Who killed the electric car?

Hybrids are also more of a hassle to manage more than anything. You're not going to find many certified mechanics willing to work on a hybrid. For that you'll need a specialist, meaning extra money you're putting into a car that's already charging you more for "saving" you money.

I wouldn't purchase a hybrid to be honest, not until they're more popular and have more mechanics certified to work on them. Right now just isn't a good time.

Also: why the fuck would they make a hybrid SUV? That's ridiculous.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

You don't think that a hybrid SUV is a bit pretentious?

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Originally Posted by PattyNBK

Not at all. People who drive SUVs are arguably the ones who save the most money, as they're getting the biggest boost in mileage, assuming of course that the hybrids SUVs are just as good (or at least close).

They would save the most money by not fucking driving an SUV altogether.

Also: They're not really saving ANY money. You forgot to factor in the cost difference between a standard SUV, and a hybrid one.

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Now if those soccer moms claim to have gotten the hybrids SUVs "in order to protect the environment", that would indeed be pretentious. Heck, I would call that an outright lie. Hybrids are about saving money. You aren't saving the environment, we already have plenty of vehicles with low enough emissions that the environment isn't in any real danger from emissions from cars. People who would make such claims, those are the pretentious ones.

Me, I'm gonna be honest. I only want a hybrid to save money on gas. Lower emissions, that's just a very very small bonus.

Think you and everyone else. I don't think many people claim to have bought a hybrid car for the environment. They may have used it as a bonus, but not many (and by not many, I mean none) people claim to use that as their first and foremost reason.

There's not many legitimate reasons for owning an SUV. As a matter of fact, I can think of none.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

Originally Posted by MetheGelfling

What about large families with say... 4 or 5 children? There aren't many sedans that can accomodate a large family. Then of course you could argue that they should drive minivans instead. Consider, however, families who live in rural areas that have dirt roads that turn to mud in the rain, or perhaps they live in an area where they could easily be snowed in? 4wd on a SUV could definitely come in handy.

Yeah, that's true. I figured there would have to be a reason for it, it's just that I couldn't think of one off the top of my head. For some reason, however, I don't think this is the case with most SUV owners.

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I don't understand exactly why SUVs are demonized as much as they are. Sports cars with large engines and big trucks are just as bad on fuel economy. Most SUVs are nothing more than trucks with extra seats instead of a pickup bed.

Because they're unnecessary. If they're just trucks with extra seats, then why not drive a mini-van? I mean, besides the reason stated above... let's think city wise.

I'm not saying that there aren't other forms of gas guzzling going on that should be put to a stop, but the SUV in particular is just ridiculous, especially with how popular those things are.

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

Originally Posted by MetheGelfling

I think most SUV owners purchase them cause... well, many times a person's choice of vehicle is a reflection of their personality as much as a meeting of their transportation needs. American auto owners are members of a very specific culture. Many people worship their cars, hell, Pixar just made an entire movie about Cars and American car culture.

I agree there, definitely. Many people do see their car as a reflection of themselves (or perhaps what they would like to be, but I'll leave the psychoanalysis to someone more knowledgable), however in times like these, it's a bit... silly. If they can afford the gas, then by all means, blow the money. It's not hurting my bank account. It'll fuck me over in the future, once oil's peaked, but meh. What can you do?

Purchasing a car just because you're attracted to it is a bit silly, though. Then again, I'd imagine that the Automerican culture is a bit silly altogether (i.e. the hummer, wtf?)

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Also, a few years ago when the SUV craze started to take off, gas was cheap. I remember in about 1998, getting regular unleaded for about .88/gal. When gas was that cheap, people didn't care if their vehicles were fuel efficient. They purchased them for style purposes only. Also at the time... with gas being so inexpensive, what was the point of developing an alternative?

Yet, the funny part is, dealerships were offering thousands over kelly blue book as a trade in, then turned around and sold them for even more. Even after the craze was over, those people that lagged and didn't quite make it the first time are guzzling gas WHILE paying an outrageous car note.

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Are they unnecessary? Sure, in most cases. But so is every sports car. In fact, we don't need cars to be of different colors or stylings at all. People rarely only purchase what they need... they purchase what they want.

I agree, most sports cars are, however most sport cars (depending on which brand, make, year, ect.) don't cost as much as the average SUV, are more fuel efficient, and generally last longer. Now I'm not saying that we should make all cars uniform; rigged for fuel efficiency, but I do feel that those that purchase SUV's are either ill informed, or just don't care. That's why I feel a hybrid SUV is pretentious.

I was speaking idiomatically.