Date: Tue, 15 Apr 2003 07:16:57 -0400 From: "Nutmegger" <nutmegger_7717nopsamo.com> Subject: Re: GM to increase SAAB lineup
"Walt Kienzle" wrote::: > My belief is that all the SUV's are being bought by people that would be > perfectly happy with a large capacity estate/station-wagon model that could > haul many children or pull a trailer, or both, if such a vehicle were > available at a reasonable cost. Yes, it could be. My belief is that many SUV's are being bought by people who psychology feel bigger is better or safer. I find that odd since so many reports were issued about the roll over factor. Many childless couples own them around here. It's just like the "in" thing - although they are now losing popularity pretty quickly. >But US fuel economy standards impose heavy > fines on car manufacturers that make and sell cars that deliver poor fuel > economy unless they sell a lot of high fuel economy cars to offset the > gas-guzzlers. Why don't they really start looking into fuel alternatives? You hear a little bit here and there, but I keep wondering....what are they waiting for? <And, I don't mean those electric hybrids either> >So they make SUV's that can perform the same function, only > less efficiently, and they avoid the fines for low fuel economy because > those standards don't apply to trucks. A-h-h, always a way to give the public what it wants no matter what standards are set. Money. >The government classifies SUV's as > trucks. Chrysler is just now starting to go against that trend by offering > the Pacifica. Its not exactly full size like the old days, but it is > spacious and bigger than a typical sedan. Americans are into spaciousness, their homes are getting bigger, their vehicles are getting bigger, and so are their girths. > > Also, not every SUV is designed for rough terrain. Nearly all of the 4 > wheel drive models are also available as 2 wheel drive. I wouldn't want to > go on anything but rough pavement in a Toyota RAV4 or Honda Passport, > particularly the 2 wheel drive versions. When I had my SUV it was one of the things I really enjoyed about it, going offroad.
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