Coolest SUV ever? [Archive] - Straight Dope Message Board

Tony Montana

12-10-2002, 11:35 PM

The 1978 ford bronco, long before they called them SUV's. it had a Dana 44 solid front axle(no independent front suspension here!). A mighty gas guzzeling 351 engine and the top came off,cool!

LolaCocaCola

12-10-2002, 11:40 PM

I get to drive a brand new Kia Sportage in two weeks.

zipp-e-dee-doo-dah!

InternetLegend

12-11-2002, 12:05 AM

My inlaws bought a Honda CRV. Aside from it being a cute, zippy kind of car that actually does go offroad fairly well, it has a built-in picnic table in back. Pretty cool.

wolfman

12-11-2002, 02:59 AM

Well it'll probably piss of most soccer moms, but when I think of SUVs (which is a category of cars I have loved long before the term SUV existed) I think of vehicles that have the ability to go through damn near anything, I think of Jeeps, Land Cruisers(both of which I have owned) and Hummers (which I have never driven, but the rep really impresses me).

rexnervous

12-11-2002, 10:07 AM

Originally posted by Muad'Dib
http://www.autoworld.com/news/ford/windstar_solutions.asp

Who needs a home when you have the Windstar!

Upon initial reading, I was sure this was a parody. Who the hell needs a washer/dryer in their minivan?

unclviny

12-11-2002, 11:57 AM

You want a REAL SUV? check this thing out,
www.maximog.com

unclviny

unclviny

12-11-2002, 11:57 AM

You want a REAL SUV? check this thing out,
www.maximog.com

unclviny

Ol'Gaffer

12-11-2002, 12:35 PM

Of the new ones, I like the Mercedes-Benz G500 (three locking differentials, how cool is that!).

Of the classics, the Rovers are great buy my heart belongs to the Land Cruiser FJ-55s.

medstar

12-11-2002, 06:54 PM

I like the looks of the Honda Element SUV.

Scylla

12-11-2002, 07:27 PM

No question. The Travelall.

Bosda Di'Chi of Tricor

12-11-2002, 07:32 PM

Here's my favorite SUV.

http://www.awm.gov.au/1918/technology/43169.htm

A little smaller than the others, but better looking. :)

scr4

12-11-2002, 07:53 PM

My favorite is the Organic Engines S.U.V. (http://www.organicengines.com/photos/cargo2/index.htm) (Sensible Utility Vehicle). ;)

Urban Ranger

12-11-2002, 10:48 PM

It has got to be the Hummer (http://www.hummer.com/hummerjsp/index.jsp) (called Hum-V in some places).

Klaatu

12-11-2002, 11:05 PM

My vote would be the Lunar Rover. It went where no one has gone before and it only weighed 75 pounds in lunar gravity.

Klaatu

12-11-2002, 11:10 PM

here is a pic (http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap010609.html)

Sam Stone

12-12-2002, 01:32 AM

Memo: To FORD
From: Sam Stone

Hey, Ford: Before you go off putting a FREAKING washer and dryer in a FREAKING Windstar, why don't you first come up with a transmission that won't FREAKING explode after 10,000 miles from new, leaving a certain Mr. Stone stranded while your pathetic lame-ass 'instant' roadside service took two and a half bloody hours to show up? While you're at it, how bout a front end that lasts more than 30,000 FREAKING Kilometers before packing it in? And you can make your damned power seats last more than two years while you're at it. Oh, and could please stop these pieces of crap from leaking fluids like Roseanne with a bladder infection? I'd appreciate it.

Once you have completed these chores, and fixed the things that caused my Windstar to go in for service 9 different times in its first 30,000 kilometers, THEN you have my permission to put that ridiculous washer with the hanky-sized tub in the bact of freaking VAN.

Feynn

12-12-2002, 02:43 AM

Toyota Landcruiser.

Nuff said.

blanx

12-12-2002, 09:21 AM

Canyonero.

...Hey, hey!
Twelve yards long, two lanes wide,
Sixty five tons of American pride!
Canyonero! Canyonero!

...She blinds everybody with her super high beams
She's a squirrel-squashin', deer-smackin' drivin' machine
Canyonero! Canyonero! Canyonero!
Whoa, Canyonero! Whoa!

:D

Seriously- I love my Toyota Rav4. The 2002 version.

Philster

12-12-2002, 01:50 PM

Mmmmmm.....squashed squirrel.

Philster

12-12-2002, 02:04 PM

D'oh! Forgot why I wanted to post:

The Subaru Brat.

Cool is an SUV in which you can get two of your buddies to strap into two plastic bed mounted rear facing seats in a vehicle called a Brat.

Coolest SUV ever.

http://www.cardomain.com/member_pages/view_page.pl?page_id=251288&make_type_query=make%3DSubaru&model_brand_query=model%3DBrat&tree=Subaru%20Brat

http://members.aol.com/subaru3/

yawndave

12-12-2002, 03:59 PM

Speaking from personal experience, Toyota's 4Runner is a VERY dependable, capable 4WD vehicle. I had an '89, and put 248,000 miles on it, and my '98 just turned over 90K. They have taken me everywhere I wanted to go,on pavement and off, with no problems.

3waygeek

12-12-2002, 04:14 PM

I rather like the BMW X5 LeMans (http://www.ultimatecarpage.com/frame.mv?file=car.mv&num=1327&left=) -- it's the standard X5 fitted with the 1999 V12 LeMans engine. 700 bhp, and capable of 193 mph. With that kind of horsepower, it could probably go into orbit :D

Moirai

12-12-2002, 05:15 PM

Sorry guys, but the Land Rover Discovery takes the cake. Just ask the Camel Trophy people!

clayton_e

12-12-2002, 07:11 PM

Oh Oh!! I'd go with the one that is pictured in the commercials as driving up huge rocky mountains, through lakes and streams, and across the tundra even though the most I've ever seen it do in real life is cart around a soccer mom 5 feet above her height so she can get to the grocery store to pick up some snacks for the kids!

Or maybe that one that's so wide that when parallel parking it takes up just over one parking space while having two wheels on the sidewalk and far enough into the street so that I have to cross the yellow line to get around it in my car!!

How about that one that flips over if you take a turn too fast? It's ok for me! Being in something the size of a tank I won't get hurt! Although maybe the guy I hit will be...

And who can forget that one that has the gas milage of a tank?! That's one's a real beauty!

Oh wait... That's all SUVs!

bdgr

12-12-2002, 07:17 PM

Originally posted by unclviny
You want a REAL SUV? check this thing out,
www.maximog.com

unclviny

IF any of you skipped over this one, you are really missing out. I have been drooling over this thing for a year or so.

A SUV that comes with its own recon drone, its own BMW motorcycel, and a submersible chansaw.

Sam Stone

12-13-2002, 03:18 AM

Actually, if you want to see a pretty cool SUV, have a look at the Nissan Murano (http://www.nissanusa.com/vehicles/FutureVehicleDetails/0,9437,22923,00.html). I'm thinking of getting one of these things. 245 HP, built on an Altima chassis, and it has a continuously-variable transmission that gets it pretty good gas mileags (24mpg).

And although it's a little small to be an SUV, it has 4 wheel drive and 227 HP: The WRX Sport Wagon. (http://www.edmunds.com/reviews/roadtests/spin/48462/article.html)

Ethilrist

12-13-2002, 08:45 AM

My favorite is still the Kenworth Pilgrimage. (http://poseur.4x4.org/futuresuv.html) Seats 20! Tow your house!

Tony Montana

12-13-2002, 09:53 AM

Originally posted by clayton_e
Oh Oh!! I'd go with the one that is pictured in the commercials as driving up huge rocky mountains, through lakes and streams, and across the tundra even though the most I've ever seen it do in real life is cart around a soccer mom 5 feet above her height so she can get to the grocery store to pick up some snacks for the kids!

Or maybe that one that's so wide that when parallel parking it takes up just over one parking space while having two wheels on the sidewalk and far enough into the street so that I have to cross the yellow line to get around it in my car!!

How about that one that flips over if you take a turn too fast? It's ok for me! Being in something the size of a tank I won't get hurt! Although maybe the guy I hit will be...

And who can forget that one that has the gas milage of a tank?! That's one's a real beauty!

Oh wait... That's all SUVs!

like I said the 1978ford bronco (http://broncograveyard.com/readers/reader168.jpg) it is BTW the biggest bronco made at a whopping 5500 lbs. I wish I still had her:(

UrbanChic

12-13-2002, 11:04 AM

Well, obviously the Discovery is my first choice. But:

If we're going by vintage SUVs, I'm going with the Scout.

If we're going by new ones, I'm going with the Mercedes G-Class.

If we're going by not-quite-vintage but not exactly new, I'm going with the Land Rover Range Rover County.

Bosda Di'Chi of Tricor

12-13-2002, 12:29 PM

I seem to have whooshed you all. :)

knarf

12-13-2002, 01:58 PM

My favorite is my 1979 Scout II. On the smaller side, the Suzuki Samurai I used to won was a lot of fun too.

knarf

12-13-2002, 01:59 PM

I meant "used to own"

Ethilrist

12-13-2002, 02:05 PM

Originally posted by Bosda Di'Chi of Tricor
I seem to have whooshed you all. :)
Don't feel bad. Nobody commented about mine, either.

Dread Pirate Jimbo

12-14-2002, 12:52 AM

The original Jeep. All other SUVs should be collected, loaded into a big canyon, and nuked into non-existence as the worst pestilence ever to infect our roadways.

IMHO

Santos L Halper

12-14-2002, 05:27 PM

The two coolest SUV ever have got to be:

The Lamborghini LM 002 (http://www.omniauto.it/curiosita/lamborghinilm.htm). Three tons, four wheel drive and used the same 450 hp engine as the Countach supercar.

The Porsche 959 (http://erntheburn.tripod.com/autos/959/9594.htm)'s raced in the Paris to Dakar rally.

Eric

TVGuy

12-15-2002, 03:18 AM

COOL SUV's - HA! Want a cool SUV, turn up your air conditioning. That'll use that much MORE gasoline.

And to the 5'2" inch 98 pound lady driving the brand new full size Ford Excursion that backed over my motorcycle in front of Starbucks back a couple of months ago (you know who you are - the lady with her insurance information PRINTED ON THE BACK OF HER BUSINESS CARD!!) - thanks for the money. Now, go turn that tank in and get a Volkswagen of a Cooper Mini if you want to drive a cool car.

Don't get me started on SUV's - there's about 0.001% of the population who actually NEED these behemoths and far, FAR too many people driving the damned things.

OK - enough, I don't want to make this pit-worhty.

<blood pressure going down now>

unclviny

12-15-2002, 07:57 AM

TVGUY,
I have one word for you...DECAF!.

unclviny

TVGuy

12-15-2002, 11:21 AM

Originally posted by unclviny
TVGUY,
I have one word for you...DECAF!.

unclviny

it had been a long day, I hadn't got much sleep and I spent the day defending my motorcycle from SUV drivers. Sorry. But gimme a break.

Uncommon Sense

12-15-2002, 11:16 PM

Originally posted by Urban Ranger
It has got to be the Hummer (http://www.hummer.com/hummerjsp/index.jsp) (called Hum-V in some places).

Love those things, Gotta get me one.
Just opened up a new dealer in my area and the things are all over the place.

Michael Ellis

12-15-2002, 11:27 PM

Originally posted by TVGuy
COOL SUV's - HA! Want a cool SUV, turn up your air conditioning. That'll use that much MORE gasoline.

And to the 5'2" inch 98 pound lady driving the brand new full size Ford Excursion that backed over my motorcycle in front of Starbucks back a couple of months ago (you know who you are - the lady with her insurance information PRINTED ON THE BACK OF HER BUSINESS CARD!!) - thanks for the money. Now, go turn that tank in and get a Volkswagen of a Cooper Mini if you want to drive a cool car.

Don't get me started on SUV's - there's about 0.001% of the population who actually NEED these behemoths and far, FAR too many people driving the damned things.

OK - enough, I don't want to make this pit-worhty.

<blood pressure going down now>

*applauds*

InternetLegend

12-16-2002, 01:20 AM

Originally posted by Bosda Di'Chi of Tricor
Here's my favorite SUV.

http://www.awm.gov.au/1918/technology/43169.htm

A little smaller than the others, but better looking. :) Sure, it's smaller, but it probably gets better gas mileage, and I'll bet it's easier to park.

InternetLegend

12-16-2002, 01:24 AM

Whoops, I was too quick on the trigger.

What is an "SUV," anyway? Many of the newer ones, including the ones people have listed here (Nissan, I'm looking at you) don't seem like they're any more capable of off-road performance than the average Honda Civic. The promotional materials from the manufacturers list a whole lot more information about accessories and interior features than about suspension, ground clearance (not even mentioned by our friends at Nissan), or gearing.

Our 86 Jeep Cherokee will die someday, and I'm not sure if we'll be able to find a reasonable replacement, something that seats four people and a dog and can get over a bad road without anyone having to hold their breath.

Bosda Di'Chi of Tricor

12-16-2002, 07:38 AM

quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Originally posted by Bosda Di'Chi of Tricor
Here's my favorite SUV.

http://www.awm.gov.au/1918/technology/43169.htm

A little smaller than the others, but better looking.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Originally posted by InternetLegend
Sure, it's smaller, but it probably gets better gas mileage, and I'll bet it's easier to park.

I also like the caliber of its accessories. Which come in Standard, HE Quick, & Armor Piercing. ;)

Tony Montana

12-16-2002, 09:23 AM

DID YOU SAY EESSSS EUUUUWWW VEEEE !!!!!?? /Blood boils/
Those muther$^&ers like to run over small cars like mine!!

..... I have never seen such a reaction over a vehicle...

bdgr

12-16-2002, 11:01 AM

Originally posted by TVGuy

Don't get me started on SUV's - there's about 0.001% of the population who actually NEED these behemoths and far, FAR too many people driving the damned things.
<blood pressure going down now>
So, define need.....if you mean need, as in if they dont have one they will not be able to function at all, your right. Using that definition people dont need motorcycles or pickups or even cars.

I dont need my my motorcycle, in the strict sense of the word...its not the most practical solution to my transportation needs.

I think everyone should be driving SUV's, myself.

FriendBill

02-02-2003, 09:44 PM

What about the WWII-era VW Schwimmwagen? (not sure if I spelled that right?) Or an 60s Amphicar?

OK, OK, they're not technically "SUVs", but they are sure a lot sportier than an overgrown station wagon, AND can go a whole lot more places, making them more useful (utile?!)...

Bill