stuck in rush hour traffic. At the time, something like 96% of SUV drivers never used 4wd, but
they could sit in traffic dreaming of driving on an open road, dreaming of a trip to where civilization wasn't, having the vehicle to get them there,
if only they could.
I also wonder if American reclassification of foreign "truck" imports as SUV's (the Isuzu Trooper, for example) helped spur domestic production of
SUVs, also built on "truck" beds, as the large truck was, for example, Fords top seller.
Anyway, back to topic, I could believe that SUVs could be marketed for certain reasons as mentioned. The auto industry has for decades sold cars on
reasons other than safety, new technology, well built, etc.
I am old enough to remember a time when it was a big deal to bring out new models yearly, and families would immediately trade in their "outdated"
car yearly to buy the new model. There was no reason to do so, except to not "feel" left out (insecure?).
|
reply to post by desert
I live in semi rural Oregon, and i cannot but help notice - on a daily basis - how many people drive suv's that dont REALLY need them. There are
plenty here who have trucks (id say 85% + have a truck of some sort) and use them wisely and its necessary for their families survival BUT id say a
good 50% could get by without them.
DO YOU "REALLY" NEED AN SUV?
Think about it? I ended up getting rid of mine just because its a liability, and honestly, i could get by without it.
|
Hm. I own a '94 Prizm and an '89 Grand Wagoneer - the original SUV. I refer to it as a "Hummer Recovery Vehicle". It's nowhere near as big as an
Escalade or something of that nature, but it has a gutsier tow-package and more torque than you can expect from modern SUVs. It's also a woody, and I
just love that.
Unfortunately, it's also a 360 cubic inch big block at 5.9 liters, and it has a custom Edelbrock carburetor (remember carburetors?). It will pass
everything but a gas station. I only use it to drive me to the poor house.
At least they're both paid for. Wanna buy a Jeep Grand Wagoneer? It's fun on the beach, and there few things in life as satisfying as using a
dinged-up '89 Grand Wagoneer to tow a Hummer or some other froufrou SUV out of the sand. 
|
reply to post by applebiter
Ooh...drool...your Jeep...I still have my '88 Cherokee. A 4WD Jeep cannot be beat. I have used its 4WD as both out of necessity and fun. Fun in
mountains, desert, beach. But,  it's engine is not as big as yours, so I feel your pain at the pump.
With that said, back in the 1970's, when there was a real oil shortage, amidst great environmental concerns, even environmentalists said to
keep a big gas guzzler, as the energy needed to produce the smaller car would not offset any energy savings from better mpg. I had to buy a car then,
however, and we bought a yellow Honda Civic, 42 mpg. Had that until our second child, and sold it to buy a Subaru wagon.
Yes,  I would believe any story you tell about pulling a Hummer from the beach. Somewhere online there is a picture of a quad pulling a Hummer
from a ditch.
My point here is that most people who have SUVs are clueless about driving with 4WD anyway, which gets back to the discussion about SUV marketing.
|
Originally posted by Grock
I would love to hear what any SUV/non SUV owning people have to say about this. If they came out and said something about my old gremlin like this, I
think id have something to say to them lol.
Pretty interesting to say the least.
I own a Ford F-150 Supercrew - 4 door full size pickup - specifically so I can do some things with it that my smaller Ranger is incapable of doing.
I've been a "Ford guy" all my life, but after a comment like this I may be looking elsewhere for my next purchase.
|
Thanks Robbie Williams for providing information on some top secrets about inteview at Gilliland Ranch,this site is very informative.
====================
Katie
california dui
|
I live in LA where for the most part that article is correct. BUt that could just be the mentality of half the people out here. I also think that
all of LA's BMW, Mercedes, Infinity, and Range Rover drivers also fit the same category. driving completely selfish, screw the laws, park in
handycapped spaces and blocking other peoples driveways, not stopping at stop signs or lights, speeding by people in residential neighborhoods,
swerving around people walking their dogs, talking on the cellphone while driving in two lanes at once, honking at anybody who gets in their way, even
if their is nothing that that other driver can do about the situation.
hate to say it but generally speaking the article is right, besides I think that the car manufacturers know their demographic for SUVs. they were the
ones who did objective research on the drivers of SUVs.
|
I believe they hit the nail right on the head.
Everyone I know with a jeep or SUV fits the description provided.
Great find!
|
